REVIEW: "Mystery at the Midnight Ball" by Kristen Niedfeldt

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About the Book:

✦ Title: Mystery at the Midnight Ball: A Cinderella Fairytale

✦ Author: Kristen Niedfeldt


✦ Genre: Clean fairytale retelling


✦ Series: Part of the Regal Retellings series


✦ Recommend for: ages 13+

My Personal Rating

⭐⭐⭐.5 

📖 Synopsis

One night behind a mask. One prince from her past. One dance that changes everything…

After bidding farewell to Prince Alexander eight years ago, Ellie never thought their paths would cross again. After all, they lived in separate worlds: he was a prince, and she was a humble servant. Surely it was better to leave their old friendship in the past and accept her dreary fate.


But when she impulsively dons a mask to catch a better glimpse of the ball, their worlds collide, and a mystery at the palace soon pulls them even closer together. Drawn into the intrigue, Ellie must find the traitor lurking in the castle’s shadows before all hope of peace is lost—and before she completely loses her heart.


A sweet and original Cinderella retelling.


💭 My thoughts

Overall, this was a sweet, simple story. I didn't fall along perfectly with all the kingdoms and leaders and politics, but I really like the concept of a fairytale retelling laced with mystery, and this one kept me on my toes. I loved Ellie and her younger sister's relationship, and the romance was nice enough, as well as clean and innocent which I appreciated. I will say that I'm not altogether certain if I like the Cinderella fairytale, but this one wasn't bad and I think avid fairytale retelling fans would enjoy it. It's also nonmagical, which I was really happy about!

⚠️ Content

An attempted abduction; fighting & injuries; Ellie's stepmother has struck her in the past; mentions of deaths and grief; a mention of a mother being disowned by her family due to who she married; light, non-detailed romance.


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Bookishly yours, 


Lottie M

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