Cinderella: Ninja Warrior (Twisted Tales, #1) by Maureen McGowan

Apr 22, 2011 Stella rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, for-review, romance, ya

I loved fairy tales as a kid and Cinderella was my absolute favourite (I watched the Disney movie so many times I knew it by heart when I was around 4-5), so of course when I heard about this extraordinary retelling of my favourite childhood fairy tale my curiosity was piqued.

The Twisted Tales series is described as

"Adventurous fairytale adventures where the heroines are very capable of saving themselves, but also get their handsome princes. Fast-paced fun stories, full of danger, adventure an...more

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May 11, 2011 Kristen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, fantasy, romance, wizards

GENRE: YA Fantasy
THEME: Wizards
RECEIVED: Copy from Baker & Taylor Publishing Group
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
DATE POSTED ON BLOG: April 9th

REVIEW:
I’ve always loved the story of Cinderella and her fairy godmother, in the end her evil stepmother and sisters get what they deserve and Cinderella lives happily ever after with the prince. But in this tale Maureen McGowan takes Cinderella and adds a twist of ninja skills mixed with wizards to bring an original aspect to an old tale.
What...more GENRE: YA Fantasy
THEME: Wizards
RECEIVED: Copy from Baker & Taylor Publishing Group
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
DATE POSTED ON BLOG: April 9th

REVIEW:
I’ve always loved the story of Cinderella and her fairy godmother, in the end her evil stepmother and sisters get what they deserve and Cinderella lives happily ever after with the prince. But in this tale Maureen McGowan takes Cinderella and adds a twist of ninja skills mixed with wizards to bring an original aspect to an old tale.
What made this book even more unique than adding wizards and ninja skills, was that you as the reader could choose how Cinderella thinks through the book. There are eight different routes you can take, meaning you can read this book over and over going on different adventures.
Cinderella is eighteen and living with her horrible stepmother and two very annoying stepsisters. As like the original her father died and she was left alone, with her mother passing away long before. So she lives day by day as a servant whose best friend is her cat Max. She dreams of training and working with the magical abilities that she has, as well as improving on her ninja skills.
The story continues with the Prince looking for a new bride, there is the ball where he’ll dance with many girls but also one girl who wins a magic contest held at the palace. If Cinderella wins this contest she’ll get the chance to train with the head Wizard, something she always dreamed of. Plus get a chance to meet the prince, though she’s not really interested in that.
After she meets Ty, he encourages her to find away to get to the contest without getting caught by her stepmother. Ty’s character is fun and witty and has a lot of interest in Cinderella; he was by far my favorite character. Like the original, the story moves on with the addition a magical twists and her evil stepmother who is also a wizard getting in the way of Cinderella’s true happiness.
A great adventure book that had fascinating characters, magic, romance, and the villainous stepmother was insanely evil. I recommend this for any young adult reader because it has a little bit of everything. It’s a quick read that will leave you with a smile.

RECOMMENDATION:
This is a Young Adult novel suited for any age. Fans of Alex Finn and Carolyn Turgeon will definitely enjoy this!

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Feb 20, 2011 Christy (TheReaderBee) added it

Shelves: arcs, ya-series, read-in-2011

Cinderella: Ninja Warrior is a retelling of the classic fairytale Cinderella, with an added mix of wizardy and ninja fighting. Another plus is that the book allows you to chose your own adventure!

After the death of her mom, and then her dad, Cinderella is at the mercy of her evil step-mother and step-sisters. She waits on them hand and foot, and is treated badly in return. She trains in secret, hoping to one day defeat her evil step-mother and escape with her cat, Max, and to one day live happil...more

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Mar 01, 2012 Katy rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars - What a great twist of the classic fairy tale. I really liked it, but I had two problems with it.

1) This book had almost nothing to do with being a ninja warrior. Yeah it was dropped off here and there, but it seems like the book should have been entitled something with magic or wizard instead. And when it was mentioned, McGowan had to say, "with her ninja training" like she's trying to re-emphasize, oh yeah, this is what the book is about. I think the book would have been just as goo...more

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Nov 26, 2012 Historyprincess rated it 5 of 5 stars

Cinderella has long been my favorite fairytale, but I've also longed for a more active version of the heroine. This book has accomplished that feat. Not only is Cinderella a much more active protagonist, you also get to choose at three points in the story what course she takes.

Cinderella is little more than a slave to her stepmother and stepsisters, but she secretly practices magical spells and martial arts with the help of her intelligent, gray cat, Max. When she learns of a magic contest happe...more

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Sep 11, 2012 Stormi (Lightning Book Promotions) rated it 3 of 5 stars

I knew this was going to be different going into the book as I had just read Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Hunter by the same author a couple of weeks ago. Still Cinderella is my favorite fairy tale story and I had a lot of apprehension about reading it, but was still really curious.

