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Not Quite the Fairy Tale #1
Cinderella
The King needs an heir and that means finding some sort of woman to do half the job.
"That’s all it’s about, ultimately: basic, carnal compatibility in order to satisfy this need. For that reason, the pictures I request of those who wish to apply are explicit. The full prerequisites are attached to the correspondence. If you aren’t comfortable with these demands, don’t bother applying."
Ella applies, seeing straight through the bullshit; she goes as far as derisivly add a set of pictures fitting the requirements the letter demands:
A picture of her "pussy" - a fat, indolent persian - and of her in her nightwear - yoga pants and a hoodie.
In lieu of an introduction, her message reads:
« Dear Daniel Franko Phillipe Del Luz,
I’ve applied to guarantee that I’m not summoned to your little orgy.
Fuck you. We aren’t all stupid.
Ella. »
It was supposed to go through an automated system;
she didn't expect anyone to read it...
Let alone the King
"That’s all it’s about, ultimately: basic, carnal compatibility in order to satisfy this need. For that reason, the pictures I request of those who wish to apply are explicit. The full prerequisites are attached to the correspondence. If you aren’t comfortable with these demands, don’t bother applying."
Ella applies, seeing straight through the bullshit; she goes as far as derisivly add a set of pictures fitting the requirements the letter demands:
A picture of her "pussy" - a fat, indolent persian - and of her in her nightwear - yoga pants and a hoodie.
In lieu of an introduction, her message reads:
« Dear Daniel Franko Phillipe Del Luz,
I’ve applied to guarantee that I’m not summoned to your little orgy.
Fuck you. We aren’t all stupid.
Ella. »
It was supposed to go through an automated system;
she didn't expect anyone to read it...
Let alone the King
217 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 31, 2015
486 people are currently reading
1504 people want to read
About the author
May Sage
152 books1,899 followersMay Sage is a USA Today Bestselling romance writer dabbling in different genres.
When she isn’t writing, she spends her time with her German Shepherd and her two Savannahs. She loves reading, ballet, running, and cake. Mostly, cake.
May Sage also writes longer fantasy romance novels as Alexi Blake.
When she isn’t writing, she spends her time with her German Shepherd and her two Savannahs. She loves reading, ballet, running, and cake. Mostly, cake.
May Sage also writes longer fantasy romance novels as Alexi Blake.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 250 reviews
May 3, 2019
So, take the very basics of Cinderella's story and beat the shit out of it with a DVD box set of The Bachelor Seasons 1-5; then throw in a lot of curse words and "bros"; spin a dial to decide whether or not this particular scene is going to be medieval or modern... and you'll get this oddly entertaining, but horribly written and entirely unedited story.
January 5, 2020
Ella (aka Cinderella) was born into the nobility, but when her father remarries, her step-mother persuades him it would be best to rename her Ella, so she can fit in with her step-sisters, when her father dies Ella's stepmother's true colours come to the fore..... you know how the story goes. Here though Ella is only putting up with things until she can financially stand on her own two feet, working as a barmaid and having a number of other part time jobs when she needs to.
Ella has no desire to enter the running to win Dane - the King's hand in marriage - and sends a unique response to the castle, never thinking he would ever see it, but he does and she has no choice but to go to the castle. Ella annoyed she has to go, is determined to ensure the King picks anyone else,
A retelling of Cinderella I was excited to pick up, but for me it was just an ok one time read, liked the first half but the second half not so much.
Acquired via KU.
Ella has no desire to enter the running to win Dane - the King's hand in marriage - and sends a unique response to the castle, never thinking he would ever see it, but he does and she has no choice but to go to the castle. Ella annoyed she has to go, is determined to ensure the King picks anyone else,
A retelling of Cinderella I was excited to pick up, but for me it was just an ok one time read, liked the first half but the second half not so much.
Acquired via KU.
November 11, 2016
3 1/2 "Cinderella" Stars!
Not my most favorite Cinderella story, but I liked it; and I'm sure I will continue this series. Happy reading!
Not my most favorite Cinderella story, but I liked it; and I'm sure I will continue this series. Happy reading!
May 15, 2016
That's one of the worst experieces I've ever had with a retelling. Because I love a good spin on a classic tale, but this was a major disappointment.
One thing about it: I wanted to stop reading but I couldn't. And I mean it in the worst way possible. The writing is just bad. BAD. Full of inconsistencies, lots of mistakes and mispellings... And nothing made any sense! Ultimately, I kept reading not because I hoped the story will get better (because I knew deep down that would never happen), but waiting for the details that were missing.
I think the idea of the story had a great potential to be something great, but the author didn't know what to do with it. There is no explanation about the magic of the story, no description about the places (Can someone tell where was it set? Modern age? Alternative reality?), nothing about the story of the noble families and their use of magic (everything just happens)... NOTHING.
And don't even get me startet on the characters... You really think that a poor written book with minimum plot and no description or detail would have well written characters? Spoiler alert: IT DOES NOT. *sigh*
One more funny thing: it claims to be an "adult" book because of the sex scenes, but AGAIN, the writing was so bad every scene turned into something unconfortable with no detail that either makes you laugh, cry (because it's that bad), want to rewrite it or pray for the poor souls that think THAT is sexy.
I would recomend this to no one with half a brain just out of respect.
One thing about it: I wanted to stop reading but I couldn't. And I mean it in the worst way possible. The writing is just bad. BAD. Full of inconsistencies, lots of mistakes and mispellings... And nothing made any sense! Ultimately, I kept reading not because I hoped the story will get better (because I knew deep down that would never happen), but waiting for the details that were missing.
I think the idea of the story had a great potential to be something great, but the author didn't know what to do with it. There is no explanation about the magic of the story, no description about the places (Can someone tell where was it set? Modern age? Alternative reality?), nothing about the story of the noble families and their use of magic (everything just happens)... NOTHING.
