Thief Liar Lady

Soria makes her adult debut (after the YA novel Fire with Fire, written as Destiny Soria) with a clever if occasionally slogging twist on “Cinderella.” Ash Vincent, an orphaned scullery maid, hatches a plan with her stepfamily to con her way into becoming princess and thus secure fortunes for her stepsisters. She infiltrates the royal court of Solis as dazzling but demure Lady Aislinn under strict orders to charm Prince Everett, keeping him wrapped around her finger through illegal magic. But Aislinn has her own agenda, and things become increasingly precarious as war looms between Solis and neighboring country Eloria. Meanwhile, her growing feelings for and dangerous flirtations with Everett’s best friend, the Elorian hostage prince, threaten to derail Aislinn’s plans. As her careful lies slowly unravel, Aislinn becomes torn morally and romantically as she struggles to balance her two identities. It’s a fun premise replete with espionage and just a touch of magic, but the plot is bogged down by overly involved political scheming and the ending is disappointingly rushed. Still, fans of retold fairy tales will be drawn in by this savvy upending of a classic character. Agent: Taylor Haggerty, Root Literary. (July)