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Kingdoms of the Fae #1
Of Glass and Cinders
What if Cinderella was sold to the fae?
Sold into slavery to the fae to cover her father’s debts, human girl Kaylin has learned not to expect anything from her so-called ‘Stepmother'.
Barely scraping by each day, Kaylin lives for any scrap of news about the fae prince she once called friend.
When a festival is announced in his honour, Kaylin never expects to attend. Until her fae godmother finds her.
But Kaylin isn’t the only one sneaking into the event. The rebels are getting bolder, and with their demands going ignored they’re looking for a message to send young fae Prince Jorai. And Kaylin, looking like a princess, might just be the perfect start.
Featuring elemental and shifter magic, childhood friends to strangers to lovers, no spice, touch her and d*e, and plenty of tension!
Of Glass and Cinders is the first released in the Kingdoms of the Fae, a series of interconnected standalones that may be read in any order.
Sold into slavery to the fae to cover her father’s debts, human girl Kaylin has learned not to expect anything from her so-called ‘Stepmother'.
Barely scraping by each day, Kaylin lives for any scrap of news about the fae prince she once called friend.
When a festival is announced in his honour, Kaylin never expects to attend. Until her fae godmother finds her.
But Kaylin isn’t the only one sneaking into the event. The rebels are getting bolder, and with their demands going ignored they’re looking for a message to send young fae Prince Jorai. And Kaylin, looking like a princess, might just be the perfect start.
Featuring elemental and shifter magic, childhood friends to strangers to lovers, no spice, touch her and d*e, and plenty of tension!
Of Glass and Cinders is the first released in the Kingdoms of the Fae, a series of interconnected standalones that may be read in any order.
227 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 27, 2024
10 people are currently reading
258 people want to read
About the author
Tiani Davids
7 books33 followersTiani Davids is the author of The Eldrasian Chronicles, a young adult fantasy completed at the end of 2023. She has since begun a series of standalone fairytale retellings. Tiani is a lover of reading, writing, and all things Tolkien.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
May 26, 2024
I loved this Cinderella retelling! It reads a bit like a cozy romantasy, but there are some dark elements and high stakes towards the end of the story. The FMC, Kaylin, is a human slave to her fae stepmother. She endures abuse and ridicule while she is forced to cater to them, but her situation takes a turn when they are all invited to the fae prince’s birthday celebration.
The fae Prince Jorai is Kaylin’s childhood friend who she has only dreamed of seeing again. With the help of her long lost fae godmother and a case of hidden identity, she is able to rekindle a spark of love with the prince she has loved from a distance for so many years. However, things take a sinister turn when her false identity makes her the target of a rebel group - but Jorai will stop at nothing to save her.
The relationship between Kaylin and Jorai was so sweet. There is no spice in this book, but the romance is precious and swoon-worthy. I adored Kaylin’s resilience and how she stayed determined despite her circumstances. Jorai was a complete cinnamon roll who quickly turned into a possessive protector. I loved seeing how their friendship turned into a genuine romantic love for one another.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend if you’re a fan of Cinderella retellings with sweet romance and a darker twist!
Thank you so much to the author for sending me an eARC to review!
The fae Prince Jorai is Kaylin’s childhood friend who she has only dreamed of seeing again. With the help of her long lost fae godmother and a case of hidden identity, she is able to rekindle a spark of love with the prince she has loved from a distance for so many years. However, things take a sinister turn when her false identity makes her the target of a rebel group - but Jorai will stop at nothing to save her.
The relationship between Kaylin and Jorai was so sweet. There is no spice in this book, but the romance is precious and swoon-worthy. I adored Kaylin’s resilience and how she stayed determined despite her circumstances. Jorai was a complete cinnamon roll who quickly turned into a possessive protector. I loved seeing how their friendship turned into a genuine romantic love for one another.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend if you’re a fan of Cinderella retellings with sweet romance and a darker twist!
Thank you so much to the author for sending me an eARC to review!
April 21, 2024
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. (Spoiler Free)
This was a great cozy romance based on a retelling of Cinderella, but with fae and humans and a friends to lovers trope that was executed perfectly. The ending had a swoony romance scene that was made of all the things I love about romance without spice- the relationship building and the dialogue were *chef's kiss*. I liked the world building and could envision the world of the fae, the castles and sprawling homes in the forest. The characters were relatable and genuine, and would have loved to see more depth to their background. The political side of the plot was nice to see, and would have liked to see more of this as well. A solid 4 stars! I devoured this book in 3 days, and would have read faster if I hadn't had to work.
This was a great cozy romance based on a retelling of Cinderella, but with fae and humans and a friends to lovers trope that was executed perfectly. The ending had a swoony romance scene that was made of all the things I love about romance without spice- the relationship building and the dialogue were *chef's kiss*. I liked the world building and could envision the world of the fae, the castles and sprawling homes in the forest. The characters were relatable and genuine, and would have loved to see more depth to their background. The political side of the plot was nice to see, and would have liked to see more of this as well. A solid 4 stars! I devoured this book in 3 days, and would have read faster if I hadn't had to work.
August 5, 2024
3.5/5 stars!
I love Cinderella so I was super excited to pick this retelling up.
I enjoyed the short chapters and the charming Jorai, body guard Zaph and the super quirky aunt Cyra.
I just wish that we got to see a more in-depth backstory of Jorai and Kaylin back before she got kidnapped and was sold to slavery to pay her father's debt. And I also wish that we got to see more about that situation. This one was short and sweet, but I just wish that it has more depth and therefore, more compelling. I feel like I was missing a lot of something! Perhaps because it was so short, I wasn't too convinced by the romance!
Thank you, Tiani Davids, for the free arc. I had a nice time reading this Cinderella retelling!
I love Cinderella so I was super excited to pick this retelling up.
I enjoyed the short chapters and the charming Jorai, body guard Zaph and the super quirky aunt Cyra.