And don't even get me startet on the characters... You really think that a poor written book with minimum plot and no description or detail would have well written characters? Spoiler alert: IT DOES NOT. *sigh*
One more funny thing: it claims to be an "adult" book because of the sex scenes, but AGAIN, the writing was so bad every scene turned into something unconfortable with no detail that either makes you laugh, cry (because it's that bad), want to rewrite it or pray for the poor souls that think THAT is sexy.
I would recomend this to no one with half a brain just out of respect.
March 4, 2024
😭😭
I think this book was written as a novel, then random paragraphs deleted to make it novella size. Then random details were just thrown in. A lot of it just makes no sense 😣. And …. The ending of the book, just gone. What happened to the stepmother? Instead we get a crappy intro into another book.
I bought the entire series ages ago because I like May Sages current writing and I have so much buyers regret right now 🥺.
I will read one per month until I get through the series.
I think this book was written as a novel, then random paragraphs deleted to make it novella size. Then random details were just thrown in. A lot of it just makes no sense 😣. And …. The ending of the book, just gone. What happened to the stepmother? Instead we get a crappy intro into another book.
I bought the entire series ages ago because I like May Sages current writing and I have so much buyers regret right now 🥺.
I will read one per month until I get through the series.
July 20, 2016
In the immortal words of Ollivander... nope, no, definitely not.
The writing was ATROCIOUS. And inconsistent. And completely and utterly unedited (more than that, it was absolutely rife with spelling, grammatical, and tense errors). And just... bad. So, even though the premise sounded right up my alley, the execution made this a total no-no for me.
The writing was ATROCIOUS. And inconsistent. And completely and utterly unedited (more than that, it was absolutely rife with spelling, grammatical, and tense errors). And just... bad. So, even though the premise sounded right up my alley, the execution made this a total no-no for me.
October 28, 2015
I'm biased, you'll say; but actually, I rated my previous book a four - because as a reader, that's how much I would have given it. Cinderella is a bundle of fun, and it has depth too - so that's why I'm sending myself flowers :)
September 30, 2018
I've never read anything by this author, but her tone in her newsletters has been a little off-putting to me for a while now. However, when I noticed I needed a book for an exotic locale and the third one fit the bill, in addition to needing a fairy tale retelling for a bingo challenge square, I decided to give her work a try. While I am not overly impressed with the author's work, I am intrigued enough to continue reading the series to see if it improves.
The premise of the story is rather unique! There's a great mash up of fairy tales and the surrounding mythos, and I really liked how the author combined some of the more modern aspects of the fairy tale into her story. I loved Ella herself...her strength and snarkiness stood out the most for me. I absolutely hated Daniel for the entire story! He came across as a self-absorbed prick! I did like how he tried to redeem himself for past actions, but it felt too little too late.
The world building on the story was well done, and easily relatable. However, the plot felt a little rushed, especially at the end of the book. I wound up going back and re-reading several passages near the end because I couldn't understand what was happening in certain places. I wound up docking a star for that alone, because I really didn't like having to re-read the book as I was reading it! All things considered, it was a decent read, and I am hoping things get better from here.
The premise of the story is rather unique! There's a great mash up of fairy tales and the surrounding mythos, and I really liked how the author combined some of the more modern aspects of the fairy tale into her story. I loved Ella herself...her strength and snarkiness stood out the most for me. I absolutely hated Daniel for the entire story! He came across as a self-absorbed prick! I did like how he tried to redeem himself for past actions, but it felt too little too late.
The world building on the story was well done, and easily relatable. However, the plot felt a little rushed, especially at the end of the book. I wound up going back and re-reading several passages near the end because I couldn't understand what was happening in certain places. I wound up docking a star for that alone, because I really didn't like having to re-read the book as I was reading it! All things considered, it was a decent read, and I am hoping things get better from here.
May 14, 2019
A contemporary slant to the well known fairy tale, where a girl down on her luck and a prince, or king in this version, fall in love but a number of things keep them apart.
Dane needs to get married and produce an heir to his kingdom, and devises a way to find the woman who will be his future queen among his many subjects. He requests all eligible women who fit the criteria set to send him risque photos, in order to eliminate all the ones who actually do.
Ella, who is no dummy and does not want to get selected anyway, , utilizes her sense of humor and sends him a "fuck you" note with her application instead.
To her surprise, despite her efforts to be eliminated, she is among the ones who are invited to the palace to meet the king and has even managed to gain his attention.
It turns out that .
The copy I read needed some more work, since there were misspellings and other bits and pieces that needed some editing, but I really enjoyed the world and the story, so I didn't care too much about the mistakes.
This first book has set the stage for many other stories to come, including the one that follows next, A Little Siren, that is a retelling of the little mermaid if I'm not mistaken.
Dane needs to get married and produce an heir to his kingdom, and devises a way to find the woman who will be his future queen among his many subjects. He requests all eligible women who fit the criteria set to send him risque photos, in order to eliminate all the ones who actually do.
Ella, who is no dummy and does not want to get selected anyway, , utilizes her sense of humor and sends him a "fuck you" note with her application instead.
To her surprise, despite her efforts to be eliminated, she is among the ones who are invited to the palace to meet the king and has even managed to gain his attention.
It turns out that .
The copy I read needed some more work, since there were misspellings and other bits and pieces that needed some editing, but I really enjoyed the world and the story, so I didn't care too much about the mistakes.
This first book has set the stage for many other stories to come, including the one that follows next, A Little Siren, that is a retelling of the little mermaid if I'm not mistaken.
May 22, 2016
Cinderella clearly is not another fairy tale story.
The story had a twist to it.
Cinderella was part Fay part human and the heir of her family but she lived in poverty.
She met Prince Charming, Dane, when they were young but somehow lost him.
Years later Dane needs a wife and heir so he launches a massive bride hunt. Only the brightest should answer.
Cinderella/Elle sands out from the sea of women. Dane instantly knows he wants her as wife.
