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Cinder & Glass #1
Cinder & Glass
A sumptuous, spellbinding fantasy retelling from New York Times bestseller Melissa de la Cruz—now in paperback!
Cendrillon de Louvois was poised to be the most eligible maiden in all of France. But the death of her father, the king’s favorite advisor, has left Cendrillon at the will of her cruel stepmother and stepsisters.
Dubbed Lady Cinder by the court, Cendrillon is forced to become a servant to her new family. But when she attends the royal ball, she catches the eye of the handsome Prince Louis and his younger brother, Auguste.
Even though Cendrillon has an immediate aversion to Louis and a connection with Auguste, the only way to escape her stepmother is to compete with the other girls at court for the Prince’s hand.
As her stepmother’s cruelty grows, Cendrillon captures the prince’s heart . . . though her own heart belongs to Auguste. Cendrillon’s fate rests on one Can she bear losing the boy she loves in order to leave a life she hates?
Cendrillon de Louvois was poised to be the most eligible maiden in all of France. But the death of her father, the king’s favorite advisor, has left Cendrillon at the will of her cruel stepmother and stepsisters.
Dubbed Lady Cinder by the court, Cendrillon is forced to become a servant to her new family. But when she attends the royal ball, she catches the eye of the handsome Prince Louis and his younger brother, Auguste.
Even though Cendrillon has an immediate aversion to Louis and a connection with Auguste, the only way to escape her stepmother is to compete with the other girls at court for the Prince’s hand.
As her stepmother’s cruelty grows, Cendrillon captures the prince’s heart . . . though her own heart belongs to Auguste. Cendrillon’s fate rests on one Can she bear losing the boy she loves in order to leave a life she hates?
352 pages, Paperback
First published March 8, 2022
193 people are currently reading
20078 people want to read
About the author
Melissa de la Cruz
187 books15.8k followersMelissa de la Cruz is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for teens including The Au Pairs series, the Blue Bloods series, the Ashleys series, the Angels on Sunset Boulevard series and the semi-autobiographical novel Fresh off the Boat.
Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow, the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and the tongue-in-chic handbooks How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less and The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch heels and Faux-Pas.
She has worked as a fashion and beauty editor and has written for many publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.
Melissa grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).
She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.
Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow, the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and the tongue-in-chic handbooks How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less and The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch heels and Faux-Pas.
She has worked as a fashion and beauty editor and has written for many publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.
Melissa grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).
She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 604 reviews
December 24, 2023
pre-read: This sounds like Cinderella combined with The Selection ... so I'm in.
post-read: I love the cover. This is very much so The Selection and didn’t feel like it was taking place in 1682. I won’t lie, those reasons are in favour for this book. It did take me a bit to get into (I was more into It after her father married her stepmother and we got the whole classic retelling aspect). I expected there to be more magic, but I wasn’t mad about that since it gave the book more of the contemporary feel I like. I’ll be honest, I felt like nothing much was happening in it with regards to the actual Selection aspect. The love triangle was stupid, as per usual, and nothing was really developed at all towards the end. But, but, but … Auguste tho …
post-read: I love the cover. This is very much so The Selection and didn’t feel like it was taking place in 1682. I won’t lie, those reasons are in favour for this book. It did take me a bit to get into (I was more into It after her father married her stepmother and we got the whole classic retelling aspect). I expected there to be more magic, but I wasn’t mad about that since it gave the book more of the contemporary feel I like. I’ll be honest, I felt like nothing much was happening in it with regards to the actual Selection aspect. The love triangle was stupid, as per usual, and nothing was really developed at all towards the end. But, but, but … Auguste tho …
March 9, 2022
cinder & glass aesthetic: https://www.tiktok.com/@avani.reads/v...
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I barely finished this. I honestly don't even know what really happened because I ended up skimming so much. Feel slightly guilty for marking this as read, but I think I at least deserve that for the literal torture this was.
I think the main problem was that I just went in with completely different expectations for this book, and I was just not the intended audience. This book has a very juvenile feel to it. The main character felt annoying, immature, and naive to me. But then I also remember she isn't as old as I thought she would be, so I can't really hold her to the same standard as I do for other main characters.
The plot was not unique nor interesting enough to keep me intrigued, so I ended up not paying much attention as the story progressed. The setting was nice though, though I do wish there some more fantasy aspect to it. It might have kept things a little more lively.
I appreciated the effort in some aspects, like the romance. I think I remember the romance being ok, although again, the main character just ruined it for me. The whole Selection parallel was not it either.
Overall, I think I would've absolutely devoured this if I had read it a few years ago. It's exactly what I used to love, and its an amazing beginner YA fantasy. Just not something I would ever choose to read now.
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I barely finished this. I honestly don't even know what really happened because I ended up skimming so much. Feel slightly guilty for marking this as read, but I think I at least deserve that for the literal torture this was.
I think the main problem was that I just went in with completely different expectations for this book, and I was just not the intended audience. This book has a very juvenile feel to it. The main character felt annoying, immature, and naive to me. But then I also remember she isn't as old as I thought she would be, so I can't really hold her to the same standard as I do for other main characters.