I just wish that we got to see a more in-depth backstory of Jorai and Kaylin back before she got kidnapped and was sold to slavery to pay her father's debt. And I also wish that we got to see more about that situation. This one was short and sweet, but I just wish that it has more depth and therefore, more compelling. I feel like I was missing a lot of something! Perhaps because it was so short, I wasn't too convinced by the romance!
Thank you, Tiani Davids, for the free arc. I had a nice time reading this Cinderella retelling!
May 27, 2024
3.5/5 stars - A good retelling, just not for me
Of Glass and Cinders, by Tiani Davids, is a fae retelling of Cinderella, where Cinderella (Kaylin) is a slave to her "stepmother." I found the premise very interesting, but unfortunately, I didn't get attached to the characters. The romance was more of a rekindled/second-chance friends-to-lovers storyline that I simply didn't get invested in. I think I'm learning that second-chance romances are just not my speed.
As for the plot itself, it was interesting. The kingdom has recently outlawed human slaves, but there is a group of rebels fighting to restore the old ways (which becomes a bit of a problem when an ambassador from a human-loving kingdom arrives).
While I didn't connect with it personally, Of Glass and Cinders is an interesting retelling of Cinderella. It takes the typical story of midnight love and puts it in a world of Fae--many of whom are malicious. If you're interested in the story of a forbidden slave seeking a night of freedom and a prince who wants to do the right thing (but is blind to his kingdom's faults), this book is for you!
Thank you, Tiani Davids, for giving me a free eARC in exchange for an honest review
Of Glass and Cinders, by Tiani Davids, is a fae retelling of Cinderella, where Cinderella (Kaylin) is a slave to her "stepmother." I found the premise very interesting, but unfortunately, I didn't get attached to the characters. The romance was more of a rekindled/second-chance friends-to-lovers storyline that I simply didn't get invested in. I think I'm learning that second-chance romances are just not my speed.
As for the plot itself, it was interesting. The kingdom has recently outlawed human slaves, but there is a group of rebels fighting to restore the old ways (which becomes a bit of a problem when an ambassador from a human-loving kingdom arrives).
While I didn't connect with it personally, Of Glass and Cinders is an interesting retelling of Cinderella. It takes the typical story of midnight love and puts it in a world of Fae--many of whom are malicious. If you're interested in the story of a forbidden slave seeking a night of freedom and a prince who wants to do the right thing (but is blind to his kingdom's faults), this book is for you!
Thank you, Tiani Davids, for giving me a free eARC in exchange for an honest review
April 28, 2024
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is a YA retelling of Cinderella featuring humans and fae, elemental and shifter magic, political intrigue, survival and trauma. When viewed through the YA lens this is a solid 4. The writing was pleasant and easy to read, the characters genuine, the love story very sweet, the evil stepmother and stepsister truly diabolical. The storytelling approach is straightforward and there is no spice so this would be appropriate for younger readers.
As an adult reading the story, the overall rating and enjoyment might be a little lower. I actually think the book could have benefitted from being about 50 pages longer. The characters were so interesting but very surface level. I would have loved to go even more in depth with the characters’ backstories, learn more about the fae in this world, have a stronger sense of world building overall, and particularly learn more about the political motivations between the human and fae, the alliances formed, and the surrounding kingdoms.
This was a fun and quick read, a worthy entry in the YA space for the folks who like fairytale retellings. Thank you to the author for the opportunity to review your lovely work!
This book is a YA retelling of Cinderella featuring humans and fae, elemental and shifter magic, political intrigue, survival and trauma. When viewed through the YA lens this is a solid 4. The writing was pleasant and easy to read, the characters genuine, the love story very sweet, the evil stepmother and stepsister truly diabolical. The storytelling approach is straightforward and there is no spice so this would be appropriate for younger readers.
As an adult reading the story, the overall rating and enjoyment might be a little lower. I actually think the book could have benefitted from being about 50 pages longer. The characters were so interesting but very surface level. I would have loved to go even more in depth with the characters’ backstories, learn more about the fae in this world, have a stronger sense of world building overall, and particularly learn more about the political motivations between the human and fae, the alliances formed, and the surrounding kingdoms.
This was a fun and quick read, a worthy entry in the YA space for the folks who like fairytale retellings. Thank you to the author for the opportunity to review your lovely work!
April 21, 2024
I received this book as an ARC opportunity and I am happy to say I really enjoyed this book. This is a Cinderella retelling with fae, humans, elemental and shifter magic, and a kidnapping.
This was simple but good in execution. I would love to read the next books asap to continue the story if that’s the way the author decides! I couldn’t put the book down, I wanted to know what was going to happen next constantly. I would definitely recommend this if you love anything fae, magic, or rebels related.
This was simple but good in execution. I would love to read the next books asap to continue the story if that’s the way the author decides! I couldn’t put the book down, I wanted to know what was going to happen next constantly. I would definitely recommend this if you love anything fae, magic, or rebels related.
April 29, 2024
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is a YA retelling of Cinderella with fae and humans, elemental and shifter magic, mistreatment and trauma, courage and determination!
This book was a solid 4 in my opinion, as the story captured me from the get go, it definitely pulled on some heartstrings. I would, however, have loved to have a bit more world building and descriptions of the city so I could truly picture the authors vision.
This book is spice free so is definitely suitable for young readers. Overall it was a quick read, as it had a great storyline and was easy to read. I would have loved to have a bit more backstory on the politics between the fae and the humans, how things came to be as they were, some more details about the surrounding kingdoms mentioned and a bit of backstory to the need for allies. It must be said that I am looking forward to reading ‘The Swan Princess’ short story to learn a bit more about some of the main characters.
Thank you to the author for the chance to read your gripping Cinderella retelling!
This book is a YA retelling of Cinderella with fae and humans, elemental and shifter magic, mistreatment and trauma, courage and determination!