In this Cinderella world she is held captive in her home by her wicked stepmother who is a sorcerer and she has cast a spell on the house so that Cinderella can't leave and can only go out into the garden part at night. C...more

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Nov 06, 2011 Wandering Librarians rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, series, ya, fairy-tale

Cinderella's real mother was a powerful wizard, but after her death, Cinderella's father hid her wand. Shortly after he remarried, he died under suspicious circumstances. Now Cinderella is held prisoner in her own house, thanks to her wicked step-mother's black magic, which is illegal in the kingdom. Cinderella bides her time until she can make her escape, training herself to be a ninja warrior and working on developing her magic. Now if only she could find her mother's wand...

When I saw the tit...more Cinderella's real mother was a powerful wizard, but after her death, Cinderella's father hid her wand. Shortly after he remarried, he died under suspicious circumstances. Now Cinderella is held prisoner in her own house, thanks to her wicked step-mother's black magic, which is illegal in the kingdom. Cinderella bides her time until she can make her escape, training herself to be a ninja warrior and working on developing her magic. Now if only she could find her mother's wand...

When I saw the title of this book, I was of course intrigued. Then, when I learned that it was not just Cinderella being a ninja warrior, but also a choose-your-own-adventure story (you know, at some high point in the action it'll say "To do this, go to page whatever, or, to do that, go to this other page"), I was incredibly excited. I used to love choose-your-own-adventure books. They were so ridiculous, so fun. Alas, I was disappointed.

This book took itself way too seriously. Come on now. Cinderella is training to be a ninja warrior? And you've made it a choose-your-own-adventure book? This is not something that anyone would ever take seriously. I was expecting silliness and hijinks at every turn. But no. What I got was a fairly straight-forward Cinderella story, except ninja training and magic are closely related in this world and since Cinderella isn't allowed to study magic, she's practicing becoming and ninja in secret.

At three points in the book, you have the opportunity to make a decision for Cinderella. The problem was, it didn't make any difference what you chose, you always ended up at the same place in the end. So what's the point of that? Why bother writing different paths, which weren't even all that interesting, if she's always going to end up at the exact same point? And the divergent paths weren't very exciting.

Actually, the book as a whole wasn't very exciting. Even when Cinderella is competing in a magic competition, and it's suppose to be nail-bitingly exciting, I was kind of bored. The story just did not catch my interest. It wasn't funny, it wasn't silly, it wasn't exciting, it was just...nothing really. Kind of blah.

This is the first book in a series of "Twisted Tales". I can't say that I'll be looking for the other ones to come out.(less)

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Aug 18, 2011 Christina (A Reader of Fictions) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, dropped-series-graveyard

When I was a kid, I absolutely loved choose your own adventure books. In fact, they were the only Goosebumps books I could bear to read, since I have always been a complete and utter wimp when it came to anything remotely horrific. Additionally, I adore fairy tales, so this new series that does its best to combine the two was impossible to pass up.

Unlike the choose your own ending books of my youth, these books aimed at teens or adults have many less decision points, a sacrifice made for story a...more

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May 27, 2011 Chioma rated it 4 of 5 stars

Cinderella Ninja Warrior is definitely what I call an incredible modern take on a fairy tale. I was engaged the whole time, and even though I know the story Cinderella and it is the basis of this book, that did not take away from the fact that this book is 100% original.

This book was a lot different from Maureen's other "pick your plot" book Sleeping Beauty, Vampire Slayer. The Cinderella plot of this book was evident but with the wizard and magical parts thrown in also, it created a much more i...more Cinderella Ninja Warrior is definitely what I call an incredible modern take on a fairy tale. I was engaged the whole time, and even though I know the story Cinderella and it is the basis of this book, that did not take away from the fact that this book is 100% original.

This book was a lot different from Maureen's other "pick your plot" book Sleeping Beauty, Vampire Slayer. The Cinderella plot of this book was evident but with the wizard and magical parts thrown in also, it created a much more intricate plot. There's the evil stepsisters we know and hate, and there's also a missing very powerful wizarding wand that is nowhere to be found. And of course a local "messenger boy" whom has his eye on a certain main character.

When I say the characters make the book, I really mean it. I loved the characters in this book. Not so much the evil step siblings and stepmother, but Ty and Cinderella really made the book for me. Everything between them seemed so natural. I mean there is a way to be charming and not make it seem like its some kind of player's act, and Ty does so very well in this book. I mean how could Cinderella not fall for him. He was just so gentlemanly without being too formal or boring, and he also had some wit to him that just makes him all the more of a great male character.

As with Maureen's book Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer, this one is also a "pick your plot" book and for some reason I loved it in this book so much more. I felt like even though I was making the decision for the book while reading, I didn't feel like I was losing the character in my decisions if that make sense. It was so much fun in this book because the romance was a bigger role, you got to make the decisions on how Cinderella and Ty went about their encounters. Because of this book, I think I am definitely going to be on the look out for more "pick you plot" kinds of books. I can still remember the instances where I was like contemplating for minutes over which route I should take. And then when I finished the book I went and took all the routes that I didn't choose. And it was just as much fun the second time around!

