Cinders [Paperback]

Michelle Davidson Argyle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 23, 2010

We all know that money can't buy love, but in Cinders we learn magic isn't a sure bet either. Cinderella - now officially a princess - finds royal life is not what she once dreamed. Pretty clothes, fancy meals, and fabulous balls can't make up for a life restricted, and she is denied the simple pleasures she used to take for granted. When a figure from her past stirs up a long-suppressed passion, Cinderella begins to wonder if there really is love under the spell that earned her husband's heart. But undoing magic can be harder than casting the initial spell, and the results are less predictable.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is much more complex/serious than was the original Cinderella story, yet Michelle manages to hold onto the sweet naivete' of Cinderella herself in a way that is appro-priate for the sequel to a fairy tale."
-- L. Eklund, Indiana

"Argyle has woven a fascinating blend of emotional angst and poetic beauty in this fantasy that explores the concept of love - what it is, how we recognize it, and what happens when it's all an illusion."
-- Jamie DeBree (Brazen Snake Books), Montana

"The surroundings feel familiar and yet fresh, the subject matter shared and still separate. The Grimm and Disney emphases of rising from poverty to royalty and gaining true love meet with political intrigues and ethical issues of enchantment. It's a compelling mix that Argyle handles with aplomb."
-- Loren Eaton, Florida

From the Author

As a continuation of a popular fairy tale, Cinders is not based on any particular version of Cinderella. It was influenced by many versions, including those of Walt Disney and Brothers Grimm. I must caution readers, however, who dive into this story expecting talking mice and a sweet, innocent Cinderella. Cinders contains its title for a specific reason, as the word "cinders" implies the end of something that was once bright and alive. Christina's journey in Cinders is that of discovering a new way to view and live in her very real world. I hope you as the reader can discover with her the intricacies and impact of love, friendship, and difficult decisions we make in our lives. As we all know, glorious fire is capable of rising out of the ashes.
Thank you for reading this story! I'm always happy to hear feedback and opinions.
-- Michelle Davidson Argyle

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Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace (June 23, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1453629955
• ISBN-13: 978-1453629956
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #863,739 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michelle lives and writes in Utah, surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. She loves the seasons, but late summer and early fall are her favorites. She adores chocolate, sushi, and lots of ethnic food, and loves to read and write books in whatever time she can grab between her sword-wielding husband and energetic daughter. She believes a simple life is the best life.

You can find out more about Michelle at her author site: http://www.michelledavidsonargyle.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully crafted..., July 27, 2010

By 

J.S. Chancellor "Dark Haven" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cinders (Paperback)

I didn't intend on reading this novella in one sitting. However, like good stories are apt to do, this one quietly pulled me in and by the time I realized it--I was past the point of no return.

I've read quite a few Cinderella sequels: some playful, some humorous, some full of talking animals and other familiar fairy-tale elements. Argyle's Cinderella while playful in some areas, humorous in others, is haunting in its elegance and simplicity. The prose itself is pitch perfect for the narrative, to the point where as a reader you forget that you're reading. It's presented like the glass slipper that it is: beautiful, translucent, and full of unexpected magic.

The characters are solid, memorable, sturdy and some of them ephemeral (I'll leave that for you to figure out...I don't do spoilers). The plot is deftly paced. But what struck me above everything else is Argyle's use of imagery. So many passages echo after they've been read...not because of how they were written, but because of what they said.

...After a moment Cinderella realized she was touching her crown, thinking of the grease on Marion's chin as she ate her food and told Rowland things weren't fair...

...Neither of these images represented what Cinderella saw now: a skeleton of a woman so thin and aged she looked as if she belonged to the worn stone walls. Her skin was gray, her eyes dull and lifeless. Her hair had fallen out in clumps, leaving only strings to cover her baldness...

I am actually leaving my favorite passages out because I want them to have the same effect on you as they did on me. They aren't mere descriptions. They tell the rest of the story.

Cinders takes unexpected turns, ironic turns, turns that some readers won't appreciate. Those aren't the readers to whom the story was intended. Few writers have the skill and foresight to craft a fairytale that is applicable to real life, while maintaining the elemental integrity of the story. Argyle does this seamlessly and while you think for a time that you're simply hearing another classic tale, slowly, you begin to see another layer--the bones beneath the flesh--and it is this layer, that adds the most brilliant aspect to Argyle's prose. With this layer, she breathes life into characters that we've become all too familiar with and gives them new purpose. This layer presents to us another fairytale, a slightly darker, more visceral one...read carefully and you'll see exactly what I mean. There is no question that each and every line was arranged with clear purpose and if you look closely, you'll see the reason for the novella's title.

Keep your eye on this girl. I don't say that often. This brief journey into Argyle's imagination left me wanting to see more of what she'll create in the coming years and there are few things more exciting for a reader than discovering, not just a book that holds promise, but an author with whom we know we'll share many adventures in the future.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I loved the ending!, November 6, 2010

By 

Bluestocking173 (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cinders (Kindle Edition)

Was this book short? Yes. Was it truncated? Absolutely not. I actually loved the length. To me, it signified that Argyle took pains to refine the language into a beautiful and lyrical style. I thought this story was refreshing, a book where the author does not descend to insulting filler, gimmicks, or cliffhangers that are obviously meant to wring more money out of readers. The ending left me curious to know more about this world, but completely satisfied with what I had. That is no easy feat.

If I were someone who easily gave five-star reviews, I would not have hesitated here. There was one tiny flaw, though: for me, it was difficult to connect to the main character, and I felt the story would have been so much more poignant had I done so. I think part of the problem was that Cinderella had an uncertain relationship with every other character in the book, and that made her into the kind of person with whom it is difficult to empathize.

But do not let that deter you from reading this book. It was excellent. Argyle obviously has great potential, and I could definitely see myself giving her five stars for her next book, which I'm eager to read. I would highly recommend Cinders to anyone who wants to read a book in its entirety on their day off, curling up under the blankets and escaping into someone else's world.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous prose, August 3, 2010

By 

Jade "booksmart" - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cinders (Paperback)

A wonderful ride through a dark suspenseful world, which features a cunning, secretive Cinderella. Luscious prose, and seat of your pants page turning suspense will have you gulping down this gem in one sitting. I could not put it down. Spellbinding!