This book was a solid 4 in my opinion, as the story captured me from the get go, it definitely pulled on some heartstrings. I would, however, have loved to have a bit more world building and descriptions of the city so I could truly picture the authors vision.
This book is spice free so is definitely suitable for young readers. Overall it was a quick read, as it had a great storyline and was easy to read. I would have loved to have a bit more backstory on the politics between the fae and the humans, how things came to be as they were, some more details about the surrounding kingdoms mentioned and a bit of backstory to the need for allies. It must be said that I am looking forward to reading ‘The Swan Princess’ short story to learn a bit more about some of the main characters.
Thank you to the author for the chance to read your gripping Cinderella retelling!
May 30, 2024
This fae Cinderella retelling was absolutely lovely to read!
Kaylin has spent the past 10 years dreaming and thinking about her childhood friend, Jorai, who happens to be the Fae Prince of Ashennoor. When her father abandons her to her evil “stepmother” to pay for a debt he owes, Kaylin is forced to work as a slave. In the kingdom of Ashennoor slavery of humans has been outlawed, yet a group of rebel fae will stop at nothing to change that. With the prince’s birthday celebration in full swing, and with the help of old friends, Kaylin sets out to enjoy herself for one night and wants to see for herself that Prince Jorai is alive and well. One night turns into two, but instead of making it home by midnight, Kaylin finds herself kidnapped by the rebels, who mistakenly think she is a fae Princess from a foreign land. With time running out, can Jorai save Kaylin and stop the rebels for good?
This Cinderella retelling was sinister, sweet, swoony, and filled with shimmering starlight from beginning to end. Kaylin’s bravery and determination was so refreshing to see! Jorai and Kaylin together are both so sweet and genuinely real at the same time, especially as they come to realize all the memories they had together as childhood friends.
I highly recommend this Cinderella retelling!
Romantic Content: Clean, Sweet Kisses, Some Mild References to Attempted Sexual Assualt
TW: Abuse, Slavery, Abandonment, Torture, Fantasy Violence
Kaylin has spent the past 10 years dreaming and thinking about her childhood friend, Jorai, who happens to be the Fae Prince of Ashennoor. When her father abandons her to her evil “stepmother” to pay for a debt he owes, Kaylin is forced to work as a slave. In the kingdom of Ashennoor slavery of humans has been outlawed, yet a group of rebel fae will stop at nothing to change that. With the prince’s birthday celebration in full swing, and with the help of old friends, Kaylin sets out to enjoy herself for one night and wants to see for herself that Prince Jorai is alive and well. One night turns into two, but instead of making it home by midnight, Kaylin finds herself kidnapped by the rebels, who mistakenly think she is a fae Princess from a foreign land. With time running out, can Jorai save Kaylin and stop the rebels for good?
This Cinderella retelling was sinister, sweet, swoony, and filled with shimmering starlight from beginning to end. Kaylin’s bravery and determination was so refreshing to see! Jorai and Kaylin together are both so sweet and genuinely real at the same time, especially as they come to realize all the memories they had together as childhood friends.
I highly recommend this Cinderella retelling!
Romantic Content: Clean, Sweet Kisses, Some Mild References to Attempted Sexual Assualt
TW: Abuse, Slavery, Abandonment, Torture, Fantasy Violence
May 27, 2024
Release day is finally here and I'm so excited to share it with you!
I have sat with these characters for several months, and now you get to meet them all:
Sweet yet strong Kaylin
Cinnamon roll (turned touch her and die) Jorai
Fierce, bubbly Cyra
Loyal, steady Zephi
And Raiden with a tragic past and a hopeful future.
Mostly, I hope that you see there are different types of strength. That YOU are strong, and brave, and worth it all.
I have sat with these characters for several months, and now you get to meet them all:
Sweet yet strong Kaylin
Cinnamon roll (turned touch her and die) Jorai
Fierce, bubbly Cyra
Loyal, steady Zephi
And Raiden with a tragic past and a hopeful future.
Mostly, I hope that you see there are different types of strength. That YOU are strong, and brave, and worth it all.
May 11, 2024
Thank you, Tiani Davids, for the E-book ARC Copy of Of Glass And Cinders.
Since I've been an Arc reader since Tiani's first book The Dragon Healer I've had the opportunity to see this author grow with each book. I've seen firsthand how the author implements feedback she found in reviews from her first series, and it shows while reading this.
Of Glass and Cinders is a Cinderella retelling but with a bit more bite and has a quirky fantasy setting.
This was a quick and sweet read that scratched my YA fantasy itch. Kaylin's story and emotions are well written and made me root for her from page one.
Setting: ★★★★
Worldbuilding:★★★
Magic system: ★★★
High Stakes: ★★
Writing: ★★★★
Repetition: ★★★
Antagonistic Force: ★★★
Characters: ★★★
Friendships: ★★
Romance: ★★★
Pacing: ★★★
Concept: ★★★★
Ending: ★★★
Length: ★
+
Magic system:
A soft system with much left unsaid which created convenient solutions to some of the obstacles the character faced. Normally I would have liked to explore the magic system better, but for this story, it works as it is, I hope it will be utilized and explained more in future books in this world.
Setting and World building:
The strongest point of the story, I had enough information about the world for the story to make sense and pique my interest. The setting was great and described in a lovely way which made it easy to see in my mind while reading. The author has a nice flow and balance to her descriptions and I found it so interesting to read how the fae lived.
Characters:
Despite being a dual POV, this felt more like Kaylin's story. Her voice is distinct and strong, making me care for her much more than the other characters. Jorai and Zephi were nice but felt a little too similar to Niles and Lorrin from her previous series.
+ and -
The Friendships:
Was always the strongest point in the Eldrasian Chronicles, but not in this one. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad, it was not great either. The author had to rely on telling us snippets of backstories and didn't have enough time to show us. It made most relationships in the book feel shallow and rushed, except for Kaylin's relationship with her ''stepfamily''. That was explored and well-written.
