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Cinderella, Necromancer #2
Cinderella’s Inferno
Purity cannot abide the darkness.
It’s been two years since Ellison defeated her stepsisters and sent her evil stepmother back into the Abyss.
Though she’s learning to control her dark magic and has spent time traveling with Prince William and bringing peace to the kingdom, one fact remains. She is a necromancer and he is a paladin of light. And so, the king refuses to give his blessing for them to marry.
To appease his father, William has begun to avoid her. But when even her younger brother Edward grows distant, Ellison learns her mother’s spirit has been visiting Edward in secret, threatening to overwhelm him with her own loneliness and longing. When Ellison accidentally touches her mother’s spirit, her tainted touch condemns her mother’s spirit to eternal damnation.
Ellison resolves to descend into hell to save her mother’s soul and bring her physical body back to the world of the living. William hopes this good deed will bring Ellison into favor and finally allow them to be wed.
But the journey through hell is fraught with peril. Temptations abound and the demons Ellison sent back to the Abyss are thirsty for revenge.
Evil cannot be defeated without sacrifice—but when that sacrifice means choosing between the ones Ellison loves and her very own life, how far is she willing to go to make her family whole again?
It’s been two years since Ellison defeated her stepsisters and sent her evil stepmother back into the Abyss.
Though she’s learning to control her dark magic and has spent time traveling with Prince William and bringing peace to the kingdom, one fact remains. She is a necromancer and he is a paladin of light. And so, the king refuses to give his blessing for them to marry.
To appease his father, William has begun to avoid her. But when even her younger brother Edward grows distant, Ellison learns her mother’s spirit has been visiting Edward in secret, threatening to overwhelm him with her own loneliness and longing. When Ellison accidentally touches her mother’s spirit, her tainted touch condemns her mother’s spirit to eternal damnation.
Ellison resolves to descend into hell to save her mother’s soul and bring her physical body back to the world of the living. William hopes this good deed will bring Ellison into favor and finally allow them to be wed.
But the journey through hell is fraught with peril. Temptations abound and the demons Ellison sent back to the Abyss are thirsty for revenge.
Evil cannot be defeated without sacrifice—but when that sacrifice means choosing between the ones Ellison loves and her very own life, how far is she willing to go to make her family whole again?
324 pages, Paperback
First published May 29, 2018
1 person is currently reading
253 people want to read
About the author
F.M. Boughan
4 books101 followersF.M. Boughan is a bibliophile, a writer, and an unabashed parrot enthusiast. She can often be found writing in local coffee shops, namely because it’s hard to concentrate with a cat lying on the keyboard and a small, colorful parrot screaming into her ear. Her work is somewhat dark, somewhat violent, somewhat hopeful, and always contains a hint of magic.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 11, 2018
When I found out F. M. Boughan was bringing out a sequel to her Cinderella re-telling I'll admit I was a little excited. It didn't disappoint. I'll start by saying this is a fantasy retelling with magic and a dark twist. Ellison has met the prince and defeated evil. Now she's ready for her happily ever after, but it obviously is not that simple. Ellison has her father and brother back but magic is haunting her family happiness. Her engagement to the prince isn't going as smoothly as she would like. In fact, Ellison finds herself behind bars. All is not as it seems. Darkness and magic are at the heart of this story. True love will win in the end, but the journey will take us to hell and back.
This is a gritty read that is true to its core. The good, the bad and the ugly. It's hard to explain a book with so many twists without giving anything away. If you liked the first book this one will not disappoint. 4 stars out of 5.
This is a gritty read that is true to its core. The good, the bad and the ugly. It's hard to explain a book with so many twists without giving anything away. If you liked the first book this one will not disappoint. 4 stars out of 5.
August 8, 2019
I am so glad that Ella got off of her high horse. It was such a breath of relief that Boughan decided that Ella wasn't always right, and she wasn't the One. That, even as the protagonist she didn't end up saving everyone.
So basically, its great to know that our protagonist isn't a horrible, prideful prick.
Other than that, it was a pretty good tale, but I seriously cannot believe how nonchalant the characters were when one of them dies.
Its like, Oh no, he's gone...
Ah well, better keep going.
So basically, its great to know that our protagonist isn't a horrible, prideful prick.
Other than that, it was a pretty good tale, but I seriously cannot believe how nonchalant the characters were when one of them dies.
Its like, Oh no, he's gone...
Ah well, better keep going.
May 29, 2018
Cinderella’s Inferno blazes with darkness. It is horrific and twisted. If you enjoy journeys in to the depths of the underworld, you will love this one!
I enjoyed how dark and gritty this one was. It had a very slow start, and was pretty predictable, but I still loved F.M’s writing, and the horrific twist on Cinderella. It was a sequel worth reading, and kept me turning pages until the end.
