Cinderella moves to Philadelphia

A Curse of Ash and Iron

By Christine Norris

Paperback: 300 pages

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press (May 21, 2015)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1620078856

ISBN-13: 978-1620078853

Approximate Lexile: 810

Publisher's Blurb:

"Benjamin Grimm knows the theater is much like real life. In 1876 Philadelphia, people play their parts, hiding behind the illusion of their lives, and never revealing their secrets. When he reunites with his childhood friend Eleanor Banneker, he is delighted. His delight turns to dismay when he discovers she has been under a spell for the past 7 years, being forced to live as a servant in her own home, and he realizes how sinister some secrets can be. She asks for his help, and he can't refuse. Even if he doesn't believe in 'real' magic, he can't abandon her. Ellie has spent the long years since her mother's death under the watchful eye and unforgiving eye of her stepmother. Bewitched and hidden in plain sight, it seems no one can help Ellie escape. Not even her own father, who is under a spell of his own. When she sees Ben one evening, it seems he is immune to the magic that binds her, and her hope is rekindled along with her friendship. But time is running short. If they do not find a way to break the spell before midnight on New Year's Eve, then both Ellie and her father will be bound forever."

The lovely cover illustration led me, like others, to believe this story would be set in a steampunk world. It’s not. Everything mechanical is actually realistic, and there are no airships, etc. However, there is just a bit of magic.

This is a re-telling of Cinderella, and you know how much I love a retold fairytale. This one does not disappoint. While there is no fairy godmother, Ellie does have a secret supporter, whose identity, when it is revealed, may surprise some. Her friendship with Ben is solid, even when they don’t quite understand each other. Somewhat less believable is the “insta-love” between Ellie and Hamilton. I do like that Ellie has an honest struggle to decide just who it is that she loves in the end. I think the ending will be satisfying for those of us who are tired of teenage “instant forever love” stories.

Of the two point-of-view characters, I think I might like Ben better than Ellie. I was definitely rooting for him in his various conflicts.

The author’s notes at the end show the depth of research she engaged in to bring this story to life, something I appreciate. She is good at showing, not telling, and her descriptive imagery is nice. There were a few editing errors (why does it seem that I am a better editor than those who are paid for the job?), but not enough to make me wince. Hopefully, those were cleared up before publication. I do wish the mysterious person who gave the step-mother her spells might have been explained more fully, or the why the particular things Ellie had to find to break the spell were significant.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the Advanced Reader Copy!

Possible Objectionable Material: Mild curse words, perilous situations, sneaking out at night. Ellie wears a very low-cut dress to the ball and is a little uncomfortable about it.

Who Would Like This Book: Those who like retold fairytales. People who enjoy a touch of magic. Those who like turn-of-the century machinery. Fans of light romance and adventure. Probably about ages 12 and up.