YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

It’s 200 years after Cinderella found her prince, but the fairy tale is over. Teen girls are now required to appear at the Annual Ball, where the men of the kingdom select wives based on a girl’s display of finery. If a suitable match is not found, the girls not chosen are never heard from again.

Sixteen-year-old Sophia would much rather marry Erin, her childhood best friend, than parade in front of suitors. At the ball, Sophia makes the desperate decision to flee, and finds herself hiding in Cinderella’s mausoleum. There, she meets Constance, the last known descendant of Cinderella and her step sisters. Together they vow to bring down the king once and for all–and in the process, they learn that there’s more to Cinderella’s story than they ever knew . . .

This fresh take on a classic story will make readers question the tales they’ve been told, and root for girls to break down the constructs of the world around them.

I'm starting later today :)

Chapter 11 -(view spoiler)[ Good start so far. I understand the history behind the ball without having the book go into great long detail. I like Luke and Sophia's friend, Erin. I'm anxious to learn more about what is happening to the people who are "disappearing." (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

I've started reading and almost finished the book in one sitting (about 30 pages left). The story is so captivating! I left 30 pages only because it was time to sleep and I'm really glad I've started reading it on weekend.
(view spoiler)[
Unique dark Cinderella retelling and I love the idea. Though I really love the original story with all these stereotypes, I'm also in love with this one.
We have always been told that being straight is normal but being a bisexual or gay is not and I always felt strange about this thing, never understood why the gender matters. Also my family is pretty open-minded and I'm happy they've showed me that there is no shame in being different. Now the world develops and becomes more open that even the classic Cinderella story has its own LGBTQ retelling.
The two things I didn't like is that some characters are quite plain and inequality. The king is just evil and nothing more, some other male characters are also so mean and evil. And no mean women? I wanted the story to be somewhat equal. Feels like author hates men in general.
(hide spoiler)]

@Katie I also loved Erin at the beginning, but (view spoiler)[author didn't develop her line much, it felt like she was in the story just to show us from the beginning that the MC is different to others. And even the moment when Sophia goes to visit her is a bit underdeveloped. There could be much more to this part of the story. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 21- (view spoiler)[ Wow! This is taking off! So much to comment on! I love Constance and her directness and her being related to one of the step sisters is a very neat twist. They just found the witches house (fairy godmothers) so I’m very interested in what she knows.

I still really want to know more about Luke and what caused Liv’s hair to turn white before she died.

Really enjoying this!

(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 24- (view spoiler)[ Very cool backstory with the twist about Prince Charming actually being all the different kings. I hope we hear more about how that happened instead of it being unexplained. (hide spoiler)]

@Katie I'm glad you're enjoying the book. I've enjoyed reading too and finished yesterday.

Final thoughts
(view spoiler)[
I also had the questions you're talking about and was a bit disappointed on how the story turned out. With such a building it could at least not be so blunt.
And what I really miss here is second lines/characters development (Luke and Erin especially).
(hide spoiler)]

Elena wrote: "@Katie I also loved Erin at the beginning, but [spoilers removed]"

Yeah...I completely agree with this!! (view spoiler)[ I was really disappointed with Erin's character and felt like her meeting with Sophia towards the end felt a little out of place. (hide spoiler)]

Elena wrote: "@Katie I'm glad you're enjoying the book. I've enjoyed reading too and finished yesterday.

Final thoughts

..."

Yes! (view spoiler)[ Unfortunately, this one fell a little flat for me as well. I didn't dislike it, but I also didn't love it. It was just "okay" for me. I felt like it started strong, but it really was all over the place for me towards the last half. (hide spoiler)]

But thanks for reading it with me, and I enjoyed your thoughts!!

@Katie though it wasn't as good as I expected, I enjoyed reading it! So thank you too for reading with me. Actually I had lots of fun reading it.
And you totally right! The beginning was strong and if the end was at the same level the book could be even a 5-star read.

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Date changed. Restarting November 5th 2020. Happy Reading ☺

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Chapter 2 (view spoiler)[ It's like Cinderella's book is kind of a bible to them, interesting concept. There's not much to know about so far, but I think it's gonna be a fun read. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 5 (view spoiler)[ What a hard chapter to read! It's funny - not really - that even though their society is built up over a woman's life/tale, they're still treated like property of men. I feel suffocated just like Sophie while reading. (hide spoiler)]

26% (view spoiler)[ I’m actually loving this so far. I love how Luke is willing to claim her so they can be a ruse and find a way to leave. (hide spoiler)]

Tayane wrote: "Chapter 2 [spoilers removed]"

Agreed! (view spoiler)[ I do wish we knew more about this world. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 13 (view spoiler)[ They really killed Liv! I thought they would keep her locked up somewhere, but it's all so sad. And what did they do to her for her hair to become white, it's so weird. I wonder what happened to Luke. (hide spoiler)]