The plot was not unique nor interesting enough to keep me intrigued, so I ended up not paying much attention as the story progressed. The setting was nice though, though I do wish there some more fantasy aspect to it. It might have kept things a little more lively.
I appreciated the effort in some aspects, like the romance. I think I remember the romance being ok, although again, the main character just ruined it for me. The whole Selection parallel was not it either.
Overall, I think I would've absolutely devoured this if I had read it a few years ago. It's exactly what I used to love, and its an amazing beginner YA fantasy. Just not something I would ever choose to read now.
March 29, 2022
Cinder and Glass is honestly just a lot of fun. It’s sort of like if The Selection met the classic Cinderella story in a fully historical setting. We follow a girl named Cendrillon (or Cinder for short) who goes to The Ball to escape her wicked stepmother…and unknowingly is entered into a competition for Prince Louis’s hand, even as she is distracted by the prince’s younger brother Auguste.
I LOVED the fact this had little to no “magic” in it. Which is so weird for me considering that I adore magic? And all the best fairytale retellings usually have it. However, Melissa De La Cruz did such a fantastic job describing the atmosphere of Paris, and capturing the subtle intricacies of the Cinderella story that this story felt like a real fairytale nonetheless. And that’s something I really respect.
A lot of the characters in this book feel more two-dimensional than I expected, and truly feel at home in this French tale. My biggest complaint? I feel like I’m the wrong audience for this book. It felt more juvenile in comparison to a book like Cinder, and much more so than Throne of Glass. I guessed the “plot twist” almost immediately.
Everything else was either really fun (the surprisingly endearing romance, the ball, a few other moments) or predictable in an unbearable way. The princes sometimes felt like people and other times felt like the equivalent of a love interest written for a book directed at sixth graders*. On the other hand, I enjoyed that there were two of them and that part of the book featured a competition. So now you see my dilemma!
*okay but tell me why my first thought was to compare them to geronimo stilton💀
Cendrillion also was just not my favorite heroine. She didn’t have that Cinderella charm that I so wanted. If you’ve ever seen Cinderella III: A Twist In Time then you’ll know that Cinderella isn’t just kind, she’s also determined, witty, and clever. Her stepsister Anastasia also got a great redemption arc in that movie. Reading CInder and Glass felt like reading a younger adaptation of that movie (minus the time-travel stuff). I would definitely recommend this if you like retellings geared toward a younger audience, or if you just want something fun to pass the time. Thank you so much Penguin Teen for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! 3 stars.
I LOVED the fact this had little to no “magic” in it. Which is so weird for me considering that I adore magic? And all the best fairytale retellings usually have it. However, Melissa De La Cruz did such a fantastic job describing the atmosphere of Paris, and capturing the subtle intricacies of the Cinderella story that this story felt like a real fairytale nonetheless. And that’s something I really respect.
A lot of the characters in this book feel more two-dimensional than I expected, and truly feel at home in this French tale. My biggest complaint? I feel like I’m the wrong audience for this book. It felt more juvenile in comparison to a book like Cinder, and much more so than Throne of Glass. I guessed the “plot twist” almost immediately.
Everything else was either really fun (the surprisingly endearing romance, the ball, a few other moments) or predictable in an unbearable way. The princes sometimes felt like people and other times felt like the equivalent of a love interest written for a book directed at sixth graders*. On the other hand, I enjoyed that there were two of them and that part of the book featured a competition. So now you see my dilemma!
*okay but tell me why my first thought was to compare them to geronimo stilton💀
Cendrillion also was just not my favorite heroine. She didn’t have that Cinderella charm that I so wanted. If you’ve ever seen Cinderella III: A Twist In Time then you’ll know that Cinderella isn’t just kind, she’s also determined, witty, and clever. Her stepsister Anastasia also got a great redemption arc in that movie. Reading CInder and Glass felt like reading a younger adaptation of that movie (minus the time-travel stuff). I would definitely recommend this if you like retellings geared toward a younger audience, or if you just want something fun to pass the time. Thank you so much Penguin Teen for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! 3 stars.
March 21, 2022
4.5 stars
Surprise! I devoured a Cinderella retelling! *read mild sarcasm as retellings are a blatant favorite* :)
Cendrillon, aka Cinder, is the daughter of an influential aristo. Her mother has passed but her godmother's influence is steady and loving. When her father takes her to court and returns home with a bride, life slowly loses more of its shine until her father unexpectedly dies. She's no longer the loving daughter of the household and finds herself as little more than a maid. Changes are afoot again when the king orders all eligible maidens to join in festivities to find the dauphin his bride.
This book reminds me of a condensed version of The Selection trilogy crossed with Cinderella. The French influence and setting added great flavor and dropped me right into the setting. I would love to see more retellings like this from Melissa.
Lauren Ezzo's performance is really well done. I'll happily listen to her with a YA anytime.
