Cinder House

by Freya Marske · 2025

Cinder House is a dark, queer‑gothic retelling of the Cinderella fairy‑tale, narrated by Ella — a sixteen‑year‑old ghost trapped inside her father’s sentient, magical house. Murder by poison and a fatal fall bind her spirit to the home, where she is invisible to all but her cruel step‑mother Patrice and stepsisters Danica and Greta. Ella obeys the house’s commands — cleaning, repairing, and enduring pain when the house is damaged — but discovers a loophole that lets her refuse non‑structural tasks. A sly fairy‑charm‑seller offers a bargain: three nights of almost‑living freedom in exchange for a theft — placing her at the centre of a royal betrothal festival and a cursed prince. The novella blends gothic horror, romance, and fairy‑tale revision, exploring themes of agency, revenge, and queer love. The story, praised as an “instant USA Today bestseller” and lauded by fans of Naomi Novik and T. Kingfisher, is Freya Marske’s debut novella, described as a “queen of romantic fantasy” by Polygon. It is available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats.