Review: Ella the Slayer by A.W. Exley - Giveaway

Welcome to my tour stop for Ella, the Slayer by A.W. Exley. Ella, the Slayer is an Edwardian retelling of Cinderella with an undead problem. It is an upper young adult novel. The tour runs August 10-21 with reviews only. Check out the tour page for more information.

About the Book:

The flu pandemic of 1918 took millions of souls within a few short weeks.
Except it wasn't flu and death gave them back.

Seventeen-year-old Ella copes the best she can; caring for her war-injured father, scrubbing the floors, and slaying the undead that attack the locals. ‘Vermin’ they're called, like rats they spread pestilence with their bite. Ella's world collides with another when she nearly decapitates a handsome stranger, who is very much alive.

Seth deMage, the new Duke of Leithfield, has returned to his ancestral home with a mission from the War Office — to control the plague of vermin in rural Somerset. He needs help; he just didn't expect to find it in a katana-wielding scullery maid.

Working alongside Seth blurs the line between their positions, and Ella glimpses a future she never dreamed was possible. But in overstepping society's boundaries, Ella could lose everything – home, head and her heart…

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Review: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

Ella the Slayer was a fun twist on the Cinderella fairy tale. Cinderella was never one of my favorites because as a character, she's rather weak. Ella isn't weak-- a definite improvement in my opinion. Add in zombies and you have all the makings for an imaginative retelling.

Ella was a well-written, strong character. Not only did she wait hand and foot on her stepmother and two stepsisters, but she also patroled her land, slaying any undead who make it past the perimeter fence with her trusty katana. And she did it with a good attitude. Ella had good friends, namely Alice and Henry who helped make her a decent person.

The romance between Ella and Seth, the new duke, was slow to build. No insta-love here, though Ella is attracted to him from the start. I thought the story moved along a tad slow, especially the beginning. But it is a rather short story and things picked up quickly. I enjoyed the budding relationship between Ella and Seth.

The ending-- well, I wasn't a huge fan. It was left somewhat open-ended, perhaps for a sequel? I also was at odds with the way some things turned out- but of course that's just my feelings. My favorite thing about this story was the imagination present throughout. It was definitely a fun retelling-- I think it may be true that zombies make everything better :)

About the Author:

Books and writing have always been an enormous part of A.W. Exley’s life. She survived school by hiding out in the library, with several thousand fictional characters for company. At university, she overcame the boredom of studying accountancy by squeezing in Egyptology papers and learning to read hieroglyphics. Today, Anita writes steampunk novels with a sexy edge and an Egyptian twist. She lives in rural New Zealand surrounded by an assortment of weird and wonderful equines, felines, canine and homicidal chickens.

Website | Twitter @AWExley | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest

GIVEAWAY:

$50 Amazon Gift Card

Signed paperback of Ella, the Slayer by A.W. Exley

Open Worldwide

Ends August 26th

Prizing is provided by the author, hosts are in no way responsible.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.