Thank you to PRHA for the alc. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Surprise! I devoured a Cinderella retelling! *read mild sarcasm as retellings are a blatant favorite* :)
Cendrillon, aka Cinder, is the daughter of an influential aristo. Her mother has passed but her godmother's influence is steady and loving. When her father takes her to court and returns home with a bride, life slowly loses more of its shine until her father unexpectedly dies. She's no longer the loving daughter of the household and finds herself as little more than a maid. Changes are afoot again when the king orders all eligible maidens to join in festivities to find the dauphin his bride.
This book reminds me of a condensed version of The Selection trilogy crossed with Cinderella. The French influence and setting added great flavor and dropped me right into the setting. I would love to see more retellings like this from Melissa.
Lauren Ezzo's performance is really well done. I'll happily listen to her with a YA anytime.
Thank you to PRHA for the alc. All thoughts in this review are my own.
March 14, 2022
Cinder & Glass is an entertaining young adult retelling of Cinderella. After seeing the cover, I thought there might be a magical element, but you won't find that in this retelling. The story unfolds as expected, but the selection/bachelor style competition around the midpoint was an interesting twist. I wanted to love Cendrillon, but she was a bit dense throughout and it was frustrating when she couldn't figure things out that seemed very obvious.
I both listened to and read Cinder & Glass, and Lauren Ezzo gave a wonderful performance. I was very impressed by the variety of voices she utilized. She nailed Cendrillon perfectly and captured so much emotion in her narration. Sometimes it was difficult to differentiate between the numerous female voices (especially during the courtship scenes), but overall this was a great listening experience and a cute fairy tale retelling.
Audiobook Review
Overall 3.5 stars
Performance 4.5 stars
Story 3 stars
CW: death of parent & loved one, emotional abuse, poison/drugging, mentions of physical abuse (secondary character), classism
*I voluntarily read and listened to a review copy of this book*
I both listened to and read Cinder & Glass, and Lauren Ezzo gave a wonderful performance. I was very impressed by the variety of voices she utilized. She nailed Cendrillon perfectly and captured so much emotion in her narration. Sometimes it was difficult to differentiate between the numerous female voices (especially during the courtship scenes), but overall this was a great listening experience and a cute fairy tale retelling.
Audiobook Review
Overall 3.5 stars
Performance 4.5 stars
Story 3 stars
CW: death of parent & loved one, emotional abuse, poison/drugging, mentions of physical abuse (secondary character), classism
*I voluntarily read and listened to a review copy of this book*
August 11, 2022
2.5 stars
I liked the writing style very much, I just flew through the pages of this Cinderella meets The Selection story. I like Elodie and Cendrillon just fine but I was able to predict 100% of the turns and twists - which isn't a bad thing but I simply was annoyed this time. Maybe I'm getting too old for these kind of books so I'm not saying it was the book. If it catches your eye, go for it. It's set at French court under the rule of Louis XIV, so the description of Versailles itself is worth a glance.
I liked the writing style very much, I just flew through the pages of this Cinderella meets The Selection story. I like Elodie and Cendrillon just fine but I was able to predict 100% of the turns and twists - which isn't a bad thing but I simply was annoyed this time. Maybe I'm getting too old for these kind of books so I'm not saying it was the book. If it catches your eye, go for it. It's set at French court under the rule of Louis XIV, so the description of Versailles itself is worth a glance.
September 3, 2021
Got an ARC through work, and I have to say, this one gave me a few good laughs.
I don't think I've ever encountered a main character who was more utterly oblivious to her surroundings, and not in a good way. Basically every major plot point goes so far over her head that it's actively frustrating to read through the many, many pages where she's floundering to catch up with what the reader already clearly knows. It might have worked if the clues were less absolutely overt, but oh well.
For example, for anyone not bothered by spoilers:
And of course, because it's a retelling of Cinderella, you pretty much know what you're getting going into it.
It does have a few twists (notably when it dips, at just about exactly the halfway point, into sudden Selection territory), but ultimately de la Cruz has such a chokehold on those fairytale reins that even when it doesn't actually make much sense, she still manages to shove her story back into the confines of standard Cinderella plot points. It's unfortunate, because having read some of Blue Bloods, I would really have loved to see her go wild here.
I will warn you that though the cover looks nice and magical, there's no magic here - The setting stays relatively faithfully in historical Versailles, where the most you get is poisons and love potions.
But ultimately, it's still a light, fun read. It's still got the charm of Cinderella, even though here she is very, very, regrettably dumb. And I am sure plenty of people, especially readers of Melissa de la Cruz, will absolutely love it.
It's Cinderella in Versailles, after all. What could go wrong?
I don't think I've ever encountered a main character who was more utterly oblivious to her surroundings, and not in a good way. Basically every major plot point goes so far over her head that it's actively frustrating to read through the many, many pages where she's floundering to catch up with what the reader already clearly knows. It might have worked if the clues were less absolutely overt, but oh well.
For example, for anyone not bothered by spoilers:
And of course, because it's a retelling of Cinderella, you pretty much know what you're getting going into it.
It does have a few twists (notably when it dips, at just about exactly the halfway point, into sudden Selection territory), but ultimately de la Cruz has such a chokehold on those fairytale reins that even when it doesn't actually make much sense, she still manages to shove her story back into the confines of standard Cinderella plot points. It's unfortunate, because having read some of Blue Bloods, I would really have loved to see her go wild here.
