Today we’re revealing the cover for Cinder & Glass by Melissa de la Cruz, the Cinderella retelling you’ve been waiting for! Though, for this princess, winning the crown is no fairytale.

1682. The king sends out an invitation to all the maidens in France: their presence is requested at a number of balls and events that will be held in honor of the dashing Prince Louis, who must choose a bride.

Cendrillon de Louvois has more grace, beauty, and charm than anyone else in France. While she was once the darling child of the king’s favorite adviser, her father’s death has turned her into the servant of her stepmother and cruel stepsisters–and at her own chateau, too!

Cendrillon–now called Cinder–manages to evade her stepmother and attend the ball, where she catches the eye of the handsome Prince Louis and his younger brother Auguste.

Even though Cendrillon has an immediate aversion to Louis, and a connection with Auguste, the only way to escape her stepmother is to compete with the other women at court for the Prince’s hand.

Soon, as Cendrillon glows closer to Auguste and dislikes the prince more and more, she will have to decide if she can bear losing the boy she loves in order to leave a life she hates.

Scroll down to see the cover and read a sneak preview!

Cover illustrator: Mike Heath (IG: @ magnuscreative)

Cover designer: Jessica Jenkins (IG: @ jessssjenkins; Twitter: @ gorjessdesign)

“The final name on the list is Lady Cinder. Lady Cinder, will you make yourself known to the court? A hearty congratulations are in order for our twenty-five lovely maidens. I can assure you that my son and I both eagerly await commencement of the courtship events.”

The king kept talking, but I couldn’t hear him over the rushing of blood in my ears. A cold sweat broke out on my skin as I sat frozen in place. My limbs felt so heavy and sluggish I didn’t think I could move them even if I wanted to.

I had only danced with Prince Louis once, and we barely talked for more than ten, maybe fifteen minutes. Just because I had a pretty dress and nice manners didn’t mean I was important, or that I would make a good queen. It didn’t make any sense. Why would the king allow the dauphin to put my name on the list?

But more important—did I even want to marry the dauphin? He was handsome and much more charming than when last we met, and he could offer me a life of luxury and security. He was the heir to France! The king’s word was law, and if I was his queen, my word would become law too.

I couldn’t stop the thoughts racing through my head. Marrying the dauphin would mean that Lady Catherine would no longer have power over me. But I didn’t need to marry the dauphin to escape my fate; I had Lady Françoise now…

And if Louis chose me, what about Auguste? How would he feel about this turn of events if he knew I was Lady Cinder?

It was ridiculous to worry about what Auguste thought. We were only friends. But it was best to avoid the drama entirely and live a peaceful life with Lady Françoise. When I had fully recovered and gotten my bearings, then I could consider coming back to the palace. But I had no interest in courting—much less marrying—the spoiled dauphin.

“The clock nears midnight, and the first day of the dauphin’s birthday celebration draws to a close.” The king’s voice cut cleanly through the excited chatter that had risen up after the reading of the list. “Before we depart to get some much-needed rest in preparation for the events to come, I would like the twenty-five maidens to come to the dais so that they can be introduced to the court. And to me. I’m sure we would all like to meet you before courtship proceedings begin in earnest tomorrow.”

Panic—sharp and icy—stabbed my stomach. The mass of courtiers undulated as girls began to emerge and climb the dais to speak with the king and the dauphin.

I couldn’t do it. Alexandre and Severine would be there. Lady Catherine would see me. Maybe if my godmother was with me I would know what to do, but I was too confused about how I wanted to proceed to even think about enduring a confrontation with my stepmother. I decided I would not present myself. It would be better if the king and the dauphin forgot all about me…

The courtiers were pushing forward to crowd around the dais, leaving this end of the hall increasingly empty. A particularly large group of nobles hurried toward the dais, leaving a wide-open path from my bench to the archway leading to the Salon of War. An opportunity like this couldn’t go to waste.

I stood up and jumped from my seatto the parquet floor below. Pain radiated from my ankles up through my legs when I made impact with the floor, but I ignored it. Gathering my voluminous skirts into my arms, I dashed from the Hall of Mirrors, as fast as my slippers could take me.

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Speaking of amazing cover reveals, make sure to check out Chasing After Knight by Heather Buchta!