Cinderella is Dead | Kalynn Bayron
Book Review | YA Fantasy
My thoughts
Narrative and Plot
Cinderella is Dead is a YA fantasy set up two hundred years after the princess, Cinderella is dead. The story is told by the main character Sophia. The tone of the book matches her temperament – young and vibrant with rebellion brewing up inside.
The plot was engaging from the start to the end. The idea of rising up against oppression is something that you can easily get behind especially against women. There is intrigue and adventure in the story which makes you want to read more.
Characters and Conflicts
Sophia is an ordinary girl with an inquisitive mind. She questions everything around and could see through the atrocities that were normalized around her. Yet, there are moments where she is vulnerable and tender which makes her feel like a real person. She has a clear idea of what she wants in life and is willing to go any lengths to get the kind of life that she deserves. As far as main characters go, she is definitely easy to root for.
Despite the use of magic , both dark and light, it was interesting to see how Sophia’s character was dealt with. There is a Cinderella -like moment for her at the stroke of midnight but not quite like a fairy tale. This perspective that the happily ever after might be unique to every girl or boy is what sets the story apart.
Conclusion
Cinderella is Dead rewrites the fairy tale and attempts people to think about the analogies that are subtly drawn throughout the story. It sheds light to the very fact that evil exists because good people choose to look away and keep their silence.
It takes courage to stand up for yourself. That is my biggest takeaway from the book. If you’re one of those people – like me – who think it is time we revisited our fairy tales with new lens, then you should definitely pick this one up.
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