Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for sending me an eARC of Zombierella.

I enjoyed this. Its a Cinderella retelling that's told in verse but is also extremely dark, funny and witty. There were times where I wondered if it might be a little too dark for kids, seen as this is a middlegrade. But otherwise, I really enjoy this retelling.

The illustrations are absolutely beautiful as well, they definitely added to the story.

There are a lot of books out there for children with painful prose that are awkward to read. This is not one of them. Masterful use of language.

The plot is great too - so dark! Read aloud to my 5 yo and she loved it.

Cinderella retelling in a sombre and gothic format, with dark and halloween-ish theme, konsep yg unik dan sgt menghibur!!

TW // gore, animal deaths

This is one of the most creative adaptations of Cinderella I have ever read -- and despite its whimsy, big font, and easy-ish language, one of the darkest I've ever read, too! I think I'm still processing it. But the illustrations are gorgeous, the story itself is beautiful and autumnal and while at a few points I know I would have been terrified as a child, it ends so sweetly. I've lived next to a cemetery for the past four years and I could just picture it all! Definitely worth a read -- but not for the faint-hearted!

SMALL UPDATE UPON REFLECTION
This adaptation: “Zombierella” by Joseph Coelho with illustrations by Freya Hartas. What to say, other than, listen, it’s been a long time since a Cinderella adaptation actually made me audibly gasp. This is a gorgeous, lushly illustrated, incredibly dark version of ‘Cinderella.’ It’s marketed for ages 9-11, but has large font and illustrations more like books I would shelve for 6-8 year olds. But the story — well! Cinderella’s pet horse dies in the first chapter, then SHE dies halfway through the book — but both are resurrected each evening until the clock strikes midnight to attend the balls held by a mysterious, vampiric prince. It’s very gory and visceral, at times, though nothing overly horrific is shown in the illustrations.

I’ve really never read any adaptation like it! If you’re into Tim Burton films and gothic aesthetics, mixed with visual influences from Haitian Vodou, this is for you. I do wish they’d leaned a little more into Vodou lore in the written text (though quite possibly references are there that I missed), but honestly, this version is unique and 100% worth a read.

3.5

Me gustó, estuvo entretenido. Es un retelling de la cenicienta en versión más terrorífica pero desde un punto de vista infantil aunque igual no lo considero apto para niños xd

Esta escrito en verso y tiene ilustraciones, así como el cuento del grinch pero con un poco más de texto, aunque igual se lee rapidito.

An undead Cinderella roses three times to go to the ball: this rewriting of the children’s fairy tale is darkly humorous, and perfect for Halloween, as well as being full of Joseph Coelho’s trademark poetic prose. Freya Hartas’s illustrations are brilliantly detailed, adding to the graphic nature of eating brains, slipping on poo, and all that comes with being a zombie.