Book Review | The Glass Queen by Gena Showalter

Goodread’s rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What do you get when you take a well-known fairytale, modernize it, add a dollop of intrigue, a lot of action, and a pinch of steamy romance? You get The Glass Queen, a modern retelling of the classic Cinderella story like I never imagined it in my wildest dreams.

What I Loved

I love what is done to the Cinderella story. My favorite part must be the unique “getting ready for the ball” scene. I will not explain why so that you can enjoy it for yourselves, but it is noteworthy. I felt like the novel is more of a direct retelling than The Evil Queen (book 1 in the series) is but still turns the tale on its ear and asks the reader to reimagine what you grew up with as a given. In Enchantia, fairytale characters are reborn every generation in new and different combinations. Oracles declare if a child is a reborn fairy tale but not which character they are in the story. All their lives, they find themselves guessing which character they are – hoping for the hero/heroine and fearing the antagonist. It is such a fun journey as the reality of who each character is in the fairy tale is revealed in the most unexpected ways.

I loved the resolve, and quiet determination found in Ashleigh, the main character. She has an inner strength that is true of Cinderella. But is that the character she is? But my favorite character has to be Ophelia. In the story, she is described as a “plucky Oracle,” and her sarcasm and wit had me laughing out loud in pure amusement. She is delightfully wicked in all the best ways.

I love the inclusion of the dragon twins. In a set up reminiscent of Game of Thrones, Ashleigh finds herself the mother of twin newly hatched dragons. The dragons are affectionate and fiercely loyal, providing Ashleigh with the love and family she has not known since her mother died. It is touching and warms the heart, even when I stopped to realize that these are ferocious beasts that can do a great deal of harm and damage. They fill a need for Ashleigh that, as a reader, I want her to have.

To Read or Not to Read

The Glass Queen is a fun retelling that stands the well-known Cinderella story on its ear, in the most delightful way.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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About the Book

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Once Upon a TimemeetsGame of Thronesin book two ofNew York Timesbestselling author Gena Showalter’s magical, romantic dark fantasy series, in which the fairy tales we know and love are prophecies of the future. Welcome to the Forest of Good and Evil, where villains may be heroes and heroes may be villains…it all depends on who you ask.

Ashleigh Ansklelisa may be called the Glass Princess due to her weak heart, but Saxon, king of the Avian, knows she is more dangerous than broken glass, in this Cinderella retelling that sweeps readers into the magical land of Enchantia, filled with treacherous enemies, unexpected allies, forbidden love, and dangerous magic! Can destined lovers find their way to each other, or will evil win the day? Everything changes at the stroke of midnight as one determined princess fights for her legacy, her love, and the crown that is her destiny.