With the social season in full swing, and bringing with it a horde of husband-hungry socialites, he'll do anything to delay the pressures of both marriage and the crown. But when feelings emerge on both sides, she starts to wonder if there's more to their contrived courtship than either of them planned. Every character had a role to play, each plot point weaves its way subtly into the over-arching story, the book leaves everything with a perfect pay-off. And Franco reminded me a little too much of Rhys (ACoTaR) but every dark-haired, tattooed, fae-male, with black wings reminds me of Rhys.

The Shatter Me series is definitely one of my favorites and it’s so different from my usual kind of read. As if they weren\'t enough to deal with, a chance encounter with the arrogant Prince Franco leaves her humiliated and in a fiery rage. But when her stepmother sets her eye on Franco, the Lunar prince, and wants to use the Social Season as a means to marry off her eldest daughter, Imogen, Ember finds herself even more entangled in her stepmother's schemes. You may find some affiliate links on this site, fully disclosed as such, that allow me to receive a small commission for purchases made. i despised the stepmother and stepsisters so much that i had to put the book down multiple times and tell myself that they're supposed to be vile and annoying but like.I’m a sucker for anything fairytale related and this did not dissapoint<33 This is a cinderella retelling set in a world with fae.

Em made a bargain with her stepmother unknowingly after her father died and has to fulfil it every single day until she turns 19 years old.

I must take some pleasure from your company if I’ll be forced to endure your presence for the foreseeable future. Definitely a softer read than I would’ve expected, but it was a read that brought me happy surprises and while there is steam it is very mild and mostly emotional more than anything else. Ember is half-fae and lives with her step-mother and two stepsisters after a bargain she made, which stated she will have to live and obey them until she turns 19.

I also liked that the Prince had a playboy exterior but on the inside he is just a soft shy boy-which was fun to read in a ML. The other books in the series take on different fairytales so if cinderella isn't your cup of tea I'd def recommend one of the other ones! Her writing is that kind that pulls you in with the first line you read and lets you out only after you are broken, satisfied and a mess! One day the beautiful thoughts you penned down may disappear–aka you may have accidentally deleted it without knowing. This was one of the best fairy tale retellings I’ve ever read so far and I’m definitely not exaggerating!

I was immediately caught up in Ember and Franco's enemies to lovers romance and I didn't want it to end. The plot knots that Tessonja wrote her protagonists into were genuinely airtight in terms of difficulty and I was definitely satisfied with how she undid them with time. I also enjoyed that although this is stand alone the story and romance felt well rounded and complete at the end.

This was a great Cinderella retelling, set in the same world as The Fair Isle Trilogy, the action happening 21 years later. Getting to read references to the og cinderella story while also learning about a whole new world and whole new plot was really cool. Adding to the confession, I was actually very influenced by my ACOTAR thoughts as I slid into this book. She brought vulnerability where I expected power play, she brought honestly where I expected a game of lies and where I thought I’d see exactly Cinderella on paper in a Fae fantasy retelling, she brought a wonderful story touched by elements of Cinderella. Outside of the plot and writing that was a bullseye for me, there were some thoughtfulness that the author drops into the story.I had exactly about seven hundred and fifty million expectations because ACOTAR and it’s series left an impression on literally everyone out there who has read it. He was sweet, funny and caring, while also being really sensitive and vulnerable in a way not many male MCs are portrayed. It was a delight to see them grow as characters and make it through the turmoil in the story and eventually get to their version of happily ever after that we look forward to in a fairy tale retelling.