Sophia lives with her parents in the town called Lille, ruled over by a king. This is no king of the people. He is a tyrant, inflicting harsh rules on his subjects – especially women and girls. They have no rights, their husbands able to mistreat them in any way they chose.

Why do they marry these men in the first place? That’s another rule. Every year there is a grand Ball. Once turned 16 every girl must attend the ball in lavish hair, makeup and gowns, whether their parents can afford it or not. If they don’t measure up to the king’s high standards, they are shamed and forfeited. (I’ll explain this term in a minute).

They attend the ball to be on show for men looking for a wife. These men might already have one, or more, and can be of any age. The girls can’t resist or they may be forfeit. They have three chances over three years to attend the ball and if not chosen – you guessed it – Forfeit!

What does this mean? Usually forfeited girls are never seen again by their parents. Or anyone else for that matter. This is a land where Cinderella’s story is read by all girls every day, by law. 200 years before, the adored Cinderella died, and the subsequent kings have kept her story alive in their own perverted way.

Sophia isn’t having a bar of it. Her parents call her ‘different’ as unlike other girls who obey their parent’s every word, Sophia asks questions and baulks at the answers if she deems them unfair. She is in love with her friend Erin who has returned her affections but will not upset her parents by straying from the rigid centuries-old path laid in front of her.

With no choice, Sophia attends the ball with dozens of other girls. The splendor of the castle is soon tainted by the requirements from the king. Lining up for the men’s viewing disgusts Sophia and her true nature soon bursts through. She’s out of there…

Fleeing, she meets a woman dressed like a man who can fight like one too. She is a direct descendant of one of Cinderella’s sisters. This is when Sophia begins to learn the TRUE story of Cinderella, not the tangle of lies spun by the land’s rulers. Sophia, with the help of her new friend Constance, is unfaltering in her desire to bring the king, his rules and tyranny – down.

A twisted fairytale retelling, a tale of revenge and rescue, with a kickass gay main character keen to put her world to rights or die trying. The twists on the Cinderella story just kept on coming throughout the story, with a truly evil antagonist at its centre. There’s a large dollop of betrayal in here too, throwing the plot sideways.

Multi layered world building there is not, but I considered Sophia’s town as insubstantial as the town in the original Cinderella. It’s the characters that shine, and the twisted fairytale itself.

Really enjoyed it.

Author – Kalynn Bayron

Age – 13+

(2020, Bloomsbury, Twisted Fairytale, Feminist, Gay, Lesbian, LGBTQ+, Misogyny, Patriarchy, King, Ball, Fairy Godmother, Magic, Lies, Deception, Control, Revenge, Betrayal, Historical, Fantasy, Escape, Rescue, Truth, Necromancy, Love, Action, Betrayal, Bullies, Conflict, Courage, Family, Romance)