The premise of this book, that a young girl fights to overthrow the patriarchal kingdom 200 years after the death of Cinderella promised a captivating story.

The alternate telling of the Cinderella story was very creative, and the final twist to the story was surprising.

However, the story was told through 16-year old Sophia. She is dead-set on escaping her fate of being married off at the mandatory ball that all young women in her kingdom must attend.

She is supposed to be rebellious, but comes off as a selfish brat, with no forethought going into her vague plans for escape. Not surprisingly, this supposedly strong character ends up being a damsel needing saving. And, her savior ends up being the person she falls for instantly, despite the fact Sophia has been in love with her childhood friend for years.

The dialogue between the characters is unnatural, since it is mostly a vehicle for info dumping history and preachy feminism ideals. Therefore, the characters don't feel "real", and I couldn't connect with them. Even when characters die, it is of little consequence.

The pacing was slow, with no real tension in the story to help it along. 60% into the book, all that has happened is that Sophia she went to a ball, ran into the woods and met a witch.

Unfortunately, for me Sophia was a shallow character, ruled only by emotion and was thoughtless, impetuous, and reckless; she doesn't exhibit any growth or intelligence. She takes unnecessary risks that result in predictable results where others pay for her actions, which was really frustrating to me.

This book could have been fantastic had the characters been more believeable and sympathetic. But the twist in the Cinderella story was truly unique and is worth the read.

Cinderella Is Dead had a great premise and fascinating world building but the writing style and characterization felt flat. It was a fun read but did not stand out to me as far as the writing was concerned.

This was a fantastic take on the Cinderella myth with a fierce, feminist stance. In a country that has been ruled by kings who throw balls just to see the girls get dressed up and parcelled off to his buddies, we find Sophia who has had enough of this crap. She has been in love with her best friend for years, but the night of the ball it doesn't seem to matter-- the only thing that matters is being a good girl and getting a husband, even if he's cruel to you. It is what it expected. So Sophia does what is not expected. She runs away and finds a girl in the woods. The many times great granddaughter of one of Cinderella's evil stepsisters, only it turns out, they weren't so evil, and there are a lot of other lies in the myth of Cinderella, perpetrated so the king can keep the kingdom firmly in his control. That is until Sophia and company come to tear it all down. A great mystery, some lovely romance, and a whole lotta fierce coming at you with this read. Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced E copy.

This fairytale retelling with a Black, lesbian protagonist was as delightful as it's villains were ghoulish.

This book was good. It didn't hit it WAY out of the park, but it was definitely good. There are a few world-building questions I had and I feel like the love interests were a little controlling. Like she could have done everything that happened in this book by herself and having love interests may have just dragged her down. But overall, it was a good book. I would recommend it to people who enjoy dystopian fairy tales and pleasant lesbian fiction.

Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron is a dark twisted tale of the classic fairy tale story Cinderella. 
In the kingdom of Lille 200 years after Cinderella found her Prince Charming women are treated as possessions having no power or respect. Where they are forced to attend an annual ball in hopes to be chosen for marriage. They are given three chances after which they’re considered unworthy, often forfeited to the palace and never seen or heard from again. 
During the story we meet Sophia who doesn’t want any part of the traditions of Lille, instead dreams of living a free life with the one she truly loves, her childhood friend Ellie. Disgusted by recent events she flees her first ball accidentally entering Cinderella’s mausoleum where she meets Constance, a descendent of Cinderella’s stepsister. As Sophia gets tangled up with Constance she begins to learn the true tale of Cinderella’s story that is hidden from the kingdom all these years.
I really enjoyed the read overall, I thought it was a creative take on the fairytale we grew up knowing. I appreciated the important topics discussed as well as the representation and diversity. I admired Sophia's character, especially her boldness and being unapologetic about who she is. She wasn’t afraid to stand up and fight for what she believed in or wanted for herself no matter the pain it caused her. I wish the author took the time with the pacing of the story better, it felt rushed and some scenes unfinished at times especially towards the ending. Although I admired the characters I would have loved to see more character development as well as the romance develop on a deeper level. The relationship felt Insta love to me with no depth. Thank you again NetGalley and Bloomsbury publishing for this beautiful arc 3.5/5 stars

Wow wow wow. Cinderella is Dead was a wild ride. From beginning to end, I was intrigued. I absolutely devoured the story. The writing was so fresh and well paced and I loved every single character. Sophia was so strong!

