Title: Liar's KingdomAuthor: Christine Calella
Pages: 384
Publication Date: Jan. 14, 2025
Publisher: Page Street YA
Genres: Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Romance
Synopsis:
Ell has spent years slaving away for her cruel stepfamily. So when Prince Bayard—who seems to have difficulty recognizing faces—shows up at her door with a glass slipper, Ell allows him to believe she danced with him at the ball. There’s just one problem: Ell didn’t attend the ball and she’s never met the prince before in her life. But if it’s a choice between moving to the royal palace or staying home, Ell is willing to say anything to escape.
However, Ell finds that being royalty comes with its own problems. Bayard’s sister, the princess, has gone missing. The king is preparing for war against the fae. And Maxim, Bayard’s treacherous (and handsome) best friend, appears to know Ell is lying.
If Ell wants to keep this life she’s stolen, she’s going to have to roll up her sleeves and rescue herself.
This blog uses affiliate links for some book recommendations, and if you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission. Thanks for supporting this little bookish corner of the internet!
This is such a fun twist on the classic Cinderella story. Though it starts with some similar elements with Ell suffering as an abused servant to her stepmother and step-sisters, the story actually begins after the ball with the Prince searching for the mysterious woman who disappeared when the clock struck twelve. When Ell tries on the glass slipper and it fits, she readily asserts that she’s the woman he’s looking for. The problem? Ell, desperate to get away from the abusive life she’s living, lied. She was not the wearer of the shoe.
Suddenly, Ell’s whisked away to the castle and betrothed to the prince where she finds herself tangled in royal intrigue as she navigates royal life, a brewing war, and the constant threat of being exposed, especially by Maxim, the prince’s suspicious best friend.
Ell is a clever and resourceful protagonist, and it’s a good thing because on top of keeping her secret, she faces so many other hurdles. Luckily, she has a few friends on her side, but she quickly realizes there aren’t many she can trust.
In some ways, it’s like she traded one prison for another, and it’s interesting to see how she deals with that as well as her complex feelings for Prince Bayard and Maxim.
Bayard’s inability to recognize faces adds another intriguing layer, and I really liked how dynamically developed his character was. Usually, the prince is so one-dimensional in fairy tales, so it was great to see a fully-fleshed out character here. And I love Maxim! He’s frustrating and charming in all the best ways, constantly challenging Ell and making her life difficult, but you can tell there’s more going on with him. Their back-and-forth was easily one of my favorite parts of the book.
I also liked how the author worked in classic Cinderella elements while also creating elements that made the story feel completely fresh and new. The world-building—especially the tension with the fae—added some darker, more complex layers to the story as does Ell’s growing awareness of the dangers around her. I feel like the more she learns about the king and his decisions, the more intense the story gets.
Overall, I thought this was an entertaining read. The characters and story are intriguing, there are a couple of redemption arcs that are wholly satisfying, and the mix of classic Cinderella tropes blended well with the new elements. The pacing is quick, and, though it generally worked, I did wish that some parts were slowed down a bit to let a few of the relationships and conflicts develop more, especially some of the friendships and the love story. That being said, if you’re looking for a unique Cinderella story, this is definitely worth checking out.
Thanks to TBR and Beyond Tours for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
I think anywhere, no matter how lovely, would begin to feel like a cage if you could never leave it.
Years of degradation have never made the taste of it more tolerable to me.
Perhaps portraits are always lies.
When not writing, Christine Calella spends her spare time singing showtunes in the shower, drinking more chai lattes than is strictly necessary, and either over- or under-watering an unfortunate string of houseplants named after sitcom characters. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University, and she lives in New York City.
As her romance alter ego, Madeline Bell, Christine also pens adult rom-coms with a bookish twist. For more information, check out the Books section, under the “By Madeline Bell” drop-down.
Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads
