VS Note: Portions of this post first appeared in the Roswell Daily Record…
The Disney movie “Cinderella” recently marked its 75th anniversary, which has prompted a lot of discussion on social media. My personal favorite version of the fairy tale is the movie “Ever After,” with Drew Barrymore and Dougray Scott. I think for me that one captures the story pretty perfectly. It also came out number one on a recent CNN article about the top 25 movie versions of the tale.
The basic story of a poor girl who attracts the attention of a royal suitor, who then must go to extraordinary means to find out her identity (like trying a glass slipper on the foot of every unmarried girl in the kingdom) is well known. The story exists in pretty much every culture and society down through time, with the first known recorded version occurring between 7 BCE and 20 CE, involving a pharaoh into whose lap a bird drops an elaborate woman’s shoe, making him so curious to find the owner he searches everywhere and…yup, happily ever after for the couple. Often these stories contain magical elements like fairy godmothers and the cruel relatives of the ‘Cinderella’ figure get what they deserve in the end.
It’s one of my favorite tropes and I’ve written two books with variations on the theme but in honor of the first known version being set in ancient Egypt, I’ll mention my Healer of the Nile (Gods of Egypt), where she’s a poor widow and he’s the wounded war veteran son of the local noble. It’s set in 1550 BCE and there’s a wicked stepmother (his actually), an evil stepbrother, Shay the God of Fate takes a hand, there’s a cat who might be a goddess and in lieu of a magical relative, Pharaoh himself steps in to provide my FMC with her special shoes and dress. It’s a novella, with a happy ending (except for the wicked stepbrother). Amazon Apple Books Nook Kobo Google Play
Of course there are any number of Cinderella retellings out there. One of the most highly rated is Heart of the Raven Prince: A Cinderella Retelling (Entangled with Fae) by Tessonja Odette. The prince here is a raven shifter, of whom the blurb says “He’s handsome, heir to the Lunar Court throne, and deliciously single. Every young woman wants to bed him, wed him, or steal a moment of his time.” Except the half-fae FMC of course. She’s in a bad situation for various reasons and after some unfortunate happenings she becomes the prince’s fake love. Of course in romance a fake girlfriend always ends up truly in love, as does the MMC, and there’s a happy ending eventually. AmazonKU AB
For a thoroughly modern retelling there’s Cinder Luna: A Sweet Rom-Com Cinderella Retelling (Once Upon a RomCom Book 1) by Marie Soleil which includes a meet cute on a train, the FMC falling for the guy she ‘meets’ playing an online game, which “…helps me escape the drudgery of my demanding twin bosses and a dusty, cramped apartment.” Readers loved the characters and the modern twists to the story. AmazonKU AB
In Cinderella and the Colonel (Timeless Fairy Tales Book 3) by K. M. Shea Cinderella is a duchess but living in an invaded, impoverished country. She goes undercover disguised as a commoner to work for wages that go to paying her huge tax bill. She’s also trying to take care of her servants. The prince here is a colonel from the invading army and one thing readers liked about the book was the time the author took to allow the two characters to get to know each other before the climactic ball. This book is in a series so there are some overarching plot complications as part of the setting (like the country being ruled by outsiders) but in general the tale is a well regarded take on the fairy tale. AmazonKU
Cinders, Stars, and Glass Slippers: A Retelling of Cinderella (The Classical Kingdoms Collection Book 6) by Brittany Fichter has all kinds of twists and turns in the plot and there’s no ball. There is magic – the FMC can speak to the stars and has lived aboard her father’s ship for thirteen years, using her magic to help him win battles. But now she’s been sent onshore, meets the prince (who can be quite a ladies man but is trying to save his kingdom from invaders) and her fortunes rise and fall over the course of the novel. The book is 500+ pages and is listed in Christian Fantasy. Plenty for a reader to immerse themselves in. This is no quick jaunt to a ball followed by angst and trying on shoes.
