4 STARS


If you thought you knew Cinderella's story, you're wrong.


We all know Cinderella went to the ball and married Prince Charming. What we all assumed, though, is that her story ends in "happily ever after."

And Cinderella is Dead is here to prove otherwise.

Following Sophia as she tumbles through the restrictive, misogynistic world that exists in Cinderella's wake, this book rewrites the old and refuses to back down from the new. Challenging tradition and tearing down restriction form the core of Sophia's story, and I loved every minute of it!


A lot of the story's charm lies in Sophia herself.


Strong-willed and clear-eyed, Sophia can see that the society she lives in is a cruel one, its primary design to keep women under the thumbs of men who operate based on their cruelty first and foremost. She objects so strongly to the traditions she's expected to keep, and feels so sharply the consequences of breaking those traditions. Honestly, I think it would be difficult not to root for her efforts to change the kingdom for the better. Despite the odds in her way, she clings to the belief that life doesn't have to be like this. And of course, when she meets Constance, she has the support she needs to go all the way.

Also, I'd be remiss not to mention that Sophia is a lesbian. That complicates her already tenuous relationship with the kingdom's laws, and gives her clearer sight than most other folks on just how dangerous and oppressive those laws can be. Plus, she also gets a cute romance, and I almost never say no to good sapphic content.


I do wish, though, that this were a duology.


Not that I can control the whims of publishing, sadly. But I think Cinderella is Dead has a strong foundation, one that could have been even stronger if only there was time to spool it out. On the one hand, it works well as a standalone, carrying that fairy tale air to it. We don't necessarily need books and books of deep diving into characters and world-building when this is based off a fairy tale most of us are familiar with in some form or another. 

And on the flipside, I think so many of the plot twists and personal motivations for the characters could have held a stronger punch if only this were at least two books instead of one.

Ultimately, it is what it is, and this is truthfully a bit of a silly criticism in some ways. I can't change it, and I still thought it made for a mostly enjoyable read, which is what truly counts! But I can't help but feel I would have enjoyed it more with deeper digging into the characters and world, and that thought lingers.


Thankfully, there's no need to wait to read Cinderella is Dead!


Since Cinderella is Dead is out as of this Tuesday, you can read it now! Or, request it from your library, if that's more your thing. You'll get a dark spin on a classic fairy tale, sapphic love and heartbreak, a main character battling fear with all her heart, and...

Well, I won't tell you exactly what else you get. But whatever you're expecting, it's not that. It's weirder in the best way, as far as Cinderella goes, and it makes for an excellent fresh element! 🦋


CW: nudity, domestic abuse, homophobia, violence, slavery, sexual harassment, animal death, gore, body horror

[This review will go live on Hail & Well Read @ 10 am EST on 7/9/20.]

The idea of Cinderella's story being completely wrong and further twisted to control young women in society is interesting, even compelling. It makes you think about that saying the winners write the history books. I enjoyed how nothing was as it seemed, all the "known" parts of the Cinderella story were extremely different. That was by far the best part of the story- how nothing played into your expectations of the Cinderella story. Oh and Amina, she was the breakout character in my mind. I want to read her story, as she was the most intriguing "fairy godmother" ever.

My issue with this book was the main character Sophia. She was not a heroine that I found myself really captivated by. She was merely a vehicle for the story. The love story between Constance and Sophia was very much a side note, it didn't seem to really add to the story. Sophia's interest in girls was clearly here to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights (which is great) but it felt like that was the sole reason for Sophia and Constance's relationship. So it ended up diminishing the love story. This book should of been great but the writing was heavy-handed and the story suffered for it.

The Great: Simply put, the themes. This story definitely showcased a majority of the ways society has negatively impacted women/females. In Cinderella is Dead, Cinderella's tale is akin to the likes of the bible. And citizens of Lille are expected to know and recite the tale, in reverence and worship. For it is the conditions of their lives. Sound familiar? Also, misogyny played a major role in the general story. The nobility and peasantry alike delights in oppressing women and young girls in this story. And the anger I felt reading and witnessing how oppressed and sheeplike the citizens were rolled off me in waves. It sincerely frustrated me to no end. And that frustration made me realize just how much of that mentality still exists in today's society.