Like the first one, I really loved the horror in the story and writing. F.M. painted a very grotesque picture of the underworld and the obstacles Ellison had to face to attempt to save her mother’s spirit from the depths of Hell. Even though this wasn’t particularly categorized as horror, I still loved the intensity and darkness of it all, and it would top any of the horror novels I have read in the last year.
Even though this was a sequel to Cinderella Necromancer (a dark Cinderella retelling) it focused more on Ellison and her inner struggle with darkness. It followed Ellison to Hell (literally) to save her mother’s soul, which she thought she was responsible for sending there in the first place. So, this one did not fall in the retelling category itself (in my opinion), but still stood as a pretty interesting follow up to the retelling.
Ellison was still dealing with the aftermath of her evil (quite literally) stepmother and stepsisters, and finding out about all the dark power she held. She was working through self-doubt and wondering if she was a match for prince William, who very much embodied light and purity. She was also dealing with guilt over almost losing her brother, and the rumors spreading about her through the kingdom, so the journey to Hell symbolized both an internal, and external struggle for Ellison.
Cinderella’s Inferno was macabre and intriguing. Could it have been better? In some respects, yes. Do I recommend it? Yes. Though the pace was slower than the first, it was still well written and very vivid in terms of how F.M portrayed Hell, and Ellison’s struggles. I enjoyed being back in the Necromancer world, and I read this one in one sitting. 3.5 stars (or 4 mermaids since I don't think even Ellison could bring half a mermaid back from the dead).
I enjoyed how dark and gritty this one was. It had a very slow start, and was pretty predictable, but I still loved F.M’s writing, and the horrific twist on Cinderella. It was a sequel worth reading, and kept me turning pages until the end.
Like the first one, I really loved the horror in the story and writing. F.M. painted a very grotesque picture of the underworld and the obstacles Ellison had to face to attempt to save her mother’s spirit from the depths of Hell. Even though this wasn’t particularly categorized as horror, I still loved the intensity and darkness of it all, and it would top any of the horror novels I have read in the last year.
Even though this was a sequel to Cinderella Necromancer (a dark Cinderella retelling) it focused more on Ellison and her inner struggle with darkness. It followed Ellison to Hell (literally) to save her mother’s soul, which she thought she was responsible for sending there in the first place. So, this one did not fall in the retelling category itself (in my opinion), but still stood as a pretty interesting follow up to the retelling.
Ellison was still dealing with the aftermath of her evil (quite literally) stepmother and stepsisters, and finding out about all the dark power she held. She was working through self-doubt and wondering if she was a match for prince William, who very much embodied light and purity. She was also dealing with guilt over almost losing her brother, and the rumors spreading about her through the kingdom, so the journey to Hell symbolized both an internal, and external struggle for Ellison.
Cinderella’s Inferno was macabre and intriguing. Could it have been better? In some respects, yes. Do I recommend it? Yes. Though the pace was slower than the first, it was still well written and very vivid in terms of how F.M portrayed Hell, and Ellison’s struggles. I enjoyed being back in the Necromancer world, and I read this one in one sitting. 3.5 stars (or 4 mermaids since I don't think even Ellison could bring half a mermaid back from the dead).
Thank you to Chapter by Chapter, and the publisher, for providing me with this free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review, and as part of the blog tour!
June 6, 2018
**3.5 Stars- review on https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/**
\Two years ago Ellison and William helped to vanquish the evil that was Ellison's step-mother, hoping that they would be able to get their happily ever after. But instead they have spent the last two years being underappreciated and their relationship going unnoticed. Ellison thought that she proved herself to the King when she helped to save his kingdom but he fails to change the laws that would allow her to marry William. When William begins to withdraw from Ellison and then Ellison finds out that her brother communicates with their dead mother but that she can't anymore due to her evilness, Ellison is devastated. Can she right her past wrongs to save her soul and her relationships?
I was surprised when I discovered a second book in the Cinderella series since the first book wrapped up so nicely- no loose ends, no cliffhanger, pretty much what I would call a happily ever after (you know, for a necromancer who conjures evil spirits and makes deals to battle darkness, it was pretty much roses!). Cinderella Necromancer was hands down one of my favorite Cinderella retellings due to the uniqueness, the world building, the horror and the great characters. I really enjoyed the first book so I knew I needed to read Inferno to see what would happen next, how a sequel would come into play. I did have a harder time getting into the plot for Inferno but overall it was a solid read.
I am happy to report that the horror elements and imagery are still going strong in this sequel, making goose bumps break out on my skin as well as check over my shoulder as I read late into the night. F.M knows her spooky and she delivers. Also, the twists were a nice surprise keeping me guessing as to what would happen next in the plot.
I was a little disappointed that there was not really the fairytale backbone to this story that I found in the first book and hope would continue in the this book. Also, I was hoping for more romance and sweet interactions, but that was not this story. Yet again there was what constitutes a happily ever after in this dark world, but after the last book I can't say that this is the end for Ellison and William- and it seems to be just the beginning for Edward and what he is capable of. I would not be disappointed if F.M. wrote another book in this world (just as long as there is a little bit more romance please!)
