Review: Cinderella and the Beast (or Beauty and the Glass Slipper) (The Princess Swap #1)

Title: Cinderella and the Beast (or Beauty and the Glass Slipper) (The Princess Swap #1)
Author: Kim Bussing
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: January 7, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

What would happen if Cinderella found herself in the beast’s castle, and Beauty woke up in some evil stepmother’s home? Fairy tales meet Freaky Friday in this series, where there’s a magical mix-up for every princess!

Ella’s spent her life dreaming about adventure, but it’s hard to have adventures when you’re stuck with a stepfamily who treat you like a servant. When she unexpectedly wakes up in a land far, far away, she’s thrilled at the chance to embark on an epic quest. That is, until she finds herself trapped once more—this time in the castle of a dangerous beast.

Belle, meanwhile, has plans. Her family’s trading company is on the brink of ruin, and to save it, she’s going to enter—and win—a royal competition in the prince’s honor. But when she unexpectedly winds up in a cellar with a wicked stepfamily who have their own plans to keep her from the competition . . . things get complicated.

Happily-ever-after couldn’t feel farther away. Can Ella escape the beast’s clutches? And can Belle get rid of this stepfamily in time for the competition?

For other Princess Swaps, don’t miss Snow White and the Dragon (or, Sleeping Beauty and the Seven Dwarfs)!

Review:

This book is such a clever twist on these classic fairytales. Cinderella and Belle had to live through each other’s story to get back to their former lives. Their lives were interconnected in a unique way. Their stories similar in the way that they had to both escape the place where they were being held captive. Though there were many similarities in the plot, there were some new additions to the stories.

Cinderella and the Beast (or Beauty and the Glass Slipper) is a great fairytale with a twist!

Thank you Tundra Books for providing a digital copy of this book!

Content warnings: death of parent (off page)

Have you read Cinderella and the Beast (or Beauty and the Glass Slipper)? What did you think of it?

Review: Cinderella Is Dead

Title: Cinderella Is Dead
Author: Kalynn Bayron
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: Bloomsbury YA
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
Release Date: July 7, 2020
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

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 . . .

This fresh take on a classic story will make readers question the tales they’ve been told, and root for girls to break down the constructs of the world around them.

Review:

It’s been 200 years since Cinderella met her Prince Charming. To honour her, the kingdom holds an annual ball for teen girls to find a match. If they don’t find a match, though, the girls are never seen or heard from again. Sophia is in love with her best friend, and would rather marry her, but she must follow the kingdom’s rules and go to the ball. However, after a fight at the ball, Sophia escapes and finds herself at Cinderella’s mausoleum. There, she meets Constance, who is descended from Cinderella’s stepsister. They decide to bring down the King and end his cycle of tormenting girls and women. 

This is a great adaptation of the Cinderella story. There are many flaws in the original tale, including how the Prince knew he was in love with Cinderella but couldn’t remember her face. This story shows that the story that is told and the history that’s remembered, may be different from the actual truth to suit the people in charge. This kind of revisionist history happens all the time, and it’s important to remember the truth from all sides of the story. 

Cinderella Is Dead is a great Cinderella retelling!

Content warnings: death of parent (mentioned), death of animal, stabbing, poisoning, misogyny

Have you read Cinderella Is Dead? What did you think of it?