This was an unexpectedly good Cinderella retelling! The story didn't go in the way I thought it would and I was surprised by that! But the ending was confusing! Is there going to be a sequel? If so, when is it coming?

I have not had a chance to read this book, Once I have gotten a chance to read it I will edit this review to reflect my thoughts and feeling on the book.

"Every young girl should have one night like that, to feel beautiful and admired, her entire future shining before her with so many magic possibilities."

Disenchanted stands to its title, 'Not Your Typical Fairy Tale Romance'. One may think that sounds cliche, I did too, but boy it has lived up to its name.

SPOILER FREE REVIEW

Cinderella as a girl full of mischief and a sharp tongue.
Cinderella with three gorgeous men offering their hearts.
Cinderella where the prince has younger siblings.
Cinderella tasked to steal from the king.
Cinderella with a mysterious past.
Cinderella with otherworldly creatures discreetly living in their town.
And most of all, Cinderella who loves her stepmother and stepsisters and they love her back.

The characters are very much human and not all perfect, not purely evil, not invincible, and others are just trying to become a hero.

"No girl is ever satisfied with her reflection when she regards herself in the mirror, I believe it is failing of our sex that we always search for flaws and are sure to find them because no woman is perfect."

"My friend says that a woman's true power lies not in the perfection of her features, but in her confidence, how much she believes in herself."

"No matter how luxurious, a cage is still a cage."

The context of the book is also very poetic and filled with love. Here's a sample.

"My father was a quiet man, never as demonstrative with his affection as my mother. I tended to think of him as being like the moon, reflecting my mother's light and warmth. When she died, it was as though the moon fell into a state of permanent eclipse, stealing stars from my sky as well."

Once I started reading I could not get enough of it. Mysteries keep unfolding, I question the actions of characters. It may have lots of words but it is to enhance the way we see the world through Ella's eyes. It's well written, planned out. Well it's Susan Carroll of course! You can't expect nothing less.

Once again I'm trying not to beat myself up for not reading this sooner. It has been sitting in my NetGalley approved list for quite some time. Now I'll be waiting for the next book, "Clueless" and the cover looks like a prince.

Disenchanted is a breezy, romance-oriented retelling of Cinderella, with several twists to the original story. Ella (whose actual name is Prunella!) is strong-minded 24 year old woman with a sarcastic tongue, trying to keep together her destitute household, with two frivolous stepsisters who just want to spend money and enjoy life, and a stepmother that she finds difficult to relate to.

When a royal ball is announced with an alarmingly high ticket price of twenty silver galoons (the king is in need of funds too), Ella has the unpleasant task of trying to convince her delighted stepsisters that there is absolutely no way they can afford to attend. But Ella's sexy best friend, Malcolm Hawkridge, offers to pay their way ... if only Ella will steal a magical treasure for him from the king's treasury, that Mal claims truly belongs to his family. Ella is definitely not interested in running that risk!

Meanwhile, Horatio Crushington, a strong, fierce-looking man and the commander of the local military garrison, has unexpectedly developed an affection for Ella. While she tries not to offend him, she's never really considered him as a potential love interest and doesn't want to encourage him.

Of course, Ella and her sisters are going to be at that royal ball, but the story gets a lot more complicated than you might expect. Not one but two of the royal princes have Ella in their sights, Mal seems to have semi-hidden desires for her, and Horatio shows up at the ball looking unexpectedly handsome.

It's a humorous and light romantic fantasy, but Disenchanted lost me a little when it turned into a love triangle square pentagon? Seriously, Ella is tripping over actual and potential love interests here. She is kissed by three of the four at one point or another. But the ultimate resolution of her love life was surprising ... and gratifying, at least to me. I approved of her choice!

Not a lot else is resolved, though, and the story ends on somewhat of a cliffhanger. There are several mysteries and questions that are raised and never answered. A sequel, Charmless, will be published next year to continue the story.

For the right girl looking for lots of romance and some adventure mixed with a lighthearted retelling of Cinderella, this could be a very good read. I'd recommend it to younger readers who are looking for something similar to Ella Enchanted.

This book was a very interesting re-telling of Cinderella! I have done my own Cinderella story but it is more gender changing and I think as time goes on there will be even more interesting re-tellings.

I do like how the characters in this book are more human, especially the stepmother and sisters since they not only notice that they want love but the stepmother does care for all three and want what is best for them. I do like the interactions between Ella and Horatio since he is always there watching out for her even saving her in the book.

I am hoping there is another book since there are many questions about her family that need to be answered. A great read though!

