After their father’s disappearance, Cinder leaves home for a servant job at the castle. But it isn’t long before her sister Ella is brought to the castle herself—the most dangerous place in all the kingdom for both her and Cinder. Cinder and Ella is a Cinderella story like no other and one you'll never forget.
Synopsis taken from goodreads.
Title: Cinder and Ella
Author: Melissa Lemon
Genre: Young Adult, Fairytale Retelling
Publisher: Bonneville Books
Publication Date: November 8, 2011
Format: E-galley
Source: Received from netgalley, and Cedar Fort Publishing. Many thanks goes to Netgalley and Cedar Fort Publishing for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.
My rating: 3.5/5
Cinder and Ella are left to take care of their family when their father disappears. Their mother focuses solely on work, and their other two sisters rely on them for everything. When Cinder heads to the castle to obtain a job, she doesn't realize that she is heading into dangerous territory. Ella soon is brought to the castle as well, however she has been brought under false pretenses and she will have to beware the evil prince. Will she be able to save herself and those she loves from the dangers that lurk around them?
Cinder and Ella is a captivating fairytale retelling of the classic story, Cinderella. The only resemblance to the original tale are the characters names, Cinder and Ella. Cinder and Ella are both similar in personality, however they retain their individuality. Cinder is a sweet girl who will do anything for anyone without complaint. Ella is more spunky, and she stands up for herself and Cinder. Their home life is challenging to say the least, and it seems like Cinder is more of a doormat, until she leaves to find work at the castle. Ella on the other hand doesn't stand for all of the abuse that she and Cinder are put through by their siblings.
It was interesting to see how the element of trees and their lives were intertwined. I just wish we could have had more background on that part of the story, or had that aspect fleshed out a bit more. I'm interested in how the story will evolve as Melissa Lemon has mentioned that the story isn't finished, and that she is working on a follow-up novel to Cinder and Ella. I'm intrigued to find out where she'll take the story next.
All in all, this is definitely a cute read, and I'd recommend it for tweens and teens alike. This isn't your everyday Cinderella story, and though there is a prince, he's not Prince Charming. Cinder and Ella have their work cut out for them if they want to work or live in the castle. Honorable knights with bumbling personalities will entice a laugh or two out of the reader as well. Although this was a bit predictable, it was still a cute read.
1 comment:
i really want to read this one. Looks good and I love re-tellings.
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