In contrast, we have Igniting Cinder: A Spicy Cinderella Retelling (The Lost Girls Book 3) by Holly Roberds. Cinderella here is a strong woman, as described by the blurb: “Pumpkin spice and not playing nice – this ball just got more interesting, thanks to Prince Too-Handsy. The plan was as clear as glass: infiltrate a high fae court’s ball, uncover the truth behind my father’s death, and avoid my sadistic stepmother and stepsisters. But now, I find myself engaged to Prince freakin’ Charming, the last fae I’d ever choose for a dance partner, much less a fiancé. And I’m hardly the ideal bride for a fae prince—a human bartender who loves piercings, tattoos, and devours pumpkin-flavored anything.” Not exactly a classic fairy tale princess-in-the-making. Readers rave about the characters and the super spicy tone. AmazonKU
Rebecca F. Kenney goes an entirely different route in The Midnight King: A Cinderella Retelling (Beloved Villains Book 4) with the usual Cinderella setup, although twisted somewhat in fun ways – FMC forced by magic to do all the housework for her cruel step-family, a faerie godfather (readers adored this character), a five day ball and the hot silverfox king. Forget the prince! Celinda is entranced by the king but there’s a love triangle situation going on with the godfather. No spoilers from me. As one reviewer said: “Ever After meets Ella Enchanted but spicier!” Amazon
Something totally different, but which speaks to the universal appeal of the fairy tale is Sindi: A Zulu Cinderella by Deseray Mnyandu and Thembani Mnyandu (who was only eight when she had the idea for this book). It is a children’s book. As the blurb says “Although her troubles threaten to ruin her chance to go to the Zulu Reed Dance and to find true love, her grandmother’s wisdom, her own courage, and a touch of magic help Sindi discover that she can take charge of her own remarkable journey.” Amazon AB
There were so many Cinderella retellings to choose from but I tried to bring a variety for you today. Happy reading!
VS: Here are a few more I didn’t have room for in the newspaper column!
Someone Else’s Shoes: FF Cinderella Retelling (Princesses of the Sands Book 1) by Aldrea Alien offers the following version of the fairy tale: “Stripped of her inheritance as a child by a greedy stepmother, Alla’s future hovers between drudgery and slavery. Having spent years toiling in the mansion that was once her happy home, tending to her stepmother’s every whim, she has long since put aside any thoughts of a better future. When a chance encounter in the marketplace leaves her with an invitation to the upcoming ball, her only opportunity to play out an old dream of seeing inside the palace walls is by being someone she’s not. A farce that could see her executed or sold. But will she be able to maintain the illusion once she meets Princess Viktoriya? Note: Whilst this book is a sweet romance between two WoC where one happens to be trans, it has some dark themes surrounding parental abuse & domestic violence.”
Of Glass and Ashes: a Dark FairyTale Retelling (Twisted Pages Book Three) by Elle Madison and Robin D Mahle goes a completely new route: “They say a dream is a wish your heart makes, but what happens when you’re trapped in nightmares? Aika is playing a dangerous game. Torn between the loyalties she thought she had and revelations she wishes she didn’t, she will burn the city down to get the answers she needs. To get the vengeance she craves. But when the boy from her past starts asking questions that could get them both killed, she is forced to choose between the people she needs to die and those she wants to save. Even if it costs her the only thing true in a lifetime of lies. Even if it costs her him. A Cinderella retelling unlike any you’ve read before, where the stroke of midnight is just the beginning. *The Twisted Pages Series continues with Aika’s story for books three and four, but don’t worry, Zaina and Einar have their scenes as well! This series does need to be read in order, beginning with Of Thorns and Beauty.” AmazonKU AB
Kiss the Slipper: An MM Cinderella Retelling (Beautiful Nightmares Book 5) by Anna Fury and Amy Pennza puts quite a spin on the story, with a pixie and elf as the main characters. Here’s their complicated route to the HEA: “As a pixie, I’m a rule-breaker and master of mayhem. I’ve played matchmaker to all four of the Syndicate Lords, but somehow, I never seem to find my own match. That changes when I meet a handsome stranger and fall hard. Vale Gentry may be tall, dark and devastatingly charming, but I should have known better than to get tangled up with an elf. Everyone knows they’re the snobs of the magical world. I’m nothing more than dirt under their gilded shoes. That’s never more clear than when I discover Vale is betrothed—to his stepsister. Heartbroken, I return home with a new rule: never fall in love. But fate isn’t finished with me. Just when I’ve sworn off elves forever, Vale shows up in the Hallows—and he’s every bit as distracting as he was the first time around. When I get the opportunity to punish him, I seize it, locking him in a magical contract that makes him my servant for two weeks. I’ll revel in making the heir to the Summer Court scrub my floors and sweep the attic. I’ll order him to his knees. The only problem? He looks really good down there—and his golden eyes promise deliciously dirty deeds I remember all too well. Vale refuses to let me go. But the elves aren’t willing to release him, either. The clock is ticking on his marriage contract, and his stepmother is determined to see him wed. When his reluctance puts both our lives in danger, I have to decide if my pride is more important than my prince—and if a chance at true love is worth risking everything. I just have to hope I’m not too late. AmazonKU AB
Cinderella is Dead by Kalyn Bayron is the somewhat alarming title of this LGBTQ version of the fairy tale. The blurb: “It’s 200 years after Cinderella found her prince, but the fairy tale is over. Teen girls are now required to appear at the Annual Ball, where the men of the kingdom select wives based on a girl’s display of finery. If a suitable match is not found, the girls not chosen are never heard from again. Sixteen-year-old Sophia would much rather marry Erin, her childhood best friend, than parade in front of suitors. At the ball, Sophia makes the desperate decision to flee, and finds herself hiding in Cinderella’s mausoleum. There, she meets Constance, the last known descendant of Cinderella and her step sisters. Together they vow to bring down the king once and for all–and in the process, they learn that there’s more to Cinderella’s story than they ever knew . . .”
