AUDIOBOOK
About
Sparks fly and lovers dance in this gorgeous, yearning Cinderella retelling from bestselling author Freya Marske-a queer Gothic romance perfect for fans of Naomi Novik and T. Kingfisher.
Ella is a haunting.
Murdered at sixteen, her ghost is furiously trapped in her father's house, invisible to everyone except her stepmother and stepsisters.
Even when she discovers how to untether herself from her prison, there are limits. She cannot be seen or heard by the living people who surround her. Her family must never learn she is able to leave. And at the stroke of every midnight, she finds herself back on the staircase where she died.
Until she forges a wary friendship with a fairy charm-seller, and makes a bargain for three nights of almost-living freedom. Freedom that means she can finally be seen. Danced with. Touched.
You think you know Ella's story: the ball, the magical shoes, the handsome prince.
You're halfway right, and all-the-way wrong.
Rediscover a classic fairy tale in this debut novella from "the queen of romantic fantasy" (Polygon). Freya Marske is the author of A Power Unbound, A Restless Truth, and A Marvellous Light, which was an international bestseller and won the Romantic Novel Award for Fantasy. She has been nominated for two Hugo Awards, and won the Ditmar Award for Best New Talent. She lives in Australia.
Praise for Freya Marske
"Marske writes what I crave most in romantasy: brilliant craft, fresh voice, characters worth obsessing over, and genuine honest-to-god heat."―Casey McQuiston, New York Times bestselling author of Red, White and Royal Blue
"There's nothing in fantasy or queer romance that Marske can't do."―Sarah Rees Brennan, author of Long Live Evil
"The perfect blend of charm, yearning and romance."―C.S. Pacat, New York Times bestselling author of Captive Prince, on Swordcrossed
"Freya Marske's books are something special."―Sarah MacLean, New York Times bestselling author
"The prose is sublime, the world-building top-notch, and the magic system is fascinating and unique."―TJ Klune, New York Times bestselling author of The House on the Cerulean Sea, on A Marvellous Light
"Stunning―the writing is lush, the world-building is fascinating, and the romance is searing hot. I am completely obsessed."―Cat Sebastian, author of The Queer Principles of Kit Webb, on A Power Unbound
"Delightful and spicy . . . Marske is simply superb at her chosen genres."―The New York Times on the Last Binding trilogy
Ella is a haunting.
Murdered at sixteen, her ghost is furiously trapped in her father's house, invisible to everyone except her stepmother and stepsisters.
Even when she discovers how to untether herself from her prison, there are limits. She cannot be seen or heard by the living people who surround her. Her family must never learn she is able to leave. And at the stroke of every midnight, she finds herself back on the staircase where she died.
Until she forges a wary friendship with a fairy charm-seller, and makes a bargain for three nights of almost-living freedom. Freedom that means she can finally be seen. Danced with. Touched.
You think you know Ella's story: the ball, the magical shoes, the handsome prince.
You're halfway right, and all-the-way wrong.
Rediscover a classic fairy tale in this debut novella from "the queen of romantic fantasy" (Polygon). Freya Marske is the author of A Power Unbound, A Restless Truth, and A Marvellous Light, which was an international bestseller and won the Romantic Novel Award for Fantasy. She has been nominated for two Hugo Awards, and won the Ditmar Award for Best New Talent. She lives in Australia.
Praise for Freya Marske
"Marske writes what I crave most in romantasy: brilliant craft, fresh voice, characters worth obsessing over, and genuine honest-to-god heat."―Casey McQuiston, New York Times bestselling author of Red, White and Royal Blue
"There's nothing in fantasy or queer romance that Marske can't do."―Sarah Rees Brennan, author of Long Live Evil
"The perfect blend of charm, yearning and romance."―C.S. Pacat, New York Times bestselling author of Captive Prince, on Swordcrossed
"Freya Marske's books are something special."―Sarah MacLean, New York Times bestselling author
"The prose is sublime, the world-building top-notch, and the magic system is fascinating and unique."―TJ Klune, New York Times bestselling author of The House on the Cerulean Sea, on A Marvellous Light
"Stunning―the writing is lush, the world-building is fascinating, and the romance is searing hot. I am completely obsessed."―Cat Sebastian, author of The Queer Principles of Kit Webb, on A Power Unbound
"Delightful and spicy . . . Marske is simply superb at her chosen genres."―The New York Times on the Last Binding trilogy
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Reviews
"Anna Burnett narrates an unexpected reimagining of "Cinderella." After having been murdered at 16 by her stepmother, "Ella" now haunts her family home. Burnett deftly handles Ella's transition from a lonely girl to a lonely ghost. Burnett's portrayal of her longing and frustration is heartrending, especially as she confronts hard truths about herself and her family. Add a royal ball, a handsome prince, a clever princess, and a looming confrontation between Ella and her stepfamily--and the tension is ratcheted up to nearly unbearable levels. When Ella finally embraces her rage, Burnett's performance is stunning. By story's end, a profoundly satisfying resolution is achieved. K.M.P. � AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine"
AudioFile