The rest of the story follows Dane pursuing Elle and eventually getting her to lose her for a while.
The story follows the original plot line of Cinderella but there are elements that should have made the story great.
Unfortunately it didn't happen. At the end of the book I was not sure if I should feel relieved the story was over or plain disappointed.
There are so many lose ends to the story that I am not even sure I am going to be able to mention all of them:
- who wrote the letter to tell Dane Cinderella was dead?
- what happened to Cinderella's family and fortune?
- what powers Cinderella and Dane had?
- what was the world crated? Where, when? I have no idea what I read
The book was quite poorly written. The plot had a line to follow but a weak delivery.
I didn't feel the love, the connection. Not to mention the love scenes. Fast, rushed, unappealing.
Clearly I am not excited to move forward to the next story.
I am not sure how and what can I recommend about the story. So I am going to leave it like this.
I didn't feel the story so I cannot recommend it which is a shame because it had potential.
The story had a twist to it.
Cinderella was part Fay part human and the heir of her family but she lived in poverty.
She met Prince Charming, Dane, when they were young but somehow lost him.
Years later Dane needs a wife and heir so he launches a massive bride hunt. Only the brightest should answer.
Cinderella/Elle sands out from the sea of women. Dane instantly knows he wants her as wife.
The rest of the story follows Dane pursuing Elle and eventually getting her to lose her for a while.
The story follows the original plot line of Cinderella but there are elements that should have made the story great.
Unfortunately it didn't happen. At the end of the book I was not sure if I should feel relieved the story was over or plain disappointed.
There are so many lose ends to the story that I am not even sure I am going to be able to mention all of them:
- who wrote the letter to tell Dane Cinderella was dead?
- what happened to Cinderella's family and fortune?
- what powers Cinderella and Dane had?
- what was the world crated? Where, when? I have no idea what I read
The book was quite poorly written. The plot had a line to follow but a weak delivery.
I didn't feel the love, the connection. Not to mention the love scenes. Fast, rushed, unappealing.
Clearly I am not excited to move forward to the next story.
I am not sure how and what can I recommend about the story. So I am going to leave it like this.
I didn't feel the story so I cannot recommend it which is a shame because it had potential.
July 2, 2020
Well, well, well... I love re-tellings and a Cinderella one? Is one of my favourites. From ditches to richest... I call my partner Mr Charming, which is a statement in itself. But this little novella? It could have been so good. But it wasn't.
Why?
The structure, the writing, the jumps in time - were all, hmmm, not good. Yes, I'm trying not being nasty, but I could tell you more. I just choose not to.
Will I read other re-tellings in the series?
Not today.
Why?
The structure, the writing, the jumps in time - were all, hmmm, not good. Yes, I'm trying not being nasty, but I could tell you more. I just choose not to.
Will I read other re-tellings in the series?
Not today.
May 12, 2016
I wanted to love this book but I just couldn't.
The writing was so bad, it felt like the author wrote it and then removed 40% in order to keep it shorter but removed all crucial details.
I had to read some pages 2-3 times and still didn't get it.
This is a story about fairies and powers and kingdoms but nothing is explained in a way that lets you dive into this magical world. I read the whole book and still have no glue what a cinder really is (and I am
Not talking about the stuff that you find in your fireplace) or why he can fly and use winds, or why he is also a cinder in the end?!?!
It could have been a nice spin on the famous European fairytale but was a big disappointment...
The writing was so bad, it felt like the author wrote it and then removed 40% in order to keep it shorter but removed all crucial details.
I had to read some pages 2-3 times and still didn't get it.
This is a story about fairies and powers and kingdoms but nothing is explained in a way that lets you dive into this magical world. I read the whole book and still have no glue what a cinder really is (and I am
Not talking about the stuff that you find in your fireplace) or why he can fly and use winds, or why he is also a cinder in the end?!?!
It could have been a nice spin on the famous European fairytale but was a big disappointment...
June 3, 2016
2 stars
This was just an ok read for me, I was expecting a bit more humor and more heat. Most likely this is just me, since I was in the mood for a specific something and thought this would feed that need. It was short enough to finish.
"I thought now might be a good time to go and be an awesome Prince Charming.”
“I’m a King, and I don’t do charming.”
“Then you’re screwed, aren’t you?”
This was just an ok read for me, I was expecting a bit more humor and more heat. Most likely this is just me, since I was in the mood for a specific something and thought this would feed that need. It was short enough to finish.
May 13, 2016
Wow. Excellent writing, really sucked me in. I loved the heroine and their interactions together. I also loved the really interesting world building. The main thing missing was a final chapter or epiologue so we could actually see Ella open a can of whoop-ass on her step-mother, that would have been awesome.
April 2, 2019
Dare I say "tame?"
Maybe I was expecting something along the rails of an Anne Rice Beauty Trilogy minus the misogyny, but this is more like a SLIGHTLY dirtier Cinderella. Sexy talk, double entendre, some passable sexuality, and some adult humor pretty much sums up the story.
I don't think it was bad, but it's not terribly good either. Three stars are a gift.
Maybe I was expecting something along the rails of an Anne Rice Beauty Trilogy minus the misogyny, but this is more like a SLIGHTLY dirtier Cinderella. Sexy talk, double entendre, some passable sexuality, and some adult humor pretty much sums up the story.
I don't think it was bad, but it's not terribly good either. Three stars are a gift.
August 31, 2015
CINDERELLA, NOT QUITE THE FAIRY TALE is definitely a book that will hook you in the first page and keep your attention throughout every chapter.
There are a lot of retellings of classic fairytales, but this book did a great job of giving established characters a unique edge. If their big names and reputations had been completely left out, they still would have been interesting, developed, and entertaining as original characters. The magic system, the lore, and the species could easily fill a novel on their own; but rather than taking the focus of the book, the lore served as a really rich background to these strong characters.
