This post was last updated on December 15th, 2025 at 04:26 pm
Cinderella retellings are a fun way to take the good, the bad, and the ugly of a classic fairytale and breathe new life into it. While not everyone is a fan, almost anyone you know can probably tell you they’re familiar, at least in some way, with this story of happily ever after.
Besides the well-known themes often found in Cinderella retellings, you may also be familiar with a term that’s applied more loosely: “Cinderella story.” People use the phrase to describe a situation in which a person who has little in life unexpectedly rises to great heights. While, of course, the original tale lives up to that title, many popular movies and books get called Cinderella stories, even though genres range from science fiction to comedy. It just goes to show you how influential this famous fairy tale really is! Here are some other elements of this popular tale that contribute to the narrative that has become known as the story of Cinderella.
Elements of the Story of Cinderella
Elements of the Story of Cinderella include the location as a kingdom of long ago, Cinderella finding herself trapped with her stepmother and stepsisters after her father’s death, a fairy godmother, a prince, and the exceptional qualities of the protagonist, Cinderella. In the original Grimm’s Fairy Tales, the authors portrayed these latter characteristics through Cinderella’s charm, beauty, kindness, and morally good character.
The great thing about modern Cinderella retellings is that the stories usually incorporate some or all of the above elements while also giving us completely fresh tales with brand-new characters. In the books below, Cinderella is no longer a damsel in distress who gets lucky, but a willing and active participant in her future and that of those around her. Not only does she get a makeover, but in some stories, so do her stepmother and stepsisters. What if they weren’t against her? What if, in some versions, they’re her beloved family, and she’s fighting to protect them? You’ll get to meet them, as well as a Cinderella who knows magic and swordfighting.
This post is about Cinderella retellings.
A Few of the Best Cinderella Retellings
Beginning our list, in Cinders, Stars, and Glass Slippers, we don’t find Cinderella meeting her prince at the ball. In fact, he doesn’t even throw one for the eligible maidens to attend, as in the original story we know. Fitcher’s magical, clean, and lively version has the prince fighting to save Elaina’s (Cinderella’s) life.
Cinders, Stars, and Glass Slippers: A Retelling of Cinderella by Brittany Fitcher
After someone murdered her mother, Elaina has been living a sheltered life on her father’s ship. When her secret gets out, she has to return to life on land. What’s more, she’s forced to live under the protection of the king, which she doesn’t like one bit.
Meanwhile, Nicholas, the crown prince of Ashland, deals with a civil war and an enemy who’s hunting the gifted citizens of the realm. When he and Elaina meet, although he’s thrilled to learn of her military experience from life at sea, he fears that he may have found more than he bargained for in this new relationship. He’s falling for her… the one girl who absolutely won’t fall for him in return.
Just as the two of them might be seeing eye to eye, the kingdom declares civil war. An odd series of events exiles Elaina and sends her into servitude. As if that’s not bad enough, now the murderer is running free to do whatever dark deeds they please. Now it’s up to Nicholas and Elaina to restore the kingdom, and with any luck, save themselves and find a happily ever after.
Reader Reviews
“Cinders, Stars, and Glass Slippers is a beautifully written, captivating tale of love, betrayal, and happily ever after. This is a uniquely written fairytale retelling of Cinderella.” —Amazon Reviewer
“Perhaps the best retelling I’ve read! I was enraptured from chapter 1; I couldn’t put it down! I can’t wait to read more from Brittany Richter.” —Emily Kelley, Amazon Reviewer
Cinders: The Untold Story of Cinderella by Finley Aaron
In Cinders, we find some of the classic elements of the timeless Cinderella tale that we all know and love, along with some fresh and new twists. For one thing, the story is told by the fairy godmother. For another, Ella is a trained warrior, not just a helpless maiden. She defends herself when she needs to, and later, her prince. We also get to meet Cinderella’s parents before they get together—a nice addition, as in most Cinderella retellings, we learn little, if anything, about her mom and dad.
Besides being sharp with a sword (pun intended), Ella also has a girly side. She loves wearing a beautiful gown, attending the ball, and dancing with Prince Henry. Her mother ensured that Ella got proper training in how to be ladylike. Good manners and appearance are helpful to a young woman whenever she’s not engaged in tournaments, swordfighting, and melee, right?
If you enjoy clean Cinderella retellings, Cinders is a great pick. The fairy godmother is an amusing narrator, the characters are well developed, and there’s plenty of action throughout the book. There’s also no insta love between Ella and Henry, which is a relief in this genre. We also get to see some of Ella’s weaknesses when she has difficulty dealing with her stepmother, as flaws are a sign of a realistic human character.
Reader Reviews
“Cinders is perfect for every fan who ever wished Cinderella could be a bit more like Mulan, and for everyone who loved The Princess Bride, but wished Buttercup would pick up her sword and fight for herself once in a while.”—Jess Evander, author of the TimeShifters series
“I usually am not a fan of Cinderella retellings, but this book had all the things I didn’t know I was missing! I love how the prince and Cinderella actually spend a lot of time together. Cinderella’s backstory and who she became make for a fun read.” —Amazon Customer
Cinderella Retellings: Fated (Destined Book 1) by Kaylin Lee
In this unique Cinderella retelling, Ella (our Cinderella) is the only person in her family who isn’t a mage. Her stepmother, Zel, however, is a powerful one with a dark history, and for this reason, must remain hidden. Someone in Zel’s past forced her to commit seedy deeds and murders, so people are pursuing her. Not only does she have to hide, but she has to keep her two daughters safe. This means keeping them hidden as well.
What is Ella’s part in all this? She does everything she can to manage the bakery (where they also live) and care for her stepmother and stepsisters. By studying at the Royal Academy, she hopes to get a better job—one that will allow the family to move out of their small apartment. Unfortunately, when she lets a mage named Weslan stay with them, things take a turn for the worse. As Ella takes her final exam at school, a bomb goes off, shattering not only the Academy but also her plans and dreams. She must now find a new way to provide for and protect her family.
This Cinderella retelling is different than almost every other, as in Lee’s version, Cinderella’s stepmother isn’t cruel to her and doesn’t force her to work. Cinderella also gets along with her stepsisters. We find that Ella isn’t sad and yearning for a better life. She’s strong and kind, and does everything she does out of a desire to help. When an anonymous force begins targeting her family, Ella must decide how much she’s willing to risk to save not only her loved ones but the very city that’s always hated her.
Reader Reviews
“Most unique Cinderella story I’ve ever read. Thought-provoking, beautiful, clean, perfect.” —Kindle Customer
This post was about Cinderella retellings.
Some other posts you may enjoy: 7 YA Fantasy Romance Novels With Celtic Mythos and Magic and 10 Best YA Fantasy Books of All Time. You can also find my own retelling of the story of Cinderella here: Cinders and Fangs