Krystal wrote: "26% [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I was actually expecting him to do that, and he really did. Too bad he put himself in danger because of that. I'm curious to know what Sophia will do now. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 22 (view spoiler)[ So Charming and Manford (and all the other kings in between) are the same person! It's not exactly what I was thinking, but it makes sense. Maybe finding out what makes him become young again and destroying it might be the key for killing him, kinda like an horcrux. Amina is a nice character, I hope she finds a way to help the girls destroy him. (hide spoiler)]

Tayane wrote: "Krystal wrote: "26% [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I really hope he shows up later in the book. (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I was expecting Amina to betray the girls somehow, and she really did it. I wasn't expecting her to be Manford's mother though, but it makes sense, and I think she was really playing both sides, because to me she "attacked" Sophia willingly so she would kill her.

I really liked this book, the feminist stands were well done, and overall is was a great story to read. There are some hints of Snow White's story at some points, it would be really nice if the author wrote a book about it. (hide spoiler)]

50% (view spoiler)[ Things are really happening very fast. I can't believe they found the 'fairy' that fast! (hide spoiler)]

Tayane wrote: "Chapter 22 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I definitely don't dislike Amina for what she did, despite how horrible everything has turned out. I do hope she redeems herself. And the same person! That is wild for sure! (hide spoiler)]

60% (view spoiler)[ How did the King just randomly visit the witch! I don't think she told or anything but that was definitely weird. (hide spoiler)]

76% (view spoiler)[ Hm, I'm not sure about this plan of just going in and killing. I'm glad they are really trying to figure something about before just doing it. This is happening at superspeed. (hide spoiler)]

Finished. (view spoiler)[ While I'm disappointed in Amina, we needed that little bit of betrayal for the story. I'm glad this book was wrapped up nicely with not a lot of lingering thoughts. I enjoyed it! (hide spoiler)]

Tayane wrote: "Finished I was expecting Amina to betray the girls somehow, and she really did it. I wasn't expecting her to be Manford's mother though, but it makes sense, and I think she was really playing both..."

Yes! (view spoiler)[ A version of Snow White would be perfect! And have some inklings of this book in it. I really enjoyed this as well too. (hide spoiler)]

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Date changed. Restarting February 13th 2024. Happy Reading ☺

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Omg I'm so sorry for my updates lmao, I ended up hating this book.

Ch 8
(view spoiler)[Alright interesting start! Cinderella is dead & the girls are now forced to attend some sort of ball, but the girl is in love with Erin. So they’re all like a cult - they have to believe in Cinderella’s story and the idea of getting something good like her if they listen to the men. That sucks. I don’t like Erin at all tbh. I’m glad her mother doesn’t really want this either tho :( I already like Luke, she should marry him - is he gay too? Poor Seamstress and her son damn.

I really like Luke (although I hate his name because it’s my ex’s lmao), he is indeed into guys & wants to run too. I do feel bad for Sophia and how she has to become this person that she isn’t, but I also don’t know if I care. She doesn’t really have any depth besides ‘our world is wrong I’m a rebel!’

Cinderella died young - did she get killed? I don’t trust Prince Charming either lol. It seems stupid to trust a random seamstress’ potion what the fuck, they don’t even know what’s inside. Don’t care about Erin at all, already over her character. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 15
(view spoiler)[Sophia kinda annoys me, she’s unnecessarily looking for trouble and honestly being quite a brat to literally everyone. I’m also quite sick of her talk of leaving, which she does nearly every sentence, and then proceed not to do it. She isn’t as badass as she thinks she is ugh.

They took Liv damn. Omg no not Luke dammit, that was her one way out. She ran ugh. Does she not care about her father?! Breaking the rules means that he’ll suffer as the head of house right. She sucks. She should’ve freed the prisoners too ugh.

She just tells Constance every secret she’s been hiding for years, of course 🙄🙄🙄 gosh this is too YA for my liking. Completely agree with her father ngl, she sucks and only thinks of herself. Duh Liv is dead. But what happened to her and what’s that state she’s in? Uh what, Constance is a descendant of one of the stepsisters - but that doesn’t make her Cinderella’s family huh? I thought her father never married her stepmother but ok. I do like that Cinderella’s family actually stood against Charming & even her stepmother was good! Cinderella clearly went to Charming to kill him from the inside how stupid are these people. And was the fairy godmother evil then? The ‘real’ story is so vague. Wtf she was obsessed with Erin but forgot all about her as soon as she saw Constance, that’s weird as shit. The pacing and development is so off. Not impressed so far. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 24
(view spoiler)[That’s a waste of her necklace but ok. Yeah that Émile girl of the rebels is clearly the one in the cells & still alive but ok. It honestly doesn’t make sense that she’d do all this to ‘save her kingdom’ because she didn’t care for it anyway. Idk, it’s falling flat on me. Erin is betrothed to Édouard damn. Kinda bullshit that she won’t leave honestly, but of course Sophia doesn’t care about Erin’s family because she’s selfish af.