Romance:
The Eldrasian Chronicles also had a clean romance, but too clean. It had very few romance moments despite the characters being in love but this was something that the author has improved upon in this story. Kaylin and Jorai not only showed their love through speech but also in their body language, soft and caring touches, and inner monologue reactions which deepened the romance while still keeping it clean.
What made me put this as neutral was the fact that it felt very insta-love and lacking in depth despite the characters supposed childhood friends' status. This, I blame on the book's short length. We were told about one or two memories from their pasts, not even shown as a flashback and that was their foundation. It could have worked, if we were shown at least two different scenes that were important for the characters, and not the same being repeated as quick facts.
Pacing:
The pace was mostly nice and brisk, with only a few parts at the start of the story that dragged. If it weren't for the short length, I'd say the pacing was spot on.
-
Book Length:
The length is this story's greatest weakness. It ruins a lot of things that otherwise would have been nicely done. It steals the depth of the story, the stakes, and the backstory and depth of the characters. This story needed more space to fully blossom. Instead, it feels rushed and underdeveloped.
Stakes:
The book contains high stakes, but due to its length and the fact that the pacing is so quick, I didn't form strong enough bonds with the characters to fully consider the stakes to be any real threats. The story also followed the Cinderella story beats a little too closely, so there was never a doubt in my mind about where the story was headed.
Antagonistic force:
The rebels are mentioned early in the story, and enough clues are planted, but their ultimate goal is poorly explored. They kidnap Kayling to blackmail the royal family but then decide to kill her. For what purpose? she is their sole bargaining chip, killing her solves nothing and does not get them closer to whatever end goal they had. The rebel plotline was not needed, and had it been cut out and more details added to the characters' depth and backstories, I think this book would have worked at its current length.
The stepfamily could have served better as the sole antagonistic force instead if they had a deeper/different reason for hating Kaylin other than being human.
In conclusion:
As always, the voice of the author is lovely and she has a great imagination regarding the setting and world building. I only wish the story wasn't so short.
Since I've been an Arc reader since Tiani's first book The Dragon Healer I've had the opportunity to see this author grow with each book. I've seen firsthand how the author implements feedback she found in reviews from her first series, and it shows while reading this.
Of Glass and Cinders is a Cinderella retelling but with a bit more bite and has a quirky fantasy setting.
This was a quick and sweet read that scratched my YA fantasy itch. Kaylin's story and emotions are well written and made me root for her from page one.
Setting: ★★★★
Worldbuilding:★★★
Magic system: ★★★
High Stakes: ★★
Writing: ★★★★
Repetition: ★★★
Antagonistic Force: ★★★
Characters: ★★★
Friendships: ★★
Romance: ★★★
Pacing: ★★★
Concept: ★★★★
Ending: ★★★
Length: ★
+
Magic system:
A soft system with much left unsaid which created convenient solutions to some of the obstacles the character faced. Normally I would have liked to explore the magic system better, but for this story, it works as it is, I hope it will be utilized and explained more in future books in this world.
Setting and World building:
The strongest point of the story, I had enough information about the world for the story to make sense and pique my interest. The setting was great and described in a lovely way which made it easy to see in my mind while reading. The author has a nice flow and balance to her descriptions and I found it so interesting to read how the fae lived.
Characters:
Despite being a dual POV, this felt more like Kaylin's story. Her voice is distinct and strong, making me care for her much more than the other characters. Jorai and Zephi were nice but felt a little too similar to Niles and Lorrin from her previous series.
+ and -
The Friendships:
Was always the strongest point in the Eldrasian Chronicles, but not in this one. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad, it was not great either. The author had to rely on telling us snippets of backstories and didn't have enough time to show us. It made most relationships in the book feel shallow and rushed, except for Kaylin's relationship with her ''stepfamily''. That was explored and well-written.
Romance:
The Eldrasian Chronicles also had a clean romance, but too clean. It had very few romance moments despite the characters being in love but this was something that the author has improved upon in this story. Kaylin and Jorai not only showed their love through speech but also in their body language, soft and caring touches, and inner monologue reactions which deepened the romance while still keeping it clean.
What made me put this as neutral was the fact that it felt very insta-love and lacking in depth despite the characters supposed childhood friends' status. This, I blame on the book's short length. We were told about one or two memories from their pasts, not even shown as a flashback and that was their foundation. It could have worked, if we were shown at least two different scenes that were important for the characters, and not the same being repeated as quick facts.
Pacing:
The pace was mostly nice and brisk, with only a few parts at the start of the story that dragged. If it weren't for the short length, I'd say the pacing was spot on.
-
Book Length:
The length is this story's greatest weakness. It ruins a lot of things that otherwise would have been nicely done. It steals the depth of the story, the stakes, and the backstory and depth of the characters. This story needed more space to fully blossom. Instead, it feels rushed and underdeveloped.
Stakes:
The book contains high stakes, but due to its length and the fact that the pacing is so quick, I didn't form strong enough bonds with the characters to fully consider the stakes to be any real threats. The story also followed the Cinderella story beats a little too closely, so there was never a doubt in my mind about where the story was headed.
Antagonistic force:
The rebels are mentioned early in the story, and enough clues are planted, but their ultimate goal is poorly explored. They kidnap Kayling to blackmail the royal family but then decide to kill her. For what purpose? she is their sole bargaining chip, killing her solves nothing and does not get them closer to whatever end goal they had. The rebel plotline was not needed, and had it been cut out and more details added to the characters' depth and backstories, I think this book would have worked at its current length.
The stepfamily could have served better as the sole antagonistic force instead if they had a deeper/different reason for hating Kaylin other than being human.
In conclusion:
As always, the voice of the author is lovely and she has a great imagination regarding the setting and world building. I only wish the story wasn't so short.