Ella Upton lost her fairy tale life years earlier. Now she’s embittered about her lot in life. When a ball is being held by the king, it looks like she will be forced to do what she must to make sure her step-sisters get to go.
I was apprehensive about this story. Any time an author takes liberties with classics, I grit my teeth and hope it’s something I can read. After looking at other reviews, I got a little worried. However, after I began to read the story, all my worries were swept aside. I absolutely loved Ella’s character and the new take on her step-mother and step-sisters. I liked the world the author created with a classic great. I can’t wait to read the next part of this story to see what happens to Ella next.

Ella Upton lives with her stepmother and two stepsisters. They tend to live with their dreams and are somewhat oblivious to the realities of the world around them. Even in a kingdom where magic exists, there are bills to be paid, meals to be cooked, houses to clean. Ella loves her family, and won't let her best friend Malcolm put them down. She has no interest in going to the royal ball, but her stepsisters do. They still believe in true love and the possibility of marrying the prince, but Ella had already lost her sense of magic.

This is a wonderful retelling of Cinderella. Instead of Ella being horribly abused by her stepmother and stepsisters, they're simply absent-minded children she felt responsible for taking care of. Her stepmother has never been mean to her but simply wasn't her mother.

There are a plethora of possible suitors by the end of the novel, in keeping with this being a Loveswept title, but it isn't terribly contrived. Of course, the Harper she once fell in love with wasn't who she thought he was, and the dour Commander isn't the relentless slave to rules that she thought he was. Even Malcolm's motives give her pause, though he remains a good friend throughout the book. I really enjoyed seeing how nuanced her relationships with each of the characters was. She's stubborn at times, but a very kind and loving person. It shows in how she acts toward her family and how she feels guilt over past mistakes, and I felt very connected to her as a result. There isn't anything more than a few kisses scattered throughout the book, and the ending feels rather open for future installments. I don't know if this is meant to be a series, but if it is, I would definitely read more novels.

Disenchanted by Susan Carroll

I loved this quirky retelling of Cinderella, so much fun. Prunella Upton, Ella is an amazing character full of wit. I found myself cracking up at most of her declarations.
Ella, loyal to her stepmother and stepsisters. They are not evil, they are kind. I liked this twist. All of the things in the Cinderella story are here but with a twist. Ella has many love opportunities and I believe she made the right choice in the end. Ella's best friend Malcolm Hawkridge is also a character I enjoyed, with quick wit like Ella this made the story very enjoyable.
One of my favorite parts in the story is when Ella is trying to steal something at the ball for her friend Malcolm. I feel there is more to be told in this story, so many possibilities. If you love Fairy Tale retelling with a twist you will enjoy this book.

I give Disenchanted 4 stars for its fun retelling and quick witted characters.
I would recommend this story to everyone.

Slow start, perfect finish. About a quarter of the way through I wanted to stop reading, but I am glad I didn't. Ella was sweet and funny and sassy and figured out what she wanted in the nick of time.

Interesting twist on the traditional Cinderella story. I enjoyed the lack of female-rivalry, felt much more authentic to me. Is this a series? Very interested in the stories of some of the other characters...

I really enjoyed this take on the Cinderella story. Ella was a smart, clever heroine and I especially enjoyed how well she got along with her step family. Every character was likable and I found myself rooting for each of them. I was definitely left wanting more.

I couldn't get into this book. After 20% I'm still not sure what was going on

I’ve read and enjoyed several of Susan Carroll’s books, so I was curious to see what she would do with a retelling of Cinderella. What she has written is a likeable piece of fluff, a fun read if you’re in the mood for something light and a bit silly.

Carroll doesn’t adhere too closely to the Cinderella story. We do have Ella (short for Prunella, of course), a stepmother, and two stepsisters, and they are all invited to a royal ball where a prince will be selecting his bride. But in this story, Ella loves and willingly takes care of her stepfamily and has absolutely no desire to leave them and marry a prince. She only winds up going to the ball at all at the urging of Malcolm, her best friend (who would like to be more). Mal plays the role of the “fairy godfather” who enables the entire family to attend, but that’s because he wants Ella to steal a magical sphere from the king’s treasury. That puts Ella in a difficult position, not just because she doesn’t want to be a thief, but because it puts her in conflict with Commander Crushington, head of the town guard and possessor of a massive crush on Ella. Nevertheless, Ella goes to the ball with the intent to steal the sphere, a mission that proves to be complicated when she draws the attentions of not one, not two, but three pesky princes . . .