I definitely think this was an incredible "remake" of a classic fairy tale. It was engaging and fun to read, and the romance was incredibly sweet and believable. All in all, a very exciting book.

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May 23, 2011 Nicola rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, no-longer-own

Reason for Reading: I enjoy fairytale retellings and when I was offered this book it just sounded like plain fun.

I'm glad I read Sleeping Beauty first as it gave me heart to keep plugging away with this one which was not as good as Sleeping Beauty at all. The very basic premise of Cinderella has been kept. Well-off girl's father dies and leaves her in the charge of her evil stepmother and nasty stepsisters. Though they are not ugly on outside, just on the inside. Cinderella becomes the servant a...more Reason for Reading: I enjoy fairytale retellings and when I was offered this book it just sounded like plain fun.

I'm glad I read Sleeping Beauty first as it gave me heart to keep plugging away with this one which was not as good as Sleeping Beauty at all. The very basic premise of Cinderella has been kept. Well-off girl's father dies and leaves her in the charge of her evil stepmother and nasty stepsisters. Though they are not ugly on outside, just on the inside. Cinderella becomes the servant and is treated more like a slave and a prisoner. Until the night of the ball, when Cinderella tries to get away, not because she wants to attend the ball though but because she wants to enter the competitions being held first during the day, one of them ninja/magic skills to win training with the royal wizard. And here is where we leave the traditional tale behind. Cinderella's step-mom is an evil black magic wizard and she is keeping Cinderella a prisoner with the use of entrapment spells which don't allow her to leave the house of her own volition. The stepmother is sure Cinderella knows where her real mother's wand is (an incredibly powerful object) hidden but alas Cinderella has no clue. Cinderella has inherited some natural talent from her mother, a great wizard in her own right, and with the help of her cat Max, has been training in both her ninja and magic skills secretly.

This story was just ok for me. For the first half the step-mother's evil had no opposition and it became tiring. There was also an obvious case of mistaken identity that dragged on for the whole book it became silly that the reveal was not made. I enjoyed the book much more once circumstances chanced in the last half of the story allowing the step-mother's opposition to come forward. The characters weren't as fun or engaging as those in Sleeping Beauty either; I really had no feeling for them either way. The only character whom I had any feelings for was the second step-sister, who was a minor character being in the shadow of her more dominant older sister. This step-sister did behave in a way that showed she felt for Cinderella and was a victim herself of her mother's abusive upbringing. Those looking for fairy tale romance, however, will be much happier with Cinderella than Sleeping Beauty as the love story starts early and becomes a vital part of the plot and the solution. Overall, a fun, if simple, tale that will satisfy romance fans.

One quibble, that really annoys me actually, is the cover which has nothing to do with the book. Cinderella never wears a gown in the story, nobody, let alone Cinderella, ever uses swords and at no time was Cinderella ever wandering around a castle with a candle wearing said gown and carrying said sword. The cover does not in any way convey the title "Ninja Warrior" to me. The cover should have shown Cinderella in her ninja outfit she wears to go to the ninja/magic competition & ball. Plus she should be carrying either a wand or a form of stick, both of which she makes use of during the book.

Final results: Loved Sleeping Beauty, tolerated Cinderella. Would I read a new book in the series? Yes, I'm pretty sure I would give the next book a chance. (less)

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May 19, 2011 Jenn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Original review here: http://booksatmidnight.blogspot.com/2...

CINDERELLA: NINJA WARRIOR is exactly what the title promises: fun, original, and deliciously twisted. So twisted, in fact, that I really hesitate to call it a fairytale retelling. It’s much more like a new fairytale reimagining, unless in the traditional fairytale, I somehow missed the part where Cinderella leaps across shifting blocks in her ball gown and glass slippers. Oh, and the page where she walks calmly across broken glass? Ri...more Original review here: http://booksatmidnight.blogspot.com/2...

CINDERELLA: NINJA WARRIOR is exactly what the title promises: fun, original, and deliciously twisted. So twisted, in fact, that I really hesitate to call it a fairytale retelling. It’s much more like a new fairytale reimagining, unless in the traditional fairytale, I somehow missed the part where Cinderella leaps across shifting blocks in her ball gown and glass slippers. Oh, and the page where she walks calmly across broken glass? Right.

When thinking of this book, I’m in serious danger of only reviewing it with one word: fun. CINDERELLA: NINJA WARRIOR defines light fun. New crazy-but-awesome ideas are constantly being introduced, and while there isn’t much depth, the scope is truly impressive (ninjas and magic?). The balance between background and action was perfect, dull moments be banished.

