The Summer of Scandal continues, and in this review we’re taking the downstairs to the top of the house. I love a good fairy tale retelling, and I love a good con, so I was extremely excited to get a gift copy of Thief Liar Lady to read. (Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine!) The story follows Ash, a lovely lady who met her prince at a ball, and is all set to achieve happily ever after…

But in Thief Liar Lady, things are more complex than they seem. Ash is embroiled in a variety of political intrigues – in fact, she’s orchestrated this whole marriage to begin with. And time is running out to make a bunch of people happy – family, political allies, and a pesky hostage prince who’s distractingly interesting. If Ash fails, it’ll be a scandal, a political incident, and likely a matter of life or death. A new version of a tale as old as time – but how well does it stack up?

Not the usual Cinderella Story

Thief Liar Lady is a retelling of the Cinderella story, with a twist, or two or three. Aislinn, known familiarly as “Ash”, has followed all the fairy-tale beats. She turned up at the ball and stole the Prince Everett’s heart. He chased, she waited, he found her. Happily ever after?

But the story’s not that simple – because unlike the Disney version, Ash has a plan. In fact, Ash has multiple plans, all stacked inside each other. She’s got duties to her stepfamily, and her blood relations. The kingdom is embroiled in war, and Ash is deeply invested in the outcomes. And she’s reluctantly befriending a hostage prince, who seems to distract more than help. This version of Cinderella has a lot more to fight for, and a lot more to lose.

As perhaps evident, Soria has given Ash a lot more agency than we’re used to seeing in Cinderella stories. At times, it feels like she’s making fun of the simplified version of the tale. (Everett’s exaltations of her bravery kept bringing me back to “have courage and be kind” from the latest Disney remake. Given that Everett’s not the most perceptive… hard not to see it as a direct jab.) In theory, this should be completely exciting for a girl raised on sweet Disney princesses.

But… somehow, this was a bit of a tough sell. Perhaps it’s because Soria only reveals Ash’s motivations relatively late in the novel. Or maybe it’s because Ash’s competing motivations make it difficult to see what she wants. I found her a little tricky to “see” as a character, despite her multitude of actions…

Magic and machinations

…due in no large part to the complexity of the plot and the setting. Thief Liar Lady takes place in a world with soft magic – Ash can use lustre powder to influence others’ thoughts and feelings. Then there’s the war, ongoing, between Solisti and Eloria. There’s Ash’s complicated relationships with her family, both step and real. And there’s the palace politics – who likes who, and why their support matters. All of this requires a reasonable amount of exposition, without necessarily adding depth. This will certainly be a matter of preference, but I found that it was too much for my taste.

All that exposition meant, too, that I got to spend less time actually watching the characters. There were hints of deeply interesting people, but less of a sense that it was “turtles all the way down”. Whether it was Ash’s stepsisters or her grandmother, the narration constantly alluded to rich experiences without describing them. That exposition extended primarily to the time around the ball and the plan for it, not further back – but that’s where it felt all the great questions lie. Forget Ash’s plans for attracting Everett’s attention at the ball – I want to know how she learned all her skills. And like so many stories that spice up the Stepmother character, I found myself wanting to know her story at least just as much.

What makes a good retelling?

I’ve read a lot of fairy tale retellings in my time. I had a whole phase in high school where I massively abused the inter-library loan system to read every single one I could get my hands on. And, in my opinion, the best retellings love the work they’re based on. That is – they capture the core values and heart of the characters, not just the plot beats.

For me, Cinderella is about someone who does good, who maintains her positivity in the darkest of times, and comes out the better for it. Cinderella creates beauty and joy even in squalor, and others support her in large part for that trait. Soria’s Ash has some of those qualities – she’s perseverant, she’s caring – but somehow it feels like she gets lost in all this plot. It’s a fun retelling, but it maybe misses some of the qualities that make Cinderella distinct, turning her into a Modern Heroine instead.

Reader’s notes & rating (⭐⭐⭐)

Thief Liar Lady is a fun way to immerse yourself in an entirely different world from the one we inhabit. If you’re looking for an escape into a world or romance and intrigue, this is a great pick. (I was, at the time of reading.) A great potato-chip book – you keep wanting to read each chapter, and in the right mood, it’s quite satisfying. But maybe a pass if you’re looking for a more nourishing literary meal. Three stars.

Thief Liar Lady was published on July 11, 2023.