Ella is a ghost, haunting the home where she died. She reluctantly serves her stepmother and stepsisters. But one day she finds a way to leave her haunted house and meets a fairy in the market, who can see her, too. Then the prince announces a three day ball to select a bride. And Ella bargains with the fairy and changes her afterlife.
P
P.B.Reader
October 7, 2025
Cinderella Cleverly Retold
In this reimagined telling of the Cinderella fairy tale, sixteen-year-old Ella is murdered in her home. Her ghost is trapped in her father’s home now owned by her stepmother. One of her stepsisters quickly realizes that if she harms the house, she harms Ella. There is no escape from her stepsister’s cruelty because she is tethered to the house. After years of abuse, she finds a way to be free of the house, at least until midnight every night.
This is a cleverly crafted tale complete with all the details of the fairy tale, but told in a new way. Marske slowly unfolds her tale by carefully creating a new setting for the old tale. The book is well-written with characters who come alive. Marske even adds a couple of surprises along the way. The book doesn’t sag because the author keeps her story moving.
Even if you’re not a fan of the fairy tales you grew up with or with the idea of retelling them in a very different way, you’ll undoubtedly love this book because it is so imaginative and well-written.
My thanks to Tor Books and Edelweiss for an eARC.
Interesting retelling. Quick read and well written, but a tad long in parts and too short in others. Nicely done.
Absolutely amazing Cinderella re-telling
So I finished Freya Marske's trilogy yesterday and was at a loss for what to read next, and was looking up what else she's written. I came across this, which was to be released the next day (well, today now!) and figured it was fate, so I ordered it last night.
Let me tell you: I devoured this book today. I've never come across such an amazing retelling of Cinderella. Her writing is just as good as it was before, I could not put this book down all day. I do not have the words to describe how good it is, but I promise you it is amazing.
And the ending? Chef's kiss.
Please go read this. You won't regret it.
Excellent Cinderella retelling!
In this Cinderella retelling, Ella’s stepmother murders her. She then turns into a ghost but is trapped in her house, forever forced to cook and clean for her stepmother and bitchy stepsisters. But she finds a loophole and is able to sneak out at night, where she finds a fairy who sells her a charm that lets her attend the ball and meet the prince. So the main elements of the original story are there, but the ghost part is a nice twist, payback on her tormenters is incredibly satisfying, and her happily ever after is, um, titillatingly modern. (Chaste gasp. 🤭) I highly recommend adding this to your October TBR.
