Cinderella Is Dead By Kalynn Bayron

Description

Kalynn Bayron’s Cinderella Is Dead is a stunning, genre-bending retelling of the traditional fairy tale that turns it from a simple story about being saved into an urgent call to arms against systemic injustice. This creative young adult fantasy book is a scathing attack against patriarchy and tradition, and it tells a heart-pounding story of survival, rebellion, and love against all odds.

The kingdom of Lille has turned Cinderella’s story into a nasty way to keep people in line 200 years after she found her “happily ever after.” Every year, all girls who are old enough must go to the Annual Ball, when men choose their spouses from a group of women. Not going is treason. If you don’t accept a match, you could die. The “happy ending” of the fairy tale has turned into a terrible system of forced marriages, servitude, and silencing of women’s voices.

Sophia Grimmins, a 16-year-old Black girl, lives in the middle of this nightmare. She knows she can’t accept the fate the kingdom wants her to have. Sophia doesn’t want to be chosen because she loves her best friend Erin. But Erin is so scared of getting in trouble that she wants to obey the rules, even if it means giving up their love. Sophia is meant to let a stranger take her on the night of the ball, but instead she runs away from the palace in a desperate attempt to be free.

Sophia’s escape from the ball isn’t simply a personal act of defiance; it’s the beginning of a quest that will not stop until the truth about the Cinderella story is revealed. She is on the run and designated for murder when she finds the ruins of Cinderella’s tomb and encounters Constance, the last remaining descendant of one of Cinderella’s stepsisters. Constance tells them something shocking: the story they were told about Cinderella wasn’t true. The prince didn’t save anyone. Cinderella was stuck herself. And the whole kingdom is based on a falsehood.

Sophia and Constance go on a risky adventure together to find these hidden truths, go against the harsh monarchy, and start a movement that could free generations of girls from the ball’s tyranny. Sophia has to deal with her own worries about love, loyalty, and loss as she goes, and she has to find her voice in a world that wants to silence her.

Kalynn Bayron’s writing is clear, incisive, and full of feeling. She doesn’t shy away from the horrible parts of her life, like forced marriage, state violence, and how repressive regimes live on fear and complicity. But she also adds hope, love, and the strength of discovered family to the story. Sophia and Constance’s relationship is based on respect and determination, and it shows how queer people may love and support each other without being ashamed or hidden.

Cinderella Is Dead isn’t simply a fantasy adventure; it’s also a strong feminist take on the original story. It examines what happens when ladies stop looking for someone to save them and instead pick up weapons to protect themselves. It’s about challenging the tales we hear, exposing the lies that keep people down, and using the ruins of the old myths to make new, better ones.

About the Author

Kalynn Bayron is an American author and classically trained vocalist who writes bold, inclusive, and deeply subversive stories that center Black girls and queer characters. With Cinderella Is Dead, she established herself as a leading voice in contemporary YA fantasy, delivering thrilling narratives that confront systemic injustice while celebrating identity, love, and the power of resistance.

Product Details

• Title: Cinderella Is Dead
• Author: Kalynn Bayron
• ISBN-13: 9781547606641
• Publisher: Bloomsbury YA
• Published: July 2020
• Pages: 400
• Binding: Paperpack