The Good: I absolutely loved the plot of the story. This was not so much a retelling, but instead a remix. A, What if Cinderella's happily ever after, was a big fat lie? And Kalynn Bayron spun a story that I couldn't have created in my wildest dreams.

Also, I seriously loved one of the main characters, Constance! She spilled onto the pages with fiery hair and glory. I'm a sucker for female characters who exhibit strength both physically and mentally. And let me tell you Constance is not one to be messed with.

Next, I enjoyed the romance. I loved that it didn't play out exactly as I'd thought it would. And in the end, the main character, Sophia ended up with who was right for her all along.

Finally, the pace of the book was phenomenally done. Especially for a YA Fantasy read. It didn't take long to understand the world/world-building. And for the most part, information was written seamlessly throughout the story instead of having chunks of info-dump. I enjoyed the fast pace action-packed scenes as much as the slower moments. It felt steady and really pulled further into the story.

The not-so-good: As much as I enjoyed reading this, I had this constant desire for more. It felt like an element was missing. And I just couldn't and still can't put my finger on it.

Also, most of the big revelations were predictable. I'd guessed what they were long before it was revealed to the reader. However, there was one big one that I absolutely didn't see coming and it's a good one.

Overall, I recommend this book to lovers of fairy tale remixes and YA Fantasy! Cinderella is Dead definitely takes you on a journey you won't soon forget.

I was really looking forward to reading “ Cinderella is Dead” by Kalynn Bayron . I am fairy tale obsessed. While Cinderella is not my favorite fairytale, I was super interested in seeing how the author would add her own spin to it. I loved the premise of the story, but the execution was a bit off. I felt that both the worldbuilding and the characters were underdeveloped. We only touch the surface. I do not feel as though I connected with anything or anybody in the book. The plot was a little predictable at times. Overall, I thought this was an ok read.

This book was, something. I don’t even know how to describe it. I buddy-read this with a friend of mine (Hi Vee) and we both disliked this book, so I’m glad I’m not the only one with these feelings for this book.
Honestly, I almost DNF’d this book, but I was desperately hoping the story would improve, or we would get an ounce of character development, but nope.

Let’s start with unrealistic.
Sophia, our narrator, is in love with Erin, her childhood best friend. That’s fine, of course it’s fine. In fact, I would have loved if it stayed this way—what’s not fine is how quickly Sophia falls for Constance. She falls like its love at first sight, and she immediately trusts this stranger that has been introduced to us while they are both in Cinderella’s tomb. Talk about sketchy.
It may be set in a fantasy world but this kind of thing doesn’t just happen. It is never the way of this book, where both characters feel an immediate attraction to the other and then that’s it. It just, isn’t how it happens. I cannot stress that enough, and that made me resent this book.
Sophia is too trusting, and while that may be a flaw for some people, in this story it just doesn’t feel right, it doesn’t feel like this is the right character trait for our narrator, it’s forced and that’s one of the many problems with this novel. Trusting Constance is one thing, but then trusting the ‘fairy godmother’ after a short story-time of how the original Cinderella story went… it just doesn’t make sense. I don’t understand how someone can just believe someone’s every word despite meeting them less than 10 minutes ago.

Writing style is another flaw with this book, It’s almost like Bayron didn’t want to continue this story, so they skimmed the surface of the actual story in their head, and wrote that down instead. There is no depth to the story.
In the words of my buddy-reader Vee, ‘I can so easily see the feminist agenda at play, and the story is just a means to convey it … there is no real effort made into the story, when it could have been amazingly done.’ And I agree, this could have been beautifuly done, has there been character/plot development along with the feminist aspect of this story. (For those who haven’t read it, Sophia believes men and woman in the story should be made equal, and not forced to marry the opposite gender, which, yeah, its good, but the author keeps thrusting this ideal at us, every chance they get, without actually developing the story or characters).
I know nothing about our narrator, other than she’s a woman who loves woman and hates the king/men.