The main characters were well-rounded and defined. I could have easily read about them individually in stand-alone novels, since their personalities as well as their narratives were super entertaining. Now, put these two dynamic characters together? Even more fascinating.
First we have Ella – known to some as Cinderella – who is playful, focused, and witty as hell; which was my favorite part. I mean, she’s going to “sue the hell” out of her wicked stepsisters and stepmother. How can you not love her? The second I saw her submission to the King’s bride selection process – featuring her ugly cat and an unflattering selfie, accompanied by a well-phrased letter ending in “fuck you,” – I knew I was going to love her, and I was not disappointed. She’s petite, cute, and girly, but she’s also sarcastic, capable, and smart, which is a unique balance you don’t see often.
Then there’s Dane, the King. It was a real breath of fresh air to see a male lead that was powerful but not uncomfortably dominating. I’ll admit I was waiting, really waiting, for a flip to switch so he’d start acting like a degrading “wild stallion,” but it never happened. I was very impressed. He has a sexual history, but not without intelligent thought and consideration; he has a few kinks, but they’re well chosen and fit his personality; and while he certainly likes sex, it never once requires him to shut off his brain. That’s what makes this novel stand out for me: a romantic interest that is intelligent, capable, and gives sex emotional meaning. He actually cared about the pleasure and consent of his partner, which is rare in the romance genre. I definitely respected him.
What I didn’t like: I thought the ending was wrapped up a bit too quickly, which had a rather anti-climactic effect. A few more pages to draw out the main conflict’s solution could have made this story a “five star” rather than a “four star.” Plus, a revelation concerning a character came a little late; more foreshadowing could have improved this. However, this is a minor criticism that in no way overshadows the rest of an excellent story. I was overall satisfied with the ending and would be happy to read more in the future.
The writing style: May Sage, as a budding author, is proving herself as a writer with a lot of range. You rarely see ‘lace and ruffles’ romance and erotica, and rarely done so well -- in a way that gives the characters dignity and diversity. I really enjoyed this with CINDERELLA. Each sentence is very well-constructed to match the character’s voice, the setting, and even the character’s current mood, making each page fluid, tasteful, and fun; I laughed out loud more times than I can count.
All in all: An enjoyable fairytale retelling with a believable and respectable romance between two really strong characters, sprinkled with very tasteful sex scenes. Gotta give it to May Sage – her writing made me miss two meals to keep reading, and it was nightfall for several hours before I noticed. I highly recommend this book.
There are a lot of retellings of classic fairytales, but this book did a great job of giving established characters a unique edge. If their big names and reputations had been completely left out, they still would have been interesting, developed, and entertaining as original characters. The magic system, the lore, and the species could easily fill a novel on their own; but rather than taking the focus of the book, the lore served as a really rich background to these strong characters.
The main characters were well-rounded and defined. I could have easily read about them individually in stand-alone novels, since their personalities as well as their narratives were super entertaining. Now, put these two dynamic characters together? Even more fascinating.
First we have Ella – known to some as Cinderella – who is playful, focused, and witty as hell; which was my favorite part. I mean, she’s going to “sue the hell” out of her wicked stepsisters and stepmother. How can you not love her? The second I saw her submission to the King’s bride selection process – featuring her ugly cat and an unflattering selfie, accompanied by a well-phrased letter ending in “fuck you,” – I knew I was going to love her, and I was not disappointed. She’s petite, cute, and girly, but she’s also sarcastic, capable, and smart, which is a unique balance you don’t see often.
Then there’s Dane, the King. It was a real breath of fresh air to see a male lead that was powerful but not uncomfortably dominating. I’ll admit I was waiting, really waiting, for a flip to switch so he’d start acting like a degrading “wild stallion,” but it never happened. I was very impressed. He has a sexual history, but not without intelligent thought and consideration; he has a few kinks, but they’re well chosen and fit his personality; and while he certainly likes sex, it never once requires him to shut off his brain. That’s what makes this novel stand out for me: a romantic interest that is intelligent, capable, and gives sex emotional meaning. He actually cared about the pleasure and consent of his partner, which is rare in the romance genre. I definitely respected him.
What I didn’t like: I thought the ending was wrapped up a bit too quickly, which had a rather anti-climactic effect. A few more pages to draw out the main conflict’s solution could have made this story a “five star” rather than a “four star.” Plus, a revelation concerning a character came a little late; more foreshadowing could have improved this. However, this is a minor criticism that in no way overshadows the rest of an excellent story. I was overall satisfied with the ending and would be happy to read more in the future.
The writing style: May Sage, as a budding author, is proving herself as a writer with a lot of range. You rarely see ‘lace and ruffles’ romance and erotica, and rarely done so well -- in a way that gives the characters dignity and diversity. I really enjoyed this with CINDERELLA. Each sentence is very well-constructed to match the character’s voice, the setting, and even the character’s current mood, making each page fluid, tasteful, and fun; I laughed out loud more times than I can count.
All in all: An enjoyable fairytale retelling with a believable and respectable romance between two really strong characters, sprinkled with very tasteful sex scenes. Gotta give it to May Sage – her writing made me miss two meals to keep reading, and it was nightfall for several hours before I noticed. I highly recommend this book.
May 24, 2016
I'm always curious about anything with the Cinderella storyline to it. I would swear it's because of the obsession I had with Disney's version as a child. I didn't care about the whole "Oh my gosh! It's a princess!" and what not. I cared about the tale, the story. I was likely a hopeless romantic back then too.
So every time I find something new, or a spin on it, I have to read it. May Sage's version of the tale is one I fell into. I loved all the little things that went into this plot. Pulling from many different areas, and alluding to other "Not Quite" fairy tales as well.
Basically, if you're a lover of spins on a fairy tale, give this a shot. The characters are fun, the storyline is humorous while still making you flip pages. It isn't a long story either, I finished it in under two hours, but it was for sure a fun read!
