Poisoned Empire: A Cinderella retelling, but so much better

Once upon a time, in a kingdom far, far away, I picked up an advanced reader copy of Elyse Thomson's delightful book, "Poisoned Empire." With its Cinderella retelling, magical twists, and enough political scheming to match Game of Thrones look, this book had me hooked from the very first page.

Anyone who knows me, knows I'm a die hard Disney fan. Give me magic, give me love. However, I've always particularly hated Cinderella. I can't get past Cinderella meeting a guy for what, 3 hours?, and then deciding she wants to go off and marry him. Absolutely not the kind of story I'd want my daughter to look up to.

However, in this retelling we meet our protagonists, Selene and Iliana, who are the epitome of strong independent women, who don't need no man. In the Mage Kingdom of Lethe, only elemental magics are deemed worthy of acceptance in higher nobility, and despite this, Selene with her mastery of Poisons magic and Iliana with her metals, the women are absolutely to be feared and respected. The best friends are on the run constantly by thier noble sires who wish thier bastard daughters erased and do what they can to scheme and survive the harsh commoners life in Lethe.

Fear not, dear readers, because fate has something else in store for our heroines. Enter the Heir to the throne, Prince Belisarius, and his bride show, where things take a deliciously dangerous turn.

Thomson weaves a magical web of friendship, justice, and girl power in a kingdom that desperately needs a gender equality workshop. It's a refreshing twist to see two strong female best friends fighting against a system built on rank and societal standing, especially in a predominantly male-owned kingdom. Smash that glass slipper!

Now, let's talk about the romance, shall we? There's a sprinkle of enemies-to-lovers goodness that adds just the right amount of spice to the story. I won't give away any spoilers, but there's actually something hot about two very intelligent people playing a game of mental chess and razor sharp word flinging as a form of flirtation. Slow burn baby!

Thomson's writing style is as enchanting as the magic she portrays. Sure, it took me a minute to fully grasp the intricate world and the dizzying array of titles being thrown around. But hey, that's part of the fantasy experience, right? Once I detached myself from the urge to shout, "Hey, this is just Cinderella with magic!" and embraced the unique twists and turns, I found myself thoroughly enjoying the ride as its own unique story.

It's important to include in a review things that I didn't find so great, to make it fair for the reader. I did find we lost track of the main purpose of the bride show for a while, or the magical foul play was secondary to the story of court happenings. Perhaps it felt a bit rushed? I enjoyed the ending, some didn't I know. There was a moment where it almost felt like a WINX Club episode and I thoroughly enjoyed that though it seemed a bit young for a NA book. I also felt like one of the two love stories was fast and maybe a bit predictable but I still enjoyed it and I hope they continue to find happiness in the next book.

On a scale of magical whimsy, I'd give "Poisoned Empire" a solid 3.5 out of 5. It's a whimsical and fast-paced fantasy read that strikes a delightful balance between the light and fluffy and the epic and grandiose. It's the kind of book you can devour in a single sitting while sipping a cup of coffee.

So, future readers, dust off your glass slippers, and dive into "Poisoned Empire" with a heart full of laughter and anticipation. I, for one, can't wait to see what enchanting adventures Elyse Thomson has in store for us next. Until then, happy reading and keep dreaming ✨️

You can find my goodreads review HERE so you can add it to your TBR.

Pre-Orders for the book are underway and the book is being released on July 12. You can order it from Amazon HERE (I am not an affiliate, just spreading the good word).