The traditional Cinderella character is portrayed with few personality traits, but those two--hard work and kindness--are the backbone of the character. My main issue with traditional Cinderella stories (as well as Disney) is that the prince falls in love with her without seeing her two defining characteristics--the things that make her worth falling in love with. In Mafi's novel, Alizeh shows the prince her character on many occasions. While she is beautiful, it is these qualities that first catch his eye (in fact, she's wearing a veil the first time he sees her), and these qualities, as well as her brilliance, that hold it.

Elissa Sussman's intricate world building and delicate way of weaving together the story's threads personally made the novel's themes of women, emotion, and power far more poignant. Full of subtle and not-so-subtle allusions to modern patterns, Sussman effectively uses fantasy to explore our real world.