There’s a few plot holes int his story too, for example, When the king visits the witches house, after he leaves, someone mentions that the king is tracking them, with no reason behind it, like sure, he could be tracking you, but how? Expand on this, but alas, it was never mentioned again until the big reveal at the end.
Also, the main character seems to forget everyone but her and the king exists, Luke, her friend from the beginning, only pops into her mind when its convenient for the plot, same with Erin, her childhood love, and don’t get me started on Liv, the one who died to progress the plot, which honestly, didn’t do anything.
THEN, all of a sudden, Sophia decides to go back and see Erin, stopping at Liv’s parents’ places first. Then, after this encounter, we never hear about or from Erin again.

Plot twist time, the witch that they trusted so easily after the story-time, is the kings mother. Which, to be honest, I didn’t see coming, but it was so poorly done, I feel like Bayron did it to have a reason for the king to know their plans. Constance then said ‘I knew something was off’ but didn’t think to confide in Sophia, or voice her concerns that something was off???? Make it make sense, please.

I am so DONE with this book, half of the things don’t make sense, there is no character development, there is barely a plot. It frustrates me so much.

2/5 stars, because it was terrible, but it could have been so much more had the author paced the book correctly.

As soon as I heard about Cinderella is Dead, I knew I had to read it. A retelling of Cinderella about queer girls trying to overthrow the patriarchy? Yes, please.

Cinderella has been dead for 200 years. But the town of Lille and the surrounding Marseille still follow a set of rules set forth by Prince Charming. At 16, all girls must attend the annual ball to be claimed by men. Girls only have three chances to be claimed, and if they aren't, they become forfeits. And it's unknown to where those girls disappear. But Sophia is having none of it. She wants nothing to do with the men in Lille. She'd prefer to marry Erin, her childhood best friend, and leave Lille forever. So the night of the ball, she escapes, where she meets Constance, the last living descendent of Cinderella, and together they band together to try and destroy the patriarchy that is Lille.

I really loved this book. I thought the story was really great and I would love to revisit with Sophia and Constance and get to know them better. I thought they were both so strong-willed, though at times hard-headed and stubborn. They were both flawed, but their attributes really complemented each other.

I really liked the premise of the book. Unlike an adaptation, this retelling is based 200 years after Cinderella’s story ends, though within this book, the reader learns more about the “true story of Cinderella.” The world is very different than that is which we know from traditional fairy tales (the sweet ones, not the old gory ones!). Men control this space. Girls are basically sold to men once they reach 16, and if they’re not desirable, they disappear. It’s a horrifying world that is very realistic in some parts of the world today. But Sophia is smart, brave, and while she seems to come to trust easier than I’d expect, she isn’t a naive character. I really liked that she was so strong-willed, but also very soft and human too. I love when stories show that women/girls can be both strong and emotional, and this was very much one of those books.

Now while the story was great and I really enjoyed the characters, I will say that, at times, the dialogue was a bit confusing and messy. I noticed it more at the start of the book, then less and less as the story progressed. There was also this epilogue-style wrap up that did not do the story justice. I think the ending could have been left a bit more open, thus setting up a second story that I would’ve loved to see, and I think other readers would have loved as well (of course, I’m speculating here). It all just felt like it wrapped up too quickly and I hated that. It made the end seem less real and less aligned with the rest of the book.

"Just because they deny us doesn’t mean we cease to exist." - Cinderella is Dead, Kalyan Bayron

Overall, I really loved this book. I loved the queer love stories entwined in the pages. I love the interracial relationships. I definitely loved the smashing of the patriarchy. This book was a really great, engaging story, and I’d love to see more in line with this theme.

Wow I loved this retelling of Cinderella so much! Although much of it was slightly predictable it kept me flipping pages and totally changed my perspective from how I felt about Cinderella all these years! I enjoyed Sophia and her desire to not conform to what was expected of her but to strive for her own hearts desires no matter what the cost. Stubborn and Spunky I adored her.

