Reader’s Notes:

– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone

– this is told from Ellie (Gabriella) & Wes (Wesley)’s points of view

– Ellie is hit twice by her employers (within a couple of paragraphs from each other)

– it is mentioned that both character’s parents are dead or dying (which later results in death)

Review:

I loved this sweet Cinderella retelling! I loved that both characters needed ‘saving’ throughout the story while also keeping a lot of the original tale’s key features. I loved how the step-family aspect was woven in to fit and still make sense with the differences added to this Cinderella. I loved the friendships that both characters had (outside of each other). I loved that Wes’s best friend helped him by letting him let off some steam by playing pranks on him and just being a general nuisance. I loved that Odette and Wes had such a close relationship with each other (and I am so excited to see how Odette’s curse/story plays out when it comes!). I loved that Ellie’s best friends were also her literal closest companions and that neither of them really wanted to leave her side. I loved their loyalty to her and their willingness to go with whatever Ellie impulsively chose to do. Some of my favorite scenes/moments in the book included: dancing in the ballroom ruins, exploring the ruins, Wes meeting the king of Solea, their meeting in the garden, sneaking around the palace, Wes swapping with his knight, and when Wes comforts Ellie.

Summary:

Solea hasn’t had to worry about a curse falling on their royals since they sided with the Ancients during the war. So Princess Gabriella has a fairly simple life in comparison to most of her peers, but Solea instead has to worry about attacks from her sister kingdom, Lune. They may have once been one peaceful kingdom, but the war split them and caused much strife between their people. Gabriella is said to be able to fix this fissure when she marries her true love, if only someone would tell her who it was…

Prince Wesley of Lune is cursed to die on his twenty-first birthday unless someone loves him for who he is and not the crown he wears. To try and help him, Wes’s uncle has him wear a mask that covers majority of his features. Dubbed the Masked Prince, Wes is doubting that anyone could love him for who he is, especially with how ladies throw themselves at him -no matter how broody he or his knight portray the prince to be. But when Wes decides to take one night for himself without the mask, he meets a woman that shocks and thrills him. Not only is she not afraid to refuse him, but she is also something different altogether from any of the other ladies he’s met at court. She’s his Moonbeam, the light in the middle of the hopelessness that gives him hope that he could be loved for himself. If only he could break through her walls and get her to give them a shot like he wants to…