There’s no fairy tale ending here. Ella actually has several men who seem interested in her, but she doesn’t wind up with any of them at the end (although there’s definitely a frontrunner). The story isn’t over, though, because not only does Ella not get her happily ever after, there’s still the mystery of why Mal wanted her to steal the sphere in the first place, as well as a few other dangling loose ends. So it seems pretty clear to me that there’s another book about Ella in the offing.

All in all, this is a frothy read, recommended if you are looking for a way to escape reality for a little while.

An eARC of this novel was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A definite page-turner! This fresh, new twist on the Cinderella story was a fun, light-hearted read that kept me interested to the very end, which came entirely too soon. A sweet romance with plenty of heart--just what the doctor ordered!

This one was...wonderful, but also a disappointment. The premise of this novel is a good one - who doesn't love a retelling of a classic fairytale? Carroll is an incredible writer. I have very little patience for world-building, so I had a hard time getting into this during Chapter 1, but once the author wrapped me into the characters, I was a goner. You couldn't pay me to put the book down. I breathlessly read on, wondering who Ella was going to end up with. Was it her best friend, Mal? He was just bad enough to promise oh-so-good times, and he adores Ella. Their friendship is strong and they both would do anything for each other, as they each prove in the book. Would it be Captain Crushington, the honorable man whom Ella misjudges, then finds to be someone truly good and kind (and handsome)? Or would it be a surprise from her past, who isn't even (spectacularly) thrown in until the last 15% of the novel?

There were so many questions left unanswered that I can only recommend this book in good faith if it has a sequel. With no word from the author or publisher, I'm a little nervous to believe there is only one of these books. If that's true, I'll be so disappointed. It was fun, fast, and so well-drawn. The characters made me want to be a part of this horribly corrupt kingdom with it's weirdness and good people and shady characters.

We can't be left hanging like this. At the end, Ella seemingly makes her choice. But too many questions are left wide open. I mean, there are at least a dozen loose ends that were left wide open: Who was Ella's father really? What about her mother's past was kept hidden from Ella? What happens to the fairy in the pawn shop? What will the other suitors say when they realize she didn't choose them? What was the crazy kind of light in Mal's eyes about? Whatever happened with her sister and the prince? What's up with the witch, Delphine? YOU SEE, THE QUESTIONS DON'T STOP!! I'll be keeping my (ever-hopeful) eye out for a follow-on book. I'm hoping Ella gets her happily-ever-after with the man she chose, but with the way her life goes, I think I'm supposed to believe there's no way that would happen. And the thing is...I don't know!! It's the most confusing feeling I've ever had when finishing a romance novel.

But not all was lost. I did get my happy sigh...but it was then interrupted (in the middle of it, quite literally!) when Ella has to go and insert this into the moment:

I reflected that in all the old romantic tales, this was where the story would end with "and they lived happily ever after." But I fear I was still too practical to believe in that. I was sadly familiar with the kind of tragic things that can happen to shatter dreams, death and betrayal and the difficulty of merely trying to survive under the harsh rules of our kingdom.

WHAT?! Does this mean there's more to the story? Or that we're supposed to simply accept this as a universal truth as easily as we did when Disney spoon-fed us the exact opposite idea? If the author was trying to point out that we have always accepted the "happily ever after" without the need to wonder about what happens next, and that we should be just as easily persuaded to do the same with the opposite idea, I concede her brilliance. If not...well, then, that was just not cool. Give me a release date for the next one, already!

A very confused 4.5 stars, and a definitive hope for this to be a series.

reviewed by Nancy

DISENCHANTED is one of the best fairy-tale retellings of Cinderella I've read. Susan Carroll writes a compelling tale that is full of magic and enchantment, yet also flawed and very human characters. Needless to say, I was in love from the first page, and I can't wait to read more!

First, the worldbuilding. Ms. Carroll built a totally new world that is full of magical elements, complete with fairies (not the small, lovable types), witches, magic potions, and more! The descriptions of the places--Midtown, Misty Bottoms, etc--were so vividly done that I can totally see them and imagine myself there.

Next, the characters. I love the total reversal of Ella's family, that instead of the wicked stepmother, she had a kind one who really treated her as her own daughter, but she, as well as her daughters, had some character flaws that resulted in Ella doing everything for the family because it was just easier that way. See? This is what I liked about Ms. Carroll's story. The same elements in the original fairy tale are there, like Ella being a servant in her own house, but there was a twist, and the twist also makes sense. It makes you see things differently. How wonderful is that!

I also love that there's more brewing than what's on the surface! Like, who really is Horatio Crushington? What's with Prince Florian? What's Prince Ryland's story? How about Mal? What did he want the orb for and what does it do? Also, who is Withypole Fugitate and what's his story? More importantly for Ella, who is her father Julius Uptown and what was he before she was born? And who sent her back her mother's twinkles?