Ahhhh damn the seamstress! She didn’t even help her but got executed for it - although her defiance was nice. And now they’re going into the White Woods, which does have potential. I’m ready for it to pick up bc I’m really not liking it honestly, the entire world and the characters fall flat - we still don’t even know where the kings come from, whether Luke survived and it’s so odd. The romance is SO off too, there’s basically no buildup wtf.

The crow is probably connected to the witch tho. Duh it’s the same man on the throne, knew it - the story was just too weird. They were so stupid. Of course two teenagers who are literally children who know nothing of the world, will defeat this ancient evil king. Gosh. SO surprised cinderella went there to kill him wow didn’t expect that at all 🙄 I wonder whether cinderella is still alive and in that palace prison honestly.

And now they’re going to bring cinderella back from the death? This book is all over the place what the actual fuck, another popular book that’s terribly written. Suddenly that’s possible, while we’ve barely heard of magic before this. I’m so done, let it be over. I’m also sick of Constance’s attititude towards Amina, she and Sophia deserve each other fuck off. As if you’ve done anything.

And the AMAZING Sophia ofc makes Amina change her mind because SHE’S SO GOOD (forgetting the fact that she hasn’t done anything AT ALL and let everyone else burn (Erin, her parents, Luke). I’m so. Fucking. Done. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 31
(view spoiler)[I'm skipping over entire paragraphs now, I truly don’t get how this book has been so hyped. What is up with tiktok people who’ve apparently never read a book before, saying that the book is amazing while it’s TERRIBLE like some teenage wattpad story. Omg I'm sorry, I'm justso done with these hyped books, not touching them again.

So sick of Constance and Amina’s bickering as if Amina is a fucking child instead of an ancient witch. This is all so weird and out of nowhere. Poor horse :( she gave that random guy belladonna berries, saying that isn’t toxic - but that’s just as toxic as the roots so that’s fucking bullshit. Cinderella looks the same as Liv did, I’m guessing the king takes their life energy or some shit? That was kinda obvious since Sophia mentioned him looking more alive after coming back to the ball in the beginning already.

Well there was literally no point of bringing cinderella back at all, she didn’t really tell them anything. They’re going back to Cinderella’s house. Ugh everything they do and say just annoys me, their ‘were going to save the world’ speech is absolute bullshit and the buildup has been terrible. The Erin part is SUCH bullshit as well, she’s only mentioned when it’s convenient for Sophia and she literally doesn’t ever think about her really, only when she’s trying to make herself feel better after drooling over Constance nonstop. Bull. I truly don’t know if I can do this for 60 more pages. It’s bs that Sophia will have to kill the king, she has literally NO SKILLS but of course she’ll defeat an ancient king. This is TERRIBLE. (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[Why on earth would she go to see Erin, that’s fucking stupid and so unnecessary, clearly just to progress the plot and let her be taken. LMAO go Erin you’re right, Sophia isn’t special at all but she does think that lmao. Yeah easy to say she chose Constantine now hm? After you’ve spoken to Erin? Fuck off.

Surprise, their stupid ass plan didn’t work. Surprise, it’s Émile in the prison omg how obvious was that. Gosh my eyes actually hurt from rolling them this much. I didn’t expect to hate this book so much. Of course she immediately found Cinderella’s bedroom, as if the castle isn’t massive and exists of 3000 rooms ugh. Damn Cinderella’s handwriting is pretty ngl lol.

Surprised Luke is alive actually. Woah Amina is Charming's mother? Okay I have to admit, I didn’t see that coming. Just kill Amina then, that’ll kill Manford too then right? Seriously, she just easily killed Manford? Sure ugh. And now everyone just listens to them and stands up to the men all of a sudden🙄 ugh.

The story was a convenient way to show us the future, Constance is now queen and everyone listens to the changes and the little rebellions were easily stopped. Sure. But I mean, how will it ACTUALLY work? Equal rights, but how. The men won't just give them jobs and treat them well all of a sudden, but they're acting as though that's what happened. So unrealistic. Plus, where did they live if the palace burned down? Did they rebuild it? And do they have an army, of what exactly? Gosh and I wanted to see Luke and his happy ending, which we didn’t really get, and Erin? We literally didn’t see them (or well we did see Luke), besides the fact that they made Morris etc stand trial. Yeah, not happy with the vagueness of this world, the bad character development/relationship development, the lack of likeable characters, the Mary Sueness of Sophia and just overall this bullshit. I was a little surprised by Amina, but I didn’t like it besides that. Disappointed. (hide spoiler)]