Cinder and Ella

From the Dust Jacket:    When her father mysteriously disappears, Cinder and Ella struggle to care for their two spoiled sisters and a mother who barely knows them, as Cinder submits to the abuse, Ella vows not to give in or give up on her beloved father. The quest to find her father will demand everything - her strength, her tenacity, and even her heart. Now it's up to Ella to save herself, her family, and the entire kingdom.

A beloved fairy tale comes to life in this spellbinding story of danger, intrigue, and romance. With a super natural twist and a plot that keeps you guessing, this is one Cinderella story you'll want to read again and again. 






My Thoughts:

-    This was a very fun and unique retelling of a fairy tale that has been retold countless times! I get tired of some of the Cinderella retellings, but this one was very different and interesting. 

-    The whole thing about the trees was really cool. There is a legend that everyone has a tree that is tied to their health and life. If you are healthy, the tree is healthy, and if the tree is healthy, you are healthy. It was a really cool concept, and I enjoyed that part of the story a lot. 

-    I didn't really understand the Prince's magic. I didn't get how he got it or how it works. 

-    Why didn't the king come down and stop the Prince sooner? I know it kind of explains it at the end, but I didn't buy it. The king should have protected his people from the prince!

-    I loved Tanner! He was a fantastic character! His sense of duty and they way he wanted to follow his code of honor as a knight was very admirable! He was very charming!

-    I liked the dynamic of Cinder and Ella and their different roles to play. I also liked/hated how their family life was. I liked the sisterly bond that helped Cinder and Ella through the story. Girls need other girls, and I'm glad they had each other through hard times. 

-    So, I was loving the book until the end came. The ending is good and everything is peachy, but there is a bit of dialogue between the king and the prince that is VERY similar to a conversation that appears in the temple video between God and Satan. It is quite obvious that the author is LDS. There were other things in the end that coincides with our religion, and for me, it was kind of awkward. This book wasn't meant to be religious, so it was weird for me to see that kind of stuff at the end.