Cameron Dokey

I'll admit, I had very low expectations for this one. It's a part of a series of itty bitty early-2000s books that somehow fell into my path (over and over again) and this was more to scratch the curiosity itch than anything. But I was really pleased with how unexpected it was. So much so that I'm just squinting at these apparently furious reviews like??? we read the same thing, right??? far from perfect but far from deserving of so much rage lmao

Mainly I was really impressed with how it show more married the sparse sort of fairy-tale narration style with having so many fully-realised and fascinating characters. She really made the most of the space she was given - the book isn't even 200 pages. I was really rooting for the friendships and families in this one :D

I will say that I don't think the 'twist' on the original tale was really the best (or most coherent) choice with the themes - that didn't feel like it tied in, and also I predicted it, but it was fun enough.

I'll read more of this series now and hope they'll all be this sweet!!! show less

I love fairy tale retellings and have read a couple written by Dokey previously. So far Dokey's writing has been a bit hit and miss for me, but this book was definitely a hit. It was actually one of the better retellings of Cinderella that I have read.

You know the basic story but in this version there are some changes. Cinderella's name is really Cendrillon and her father is alive, but has abandoned her because the death of her mother makes Cendrillon's company too painful. There is another show more boy whose birthday is the same day as Cendrillon's who grows up with her but has an unknown past. Add to the mix two countries torn by centuries of war, but currently at peace and you have the makings for a great Cinderella retelling.

I loved that Dokey approached this retelling a bit differently, in some ways she stuck truer to the Brothers Grimm version than the Disney version. In someways she made everything a bit more sweet too. Most of the story focuses on the power of love and wishes. When Cendrillon wishes for sisters and a mother to love, her wish comes true but not in the way she imagined. Her stepsisters and stepmother aren't as horrible as they are in some renditions, and the ways they are horrible in are because their own pain.

There are a lot of twists to the plot, making it more interesting than the traditional Cinderella story. All the characters involved are paired up happily in the end too, which while unlikely and a bit goofy, is also very fairy tale like and sweet.

Overall an excellent retelling of Cinderella. Very sweet and loving characters, a very fairy tale like ending. I loved that the plot was complicated by sympathetic characters and had some additional politics thrown in. The writing is beautiful and descriptive. If you like fairy tale retellings I can recommend this as a good read. show less

Alas, not nearly enough Oswald. Which is, no doubt, an unpopular opinion. But I am a reader of Jane Austen: cousins marrying in a clearly old-fashioned setting doesn't really bother me. Especially when one cousin has longed for family and to belong his whole life and clearly thinks the other cousin is singular and remarkable. (See? Already more appealing than Austen.)

From the moment you begin reading this book, you can tell it's different from your typical fantasy novel. There's a quality to the storytelling that is easy to fall for in its first person, conversational manner, and it similarly is a story that has a certain mysterious trait-- a hint, maybe, like the old, truly magical and special tales have to them-- a curious quality that you can't quite place your finger on and put to words, but that you know makes this book special out of all the others show more you've read.

It didn't take me very long to realize that if I had read this book when I was a kid, or a young teen, this book would be one of the books to forever influence me and change my life. Even now, reading it when I'm a little bit older and a smidgeon perhaps wiser in the world, it left such a tangible taste of a good story in my mouth that I'd be forever doing you a disservice if I didn't say that you should go out and pick up this book, even if you have to buy it, to read it. It's a book that not only entertains and is enjoyable, but it teaches you, too. It opens your eyes. And that's why I say, If I was younger and I'd read this book, it would have changed my life.

As it is, it still hit me profoundly, and I fell in love with the characters swiftly. They had their faults, but this is a fairy tale, my friends, and the most amazing part is that in this day and age I had the chance to stumble upon a fairy tale that was uniquely retold to make it profound and engaging. It's a book that's captured my favor to the point where I can't imagine living my life without sharing the story with everyone I know. I will make them read it, because it's this fantastic!

It's humble. It's of love in the purest and most understandable, relatable sense. It's of beauty being more than appearance. It's of selflessness even when you could lose the few things that mean the world to you. It's of patience. And the best? It's completely plausible as an addition or "what really happened" telling of the fairy tale that it was inspired by.

It's one of those old, classic fantasies. It feels utterly simple when put into words, but carries well when you're reading it, experiencing it for yourself, and means more than what a review can contain. Perhaps, it will mean different things to different people. What spoke to me out of this story may not be what speaks to you, but it has that potential to tell more than just one tale, and send more than just one message. That's what makes this one so special.

If you're a fantasy lover, if you love fairy tales and their retellings, if you're a fan of the Rapunzel character or story-- read this book. If you love romance, if you love tales of knights in shining armor, if you love books about messages concerning the physical appearance and deeper beauty-- read this book. If you love old medieval magical stories, or strong main characters, in particular strong female characters, too-- read this story.

It is so worth it. It's timeless and just as wonderful. show less