Review: Cinder by Marie Sexton

Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tale
Elements: magic

Rating:

• Characters - 3 - Pretty typical for this story, aside from Cinder and the Prince. The Prince's attitude is a little odd for someone of his class, really, but they're enjoyable enough to read.
• Setting - 4 - Very typical for this story, but well-described and believable.
• Plot - 4 - Cinderella with a guy, exactly as it says on the box.
• Genre Elements - 5 - This is one of the two places this story shines. Obviously Sexton knows and loves this fairy tale well, as the elements are all there and work quite well.
• Voice - 4 - Again, pretty typical for this story, no problem telling each character apart.
• Romance Elements - 5 - The other place this story shines. The boys are drawn to each other from the beginning, but it's not an easy road, and it's a satisfying ending once they get there.
• Overall - 4 - A very enjoyable version of the Cinderella story, but not the best one out there.

Basic story -
Cinder lives with his stepmother and her two daughters as little more than a servant. But a chance encounter with a young man in the woods changes everything.

My thoughts -
This is a very nice male/male version of the Cinderella fairy tale, but I probably would have enjoyed it a whole lot more if I had not already fallen so hard for Gryvon's version. This one's definitely for a wider audience than Gryvon's, though, as there are no BDSM elements, and the abuse is very minor at best. The ending is excellent, and will definitely please most readers. Really, aside from the fact that Cinder is male instead of female, this really is basically the classic story. It even includes the three balls aspect, which is something I am very fond of.

I will say that from the moment the Prince decides to wed Cinder's sister, that's when the story really takes off, because then it's quite a bit different from the classic tale we are all so familiar with. Between the already-growing friendship between Cinder and the Prince and the journey that brings them closer than ever before, you can't help but root for Cinder and hope things will turn out right.

As a fan of fairy tales, this one definitely pleased me, it just wasn't as great as others I'd read. Worth a read for those who prefer things on the lighter side.

Warnings -
Nothing, really. There is minor abuse mentioned, but in the Disney way--neglect or dislike more than horrible physical abuse.

Overall Recommendation -
A good read for those who love fairy tales, especially those who might shy away from the Gryvon version of this story.

Link to the story - Cinder (on Goodreads)
Author Link - Marie Sexton (on Goodreads)
If you liked this story, try -

• Cinder by Gryvon (AO3) (read my review here)
• Brendan and the Beast by Czarina Kodora (AO3) (read my review here)
• The Dream of a Thousand Nights by Shira Anthony (Goodreads) (read my review here)
• The Mist Behind and the Light Before by Cathalin (AO3)
• The Fairest in the Land by LuccaAce (FictionPress - unfinished story)

Review: Cinder by Gryvon

Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tales
Elements: magic, bonding, magical beings, BDSM

Rating:

• Characters - 4 - I very much enjoyed the characters in this, though they are a bit archetypal. The main character and his love interest are the true stand-out characters in the piece.
• Setting - 4 - The setting is a little murky, but not horribly so, and once Cinder is at the celebrations, the location is elaborately detailed.
• Plot - 5 - An excellent take on a story that's been done to death, which really does a fantastic job of making the story its own.
• Genre Elements - 5 - The story features a great deal of detail when it comes to the fairy tale aspects of the story, and the BDSM elements are quite well done.
• Voice - 4 - Only a little muddy, but the main voice we hear is the main character, so the overall detriment to the story is minimal at best, and Cinder's voice is very consistent.
• Romance Elements - 4 - A little quick for my tastes, but then given this is Cinderella, there has to be an aspect of quick to it. The three nights definitely helps the growing attraction seem more natural.
• Overall - 4 - One of my favorite fairy tale slash tales. Well worth reading.

Basic story -
Cinderella is a boy named Cinder who is horribly abused by his step family. When a prince comes to town to find a suitable mate, magic and cunning help Cinder escape his family's clutches and win the prince's heart.
My thoughts -
I know, another fairy tale. But even though my first review was one as well, this one definitely deserved to be one of the first I reviewed. I promise a very different type of story next time.

Cinder is one of those stories that makes me wonder why it has not been polished and sent to a publisher. It's a (generally) light story, but one that has a lot of great detail to it. I definitely think, given the right publisher, it could be sold.

Cinder's story at the beginning is not a happy one, but that's true of all Cinderella stories. I loved the twist on the fairy godmother, and how limited her power was to help him, which is important to understand, given that Cinder has had to endure quite a lot of abuse in his life. If she had helped him then, she could not have given him this now. And, if I recall correctly (it has been a little while since I read the actual story), she actually gives him a choice as to how she should help him. It's much more than a lot of Cinderella stories do.