Be prepared, the setting will piss you off! Women are treated so disgusting and horrible I could hardly take it. But despite this, Sophia was so strong and brave and knew exactly what she wanted. She wasn't going to stop fighting because a man told her too.

I loved how this story is based off of the real life tale of Disney's Cinderella, and I love how the story is a lot more twisted then we ever could have thought.

This book was really engaging and i was right away hooked and couldn't put it down.
Fairytale meets dystopia and "Queer Black girls overthrowing the patriarchy" which are books we need more of!
This books was fast paced, dealt with real world problems like classicism, sexism, and homophobia. I loved that the MC was Black and didnt want to conform to the world she lived in which was being forced to go to a ball to meet a suitor. This is probably my new favorite retelling and I loved how the original story of Cinderella was not as it seemed.

I do wish it was longer maybe even a Duology to flesh out some characters like Luke, the king and some others but honestly the story line alone and the twists and turns was EVERYTHING and more.

Thank you Netgalley and Bloomsbury publishing for allowing me to read and review this book early.

The premise of Cinderella is Dead sounds like so much fun, and is much needed right now. I know a lot of women and marginalized people have had a lot of rage recently toward the patriarchy and the government and whatnot, and what better way to challenge them than by revisiting a classic tale like Cinderella?

I like the idea that this is a world where the original Cinderella story as we know was essentially propaganda, and the people alive in the present time the story is set continue to perpetuate that system of power and corruption.

However, this book does put the importance of the message over character or world development. I can’t think of much that stands out about Sophia or Constance. I can admire them for their devotion to the cause, but I don’t know that I cared about either of them.

Also, despite being a fantasy, the world building is very thin. There is some discussion of the history as far as the lineages of both the king and the stepsister, but nothing else that really gives a sense of place. I can understand wanting to maintain a bit of the abstract fairy tale quality to the story though, so I don’t hold this aspect against it too much.

While this book wasn’t a winner for me, I think it’s still worth trying, especially if you love fairy tale retellings (particularly Cinderella), and are looking for a fun, subversive take on it.

THE GOOD

unique retelling
Cinderella is Dead is a refreshing reimagining of Cinderella. It’s honestly one of the more creative retellings I’ve read. I really did not expect the story to go where it. Just the way elements of the age-old fairytale were reframed to fit into the world of this book blew my mind. It’s been a few days since I’ve finished reading it, and I’m still amazed at how Cinderella was retold.

Sophia, our lovely main character, is not quite another edition of one of my favorite princesses, but yet still embodies (what I believe are) Cinderella’s best qualities.

important read in today’s world
Sophia lives in a world where all girls must attend a ball to be chosen by a man to become his wife. Girls who leave the ball without being selected risk their reputation, and that of their families, and may face exile or death. As such, Cinderella is Dead addresses many modern-day issues like sexism, freedom of choice, LGBTQ+ rights, oppression, and a little about race (subtly?). These struggles were all nicely woven into the story, and while maybe slightly overdone, I cannot imagine this book without these points. Some of the passages and quotes hit particularly hard at this time, especially given the United States’ current “leadership”.

