Heart of Glass: A Cinderella Retelling

Fairy Tales Reimagined #6

by Laura Burton, Jessie Cal

Hercules meets Cinderella in this heart-pounding enemies-to-lovers romance!

Killian, a bounty hunter from the Underworld, has spent centuries capturing souls, and he only needs one more to win the throne and become the Ruler of the Underworld.

After a forbidden song is sung, keeping a soul from going to the Underworld, Killian is sent to capture the newly marked soul. Ella’s.

What Killian doesn’t expect, however, is for her sweet scent and dark, guilty aura to consume his heart.

Ella isn’t surprised when a bounty hunter shows up to claim her soul. After waking up covered in the King’s blood, it appears as though she has murdered him. But her memory of that night is gone and she has no idea what truly happened.

If Killian claims an innocent soul, his streak will go down to zero, causing him to lose his chances of winning the throne.

Now, they need to retrieve Ella’s memory, and discover, once and for all, if she’s guilty or innocent. But the more time they spend together, the more Ella’s emotions invade Killian’s, creating a connection so strong, their souls become tethered.

But with Ella’s soul still marked, and scores of bounty hunters out to get her, how will Killian save her from her fate?

Heart of Glass is the thrilling sixth installment of the Fairytales Reimagined series. This exciting tale is a Cinderella meets Hercules retelling with a Hades and Persephone twist. It has action, greek mythology, toe-curling kisses, and a heart-pounding conclusion that will make your head spin. Scroll up and start reading today!

Genres: Fantasy, Retellings, Romance, Cinderella, Fairy Tale Retellings, Fairy Tales, Audiobook

242 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 25, 2022

About the author

Laura writes sweet romance and fantasy with steamy kisses, thrilling suspense, and mystery.

A self-confessed Potterhead and Once Upon a Time fan.
Laura marries her love of 1990's romcoms with her obsession with Pretty Little Liars and writes fast-paced books written especially for readers who need an escape.

Laura Burton is a British author who lives in Wiltshire, England with her three wild sons, alpha-male husband, and positively loopy Poochon.

Reviews

[Shahista Swellam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this one .. and though its not your classic cinderella retelling but nevertheless it did have alot of cinderella's original story mentions, such as the blue gown, the glass slippers, losing a shoe, the pumpkin patch.
And though i did see Cinderella clearly in the story I didnt see Hercules AT ALL.

I would still recommend it to all fairytales lovers, the whole series actually .

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Cinderella. I know that some people call it an old fashioned tale, but I think it's one of the few tales where kindness gets the prince in the end. Not that Cinderella is asking for one. Go read the original tale. She absolutely doesn't! However, since it's so famous and so often retold it's quite hard to be original when retelling her story again. The epilogue of the previous book in the series, a little mermaid retelling, promised a very exciting story though, so I was really looking forward to this!

Let me start my review with telling that this is not really a Cinderella retelling. And I don't mean that as a bad thing. Like I said, retelling her story in an original way is not easy anymore after so many people already did it. I'm glad the authors of this series decided to focus on the original aspects of her story and her connections with the other characters in this fairytale world. And hey, they at least did include the glass slippers and the ball with the prince!

One of my favorite things about this series is how all fairytales are connected to each other. Although this is Ella's story, we're also meeting Hades and Persephone, Rapunzel, Aurora, Rumplestiltskin and of course the characters we already met in the previous book, like Wendy and our little mermaid. Their stories intertwine, they share friendships and therefore it really feels like all these tales do exist in one big magical fairytale world.

I also really loved the romance in this book and the character growth of both characters. It's clear that at the start of the story they're two clearly different people with clearly different goals. Throughout the story they get to know each other, have some very meaningful conversations and slowly grow attached to each other. And I love how in the finale they show each other, and the world, exactly how strong their love truly is.

I can't wait for the next book in the series!

