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The ethereal fairy tale of "Cinderella" takes center stage in this book, where winning a crown does not necessarily mean happily ever after. Set in 1682 France, the story opens as the king issues an invitation to all the maidens in the area, asking them to events and balls where Prince Louis will select a bride. Word of the royal festivities even reaches Cendrillon, known as Cinder, who lives in servitude to her wicked stepmother and stepsisters. But with the introduction of Louis' younger brother, Auguste, de la Cruz deviates from the traditional tale. Though the two are immediately drawn to each other, Cinder still chooses to join the competition for Louis' hand in order to escape her cruel family. Here, the story picks up with romance and intrigue, as Cinder fights with her inner voice, which tells her that she truly might be happier with Auguste, the boy whom she has come to love. Lovers of royal drama and fairy tales with a twist will happily sink into this new "Cinderella" rendition. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: It's de la Cruz! You know her. They love her.
Kirkus Reviews (Thu Aug 04 00:00:00 CDT 2022)Trapped in a life of servitude to her cruel stepfamily, Cendrillon enters a competition to win the prince's heart even though she truly loves his brother.It's 1682, and 15-year-old Cendrillon de Louvois has moved to Versailles with her father. It is a dream come true, but becoming a courtier is more complicated than she imagined. Cendrillon struggles to fit in until she befriends Auguste, the king's illegitimate son. When her father dies soon after remarrying, her new stepmother and stepsisters make Cendrillon do household chores, ending her dream of court life and her relationship with Auguste. When the king announces that his son, the grand dauphin, will choose 25 girls to woo before selecting one as his bride, Cendrillon joins the competition; despite her dislike of the prince, she is desperate to escape her stepmother. Joining the ranks of possible brides-against her stepmother's wishes-brings her back into contact with Auguste, and their mutual attraction is reignited, forcing Cendrillon to choose between love and freedom. Featuring characters based on actual historical figures from King Louis XIV's reign, this is an entertaining retelling of "Cinderella." Between her move to Versailles and courtship by the prince, readers get a good look inside the French court through Cendrillon's story. Characters read as White.An intriguing historical twist on a beloved fairy tale. (author's note) (Historical fiction. 12-18)
School Library Journal (Mon Feb 06 00:00:00 CST 2023)Gr 69 This retelling of the classic fairy-tale reimagines the Cinderella love story set in Versailles during the reign of the Sun King, Louis XIV. Cendrillon de Louvois, a girl with wavy golden-brown hair, leads a happy life in the French countryside. Her father is the king's favorite advisor, and she passes the time playing with her two friends, round-cheeked Eloise and towheaded Mariusservants, but friends. Everything changes when Cendrillon loses both of her parents and finds herself at the mercy of Lady Catherine and her spoiled, silver-haired daughters. In a near-magical turn of events, Cendrillon gains entry in the contest to win the affections of Prince Louis and becomes drawn to another dark-haired prince. Readers will appreciate the tweaks this book offers to the Cinderella story as it calls into question the simple prince-and-princess love story. De la Cruz adds further interest by mixing in historical details and by amping up the competitive intrigue in a plot twist reminiscent of Kiera Cass's "The Selection" series. The love story between Eloise and Alexandre, one of the evil stepdaughters, adds a humanizing touch to characters that remained peripheral to the original tale. VERDICT A fun remake recommended for readers who enjoy gentle romance with a touch of history.Talea Anderson
ALA Booklist (Thu Aug 04 00:00:00 CDT 2022)
Kirkus Reviews (Thu Aug 04 00:00:00 CDT 2022)
School Library Journal (Mon Feb 06 00:00:00 CST 2023)
The king kept talking, but I couldn't hear him over the rushing of blood in my ears. A cold sweat broke out on my skin as I sat frozen in place. My limbs felt so heavy and sluggish I didn't think I could move them even if I wanted to.
I had only danced with Prince Louis once, and we barely talked for more than ten, maybe fifteen minutes. Just because I had a pretty dress and nice manners didn't mean I was important, or that I would make a good queen. It didn't make any sense. Why would the king allow the dauphin to put my name on the list?
But more important--did I even want to marry the dauphin? He was handsome and much more charming than when last we met, and he could offer me a life of luxury and security. He was the heir to France! The king's word was law, and if I was his queen, my word would become law too.
I couldn't stop the thoughts racing through my head. Marrying the dauphin would mean that Lady Catherine would no longer have power over me. But I didn't need to marry the dauphin to escape my fate; I had Lady Françoise now...
And if Louis chose me, what about Auguste? How would he feel about this turn of events if he knew I was Lady Cinder?
It was ridiculous to worry about what Auguste thought. We were only friends. But it was best to avoid the drama entirely and live a peaceful life with Lady Françoise. When I had fully recovered and gotten my bearings, then I could consider coming back to the palace. But I had no interest in courting--much less marrying--the spoiled dauphin.
"The clock nears midnight, and the first day of the dauphin's birthday celebration draws to a close." The king's voice cut cleanly through the excited chatter that had risen up after the reading of the list. "Before we depart to get some much-needed rest in preparation for the events to come, I would like the twenty-five maidens to come to the dais so that they can be introduced to the court. And to me. I'm sure we would all like to meet you before courtship proceedings begin in earnest tomorrow."
Panic--sharp and icy--stabbed my stomach. The mass of courtiers undulated as girls began to emerge and climb the dais to speak with the king and the dauphin.
I couldn't do it. Alexandre and Severine would be there. Lady Catherine would see me. Maybe if my godmother was with me I would know what to do, but I was too confused about how I wanted to proceed to even think about enduring a confrontation with my stepmother. I decided I would not present myself. It would be better if the king and the dauphin forgot all about me...
The courtiers were pushing forward to crowd around the dais, leaving this end of the hall increasingly empty. A particularly large group of nobles hurried toward the dais, leaving a wide-open path from my bench to the archway leading to the Salon of War. An opportunity like this couldn't go to waste.
I stood up and jumped from my seatto the parquet floor below. Pain radiated from my ankles up through my legs when I made impact with the floor, but I ignored it. Gathering my voluminous skirts into my arms, I dashed from the Hall of Mirrors, as fast as my slippers could take me.
Excerpted from Cinder and Glass by Melissa de la Cruz
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
For this princess, winning the crown is no fairytale. 1682. The king sends out an invitation to all the maidens in France: their presence is requested at a number of balls and events that will be held in honor of the dashing Prince Louis, who must choose a bride. - - - Cendrillon de Louvois has more grace, beauty, and charm than anyone else in France. While she was once the darling child of the king's favorite adviser, her father's death has turned her into the servant of her stepmother and cruel stepsisters--and at her own chateau, too! Cendrillon--now called Cinder--manages to evade her stepmother and attend the ball, where she catches the eye of the handsome Prince Louis and his younger brother Auguste. Even though Cendrillon has an immediate aversion to Louis, and a connection with Auguste, the only way to escape her stepmother is to compete with the other women at court for the Prince's hand. Soon, as Cendrillon glows closer to Auguste and dislikes the prince more and more, she will have to decide if she can bear losing the boy she loves in order to leave a life she hates. Melissa de la Cruz takes a lush, romantic hand to this retold fairy tale classic .