I am voluntarily reviewing this title.
\Two years ago Ellison and William helped to vanquish the evil that was Ellison's step-mother, hoping that they would be able to get their happily ever after. But instead they have spent the last two years being underappreciated and their relationship going unnoticed. Ellison thought that she proved herself to the King when she helped to save his kingdom but he fails to change the laws that would allow her to marry William. When William begins to withdraw from Ellison and then Ellison finds out that her brother communicates with their dead mother but that she can't anymore due to her evilness, Ellison is devastated. Can she right her past wrongs to save her soul and her relationships?
I was surprised when I discovered a second book in the Cinderella series since the first book wrapped up so nicely- no loose ends, no cliffhanger, pretty much what I would call a happily ever after (you know, for a necromancer who conjures evil spirits and makes deals to battle darkness, it was pretty much roses!). Cinderella Necromancer was hands down one of my favorite Cinderella retellings due to the uniqueness, the world building, the horror and the great characters. I really enjoyed the first book so I knew I needed to read Inferno to see what would happen next, how a sequel would come into play. I did have a harder time getting into the plot for Inferno but overall it was a solid read.
I am happy to report that the horror elements and imagery are still going strong in this sequel, making goose bumps break out on my skin as well as check over my shoulder as I read late into the night. F.M knows her spooky and she delivers. Also, the twists were a nice surprise keeping me guessing as to what would happen next in the plot.
I was a little disappointed that there was not really the fairytale backbone to this story that I found in the first book and hope would continue in the this book. Also, I was hoping for more romance and sweet interactions, but that was not this story. Yet again there was what constitutes a happily ever after in this dark world, but after the last book I can't say that this is the end for Ellison and William- and it seems to be just the beginning for Edward and what he is capable of. I would not be disappointed if F.M. wrote another book in this world (just as long as there is a little bit more romance please!)
I am voluntarily reviewing this title.
June 5, 2018
Just when you thought Ellison's journey was over the story continues in the second novel in the Cinderella Necromancer series. The first book was a dark retelling of the classic tale of Cinderella with evil and magic infused upon the page. The second book certainly did not disappoint.
This book was a closer examination of Ellison as a character as she journeyed to Hell (yes Hell) to save her mother's soul. The inner struggle of Ellison was what drove the book even though the plot was a little slower than the first novel. It was interesting reading about the inner conflict of this character and the things she has done.
This is a fantastical and macabre continuation in the Cinderella retelling even though this novel was not entirely a retelling. I definitely recommend others read this series. It is dark and intriguing with characters who leave you thinking after you finish the book.
This book was a closer examination of Ellison as a character as she journeyed to Hell (yes Hell) to save her mother's soul. The inner struggle of Ellison was what drove the book even though the plot was a little slower than the first novel. It was interesting reading about the inner conflict of this character and the things she has done.
This is a fantastical and macabre continuation in the Cinderella retelling even though this novel was not entirely a retelling. I definitely recommend others read this series. It is dark and intriguing with characters who leave you thinking after you finish the book.
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July 30, 2018
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June 18, 2018
Review:
Protagonist: After the events of the first book, I wasn't anticipating that this would turn out to be a series, and so Ellison's development at the end of the previous installment felt like a good stopping point, and at the beginning of this book she feels well, very mature for her age. She's been on a few daring quests since we last saw her, in fact, it's been two years, and for a good chunk of this book, I wasn't sure where Ellison's character development was going or even if she is meant to have any here. See, this was because the moments that are meant to tease or nudge the reader into figuring out how she's growing as a person are kind of muddled. It makes sense by the end, but for most of this book, I wasn't sure what lesson Ellison would learn on her journey to hell and back. At first, I was kind of put off by this fact. While character development isn't something that should be blatantly obvious the lessons that the character learns from are supposed to resonate with the reader in some way and for most of this book I was confused. That this until later when everything clicks into place. The thing is though, I don't know if that was intentional or not, and having a lesson that's more blatantly stated after confusing and at times conflicting character building "lessons," even though I really did enjoy how Ellison's personal journey ended up unfolding, did irk me quite a bit throughout the story.
Romance: While there is romance in this book, and some really heartwarming and touching romance at that, there wasn't a whole lot of romantic development. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to see Ellison and William constantly bicker or have serious problems in their relationship and I love that the author shows a really healthy relationship between two people, full of trust and support, it's just that I wish there was a slightly bigger focus on some of the problem(s) in their relationship, not huge one(s,) by the way, that show up, especially when they leak into other aspects of the story and character development, as they kind of just show up, are resolved rather quickly once acknowledged, and move on.