In terms of characters, I applaud the fact that Cinderella actually has character. As much of a closet Disney fan as I am, let’s face it: Disney princesses are not known for their unwavering courage and kickass-bility. So it’s refreshing to see Cinderella not only adept at physical defense, but also independent and freed from the whole “love at first sight, prince sweeps me away,” one-chance-only deal. I give major points to her for refusing the swoon at the prince’s feet.

Having already talked about content, I can’t neglect to mention the “choose-your-story” aspect that makes CINDERELLA: NINJA WARRIOR so unique, and so reminiscent of when I was six and believed myself to be the queen of choosing my own endings. The novelty of the furious page-flipping definitely adds to the fun factor, and though it gives an idea of just how short the story is (divides page number by two), the light-hearted magic likely would wear away over the course of another hundred pages. My only grumble is that sometimes I would say “no wand,” for instance, and she’d get one anyways... which doesn’t quite give the same heady feeling of power, but it’ll do.

Overall, CINDERELLA: NINJA WARRIOR is a book that flows easily in both writing and plot, and is like literary whipped cream for fairytale fans of all ages.
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May 17, 2011 CorLostForWords rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review

Source: Received from publicist. Many thanks goes to Teddy for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

My rating: 4/5

Cinderella's had a tough life. She's had to slave away, toiling hour after hour as her stepsisters think up cruel and unusual jobs for her to do. What's worse though, is that her stepmother not only encourages them, she also makes life miserable for Cinderella. All is not lost for Cinderella though, as she has...more Source: Received from publicist. Many thanks goes to Teddy for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

My rating: 4/5

Cinderella's had a tough life. She's had to slave away, toiling hour after hour as her stepsisters think up cruel and unusual jobs for her to do. What's worse though, is that her stepmother not only encourages them, she also makes life miserable for Cinderella. All is not lost for Cinderella though, as she has been training and teaching herself how to be a ninja. Her stepmother would be livid if she found out, so Cinderella practices only when she knows there is no one around. One day soon she hopes that she will break the spell cast on her, and will be able to live a life free from her step-mother's constant reign.
Cinderella: Ninja Warrior is an extremely cute and fast-paced read. Reminiscent of the tale we all know, Cinderella: Ninja Warrior carries on with the basic premise from the original fairytale. There is a prince, there is a ball, and Cinderella is at the mercy of her two step-sisters and their evil mother. There is something different in this retelling though. Cinderella is depicted as a strong character balking at her stepmother's tyrannical rule. She isn't going to wait for anyone to come sweep her off her feet, let alone a prince. She reads in secret, and trains to be a ninja warrior. Someday she will be able to free herself. Magic abounds, and Cinderella herself has talents that have gone unnoticed.
I think my favourite part of this novel is that the reader chose what Cinderella did next, making it seem like the reader was right there with Cinderella, acting out her part. She's a determined, strong young woman who wants to find a way out of the situation that she is currently in. You have to hand it to her, prince or no prince, she's bound and determined to get what she wants.
All in all, I think this is a cute read, and I believe many tweens and teens will enjoy this read. With a message that combines strength and girl power, I think many will enjoy this retelling of the classic Cinderella. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series, and am curious to see just what McGowan has in store for the rest of the fairytale princesses.(less)

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Apr 05, 2011 Cleffairy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Published on: Over A Cuppa Tea

Date published: 27th Jan 2011

Review link: http://cleffairy.com/?p=4628

I was feeling rather twisted and not quite in the mood today. In fact, my personal volcano is waiting to be erupted. And so... trying to calm myself down, I picked up a book that I can actually twist and control.

Yes... I picked up fairytale with a twist- Cinderella: Ninja Warrior. Cinderella, in most retelling, would always be portrayed as a weak, servant girl who had some luck in finding her true...more

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Mar 25, 2011 Melissa Roach rated it 4 of 5 stars

Description: In this fast-paced story full of adventure and romance, Cinderella is more than just a servant girl waiting for her prince--she's a tough, fearless girl who is capable of taking charge of a dangerous situation. Seeking to escape the clutches of her evil stepmother, Cinderella perfects her ninja skills and magic talents in secret, waiting for the day when she can break free and live happily ever after. In a special twist, readers have the opportunity to make key decisions for Cindere...more Description: In this fast-paced story full of adventure and romance, Cinderella is more than just a servant girl waiting for her prince--she's a tough, fearless girl who is capable of taking charge of a dangerous situation. Seeking to escape the clutches of her evil stepmother, Cinderella perfects her ninja skills and magic talents in secret, waiting for the day when she can break free and live happily ever after. In a special twist, readers have the opportunity to make key decisions for Cinderella and decide where she goes next--but no matter the choice; the result is a story unlike any fairy tale you've ever read!

