Dearest Gentle Reader,
Are you also fluttering in expectation as we await the outcome of the starcrossed romance of Sophie Baek, modest housemaid, and Benedict Bridgerton, most notorious rake, when Bridgerton returns on February 26?
If this tale seems familiar, there is good reason. My cousin, whom you all know as Aunt Libra, has persuaded me to leave the comfort of my parlor and regale you with my insights about that most beloved of legends—Cinderella. For it is this archetype of the girl in the ashes who has captured our imaginations across generations.
It clearly inspired An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn, the romance novel upon which Season 4 is based. This delicious retelling took us to an absolutely divine masked ball where we watched our heroine bedecked in silver captivate the attention of our jaded hero. What else is a rogue prince to do in a Cinderella story? And was there ever any doubt that there would be a midnight disappearance, which would launch a lasting obsession? One might observe that for an artist Benedict lacks in observational skills, given the proximity of a certain lady.
Lest my dear readers think that this adaptation is a departure from the original Cinderella, I must inform you that it is an ancient tale that spans cultures and continents. Even before Charles Perrault shaped the oft-cited French tale Cendrillon in 1697, there was the Greek story of Rhodopsis in the first century, and the Chinese legend of Ye-Shen in the ninth century. And these are just a few of the many tellings of the Cinderella myth. One must admire the universality of the legend, even as we despair at what it takes for a young woman of limited means to gain agency in her own life.
I have asked the good people at BookTrib to share their favorite Cinderella retellings and adaptations with you. I must say that they came up with a number of fetching novels. I believe I may ask cook for another pot of tea and crack into some of them. It will help pass the time as we await the latest from the Land of Shonda. I do hope Her Majesty Queen Charlotte is willing to pour.
Forever Yours,
Lady Hollaback
Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix
I’m always most intrigued by what happens after the “happily ever after.”
This book is part of The Palace Chronicles YA series and the story imagines what happens after the ball, beginning exactly where the traditional Cinderella tale ends.
Funny, thoughtful, and unexpected, Just Ella turns the fairy tale on its head and asks the simple question…now what?
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
Ella Enchanted transforms obedience into a magical curse, giving Ella a powerful inner conflict centered on autonomy and self-determination. Rather than passively enduring hardship, she must outthink her limitations and ultimately free herself. By keeping the fairy tale’s magic while shifting the victory toward self-liberation, this novel delivers a modern take on a classic story.
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
One look at the cover of this book was all it took: a cyborg Cinderella? I’m in.
In this dystopian sci-fi tale set in New Beijing, China, Prince Kai’s android is in need of repair — and Lihn Cinder, an orphan who happens to be a talented mechanic, is glad to help. Sparks ensue as the two find themselves drawn to each other, despite the fact that one is human and the other is cyborg.
But there’s more to the story than forbidden love. A plague is ravaging the Earth, and its fate depends on Cinder discovering her true birth origins. Layer in some moral dilemmas and sassy humor, and you’ve got a highly original, multifaceted read.
Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim
Blending Cinderella, Hans Christian Andersen’s The Wild Swans, the Chinese legend of Change’e and The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter from Japanese folklore, Lim alchemizes a familiar fairytale into something extraordinary. Bonus points for also transforming the character of Cinderella’s evil stepmother into something that makes her all the more terrifying.
A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole
Naledi Smith is a graduate student being spammed by a fake African prince. But Thabiso really is a prince, and he wants to know why the girl his parents betrothed him to as a child wants nothing to do with him and is more interested in science. This take on the legend asks, what if Cinderella didn’t want the prince and he had to put in the work to win her?
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Imagine Cinderella as a badass assassin … Well, that’s basically what you’re getting with Sarah J. Maas’ Throne of Glass series. It’s bold, daring and just a little spicy! All the things that make a retelling unforgettable.