May 21, 2024
I was giving the opportunity to get a digital ARC copy of the book in exchange of an honest review. Thank you Tiani Davis for letting me get a glimpse of Ashennor.
“Of Glass and Cinder” is the story of Kaylin, a human, who has spent the last 10 years serving as a slave to cover her dad’s debt to Zianne, her evil fae stepmother, and Oriane, fae stepsister, in the kingdom of Ashennor. She secretly has been daydreaming of her childhood friend, Jorai, who is also the fae prince of Ashennor.
Ashennor is fae kingdom that has recently outlawed slavery to grant equality to its human population just as their neighbor kingdom of Frigarth.
Prince Jorai’s birthday is coming up along with it a lot of festivities. Will Kaylin be granted to attend or would she stay home doing chores?
This is a Young Adult (YA) book that portrays a retelling of Cinderella with a twist. It features fae and humans, political intrigues and alliances, elemental and shifter magic and friends to lovers troupe (no spice).
The book was easy to read, the friend to lovers troupe was captivating, the characters are genuine including definitely an evil stepmom and evil stepsister, and it is full of magic.
From the perspective of an adult reader, I would have like to read more about the characters background stories especially their past, a bit more of world building (context of the kingdoms, political motivations and alliances) and the fae magic. Overall, it was great read and I enjoyed it very much.
If you enjoy retelling stories, fae and magic, this is a book for you!
“Of Glass and Cinder” is the story of Kaylin, a human, who has spent the last 10 years serving as a slave to cover her dad’s debt to Zianne, her evil fae stepmother, and Oriane, fae stepsister, in the kingdom of Ashennor. She secretly has been daydreaming of her childhood friend, Jorai, who is also the fae prince of Ashennor.
Ashennor is fae kingdom that has recently outlawed slavery to grant equality to its human population just as their neighbor kingdom of Frigarth.
Prince Jorai’s birthday is coming up along with it a lot of festivities. Will Kaylin be granted to attend or would she stay home doing chores?
This is a Young Adult (YA) book that portrays a retelling of Cinderella with a twist. It features fae and humans, political intrigues and alliances, elemental and shifter magic and friends to lovers troupe (no spice).
The book was easy to read, the friend to lovers troupe was captivating, the characters are genuine including definitely an evil stepmom and evil stepsister, and it is full of magic.
From the perspective of an adult reader, I would have like to read more about the characters background stories especially their past, a bit more of world building (context of the kingdoms, political motivations and alliances) and the fae magic. Overall, it was great read and I enjoyed it very much.
If you enjoy retelling stories, fae and magic, this is a book for you!
May 6, 2024
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. (Some spoilers)
I enjoyed this book by Tiani Davids. It was an easy read, but was enjoyable for its simplicity and overall coziness. The story is a YA retelling of Cinderella set in a fantasy realm with both fae and human inhabitants. Kaylin, our Cinderella character, is a human who is forced to be a slave to her fae "Stepmother" Zianne.
Jorai, our prince, is a fae shifter who is trying to create harmony between the fae and human citizens within the kingdom in order to maintain their alliance with a neighboring kingdom. However, he keeps coming up against rebels within the kingdom who want the fae to be recognized as the superior race. His father, the king, seems resigned to let the rebels have their way, however Jorai is willing to do whatever it takes to suppress the rebellion.
Enter all of the classic Cinderella tropes (but with a fantasy twist)- a fae-ry godmother, a masquerade ball, dancing and love at first sight (or is it- read to find out!).
Seriously, the book was very sweet and I was thoroughly entertained. Honestly, my only complaint is that I wish there were more of it- more politics, more worldbuilding, more character development and more romance. It was over so quickly and I was hooked on the story and characters so I would have happily spent a few more hours reading about them. But for a YA fantasy, this is perfect and I highly recommend. Enjoy!
I enjoyed this book by Tiani Davids. It was an easy read, but was enjoyable for its simplicity and overall coziness. The story is a YA retelling of Cinderella set in a fantasy realm with both fae and human inhabitants. Kaylin, our Cinderella character, is a human who is forced to be a slave to her fae "Stepmother" Zianne.
Jorai, our prince, is a fae shifter who is trying to create harmony between the fae and human citizens within the kingdom in order to maintain their alliance with a neighboring kingdom. However, he keeps coming up against rebels within the kingdom who want the fae to be recognized as the superior race. His father, the king, seems resigned to let the rebels have their way, however Jorai is willing to do whatever it takes to suppress the rebellion.
Enter all of the classic Cinderella tropes (but with a fantasy twist)- a fae-ry godmother, a masquerade ball, dancing and love at first sight (or is it- read to find out!).
Seriously, the book was very sweet and I was thoroughly entertained. Honestly, my only complaint is that I wish there were more of it- more politics, more worldbuilding, more character development and more romance. It was over so quickly and I was hooked on the story and characters so I would have happily spent a few more hours reading about them. But for a YA fantasy, this is perfect and I highly recommend. Enjoy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2024
This was a fun, clean YA retelling of Cinderella. In this version, Kaylin is a human who has been sold by her father to pay off a debt. Her "step-mother" is a fae who wishes that human slavery was still legal, but does not let that stop her from keeping Kaylin as a slave. Jorai is a fae prince who was childhood friends with Kaylin. He is turning 18 and is having a celebration for his birthday, where his father wishes for him to find a bride. Jorai also believes all fae are acting accordingly and that the rebels are not a threat.
This is a dual POV tale of the events leading up to, during and after the birthday celebration where "Cinderella" loses her shoe. There is magic both from the fae (they can shift and wield elemental magic) and in the whirlwind of dancing during the ball between Jorai and Kaylin. This is a no spice, but definitely swoony romantic story. There is also plenty of action and suspense. There were several times I was so eager to find out what would happen that I didn't want to put the book down.
