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chrysfey 's review for:
Cinderella Is Dead
by Kalynn Bayron
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Given how much I was hoping to enjoy this because of all the hype and the interesting concept, I found the story dull, slow, and predictable. Although some things happened, it felt like nothing was happening because it wasn’t exciting and the writing didn’t engage me. And for a book of this size, that’s not good. Most of it was drawn out with no purpose other than for the characters to realize things later when they could’ve figured it out much sooner.
The things that were meant to be surprises or twists failed for me. I was able to guess everything instantly. Like how the white-haired woman Sophia saw at the ball was Liv, how King Manford is Prince Charming, and that her sucks the life from the girls to stay young.
Another thing that bugged me was how some things were too convenient or didn’t make sense. The biggest thing was how no one in Constance’s family line, who are descended from Gabrielle (a “wicked” step-sister), never thought that the fairy godmother would know what they didn’t know, like why Cinderella went to the ball. For two hundred years, no one ever considered seeking the fairy godmother out to ask her the questions that it should’ve been obvious only she would know the answers to? That didn’t work for me at all. Or how Sophia was the one to realize the fairy godmother would know and it’s her idea to look for her, or someone who’d know her, after hearing the truth about Cinderella’s story a moment before. My literal reaction was “why didn’t the step-mother or step-sisters or ANYONE think of that?”
Nearly all of Sophia’s decisions had me scratching my head. Like going to see Erin after the last failed attempt and before they succeeded with their plan. It made no sense to me.
Also, although the story was in first person and Sophia‘s perspective was the only one, I felt detached from her. If the point-of-view had been deepened, that would’ve helped.
The writing and plot and characters just didn’t do it for me, unfortunately.