World Building: THIS is where this story truly shines. However, even though I was critical of other elements in this story, I did still enjoy the majority of them, here's where I don't think I have a single problem, in fact, I loved everything in this book that had to do with expanding the world. First off, even though it's never explicitly stated that they're in Germany, I finally figured that part out, or at least I hope that's where Ellison and William's kingdom is, and we hear more about the world surrounding their kingdom, mainly in passing but it does help bring a sense of presence to the story. That's not even the meat of the story though, the bulk of this tale takes place in the Abyss, or the underworld, or, well, Hell. In a very creative retelling of "Dante's Inferno" we see our characters travel through the circles of hell, and while this isn't a very strict adaptation of the first part of The Divine Comedy, the changes that were made make sense to tell this story and honestly some of the changes, or more specifically, one of the combinations of elements from the Inferno, was very creative, and while it didn't affect the overall story, it was still something I marveled at the ingenuity of, even if it does feel fairly obvious, I've never thought of it or really seen it done. The Inferno really added to the horror factor in this book, and while I'm not one to be scared by words on a page (or screen as was the case here) even I got a few shivers at some of the descriptions.
Predictability: This book was hard to read in a lot of ways. Some of it comes from the mixed messages I got when it came to Ellison's character development, but sometimes I almost felt that I was led astray from the truth a lot more than I was nudged, gently or otherwise toward it. While I could pretty much figure everything out before it was (officially) revealed, there wasn't a whole lot of time between my realization and the confirmation. Overall, I really enjoyed the twists and turns in this book, though I do wish there was a tiny bit more foreshadowing, I think it would have helped tie the story together just a little bit better. It's weird asking for more foreshadowing when I felt the first installment had perhaps a tad too much.
Ending: Ah, the ending. Much like with the first installment there were a couple of moments that could fall into the final climax category, though more spaced out than previous. The first, which I understand isn't a part of the ACTUAL ending, but it counts for me, was seriously epic because this is where everything really starts to come together and there's a really nice emotional scene involved and the showdown during this climactic moment was exhilarating. The actual final climax was less exciting but no less entertaining. Then there's a much better cooldown period than the previous installment and we get to see a great many interesting things. That being said though, even though certain aspects of this story, and perhaps even Ellison's personal story come to a close at the end of this book, I still have questions that need to be answered, one in particular, so I really hope that we get another book in this world, whether from Ellison's POV or not, whether it's a sequel or a prequel, I just need answers!
Rating:
So yeah, I didn't love this story as much as the first one, but I did really enjoy what the author did with the story, whether intentional or not, and while I was feeling that this installment was a superfluous and unnecessary installment towards the beginning, by the end I was totally on board and was pretty annoyed when it ended, without a cliffhanger, yet still leaving me with so many questions.
Protagonist: After the events of the first book, I wasn't anticipating that this would turn out to be a series, and so Ellison's development at the end of the previous installment felt like a good stopping point, and at the beginning of this book she feels well, very mature for her age. She's been on a few daring quests since we last saw her, in fact, it's been two years, and for a good chunk of this book, I wasn't sure where Ellison's character development was going or even if she is meant to have any here. See, this was because the moments that are meant to tease or nudge the reader into figuring out how she's growing as a person are kind of muddled. It makes sense by the end, but for most of this book, I wasn't sure what lesson Ellison would learn on her journey to hell and back. At first, I was kind of put off by this fact. While character development isn't something that should be blatantly obvious the lessons that the character learns from are supposed to resonate with the reader in some way and for most of this book I was confused. That this until later when everything clicks into place. The thing is though, I don't know if that was intentional or not, and having a lesson that's more blatantly stated after confusing and at times conflicting character building "lessons," even though I really did enjoy how Ellison's personal journey ended up unfolding, did irk me quite a bit throughout the story.
Romance: While there is romance in this book, and some really heartwarming and touching romance at that, there wasn't a whole lot of romantic development. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to see Ellison and William constantly bicker or have serious problems in their relationship and I love that the author shows a really healthy relationship between two people, full of trust and support, it's just that I wish there was a slightly bigger focus on some of the problem(s) in their relationship, not huge one(s,) by the way, that show up, especially when they leak into other aspects of the story and character development, as they kind of just show up, are resolved rather quickly once acknowledged, and move on.
World Building: THIS is where this story truly shines. However, even though I was critical of other elements in this story, I did still enjoy the majority of them, here's where I don't think I have a single problem, in fact, I loved everything in this book that had to do with expanding the world. First off, even though it's never explicitly stated that they're in Germany, I finally figured that part out, or at least I hope that's where Ellison and William's kingdom is, and we hear more about the world surrounding their kingdom, mainly in passing but it does help bring a sense of presence to the story. That's not even the meat of the story though, the bulk of this tale takes place in the Abyss, or the underworld, or, well, Hell. In a very creative retelling of "Dante's Inferno" we see our characters travel through the circles of hell, and while this isn't a very strict adaptation of the first part of The Divine Comedy, the changes that were made make sense to tell this story and honestly some of the changes, or more specifically, one of the combinations of elements from the Inferno, was very creative, and while it didn't affect the overall story, it was still something I marveled at the ingenuity of, even if it does feel fairly obvious, I've never thought of it or really seen it done. The Inferno really added to the horror factor in this book, and while I'm not one to be scared by words on a page (or screen as was the case here) even I got a few shivers at some of the descriptions.
