book data
474 ratings, 3.91 average rating, 125 reviews
(more data...)
edit
published
March 6th 2007
by Simon Pulse
binding
Paperback, 208 pages
isbn
1416934715
(isbn13: 9781416934714)
description
"ONCE UPON A TIME"
IS TIMELESS
Etienne de Brabant is brokenhearted. His wife has died in childbirth, leaving him alone with...more
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of this book.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »
friend reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 767)
Read in January, 2008
What a pleasant surprise for any lover of retellings of fairy tales!
I feared this small book, one of the "Once Upon A Time" series, would be a poorly written disappointment. Instead, it was a well written twist on the Cindrella story. It achieved two ends: 1. The writing style captures the magic that fairy-tale readers long for; and 2. The intriguing analysis of the father, the first wife, and the step-mother adds the new dimension to the old tale.
I plan to read more of the ser
I feared this small book, one of the "Once Upon A Time" series, would be a poorly written disappointment. Instead, it was a well written twist on the Cindrella story. It achieved two ends: 1. The writing style captures the magic that fairy-tale readers long for; and 2. The intriguing analysis of the father, the first wife, and the step-mother adds the new dimension to the old tale.
I plan to read more of the ser
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
1 comment
Read in August, 2008
I love it when fairy tales are retold in a way that makes them make so much more sense. This is one of those books. Strangely enough, it also has a magical realism tint to things. For instance, tears cause plants to grow, anger causes a tree to die. The only faults I could find was that sometimes the magical realism was too heavy and that people seemed to fall in love too simply.
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
I am definitely a fairy tale groupie (is that possible?!) and I enjoyed this new take on Cinderella. Wicked is one of my favorite books and it too was a different take on the usual story. Lessons in how a situation can be interpreted in many different ways depending on who and how it is explained.
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in March, 2008
I love Cinderella stories – from Cinder Edna (Ellen Jackson), Ella Enchanted (Gail Carson Levine), and the Princess Diaries books through “Ever After.” There are a ton of picture-book versions: one where all the characters are made of flowers, a jazz-age flapper Cinderella, dogs photographed in ball gowns. My favorites feature plucky, not passive, Cinderellas. Before Midnight’s heroine, Cendrillon, is more on the passive side for my tastes, but otherwise there is...more
Like this review?
yes
3 comments
It was really a mediocre retelling of Cinderella, with some good pieces of writing scattered throughout. Fairytale-wise, a three, characters, 2 and 1/2, while the whole thing with Raoul (spellcheck?) was a bit disturbing to say nothing else. This whole series is a bunch of hit and misses, but I love that they are trying to find new takes on these clasics and I always love a new fairytale.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in October, 2008
Oh my goodness! This was probably my favorite book in this series. At least so far. This is by the same author who *never* ends a sentence with a preposition and although that wasn't as obvious this time around, the plot was so intriguing, that I savored this book longer than I would have normally. I was okay putting it down as that would make it last longer. :-) Cinderella is often the emptiest, most hopeless story. This poor woman who is raised without anyone to love her. This one was ...more
Like this review?
yes
2 comments
Read in September, 2008
I really liked this book. Was there any doubt of that though? It was a Cinderella story! And I loved that the stepmother and stepsisters were not the "enemies." I liked the twists that this story had compared with the original tale. I liked all the French names, because I knew how to pronounce them! And, as the author said, it was in tribute to Charles Perrault. She even used his Cinderella's name for the main character.
The only thing I didn't like--close to nauseating, actually--...more
The only thing I didn't like--close to nauseating, actually--...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2008
recommends it for:
fairy tale fans
Her mother dies giving birth to her, something that Cendrillon's father cannot forgive. Soon after Cendrillon is born, her father leaves her in the care of the housekeeper, Old Mathilde. He also drops off a baby boy. He won't say who the boy is, only that he must never leave the estate.
Cendrillon eventually wishes for a mother and sisters to love her, and is shocked when a stepmother soon arrives, along with two sisters. Cendrillon's father has not told his new wife that he has a daughte...more
Cendrillon eventually wishes for a mother and sisters to love her, and is shocked when a stepmother soon arrives, along with two sisters. Cendrillon's father has not told his new wife that he has a daughte...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Cameron Dokey's retelling of Cinderella is quite creative and it was very fun to read; however, when I got to the end of the book I felt like it was missing a couple of winding-up chapters. I don't really care for long, drawn out endings, but I felt like there were a couple of plot holes that were still a little too deep to let the book just end. I had the same feeling with "Golden" and I can't decide if it is the author or publisher because the beginnings of the novels are very desc...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 2008
This was a fast, easy to read story that was perfect for a lazy afternoon. However, I didn't feel the characters were very well-developed. The ending came too quickly, and didn't describe much of the 'ever after', which is the part I enjoy more of fairy tale alterations. There was also, for me, not much surprise to it. I knew how the book would end almost before I picked it up.
