the Princess Swap-Cinderella and the Beast : Beauty and the glass slipper
here's the link to the book-https://www.amazon.com/Cinderella-Beast-Beauty-Slipper-Princess/dp/0593708024/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.RxzWEwbq7Hfr4mhn0dag4680PU2HFFvHWPA0pCOEZGVI-j_R_Vb5OOB-aolJuPm4tocqhsRD7-yksoGJ9g7lBBxZmGN6ZNaMusWMK85enZXIzZ1bl2WW8s4ii2BzsrH_3qgVFZjejGi1_aS7L6dJUt64DACxn8saj2mzRQLHkoz1QC-utBfv6Dq0U6Qd-lPswC2HsjFopIVSQ87M_0cp1iwJtMsDyBYCx6zsff_jA4E.7MIwsDBzrF3rCyFIiE95BWmkBv6j9EL-QwVdXR3apoA&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+princess+swap&qid=1754242514&sr=8-1
The Princess Swap 1 - Cinderella and the Beast or Belle and the Glass Slipper by Kim Bussing
Finished: 1st March, 2025
Genre: Fantasy
May be for you if you like: Fairytales, Freaky Friday, trope subversion
Synopsis
Ella’s spent her life dreaming about adventure, but it’s hard to have adventures when you’re stuck with a stepfamily who treat you like a servant. When she unexpectedly wakes up in a land far, far away, she’s thrilled at the chance to embark on an epic quest. That is, until she finds herself trapped once more—this time in the castle of a dangerous beast.
Belle, meanwhile, has plans. Her family’s trading company is on the brink of ruin, and to save it, she’s going to enter—and win—a royal competition in the prince’s honor. But when she unexpectedly winds up in a cellar with a wicked stepfamily who have their own plans to keep her from the competition . . . things get complicated.
Happily-ever-after couldn’t feel farther away. Can Ella escape the beast’s clutches? And can Belle get rid of this stepfamily in time for the competition?
Overall Rating: 🧁🧁🧁
Idea: 🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁
Plot: 🧁🧁
Characters: 🧁🧁
Worldbuilding: 🧁🧁🧁
Narration: 🧁🧁🧁🧁
Entertainment: 🧁🧁🧁
Full Review
The story was... meh. The premise sounded fun, but the execution left a lot to be desired. There wasn't much wrong with it, but my few gripes with it were pretty significant for me. I'll start with the negatives first, just to get them out of the way. For one, I thought the plot wasn't well-paced. Belle's "Cinderella"-part of the story didn't include many elements of the fairytale until close to the end, while Ella's "Beauty&The Beast"-part felt stretched out into oblivion. I also felt that the conclusion(s) felt incredibly rushed, and the way it was executed made me downright angry - I know a lot of Americans have a very biblical understanding of the concept of "forgiveness", but it's just not a message I would like my kid to read, personally, as I feel it's very toxic. The very end was pretty heartwarming though - especially in fairytales, I like me a good happy end.
The characters were really hit or miss. For one, I didn't like Ella or Belle very much. I liked the inclusivity that was portrayed with Ella (we need MORE disabled protagonists!!!), but I disliked her snotty attitude and potty mouth. Similarly, Belle kept her intelligence, but she also had to mention several times that she's different from all the other girls because of it. They both just fell into the tired "feminist subversion"-trope of taking a gentle, sensitive character and "girlbossifying" them, which always disappoints me. When I was the age of the target audience, I was incredibly smart and witty - and also a sensitive crybaby, and that's okay. We really don't need every female lead to be snarky and tomboyish, and I feel like at least one of them should have had a different characterization (simply because they were also pretty easy to mix up while reading, because they speak and behave extremely similarly).
The side characters were really good though - I loved Marie and Amir! Especially Marie had the potential to be an actual lead character, as she was the most nuanced character in the entire book. I could have done without the fairy godfather though, he seemed like a cheap attempt at comedic subversion that just didn't hit me where it should have lol.
The worldbuilding wasn't super offensive, but also... left something to be desired. I like the idea of having the "princesses" all live in an overarching kingdom ruled by another (non-fairytale inspired) King and Queen, and have different fairytale characters interact (like Ella and Belle's dads having a shared history etc.). However, since the book is inspired by fairytales and also for kids, I expected a lot more magic - especially in the Beast's castle! Where were my talking teapots and paintings??? Why didn't we see more transformation magic, or candy cane trees, or whatever? It's a fairytale, go WILD on the magic, please!!!
Final Thoughts: Well. The book was a semi-birthday gift, and I'm glad I didn't have to pay money for it lol. The premise sounded amazing, but the execution just wasn't it for me. Since I'm a huge character reader, and I didn't like the deuteragonists at all, this book just wasn't for me. The writing style was flowy and clean, and the humor was there on occasion, so it was definitely entertainung. The book is objectively not bad at all, and if anyone of you wants to read a fun fairytale adventure, or has a kid who's into fairytales, maybe try it out!
Also, the cover is an absolute stunner!
Other Titles in the Series
The Princess Swap 2 - Snow White and the Dragon or Aurora and the Seven Dwarves
The Princess Swap 3 - Rapunzel and the Sea Witch or The Little Mermaid and the Tower
The Princess Swap: Snow White and the Dragon/Sleeping Beauty and the Seven Dwarfs by Kim Bussing
Synopsis:
What would happen if Sleeping Beauty had to create a poisoned apple, and Snow White faced off against a dragon? Fairy tales meet Freaky Friday in this series, where there’s a magical mix-up for every princess!