THE NOT-SO-GOOD
Lack of development pretty much accounts for everything in this section, especially the characters, world-building, and romance. If any of the three were more fleshed out, Cinderella is Dead could have been at least a 4-star read for me instead of a 3.5-star one.

flat characters
First up, let’s talk about the characters. The characters were fun to read, and I liked how they were all so different from one another. It was especially fun to see them bicker with one another. That said, most of them were pretty undeveloped. Like, I know more about what Sophia stands for than who she is.

quick world-building
It didn’t take me long to understand the world Sophia lives in or the standards she has to conform to in this society. Which would typically be a good thing except most of the world was built through “telling” and not “showing”. It sometimes felt like I was reading a history textbook, but Sophia is not supposed to be a history teacher. On top of that, all the world-building in the first few chapters caused the beginning of Cinderella is Dead to be slow and awkward, which is not exactly the best way to start a book.

sophia’s love life
Sophia’s love plays a significant role in getting the plot rolling in Cinderella is Dead – she’s willing to risk it all for the chance at a happily ever after with her girlfriend. However, their romance doesn’t read like some great love, and their friendship feels tenuous.

Sophia’s love life later in the book is sweeter, but I wish I could have seen more of their romance unfold in the story.

IN CONCLUSION…
Cinderella is Dead is an important read and a unique reimagining of Cinderella. But it could have used some more development in some areas.

A really exciting, engrossing story with a fresh perspective on the fairy tale you thought you knew. More queer girls and f/f pairings in YA fantasy, please! I picked this up and finished it in a single day because I was just that captivated by the story. I’m so impressed by the future of YA; heroines like these are exactly what I would’ve wanted as a younger reader and they’re so fun to read even now that I’m older. Pick this one up if you’re even gently thinking about it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love a good re-telling and while some fairy tales have been overdone, like Cinderella, I think there’s also always ways that writers can change things up and create something new. On that front I think Bayron accomplished that with Cinderella is Dead. Unfortunately this particular re-imaging wasn’t the right book for me.

I’ll say it now that I’m over stories where the fictional society is built around female oppression and that’s the basis of the story. There’s a reason I have no desire to try The Handmaid’s Tale and other stories like it. But that’s what this book is. Two young women smashing the patriarchal order that has kept them all but captive. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, but it’s one of those types of stories I’m not really interested in reading, not without there being a larger plot beyond that.

But I like re-tellings and had hoped this book would be an exception.

Unfortunately that wasn’t my only issue. One of the aspects I struggled with the most was the lack of character motivations. I knew they wanted to overthrow the patriarchy. Everything in this book seemed to be designed to tackle that goal rather than tell the story of a specific character. I never really understood Sophia, or why this was her story. What made her, specifically, the right protagonist for this story.

I know she’s stubborn and headstrong, and doesn’t always think before acting. Which is fine. But that’s all I really know about her as a person. And the same for Constance. And the villain for that matter. I didn’t understand what made them special beyond their role. The companion. The villain. This book read much like a fairy tale in that regard, where everything lingers on the surface to lead the reader to some final understanding.

So as I read, I didn’t always understand the decisions the character made. The relationships they built. Everything was missing that emotional connection I thrive on as a reader. That character development that really strikes a chord with you as you read. It’s what I look for in stories, and I didn’t find it in Cinderella is Dead.

That said, this book is fast-paced and definitely a quick read. I liked the idea of Cinderella being the foundational story upon which an entire culture and kingdom was built around. It’s not something I’ve seen before and definitely made this book stand out in that regard.

More importantly, this book is needed. Here is a diverse cast of characters burning away a harmful, oppressive way of life. The message is a strong one and I applaud this book for bringing it to light. And for those looking for a F/F romance, you’ve definitely got one here! I liked that it didn’t consume the plot but acted as a true subplot (which isn’t always the case in YA fantasy).

I’m not sure I would recommend Cinderella is Dead for the execution, but I do think a lot of my reading experience came down to a disconnect with the characters and the overall theme so take from that what you will. If you’re looking for a unique Cinderella re-telling, this may be the book for you.

This was so much fun. I loved every minute of this book, I enjoyed the writing, the story and the characters so much. The spin on Cinderella’s tale was one I hadn’t encountered before, and I loved all the reveals of what really happened to her.
I can’t recommend this book enough, and am so excited for my finished copy to get here!