My thoughts:
I really enjoyed the fact that you (as the reader) can make decisions for Cinderella (I wish more books had this option!)...you get to decide if she wants to go to the ball or not (answering her stepmother), if she will use the wand or not (at the magic competition, which is the same day as the ball), and lastly if she wants to dance with the prince at the ball or not. Since I had the time and I was curious to find out both choices...I read both. Both were similar, but different. Although I found that whether you made choice A or B, you ended up at the same point in the book - and some of the phrases or action in the book did not seem correct depending on the choice you made. I am not sure if I am making sense here...but for example if you chose Choice A, in the next chapter you would be at the same point if you would have chose Choice B. So the chapter you are in did not make complete sense and the end result was sort of the same either way.

Some things I did not enjoy..was that either way (choice A or B) you would end up in the same spot in the book. And once you made your choice, the end result kind of seemed out of place or misunderstood had you not made the right choice. After making my second choice in the book, it said that Cinderella had the wand either way (even though you chose for her NOT to use it).

Although I found that after reading both choices all the way through the book - I would go back and say I like this version/choice better.

I didn't like how sometimes there was empathy from one of the stepsisters, and then sometimes not. I guess that can be confusing with all versions of Cinderella (movies or books alike). There was also some confusion or mixture of magic and ninja skills - I couldn't figure out why the author wouldn't choose one or the other, or does Cinderella need both? I guess you need ninja skills in order to completely be magical.

Last but not least...
I have to say I really enjoyed the ending and surprised to find out what happened at the ball! If you enjoy reading about romance/suspense - this definitely the book for you. This new twist on Cinderella is definitely one that I enjoyed reading :) I would give this book 4/5 stars!

According to McGowen's publisher, she also has another book coming out called Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer...which I would love to read! Click on this link to read more about it: http://s3.amazonaws.com/netGalley/PUB...

Find it on Amazon (available 4/1/11): http://www.amazon.com/Cinderella-Ninj...

Thank You so much Net Galley and Baker & Taylor Publishing Group (Silver Dolphin Books) for allowing me to read this book! I cannot wait to read more books from you in the future!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Net Galley review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." (less)

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Mar 23, 2011 Majanka rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: retold-fairytale, young-adult, fantasy

Prior to reading Cinderella: Ninja Warrior, I already read and reviewed the companion novel, Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer. It’s hard to say which one of these novels I liked most. I enjoyed the part of the vampires trying to take over the kingdom in Sleeping Beauty, whereas I thought Cinderella was slightly better written and the plot less predictable. I also preferred Cinderella’s love interest, Ty. On the other hand, Sleeping Beauty focused on a love triangle, which is by its very nature mo...more Prior to reading Cinderella: Ninja Warrior, I already read and reviewed the companion novel, Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer. It’s hard to say which one of these novels I liked most. I enjoyed the part of the vampires trying to take over the kingdom in Sleeping Beauty, whereas I thought Cinderella was slightly better written and the plot less predictable. I also preferred Cinderella’s love interest, Ty. On the other hand, Sleeping Beauty focused on a love triangle, which is by its very nature more interesting. It’s a tough choice to make, especially with my undying love for vampires and the likes, but I have to decide that in the end, I enjoyed Cinderella more.

The story starts like the classic fairytale, with a young but fair maiden called Cinderella, who is forced to work 24/7 by her wicked stepmother. The latter also has a keen preference for black magic, and is even more evil in this novel than I remember her to be in the original fairytale. Cinderella also has two stepsisters, Gwendolyne and Agatha. Whereas Agatha is more of a follower, and often shows acts of kindness towards her servant sister, Gwendolyne is the spitting image of her wicked mother. Cinderella only has one true friend, in the form of her loyal and kind cat, Max. Forced to stay inside of the house by day, and expected to garden at night, the young girl is a lonely prisoner in her own home.

When a messenger called Ty appears one day with a letter to invite Cinderella and her sisters to the ball of the Prince, in which His Majesty will choose a suitable wife to marry, he immediately catches the young girl off-guard and befriends her. Cinderella, glad to finally have a friend who isn’t a four-legged animal, is glad with the attention Ty gives her, and actually develops a crush on him. Expressing her disinterest in the Prince of the Kingdom, and saying she would much rather dance with Ty at the ball, the young boy starts to like this strange servant girl as well.

I loved the wicked stepmother. Really, I did. Don’t blame me, alright, but she’s just so extremely hilarious, and I could practically imagine her stalking around the mansion, yelling things like ‘Bibadibabediboo’ at stuff. Yes, I know that line originally belonged to the Fairy Godmother, but whatever. I also really liked the character of Cinderella. Just like in the original fairytale, she doesn’t back down from a challenge and doesn’t suffer in self-pity simply because her life is a living hell. Instead, she finds courage in her own heart, determination in her ninja warrior training and happiness in her magical abilities, which she inherited from her mother, who was known to be a great and powerful magician before she died. Cinderella has all the qualities that make a person interesting: although strong-minded, intelligent and brave, she also doubts herself a lot of times, and she thinks a lot about her deceased parents, daydreaming about how life would have been if they were still alive. But she’s also capable of putting those thoughts aside, of getting past the way her stepmother is treating her, and finding happiness in the smallest of things. That turns her into a very likable, good-natured and charming protagonist who won my heart from the very start.

