The Rat Prince is a Cinderella retelling following the perspectives of Cinderella and the Rat Prince Char. Prince Char has watched Cinderella get bullied by her stepmother, and Cinderella enjoys Char’s friendship, even if he’s a rat. She plans to defy her stepmother as soon as possible, but she can’t leave her memory-addled father behind. Together, through a series of mishaps, they just might be able to save the kingdom.

The unique take on the Cinderella story is super fun, and the imagery is excellent. The rats are hilarious, and Char makes a very charming prince. :) I like how Cinderella is brave and compassionate. Her backbone is clear, and it’s easy to feel sympathy for her situation. The twists at the end are a little predictable, but still very exciting.

While I enjoy the characterization in the first part of the book, the dialogue gets a little over the top towards the second half, once everyone is at the ball. While Char’s love for Cinderella has been there from the beginning, Cinderella’s sudden romantic love for him (while he’s turned into a human) escalates really quickly, and it feels just a bit too dramatic. However, those who love the quick romance in the original Cinderella will likely appreciate this and enjoy the sweetness.

Overall, The Rat Prince is a hilarious take on the Cinderella tale with adventure, romance, magic, and more.

Originally posted at The Forest of Words and Pages: http://www.forestofwordsandpages.com/2016/07/review-rat-prince-bridget-hodder/