So every time I find something new, or a spin on it, I have to read it. May Sage's version of the tale is one I fell into. I loved all the little things that went into this plot. Pulling from many different areas, and alluding to other "Not Quite" fairy tales as well.
Basically, if you're a lover of spins on a fairy tale, give this a shot. The characters are fun, the storyline is humorous while still making you flip pages. It isn't a long story either, I finished it in under two hours, but it was for sure a fun read!
May 26, 2016
Stupidly cute
November 8, 2017
I love fairy tales retelling and May Sage turns up the heat with the retelling of Cinderella. I laughed, I swooned, I loved it! Highly recommend. 18+
My Rating: 5 stars
My Rating: 5 stars
November 20, 2016
Can we just talk about the cover for a minute? She looks like some deranged devil imp thing! That alone is almost worth taking a star away...
First, the two main reasons that people are going to have issues with this book: The Selection-bizarre-reasons-for-girl-not-having-a-choice thing and the but-he-has-a-tragic-past-so-of-course-he’s-an-asshole thing.
Second, the reason they did somewhat negatively impact my rating: Because I just wasn’t 100% buying it.
I have no quote for this one, sorry guys.
How many stars do I give this? 2.4.
I thought it was pretty well written, all things considered, but I think some of the story was just… lacking too much. She had some interesting bits, but I think the erotica just sort of got in the way sometimes.
But let’s begin with The Randomly Funny And Steamy Writing?
What I enjoyed personally:
I thought it was an easy read, the writing made it very easy to engage with and I wasn’t left with some random picture of a world that didn’t quite match up with its characters. Instead, I felt like this was a nice blend of modern and fantasy, of an old tale reworked, and just enough magic to make you go hm. I would check out more by Sage and I will say that while I didn’t care for the erotica in this one, I didn’t think it was poorly written and I would probably check out more by Sage if I came across it. If she has non-erotica, I think I would like that more.
What I felt was a little questionable:
Sometimes the transitions seemed choppy or abrupt. Like “where did this come from?” It didn’t happen often, but I think this comes more from incomplete storylines within the writing, rather than the writing itself. Overall, I didn’t have a lot of issues with the writing in this and I tore through it so fast that what issues I may or may not have encountered went largely unnoticed by me.
Moving on to The Reworked Fairytaled Story.
What I liked:
That the prince was being a jerk just to see how many women would do what he asked just because he was the prince. (This shows up again in my dislike section, however, so check down there, too.) I thought it was clever and made Ella more interesting for her “’eff you!” attitude in reaction to it. It, above all, really seemed to suggest they were good together before any of their past stuff was revealed. So it was a nice tie in and gave both of our MCs some actual character. Nicely done.
I also liked that while the story was set sort of in the modern world, it was also a bit like the past mixed in with fantasy and magic. It created a unique world that I found engaging and was probably my favorite part of the whole story. I would have actually liked to see a lot more of it.
What I didn’t like:
The prince being a jerk to see how many women would do what he asked… Okay, the reason this shows up here too is because the prince wasn’t just being a jerk, he was being elitist and sexist. Elitist, because he behaved as though his standards are the only ones that matters—and in a way they do because he’s in a position of power. He’s the prince, will-soon-be-king and he expects people to just stand up to him and refuse? (I think he required all eligible females to do this and many did not, but he may have only requested that they do it… either way.) That’s a hard thing for anyone. No one wants their lives to be destroyed just because they feel uncomfortable doing something. So we have coercion there and victim blaming and slut-shaming. All wrapped up nicely together. How keen. Coercion because many would not feel as though they had a choice. Victim blaming, because even if they felt as though they had no choice, they would be held accountable for those actions and then blamed for them. And finally, slut-shaming, because the prince automatically condemns all women who did as he asked. Nevermind that maybe they did so because they were comfortable with their sexuality. Nevermind that it was their darn choice in the first place.
Ultimately, what I’m getting at is that the prince is a jerk. Yes, it was clever of him to trick all those women into getting naked only so that he could find the one that *wouldn’t* get naked. But you know what? That doesn’t make it okay. All it does is make a lot of women feel bad for either feeling as though they had no choice or for being comfortable in their own bodies. Instead, why don’t you just man up and admit that you’re looking for a queen who can stand beneath the spotlight, hold her head high, and say “’eff you” when she needs to because she’s so darn strong, so darn confident with herself and who she is, that she won’t buckle beneath the criticism and the pressure. Wouldn’t that be better?
Also, I wanted more from the faerie magic stuff. All this crap about elementals and we barely get information about any of it until what feels like forever into the story! It’s a shame, because I felt that was really interesting. I wanted more of it. As it stands, it's a little bit random and would benefit from a little more explanation.
Finally, I didn’t like the whole bit about who Cinderella really was. Not in the sense that I disliked that aspect of her past—I actually thought it was very neat—but rather that I didn’t appreciate what it meant between her and the prince. It just felt a little too convenient.
Next, Le Characters.
What was good:
Ella’s fairygod father. Because he was just awesome and a lot of fun. I wish we could see more of him.
Ella’s only friend—and the prince’s spy. I can’t remember her name, but she was bold, beautiful, and lesbian. Awesome.
The prince’s brother. He was awesome. Heck yeah.
Ella… sort of. She’s fiery, and I did appreciate that.
What was bad:
The prince in general. I really had a hard time getting behind him because of the whole initial decree about the women. And even when we learned more about him, well, it was difficult. He was such an ass. However, he did *sort* of change, I guess. It helped, but I don’t think I ever really forgave him.
Finally, a section for Tropes and Other Much Hated Things:
Fairytale retelling.
Total misunderstanding after the MCs getting together which could have been easily resolved if only they’d behaved like, um, adults.
The Selection type Bachelor deal.
Would I recommend this? Probably not, but maybe—if you don’t mind smut, love fairytale retellings that are sort of random, and don’t mind the prince being an asshole. Ella’s pretty cool though.