While this book could have been longer, it was a wonderful read. Definitely easy to read and easy to get lost in! This book is perfect for younger readers or adults as well! I am also going to get the prequel for this to see the back story for Cyra, the godmother!
This is a dual POV tale of the events leading up to, during and after the birthday celebration where "Cinderella" loses her shoe. There is magic both from the fae (they can shift and wield elemental magic) and in the whirlwind of dancing during the ball between Jorai and Kaylin. This is a no spice, but definitely swoony romantic story. There is also plenty of action and suspense. There were several times I was so eager to find out what would happen that I didn't want to put the book down.
While this book could have been longer, it was a wonderful read. Definitely easy to read and easy to get lost in! This book is perfect for younger readers or adults as well! I am also going to get the prequel for this to see the back story for Cyra, the godmother!
May 10, 2024
4⭐️ - a fantasy twist on the Cinderella story, loved seeing Jorai and Kaylin overcome the odds and end up together! A sweet, short read, definitely recommend!
I received and ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
Humans have been brought to equal footing as fae, however the implementation of this law is not as widespread as the royals believe it to be. Being sold to a fae family to cover her fathers debts, Kaylin has been a slave to her “stepmother” and “stepsister” for over a decade. Through a forbidden blood bond, she is held at her stepmothers whim to be used as a servant around the house.
Word spreads of a festival to celebrate the fae princes birthday. Finding herself invited (assuming she behaves and can make a new dress), Kaylin suffers through her owners demands in the hopes of seeing her childhood friend again.
Loved the twist of such a classic story in this book. I really enjoyed the worldbuilding that started in this book that left us open for what I can only assume will be several interconnected books. A short read for sure but the pacing was easy to read and enjoyable, not over written and not rushed. Such a good book, highly recommend!
I received and ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
Humans have been brought to equal footing as fae, however the implementation of this law is not as widespread as the royals believe it to be. Being sold to a fae family to cover her fathers debts, Kaylin has been a slave to her “stepmother” and “stepsister” for over a decade. Through a forbidden blood bond, she is held at her stepmothers whim to be used as a servant around the house.
Word spreads of a festival to celebrate the fae princes birthday. Finding herself invited (assuming she behaves and can make a new dress), Kaylin suffers through her owners demands in the hopes of seeing her childhood friend again.
Loved the twist of such a classic story in this book. I really enjoyed the worldbuilding that started in this book that left us open for what I can only assume will be several interconnected books. A short read for sure but the pacing was easy to read and enjoyable, not over written and not rushed. Such a good book, highly recommend!
May 28, 2024
*4.5 stars*
A YA Cinderella retelling with a magical fae twist that brings a fresh feel to the much-loved fairytale.
I really enjoyed this as what is intended to be - a sweet, clean romance retelling with some darker aspects of the fae treatment of supposedly free humans. The interactions between characters are well depicted, with both main characters having personal internal and literal struggles to overcome.
The word imagery used to bring the settings to life are whimsically and vividly written.
I would've liked to see more of Jorai and Kaylin’s relationship, both in flashbacks to childhood and also once they are reunited. What is shown to us is sweetly described with Kaylin’s gentleness and Jorai’s protectiveness. The side characters were great supporting roles, and the reader is left curious about their stories. The evil stepmother and stepsister are certainly deserving of their titles!
This retelling lives up to it’s purpose: creating a YA fae and human version of the beloved tale.
I was fortunate enough to read this as an advanced reader copy, all opinions are my own.
A YA Cinderella retelling with a magical fae twist that brings a fresh feel to the much-loved fairytale.
I really enjoyed this as what is intended to be - a sweet, clean romance retelling with some darker aspects of the fae treatment of supposedly free humans. The interactions between characters are well depicted, with both main characters having personal internal and literal struggles to overcome.
The word imagery used to bring the settings to life are whimsically and vividly written.
I would've liked to see more of Jorai and Kaylin’s relationship, both in flashbacks to childhood and also once they are reunited. What is shown to us is sweetly described with Kaylin’s gentleness and Jorai’s protectiveness. The side characters were great supporting roles, and the reader is left curious about their stories. The evil stepmother and stepsister are certainly deserving of their titles!
This retelling lives up to it’s purpose: creating a YA fae and human version of the beloved tale.
I was fortunate enough to read this as an advanced reader copy, all opinions are my own.
April 22, 2024
I read this book as an ARC (slight spoilers!).
Of Glass and Cinders was a well-written read that had a good balance of romance and politics. I loved how Kaylin and Jorai both remembered and cared for each other since they were kids, and I admired how Jorai was adamant on committing to the efforts to achieve equality between fae and humans, even despite his father's clear lack of interest towards (and dislike of) the cause. I liked how there seemed to be a spark between Cyra and Raiden as well, and I would love to see more of their friendship/potential relationship in the future. I would have liked to have a bit more backstory on Kaylin's father and how he reacted to her mother's death, but aside from that, this was a great story that I blazed through in an hour and a half. Definitely would recommend if you enjoy fairytale retellings and the "touch her and you die" trope.
Of Glass and Cinders was a well-written read that had a good balance of romance and politics. I loved how Kaylin and Jorai both remembered and cared for each other since they were kids, and I admired how Jorai was adamant on committing to the efforts to achieve equality between fae and humans, even despite his father's clear lack of interest towards (and dislike of) the cause. I liked how there seemed to be a spark between Cyra and Raiden as well, and I would love to see more of their friendship/potential relationship in the future. I would have liked to have a bit more backstory on Kaylin's father and how he reacted to her mother's death, but aside from that, this was a great story that I blazed through in an hour and a half. Definitely would recommend if you enjoy fairytale retellings and the "touch her and you die" trope.