[Amanda Hofmeister · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the concepts and reimagining of the story and where the different familiar elements fit in, but this particular story of the series got very tedious to me. In particular, the main characters and their emotional/motivational inconsistency was really distracting. The male main character was SO all over the place and he didn't feel well developed. Ella was so over dramatic with super drastic changes in her decisions and feelings, and their romantic story just felt very forced. I understand these all ending with two characters in love and getting married, still the classic fairy tale tropes in that sense, but this one felt annoying in a way unlike the previous stories that made me roll my eyes multiple times. I didn't hate it, but I think the character development, motivations, and their through-line in the story could have been a lot more stable and convincing.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Club 3.5 rounded up 💫
A fun quick read! An interesting re-telling of Cinderella that I read in one sitting. Some parts felt a little repetitive on the commentary side from Killian but overall enjoyed. Read as a standalone for book club but you can definitely tell the prior books in this series tie in and if I read them it probably would have given me a lot more background information to work with.

[Jessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun read in the Fairytale Reimagined series. While there were some references to the classic Cinderella story, most of the book is a very different spin. I absolutely loved Killian’s character, very dark broody. Nothing at all like the classic Prince Charming. And Ella is a lot more fierce and capable. There’s a little bit of angst and some slightly spicy scenes, but nothing x-rated. This also sets up the last two stories very nicely.

[Teya Teya · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did enjoy the fairy tale remake storyline. I enjoyed the intensity of the characters even. However, I really did not appreciate the bedroom scene at the end. NOT my cup of tea and it was disappointing to a really great 3/4 book. If they were already married at that point, maybe, even then I'm not a bedroom scene reader. My own personal opinion.

[Annie Hardarson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sadly it was not what I hoped it be, so it was not for me.

[Kirstin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can count on one hand the number of books I haven't finished.. This book made the list. I truly wanted to like it, the premise sounds like it's right up my alley, but the writing style really got under my skin. Sometimes it takes a few chapters for a book to find its voice, but I couldn't make it past chapter four of Heart of Glass. The writing style can only be described as cringey, it felt like I was reading a fan-fiction story. I'm really not sure how the authors are USA Today best sellers, this book is reminiscent of my own writing in early high school, the voice is so young.. It really doesn't fit for a story that's supposed to be partially from the perspective of someone who has apparently existed for centuries.

[L. J. · Rating 1 out of 5]

TBA

[Helen Dawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book by Laura Burton and Jessie Cal. This is book 6 in the Fairytales reimagined Series and is Cinderella meets Hercules & the Underworld. While this can be read as a standalone book, I recommend reading the previous books as they all tie into one another and give a bigger picture and more background information on the characters and plot. Ella has no one, after leaving her step mother and step sisters with just the clothes on her back she becomes the handmaiden of a princess named Lily. Lexa, Princess of Atlantis previously made a deal with Hades to bring her love back to life. A life for a life. Lexa thought the collection would be on her life, not Ella's. Killian, a bounty hunter for the Underworld comes to collect the owed soul, in this case it is Ella's. After getting to know Ella, he isn't so sure that she is guilty of the crimes she is being accused of committing. If she is innocent and he takes her to the Underworld, he will lose his place as the next ruler. The venture together through kingdoms and even the dream realm to figure out if Ella is innocent and if she is, who is the real criminal? Killian starts to fall for Ella, but who would ever fall in love with a monster like him? Lots of ups and downs, but the connection between Killian and Ella always stays strong. Will Ella end up in the Underworld? Does Killian become the next ruler? I cannot wait to read the next book to follow Auroras journey!

[Natalie Reads Alot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Heart of Glass: A Cinderella Retelling 💖 🪞
Pages: 242 📄
Genre: romance, fairy tales reimagined 🧚‍♀️🤍
Rating: 5 🌟
Series or standalone: series book 7/8 📖

This book was so good! I am so sad that this book ended. It was a villain falls for hero situation and I couldn’t have loved it more. Forced proximity.
Killian has to claim one more Soul and wow does that last one smell so good. Filled with guilt and no will to live. Little do we know it’s Cinderella and her secrets that she has kept burdening her forever.
“Don’t touch her she’s mine” 🤤

This book will keep you on your toes. It was a quick read as I didn’t want to put it down. I LOVE anything Disney princess related, Once Upon a time, etc so fairytales being reimagined it my weakness. This author does SUCH a good job. While there’s simulates there are so many differences and she throws in good twists! I will say I am NOT liking how Repunzel is portrayed-like a floozy but I think I see where it’s going so I will continue reading with an open mind. 😊

I just started the last book of the series and I will cry when it’s over.