Although I was a bit confused at first concerning the whole ‘ninja warrior training program’, I loved the magical elements that were mentioned in the novel, from the protective spells the wicked stepmother had cast on the mansion to keep Cinderella locked up, to the difference between magic with a wand and magic with the power of one’s mind, to the power of love. I thought these elements were original, refreshing and made the story a lot more interesting. I also liked how there was not only a ball, but there were also a beauty pageant and a magical tournament.

I probably should have mentioned earlier that this a choose-your-own-adventure novel. The ending stays the same no matter what you choose, but the middle part of the story evolves a little differently. For instance, in one option Cinderella enters the competition for magicians using wands, and loses, although the Royal Magician does congratulate her on her performance. In the other option however, Cinderella trusts her own abilities and the strength of her own heart, and enters the tournament for magicians using only the power of their minds. In that scenario, she actually performs a lot better than in the previous one. After reading the book for the first time, I went back to read the alternative scenarios, and realised that I liked all of them equally as much. I used to love those choose-your-own-destiny novels back in the day (guess they were popular at the beginning of the 1990s or something) because it left me more choices as a reader, and made me feel like I actually played a part in the way the story unfolds. On the downside, what I most preferred with those novels of old, was that the ending was different when you choose other options, which it wasn’t in this novel. Oh well.

I really enjoyed reading Cinderella: Ninja Warrior, but there were some things in the novel that were a bit too obvious for my liking. The prime example of this, was Ty. I knew from the moment he opened that door and stepped in, that Ty was….*SPOILER ALERT* none other than prince Tiberius. Shocker! And I also knew that he would love Cinderella because she alone appreciated him for who he was, and not for his title, money or kingdom. I also knew right away that Cinderella would do well at the magical tournament, but that’s to be expected from any heroine, isn’t it?

The romance between Cinderella and Ty was sweet, unexpectidly realistic and heartwarming. I loved them both, and I loved them even more when they were together. For some strange reason, I also liked Agatha, although she hardly spoke up and merely followed in her sister’s and mother’s footsteps, but I thought she had some undeniable qualities as well. Atleast she wasn’t cruel or vicious.

In my opinion, the ending was a bit too long. As is to be expected, this story ends with an epic battle between Cinderella, Ty and her wicked stepmother. However, the fight lasts well over forty pages, is often interrupted only to restart again, and lasts too long for my preferences. It was the only time during this novel that I actually felt slightly bored, which is never a good sign. However, the rest of the novel was an extremely funny, enjoyable and entertaining read that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and brings a fabulous twist to a well-known fairytale.

Read the full review on my book review blog.(less)

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Jul 02, 2011 Lydia Presley rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-debut, 2011, adventure, fairy-tales, fiction, fantasy, young-adult

When I was a kid I used to love those "choose your own path" books. I felt like no matter the decision I made, the story would come alive and I'd have consequences or rewards based on the path of my choosing. Sometimes, when I was in a feisty mood, I'd make the bad choices, or if I was feeling particularly good, the right choices - but either way I was highly entertained.

Cinderella: Ninja Warrior is a "choose your own adventure" book - but with one slight exception. What I remember of those book...more

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Apr 20, 2011 Becky rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, chick-lit, classics, young-adult

It's about time someone brought choose your own adventure books back! I used to LOVE those as a child, and I even tried to write one myself. Turns out, even at 22, I still love 'em! This book was a very fun, entertaining read. I also LOVE Cinderella, so it was pretty much already decided that I would enjoy this book. The writing was fast-paced and filled with action. Cinderella as a ninja warrior and wizard in training is a pretty awesome Cinderella! She's such a strong character, and she was ma...more

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Mar 31, 2011 Lisarenee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Have you ever read a book and wished you could tell the Hero or Heroine what to do? Well, your wish has been granted. In this fun rendition of the classic tale of Cinderella, Maureen McGowen let's you make the decisions at three different points within the story. This version generally follows the traditional version, but adds some twists - wizards are found throughout the kingdom and, as the title implies, Cinderella's picked up some new moves.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found the fact I...more

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Jan 20, 2011 Tien rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: young adult who loves fantasy / fairy tales

Shelves: net-galley, folk-tale, fantasy, young-adult, romance, favorites

My favourite princess made even stronger, it couldn’t be better! A world filled with magic with love being the strongest magic of all. A wonderful concoction of Maureen McGowan: a retelling of Cinderella mixed in with wizardry, martial arts, and choose-your-own-adventure! Unfortunately, I don’t have a daughter to share this with (well, maybe not yet...)

