Title: Waltz into the Waves: A Cinderella Story
Series: None
Year: 2015
Author: Sarah Holman
Summary: Amelia has always lived in a manor by the sea with her father, and looks forward every summer to a visit from Alex. However, her perfect life is dashed one summer when tragedy strikes. Will her life ever be happy again?
A 7,000 word short story of faith, love, and happily ever after. (from Goodreads)
A 7,000 word short story of faith, love, and happily ever after. (from Goodreads)
Main Characters:
~ Amelia Ella
~ Alex
~ Cynthia
~ Amelia Ella
~ Alex
~ Cynthia
Review: This novella is just what it claims to be: a short, sweet retelling of the classic fairy tale, Cinderella. This is actually the first book I've read from Sarah Holman, much to my chagrin, as I've heard a lot about her other works. I'm looking forward to reading those as well.
First off, we're introduced to Amelia Ella, a young girl who loves the ocean. Summers are always so much fun as her best friend Alex visits from court, and there are no problems to worry them. However, that's all before her father takes a new bride... a new step-mother for young Ella... with a new step-sister on the side. Ella's not entirely thrilled with the prospect, but she tries to keep a cheerful face up. Of course, that's only before tragedy strikes, and she finds herself scorned in her own house.
I really like how Sarah incorporated the names in this story. Too many times we've got Cinderella retellings based around a girl named Ella. Not a bad thing, but with everybody and their sister doing it, it gets cliche. Instead, our heroine here is Amelia Ella, and the people close to her call her "Ella" (her middle name) as a pet name. Only, when her step-sister insists they switch identities, her name switches to Cinder-Ella. It was an interesting twist to something that has been slightly overdone.
I will complain about the length, though. I know it's a short story, but it ended much too quickly for me. Things happened quickly, keeping the story moving, but I would have preferred to have some things fleshed out. There were some choppy places that could have been smoothed out, but all in all, a satisfying Cinderella short story.
First off, we're introduced to Amelia Ella, a young girl who loves the ocean. Summers are always so much fun as her best friend Alex visits from court, and there are no problems to worry them. However, that's all before her father takes a new bride... a new step-mother for young Ella... with a new step-sister on the side. Ella's not entirely thrilled with the prospect, but she tries to keep a cheerful face up. Of course, that's only before tragedy strikes, and she finds herself scorned in her own house.
I really like how Sarah incorporated the names in this story. Too many times we've got Cinderella retellings based around a girl named Ella. Not a bad thing, but with everybody and their sister doing it, it gets cliche. Instead, our heroine here is Amelia Ella, and the people close to her call her "Ella" (her middle name) as a pet name. Only, when her step-sister insists they switch identities, her name switches to Cinder-Ella. It was an interesting twist to something that has been slightly overdone.
I will complain about the length, though. I know it's a short story, but it ended much too quickly for me. Things happened quickly, keeping the story moving, but I would have preferred to have some things fleshed out. There were some choppy places that could have been smoothed out, but all in all, a satisfying Cinderella short story.
Advisory: Light romance. Also, [Highlight for spoilers] one character is scarred severely when she accidentally falls into the fireplace.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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