Predictability: This book was hard to read in a lot of ways. Some of it comes from the mixed messages I got when it came to Ellison's character development, but sometimes I almost felt that I was led astray from the truth a lot more than I was nudged, gently or otherwise toward it. While I could pretty much figure everything out before it was (officially) revealed, there wasn't a whole lot of time between my realization and the confirmation. Overall, I really enjoyed the twists and turns in this book, though I do wish there was a tiny bit more foreshadowing, I think it would have helped tie the story together just a little bit better. It's weird asking for more foreshadowing when I felt the first installment had perhaps a tad too much.
Ending: Ah, the ending. Much like with the first installment there were a couple of moments that could fall into the final climax category, though more spaced out than previous. The first, which I understand isn't a part of the ACTUAL ending, but it counts for me, was seriously epic because this is where everything really starts to come together and there's a really nice emotional scene involved and the showdown during this climactic moment was exhilarating. The actual final climax was less exciting but no less entertaining. Then there's a much better cooldown period than the previous installment and we get to see a great many interesting things. That being said though, even though certain aspects of this story, and perhaps even Ellison's personal story come to a close at the end of this book, I still have questions that need to be answered, one in particular, so I really hope that we get another book in this world, whether from Ellison's POV or not, whether it's a sequel or a prequel, I just need answers!
Rating:
So yeah, I didn't love this story as much as the first one, but I did really enjoy what the author did with the story, whether intentional or not, and while I was feeling that this installment was a superfluous and unnecessary installment towards the beginning, by the end I was totally on board and was pretty annoyed when it ended, without a cliffhanger, yet still leaving me with so many questions.
May 28, 2018
This review was originally posted on my review blog Deanna Reads Books
ACTUAL RATING: 2 1/2 Stars
Cinderella's Inferno is the sequel to F.M. Boughan's Cinderella, Necromancer which I reviewed last year. I liked the first book, but I have to admit this sequel was a miss for me. I think part of it was because I felt like the first book was a pretty succinct book that I didn't need more of Ellison's story. This second novel is more of retelling of Dante's Inferno, and less a retelling of a fairytale, so I think that might also be why it just didn't sit well with me.
I didn't really care for the writing style in this book, which I think it more a personal opinion that a constructive criticism on the book. This book definitely has the right tone and lexicon to make it sound like something written in the time period of this book (15th Century Germany). I think it was great that Boughan made it so authentic sounding, but personally I just didn't care of it. It's totally a personal opinion here, so I think if you like to read books more on the classic side or if you want a book that uses an accurate writing style for the time period it's set in, this one does it really well.
I struggled a lot with this book, and partly I think it's because it took way too long to get to the meat of the story. The beginning is very slow paced, and it felt like it was introducing a lot of unnecessary conflict to the plot. I'm not sure what changed between the first book and this one, but I also couldn't really get behind Ellison in this one. I'm not sure what it was, but I found myself not really caring about her journey. I just couldn't get behind her motivations to go tear open a portal into hell. It felt really selfish of her, and that doesn't feel like the Ellison I read about in the first book.
Don't get me wrong, there were also things I liked about this book. Once we get to the main plot of the story of Ellison and her team journeying through hell, that's when things got interesting to me. This is where the inspiration from Dante's Inferno comes in, and although I have never cared to read that, I do love a good quest story. I do have some questions about this section though, because there are elements of the Greek idea of the underworld in this one, which I loved, but I don't think it made sense in the context of this story. I think my favorite part in the story was when they meet the Spirit that Ellison has summoned and they start to become another member of the quest. I think Ellison's journey through hell and having to go through multiple trials was the most interesting thing about this novel.
Personally I just didn't totally love this one, but I think if you really liked the first book you will enjoy this one. Also if you love books where the hero has to travel through hell to achieve a goal this one might also be right up your alley.
*I received a free egalley copy of this book in exchange for my honest review
ACTUAL RATING: 2 1/2 Stars
Cinderella's Inferno is the sequel to F.M. Boughan's Cinderella, Necromancer which I reviewed last year. I liked the first book, but I have to admit this sequel was a miss for me. I think part of it was because I felt like the first book was a pretty succinct book that I didn't need more of Ellison's story. This second novel is more of retelling of Dante's Inferno, and less a retelling of a fairytale, so I think that might also be why it just didn't sit well with me.
I didn't really care for the writing style in this book, which I think it more a personal opinion that a constructive criticism on the book. This book definitely has the right tone and lexicon to make it sound like something written in the time period of this book (15th Century Germany). I think it was great that Boughan made it so authentic sounding, but personally I just didn't care of it. It's totally a personal opinion here, so I think if you like to read books more on the classic side or if you want a book that uses an accurate writing style for the time period it's set in, this one does it really well.