Cinderella was trapped. Her stepmother is a powerful wizard and has employed spells to keep Cinderella in her place: a servant who is practically...more

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Jun 01, 2011 Evie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Originally posted to: Evie - Bookish

Cinderella Ninja Warrior by Maureen McGowan is the first book in the Twisted Tales series brought to us by Silver Dolphin. This fast-paced and action packed story is so much more than the classic fairy tale we all know! Loaded with magic, kick-ass ninja actions, adventures and romance, this fairytale is nothing like you've ever read before.

First and foremost, this is not a book that you'll read once and then put on your bookshelf to collect dust. You can re...more Originally posted to: Evie - Bookish

Cinderella Ninja Warrior by Maureen McGowan is the first book in the Twisted Tales series brought to us by Silver Dolphin. This fast-paced and action packed story is so much more than the classic fairy tale we all know! Loaded with magic, kick-ass ninja actions, adventures and romance, this fairytale is nothing like you've ever read before.

First and foremost, this is not a book that you'll read once and then put on your bookshelf to collect dust. You can read this book over and over again, as this is a choose-your-own-adventure novel. There are 3 key points during the story when you get to choose what Cinderella will do next. Each time you reach these points you get two choices, and once you decide which path you'd like Cinderella to follow, you're directed to the next section in the book. You know what this means? In one book you get 8 different stories, 8 unique ways the plot develops. And even though the ending stays the same, you still get the fun of deciding how the story evolves.

I haven't had the time to re-read the book yet and try out the alternative scenarios, but I will most definitely do that, as I'm very curious of the differences! I never actually had a chance to read a choose-your-own-destiny novel before. This was my first one ever, but certainly not the last one. I know for sure that I'm in for the whole series. There's just something absolutely intriguing about the re-told fairy tales. After all, these were the stories I grew up with. As a kid I read all the fairytale books I could find and watched all the Disney movies. They were fueling my imagination and brightening even the cloudiest days. I loved them! And now Maureen McGowan makes these stories even more enjoyable to read. How could I possibly pass this up?

Now, let's talk about the plot a little bit.
Our heroine has just turned eighteen. Her mother, one of the most powerful wizards in the kingdom, had died at her birth. Her father died few years later, only days after he remarried. Just like in the original story, Cinderella is now forced to live with her stepmother and her two stepsisters, who treat her more like a servant than a family member. Unlike in the original tale, though, our made-over Cinderella is not a weak-willed heroine. She still has to follow her stepmother's orders, do all the house chores and endure cruelty and abuse, but it's no longer attributed to her weak character. She's imprisoned in the house. Her stepmother, an evil wizard, has used black magic to keep Cinderella confined to the cellar, except to do chores during the day and to tend the garden at night. Why is the wicked stepmother determined to make Cinderella's life a living hell? Because she's after a magic wand that belonged to Cinderella's real mother. Convinced that Cinderella knows the location of the wand, she'll do anything to extract the knowledge from her.

Cinderella, although still pure in heart and romantic, is not shy and blindly obedient anymore. She's fully capable of making her own decisions, she doesn't sit around dreaming about the prince charming to come and rescue her. She's strong, brave and tough, and she's determined to find her way to freedom. Through ninja training, she improves her concentration, balance and strength. She also trains to improve the magical abilities inherited from her wizard mother. She's a true kick-ass character and that makes following her adventures more fun than ever.

The story continues with prince Tiberius looking for a bride. There will soon be a ball held at the palace in the prince's honor and two contests will be held in order to find the perfect girl for him. There will be a beauty contest and a magic competition. The winner of the beauty contest will get a dance with the prince, but Cinderella, not interested in the prince at all, is more excited for the magic competition, winning which will grant her a year's training with the royal wizard. She believes it to be her only chance to escape a life of servitude and humiliation, and she's determined to do everything in her power to try and win the contest.

Cinderella Ninja Warrior is an excellent adventure book. Maureen McGowan did a great job retelling this classic tale and I dare say her version of the story is even better than the original. I like how Cinderella stands up for herself and fights for her freedom, she's still a sweet and likable girl, but she's no longer weak and unable to take matters into her own hands. I just love the fact that she doesn't sit around hoping for someone to come and rescue her one day. The depth of this story made me realize how shallow the original was. Cinderella doesn't go for the beauty contest, she's not trying to enchant the prince with her looks, she doesn't even care if she meets the prince or not! She's not interested in getting the wealth and the power, and the prince charming. All she wants is to earn her own freedom and start a new, happy life.

I enjoyed the twists a lot, especially the magic and the ninja skills. I do, however, think that the title of the book is a bit misleading. Sure, Cinderella has some awesome ninja skills and she's not afraid to use them, but we only get a handful of the kick-ass ninja actions in the book, whereas the magic seems to be the leading theme of the story. Perhaps Cinderella the Wizard would have been a better choice?