This is a fantastic retelling of the Cinderella tale, decades later, in a new kind of town. A Black girl lead, kick-butt empowerment, fighting against the patriarchy, & lesbian love story make this a hit of a YA novel!

I finished this fantastic book in 2 days and I am very sad to have finished it, but very happy to have experienced it. Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing and NetGalley for sending me an e-galley of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Story and the Setting

The story-telling in this book was beyond good. Kalynn Bayron was truly given a gift and she used it to give us a different kind of fairy tale. The world that the main character, Sophia, grows up is one that can be all too familiar for some women. Men are head of household and make all the decisions and women have almost no say at all. And this all originates from the story of Cinderella and her Prince Charming. I never would have thought that there could be such a different version of this story, but Bayron has managed to surprise me at every turn. With each chapter you learn more and more about what happened to Cinderella and realize just how bad the city of Lille is. The world-building was really well done and nicely paced throughout the story and It was very easy to get a feel of how the lands laws shaped each of the characters. I thought that the story was extremely original and I loved that it set during a time where magic and fairy tales are real.

The Characters

I don’t get to read about queer black girls very often, but after finishing this I realize I need to make it my mission to find more of these stories. Sophia being in love with a woman gives her a drive throughout the story that made me wish very much for her success in her task. My heart really ached for her when she just wanted to live in a world where she could be herself and not be someone’s property. By the end of her story she is truly ready to die for this and I admire her so much for that. Bayron does a great job of making the romance in this book organic and beautiful. It makes you agree with Sophia that this is something that should be fought for.

The End

I truly did not want this story to end. While the ending was wrapped up very nicely, I still long for a book 2 and to continue Sophia’s story. She was just everything I wanted to be when I grew up and I very much see myself reading this book to my future children. The ending of this book was full of hope and a promise of a better future for the people of Lille.

Overview

Read this book. If you have ever felt like you couldn’t be yourself for fear of disappointing someone, read this book. If you have ever wanted a strong, queer black woman to be a main character in a fantasy novel, read this book. And if you love romance that seems to come so easily to some characters, read this book. I truly, truly loved this book and could not put it down. It is important that stories like these are told, not just for us but for future generations as well.

Cinderella is Dead was a book I eagerly anticipated, so I was thrilled when I got an arc for review! Imagine my disappointment when I found myself trusting through it like quicksand. It was slow paced, the characters were a little too generic, and the story overall just seemed to fit the young adult bubble, just set in a different land. I felt like I’ve read this book many times, just with different characters and a different world. It wasn’t terrible, however, and if I’d read this book five or so years ago, it probably would’ve been a five star read. I love the diversity and the representation, but I didn’t enjoy this as much as I hoped to, Younger fans of young adult will undoubtedly love this, as well as fans of the tale Cinderella. Unfortunately this just fell a little flat for me.
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*I received an E-arc from Netgalley to facilitate an honest review of this title*

3.5 Stars- strong debut YA Novel and a fresh take on the Cinderella Myth.

This was really quick to read and fun Cinderella "retelling". It features a f/f romance and had a very strong tone of feminism and bringing down the patriarchy.

While I enjoyed the writing and the interesting take on the Cinderella myth, I did find the romance to be extremely rushed, too insta-love for my personal taste.

There were a few plot conveniences and aspects I would have liked to have seen be done differently, BUT all in all, this was an enjoyable read!

While the cover is stunning, the story itself is even more fabulous. Sophia attends her first ball at the age of sixteen. The women in her kingdom grow up reading the story of Cinderella, with the expectation that they strive to be like her. Young women are sent to the palace each year to attend and for a man to choose to become engaged to them. They have three chances, and then are considered forfeit, with a mysterious fate in a workhouse. Sophia, however, does not want to marry. She sees that the women in her kingdom are treated horribly by so many men, even if the men directly in her life have not abused their wives and children. Also, Sophia does not want to marry a man. She is attracted to women, and in love with her best friend Erin. Her family and friends know this, but even Erin thinks it's safer to go with the status quo.

