Cinderella Is Dead: the TikTok sensation

Really good recommendation

Reread. Love it

This book was incredible and I loved how Kalynn took the original and traditional fairytale and turned it into an adventurous story for teenagers.

I thought the book was great in diminishing sexism and tells a different Cinderella story from the perspective of a woman instead of the traditional story - from a view of a man. The main character Sophia showed a lot of bravery and had a lot of her own thoughts instead going with what society wants. I think she is a good role model for young women today. I would definitely recommend it to someone else and not just a female - a male too.

The main characters were amazing and I loved the twisted fairytale element. It also had great lgbtq+ representation.

There was a bit of swearing in it and it was a bit gory at times but other than that is was quite good! I would recommend this to someone who doesn’t mid sweary, gory books.

A captivating dystopian novel with heart wrenching twists and deep turns. It has some sensitive subjects and may frighten younger readers. I recommend this book for 13+

'Cinderella is Dead' is a YA feminist retelling of the Cinderella fairytale with a LGBTQ+ BIPOC heroine.

This is a world in which the Cinderella story really happened and now, two hundred years down the line, all girls in the city state of Merseilles must learn the palace-approved version of the story off by heart. This is a highly patriarchal, nigh-on misogynist society where women have no rights. First their fathers, then their husbands control them as if they own them. And the annual ball, which is mandatory, is an occasion for unmarried young women to be chosen by whichever man wishes to do so. Fail to be chosen or infringe society's laws in some other fashion and you become 'forfeit', are taken to the palace, often not to be seen again.

Sophia has always known that she would like to be matched with a princess rather than a prince, but her invitation to the ball has arrived and it looks as if all her choices are disappearing. When the ball goes even worse than she imagined, she finds herself on the run alongside another young woman descended from one of Cinderella's stepsisters.

In a desperate attempt to save herself, her friends and the women of Merseilles in general and give them back the right to make their own choices, Sophia must find out the real truth behind the Cinderella story. Because as bad as it looks on the surface, there are some even more rotten secrets at the dark heart of the city.

These are some really interesting ideas in this story. The author does, clearly, have an agenda and is somewhat heavy-handed in her approach on occasion. She could also have done more work on the world-building and characterisation. A lot of the characters are a bit lacking in depth. Perhaps that is the fairytale element coming through. However, it was an entertaining enough story to read.

This is a really good book. It's a completely different take on the Cinderella story and works very well. The characters are really well drawn and you become invested in them.