In my opinion, Cinderella Ninja Warrior is a fantastic, entertaining and super enjoyable read. If you like fairy tales, you'll love this one! I highly recommend it for a summer read. I can't wait to read Sleeping Beauty Vampire Slayer, which is the second novel in the Twisted Tales series! (less)

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Apr 17, 2011 Kt from A Book Obsession.. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: received-for-review

I've always wondered why Cinderella never ran away from home as her life couldn't have really gotten any worse if she did. Well, this book finally answered that question for me. She never escaped because her stepmother was a very powerful wizard who used black magic to entrap her. Cinderella also isn't as meek and mild as she has seemed in the past fairy tales. She is actually very strong willed and tries to make the best of an impossible situation. Her determination and strength are nothing sho...more

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Apr 12, 2011 Sharon Tyler rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Sharon by: recieved from NetGalley

Cinderella: Ninja Warrior by Maureen McGowen is a young adult novel that holds the elements of the classic fairy tale, choose your own adventure and the feel of the classic mash ups that have been coming onto the scene. The story line is familiar, poor Cinderella has an evil stepmother and wants to get away to live happily ever after. In this version there is magic, the evil stepmother is a wizard and magic is a rather normal thing in the world. Cinderella is under spells that keep her confined...more

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Apr 23, 2011 Brandy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, nook

McGowan has placed Cinderella into a time filled with magic and magicians. Her stepmother is a black magician and has kept her trapped in their home since her father's death when she was 5 years old. Far from being content to do as she is told, Cinderella is actively trying to teach herself magic and to find ways around her stepmother's magic spells. When the royal messenger comes to deliver invitations to the ball where the Prince is expected to choose a ball, Cinderella meets a friend and dare...more

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May 22, 2011 Book Flame rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Review from www.Bookflame.blogspot.com
I've always been a huge fan of fairy tales with Cinderella being one of my top three favorites. So of course I jumped at the chance to review Cinderella Ninja Warrior. Maureen McGowan did an excellent job of taking a classic and adding major twists that actually made the world in which Cinderella lives in much more entertaining.

The main idea was still there - Cinderella living with her evil stepmother and stepsisters and a ball where the prince will pick hi...more

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Apr 29, 2011 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

I admit I jumped to get this one. First, it was described as a twisted fairy tale (heh... twisted!). Next, Cinderella was a ninja warrior! I was sold and didn't even read the blurb. Anyhoo... I do admit I did enjoy this book. The choices laid out for you to make seemed like easy choices and no brainers to me. So, the story I read I really enjoyed. Cinderella was a girl that, despite the torturous, and even more physically abusive Stepmother than we are used to seeing, we find learns to stand up...more

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Mar 29, 2011 Andrea rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy, netgalley

The Little Bookworm
A fractured fairy tale with a twist. In this "choose your own plot" adventure, Cinderella is held prisoner by her evil wizard stepmother and made to be a servant in her own house. She secretly begins practicing ninja skills and testing her magic abilities. But a visit from a mysterious servant from the royal house starts a chain of events for Cinderella and her escape.

I loved Choose Your Adventure books when I was young and I love fractured fairy tales so this book seemed righ...more

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Jan 17, 2012 GardeniaPearl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Cinderella: Ninja Warrior, is a clever retelling of the classic fairytale. After Cinderella’s father dies, Cinderella is kept prisoner in her own house by her stepmother who is a powerful wizard. Secretly, Cinderella trains as a wizard and a ninja, in order to escape. When it is announced that a royal ball and magic tournament is being held, Cinderella knows this is her chance to escape from her stepmother.

It’s difficult to give a summary of this plot, because at three different places in the bo...more

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Feb 25, 2011 Crystal rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Young Girls

Cinderella: Ninja Warrior (Twisted Tales #1)
Maureen McGowan

Cinderella wants to be free of Stepmother and Stepsisters, she hopes one day she can become a ninja warrior wizard and she practices every day with the help of her cat Max. One day a messenger comes knocking on the door she can never pass. The messenger brings invitations for the Prince's Ball, Ty is the messenger's name, Ty also invites Cinderella to participate in the Wizards Competition, who ever wins will dance with the Prince. Will...more

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May 31, 2011 Marcie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Cinderella is a beloved classic story. It has captured the hearts of many. However this Cinderella is different from the other stories. You see this Cinderella possesses certain skills. I'm not talking about cooking or cleaning, I'm talking about Kung-Fu Panda, kick-butt ninja skills. No, that wasn't a typo. That's right. Cinderella has some serious skills. Not only is she a ninja warrior but she also possesses the skill of magic. She needs both skills to help her deal with her misguided stepsis...more

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Mar 23, 2011 Dorcas rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Cinderella: Ninja Warrior (Twisted Tales #1)

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