NetGalley Review: Cinderella Is Dead – Kalynn Bayron

My rating: 4.5/5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

It’s 200 years since Cinderella found her prince … but the fairytale is over.

Sophia knows the story though, off by heart. Because every girl has to recite it daily, from when she’s tiny until the night she’s sent to the royal ball for choosing. And every girl knows that she has only one chance. For the lives of those not chosen by a man at the ball … are forfeit.

But Sophia doesn’t want to be chosen. She doesn’t want to go to the ball at all. Not when she’s afraid the girl she loves might be chosen too.

Pushed beyond breaking by a society that denies everything she is, Sophia sets out on a journey that will remake her world … into one where SHE gets to choose.

My thoughts

I was kindly granted this book for review from Bloomsbury Publishing through NetGalley.

This novel was such a powerful read and I was completely blown away by Sophia and her strength. I was captivated by this take on such a well known story that we all love. Cinderella Is Dead put a whole new spin on the fairytale and showed a much darker side to the story.

The romance between Sophia and Constance was crafted beautifully and was so sweet. I loved that there was LGBTQ+ representation in a YA fantasy novel and I definitely think more should be out there. I don’t think the intention of this novel was for it to be an LGBTQ+ romance so I loved that in another genre the representation was still there. It added a great element to this novel and it was so refreshing, in my opinion, more YA novels need LGBTQ+ representation in genres outside of romance.

For me the characters really made this novel. The females in this novel were so strong and empowering as they band together to take down the patriarchy and I loved it! I think it was important that the characters were so well written because the plot line was quite predictable, in the sense that when there was a problem the characters quickly found a way out it, their solutions seemed very convenient. But then again, it’s a fantasy novel based on a fairytale and I understand that I am not the intended audience.

I think this feminist take on Cinderella was so refreshing and something that the YA genre definitely needs. I think it is a novel that is suited to those of all ages as it had an important message about strength. Overall, you definitely need to pick this one up!

Do you have a suggestion for the next book to add to my bookshelf? Let me know in comments.