Cinderella’s powers will destroy the Kingdom of Fantasia, and the only one who can save the kingdom is her “wicked” stepmother.When Lady Angelique put her second husband to rest, she tried to do right by her step-daughter Eleonore. After Eleonore’s mystical abilities put Angelique’s own daughters’ lives at risk, she makes the difficult decision to lock the girl in the tower to keep the family … family safe.
After Eleonore’s devil-bird minions unleash her on an unsuspecting royal ball, Angelique must join forces with the king to save Fantasia before Eleonore destroys it.
Once Upon a Darkened Night Reading Order:
Of Cinder and Madness
The Cost of Love
The Cost of Grief
The Cost of Power
Of Slumber and Discord
The Cost of Magic
Of Rose and Cruelty
The Cost of Rage
The Cost of Treachery
The Cost of Enchantment
Of Bones and Ashes
Of Gold and Deceit
The Cost of Dominance
The Cost of Intolerance
Of Tresses and Desperation
The Cost of Greed
Of Wit and Hunger
The Cost of Extravagance
Of Wonder and Fear
The Cost of Time
Of Witches and Wizards
The Cost of War
The Cost of Peace
Of Straw and Stone
The Cost of Prejudice
The Cost of Forgetfulness in Anthousa, Xanthousa, Chrisamalousa (Primed Fairy Tale Book 1)
The Cost of Betrayal in Shippeitaro (Primed Fairy Tales Book 4)
The Cost of Hubris in Shortshanks and Sweet Porridge (Primed Fairy Tales Book 5)
The Cost of Fortune in Belle-Belle and Geirald the Coward (Primed Fairy Tales Book 6)
The Cost of Curses in Bluebeard (Primed Fairy Tales Book 7)
The Cost of Selfishness in Prime Peek I (Phoenix Prime Collection Book 2)
more
Surprisingly fresh and intriguing take on a classic fairy tale.
I really enjoyed reading a version where the stepmother, Angelique, is a good woman and trying to do right by Eleonore (Cinderella). The only thing that bothered me was the time changes. Every other chapter went back and forth from the present to when Angelique first met Jacques and combined their families. It was confusing at first and toward the end it became redundant.
I would have enjoyed more of the present storyline. It was too short.
I’m not very good at writing reviews because my mind tends to jump from one thing to another. So all I’m going to do is say that this is a fantastic story and it’s very well written. Nicole Zoltack is very good at weaving her stories so much that I’m definitely going to be reading more of her books in the future. So if you want my advice it would be get this book and read it. Because I can definitely guarantee you won’t be disappointed in your choice.
Set in the center of the middle ages, this Cinderella retelling takes on the aspect of a psychological thriller. Told from the point of view of a compassionate step-mother trying to understand a child broken by grief, the magic and motives in this book muddle motivations until the surprising ending. Familiar elements from the traditional story take on new roles in this twisted version of the story.
This feels like a nightmare retelling of Cinderella, where the oldest, most traditional elements are there, but they are all put together in the wrong way – sometimes subtly, in an unsettling way, sometimes overtly disturbing. As a nightmare, the pacing and narrative is often uneven as well – lingering in places and skipping over others. The dual story lines of the past catching up to the present also add to this slightly off kilter feel.
This is very much a mood book – haunting, teasing, part of me wanted something more but it isn’t the type of story that is solid and grounded, it is ethereal and lingers in the dreamworld – hinting as a substance you are not sure you want to face head on.
A fascinating look at Cinderella [here known as Elenore] and how trauma can lead to madness. You can’t help but feel for all the characters in this book.
I have owned this ebook for years and actually forgot it was here until it came up in another list I ran across. Disturbing but realistic, Nicole Zoltack has penned a very contemporary look at a very old story and it’s fancifully tragic. 4/5
This book is a retelling of Cinderella and is told from the view of the step-mother. It basically paints a picture of he said/she said in a way. You’ve only ever heard Cinderella’s side and it makes her stepfamily out to be evil abusers, but in this version, Cinderella is the evil one (and a little bit crazy). I didn’t like how it switched between time frames but the story itself was good. I wish it would have started at the beginning and went from there, but It went back and forth from past to present. All in all, it was a good story.
I just could not get completely into this story Maybe because I prefer a happy ending. I felt the step mother who is the supposed good person was not that good. Being a mother of a mentally disabled child, I just felt that the step mother did not try enough and instead alienated Elle further by her inaction, the story jumped to different time periods which were confusing at times and was a short story which I am not a fan of. It does have the basis for a good story.
I absolutely loved this retelling of Cinderella. I couldn’t put it down. It was and twisted, and wonderful!! And the cover is just stunning!!
I can not wait to read the rest of the series!!
I enjoyed this twist on the classic tale of Cinderella. Told from Angelique (the stepmother’s) point of view, it is a unique version and a bit of a different tale than the original. It is a quick read that is well written and has enjoyable characters.
I normally tend to stay away from Cinderella retellings. I’m not a big Cinderella fan. Most the time I am reading a retelling because it is part of a series. That is what I had to do with this one. I did not expect to get a Cinderella retelling through the stepmother’s eyes.
The story goes back and forth between past and present. The stepmother tells of the time before she married Jacques leading up to the present and the present of being a widow and having to learn to deal with her new stepdaughter. She tells of her encounters of Eleonore (Cinderella).
If you like a darker fairy tale this is for you. Eleonore has a power and she uses it for harm instead of good. There is a HEA for everyone but it is not the same one we grew up knowing.
I loved seeing from the stepmother’s eyes. The guilt she felt for not treating Eleonore the same and the fear she had once her power started to grow. I loved it all.
Best part about this retelling is that even though Eleonore lost a slipper the prince didn’t go around to ever home and use the slipper to find a girl he danced with.
On to the next retelling which I think is one of my favorites, Sleeping Beauty.