I struggled a lot with this book, and partly I think it's because it took way too long to get to the meat of the story. The beginning is very slow paced, and it felt like it was introducing a lot of unnecessary conflict to the plot. I'm not sure what changed between the first book and this one, but I also couldn't really get behind Ellison in this one. I'm not sure what it was, but I found myself not really caring about her journey. I just couldn't get behind her motivations to go tear open a portal into hell. It felt really selfish of her, and that doesn't feel like the Ellison I read about in the first book.
Don't get me wrong, there were also things I liked about this book. Once we get to the main plot of the story of Ellison and her team journeying through hell, that's when things got interesting to me. This is where the inspiration from Dante's Inferno comes in, and although I have never cared to read that, I do love a good quest story. I do have some questions about this section though, because there are elements of the Greek idea of the underworld in this one, which I loved, but I don't think it made sense in the context of this story. I think my favorite part in the story was when they meet the Spirit that Ellison has summoned and they start to become another member of the quest. I think Ellison's journey through hell and having to go through multiple trials was the most interesting thing about this novel.
Personally I just didn't totally love this one, but I think if you really liked the first book you will enjoy this one. Also if you love books where the hero has to travel through hell to achieve a goal this one might also be right up your alley.
*I received a free egalley copy of this book in exchange for my honest review
June 10, 2018
Cinderella’s Inferno starts after two years in which the main protagonist had time and many occasions to use her powers, to gain their control and decide the way in which she wants to use them. But this was a process that went in both directions. The powers changed her too. So, it’s time for our Cinderella to go on a self-discovery journey.
And this journey, as Mrs. Boughan already shown us in the first volume, it will not be an easy one and, if it is not quite clear from the title, then the motto will make it clearer: Cinderella’s Inferno is a modern, young-adult-ish version of Dantes’s one.
The pace of the story could look a little slower at first, but I find it normal due to the fact that, even if the story is full of dangerous events, deadly twists and trials, victims and losses, the main interest is the discovery of Cinderella’s moral grounds and the set must be prepared properly.
Ellison, our Cinderella, is changed and not only her good traits were enhanced since the last events. She’s looking for her “real” place and purpose not only in the battle between good and evil but also in William’s life. Is their relationship strong enough? Is their love real and powerful enough to reach the self-sacrifice? The reader can find all the answers (and others) in the story; a story in which the more visual layer of pure action flows together with a more profound one. So my advice is: look for meanings. They will enrich the story and give reasons and purposes to all it is happening.
William… is William. And you could not ask him to be different. His evolution is a deserved and “normal” one. He’s the good boy but in a badass way. Other characters will come and go (serving their scopes); the presence of some of them will avert a Deus ex machina solution.
Mrs. Boughan succeeds to create a very visual Inferno, but at the same time, her descriptions leave room for the reader's imagination to round the final image of his/her own hell.
Also, it is worth mentioning that, as in the first volume, the author prepared for her interested readers some Historical Notes that now I cannot make my mind if it is better for you to read them first or not. But I tend to recommend you to let them for the end. As the author said herself, it is not necessary for you to have read Dante’s Inferno in order to enjoy Cinderella’s, but I think it would be a good exercise (and education) for you to do it.
In a time in which everything is made with high speed, take a breath and enjoy the story! And learn from it!
http://mythicalbooks.blogspot.com/201...
And this journey, as Mrs. Boughan already shown us in the first volume, it will not be an easy one and, if it is not quite clear from the title, then the motto will make it clearer: Cinderella’s Inferno is a modern, young-adult-ish version of Dantes’s one.
The pace of the story could look a little slower at first, but I find it normal due to the fact that, even if the story is full of dangerous events, deadly twists and trials, victims and losses, the main interest is the discovery of Cinderella’s moral grounds and the set must be prepared properly.
Ellison, our Cinderella, is changed and not only her good traits were enhanced since the last events. She’s looking for her “real” place and purpose not only in the battle between good and evil but also in William’s life. Is their relationship strong enough? Is their love real and powerful enough to reach the self-sacrifice? The reader can find all the answers (and others) in the story; a story in which the more visual layer of pure action flows together with a more profound one. So my advice is: look for meanings. They will enrich the story and give reasons and purposes to all it is happening.
William… is William. And you could not ask him to be different. His evolution is a deserved and “normal” one. He’s the good boy but in a badass way. Other characters will come and go (serving their scopes); the presence of some of them will avert a Deus ex machina solution.
Mrs. Boughan succeeds to create a very visual Inferno, but at the same time, her descriptions leave room for the reader's imagination to round the final image of his/her own hell.
Also, it is worth mentioning that, as in the first volume, the author prepared for her interested readers some Historical Notes that now I cannot make my mind if it is better for you to read them first or not. But I tend to recommend you to let them for the end. As the author said herself, it is not necessary for you to have read Dante’s Inferno in order to enjoy Cinderella’s, but I think it would be a good exercise (and education) for you to do it.