I am a fan of a well crafted fairytale retelling, and Cinderella be one of my very favorites. I submit, though, that this is not in any way a retelling. The fairytale is turned completely on its head. This is a reimagining of Cinderella for today. I read an earlier review that likened it as Black Cinderella falling in love with Merida and working to crush the patriarchy. That’s as accurate as you can get...And I loved it. It kept me engrossed to the very last page!

Thanks to Netgalley for letting me read this gem in exchange for my honest review.

Cinderella Is Dead is a super unique retelling that is truly unlike any other that I've had the pleasure of reading! I love retellings and I have read many and so I always expect there to be something predictable but this was not the case here, everything was so original and I could not put it down! It completely changes everything we think we know about Cinderella.

I loved that the girls in this book were fierce and themselves! The queer rep was also amazing to see in here and I loved the relationship the girls had and seeing it grow and change throughout the book. The friendships were also sweet and I adored it.

Overall, I loved this book so much and I am so glad it exists now. Truly one of the best retellings I have read ever!

Cinderella Is Dead is a new brand of retelling. It doesn’t just simply tell the tale of Cinderella through a new lens, but engages with it critically. The novel critiques the original by discussing the implications of such texts in society. The tale of Cinderella is misogynist in nature, it’s a tale that focuses on finding a husband and female competition. As child one is enthralled by the fairy godmother and we all want her to turn us into beautiful princesses.

These are all the aspects of the story that Cinderella Is Dead critiques the original and as it does so it constructs a new kind of fairytale. One where the main character takes matter into her own hands, who knows that the world she lives in isn’t what it’s supposed to be, and where she can love who she wants to love.

Lille is ruled king Manford who controls the land in a very Handmaid’s Tale fashion. Women have no rights, nothing to their name, not even their bodies or minds. Our main character, Sophia, is done with all the rules. She wants to love and be with her best friend Erin and be her own person. She will do whatever it takes to obtain her freedom. So when she has to attend the ball in order to be chosen by a man she escapes and thus a new tale takes form.The world building in Cinderella Is Dead is not handled in a typical fantasy way and it doesn’t need to. Many of us are familiar with the tale of Cinderella and while the narrative presents the reader with its rendition of the story it does so in steady manner. There is no information dumping. Bayron unfolds the world at a steady pace and doesn’t rush the reader. Cinderella Is Dead discusses how stories can be twisted to benefit the storyteller and encourages readers to engage with stories critically, to question them, and not take them at face value.

Cinderella Is Dead features a Black queer girl smashing the patriarchy, reclaiming a centuries old narrative, falling in love, and learning that she is deserving of that love and a better world.

If you love retellings or are looking to read one pick up Cinderella Is Dead, trust me you won’t regret it!!

I thought that this take on the Cinderella story was really cool and unique. i loved the premise of the novel, queer black girls overthrowing the patriarchy, which is totally awesome. The take on the Cinderella story was interesting and showed another side of the time-old story. I also liked how the author continued the story while also giving off the Cinderella feel, even with a drastically different version than the Disney one we all know. I thought the plot was really interesting to read and loved the take on the fairy godmother. I wished that there had been more worldbuilding in the story, as it felt very basic and glossed over, which also created some disconnection with the characters. I also felt that at times the messages were heavy-handed and i wished that it had been woven in more naturally. Despite that, I really enjoyed reading this book and loved the overall premise and message of this book!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of Cinderella is Dead in exchange for an honest review!

A queer Black fairytale retelling of Cinderella?
Overthrowing the Patriarchy?

Count me the heck in.

I honestly enjoyed Cinderella is Dead more than I thought I would; for the most part, fantasy-esque books are hit or miss with me. However, seeing as I'm huge into fairytale retellings, this book still worked well for me. Plus, Cinderella is Dead just felt more original than other retellings.

Throughout Cinderella is Dead, our main character Sophia discovers the real story of Cinderella. It's not as happily-ever-after as the kingdom would like everyone to believe. One thing I loved about Cinderella is Dead is the fact that the fairytale we know is the fairytale that the characters also know and it's addressed as a story (yet, the story is something the characters believe to be true).

& on top of defeating the patriarchy, Sophia deals with some romance drama - the person she loves isn't fully returning the love & then she needs someone entirely new who she happens to fall in love with. We love drama, amiright?

