This might be the last of my fairytale binge for some time, but what a way to end it. De La Cruz’s retelling of Cinderella is a historical. So no fairy godmother or dress-making mice here, but magic is still present in the air as Cinderellion enters the world of Versailles with its dazzling Hall of Mirrors, unrivaled opulance and swoon-worthy princes.

I think we all know the basics of the Cinderella story so you can guess the plot. Honestly that is a slight downfall as it makes it really easy to guess what will happen next or who the “mysterious figure” is when De La Cruz is trying to build a mystery but she keeps enough enough variation to keep it interesting.

Firstly, the first half of the book is set when Cinderellion’s father is still alive and they’re just moving to Versailles where he acts as King Louis’ favorite advisor. Cinderellion is nervous about entering court life for the first time with its confusing and ridiculous rules of protocal but with her two childhood friends, servants Marius and Elodie, and her godmother, Lady Francois, she is able to sum up some excitment for the change.
Especially as Versailles is amazing. It’s just unfathomable how much richness and gilded treasure can be in one palace and De La Cruz does an excellent job in describing its opulence in the landscape and in the courtier’s fashions. She lavishly paints the historically-accurate details of the court of the ‘Sun King” including its routines, superstitions and sets the stage for other characters like the mean girls, Alexandre and Severine, the obnoxious Prince Louis and sweeter, illegtimate son, Auguste.

In having Cinderellion and Auguste meet early on and continue to build their friendship in between classes, De La Cruz gives the couple a chance to show how sweet they are and how much they care for one another as outsiders to the court in their own ways. Plus romance built on friendship is something I just adore so I’m already rooting for them by the time tragedy strikes.

Manipulative and backstabbing courtiers are a big theme in this book and the one that takes the cake is Lady Catherine who easily seduces Cinderellion’s father, giving Cinderellion a family she really could live without. Worse still is when her father suddenly dies of pneumonia, and Lady Catherine’s favoritism of her daughters over Cinderellion turns into all-out abuse now her father isn’t there to play peace-maker.

De La Cuz does an excellent job in making me feel for Cinderellion’s plight, not just in losing her position as a noblewoman but her isolation and feeling of hopelessness. It helps that Cinderellion isn’t just sorry for herself but her friends who were also getting the hurt in the process as Lady Catherine sends Marius away and Elodie is run ragged with sewing dresses and hiding her illicit relationship with Alexandre. Cinderellion wants to help all of them but every moment she seems like she has a spot of hope, something else comes down and crushes her spirit.

But after the infamous scene of Cinderellion running away from the ball, she’s given a new opportunity-Compete for Prince Louis’ hand. In a Bachelor-esque competition, twenty five girls go on solo outings and group dates for the chance to become France’s next dauphin. And Cinderellion’s heart is torn between this being the only chance to leave her abusive circumstances and her love for Auguste that cannot be quenched.

De La Cruz does a good job in balancing how Cinderellion really feels that this is her only chance to escape her circumstances, showing how being pushed to the edge leaves Cinderellion helpless with little choices. I also admire that despite the Bachelor-like competition, she gives Cinderellion some friends to support her and show the historically-accurate reasoning some of the girls have for marriage, political alliance being number one. Plus the historical accuracy adds extra danger to the Cinderellion-Auguste affair as Prince Louis may have grown-up a bit, offending the prince of France will lead to disasterous consequences for the star-crossed couple.

As for how things resolve themselves, no spoilers, but De La Cruz’s denounement of the situation is thrilling and just out of a Machavallian novel yet steadily forshadowed that I felt a bit dumb for not expecting it.

I love the blend between historical and fairytale as De La Cruz gives new twists to the classic story that will make readers sigh for its wish-fufillment yet keep them on the edge of their seat with its courtly backstabbing and intrigue.

4 brocade slippers.