In a time in which everything is made with high speed, take a breath and enjoy the story! And learn from it!
http://mythicalbooks.blogspot.com/201...
June 20, 2018
Fell more in love with William. All he sacrificed in this book for Ellison just warms the heart but also breaks it. You see him time and again sacrifice himself and his friends are put in danger for Ellison and she doesn’t really see it. She is so focused on finding her mother she doesn’t see all she puts others through and the effects it is having on them. Even her dad who is very secretive is effected in ways she can’t fathom.
For me William is my favorite in this story. He is supportive, kind, caring and loving. He gives up so much for Ellison and we see it time and again. He stands with her and beside her no matter what even at his own personal cost. I love his faith in Ellison and his kingdom. He also has such belief in those he protects and his own beliefs it warms the heart. He is such a great guy. I hated to see what he went through but loved seeing his love for Ellison shine in every page and action.
Ellison to me was very selfish until the end. Not that she is not a great character it was just that in this book she was so singularly focused that she didn’t care to see what was happening to those around her until it was too late or almost to late. You can see she feels guilty and bad but I don’t think it truly hits her and she grasps it all until the end. She was so focused that she didn’t see anything else. She was angry with her dad and at times with good reason but it seemed her dad was trying to complete a promise.
The world building was good and really gave you a feel of where the characters were. The adventure of Ellison, William and others was dangerous, intriguing, alluring and kept you enthralled to the end. The love between William and Ellison you can tell knows no bounds as is the one between Ellison’s dad and mom.
The story was wonderful. We have romance, danger, adventure and sacrifice We see truly the leader William is and how loving and caring he is. He is going to be a great king. We see a family that was fractured find a way together but also lose alot and find a way to be a different type of family as well. We see good fight evil and struggle with so many of those battles. The story lures you in and tantalizes you with the danger and romance but keeps you in the story and on the edge of your seat the whole time. A wonderful tale from beginning to end and you just love William the whole way while watch Ellison find her way and grow.
For me William is my favorite in this story. He is supportive, kind, caring and loving. He gives up so much for Ellison and we see it time and again. He stands with her and beside her no matter what even at his own personal cost. I love his faith in Ellison and his kingdom. He also has such belief in those he protects and his own beliefs it warms the heart. He is such a great guy. I hated to see what he went through but loved seeing his love for Ellison shine in every page and action.
Ellison to me was very selfish until the end. Not that she is not a great character it was just that in this book she was so singularly focused that she didn’t care to see what was happening to those around her until it was too late or almost to late. You can see she feels guilty and bad but I don’t think it truly hits her and she grasps it all until the end. She was so focused that she didn’t see anything else. She was angry with her dad and at times with good reason but it seemed her dad was trying to complete a promise.
The world building was good and really gave you a feel of where the characters were. The adventure of Ellison, William and others was dangerous, intriguing, alluring and kept you enthralled to the end. The love between William and Ellison you can tell knows no bounds as is the one between Ellison’s dad and mom.
The story was wonderful. We have romance, danger, adventure and sacrifice We see truly the leader William is and how loving and caring he is. He is going to be a great king. We see a family that was fractured find a way together but also lose alot and find a way to be a different type of family as well. We see good fight evil and struggle with so many of those battles. The story lures you in and tantalizes you with the danger and romance but keeps you in the story and on the edge of your seat the whole time. A wonderful tale from beginning to end and you just love William the whole way while watch Ellison find her way and grow.
July 7, 2018
I love anything to do with Fairy Tales, and the darker the better. I was however NOT a fan of YA until I started reading this series. Maybe its just the author but I have now found myself searching for YA such as this.
The first book in this series was heart wrenching, and dramatic and so friggin' suspenseful I couldn't put it down.
The sequel? In one word, unstoppable.
Ellison is back with the same stubborn, strong and relentless attitude she had in the first book, only this time she'll need to it survive the very depths of hell to rescue her beloved mother's soul. Did I mention the author also found a brilliant way to incorporate another favorite (and very famous) work of literature? Dante's Inferno. The circles of hell. Now I know that has been used in books and movies hundreds of times BUT F.M. Boughan created something entirely unique and quite haunting in her description of the circles of hell. She did it with exceptional feeling.
Long review short (because I won't post spoilers even though I so badly want to!) I read the book in two days. The only books I read in two days are books by Sophie Kinsella or hard stopping modern day thrillers, so that should say something to you.
I did tear up at the end of this novel, be forewarned, but God did I ever love it.
The first book in this series was heart wrenching, and dramatic and so friggin' suspenseful I couldn't put it down.
The sequel? In one word, unstoppable.
Ellison is back with the same stubborn, strong and relentless attitude she had in the first book, only this time she'll need to it survive the very depths of hell to rescue her beloved mother's soul. Did I mention the author also found a brilliant way to incorporate another favorite (and very famous) work of literature? Dante's Inferno. The circles of hell. Now I know that has been used in books and movies hundreds of times BUT F.M. Boughan created something entirely unique and quite haunting in her description of the circles of hell. She did it with exceptional feeling.
