Riches to Rags by Casey L. Bond

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages: 448
Standalone
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Fairy-tell retelling, Cinderella
Published: Oct 31st, 2017
Rating: 5 stars

Synopsis:

Most girls dream of being princesses, but one princess just wants to be a normal girl.

Ella Carina, crown princess of Aelawyn, knows brutality and lies—she’s seen the way her father rules. Princess. Possession. To her father, the words had the same meaning. She was only as valuable as the alliance formed with her betrothal. Her freedom comes from an unlikely place: an attack on the castle.

When the conquering King offers to protect her from the betrothal her father arranged for political gain, she consents. Hiding her within a peasant family is the only way to keep her and her secret safe.

In this simpler life, Ella flourishes and catches the eye of the local Blacksmith’s son. For once, she can be herself and make her own choices, but the life of a princess—even one kept secret—was never meant to be easy.

Trevor, crown prince of Galder has been searching for Ella, but not because of their betrothal. She is in grave danger from the very people who hid her away. His plan is to show her the truth and help her to safety.

Nothing goes as planned. When Trevor finds her, it’s to discover she’s fallen in love with a peasant. Now he has two goals: help her regain her throne… and show her that she belongs with him.

Review:

I didn’t read the synopsis for this when I got it. I just saw the cover and say it was a retelling and jumped fully in. I am so glad I did.

Fair warning: Spoilers

On days like this, the castle served more as a prison than as our home. It was a gilded cage.

Ella’s father rules their kingdom harshly. Ella only knows how to stay in her room and to answer when called. So when a neighboring kingdom comes, kills her family, and whisks her away to their land, Ella doesn’t know how to feel.

She is given the choice to go through with her betrothal or can be hidden with a peasant family. She chooses the latter. After three years of hiding, she starts to go to the village and live her life in the most simple way. But the prince she once was betrothed to has now found her and warns her against the king that once hid her for her safety.

But could anyone ever truly be ready for war?

Oh after the few books I have read back to back and not in love, this was a breath of fresh air. I loved the story. I loved the characters and growth. I especially loved the ending. Oh, it just feels me with glee. Another rendering of the Cinderella story that I love. Going to have to read the other retellings this author has written.