Thursday 2 September 2010

Review: Cinders - Michelle Davidson Argyle

Genre: Historical fantasy romance fairytale
Pages: 182
Published: June 2010

Cinderella's happily-ever-after isn't turning out the way she expected.With her fairy godmother imprisoned in the castle and a mysterious stranger haunting her dreams, Cinderella is on her own to discover true love untainted by magic.

I saw this cover and knew I had to read this book. And don't expect some happily ever after, no this is what happens after the HEA.


Cinderella is married to her prince, but she is unhappy and bored. Sure Prince Rowland is wonderful and loving but she knows that he is under a spell, and would he love her without the magic? Her fairy godmother is being accused of witchcraft and is rotting in the dungeon, and Cinderella is feeling the burden of her crown. She is no longer sure that this is what she wants, and then they are the dreams that haunt her. About the man she met and the man who left. The stranger she now dreams about and wants to be with. And she wants to find a way to do just that.

As you can see everything is not perfect, she got her prince Charming but at a price, and the magic means that everyone around her likes her. Rowland and she seems to have a lovely time together, and he does seem perfect. But yes, magic. Though it never hit me to feel sorry for him, I guess I was so focused on what Cinderella was doing. I could understand her, but she also ended up doing some things that made me wonder how she later in life thought about those things. I can't say too much so not to spoil things.

All was not well in the kingdom either, now the rule was rather oppressive and the people wants to revolt. Heads will fall in this book, it is a fairytale with a grim truth.

The best part must be the end because I was surprised, and I love being surprised when it comes to books. Argyle did a good job with that.

All in all, you have to pay a price for magic, and this fairytale could sure have been told in the old days, with that bit of advice in it.

Magic, elves, fairies, step into a fairytale that seems to real.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner. Love it. One of my all time fav covers.
Reason for reading: I asked the author.
Final thoughts: I finished and wanted more, and then I read that there will be other fairytales and that I do look forward to.

4 Crowns


You can buy Cinders on Amazon
                                    Smashwords
and more places

Visit the author's website


29 comments:

  1. Oh, I looooovvvee the sound of this one! I'll admit, re-imagined fairy tales are a huge passion of mine :) Brilliant review!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ohhhh this sounds wonderful. But a bit sad that she didn't get a HEA at first. Is there one at the end? OMG I sound like pattepoilue. LOL

    ReplyDelete
  3. Awesome review!! I really want to read this one!! Can't wait to read what happens :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. This sounds amazing! I love that the author presented the other side of HEA, the one that's more realistic. I would definitely like to read this fairy-tale sequel.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Melissa
    I do like Austen re-tellings, and now I know that I also love fairytale re-tellings, oh it was fun for sure :D

    Susi you know I will not tell you that, shame on you. The only thing I can say is that the ending was fitting.
    Oh and I loved her prince, so wonderful, and it seems they had some good smexing too. But she wanted to be utterly in love with him

    Carrie
    My lips are sealed. Funny thing, I was reading another fairytale book at the same time, and I kept thinking of orcs when soldiers showed up in thsi one, lol, even though there sure was none.


    Irena
    I liked that too. Just got they got married at once, doesn't mean she loved him.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I can't wait to read this one. Great review.

    ReplyDelete
  7. This looks really good...:) A darkish fairy tale.

    It is now on my list.

    ReplyDelete
  8. It does sound good!
    I love historicals with romance in the storyline.
    I prefer there be no HEA's. Those are some of the best endings, the kind that leave the reader wondering.
    Great review!
    http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  9. Definitely sounds intriguing!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sounds different, I don't read a lot of fairytale re-tellings but one I did like was Devoured by Amanda Marrone (a snow white re-telling)
    Will keep an eye out for this one. Thanks for good review :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love books like this because the aftermath of the HEA is so rarely explored. I keep meaning to getting around to picking this up. I didn't know that the author planned to write more! Cool!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I LOVE that you gave this four crowns. :) That's awesome. Thank you for such a fantastic review! You have some very well-put thoughts in here that seem to be making others want to read the book.

    Thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
  13. This sounds like a fairy tale story I could get into!

    ReplyDelete
  14. This sounds so good. I'm totally into re-tellings right now!

    Great review!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Carol
    It will certainly be something else, after reading fables with it's strange tales this one fitted well with me. Cos it sure was different

    Shellie
    With the deaths this one have, oh yes darkish. But then fairytales always was cruel in their real versions.

    Naida
    I love my HEAs but sometimes I read books with none and those fit so well, oh and then there are the annoying ones. But I was very happy with this ending.
    And the cool thing with this one was that it was set in our world, but not said where.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Chris
    Fairy tales rock!

    Teddyree
    I must have a look at that one. This one was good cos it felt real, but then there was magic, and unexpected things

    Laytink
    Neither did I before reading something on Facebook, so I asked and yes some other tales will be explored. And with fairy tales that sure is interesting cos what happened after that sudden happy ending..

    Alyce
    It was good and different, and Cinderella only so very human

    Marie
    i really need more, I read one book long long ago, and always wanted to explore it more

    ReplyDelete
  17. You're welcome Michelle :=)
    It feel like those old school fairytales in a way, those that weren't all cute and cuddly, instead they were meant to teach the kids something. And with this one that would be do not meddle in magic.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love surprise endings too -- especially when I like the surprise!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I can see why you love this cover! Although I can't help but think "where's the hottie?" ;)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Dc
    Oh yes, cos when the surprise is bad, then i just get mad

    Janna
    Tsk, where is the hottie ;) He might just be hiding behind a rock, you better imagine him

    ReplyDelete
  21. I love the premise here! I'm all for re-told fairy tales with new twists, so thanks for the suggestion!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Very intriguing honey!! You know I love the way you review! You make me want books that I never would have given a second look. Great job!!!!! Hugs to you honey!!! I hope you and bf have a great weekend!!!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Sounds intriguing! I'm not usually into fairytale re-tellings but this sounds interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Trisha
    They are cool, that's for sure. I am truly for new takes on things

    Cecile
    That is my job, to get you away from all those hunky men in your tribe, lol.

    Elysium
    It's always fun to try something new :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi B!

    I'm so glad you read this one, I've wanted it since I saw it on your blog. I love the idea of the retelling of a fairytale, I'll have to pick it up just so I can read the ending!

    Thanks B, I needed another book!

    Dottie :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. OH MY GOD...I"ve got to get this one...I love the idea of what happened after Cinders found her Prince Charming and didn't find a HEA.

    Great story Idea...and I love the cover as well!

    I'll be looking for this one!

    Hugs
    Hawk

    ReplyDelete
  27. Dottie
    I do seem to have a thing for re-tellings and this one, oh I just can't say anything cos that will, spoil it all, lol. It was darkish, human

    Hawk
    Think that I never wondered about that...before now. Cos they fell in love, married, but they did not know each other

    ReplyDelete
  28. I know! That's why this story is so interesting...it shows what really happened to that HEA ending.

    Cool!
    Hawk

    ReplyDelete

Contributors

Copyright © 2008-2020 Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell All Rights Reserved. Proudly powered by Blogger

  © Blogger template Starry by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008 Modified by Lea

Back to TOP