As a novelization of the movie, Ever After is moderately successful. Although it takes very few risks in any further development of any sort and keeps the same dialogue throughout, fans of the movie will no doubt enjoy seeing the slightly altered screenplay.

My objections remain the same for both -- the lack of a convincing and well-researched historical setting (this is so NOT a historical romance), and a general shortage of logic and attention to detail in the proceedings.

As a retelling of Cinderella, it is noticeably less successful. Wendy Loggia is clearly not an overly creative or skilled author, and the prose is laughable at times. The characters of Danielle and Henry cry out for proper development -- treatment they never receive.

Ever After had the potential of being a good retelling on its own merits, but the poor writing detracts greatly from an entertaining story. The only witty dialogue is directly derived from the screenplay.

My opinion was possibly lowered by the fact that I have read quite a few Cinderella retellings much better than this one; instead, give Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted, Margaret Peterson Haddix's Just Ella or Shirley Rousseau Murphy's Silver Woven in My Hair a try.

by Jennifer Mo
Rambles.NET
22 July 2006