Delia isn't ready to get married. She knows it's her duty as the future ruler of Astor, but she's just not ready. Potential suitors are everywhere she looks, and she's struggling to figure out which one would be the best asset to the planet. She's not naive enough to even consider her marriage will be about love, but the pressure of choosing is getting to her. That's why she made the plan to escape.
Aiden works as a servant in the palace saving and stealing to buy passage to another world where he can escape the cruelty of his stepfather and his life in the dark district. When he finds a valuable dagger, he knows he needs to get out of the palace quickly or he'll be caught. When he sees a ship powering up for takeoff, he can't believe his luck.
When Delia discovers a stowaway on her ship, she can't wait to be rid of him, but leaving him to be a victim to pirates doesn't seem right either. In her efforts to get rid of this man, who won't even tell her his name, it's "classified" is all he will say, Delia is caught and returned to the palace.
But her journey to the dark district has opened her eyes to the truth about life on Astor. She has lived a privileged life with a full bully while families in the dark district are desperate for food and employment. As future queen, she is shocked her mother and advisors would hide the truth from her and vows to change things.
Aiden still plans to leave Astor for a better life somewhere else, but he can't get the idea of Princess Delia out of his mind. He's never met anyone like her, and he feels drawn to her after only one meeting. She's more than just a princess. She can fly a spaceship and hold her own in a fight, and he wonders if there is a way to see her again.
The more time Delia spends with Aiden, the more she realizes her heart is at risk. How can she marry one of the princes when the best she can hope for is bland indifference? But there is something more than a courtship ritual at play here, and dangerous forces are plotting against the royal family and Astor itself.
Even though her feelings for Aiden grow each day, she doesn't know the truth about his identity, and he knows he will have to confess eventually even if it means never seeing her again.
B.R. Myers's Cinderella in space has potential, and it is an enjoyable read. Unfortunately, I love The Lunar Chronicles, and this treads similar ground, but it just doesn't have the same spark. Had this book come first, I probably would have liked it more. There are a couple of issues with plot and character development that don't really make sense. For example, why did Delia plot an elaborate escape if she never really meant to leave? It just seemed like a contrived way for Delia and Aiden to meet. But if you read it with a less critical eye, I'm sure you will enjoy it more. I will definitely include it in the library and book talk it kids.
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