This is a Cinderella retelling, but make it dark—with vampires, mages, and a brooding prince who totally stole the show 🖤🩸. I was very into this from the start and stayed invested all the way through. The fantasy world was rich, and the tension kept me turning the pages (or listening nonstop).

Prince Cassius was the perfect morally gray, brooding MMC, and I loved every scene he was in 😍.

My only issue was with the audiobook narration—when the narrators voiced the opposite gender, it was a little hard to listen to and pulled me out of the moment 😬.

Still, the story itself delivered on all fronts: magic, danger, slow-burn tension, and strong emotional stakes. If you love dark fantasy fairytale retellings with bite, this one’s for you.

I loved this Cinderella retelling! Romance but not over the top. I loved Ella's character and her strength. I loved the added in witches and vampires. I'm not a huge fan of vampires normally, but liked this take on everything.

I'm excited for book 2!


Narrators were great, the man doing the female character was definitely not my favorite, but other than that, they did a great job. It would not stop me from listening again.

I'm not going to lie - it took me some time to get into the narrators - at the end I really enjoyed the female narrator and the male narrator grew on me but wasn't necessarily my favorite - I found his tone choices to be a little clipped and forceful, not reflective of what the first person narration for the MMC would be in my head (that's on me I suppose). I did wind up moving the speed to 1.5x because I felt everything was just being read too slow - then again, that might just be a me thing. Overall I really enjoyed the story and would pick up another book by this author - I'm a sucker for retellings, especially if you manage to throw a vampire or two in.

Cinderella but with vampires? Yes please!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶️🌶️
This had my favorite tropes: enemies to lovers, touch her and die, and found family. Plus our favorite Cinderella moments such as animal companions, a fairy godmother, wicked vampire stepsisters, and a masquerade ball and magical elements.

This was so fun to read! Can be read as a standalone but there is another book in this series. Our vampire prince Cassius was broody and grumpy but he was down bad for our girl Ella. Their chemistry was palpable and their dynamic had no slow moments. His protection of Ella did not stop our girl from holding her own. Ella had her own secrets and agenda this whole way through, and I loved watching her grow into her own magic. A strong FMC who also remains humble and kind til the end. While this stuck to the basics when it came to the classic story, it did a great job of giving it its own twist. The world building was detailed enough with a fast pace from start to finish. The elements of magic kept it whimsical while still also being dark at times (hello glass slipper in the eye. I fully winced at the details). A little spicy and that first taste scene was STEAMY! It really set the pace for their chemistry and let’s take a moment for that “one horse” trope scene. If you’re a fan of Cinderella and classic retellings, this one’s for you. I will absolutely be diving into Belles story upon release because what do you mean our beast is a dragon shifter!

Imagine the Cinderella story told with a bit of a horror twist. There's royalty, vampires, a rebellion, and romance. What else could you possibly want from a fantasy story?

I'm a sucker for a retelling and one about Cinderella (Ella) with a vampire (Cassius) I was here for it from the beginning. From the start the characters were fast pasted and the writing was quick and easy. Making me curious and the book easily devour-able in short bursts. Though I just wanted to read. You knew Ella and Cassius were trouble for one another, but you couldn't help but want the best for them and their hearts.

When is book two?

I really enjoyed this audiobook!! I’m quite new to audiobooks and was happy to try with this book!
I loved the story line and the voices brought it all to life!!

This is like an adult, dark vampire fantasy version of Cinderella. It started a bit slow but the story really picks up. The narrators do a great job (Ella's narrator especially).

I want to make sure I reiterate that it is pretty dark. It's not the darkest book I have read, but the FMC really goes through a lot of physical and emotional abuse.

There was a little spice. Just the right amount. I only wish we got a little more story from the side characters, and more revenge haha.
Overall the book was very enjoyable and i would definitely recommend it to friends

Unfortunately, I struggled to get through this story—mostly because I found the narration difficult to enjoy.
I don’t feel like I can give it a completely fair review, as that aspect really distracted me throughout.

I loved the Cinderella retelling with vampires! I also
Loved the narrator. Thank you so much for the arc!

I really enjoyed this darker retelling of Cinderella and how they pulled in a fantasy aspect with the vampires. It was so well done with a great balance or originality bit still help the nostalgia of the Disney telling. I truly loved how much the main characters stood out to me and how I was able to see Ella change and grow. I loved the weaving of the magic, witches and vampires. It was so well written and straightforward. The narration of this Audiobook was steady and really brought the story to life.