The Prince is intriguing as well. Here I would have loved a lot more detail. What exactly the Dragon Prince is, and his powers, and where his people came from. I'd also have loved more time with the two of them talking together, getting to know one another, though of course that would have meant less smut...

Mostly, what I loved about this story was that it used the classic three balls instead of the Disney single ball. It gave us time to get to know the two characters, gave Cinder time to realize what he wants, and time for the Prince to decide that Cinder is the right choice.

Gryvon is someone you will see on this blog a few times, as I went through their catalog of stories back when I first started looking for slash tales. But this is my favorite of their stories overall. I definitely recommend it to those who like BDSM and fairy tales.
Warnings -
This story comes with some pretty heavy warnings. Cinder's step-brothers do rape him, and there is a fairy graphic scene at the beginning showing it. And anyone who has issues with BDSM should also stay away from this story, as the Prince's tastes are definitely not light BDSM.
Overall Recommendation -
This one is great for fans of fairy tales and BDSM, though I think if you're not into the latter, this isn't one for you. The reverse is not true, though. I think anyone who likes fantasy and BDSM would enjoy this story. Strongly recommended.  

Link to the story - Cinder (free on AO3)
Author Link - Gryvon @ AO3
If you liked this story, try -

• Dream of a Thousand Nights by Shira Anthony (Goodreads Page) (read my review here)
• The Mist Behind and the Light Before by Cathalin (AO3)
• The Fairest in the Land by LuccaAce (FictionPress - unfinished story)
• Under Contract by Helen Saito  (Goodreads Page) (read my review here)
• The Violet and the Tom by Ocotillo (Fiction Press) (read my review here)

Review: Brendan and the Beast by Czarina_Kodora

Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tales
Elements: magic, bonding

Rating:

• Characters - 5 - The characters are an excellent mix of historical and fairy tale, with just a dash of Disney thrown in. Each is interesting and unique in their own ways.
• Setting - 5 - The locations take into account not only historical France, but also the effect of previous ages on the characters' present.
• Plot - 5 - A fantastic combination of the original French folktale and the best of the Disney version, not to mention a strong sprinkling of the Author's own ideas.
• Genre Elements - 5 - There is so much here. The Classic world struggling to the modern age; magic; fairy tale elements; and of course, romance. All excellently used to effect the flow of the story.
• Voice - 5 - The only time I wasn't absolutely certain who was speaking was once toward the beginning of the story, and that very quickly resolved itself. Outside of that experience, all the character voices are incredibly distinct, and it is incredibly easy to know who is speaking.
• Romance Elements - 5 - Slow and gradual is a fondness of mine, and the way this one builds along with the unraveling of the mystery is perfect.
• Overall - 5 - Definitely an excellent story. I highly recommend it.

Basic story -
The fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast with a single change--what if Beauty's brother (a character which does exist in some versions of this tale) had taken his sister's place as the Beast's hostage/sacrifice after their father stole the rose?

My thoughts -
I love fairy tales, especially those that reflect the pre-Disney tradition. This one manages to encompass that as well as some of the changes Disney made to the tale, but still manages to make this version all its own. The change of the Main Character from Female to Male is completely natural, and unlike most slash fairy tales, actually uses a character from some of the original versions, instead of simply changing the original character to a male.

Even more, Kodora goes well beyond simply borrowing from other versions of this story. The magic of this world is all its own, and well thought out, making it one of the most unique versions of this story I have read. The mystery of how to save Beast is compounded by the slow-building homosexual love story, given that "true love's kiss" apparently needs to come from a girl. While this might strike some readers as an anti-gay sentiment, in actuality, it gives the author a chance to make a statment about acceptance from within and without.

There were a few bits toward the beginning of the story that felt a little cliched or slow, but they truly fit the world the Author builds up around these characters, and both feelings quickly faded as the story found its voice. Truly, as a fairy tale, a few cliches are to be expected, and even needed. And in this story, they are used to great effect, rendering them far less cliched than they might otherwise be.

Warnings -
This one's pretty safe for most readers, though the two main characters do struggle with depression each on their own. They also each have the tendency to show their temper, leading to a few slightly scary moments.

Overall Recommendation -
This one is perfect for those who love fairy tales, Disney or not. This is also a good one for those who like romance, but don't like it to come easily. Definitely a top recommendation.

Link to the story - Brendan and the Beast (free on AO3)
Author Link - Czarina_Kodora @ AO3
If you liked this story, try -

• Cinder by Gryvon (AO3) (read my review here) 
• Cinder by Marie Sexton (Goodreads Page) (read my review here)
• Dream of a Thousand Nights by Shira Anthony (Goodreads Page) (read my review here)
• The Mist Behind and the Light Before by Cathalin (AO3)
• The Fairest in the Land by LuccaAce (FictionPress - unfinished story)