September 20, 2019
Pretty good
King Dane needs an heir and that means he must find a wife. He comes up with the idea of having the single, unattached women of his kingdom apply.
Ella applies. She sends the required pictures, one of her pussy - a fat, indolent Persian - and one of herself in her night clothes - yoga pants and a hoodie. Her message for the king will surely keep her from receiving an invitation. Or so she thought.
The king himself sees her reply and is intrigued by what she doesn't reveal in her pictures. He is determined to see more of Ella than the little mole below her lip. He wants to meet this woman with spirit, she may very well be what he is for in a wife.
I know several of the reviews on this book are negative. I found it to be pretty good. There are some mistakes in it, but I haven't read a book yet that doesn't have any. There are sexual scenes and cursing in the book so I would advise 18+.
King Dane needs an heir and that means he must find a wife. He comes up with the idea of having the single, unattached women of his kingdom apply.
Ella applies. She sends the required pictures, one of her pussy - a fat, indolent Persian - and one of herself in her night clothes - yoga pants and a hoodie. Her message for the king will surely keep her from receiving an invitation. Or so she thought.
The king himself sees her reply and is intrigued by what she doesn't reveal in her pictures. He is determined to see more of Ella than the little mole below her lip. He wants to meet this woman with spirit, she may very well be what he is for in a wife.
I know several of the reviews on this book are negative. I found it to be pretty good. There are some mistakes in it, but I haven't read a book yet that doesn't have any. There are sexual scenes and cursing in the book so I would advise 18+.
April 19, 2017
This needs so much work, the editing alone was so bad - to the point there is an actual editing note in the book (e-book) to advise a line be put in for clarification. But the premise and storyline is good enough to keep you reading.
A lot of the character description is left to the imagination - handsome with deep dark eyes... Broad shoulders and lean hips.. Ella has dark unruly hair and a mole under the corner of her lip not gorgeous but very pretty.. And the feet of a six year old.
The writer made a big deal about the number of people in the kingdom they needed to narrow down but instead of figures she left it blank till they got the final numbers.. if you're going to have a conversation about it do the math.. It's just lazy otherwise and totally unnecessary of you're not putting the work in.
A lot of the character description is left to the imagination - handsome with deep dark eyes... Broad shoulders and lean hips.. Ella has dark unruly hair and a mole under the corner of her lip not gorgeous but very pretty.. And the feet of a six year old.
The writer made a big deal about the number of people in the kingdom they needed to narrow down but instead of figures she left it blank till they got the final numbers.. if you're going to have a conversation about it do the math.. It's just lazy otherwise and totally unnecessary of you're not putting the work in.
March 24, 2018
Likeable, but just like Beauty and the Beast (which I read before the first book in this series) it needs a bit more work for me to enjoy it more.
June 21, 2021
Years ago, Lady Ella and Prince Daniel were friends, but with his military service and her father's death, they ended up separated (Daniel was even told Ella died). Years later, they meet again due to her unconventional response to his ad for a wife, but he doesn't recognize her, and she's angry with him due to past events.
I really like the premise, though Daniel is basically abusing his royal power to force her to come to his castle for his search for a queen (his people threaten to arrest her if she fails to show up). I like their chemistry. The world building is limited, and the world itself is odd (part fairy tale medieval, part modern). This book is okay, but had the potential to be a lot better.
I really like the premise, though Daniel is basically abusing his royal power to force her to come to his castle for his search for a queen (his people threaten to arrest her if she fails to show up). I like their chemistry. The world building is limited, and the world itself is odd (part fairy tale medieval, part modern). This book is okay, but had the potential to be a lot better.
February 21, 2017
“Bear what you can and wish what you must.”
Who hasn’t grown up with “Once upon a time” and “happily ever after?” Fairytales are the baby food of almost all mature readers. Experience and age eventually expose the faults in the enchanted fairy story concept; nothing is so cut and dried. Princesses and queens are always beautiful, wholesome, and chaste, princes and kings are always handsome, gallant, and noble, just don’t ring true in the real world. I’m not suggesting that this story mimics reality but it does provide an alternative to traditional tales and is both entertaining and different.
King Dane (Daniel Franko Phillipe de Luz) is in need of an heir. He likes women in a capricious, carnal, animalistic, and genitive way. He decides to solve this problem in a typically simple male fashion. Potential candidates for the lucky position are invited to a week-long party.
Ella (Cinderella) Tremaine is an unwilling contender that can do no wrong. Every attempt to thwart his attentions backfired, making her even more desirable to him. In traditional fairytale fashion, love conquers all but it isn’t just sealed with a chaste (no tongue) kiss. Where tradition stops, this story goes on and on into the steamy depths of passion.
The city of Jenerapolis in the kingdom of Alenia is no Camelot. In fact, it more resembles Pittsburg in a bad year. The place doesn’t make the story, the characters and their actions do.
This is a far cry from what you remembered as a child. Instead of putting you to sleep at night, it will probably leave you with a priapism, uncomfortably tossing and turning all night. Nevertheless, it does present an alternative to convention. This book will never top the best selling lists but does provide a pleasant interlude from the daily doldrums of life.
I wouldn’t recommend that you share this literary tidbit with your children.
Who hasn’t grown up with “Once upon a time” and “happily ever after?” Fairytales are the baby food of almost all mature readers. Experience and age eventually expose the faults in the enchanted fairy story concept; nothing is so cut and dried. Princesses and queens are always beautiful, wholesome, and chaste, princes and kings are always handsome, gallant, and noble, just don’t ring true in the real world. I’m not suggesting that this story mimics reality but it does provide an alternative to traditional tales and is both entertaining and different.
King Dane (Daniel Franko Phillipe de Luz) is in need of an heir. He likes women in a capricious, carnal, animalistic, and genitive way. He decides to solve this problem in a typically simple male fashion. Potential candidates for the lucky position are invited to a week-long party.