I will warn you that though the cover looks nice and magical, there's no magic here - The setting stays relatively faithfully in historical Versailles, where the most you get is poisons and love potions.
But ultimately, it's still a light, fun read. It's still got the charm of Cinderella, even though here she is very, very, regrettably dumb. And I am sure plenty of people, especially readers of Melissa de la Cruz, will absolutely love it.
It's Cinderella in Versailles, after all. What could go wrong?
February 16, 2022
- Releases March 8 -
Reader’s Notes:
-this occurs in 1682 France
-there are two deaths that occur during the span of the book (one of which is mentioned in more detail due to the main character witnessing it, but both deaths affect the main character deeply)
-there are two girls interested in one another (no kissing; only blushing, hugs, and a bit of talking about how it isn’t going to be allowed/hiding it from most people)
Review:
I really enjoyed this Cinderella story! I liked how the author made this feel a bit more realistic with making the godmother only a normal godmother instead of a fairy. But she still gave us the feeling of a magical-like change in the Cinderella’s outlook after the transformation from cinder girl to highborn girl. I also like that Cendrillon (our main/Cinderella character) knew her ‘prince’ before the ball and liked him for who he was (both as a friend and as more than a friend).
Cendrillon de Louvois is the daughter of the king’s close and favorite advisor. But after her father’s sudden marriage and subsequent death, she is forgotten by the monarch and others who knew her. After Cendrillon begins mourning, she is forced to be her household’s main servant by her stepmother and stepsister and is no longer seen by those in court.
Until one day, about a year later, the Louvois household receives invitations to a ball. Though her stepfamily leaves her behind, Cendrillon makes it to the ball with some help, meets with her ‘prince’, and leaves unseen by the steps. But to her dismay, she caught the eye of the crown prince (her ‘prince’s’ brother) during the ball and he wants her to be one of twenty-five women to compete for his hand in marriage. Which of course makes her stepmother and sister furious. But after some thought, Cendrillon knows this is the best way to get herself and her friends out from under the stepfamily’s thumb. So despite her misgivings, she chooses to compete.
The only question is, can she deny her heart the love it holds for her ‘prince’ in order to save her friends?
Reader’s Notes:
-this occurs in 1682 France
-there are two deaths that occur during the span of the book (one of which is mentioned in more detail due to the main character witnessing it, but both deaths affect the main character deeply)
-there are two girls interested in one another (no kissing; only blushing, hugs, and a bit of talking about how it isn’t going to be allowed/hiding it from most people)
Review:
I really enjoyed this Cinderella story! I liked how the author made this feel a bit more realistic with making the godmother only a normal godmother instead of a fairy. But she still gave us the feeling of a magical-like change in the Cinderella’s outlook after the transformation from cinder girl to highborn girl. I also like that Cendrillon (our main/Cinderella character) knew her ‘prince’ before the ball and liked him for who he was (both as a friend and as more than a friend).
Cendrillon de Louvois is the daughter of the king’s close and favorite advisor. But after her father’s sudden marriage and subsequent death, she is forgotten by the monarch and others who knew her. After Cendrillon begins mourning, she is forced to be her household’s main servant by her stepmother and stepsister and is no longer seen by those in court.
Until one day, about a year later, the Louvois household receives invitations to a ball. Though her stepfamily leaves her behind, Cendrillon makes it to the ball with some help, meets with her ‘prince’, and leaves unseen by the steps. But to her dismay, she caught the eye of the crown prince (her ‘prince’s’ brother) during the ball and he wants her to be one of twenty-five women to compete for his hand in marriage. Which of course makes her stepmother and sister furious. But after some thought, Cendrillon knows this is the best way to get herself and her friends out from under the stepfamily’s thumb. So despite her misgivings, she chooses to compete.
The only question is, can she deny her heart the love it holds for her ‘prince’ in order to save her friends?
December 12, 2022
Quick Stats
Age Rating: 13+
Over All: 2 stars
Plot: 2/5
Characters: 2/5
Setting: 2/5
Writing: 2.5/5
Special thanks to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
I love retellings, but this one disappointed me. Honestly, it just didn’t feel fleshed out enough. It was the definition of telling instead of showing. I felt no connection to the characters, no connection to the plot, nothing. Interesting things were happening, but the writing was so sparse that I was never able to truly engage with what was happening. It also had the worst case of instalove I think I’ve ever read.
We get three scenes in which they have no chemistry aside from platonic. Then a time skip of a year. They run into each other and have a quick conversation and a dance—still no chemistry. Then the next time they see each other it’s true love. The only scene that I felt any connection between them was the one in the fountains. Also the kiss was so poorly written. It was supposed to be this world shattering kiss, and yet it had no description or anything, only Cendrillon telling us that it was a world shattering kiss.
I flew through this book, but it was painfully boring and predictable, and I really just didn’t enjoy it, unfortunately.