April 8, 2025
Wow ~ Magic and Mayhem and Mystery abound in 'Of Glass and Cinders'. Kaylin, a beautiful human girl, was sold into slavery to an evil Fae, who abuses her and chains her with metal and magic. A retelling of Cinderella's story, she loves the fae prince and he loves her, though they have been separated for 10 years. When Prince Jorai's birthday festival begins, Humans and Fae are invited. In the book, there is an undercurrent of the previous enslavement of humans by the Fae, which, on the surface has been abolished. Kaylin is invited but her wicked Fae "Stepmother" forbids it, and beats her. As in Cinderella, her FAE Godmother arrives just in time so she can attend the Ball! Kaylin is filled with Joy, but there are jealousies and politics, danger, and rebellion! Will Kaylin and Jory get their HEA? I wanted to reach through the pages and help them!! Fascinating! 5 stars!!
May 3, 2024
Thank you for the Advanced Reader Copy! It was and honor to read this book, first in a series!
This is a sweet (zero spice) Cinderella retelling where, instead of the magic wearing off at midnight, she's kidnapped!
Kaylin, a human, and Jorai, the elfish prince, have known each other since they were kids. They have lost sight of each other as Kaylin has been sold into slavery to her 'Stepmother'. On Jorai's birthday, her godmother helps her with a gown and a disguise to attend. On the second night, she is kidnapped by the rebels and Jorai goes after her with a handful of guards and friends. She's barely holding on to her life when he finds her, but what do the Rebels really want? Will they find their way back to each other despite it all?
This is a sweet (zero spice) Cinderella retelling where, instead of the magic wearing off at midnight, she's kidnapped!
Kaylin, a human, and Jorai, the elfish prince, have known each other since they were kids. They have lost sight of each other as Kaylin has been sold into slavery to her 'Stepmother'. On Jorai's birthday, her godmother helps her with a gown and a disguise to attend. On the second night, she is kidnapped by the rebels and Jorai goes after her with a handful of guards and friends. She's barely holding on to her life when he finds her, but what do the Rebels really want? Will they find their way back to each other despite it all?
June 1, 2024
Of Glass and Cinders = (5 ⭐️’s)
❄️…this version of the Cinderella fairytale is so authentically Tiani Davids ~ and ~ includes all the elements of magic ~ mayhem alongside flecks of dark and sinister characters… …from the classic Cinderella fairytale that morphs into a most original retelling: this version begins with the introduction of a human girl that is mysteriously sold into the world of fae ~ there’s a rebellion on the horizon ~ there’s cruelty ~ there’s sadness ~ there’s the dreams ~ but there’s also the hope… …Tiani is in an element that is so deliciously her own ~ highly recommended read for anyone that likes a fae backdrop ~ fast paced ~ short chapters ~ and ~ has you turning the pages eagerly from front to finish!…🧝✨👰♀️💭
❄️…this version of the Cinderella fairytale is so authentically Tiani Davids ~ and ~ includes all the elements of magic ~ mayhem alongside flecks of dark and sinister characters… …from the classic Cinderella fairytale that morphs into a most original retelling: this version begins with the introduction of a human girl that is mysteriously sold into the world of fae ~ there’s a rebellion on the horizon ~ there’s cruelty ~ there’s sadness ~ there’s the dreams ~ but there’s also the hope… …Tiani is in an element that is so deliciously her own ~ highly recommended read for anyone that likes a fae backdrop ~ fast paced ~ short chapters ~ and ~ has you turning the pages eagerly from front to finish!…🧝✨👰♀️💭
July 15, 2024
🪡 Book Review 🪡
|| Of Glass and Cinders ||
|| Author: Tiani Davids ||
Format: ebook
Read from: July 12, 2024 to July 14, 2024
2024 RG: 90/100
MCs: Kaylin and Jorai
Kaylin is a human living in a fae house. Her cruel “stepmother” has her under a blood bond. She used to go with her mom to clean the palace, where she met Prince Jorai. It’s been ten years and she hasn’t stopped wondering if he’s okay and if he even remembers her.
Prince Jorai is having a festival thrown for his birthday. At this festival he is expected to find a girl to marry. But no one has caught his eye in the past decade… Then he sees her. Pure joy and beauty. Now he doesn’t want to be parted from her.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.5/5
“The girl who had my heart as a child and never truly gave it back.”
|| Of Glass and Cinders ||
|| Author: Tiani Davids ||
Format: ebook
Read from: July 12, 2024 to July 14, 2024
2024 RG: 90/100
MCs: Kaylin and Jorai
Kaylin is a human living in a fae house. Her cruel “stepmother” has her under a blood bond. She used to go with her mom to clean the palace, where she met Prince Jorai. It’s been ten years and she hasn’t stopped wondering if he’s okay and if he even remembers her.
Prince Jorai is having a festival thrown for his birthday. At this festival he is expected to find a girl to marry. But no one has caught his eye in the past decade… Then he sees her. Pure joy and beauty. Now he doesn’t want to be parted from her.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.5/5
“The girl who had my heart as a child and never truly gave it back.”
May 27, 2024
Wow! Super! Awesome! Creative! This Cinderella retelling was so amazing! I love it! This is a 4.5 for me.
This story has all the feels including, for me anyway, a who did mystery feel! The main characters were instantly likable and it was easy to feel their pain and joy. And there was plenty of pain.
The world building and the scenes are beautifully written. I could picture each scene vividly.
Overall super job by this author and I can’t wait to read more of her books! However, I do feel I was left with a little political mystery still to hash out (not in a bad way at all!). Sooo…. I’m hoping for more stories with these characters!! Please!
This story has all the feels including, for me anyway, a who did mystery feel! The main characters were instantly likable and it was easy to feel their pain and joy. And there was plenty of pain.
The world building and the scenes are beautifully written. I could picture each scene vividly.
Overall super job by this author and I can’t wait to read more of her books! However, I do feel I was left with a little political mystery still to hash out (not in a bad way at all!). Sooo…. I’m hoping for more stories with these characters!! Please!