So many questions left answered, so I'm sure there's a next book! Plus, Ella's romance with the man she finally chose is just beginning, and I'm sure their feelings for each is going to be tested in the succeeding book/s.

It was great to see the author spin the original tale into something vivid and rich, lush and three-dimensional. You can bet I'm looking forward to the next book/s in the series!

Disenchanted is a fun twist on Cinderella. Take everything you know about Cinderella and forget it because Disenchanted doesn’t follow the fairy tale. What you get, instead, is a totally original story that incorporates parts of the fairy tale into the plot line.

I will admit, I laughed my butt off while reading this book. Ella was pure snark and I loved it. The way she dealt with her sister’s suitors, her step sisters, her stepmother, her next door neighbor, Mal and even Prince Florian had me giggling. Even the situations she found herself in and her reactions to them made me laugh.

But, at the same time, I did feel bad for her. She had her heart-broken at 17 by a traveling bard named Harper. That same week, her father died and then she became the glue that held her family together. She made sure that they went without anything even if it meant sacrificing things that she might have wanted to do or have. Ella also had a great relationship with her stepmother and her two younger stepsisters…even though they drove her nuts.

Her friendship with Mal did kinda confuse me at times. It confused me because at the beginning, they were strictly friends and he was a shady apothecary. But, after the King announces the ball, he suddenly became interested in her in a romantic way? I actually reread the chapters that had him in to make sure I didn’t miss anything and reconfirmed the out of left field romantic angle. Which I didn’t. It didn’t bother me as much as it confused me.

What I did like about Ella’s friendship with Mal was that it was real and it was lasting. Which is why I think both Ella and myself were surprised when Mal asked her to steal the orb the night of the ball. When he told her that she wasn’t going because she couldn’t afford it, he got tickets for her, her stepmother and two step sisters to go. Which kinda forced her into going and doing what he wanted.

I loved the romance between Ella and Horatio. There was no Instalove. Horatio and Ella got to know each other from seeing each other around the village. It was when he asked to come calling on her and continued to go after her even when she was rude, that the romance started. It was sweet to watch it unfold. I felt horrible for him when he admitted to Ella that he overheard her stepsister and stepmother commenting on him being a “foundling”. But, I do think that there is something else about his parentage that he doesn’t know about (read the book!!!)

Prince Charming (aka Prince Florian) in this book was not so charming. Well at least to Ella, he wasn’t. She didn’t like him and the more I read about him, I didn’t like him either. He came off as one of those extremely cocky jock types that think they are God’s gift to women. Plus, there is something off about him. How his brother reacted to him was not normal. And what is going on with the King? I thought it was very weird that he knew Ella’s mother and when he found out that she had her father’s eyes, he got all pissy and walked off.

I also loved the references to the original fairytale. Mal as the fairy godfather, the quip about the field mice hurting their paws if they were to sew a dress, the pumpkin carriages that are hazards and the best thing of all…..Ella refusing to wear the glass shoes because they hurt her feet. Loved it!!

The end of the book was perfect but it left me with more questions than anything. What was up with Ella’s father? Who was S? What about the young king, his wife and newborn son (before the present king took over) who were killed? The baby’s body was never found….so where is he? Why does the King create laws and fines about everything (the fainting one did crack me up, though)? Was he in love with Ella’s mother too? and so much more. Oh so many questions that need to be answered. I do hope that there is a book 2!!

How many stars will I give Disenchanted: 4

Why: This was a very original and imaginative retelling of Cinderella. Normally I don’t like it when fairy tales are retold, something is always left out. Not here. This was a totally engrossing tale with characters that are unbelievably snarky and lovable at the same time. The references to the original fairy tale were woven into the story in such a way that you had to laugh.

Will I reread: Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes

Age range: Young Teen

Why: Some mild violence. Some kissing. Other than that, a very clean book.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

Disenchanted is an enchanting, funny story based on a modern day Cinderella.
With laugh out loud moments and a love story. There is plenty of unexpected twists to keep you hooked.

It even has the not so wicked step sisters, who were actually rather nice. A little bit head in the clouds at times but i loved their innocence and their flirtatious ways but I actually loved their characters.

It makes such a change to have the step-sister and Step-Mother actually get on.
Although it's clearly Ella who is in charge which was refreshing. She even handles the finances as her step family couldn't be trusted not to spend on elaborate things.