Age Rating: 13+
Over All: 2 stars
Plot: 2/5
Characters: 2/5
Setting: 2/5
Writing: 2.5/5
Special thanks to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
I love retellings, but this one disappointed me. Honestly, it just didn’t feel fleshed out enough. It was the definition of telling instead of showing. I felt no connection to the characters, no connection to the plot, nothing. Interesting things were happening, but the writing was so sparse that I was never able to truly engage with what was happening. It also had the worst case of instalove I think I’ve ever read.
We get three scenes in which they have no chemistry aside from platonic. Then a time skip of a year. They run into each other and have a quick conversation and a dance—still no chemistry. Then the next time they see each other it’s true love. The only scene that I felt any connection between them was the one in the fountains. Also the kiss was so poorly written. It was supposed to be this world shattering kiss, and yet it had no description or anything, only Cendrillon telling us that it was a world shattering kiss.
I flew through this book, but it was painfully boring and predictable, and I really just didn’t enjoy it, unfortunately.
November 15, 2021
This book is unbelievably boring. I don’t particularly care for the Cinderella fairy tale, but I decided to push through the novel anyway because it was an ARC from Penguin- and in the hopes there would be something interesting to finally pique my interest. That never once happened. Cinderella-meets-Selection with all of the magic sucked out means it was an absolute drag the entire time. I skimmed entire pages without losing track of the plot. Cendrillion is the epitome of a character who never makes decisions, only responds to the plot.
The pacing is awkward. It’s clear that Melissa De La Cruz was trying to emphasize the romance by drawing it out longer than any other scenes, but the result was weird time jumps and all of the meat of the story getting overshadowed by a, quite frankly, annoyingly dry romance. I was never invested in any of the subplots and I don’t understand why the weird “choose a bride” competition was included if there would only be a handful of pages devoted to it. There was no effort to make the reader work for information; each plot twist was plainly explained and Cendrillion was just too stupid to pick up on the clues.
It was prettily but so blandly written. And the cover is honestly really ugly.
The pacing is awkward. It’s clear that Melissa De La Cruz was trying to emphasize the romance by drawing it out longer than any other scenes, but the result was weird time jumps and all of the meat of the story getting overshadowed by a, quite frankly, annoyingly dry romance. I was never invested in any of the subplots and I don’t understand why the weird “choose a bride” competition was included if there would only be a handful of pages devoted to it. There was no effort to make the reader work for information; each plot twist was plainly explained and Cendrillion was just too stupid to pick up on the clues.
It was prettily but so blandly written. And the cover is honestly really ugly.
April 29, 2022
Cinder and Glass is a fun, inventive re-imagination of the cinderella tale that offers just enough nuance to make the narrative feel fresh and new.
March 22, 2022
Thanks to PenguinTeen for the digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Is it weird to say I don't think this author is for me even though I've only read two of her books? (The other one being The Queen's Assassin. I ended up giving that one 2 stars as well.) CINDER & GLASS was very average for me. Yes, it is a Cinderella retelling in a historical France setting but almost everything about this was incredibly dull. Characters felt two-dimensional or flat, and I wanted so much more from the setting. I felt plopped into this world with nothing to hold on to and nothing to see me through.
I really wish I could say more, and you might be wondering why I'm not giving in one star. Some of things I clung onto were Cendrillon's relationship with Elodie and Marius, along with her bumbling maybe hopeful relationship with one of her step-sisters. I wanted Cendrillon's godmother to play a larger role and it sucked that she was resigned to her fate. The romance between Cendrillon and Auguste seemed rush and not really concrete. I hate it say it but it felt like a silly teenage romance which yes, I know it is but I didn't feel...anything toward them.
I also think this is suited toward a younger young adult audience in terms of the writing.
Is it weird to say I don't think this author is for me even though I've only read two of her books? (The other one being The Queen's Assassin. I ended up giving that one 2 stars as well.) CINDER & GLASS was very average for me. Yes, it is a Cinderella retelling in a historical France setting but almost everything about this was incredibly dull. Characters felt two-dimensional or flat, and I wanted so much more from the setting. I felt plopped into this world with nothing to hold on to and nothing to see me through.
I really wish I could say more, and you might be wondering why I'm not giving in one star. Some of things I clung onto were Cendrillon's relationship with Elodie and Marius, along with her bumbling maybe hopeful relationship with one of her step-sisters. I wanted Cendrillon's godmother to play a larger role and it sucked that she was resigned to her fate. The romance between Cendrillon and Auguste seemed rush and not really concrete. I hate it say it but it felt like a silly teenage romance which yes, I know it is but I didn't feel...anything toward them.
I also think this is suited toward a younger young adult audience in terms of the writing.
March 19, 2022
goddd this mc was so infuriating
August 6, 2022
Cinderella meets The Selection…great fun, and not to be taken too seriously.
As daughter of one of the king’s most trusted advisors, Cendrillon is used to having to act a certain way. She has grown up around the palace, but is not really part of it. A chance encounter with the young princes reminds Cendrillon what she misses, but with hopes that her father will marry the woman he loves things are looking good.
