3.5 stars

I have read my fair share of Cinderella retellings (read: I have read so many I can't even remember them all). This is a nice retelling that doesn't stray too far from the main tale, but still manages to add some original ideas, some that I haven't come across in most retellings.

The main difference between this tale and others is that there is no magic in this retelling. But that wasn't what really stood out to me; what I liked best is that the stepmother isn't really evil, she's simply a pushover and does whatever the evil stepsisters, Lucy and Gerta, want. I don't think I've ever come across that before, and I found that fascinating for some reason.

Like I said before, it doesn't deviate from the original plot, but that's not bad. The last retelling I read had tried to put such a new spin on the Cinderella retelling that I wouldn't have known it was a Cinderella story unless it had said on the blurb. So I'm really glad that the author didn't veer off from the traditional storyline.

There's a lot of character growth from Ella. She starts off as a complete brat, but she has changed completely by the end of the story.

If you like retellings, this is a book worth picking up!