However, Sophia can't do that. During her ball, she ends up running away. In the process, she meets Constance, a descendant of one of Cinderella's stepsisters. From Constance, Sophia learns the truth about Cinderella's story. The version she grew up with is even more of a lie than she suspected. The two plan to take down the evil king that rules over the kingdom, so that no woman has to experience what Sophia and her loved ones have.

To be honest, I found the plot to be predictable, but I'm also an adult reading a YA novel. (Not that YA novels are predictable or juvenile - I love them!) It also is such a mirror for the way women are treated in reality and the white male patriarchy of the modern world. For centuries, anyone who is different has been beaten down. There are also many mirrors of the good men who benefit from the way the system currently works, and while they love the women in their lives, they do not always stand up for what is right. We also see the women who benefit from the patriarchy and disregard other women and their struggles, or turn a blind eye to their own suffering because they have been taught to for so long. Finally, in Constance and Sophia's journey, we meet a mysterious witch with ties to Cinderella, a clear example of someone who has benefited from and even helped the "bad guys" only to relearn and become an ally. (Though without spoiling, there's a twist there that did surprise me in the last few pages!)

Overall, this was a timely, subversive, feminist read that I absolutely adored. I highly recommend this 5 star book. My thanks to the author, Bloomsbury, and NetGalley for giving me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️Book Review⭐️
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Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron
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Cinderella Is Dead is out as of July 7th!!!
If you are able to, please consider purchasing this book from your local bookstore 💙 they need love during these crazy times too.
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I was given an ebook arc by NetGally in exchange for an honest review.
This story sucked me in without my realization. One minute I was opening the Kindle app and the next I was 1/3 of the way through the book. This retelling has the perfect blend of world building while keeping it fast paced.
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Cinderella has always been my favorite fairytale. I love that even though she was forced into servitude in her own home she remained ever gentle and ever kind. Sophia however is not as fond of her as I am. Well maybe not her exactly but the legacy she left.
It has been 200 years since Cinderella’s passing, and in her honor every year there is a (mandatory to all females of the age of 16) ball where the men get to choose their brides without their consent.
Despite having her choices taken away and her whole life planned out for her, Sophia tries to convince the love of her life and best friend Erin to run away with her. But when Erin refused, Sophia reluctantly goes to the ball.
After situations there go terribly wrong, Sophia flees from the ball and seeks refuge from the guards who chase her. Stumbling upon Cinderella’s tomb, she meets Constance, Cinderella’s last direct descendent.
With Constance’s help, along with her step sisters, they divulge a plan to overthrow the King and change the way things have been done for the past two centuries. But our hero’s soon find out that there is much more to Cinderella’s story than they were ever told.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

TW: abuse, arranged marriages, death, homophobia, misogyny, human trafficking

Thank you to Bloomsbury YA and Netgalley for providing me with an arc for review.

"Money, power, class, all those things come into play, but the founding tenet of our laws is that women, no matter their standing, are at the mercy of the fickle whims of men."

Cinderella is Dead is a powerful take on a classic tale.

Sophia is sixteen year old who has questioned the way her world operates and how women within the kingdom do not have any of their own agency. As the story escalates Sophia learns the truth of how the rules came to be. Bayron is very direct towards the horrendous treatment towards women and all the ways that it can manifest. It was a little on the nose at times but that's honestly just a thing that happens in YA.

I really did enjoy this story. Much darker than I anticipated but that does not bother me that much. We got a story of queer teenage girls saying fuck the patriarchy. Another thing that I liked is that this isn't a story that takes place over 3 days. The feelings that they have for each other are something that blossom over time. I read this in about two days just because I couldn't wait to see how the heck this book was going to end.