Unfortunately, her father marries another woman and is dead within months. Cendrillon is banished to the attic and forced to work for her living. Things are tough.
When the King announces a competition for the hand of his son, Cendrillon is shocked to be included. Though she loves the other young prince, this is her chance to escape the servitude forced upon her.
She takes some ridiculous risks, yet things work out okay and she gets her happy ending.
As daughter of one of the king’s most trusted advisors, Cendrillon is used to having to act a certain way. She has grown up around the palace, but is not really part of it. A chance encounter with the young princes reminds Cendrillon what she misses, but with hopes that her father will marry the woman he loves things are looking good.
Unfortunately, her father marries another woman and is dead within months. Cendrillon is banished to the attic and forced to work for her living. Things are tough.
When the King announces a competition for the hand of his son, Cendrillon is shocked to be included. Though she loves the other young prince, this is her chance to escape the servitude forced upon her.
She takes some ridiculous risks, yet things work out okay and she gets her happy ending.
April 7, 2022
*Source* Library
*Genre* Young Adult / Fantasy / Retelling
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
With Cinder & Glass, author Melissa de la Cruz pens a lush, swoon-worthy retelling of "Cinderella" set in lavish Versailles. The year is 1682, and Cendrillon de Louvois is the only daughter of Michel le Tellier, le Marquis de Louvois. The Marquis and his daughter are moving to Versailles where Louis XIV (The Sun King) advisors call home. The only problem is Cinder's father is soon dead, and she ends up with a woman named Catherine who fits the bill of the evil stepmother to a tee.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Young Adult / Fantasy / Retelling
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
With Cinder & Glass, author Melissa de la Cruz pens a lush, swoon-worthy retelling of "Cinderella" set in lavish Versailles. The year is 1682, and Cendrillon de Louvois is the only daughter of Michel le Tellier, le Marquis de Louvois. The Marquis and his daughter are moving to Versailles where Louis XIV (The Sun King) advisors call home. The only problem is Cinder's father is soon dead, and she ends up with a woman named Catherine who fits the bill of the evil stepmother to a tee.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
May 27, 2022
This was a light read with a different retelling of a classic story. The writing was a struggle at times, but it was mainly an ok read. There were things throughout the book that were a little over the top, trying to be a little too dramatic, but the main character was enjoyable enough and the rest of the cast was pretty good as well. Some of the writing was mediocre and sometimes the story was a little lackluster, but overall it was a fine enough and basically quick read. If you're looking for a retelling that's a light read, this is the book for you. This wasn't a favorite for me, not something I would recommend, the writing and worldbuilding didn't keep me attention well enough.
Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC!
Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC!
March 10, 2022
was it the best book i ever read? no
was it cute and had the components that a fairytale retelling should have? yes
honestly i would recommend this book solely for the last ten pages
was it cute and had the components that a fairytale retelling should have? yes
honestly i would recommend this book solely for the last ten pages
July 2, 2022
This was delightful. To me, it wasn't so much a retelling as it was just a version of Cinderella. Let me see if I can clarify - Marissa Meyer's Cinder is a retelling - it takes the original story and twists it and creates a whole different tale inspired by the original story. Cinder & Glass takes a couple liberties, but it's mainly the same story. That being said - I don't care if it's not a retelling. I found this book charming.
As a kid, I never understood how Cinderella's dad could have married someone so terrible unless he had been tricked somehow. I liked that this tale leaned into that direction. I also really liked that the Prince's ball was only precursor to a competition. Instead of falling in love at first sight and chasing down a girl with a glass slipper, he selected 25 women that he was interested in pursuing further and narrowed it down from there. (Yes, the bachelor trope - my favorite!)
I do wish the competition lasted longer and that we had gotten to know the girls a bit better, but I guess that would have taken away from the Cinderella tale. Even so, I would've been into it.
I also liked that Cendrillon & August had a background to their relationship because it made me root for them. They were both likable and their happy ending made me smile. (This is not a spoiler, folks. You're reading Cinderella. You know she gets a happy ending.)
If you're looking for a new twist on Cinderella, this isn't it.
However, if you're just wanting the fairy tale feels in a fast-paced, charming tale, pick this up.
As a kid, I never understood how Cinderella's dad could have married someone so terrible unless he had been tricked somehow. I liked that this tale leaned into that direction. I also really liked that the Prince's ball was only precursor to a competition. Instead of falling in love at first sight and chasing down a girl with a glass slipper, he selected 25 women that he was interested in pursuing further and narrowed it down from there. (Yes, the bachelor trope - my favorite!)
I do wish the competition lasted longer and that we had gotten to know the girls a bit better, but I guess that would have taken away from the Cinderella tale. Even so, I would've been into it.
I also liked that Cendrillon & August had a background to their relationship because it made me root for them. They were both likable and their happy ending made me smile. (This is not a spoiler, folks. You're reading Cinderella. You know she gets a happy ending.)
If you're looking for a new twist on Cinderella, this isn't it.
However, if you're just wanting the fairy tale feels in a fast-paced, charming tale, pick this up.