Thank you NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

A new type of retelling, which I have to say I enjoyed.

I'm not really a fan of Cinderella's story, but this retelling was pretty damn good!
The authors did a great job with their characters and the action of the book.
I went in kind of blind, just read the description, that it was a retelling (and I love retellings), that it had vampires and witches, and I was sold! I was surprised when I heard the smut!

The narrators did a great job, giving voice to the characters, immersing us into the story with the change in their voice, depending on the character's emotions.

All in all, it's a quick read and the audio version is amazing!

This is the book my vampire-loving, fairytale-reading heart needed!! The audio is fantastic! I love how the narrators capture emotion. This is a Cinderella retelling with all the best Romantasy feels and it has vampires! And the vampire dynamic has a unique spin to it that I loved. Ella in search for her sister encounters a dark and alluring vampire lord, so right off the bat I was in 🙌🏻 I love how brave and sassy Ella is and how that affects the MMC. It made for a fun dynamic. The way the enemies to lovers played out with all the steamy tension, made for an exciting read. I loved the magic system and the high stakes plot. All around a win.

❤️‍🔥 mine
❤️‍🔥 dark & broody MMC
❤️‍🔥 vampire
❤️‍🔥 steamy tension
❤️‍🔥 enemies to lovers
❤️‍🔥 slow burn
❤️‍🔥 mysterious magic
❤️‍🔥 Cinderella retelling
❤️‍🔥 touch her and ☠️
❤️‍🔥 crawl to him
❤️‍🔥 meddling old woman

🌶️🌶️ open door, descriptive
(🌶️chapter )
(🌶️🌶️chapter 66)

*language and spicy language

I'm not usually one to binge-listen to an audiobook, but Reign of Cinders and Glass had me from the very first chapter. I loved the way the author intertwined the classic story of Cinderella with a supernatural, vampiric realm.
I felt quite mixed when it came to the narrators, though. I loved the female narrator, I felt that she captured Ella's character and emotions beautifully, expressing her perfectly. However, Cassius' narrator was quite disappointing. I felt he had a very monotonous and uninterested tone throughout the whole audiobook, like he was simply reading off a script, offering no real way to feel connected to Cassius. Though I loved understanding things from Cassius' point of view, getting through the chapters with the narrator felt like a drag.
I also adored how Ella wasn't written as some sort of damsel in distress, as most FMC's usually are nowadays. It was a nice refreshment following the story of a valiant, headstrong character who wasn't afraid to speak her mind.
The ending was extremely well resolved and I couldn't be happier to have had the chance to listen to this book, so thank you to the author and Dreamscape Media for giving me the chance to listen to Reign of Cinders and Glass, I'm looking forward to any new and upcoming books by Lindsey Hall.

Secret missions. With a hidden resistance and a complex societal system, and it's a fairy tale retelling where Cinderella meets Vampires? Say less!

That, and when I saw Jesse Vilinsky narrating? I was sold. As always, she was phenomenal. I love how she always makes each character stand out, and in this tale, 100/10 perfect. I wasn't familiar with Daniel Henning, but I loved all of his voices as well! They complement each other perfectly and gave life to Reign of Cinders and Glass. Honestly? No notes. They were exceptional.

The story was engaging, and I appreciated the subverted trope of the "evil" stepmother! (She cares even if she is insanely misguided.) Siggi is amazing too god. As I briefly mentioned, the complex societal caste system between humans and vampires was well thought out, making the spy reconnaissance plot shine. Ella was a very likable heroine. Cassius was a broody but a nice hero. The side characters were great. This was a lot of fun.

Thank you, NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and especially the authors for the ALC, in exchange for my honest review.

This Cinderella reimagining takes a bold leap into a world full of magic, vampires, secret legacies, and rebellion—and honestly, I was here for all of it. It flips the classic fairy tale on its head in some really clever ways. For starters, Ella's infamous stepsisters? Not actually related to her, but still manage to make her life miserable. And her real sister? She’s none other than Belle—yes, that Belle—which opens the door to even more fairy tale crossovers. While Belle’s role is more of a teaser in this book, I can’t help but think her story is just getting started and might be the focus of the next installment.

Even though there’s a lot happening, it never felt too overwhelming. The plot kept me hooked with unexpected twists and juicy revelations that added depth without derailing the main story. I loved the unique spin on familiar characters and the way the worldbuilding slowly peeled back its layers. It’s the kind of story where every chapter leaves you wanting to know more. I’m already counting down the days until book two drops—I need more magic, more secrets, and definitely more of this darkly enchanting world.