There are some heavy topics in Cinderella is Dead, such as abuse, & some bloody & violent scenes.

CW/TW: Homophobia, physical abuse, verbal abuse, toxic masculinity, body horror.

This book has an incredible premise. In a world where Cinderella’s story is law, Sophia dares to be different. Lille is a kingdom where toxic masculinity rules everything and the women have no say.

This book was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and I can’t lie. The majority of it disappointed me. The execution felt off, most of the book just felt like buildup for the final 10%, and so much of what happened was predictable. But that aforementioned final 10%. Oh man. Struggling through 90% of that book was worth that. I finally felt invested and excited to see what would happen, and things finally started happening that WEREN’T predictable! It was amazing! I wish the rest of the book had been that interesting and intense, but I will settle with the ending making me cry.

Although the pacing of the story felt off to me, there was one thing that I adored: the characters!

“I don’t want to be saved by some knight in shining armor. I’d like to be the one in the armor, and I’d like to be the one doing the saving.”

Sophia is an absolute ICON. I adore her. She is headstrong, passionate, and never gives up on what she believes in. At the beginning of the book, I wasn’t sure about her character, because I wished she could just go along with things until she found the opportunity to rebel. But Sophia made her own opportunity, regardless of what the world around her told her. Once I got used to her willingness to throw herself into trouble/danger with no second thought, I found myself admiring her.

“‘That’s how things happen sometimes. Something small. A choice we make because, in the moment, we needed to make it. But that doesn’t mean it’s any less important. I believe that things happen for a reason, Sophia.’”

Constance is the reason I continued reading this book, and I am so glad that I did. Her character sucked me in from her introduction. Something I loved about her was how she is unafraid of showing her feelings. From her first meeting with Sophia, she flirts with her. She is unabashedly crushing on Sophia from the first moment their eyes meet, and it is BEAUTIFUL. She is also patient, strong, and a leader. I love her so much.

“‘We’ve also rarely heard about people like us and yet here we are. Just because they deny us doesn’t mean we cease to exist.’”

My darling Luke. The first time Sophia ran into him, I knew I would want to protect him with my life. Even though he is not in much of the story, he is definitely one of my favorite parts of it.

Not only does this book have phenomenal characters, but it also deals with tough topics BEAUTIFULLY. For example, it tackles the “not all men” argument in three short sentences:
“But these good men aren’t making the rules. These decent men are turning a blind eye to indecent acts. ‘If you’re not one of the men who would jump at the first chance to put a woman in her place, then I’m not talking about you.’”

In all, while this book was a chore to get through, I loved it. Don’t let my 3-star rating fool you, this book is something special.

Huge thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury YA for the ARC!

The dark retelling of Cinderella was very unique and interesting. Bayron did a great job of turning this tale on it's head and pointed out the very misogynistic views that are a part of this tale. Sophia, our main character is stubborn and rebellious and says what is on her mind even when it goes against the societal rules. She is exactly what is needed in the world 200 years after Cinderella that has been built to favor men and women are to be subservient and quiet to make the men happy only. I enjoyed the twist on our fairy godmother, Amina. She was probably my favorite characters in this book because she was very mysterious and morally grey.
Having said that I do feel like the overall message was a little heavy handed and could've been worked into the story a little more naturally and less thrown in your face. I also really wanted more depth from our characters. Amina was my favorite, but I feel like there was so much more I could've gotten from her story that could've connected me to her. I wanted to know more about why the Prince is the way he is and how Sophia became such a rebellious and outspoken young woman. I just didn't feel as much as I wanted to or connect the way I would've liked. The emotions just weren't there as much as I would've liked. I also feel as though the ending was a little rushed to a happily ever after and I would've liked just a little more depth here as well.

Cinderella is Dead was the perfect queer, feminist story I needed to read this month. Kalynn Bayron creates a story that's incredibly relevant to modern events and I found myself highlighting quotes from every other page because they really resonated with me.