March 11, 2022
This book is everything a well-done Cinderella retelling should be. Set in the French court at Versailles, the Hall of Mirrors and descriptions of beautiful dresses feature prominently.
When Cendrillion de Louvois arrives at court, she's nervous as years at home have left her ignorant of court customs. She quickly gets off on the wrong foot with the Dauphin (crown prince) when he finds her in the Orangerie without permission, though his illegitimate half-brother Auguste befriends her. But then her father marries Lady Catherine and suddenly dies, leaving Cendrillion without access to her inheritance. But when a ball is announced to choose ladies for the Dauphin, Louis, to court, Cendrillion sees her chance to plead her case with some of her fathers' old friends. But, at the ball, she ends up impressing the Dauphin himself, and he names her one of the ladies competing for his hand, along with Cendrillion's two step-sisters. Unfortunately, Louis is not the brother Cendrillion finds herself falling for.
This story stays mostly true to the original storyline, except for here the Dauphin courts the different ladies, taking them on outings and eliminating them a few at a time Bachelor-style.
Cendrillion is a headstrong protagonist who matches wits with royalty and her evil stepmother alike. The story sparkles with romantic tension as things heat up between Cendrillion and Auguste.
This is a fun retelling with enough differences from the original to make it interesting.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy of this book.
When Cendrillion de Louvois arrives at court, she's nervous as years at home have left her ignorant of court customs. She quickly gets off on the wrong foot with the Dauphin (crown prince) when he finds her in the Orangerie without permission, though his illegitimate half-brother Auguste befriends her. But then her father marries Lady Catherine and suddenly dies, leaving Cendrillion without access to her inheritance. But when a ball is announced to choose ladies for the Dauphin, Louis, to court, Cendrillion sees her chance to plead her case with some of her fathers' old friends. But, at the ball, she ends up impressing the Dauphin himself, and he names her one of the ladies competing for his hand, along with Cendrillion's two step-sisters. Unfortunately, Louis is not the brother Cendrillion finds herself falling for.
This story stays mostly true to the original storyline, except for here the Dauphin courts the different ladies, taking them on outings and eliminating them a few at a time Bachelor-style.
Cendrillion is a headstrong protagonist who matches wits with royalty and her evil stepmother alike. The story sparkles with romantic tension as things heat up between Cendrillion and Auguste.
This is a fun retelling with enough differences from the original to make it interesting.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy of this book.
November 11, 2023
This book was great!
I think that this was the perfect book to get me out of my reading slump. I love how Cinder didn't choose the dauphin (the heir to the kingdom) and actually chose Auguste (the one she actually loved). Sometimes the princesses have to choose between two people they love, but I love how it was a no-brainer between having power and having love.
I think that this was the perfect book to get me out of my reading slump. I love how Cinder didn't choose the dauphin (the heir to the kingdom) and actually chose Auguste (the one she actually loved). Sometimes the princesses have to choose between two people they love, but I love how it was a no-brainer between having power and having love.
April 24, 2022
I think I'm done with Cinderella re-tellings. It'd be more entertaining if it was called something like Zombie Cinderella or if she had superpowers. The cover is so beautiful and lovely!! Top 5 of the year.
February 17, 2024
I was pleasantly surprised by this retelling of Cinderella! I have not read The Selection series that everyone seems to compare it to. But personally it gave me some Bridgerton vibes. And of course ended with the perfect happily ever after situation!
July 20, 2024
I dont usually write reviews on books but I really enjoyed this one! It’s a perfect cross between a mixed up Cinderella story and The Selection. I loved every second of it, it’s very engaging and a very cute story.
June 24, 2022
Fluffy fluff
February 16, 2023
I will be doing a full review if this book on my YouTube channel
https://youtube.com/c/CinderAliLovesD...
https://youtube.com/c/CinderAliLovesD...
February 9, 2022
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This book was a true fairytale. I was sucked in from the very beginning and had a hard time putting it down. I easily could’ve read it in a day but I didn’t want it to be over so quickly. It was a wonderful retelling of Cinderella. Even though I knew what would happen in the end, I still cried and anxiously read until the end! Also the added queer representation was a very cute surprise. I would definitely recommend this book.
September 7, 2022
"𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙨 𝙄 𝙜𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙨. 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙧? 𝘾𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙗𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙪𝙥 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙚, 𝙄 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙤𝙣 𝙖 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙥, 𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙛 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮."
Melissa de la Cruz breathes new life into the well-known tale of Cinderella in her latest novel. A retelling of Cinderella, set in Versailles, France. This is my first Cinderella retelling and I enjoyed it from the first page to the last.
Cinderella as we know it (Disney version) with her stepsisters and stepmother, the ball and the lost slipper, but with a twist.
We meet Cendrillon de Louvios, also known as Lady Cinder. With a focus on Cinder's daily life tending to her stepsisters and stepmother, grieving the death of her father and trying to adjust to her new life, she yearns for a way to a better life. Attending the ball held in the Prince's honour might just be the answer she needs but unexpectantly Cinder catches the heart of two princes. Do we have a love triangle on our hands? This is an easy read with short chapters, the reader will be lifted off their feet by this story. The friendship between Cinder, Elodie and Marius is so precious and they are delightful characters.
