We Kept Her in the Cellar: A Haunting Twist on Cinderella
We Kept Her in the Cellar by W.R. Gorman
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Eunice lives her life by three simple rules: One, always refer to Cinderella as family. Two, never let Cinderella gain access to rats or mice. Three, never look upon Cinderella between the hours of twelve and three a.m.
Cinderella has dark and terrifying powers. As her stepsister, Eunice is expected to care for her and keep the family’s secret. For years, Eunice has faithfully done so. Her childhood flew by in a blur of nightmares, tears, and near-misses with the monster living in the cellar. But when she befriends the handsome Prince Credence and secures an invitation to the ball, Eunice is determined to break free.
When her younger sister, Hortense, steps up to care for Cinderella, Eunice grabs her chance to dance the night away—until Cinderella escapes. With her eldritch powers, Cinderella attends the ball and sweeps Prince Credence off his feet, leaving behind a trail of carnage and destruction as well as a single green glass slipper.
With Cinderella unleashed, Eunice must determine how much of herself she is willing to sacrifice in order to stop Cinderella. Unsettling and macabre at every turn, this page-turning horror will bewitch horror fans and leave its readers anxiously checking the locks on their cellar doors.
I was patronizing my local library and came across this little gem. I had been wanting to expand my reading experiences to horror and a Cinderella retelling seemed like a good story to jump start my mission.
Characters: 8/10
We Kept Her in the Cellar presents compelling characters that drive the horror aspect of the story. The antagonist stands out, with a presence that is chilling and unpredictable, ensuring the reader remains invested. They could be fleshed out a bit more to make their motivations clearer.
Atmosphere: 6/10
While the novel has eerie and disturbing elements, the atmosphere could have been more immersive. Some scenes feel tense, but others may not evoke the level of dread expected in psychological horror. A more detailed, sensory-driven approach could have heightened the experience.
Writing Style: 7/10
This category was a bit difficult for me to rate. I wasn’t a fan of Gorman’s prose, but it is effective in building suspense.
Plot: 7/10
The storyline is gripping, with a solid blend of mystery and horror. I would have rated this category higher, but the plot does not deviate very far from one of the original versions with a few more scary scenes added in. While it follows familiar tropes, it does so in a way that keeps the reader engaged.
Intrigue: 8/10
I must admit that I was locked in from the start! The psychological horror elements elevate the intrigue. I’ve read my fair share of Cinderella retellings, but never a horror story.
Logic: 8/10
Despite its dark and twisted fairytale premise, the story largely holds up logically.
Enjoyment 8/10
The book delivers more of a gory experience than a horror one, but it still found it enjoyable.
Overall CAWPILE Score 7.4/10
A solid horror novel with engaging mystery and well-developed tension. While the atmosphere could have been developed a bit more, We Kept Her in the Cellar delivers a compelling psychological horror experience.
