Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Cinder Ella by S.T. Lynn

4 reviews

queerafictionado's review

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fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I absolutely love the idea of a trans Cinderella! It just seems like a perfect way to retell this rather problematic fairy tale. I was really hoping to see this story transformed and filled with trans joy, but that isn’t quite what I got. I knew going into this that it was obviously not going to be all sunshine and rainbows. I mean…it’s Cinderella. Evil stepmother and stepsisters are kind of part of the deal. But I felt like more of the focus was on the transphobia from her step family than on her trans joy which is what I was wanting. And then in the midst of all the hardship and turmoil, some parts felt a little too easy and at times even contradicting. The other issue was that I couldn’t tell what time period the story was taking place in. At times it felt like it was supposed to be more historical and at other times contemporary, which made it difficult to fully immerse myself in the world. I did enjoy the story. It was a quick read with a unique twist on the Cinderella story. It just didn’t wow me and fell a little short of what I was hoping for from a trans Cinderella retelling.

🏳️‍🌈Rep: Black Trans FMC, Sapphic LI (note: author is not black)

📝Tropes/Themes: Young Adult, Fantasy, Sapphic Romance, Fairy Tale Retelling 
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jennifervenia's review

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emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

“For the first time she could introduce herself how she wanted. She got to define her own self. And no one was going to stop her.”

A very enjoyable retelling of Cinderella.
I really liked Ella, Lily, Lizabetta and Heather. They were lovely characters, and I was cheering for them. 
There are some of the classic elements from Cinderella that had been changed, but it did not bother me.

Warning: deadnaming, outing, misgendering, fatphobia, body shaming, abuse, transphobia, homophobia, racism, bullying.

Advarsel: Brug af det forkerte navn og køn, afsløring af persons kønsidentitet (outing), transfobi, homofobi, racisme, mobning, vold i hjemmet, tykfobi, nedgørelse af persons krop.
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abicaro17's review

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lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This was really sweet! A quick read about Ella and Liz, a servant and a princess falling in love. Very sweet and a great happy ending. 
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drastichopeful's review

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emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I really, really enjoyed this book!  This is much more than a simple rewrite with a trans Cinderella and a princess instead of a prince.  I really liked the new events added to the plot, and I loved Ella as a character.

My only (minor) complaint is that some sections moved too quickly for me to figure out how they followed from what had happened in the story before
The scene were Ella is tossed out of her home
in particular was hard for me to read.  Then again, Ella probably also found that part hard and unexpected in that moment, so that may be intentional.
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