Ashes and Glass: Cursed Kingdoms by Annee Jones has elemental magic and plot twists. “Where embers of forbidden magic meet the healing tide of destiny, one courageous love may be the spark that saves a kingdom from falling into eternal night. In the enchanted kingdom of Elaria, destiny dances on the edge of magic and power. Cynthia Everwood—known as Cinders to those who whisper her name—is a humble servant with a hidden, ancient fire magic coursing through her veins. When she unearths her late mother’s spellbook and summons a tiny, wise phoenix named Flame, Cinders is thrust into a realm of mystical training and perilous secrets. Meanwhile, Prince Marius Rivenborn, whose latent water magic awakens amidst royal intrigues, struggles to reconcile his duty with a legacy steeped in elemental wonder. As a forbidden ball draws the two together, a single glass slipper and an explosive magical resonance spark a love that defies convention. Bound by a prophecy that foretells the union of fire and water as the kingdom’s salvation, Cinders and Marius must join forces against the treacherous plots of Lady Belladonna, her dark ally Prince Casimir, and the looming threat of ancient rivalries. With the sentient forest Evergreen whispering secrets of old and an array of loyal mentors guiding them, their romance kindles the hope of restoring balance to a realm on the brink of darkness. AmazonKU
Wish of Ashes and Glass (Fairy Tale Wishes Book Two) by Selina A Fenech is a sapphic retelling of the timeless story. “The grand ball began with the mission to find a bride for the prince, and ended with an attempt on the king’s life. Ellasyn only went to enjoy a night away from the constant cruelty of her homelife. She isn’t interested in princes. Then she meets the charming and mysterious Ara, a dangerous woman holding her secrets close. But Ellasyn has secrets of her own. A magic that could be easily abused in the wrong hands. As the attacks continue, how can she let herself be open to romance? Anyone could be the assassin, and Ellasyn’s kind heart could be a death sentence.” Amazon AB Apple Books Kobo
Glass (A Why Choose Cinderella Retelling) by Evelyn Flood has all the elements for a different, modern take on the classic theme: “Hope is a delicate thing. Like glass. So delicate that once it shatters, it will never be the same again. Vilified.Despised. Ruined. Anastasia Cooper is the most hated woman in Sorelle. To avoid the modern slavery charges leveled against her by her scheming stepsister, she opts for a quiet life under house arrest to escape the frenzy of the media. But she wasn’t banking on them. The Tate brothers. Feared by all, everyone knows that Christopher, Silas and Rafael Tate are the real power behind the throne of Sorelle. And they’ve been looking for Stasi for a very long time. Determined to make Stasi’s life as difficult as possible, Kit, Silas and Rafe take every opportunity to remind her how far she’s fallen. But Stasi has her own plans, and she’s not about to let the men who stole her heart once before and smashed it into pieces ruin the only thing she has left. Hope. But as truths come to light, the Tate brothers begin to realize that they might not have the full story. And they won’t let Stasi slip through their fingers again. Cinderella retelling Contemporary setting Who did this to you Ugly duckling Billionaire gang MMCs Enemies to lovers Grovelling This is a why choose, modern day retelling of Cinderella with three morally grey men and an evil stepsister who knows how to twist the truth. AmazonKU AB
VS Note: Added a last minute book because hey, Cinderella and werewolves!
COURT OF LIES AND CINDER: A DARK CINDERELLA RETELLING (THE STOLEN ROYALTY SERIES BOOK TWO) by A R Kaufer
After losing her father when she was a baby, Luella became the ward of the Countess Clara, her late father’s wife. She and her two daughters treat Luella as their maid, nothing more than an inconvenience. They play court games while she sweeps the chimney. The humans live in colonies, ruled over by wolf shifters of the Loup Kingdom. By law, each shifter is to take a human wife when they come of age. When the announcement is made for the royal ball to celebrate the prince’s 21st birthday, then the games really begin. AmazonKU