April 20, 2024
I read this book as an ARC.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read! I liked the dual POV story telling, chapters alternating between Kaylin and Jorai. Kaylin is such a sweet and gentle soul, but she has a quiet strength. Joria is frustrated with his father but trying to do what is right and honourable. As with Tiani Davids' other books, Of Glass and Cinders has a delightful cast of characters. Parts of this story will have you at the edge of your seat! If you enjoy fairy tale retellings, especially Cinderella, definitely check out this book!
I thoroughly enjoyed this read! I liked the dual POV story telling, chapters alternating between Kaylin and Jorai. Kaylin is such a sweet and gentle soul, but she has a quiet strength. Joria is frustrated with his father but trying to do what is right and honourable. As with Tiani Davids' other books, Of Glass and Cinders has a delightful cast of characters. Parts of this story will have you at the edge of your seat! If you enjoy fairy tale retellings, especially Cinderella, definitely check out this book!
May 26, 2024
This book was a great retelling of Cinderella, with a fantasy twist. I loved all the nodes to the original story as well as how it differed with the added elements of magic and fae.
It was such an easy read, I enjoyed the flashbacks to when they were younger which I felt helped established the connection between Kaylin and Jorai. I love dual pov stories so this was even better to get both sides of the romance! There is no spice but that doesn’t mean it isn’t full of romance!
Overall this book was really enjoyable and I found it quick to get lost in the story.
Thank you Tiani for sending me an arc copy to review!
It was such an easy read, I enjoyed the flashbacks to when they were younger which I felt helped established the connection between Kaylin and Jorai. I love dual pov stories so this was even better to get both sides of the romance! There is no spice but that doesn’t mean it isn’t full of romance!
Overall this book was really enjoyable and I found it quick to get lost in the story.
Thank you Tiani for sending me an arc copy to review!
May 27, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
I’m so grateful to have been given this book as an arc. This book reminded me a little of the Cruel Prince with the fae aspect but it was still overall a decent book. I know this book was gonna be more fantasy than romance because there was some points that threw me for a loop. Their are definitely some trigger warnings before reading this but I felt the end was so cute. Definitely gonna read the rest of this series as it comes out, I hope we get to learn a little more about Kaylin and Joria’s backgrounds. 👑💍⚔️💙🤍
I’m so grateful to have been given this book as an arc. This book reminded me a little of the Cruel Prince with the fae aspect but it was still overall a decent book. I know this book was gonna be more fantasy than romance because there was some points that threw me for a loop. Their are definitely some trigger warnings before reading this but I felt the end was so cute. Definitely gonna read the rest of this series as it comes out, I hope we get to learn a little more about Kaylin and Joria’s backgrounds. 👑💍⚔️💙🤍
May 28, 2024
Cinderella is my favorite fairy tale of all time, and this retelling did NOT disappoint. I was drawn in from the very beginning with the style of writing, and the way that Tiani Davids wove this story together was simply masterful. I was literally in tears of sorrow and joy for the heroine. Kaylin had such a sweet spirit in the face of adversity, which is what makes a true Cinderella story absolutely beautiful for me. I had never read anything by Tiani before, but I'll be sure to add her to my list of favorites.
Thank you to the author for allowing me to read an ARC of this awesome book!
Thank you to the author for allowing me to read an ARC of this awesome book!
April 22, 2024
I truly loved reading this. Even though everyone knows the Cinderella story, Tiani did an amazing job of bringing it into her own “starlight.” I did not expect to be giggling and squealing as they danced the night away, nor did I expect it to be so bought to life. I quite literally heard swords, the whoosh of wind and the hearts beating. I really enjoyed this book and I hope others do as well. Read Books and Enjoy Life ~Belle
April 30, 2024
I received a free copy as an ARC - YA fantasy, no spice.
I loved the characters in this book. Both the female and male main characters were well fleshed out and I was very invested in their stories. The biggest thing I liked was the world building. There were no info dumps and it was well thought out and paced.
The stakes were high and I was on the edge of my seat a few times!
Highly recommend this book!
I loved the characters in this book. Both the female and male main characters were well fleshed out and I was very invested in their stories. The biggest thing I liked was the world building. There were no info dumps and it was well thought out and paced.
The stakes were high and I was on the edge of my seat a few times!
Highly recommend this book!
May 24, 2024
I enjoyed this Cinderella retelling! It was close enough to the story I grew up with but unique enough to keep my attention and wanting to turn the page.
One thing I kept thinking about while I read was I was glad Kaylin only had one sister instead of 2 because she was awful enough!
Absolutely a sweet fantasy second chance romance that was a great change up from some darker things I have read recently.
One thing I kept thinking about while I read was I was glad Kaylin only had one sister instead of 2 because she was awful enough!
Absolutely a sweet fantasy second chance romance that was a great change up from some darker things I have read recently.
May 28, 2024
This was a very sweet story with many interesting characters! I was intrigued by pretty much every character in this story and honestly wish it was longer so I could get to know them more! Along with this, the world building really pulled me in as it was described well and had me wondering what was going to happen with this country. I definitely want to read more books by this author in this universe!
April 17, 2025
EVERYONE LOVE CINDERELLA
Who doesn’t love a good Cinderella story? This imaginative retelling is set in a world of fae and humans, where a kingdom is struggling—and failing—to end human slavery. Kaylin’s story follows the familiar Cinderella arc, but it’s far more brutal and violent. This isn’t a bedtime story for the kids. That said, it’s a quick and enjoyable fantasy read for anyone who likes a darker twist on a classic tale.
Who doesn’t love a good Cinderella story? This imaginative retelling is set in a world of fae and humans, where a kingdom is struggling—and failing—to end human slavery. Kaylin’s story follows the familiar Cinderella arc, but it’s far more brutal and violent. This isn’t a bedtime story for the kids. That said, it’s a quick and enjoyable fantasy read for anyone who likes a darker twist on a classic tale.
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