Stay tuned for Auroras story/Review of Tower of Gold. All of the books in this series has been 4-5-5 stars 🌟

[Serena Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an awesome combination of fairy tales with Greek mythology. The main character is Ella (Cinderella) who falls in love in this version not with the prince putting up "wanted" posters for her, but with the Underworld bounty hunter sent by Hades to collect her soul. The thing is, is Ella innocent or guilty? My favorite part of this book has to be Ella's personality, it was spot-on in my opinion - brave, honest, clever, a sense of humor. She seems a true heroine from the fairy tales. The only annoying thing to me is not the different fairy tale characters meeting, but the fairy tale heroes and heroines meeting each other when they should just switch from book to book. It was a bit confusing to me. Disney has rules for example that the different Disney princesses never meet each other or interact in order to keep the tales pure. That was my only criticism of this book series. Though I read this book in a Disney-themed book club I have to go back and read the rest of the series for sure!

[Leann Arave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good addition to this reimagined fairytale series. Heart of Glass is loosely based on the Cinderella story. Ella has lost her memory, of the night the king of the shores was murdered. Killian, taker of souls, only needs 1 more soul to claim the throne of the underworld.
Laura Burton has an amazing imagination to spin these fascinating stories. They are creative, engaging and magical. The characters are intriguing and well defined. I have read all in the series to date, and enjoyed all of them. They could be read as a stand alone. Each book has a HEA, but they are connected and more enjoyable in order. There are some villains and violence, that are common in most fairytales. The downside to these books is the steamy love scenes, bare body parts and lusting descriptions. I personally do not think these add to the story at all.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Book 6 in the Fairy Tales Reimagined series; Hercules meets Cinderella in this enthralling journey that is heart-pounding in this enemies-to-lovers romance. The characters are well-developed and realistic in this fairytale that is entwined with Hades and Persephone as well. This is a Greek mythology that has a heart-pounding ending that makes your head spin from drama, twists and turns, romance, dark worlds, enemies, lovers, souls, emotions, bounty hunters, adventures, and more. I recommend reading this exciting book by an extraordinary author who knows how to captivate her reader's attention and hearts with a heart of glass, Cinderella retelling, and emotions.

I received this book for free and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[tre.wandereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with most storytale retellings, there is always an adjustment period in my head where I’m trying to see the story in a new light. As an avid fan of Once Upon A Time, I kept seeing Killian as the pirate hero in the series. But he grew into his own light and made the character his own in this book!

The story was engaging and quite easy to go through. I like that the whole fairytale world pops up everywhere in the story and form a whole new world. Ella and Killian are a classic enemies to lovers couple that doesn’t exactly sizzle but has an underlying warmth that fulfills our innermost desires. Sometimes, you don’t need that intense heat, just someone that brings out your heart and makes you whole.

[Breanne Baez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took me a bit longer to read due to life.
This book was darker than many of the others in this series as it had Killian in it, who works for Hades as a bounty hunter from the Underworld with one last soul left to get before he gets to take over, but there is a hitch if the soul isn't deserving his count is reset. He is assigned to Ella who has a bounty on her head for killing a King - she has no memory of it other than blood on her hands. It is a dark adventure figuring out the mystery if she really did kill the King, if she didn't her soul needs to be cleansed. Killian starts to become more protective of her than a bounty hunter trying to protect his next possible kill. He can sense her aura and scent and it drives him crazy. You find out how she gets the name "Cinderella."

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have mixed thinking about this book. It deals with Killian (from the underworld) coming to take a soul so he can gain what he has desired/worked at for a VERY long time. At first, he is very rough with Ella, his target. But she is not what he expected & makes his job more difficult. There is also a stronger sexual content in this story that I am not totally comfortable with. We do get to learn more about the King's death but not who committed the murder. There is an HEA for Killian & Ella which is nice. I wish I didn't have to wait until later next year for the next book. This series is very different. I received an ARC. I choose to write this review.

[G6Gigi Gaines · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is wonderfully written. It was a villain-falls-for-hero situation, and I couldn't have loved it more. Forced proximity.
Killian has to claim one more Soul, and wow, does that last one smell so good? Filled with guilt and no will to live. Little do we know it's Ella and her secrets that have kept her feeling guilty and remorseful.
This book will keep you on your toes. It was a quick read. I love books that have twists on fairytales and or other Disney stories. These authors do a great job. While there are simulates, there are so many differences, and they throw in good twists and turns.

