Review: Dystopian Cinderella, sort of
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 25, 2013
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.Cinderella plus repressive dystopian society equals Bristles...and I enjoyed the combination. Bryssa is a sixteen year old girl, born into privilege and forced by her cruel stepmother to live the life of a pauper following her father's death. In order to break down Bryssa's spirit and force compliance, her stepmother, called "Ma'am" by her orders, takes Bryssa to a men's barber shop every month to have her hair clipped short. Not just short - VERY short, almost bald, which gives her the nickname "Bristles." Ma'am requires everyone in the household, from her own daughters to the rotating servant staff, to call Bryssa by the demeaning nickname.However, despite the abysmal treatment she is forced to endure, Bryssa does not let Ma'am break her spirit and often dreams of escaping Erba, the repressive society in which she lives. In Erba, everyone does as they are told. They attend the schools specifically assigned to them based on class, and they train for jobs deemed appropriate for their income level. There is no chance for advancement. There is no hope of becoming "better" than you already are, financially. Though she is privileged by birth, her stepmother's influence has relegated her to the poverty-stricken working class.Bryssa falls in love with Aydan, the future ruler of Erba - knowing full well that Ma'am would never allow such a relationship, as Bryssa is "not good enough" for Aydan, and Ma'am wants to marry her own daughter off to him. Her feelings are returned, but Bryssa cannot stay in Erba, cannot live the life Ma'am has planned for her. She longs to escape, to venture to Fiss, the village that was home to her mother. So she must leave Aydan behind and escape the life she knows.I really enjoyed Bristles. Bryssa is a strong, likeable character. I immediately related the story to the known fairytale Cinderella, but other than the basic premise - deceased parents, evil stepmother, royal love interest - the story is not so much Cinderella. I like that Bryssa is a much more likeable character, much stronger, and wants to make her own fairy tale come true. The plot was, for the most part, well though out and well developed. However, I thought the ending was a bit rushed. It felt like the author thought the story was getting too long and needed to be wrapped up neatly and quickly. I would have liked more information on the revolution, more detail. Other than that, the book was very enjoyable.