This has been a favorite of mine since middle or high school, and I recently rewatched the anime. Although there are definite issues (such as

Spoiler

homophobia, the romanticization of controlling & possessive behavior, etc.

), nostalgia and the well-defined frames still make it an enjoyable read.

2.5 stars.

This started off as a light, domestic, cute summer-YA-romance; if I'd read it a few years ago (though not right when it came out, because I didn't like romance then) I think I could've really enjoyed it. But reading it now, the aggressive heteronormativity and girl-on-girl hate exhausts me, as do all the "games" the characters play. Again, my early-teens self could probably relate a lot more than I do now, so it's probably partly just a mismatch between this book and me as the reader. (Another example: I, personally, just can't put aside my inexplicable biases against a love interest named Conrad; I don't know why I don't like his name, I've never even known a Conrad IRL and I can't think of any fictional name twins, but I'm just not into it.)

Honestly though, these aren't healthy relationships portrayed here. It's the kind of thing that mainstream media tends to romanticize, so I'm not condemning this book in particular, but I really couldn't get past the issues of consent and manipulation.

Ironically, I had been on the fence about picking up the second book, but the included excerpt made me not want to read it. So.

content warnings:

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terminally ill secondary character (breast cancer), marijuana use, ableist language (r-word), casual homophobic language, non-consensual kiss (while playing Truth or Dare)

rep:

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single mother, socioeconomic difference

As fairy tale retellings go, I'm quite fond of this series. Rereading it in 2020, I'm aware of how gendered and heteronormative it is (including the fact that

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it ultimately took a man to save the girls, despite Rose's best efforts

), as well as the fact that the worldbuilding could be more smoothly incorporated. The morality is simplistic and the villains/antagonists are fairly plain archetypes.

But the plot and pacing are engaging, the characters are differentiated and nuanced (no small feat, since this features all twelve princesses!), and I'm delighted that knitting patterns are included at the back of the book since I wanted to try them out for myself.

content warnings:

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precanon death of parents & younger sibling, blood, gaslighting

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CONVERSION: 11.6 / 15 = 4 stars

Prose: 7 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 8 / 10
Emotional Impact: 6 / 10
Development / Flow: 8 / 10
Setting: 9 / 10

Diversity & Social Themes: N/A
Intellectual Engagement: N/A
Originality / Trope Execution: 4 / 5
Rereadability: 4 / 5
Memorability: 4 / 5
-----------
[2014 review]
I don't know if it's the different fairy tale base, Rose's maturity compared to Poppy's teenage antics, or Galen's valiance and dreaminess over Christian's moony-eyed dreaming, but this book was better than the sequel (that I accidentally read first).

This is conceptually interesting, but it felt underdeveloped and some of the tropes have become outdated (ie, no longer totally acceptable). It seemed like the characters were mainly reacting to their circumstances, hoping half-baked plans could save the day; the character growth was minimal if at all present; none of the relationships were particularly compelling or convincing.

So I'm disappointed, because Cinderella x Princess & the Pauper x dark magic could've been a really good story.

-----------
CONVERSION: 7.93 / 15 = 3 stars

Prose: 7 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 5 / 10
Emotional Impact: 4 / 10
Development / Flow: 5 / 10
Setting: 7 / 10

Diversity & Social Themes: N/A
Intellectual Engagement: 2 / 5
Originality / Trope Execution: 3 / 5
Rereadability: N/A
Memorability: 2 / 5
-----------
[2014 review]
Part Cinderella, part 12 dancing princesses, this was a masterpiece. Christian was a pretty good prince/hero, if excessively enamored of Lady Ella. Very much a sequel, though; it stands up decently but not perfectly on its own.

(I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

I'm so glad I picked up this book when I did; after a string of 2-star reads I was starting to feel guilty and burnt out. But the writing is fantastic, elegantly descriptive without being lurid, and the characters are nuanced. A lot of important social themes come up naturally, from pursuing your passions to xenophobia to philanthropy to moral dilemmas; a lot of it is well-trodden ground, but the topics are still extremely relevant and the tone isn't preachy. There's also much more emphasis on friendships than on romance, even while keeping the male-centered conditions of Odette's curse at the forefront of the plot.

Possibly my favorite thing about this story is the way it's been adapted: beyond simply retelling the fairy tale with a contemporary backdrop, Duchen has actually incorporated modern concerns and attitudes (leasing terms, bureaucratic paperwork/police concerns, the nature of interpersonal relationships, etc.), making the narrative unique and memorable. The ending was a little bit abrupt, but I think it works well with the tone and setup.

And the characters are terrific too. Mitzi is a complex protagonist, balancing Good Samaritan impulses with her own financial struggles, pursuing her career while trying to keep sight of her personal interests, worrying about her actor-hopeful little brother; she's easy to relate to and sympathize with. On the other hand, Odette displays the typical sheltered-princess-discovers-reality culture shock: she's innocent and wide-eyed and optimistic in a way that charms everyone around her, but this card is played sparingly enough that it's not grating — just enough to demonstrate how it influences her understanding of the world and her interactions with others. (There's potential "othering"/exoticism issues with her poor English, but in addition to being Russian she's a hundred-plus-year-old princess, so I wasn't bothered by it, but others may feel differently.) You can't help but want to protect her, just as Mitzi does, and to feel her longing for freedom warring with her love of flying.

EDIT: The writing isn’t great, even accounting for vernacular/the way Scarlet chooses to talk, and the very premise is incredibly heteronormative. That said, the characters are still mostly lovable (though the romantic drama is somewhat excessive) and the worldbuilding is captivating.

SO worth staying up to finish! I love Scarlet, and she and Rob are terrific together and apart. How could anyone hate this mercurial, mysterious Robin Hood, so protective of his Scar? It's even cooler that Scarlet

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aka Marian

is based on the original Robin Hood's Will Scarlet.

EDIT: Actually, I hated Gisbourne all the way through this time; no sympathy for abusers, which is also why I’m having doubts about Rob/Scar despite extenuating circumstances — they are addressed in-story, though, so that’s good. Still reserving judgment on the end twist because I have yet to read the last book: it’s up next.
————
More lovely character development, including moments where I didn't hate Gisbourne. Rob still gloriously moody yet romantic; John and Much still lovable. Not sure how I feel about the

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Coeur de Leon

development, though.

All that gooey you-complete-me, my-world-revolves-around-this-boy-I-just-met stuff is nauseating. It was a poor attempt at reviving the YA dystopian romance; all the characters fell flat.