Ella (Cinderella) Tremaine is an unwilling contender that can do no wrong. Every attempt to thwart his attentions backfired, making her even more desirable to him. In traditional fairytale fashion, love conquers all but it isn’t just sealed with a chaste (no tongue) kiss. Where tradition stops, this story goes on and on into the steamy depths of passion.
The city of Jenerapolis in the kingdom of Alenia is no Camelot. In fact, it more resembles Pittsburg in a bad year. The place doesn’t make the story, the characters and their actions do.
This is a far cry from what you remembered as a child. Instead of putting you to sleep at night, it will probably leave you with a priapism, uncomfortably tossing and turning all night. Nevertheless, it does present an alternative to convention. This book will never top the best selling lists but does provide a pleasant interlude from the daily doldrums of life.
I wouldn’t recommend that you share this literary tidbit with your children.
December 29, 2016
Dane is a young handsome King with women throwing themselves at him, but what he needs is a wife. Not wanting to settle for a political arrangement, he organises a series of tests to find the perfect One from his own kingdom.
((Note: I downloaded this book in October 2016, I believe there has been a re-edited version put up in December, so some of these comments may no longer apply))
This was fun, but flawed.
I always like a fairytale retelling, and downloaded this for free.
It follows the standard that Cinderella is a young lady that is forced to be a servant by her evil stepmother & stepsisters. These characters are never actually seen, they're just the background baddies that are the reason for Ella's misfortune.
I liked Ella. Even though she still plans to fight for what should legally be hers, she has come to terms with not being nobility anymore, and is a better person for it. She's independent, training to be a vet, and has her own mind. She is definitely not interested in being a trophy wife for the biggest player in the country.
King Daniel - Dane - has his good points, and not so good points. He's selfish, and spoiled, used to getting his own way, and a little blind to those around him. But he's a good guy at heart, and I quite liked him, especially when you understood what had happened for him.
Which still didn't excuse him from his initial test for the women in his country - going on TV and demanding pictures of their pussies. What a git. I mean, it felt like the opening scene for hardcore erotica; rather than the gentle story that rolled out.
There is a lot of foul language (especially from Ella), and scenes of a sexual nature; but the author really tries to make a real plot and story here, instead of just going for shock factor.
I like the idea, but the execution was... flawed.
It felt like there were sections missing, and it jumped ahead, with changes of hear from characters with no obvious reason, etc.
I also didn't like how inconsistent the setting is - it jumps between being very modern, and feeling like something from the Renaissance. A bigger world is hinted at, with wars and politics mentioned when a certain plot movement or message was needed; then never brought up again. It all sounded interesting, and I was disappointed that Sage didn't expand on it.
Overall, an entertaining light read, but feels unfinished.
((Note: I downloaded this book in October 2016, I believe there has been a re-edited version put up in December, so some of these comments may no longer apply))
This was fun, but flawed.
I always like a fairytale retelling, and downloaded this for free.
It follows the standard that Cinderella is a young lady that is forced to be a servant by her evil stepmother & stepsisters. These characters are never actually seen, they're just the background baddies that are the reason for Ella's misfortune.
I liked Ella. Even though she still plans to fight for what should legally be hers, she has come to terms with not being nobility anymore, and is a better person for it. She's independent, training to be a vet, and has her own mind. She is definitely not interested in being a trophy wife for the biggest player in the country.
King Daniel - Dane - has his good points, and not so good points. He's selfish, and spoiled, used to getting his own way, and a little blind to those around him. But he's a good guy at heart, and I quite liked him, especially when you understood what had happened for him.
Which still didn't excuse him from his initial test for the women in his country - going on TV and demanding pictures of their pussies. What a git. I mean, it felt like the opening scene for hardcore erotica; rather than the gentle story that rolled out.
There is a lot of foul language (especially from Ella), and scenes of a sexual nature; but the author really tries to make a real plot and story here, instead of just going for shock factor.
I like the idea, but the execution was... flawed.
It felt like there were sections missing, and it jumped ahead, with changes of hear from characters with no obvious reason, etc.
I also didn't like how inconsistent the setting is - it jumps between being very modern, and feeling like something from the Renaissance. A bigger world is hinted at, with wars and politics mentioned when a certain plot movement or message was needed; then never brought up again. It all sounded interesting, and I was disappointed that Sage didn't expand on it.
Overall, an entertaining light read, but feels unfinished.
September 9, 2015
Cinderella ha! Well, it's not the Cinderella of my childhood anyway. Nope, Sage's version of the old classic is grown-up, matured and aimed fairly and squarely at the the adult reading public.
I admit I was a bit skeptical how the author would sympathetically handle, such classic characters, but I needn't have worried. Cinderella was exactly as I would have expected her to be...a thoroughly modern madam with a fair bit of attitude. In fact, all the characters in this novel have much more character development than was ever possible in the original fairy tales. I was impressed by the author's style and her easy to read writing.
The erotica - and yep, there's plenty of that in this updated version, was incredibly well handled, well written and achieved its supposed purpose of getting the reader as excited as the characters were. All in all I was very impressed with everything about this book.
I would never have realised that there is a market for "adult" fairy-tales, but clearly there is and Sage seems to have found her niche. She said at the end of the book that this is the first of many she has planned, so I will look forward to the rest.
Look, this book isn't rocket science - it won't change the world but at just over 150 pages it is an easy read in one sitting, which is how I read it. It's light, it's fun and it's enjoyable, which surely is one the main reasons we read. I'm more than happy to give it the five stars it deserves and thank the author for diverting me from life's tribulations for a couple of thoroughly enjoyable hours.
I admit I was a bit skeptical how the author would sympathetically handle, such classic characters, but I needn't have worried. Cinderella was exactly as I would have expected her to be...a thoroughly modern madam with a fair bit of attitude. In fact, all the characters in this novel have much more character development than was ever possible in the original fairy tales. I was impressed by the author's style and her easy to read writing.