Sofia was a great protagonist for the story because she was bold & unapologetic about who she was. She stood up for the things she believed in and fought until she got the result she wanted. It was incredibly encouraging to read because it made me remember that the fight for what's right isn't always right but the results are worth it in the end. Sofia's determination ensured that the message of the story one of it's strongest aspects

In terms of storyline, the plot was very linear and easy to follow. I love reading twisted fairytales and Bayron really delivers in that aspect. I enjoyed seeing elements of the original Cinderella story at play as well as learning how the story can be twisted to fit the agenda of those in power. Again, super relevant to events playing out in the real world as we watch the stories BIPOC & LGBT+ people tell get re-written or ignored entirely to fit the gaze of straight white readers.

I think teens will enjoy seeing the open connections they can make from the story, to real life especially since we're seeing a rise in activism from Gen Z. Girls will LOVE seeing themselves represented in Sofia, she makes no excuses and does what she thinks is right, which ultimately ends with her taking down a malevolent dictator. It's empowering and full of hope, things I want all of my students to see more of in their readings.

The only real issue I had with the story was that it felt a little flat in areas such as the world-building and side-characters. I'd love to have seen them a little more fleshed out so they weren't as flat. Otherwise, Cinderella is Dead was an encouraging read that shows readers the importance of standing up for what's right.

This is such a fantastic book and I don't think any review could do it justice.

It's incredibly smart and incredibly feminist (I'm pretty sure that any book that's described that way is a book that I'll immediately want to read). And Sophie is wonderful. She's Black and queer and is determined to change the status quo in her city and its kingdom. Women are treated horribly; they're the property of their husbands. It's been that way since Cinderella's time, but Sophie knows that tradition is a horrible reason to do anything.

And it won't surprise you to learn that, while Cinderella's story is true, there are two different versions: the official, palace-approved one and the one that's actually true.

This is a phenomenal book and I love everything about it. Highly recommended.

In the land of Marsailles, Cinderella is dead, and has been for the past 200 years. Her story hasn’t just become canon - it’s become law. Every year all girls at the age of sixteen must attend the mandatory royal ball, where the men are allowed to oogle them and pick out which one they want as a wife. The girls don’t get a choice in who picks them - once you’re selected by a man, you’re his, and if no one picks you, well...you’re only allowed to attend the royal ball three times before your family has to surrender you as a “forfeit.” Forfeits are never seen or heard from again. Attending the ball more than once is considered an embarrassment. And if you don’t want to get picked? Too bad. The girls of Marsailles have no choice - non-attendance will get you thrown in prison, and likely executed, while their families have all their possessions stripped from them. So...have fun at the meat parade, girls! Fingers crossed you don’t get picked by an abusive prick!

Sophia Grimmins (I see what you did there, Kalynn Bayron) doesn’t want to go to the Ball. All Sophia wants is to marry her best friend, Erin, and be free to have a future with her. But in Marsailles, being gay is not OK. It’s straight relationships only, Cinderella married a prince, and therefore, women can only marry men. Men marrying men and women marrying women? Forbidden. No not pass go. Do not collect 200 dollars. Instead, go straight to forfeit town. Sophia pleads with Erin to try and escape their hometown of Lille and head off into Belgium the Forbidden Lands. But Erin doesn’t want to escape - she just wants to keep her head down, go through the whole disgusting selection process, and stay safe. Well, as safe as you can with a husband who is brought up to be an abusive, misogynist prick like many men in Marsailles. Seriously, with the exception of like, 3 characters, pretty much all the dudes in Marsailles are the worst.

Anyway, the day of the Ball has arrived, and with Erin refusing to escape, Sophia has no other choice - she has to go. Her parents have gone into debt to provide her with the best hair, makeup and dress in order to increase her chances at being chosen. Sophia’s parents know about her feelings for Erin, know that she’s always preferred to have a princess rather than a prince, but even though Sophia pleads with them to do something, anything to get her out of going to the Ball, they refuse.

So Sophia ends up going to the Ball and it’s much worse than she could have expected. The dudes are gross, the king is gross, the whole damned system is gross.

