I’m always a fan of books that open with a unique sense of urgency. And fairy tales. I’m a sucker for a good retelling. One of my favorites this year beautifully blends the two. Author Kalynn Bayron’s debut young adult novel, Cinderella is Dead.

In Cinderella is Dead, Bayron, re-imagines the world of this classic with a striking sapphic story about a determined young woman willing to risk it all to expose the secrets and lies at the very heart of Cinderella’s mythic ‘happily ever-after’ in order to free a kingdom.

You can read my full review at Fiyah Literary Magazine.

But, after reading and reviewing this story, I couldn’t stop thinking about how much this re-imagining of Cinderella’s world stayed with me. So I thought I’d take my questions to the source. 

Kalynn agreed to sit down for a in-depth chat about her novel sharing what she hoped to accomplish by deconstructing the world of Cinderella and why the story and world-building took shape the way it did. 

Listen as I get a look under the hood and inside this story that so much more than a remake. 

Cinderella is Dead released July 7, 2020 in the US. In my opinion, it’s one of the best of the summer.  

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