I fell in love with Reign of Cinders and Glass. It’s a haunting, romantic Cinderella retelling with a deliciously dark vampire twist. Ella is bold, vulnerable, and completely unforgettable. Her chemistry with Cassius crackles, and their slow-burn tension kept me hooked. The audiobook was mostly excellent—Jesse Vilinsky shone as Ella, though I preferred reading Cassius’s chapters. Magical, fierce, and full of heart, this is a must-read for fans of fairy tales with a bite.

I completely adored Reign of Cinders and Glass. From the very first page, I was swept into its hauntingly beautiful world. I’ve read many Cinderella retellings, but none have lingered in my heart quite like this one. What made this story shine so brightly was Ella. She felt like a fresh bloom in a familiar garden, bold and spirited while still carrying the quiet grace and timeless charm of the Cinderella we all know.

She was unafraid to speak her mind, to stand tall even when everything around her tried to tear her down. Yet beneath her strength was a softness that made her so deeply human. I fell for her instantly. And when Cassius first called her "Cinder," I genuinely squealed. I won’t spoil how the name comes about, but it was impossibly sweet and made my heart melt into a little puddle.

The vampire element added such a deliciously dark layer to the story. It gave everything a richer, more dangerous texture, like velvet soaked in moonlight. I couldn’t get enough of it.

Cassius, oh Cassius. He was not the typical fairy tale prince, and thank goodness for that. There was a deep mystery to him, a storm always brewing just beneath the surface. He never revealed too much, and I found myself hanging on to every glance, every word, desperate to understand him. His dynamic with Ella crackled with tension and unspoken longing. It was the kind of chemistry that makes your chest tighten and your breath catch.

Watching Ella grow throughout the story was one of my favorite parts. She transforms into someone fierce and radiant, a girl who refuses to cower in the face of cruelty. Instead, she rises. And along the way, she begins to discover pieces of herself that she never knew existed, adding even more depth to her journey.

Now, onto the audiobook. Jesse Vilinsky was absolutely wonderful as Ella. She brought her to life with such emotion and clarity that I felt like Ella was speaking directly to me. Her voice held so much strength and vulnerability, it gave me chills.

Cassius’s narrator, Daniel Henning, didn’t quite work for me. Through Ella’s perspective, Cassius came across as sultry and enigmatic, full of quiet intensity. But when he spoke in his own chapters, his voice felt oddly loud and flustered, as if he were constantly on edge. It pulled me out of the story more than once. Eventually, I ended up reading his chapters instead of listening so I could preserve the quiet mystery I had imagined.

Even with that small issue, I can’t recommend this book enough. Reign of Cinders and Glass was everything I wanted and more. It was romantic and dark, fierce and tender, filled with magic and aching vulnerability. If you love fairy tales with a bite, heroines who shine like firelight, and love interests who leave you breathless, then this is a story you won’t want to miss.

Reign of Cinders and Glass is a dark, imaginative retelling of Cinderella—complete with vampires, blood politics, and a bold heroine who refuses to play by the rules.

At first, I was ready to write Belle off as naïve (seriously, who volunteers to live under the thumb of vampires?), but she surprised me. What seemed like a foolish choice quickly revealed itself as the first step of a larger, layered journey. Belle grows into a strong, determined character who doesn’t cower in the face of cruelty. In fact, she pushes back. And as the story unfolds, she even uncovers truths about herself that add depth and intrigue to her arc.

Then there’s Prince Cassius—mysterious, unreadable, and so much more than the typical cardboard prince you’d expect in a fairy tale. His dynamic with Belle is compelling, filled with tension and unspoken motives. You’re never quite sure what game he’s playing, but his behavior around her hints at a complexity I really enjoyed.

As for the audiobook narration:
Jesse Vilinsky did a great job voicing Belle. Her performance captured Belle’s inner strength and resilience in a way that made the character feel vivid and alive. Daniel Henning, who narrated Cassius’s chapters, didn’t always work for me. There were moments where the delivery felt off or too flat, though when Cassius was speaking more calmly or without intense emotion, his voice fit the tone better. It wasn’t bad, but it didn’t quite elevate Cassius the way I hoped.

This book was fun, moody, and packed with fresh takes on old tropes. If you’re into vampire intrigue, rebellious heroines, and slow-burn tension, Reign of Cinders and Glass is definitely worth a read.

Enemies to lovers Cinderella fantasy. Loved the characters and they came to life through the audible version of this sorry. Thanks to NetGalley for the early audiobook arc!