Long review short (because I won't post spoilers even though I so badly want to!) I read the book in two days. The only books I read in two days are books by Sophie Kinsella or hard stopping modern day thrillers, so that should say something to you.
I did tear up at the end of this novel, be forewarned, but God did I ever love it.
June 6, 2018
This sequel definitely lives up to the first one!
I loved the darker, slight re-telling of Cinderella that doesn't allow the main character to fully get her happy ending, at least for now. If you loved getting into Cinderella, Necromancer, you'll slowly fall back into Inferno. It did take me a hot minute to get to back into to the story, but once I was, I devoured this book in only two sittings.
I will say that it felt like this one had a more adventure-type vibe than the first book. There are less Cinderella elements as we get more into the evil spirit business of the magic following the last two years. I will say that I thought Inferno was a darker tale as the internal and external struggles take over between the characters, and the relationships seem to rumble.
I gave this sequel a 4 out of 5 stars. The more in-depth looks into the other characters brought the world together and left me wanting more!
There aren't very many Cinderella series in YA, so take a grab at this one this summer!
I loved the darker, slight re-telling of Cinderella that doesn't allow the main character to fully get her happy ending, at least for now. If you loved getting into Cinderella, Necromancer, you'll slowly fall back into Inferno. It did take me a hot minute to get to back into to the story, but once I was, I devoured this book in only two sittings.
I will say that it felt like this one had a more adventure-type vibe than the first book. There are less Cinderella elements as we get more into the evil spirit business of the magic following the last two years. I will say that I thought Inferno was a darker tale as the internal and external struggles take over between the characters, and the relationships seem to rumble.
I gave this sequel a 4 out of 5 stars. The more in-depth looks into the other characters brought the world together and left me wanting more!
There aren't very many Cinderella series in YA, so take a grab at this one this summer!
June 3, 2018
I'm a huge fan of retellings and read the first book in this series last year! I admit that I haven't read a ton of Cinderella themed novels but I thoroughly enjoyed this one as much as I did the first one.
Ellison's father played a bigger role in this book which was intriguing since we don't usually hear much about any of the other versions of Cinderella's father. I also enjoyed that William had a much bigger part in this book.
The character development that Ellison went through was perfection! I loved that she made a spirit friend who helped the gang through the depths of hell. I also found it interesting the way that each circle was described. I haven't read Dante's Inferno before so I walked in a little blindly other than being a little familiar with the seven deadly sins.
While this one is a retelling still, it's more of a crossover between Cinderella and Dante's Inferno with some necromancy thrown into the mix.
Ellison's father played a bigger role in this book which was intriguing since we don't usually hear much about any of the other versions of Cinderella's father. I also enjoyed that William had a much bigger part in this book.
The character development that Ellison went through was perfection! I loved that she made a spirit friend who helped the gang through the depths of hell. I also found it interesting the way that each circle was described. I haven't read Dante's Inferno before so I walked in a little blindly other than being a little familiar with the seven deadly sins.
While this one is a retelling still, it's more of a crossover between Cinderella and Dante's Inferno with some necromancy thrown into the mix.
August 12, 2018
In the time since we left Ellison after book one, she has been using her powers of necromancy to rid the kingdom of demons, a task that has gained her much renown, but has tainted her soul. When she accidentally condemns a loved one to the depths of hell, she risks everything to set it right. The descent takes Ellison and her companions through Dante's Nine Circles of Hell. Each circle confirms for Ellison her path to eternal damnation and her need to save her loved ones from the same fate. This story is compelling and engaging. The suspense in palpable and the characters are heartbreaking. I highly recommend this duology to fans of fantasy and dark fairy tale retellings.
Incidentally, the hard copy of this book has the softest cover I have even encountered. Seriously, it's like velvet.
Incidentally, the hard copy of this book has the softest cover I have even encountered. Seriously, it's like velvet.
May 31, 2018
My heart is so happy that this book exists. ❤️ *stands on soapbox: ELLISON DOES NOT DESERVE WILLIAM.* He’s the read princely goal to aspire to, and I forgot how much I missed him! I love these books so much and I’m hoping and praying that a third will be coming. So much mystery in the last few chapters! I will say that the ending felt a little rushed to me, but maybe it’s because I wanted it to go on forever. Please grab these books. They’re so well thought out and so interesting and honestly a refreshing retelling for once! Retellings are tired, but this one is not!
*I received a free ebook in exchange for my honest review.*
*I received a free ebook in exchange for my honest review.*
June 3, 2018
I loved the first book, Cinderella's Necromancer, and I was so excited to read the sequel! I was not disappointed. I loved how dark this retelling of Cinderella is. I think it is a unique and interesting take on a Cinderella retelling I love the writing and all the twists! You really need to read this book, I really enjoyed it!
June 12, 2018
I'm free!
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