[Jess Boschock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this story. It’s about Ella and Killian he is a bounty hunter from the underworld and he only needs one more soul. Ella is the perfect candidate for that when they think she killed the king. This story kept me on the edge of my seat and anxiously flipping through. I enjoyed this story. I was pleased to see that it’s apart of a series that you don’t have to read in any particular order since they are standalones and I plan on reading the next ones in line. Great read!

[Amy Judkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not sure at first how I would like this one, it is quite different then books I usually choose but I was looking for a bit of a change and this popped up. I am so glad that I did because I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The storyline was so interesting that it held my attention all the way through. I really enjoyed the characters; they were so believable, and Author Laura Burton did a wonderful job in weaving the story around them.
To say that I am impressed is an understatement! I have found a new favorite Author and I absolutely recommend this.

[Yani · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bounty hunter from the Underworld with blue eyes, black hair, and muscles for miles; sign me up! I loved this book. It was fast-paced, action packed and tension so thick you can cut with a butter knife.
I loved how this book can be a standalone, yet have some elements that connect it to the rest of the serie. Killian is frustratingly arrogant, while Ella is annoyingly noble! Their story was so good that I didn’t even miss Jack and Aria. Definitely one of the most interesting books I’ve read all year.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somehow I missed this! I gobbled up the rest in the series and was happily awaiting this installment. I was so glad to be swept back into the Chanted Forest. Ella and Killian’s story was not what I was expecting at all. And I absolutely loved it. I loved how both were willing to sacrifice for one another.

I will say, having read the other books is helpful in reading this series. And they all appeal to anyone who enjoyed fairy tales growing up. Each book, while has their own story, gives information about the next installment and has items that were discussed in previous books.

[Sylvia Bucholtz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am loving this series and love how all the books intertwine with one another but also at the same time one book is about each couple and how they fell in love but not with you would think they would fall in love with. Also small Easter eggs to how this book will be connected to another book. I also love that the title of the book is revealed at the end of the book as well. Heart of glass is a retelling of Cinderella and how she managed to go from a prisoner to falling in love with Killian. It has drama adventure a bit of spice I couldn't put it down loved it!!!!

[Guylande Jeudy · Rating 4 out of 5]

" I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book."

I enjoyed reading this retelling of Cinderella with a spin on Greek mythology. Ella has been consumed by guilt all her life with no fault of her own. After being marked by the underworld, she has to recover her memory in order to save herself. Being attracted to her bounty hunter was not part of the plan. Can their romance survive the wrath of Hades?

[Malu Oliveira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Greek Mythology and Cinderella???

Just read the title, that’s the story.

Where they got the idea I have no clue. I feel like you don’t have to be a “Cinderella” fan to enjoy this one. Throughout the story was pretty meh, but the ending started to get me very hooked. Usually these books do that which is nice.

I wasn’t a fan of Ella’s, she complained too much but I was happy for her character development. And we finally got a pregnant one at the end, now that’s a happy ending!

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great drama and romance with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love these alternate telling of these princess stories. They are so fun. I love seeing the connections with other characters and I like that it’s not an instant love it shows how they come to love each other. If you want to read a spin on princesses you’ve got to read these but start at the beginning. I just love when a new one comes out!

[Kaytlin Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sensational!

I love the enemies-to-lovers trope, Greek mythology, and fairytales, so this was a perfect blend of some of my favorite things! I love how you take elements of the original stories, and tie them together flawlessly making your own story! I can't wait for the next book!

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was semi disappointing. I'm all for an alpha male or a damsel in distress, but Ella was too needy. She couldn't seem to do anything on her own and always needed someone to step in and save her. She finally had a moment towards the end but then went right back to her old self. I hope that finding her sister gives her self worth back.

Killian was perfect. That is all.

[Shelby Wones · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is my favorite of the series so far. The sexual tension was potent my dog, and definitely had me going in this demon and princess love affair.
Killian's character arc is well developed and the plot of how the whole series connects is starting to come together. Ella is also a tortured sad girl, and obviously that shit hits.