Fans of The Selection will enjoy this retelling, but readers who want to try their first retelling should definitely read this book. It's an absolute delight to read and a great palate cleanser between books or even to help you get out of a reading slump.
After reading this book, I've added all de la Cruz's other books to my TBR.
Many thanks to Penguin Random House SA for gifting me this wonderful book in exchange for an honest review.
Melissa de la Cruz breathes new life into the well-known tale of Cinderella in her latest novel. A retelling of Cinderella, set in Versailles, France. This is my first Cinderella retelling and I enjoyed it from the first page to the last.
Cinderella as we know it (Disney version) with her stepsisters and stepmother, the ball and the lost slipper, but with a twist.
We meet Cendrillon de Louvios, also known as Lady Cinder. With a focus on Cinder's daily life tending to her stepsisters and stepmother, grieving the death of her father and trying to adjust to her new life, she yearns for a way to a better life. Attending the ball held in the Prince's honour might just be the answer she needs but unexpectantly Cinder catches the heart of two princes. Do we have a love triangle on our hands? This is an easy read with short chapters, the reader will be lifted off their feet by this story. The friendship between Cinder, Elodie and Marius is so precious and they are delightful characters.
Fans of The Selection will enjoy this retelling, but readers who want to try their first retelling should definitely read this book. It's an absolute delight to read and a great palate cleanser between books or even to help you get out of a reading slump.
After reading this book, I've added all de la Cruz's other books to my TBR.
Many thanks to Penguin Random House SA for gifting me this wonderful book in exchange for an honest review.
0-dnf
January 25, 2022I recieved this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
DNF 34%
I 100% absolutely should have known what I was getting myself into when I requested this book. I really should have known. Because I mean...I didn’t like any of her stuff. But the pretty cover and the description called to me. It said, “PICK ME PICK ME”. Remind me to stop picking books based on covers. It seriously does not help me.
This book is going to appeal to people who love retellings and Melissa de la Cruz. This just ended up not being my thing.
I won’t say that this book was absolutely horrible (it wasn’t) but the bit I read did not encourage me to go on and finish it.
The writing style just wasn’t doing it for me to be honest. I struggled with how the pacing of the book was going as well as the dialogue. It just wasn’t working. I think that is a personal thing more than anything else. I felt everything was stilted in this book.
Also, the characters were flat too me – and our heroine was tragically dense. Dense to the point where I decided I was not going to suffer through another moment of this book. I mean...ugh. Just...I don’t mind when teens make mistakes or act young, because they are, but this girl...well, she was a whole new world.
Another reviewer said what I felt, this was a very juvenile book. And I was not the intended audience, which is totally A-okay!
DNF 34%
I 100% absolutely should have known what I was getting myself into when I requested this book. I really should have known. Because I mean...I didn’t like any of her stuff. But the pretty cover and the description called to me. It said, “PICK ME PICK ME”. Remind me to stop picking books based on covers. It seriously does not help me.
This book is going to appeal to people who love retellings and Melissa de la Cruz. This just ended up not being my thing.
I won’t say that this book was absolutely horrible (it wasn’t) but the bit I read did not encourage me to go on and finish it.
The writing style just wasn’t doing it for me to be honest. I struggled with how the pacing of the book was going as well as the dialogue. It just wasn’t working. I think that is a personal thing more than anything else. I felt everything was stilted in this book.
Also, the characters were flat too me – and our heroine was tragically dense. Dense to the point where I decided I was not going to suffer through another moment of this book. I mean...ugh. Just...I don’t mind when teens make mistakes or act young, because they are, but this girl...well, she was a whole new world.
Another reviewer said what I felt, this was a very juvenile book. And I was not the intended audience, which is totally A-okay!
February 21, 2024
Super nice twist on the retelling of Cinderella. I went assuming this would be like the others as well and it was not. The premise was similar with different paths making the story that more intriguing.
January 24, 2022
When I first read the synopsis I thought... okay so this is a Cinderella retelling with a vibe of The Selection.
I LOVE a good Cinderella retelling and The Selection is one of my favorite series but... unfortunately this one did not hit the mark for me... Don't get me wrong, it was great in some areas but a little blah in others.
I loved that this was based in 1700 France because that time period is utterly fascinating to me, especially life at French Court. But unfortunately the characters fell a bit flat. Our MC was so naive that I found myself yelling at the book. But alas, some girls in that time are extremely naive so what are ya gonna do...
Overall it was a cute read and I would recommend it to some friends who I know would love it.
3.5/5
I LOVE a good Cinderella retelling and The Selection is one of my favorite series but... unfortunately this one did not hit the mark for me... Don't get me wrong, it was great in some areas but a little blah in others.
I loved that this was based in 1700 France because that time period is utterly fascinating to me, especially life at French Court. But unfortunately the characters fell a bit flat. Our MC was so naive that I found myself yelling at the book. But alas, some girls in that time are extremely naive so what are ya gonna do...
Overall it was a cute read and I would recommend it to some friends who I know would love it.
3.5/5
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