Unable to stand it, Sophia makes a split-second decision: she’s going to run. She takes off in the middle of the ball, jumps out a window and escapes onto the palace grounds. Running blindly, she finds herself in an overgrown mausoleum which turns out to be the final resting place of Cinderella herself. There, Sophia meets Constance, a descendant of Cinderella’s supposedly evil stepsister, Gabrielle. Constance has been on the run, resisting the king’s awful laws for years. She tells Sophia that everything she’s been taught about Cinderella’s story is a lie. Constance offers Sophia a choice - escape with her and rebel, or return to Lille and face the consequences of fleeing the ball.

At first, Sophia chooses home. But when her parents make it clear they won’t do much to protect their now outlaw daughter, Sophia meets up with Constance and together they head off into the White Wood in search of Cinderella’s fabled fairy godmother, who may or may not be a witch and who also may or may not be still alive.

Oh man, I do love me a good story in which badass young women fight against the patriarchy. Cinderella is Dead is such a fun story - well, fun in that the misogyny and injustice rampant in Marsailles is both familiar and super scary, but fun in that Sophia looks that system square in the eye and goes “nope.” Cinderella is Dead is all about the power of story - how something as simple as a fairy tale can be used as a weapon to subjugate not just women and girls, but men and boys as well. The fairy tale made law doesn’t just keep women stuck in the role as princess, but men stuck in the role as prince, even if they, too, would rather run off with a prince than marry the princess.

Cinderella is Dead starts strong, though it does start to meander in the middle, before speeding up toward the end. Since this is a standalone book (hurray!! No getting suckered into a series this time! More standalones, please!) character development and world building is somewhat lacking, as there’s only so much you can fit into one book and seriously thank God this isn’t the start of another trilogy I have to keep track of, I’ve got way too many trilogies, duologies, quartets and never-ending serieses I have to keep track of right now. Anyway: yes, worldbuilding and character development are a bit shallow, but such is the way with fairy tales, only this fairy tales features a queer young woman of color burning the patriarchy to the ground. And that’s absolutely something I need more of in my life. Now let us go forth and burn the patriarchy, everyone!

I really enjoyed the writing in this book. It was a completely different take on Cinderella, which was fun. Reading the synopsis, then the book, it was pretty predictable, but still enjoyable. I look forward to reading more from this author.

A Cinderella retelling that Grimm Brothers would approve of, Cinderella is Dead shares the story of a girl living in a post-Cinderella kingdom where girls are expected to meet Cinderella's high standards and find their 'true love' at the annual ball- or risk being forfeited. One of the most interesting uses of Cinderella's story, Bayron is able to completely make a fairytale her own in the world that feels both fantasy and dystopian.

The story features a diverse set of girls facing the patriarchy with our protagonist, Sophia, being a queer black girl. It is great to see this type of representation in fantasy, a genre that someone feels very Caucasian and heterosexual. The novel does a wonderful job of reimagining preexisting Cinderella characters and it makes me want more books that are retellings but in a world after the fairytale has ended.

The novel is a bit heavy-handed in its telling of themes as it does a lot of "telling" rather than showing. At times, the characters and these themes of toxic masculinity feel shallow as they don't have a level of subtlety. Sophia's character can be frustrating to read during the first half of the book as she too isn't very subtle in her rebellious features, which, as many characters point out, is dangerous for their strict and sexist kingdom. In the beginning, it can be slightly stressful to watch Sophia openly endanger everyone with her free-thinking, even though she is right in wanting to be rebellious. I also found Sophia's attraction to Constance to be sort of insta-lovey and wished there was more development first before Sophia even felt a certain way about her. The novel can feel a bit flat at times, but it is still a fun retelling.

If you are looking for a quick and refreshing retelling, Cinderella is Dead is worth trying. The ending part of the book is action-packed and the dark and rebellious feel to it somehow reminds me of dystopian fiction. I also appreciate that the author used the Grimm Brothers' Cinderella and not the Disney one.

Oh, I love a fresh retelling, and this one was cool.
It starts centuries after the Cinderella story we know, and then twists in a fresh way to backtrack and turn everything on its head. Get your hands on this one!