As a baby, Rose was cursed to meet a mysterious fate on her thirteenth birthday, but no one bothered to tell Rose that until now . . . a week before she turns thirteen. And a week’s not nearly enough time to figure out what to do when she’s suddenly whisked from her Dreamwood cottage to a strange palace—trapped with an evil queen who hands her an apple . . .
Princess Snow is preparing for the ceremony that will prove she’s fit to rule her kingdom. The problem? Her wicked stepmother. The other problem? Without warning, she finds herself in the middle of the Dreamwood, where, on top of all her other problems, she has to worry about . . . a sleeping curse.
Happily-ever-after couldn’t feel farther away. Can Rose escape the curse that’s followed her since birth? And can Snow save her kingdom from her stepmother?
My thoughts:
After reading the first book a few days prior, I ordered this one in and was surprised to get it the very next day. It's supposed to be released sometime in march, but I guess no one told the people sending them out.
I liked this book a little less than the first, mostly because it took me a bit more time to come around to Snow and Rose. As with the first book, this one has very easy plot twists. That doesn't make them bad, especially not for younger readers, who are the target group for the books.
Other books in the series:
The Princess Swap: Cinderella and the Beast/Beauty and the Glass Slipper
The Princess Swap: Snow White and the Dragon/Sleeping Beauty and the Seven Dwarfs
The Princess Swap: Rapunzel and the Sea Witch/The little Mermaid and the Tower
The Princess Swap: Cinderella and the Beast/Beauty and the Glass Slipper by Kim Bussing
Synopsis:
What would happen if Cinderella found herself in the beast's castle, and Beauty woke up in some evil stepmother's home? Fairy tales meet Freaky Friday in this series, where there’s a magical mix-up for every princess!
Ella’s spent her life dreaming about adventure, but it’s hard to have adventures when you’re stuck with a stepfamily who treat you like a servant. When she unexpectedly wakes up in a land far, far away, she’s thrilled at the chance to embark on an epic quest. That is, until she finds herself trapped once more—this time in the castle of a dangerous beast.
Belle, meanwhile, has plans. Her family’s trading company is on the brink of ruin, and to save it, she’s going to enter—and win—a royal competition in the prince’s honor. But when she unexpectedly winds up in a cellar with a wicked stepfamily who have their own plans to keep her from the competition . . . things get complicated.
My thoughts:
This was a fun read!
I liked the twist this book gave fairy tales: Ella being everything but a kind, sweet girl and instead one that curses like a sailor and wants to go on adventures, Belle using her smarts to help her fathers merchant business and the beast being... what the beast was.
The only thing I would have liked to see of more in the end was the relationship between Ella and Belle being explored more. After all, Belles dad all but adopted Ella! And yet, the two of them barely spoke a word. But this is whining on a high level and really a non-issue considering that none of the chapters in this book ever bored me.
The next mother who comes into my store asking for an easy to read english book for her teenage child will get this one recommended!
Other books in the Series:
The Princess Swap: Cinderella and the Beast/Beauty and the Glass Slipper
The Princess Swap: Snow White and the Dragon/Sleeping Beauty and the Seven Dwarfs
The Princess Swap: Rapunzel and the Sea Witch/The little Mermaid and the Tower
I finished reading this book on February 26th, 2025.
Please help me give a warm KT Literary welcome to new client, Kim Bussing. I’m thrilled to be partnering with Kim on her mind-blowing, imaginative middle grade fantasy that simply left me awestruck. From her beautiful, lyrical prose to her intricately crafted, highly original world, tight plotting, surprising twists, and a wonderfully strong yet flawed protagonist in Finn Sampson, THE LABYRINTH OF SHADOWS is easily one of the best books I’ve ever read. And I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to help shepherd it into the world.
Twelve-year-old Finn Sampson has spent her life selling mushrooms in Seattle, scampering through the shadows in pursuit of magical objects, and avoiding homework. Residing in an enchanted skyscraper with a yellow goat and little mushroom creatures, Finn and Carus, her guardian, are some of the last surviving mages in the city. Along with Ryland, Finn’s best friend — who is trapped within her watch by an unknown, and so-far unsolvable, curse. A chance encounter reveals that there is a much larger world of mages, and that Finn has a chance to save Ryland from this cursed prison. All she has to do is enter the Labyrinth, a dangerous game for the best young mages that grants the winner any wish.
But Finn has a devastating secret: she doesn’t have any magic. Still determined to save Ryland, she tricks her way into the Labyrinth and the puzzles and trials that await, armed with only the enchanted watch, an encyclopedic knowledge of mushrooms, and her own cleverness. As Finn faces perils and bullies, outwits pirates, and forges new friendships, she discovers that dark forces long believed gone have returned and the magical world is under threat. And that she’s unwittingly found herself at the center of it all.
About the Author:
Kim Bussing writes MG and YA novels while she continues to wait for her Hogwarts letter. Originally from Seattle, she is currently completing her MFA in creative writing at the University of Arizona, where she also taught fiction writing. Her short stories have won multiple awards, and her journalism has appeared in publications including Lit Hub, The Hollywood Reporter, VICE Canada, and Seattle Refined, among many others. When not writing, she can be found constantly reading, listening to Broadway songs, and ranking her favorite types of sweet potatoes.
Please, please congratulate Kim on Twitter and make sure to follow her too, so you can get updates on this amazing story!
Welcome New Client, Kim Bussing! was originally published on kt literary
