Review: Re-Imagined Cinderella story
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 1, 2013
Before Midnight is Jennifer Blackstream's take on the Cinderella story.  The novella is part of her series of re-imagined fairytales, Blood Princes.  I am a big Blackstream fan so when she contacted me with an ARC copy in exchange for a review I jumped at the chance.  It did not disappoint.  Aphrodite's Hunt and Under His Skin are two of hers that instantly jumped to my 'favorites' bookshelf and this one will be joining them.Before Midnight has all the iconic images we have come to associate with Cinderella but with a new twist.  There's a fairy, a pumpkin turned coach, a prince in need of a wife, a ball and a little something left behind to help identify her.  I won't spoil the surprise but I will tell you this was one of my favorite parts of the re-write.Loupe is Cinderella and her life is ruined because of a werewolf bite.  She can never have the life she wants.  She can never share her pain with anyone because if her stepmother or stepsisters ever found out they would not hesitate to kill her.  Meeting the prince one day by pure coincidence only makes matters worse.  The pain is more sharp because for the first time she can imagine how wonderful a normal life would be.The pace was good and it kept my interest the whole way through.  It could be read easily on a weekend day.  The Cinderella character was much more three dimensional than the Disney version.  She is strong but her world has her beat down.  It doesn't take much for her to become the woman the prince needs; a powerful queen to help rule his kingdom and protect his people.The story had a sex scene and a couple of wanton kissing scenes where they wanted it to go further but couldn't.  There was some violence but no more than the Grimm fairytales did.  It was a set up for the rest of the series which I cannot wait to read.  Next is a vampire story based on Snow White.  Sounds good, doesn't it?