The Carterhaugh School of Folklore and the Fantastic

The March Book Club - Cinder House by Freya Marske
2026-03-12 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Join us on March 12th at 7PM ET to discuss Freya Marske’s fascinating novella, Cinder House! This Gothic “Cinderella” retelling delighted us with its originality, and we can’t wait to talk about it with you!
Here’s the publisher’s description:
“Ella is a haunting.
Murdered at sixteen, her ghost is furiously trapped in her father’s house, invisible to everyone except her stepmother and stepsisters.
Even when she discovers how to untether herself from her prison, there are limits. She cannot be seen or heard by the living people who surround her. Her family must never learn she is able to leave. And at the stroke of every midnight, she finds herself back on the staircase where she died.
Until she forges a wary friendship with a fairy charm-seller, and makes a bargain for three nights of almost-living freedom. Freedom that means she can finally be seen. Danced with. Touched.
You think you know Ella’s story: the ball, the magical shoes, the handsome prince.
You’re halfway right, and all-the-way wrong.
And here are a few reviews:
“A fairy tale by way of Shirley Jackson… dark and appropriately haunting.”―The New York Times
“Gorgeous, whimsical, romantic, and bittersweet, Cinder House both whisks you away and holds you over a flame. I was bespelled.”―Ava Reid, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“Absolutely delightful. One of the most unusual fairy-tale retellings I’ve seen in a hen’s age. I enjoyed it enormously!”―T. Kingfisher, New York Times bestselling author
“An incredibly unique and shadowy ‘Cinderella’ retelling, full of tenderness and whimsy and featuring a heroine who cannot help but haunt readers.”―Library Journal (starred review)
“This novella impresses from its chilling opening to its inspired, polyamorous take on happily ever after. Lovers of fairy-tale retellings, gothic fantasy, and fierce queer joy will be enchanted.”―Booklist (starred review)
If you would like to join us, make sure you’re on the $7+ tier on our Patreon for the month of March!