The erotica - and yep, there's plenty of that in this updated version, was incredibly well handled, well written and achieved its supposed purpose of getting the reader as excited as the characters were. All in all I was very impressed with everything about this book.
I would never have realised that there is a market for "adult" fairy-tales, but clearly there is and Sage seems to have found her niche. She said at the end of the book that this is the first of many she has planned, so I will look forward to the rest.
Look, this book isn't rocket science - it won't change the world but at just over 150 pages it is an easy read in one sitting, which is how I read it. It's light, it's fun and it's enjoyable, which surely is one the main reasons we read. I'm more than happy to give it the five stars it deserves and thank the author for diverting me from life's tribulations for a couple of thoroughly enjoyable hours.
January 18, 2017
Reading this book once was enough. It was a pretty bad retelling TBH.
This book is meant for adult reading alright. In one word, crude. It's not that I have an issue with certain words or anything. However, I do have an issue with certain words used just to make them fit into a story and then, they just don't fit or feel right. Such is the case here in this retelling.
The whole book is about sex, dick, pussy, whore...and what not. Just ugh. I did not like how it was written and there were issues with some characters used just to fit the story and made it into a mish mash. The writing was disjointed as well making me think several times where the heck this part came from. It was just hard to keep the connection. Not too much back story either and this was all a childish attempt at retelling only turned into adult with sex. Even the sex parts left much to be desired for. The king, who is like 30 yrs old, came across like a immature horny 18 yr old boy. Not to mention, him name calling women and then the ad he sent out to look for a future queen - asking to send pictures of pussies and other inappropriate pictures. Who the Fuck does that? What king would do that and be expected to be respected by his kingdom?? Then, there is Ella (Cinderella), her character...don't get me started on her.
Meet Cinderella's pussy....
It was a designer pussy; the perfect kind, with plump rosy lips he just wanted to lick.
I should have DNF'd it...but, I just kept on going.*face palm*
This book is meant for adult reading alright. In one word, crude. It's not that I have an issue with certain words or anything. However, I do have an issue with certain words used just to make them fit into a story and then, they just don't fit or feel right. Such is the case here in this retelling.
The whole book is about sex, dick, pussy, whore...and what not. Just ugh. I did not like how it was written and there were issues with some characters used just to fit the story and made it into a mish mash. The writing was disjointed as well making me think several times where the heck this part came from. It was just hard to keep the connection. Not too much back story either and this was all a childish attempt at retelling only turned into adult with sex. Even the sex parts left much to be desired for. The king, who is like 30 yrs old, came across like a immature horny 18 yr old boy. Not to mention, him name calling women and then the ad he sent out to look for a future queen - asking to send pictures of pussies and other inappropriate pictures. Who the Fuck does that? What king would do that and be expected to be respected by his kingdom?? Then, there is Ella (Cinderella), her character...don't get me started on her.
Meet Cinderella's pussy....
It was a designer pussy; the perfect kind, with plump rosy lips he just wanted to lick.
I should have DNF'd it...but, I just kept on going.*face palm*
May 22, 2016
I have read many versions of this story, I think I have seen close to a dozen versions and this is one of the best, second only to Ember. I really liked this one and I would recommend it.
In this fairy tale world that combines a modern world with a magical one, the story of Cinderella is not what we have seen before.
First of all, Cinderella is not a name given to her to make her less, to taunt or humiliate, is a powerful family name that was taken from her by her stepmother to deny her ancestry.
She comes from the Cinder family, an ancient and powerful family, she is forced to work by her evil stepmother, but she is working to pay her studies, hoping to get enough money to sue her stepmother for her inheritance.
In this fairy tale world that combines a modern world with a magical one, the story of Cinderella is not what we have seen before.
First of all, Cinderella is not a name given to her to make her less, to taunt or humiliate, is a powerful family name that was taken from her by her stepmother to deny her ancestry.
She comes from the Cinder family, an ancient and powerful family, she is forced to work by her evil stepmother, but she is working to pay her studies, hoping to get enough money to sue her stepmother for her inheritance.
May 15, 2016
3.5
This could have been an easy 4.5 stars for me if it wasn't for the way it ended.
I have always loved do rewriting of classic fairytales with the new additions of magic and fairies and additional characters and unforeseen twists and the plot that is not totally original. And I think the story is just the beginning of the series with other fairytales being added and related to this first one.
What were you disappointed me however was the sudden ending of the story! One minute you have Cinderella disappearing away the next couple of pages Dane sees her, proposes, everything resolved (without any frigging dialogue!). I was so looking forward on how Dane would become deserving of Cinderella and how they meet again and talk about their past!!!!! Seriously, I would have loved for this to be a full book I'm not a short story! Alas...
The other thing I was disappointed and was the whole thing would to elements and the magic powers that people from the old condemns have... This part of the story was also not used properly I would have loved to read more about Cinderella's and Dane as well as the wood and water powers (which I think will come in the next books of the series)
This could have been an easy 4.5 stars for me if it wasn't for the way it ended.
I have always loved do rewriting of classic fairytales with the new additions of magic and fairies and additional characters and unforeseen twists and the plot that is not totally original. And I think the story is just the beginning of the series with other fairytales being added and related to this first one.
What were you disappointed me however was the sudden ending of the story! One minute you have Cinderella disappearing away the next couple of pages Dane sees her, proposes, everything resolved (without any frigging dialogue!). I was so looking forward on how Dane would become deserving of Cinderella and how they meet again and talk about their past!!!!! Seriously, I would have loved for this to be a full book I'm not a short story! Alas...
The other thing I was disappointed and was the whole thing would to elements and the magic powers that people from the old condemns have... This part of the story was also not used properly I would have loved to read more about Cinderella's and Dane as well as the wood and water powers (which I think will come in the next books of the series)
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