The story starts when the girls are invited to the Princes Ball.
However the tickets are soooo expensive there is no way any of them can go.
To be honest Ella isn't really interested but her Sisters are furious that Ella says they can't go.
Ella sees the ball as another way to rob the town's people of money and not calling it the normal tax to line the Kings pockets.

It's now the journey really begins as we see Ella struggle with unwanted love interests and the grand ball.

Susan takes the typical Cinderella story and creates an enchanting modern day twist on the much loved story.
All the characters are well thought out and you can see who each character would represent in the fairy tale story.

My only critiscm is that the ending had been left open. With a tease of a possible second book! Some answers left unanswered.
I wanted more, I'm just hoping there will be!
Every opportunity for a second book.
I for one can't wait!

This was a cute twist and retelling of Cinderella. Prunella is renamed Cinder-ella in the first chapter by her stepsisters and their friend as a joke when they find her sooty from trying to clean the chimney. Ella is always busy taking care of her stepsisters and stepmother and making sure everything is done because there is not enough and now the King is throwing a ball but there is a price for admission. Not a fairy godmother but a man who steps forward to help. Yes, twists and turns and all sorts of fun. This is a fast read and maybe a cliffhanger but not quite sure...we will have to see if there is another book if if this is just where the author leaves us. Still it is was a fun read.

**Received this as an ARC for review from the publisher via NetGalley**

In this retelling of Cinderella, Prunella (“Ella”) Upton is a smart-mouthed seventeen-year-old supporting her loving stepmother and her two kind but rather clueless stepsisters. Though they have little money, Ella takes care of her family as best she can. When the king announces a ball to introduce all the ladies of the land to the charming Prince Florian, Ella is sure that it’s just another of his many disguised taxes, but her stepmother and stepsisters are so intent on attending that Ella does everything in her power to make it possible.

On the fringes of the story, we have Ella’s courtship with Commander Crushington, a mysteriously disappearing ex-lover, and her loveable best friend Mal. There are also mentions of several mysteries throughout.

Alright. So I’m a pretty big fan of retellings. There’s just something about taking a classic story and putting a twist on it. That said, the only reason I even picked up this book was an email from Netgalley suggesting that I might enjoy it based on other recent requests. That in itself was a little weird because this book is so far removed from what I usually request on Netgalley, but nevertheless, I read it.

From the beginning, I was a little confused about where exactly this story is supposed to take place. There are constant mentions of “Midtown,” which leads me to believe that we’re in New York City, but I’m not sure if I’d make that association if I didn’t live a mere 45-minute train ride away. I kept getting thrown off by the setting, which made it really difficult for me to immerse myself in this story.

I really struggled through the first third or so of this book. Like, to the point that I had to bribe myself with other books to make it through. I think a lot of my dislike had to do with the writing style. It’s both weirdly formal and filled with grammatical errors. (This might be corrected in the final copy.) It felt old-fashioned, which fit with the time period, but also not quite right, which was a little off-putting.

Anyway, it got better as I went along and really picked up steam about halfway through. It’s unfortunate that it took that long for me to really get interested, but at least it improved. I ended up really liking most of the characters, but the one that stands out the most for me was Mal. (I always like the friend in these kinds of stories.) Even though this is a retelling and it was obvious that Ella wouldn’t end up with Mal (the blurb claims there is a love triangle, but Ella has no romantic interest in him), I was still rooting for them. What can I say, friends-to-lovers is my favorite trope.

There were certain twists on this retelling that were really interesting, most notably the change in the relationship between Ella and her stepmother and stepsisters. In the classic story of Cinderella, the stepmother and stepsisters are absolutely evil. In this retelling, they all love each other and Ella does her best to care for them after the death of her father. I’m all for positive female relationships and not pitting women against each other unnecessarily, so this was a really cool change.

I don’t want to give away any spoilers in my review, so I guess I’ll just mention that there are a few very interesting plot twists in this book that I really appreciated. Carroll clearly has a great talent for developing a plot, but one almost unforgivable thing that happens in this book is the lack of resolution. There are so many interesting mysteries in this book, and so few of them are actually resolved. I was left with no less than ten burning questions as the book wrapped up. Is there going to be another book, or am I just supposed to wonder about Crushington’s past and Ella’s father and that weird library book forever?

This book has a really high average rating, which means that it’s clearly been enjoyed by a lot of people. I am notoriously picky about continuity and cliffhangers, so it’s possible that I’m being a little too harsh in my criticisms. The book did end up much better than I had expected when I started, but I can’t say that I really loved it.

Final rating: ★★★☆☆

Thanks to Netgalley and Loveswept for the ARC!