That being said, it is good if you need a fluffy, feel-good read or if you like fairy tales with a more convent...more
That being said, it is good if you need a fluffy, feel-good read or if you like fairy tales with a more convent...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2008
This piece of fiction is fantastically written and very much a "gripper," difficult to put down. I never imagined I'd read a semi-realistic Cinderella story that would be as deeply thought out and filled with so many clever surprises! Plus, I love fiction novels that are set in times when Ladies were lady-like and proper, Lords of the manor were absent and mysterious and people still travelled on horseback and in horse-drawn carriages. (ie. Emily Bronte types) There was one thing I eas...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in June, 2008
recommended to Alisa by:
Kerirecommends it for: anyone who wants a quick, fun read!
This book is 193 pages so it's perfect when you want a quick read. Cameron Dokey is a great writer, and this book is the retelling of Cinderella (she actually uses the French version of the name, Cendrillon). In her Author's Note, the author explains that she went back to some of the earlier versions of Cinderella where her father is alive the whole story. Instead of good guys and bad guys like we have in the traditional Cinderella story, the author does a great job of giving all the characte...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
recommended to Esther by:
Nicole
This book was by far my favorite in the series. This paticular author is pretty good and this was her best book out of the several I read. I recommend this as a good, quick fun fairy tale although as the author points out there are not any faires in this realm of the kingdom.
Although I'm not sure what I think about "love at first sight" aspects of the book. In her other book about Sleeping Beauty she focuses more on love growing and developing. In her Rapunzel book she does ha...more
Although I'm not sure what I think about "love at first sight" aspects of the book. In her other book about Sleeping Beauty she focuses more on love growing and developing. In her Rapunzel book she does ha...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2007
recommended to Rachel by:
Aliya; I know you hated it too, hah.recommends it for: No one in particular, unless you want something to rant about.
I, in my romance-loving mind, detested this book. It honestly wouldn't have been so depressing if their Cinderella hadn't gone with the prince whom she'd known for about an hour! The only problem that I have with some of these retellings is that although you can figure out the couples, sometimes you get mixed up and expect something different - and something logical. "Love-at-first-sight" isn't logical, therefore, this book kind of annoyed me. These retellings are either hit or miss in...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
What a smart, fun young adult book! I definitely prefer this version of the Cinderella story to the ones we so often hear. Great for anyone who enjoys young adult fiction, who is looking for a good book for young women readers(12 or 13 and up) or loves the happily ever after story. If you read this one be sure to read the authors note in the back of the book, preferably before you read the book, it explains some things regarding the original fairy tale. I will be reading more of the "Onc...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2008
recommended to Liz by:
Liz Coxrecommends it for: anyone who likes Cinderella
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in March, 2008
This was a joyous take on the classic script and I was really impressed with the characters and the writer. It was easy for me to get lost in the book, which is all I really ask for, and I finished it in one day.
Although, I had a hot and cold feeling toward Old Mathilde. As the Fairy Godmother, she should have been more supportive. I dunno about any other Fairy Godmothers who allow Cinderella to be kidnapped.
All in all, I really enjoyed this read.
Although, I had a hot and cold feeling toward Old Mathilde. As the Fairy Godmother, she should have been more supportive. I dunno about any other Fairy Godmothers who allow Cinderella to be kidnapped.
All in all, I really enjoyed this read.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
readers who enjoy fairy tales retold
I really enjoyed this unusual retelling of the Cinderella fairy tale. Dokey redeems the character of the "evil stepmother" in favor of showing us the mystery of Cinderella's absent father and finding the true source of her unhappiness. The unusual magic surrounding Cendrillon's (as she is called in this one) childhood home added extra depth and fantasy to a familiar story. I had a hard time putting it down.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
This book is awesome!!! Not only did it retell Cinderella in such an unpredictable way, it leaves no time for the readers to yawn and wander off!!! Readers will find themselves reconsidering the role of stepmothers in fairy tales as they discover that the fathers (who often abandons their daughters to the hand of the evil mothers) sometimes play a less-than-pleasant role in the fairy tale.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in October, 2007
i really liked this retelling. the ending had a twist that i really enjoyed. i really liked the relationship between the two main characters. i also appreciated the reason that "Cinderella" was doing all of the chores for her stepsisters. i didn't give it the full number of stars because there were too many examples of "love at first sight". i just thought it should be more rare.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
to-read
(on 310 people's shelves)
currently-reading (on 32 people's shelves)
fantasy (on 27 people's shelves)
young-adult (on 20 people's shelves)
fairy-tales (on 9 people's shelves)
fiction (on 6 people's shelves)
romance (on 6 people's shelves)
fairy-tale (on 6 people's shelves)
ya (on 5 people's shelves)
teen (on 5 people's shelves)
More shelves...
currently-reading (on 32 people's shelves)
fantasy (on 27 people's shelves)
young-adult (on 20 people's shelves)
fairy-tales (on 9 people's shelves)
fiction (on 6 people's shelves)
romance (on 6 people's shelves)
fairy-tale (on 6 people's shelves)
ya (on 5 people's shelves)
teen (on 5 people's shelves)
More shelves...
quotes from this book
"Love so joyfully and freely given can never be taken away. It is never truly gone."
More quotes...
groups with this book
