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The Stepsister's Tale
What really happened after the clock struck midnight?
Jane Montjoy is tired of being a lady. She's tired of pretending to live up to the standards of her mother's noble family-especially now that the family's wealth is gone and their stately mansion has fallen to ruin. It's hard enough that she must tend to the animals and find a way to feed her mother and her little sister each day. Jane's burden only gets worse after her mother returns from a trip to town with a new stepfather and stepsister in tow. Despite the family's struggle to prepare for the long winter ahead, Jane's stepfather remains determined to give his beautiful but spoiled child her every desire.
When her stepfather suddenly dies, leaving nothing but debts and a bereaved daughter behind, it seems to Jane that her family is destined for eternal unhappiness. But a mysterious boy from the woods and an invitation to a royal ball are certain to change her fate...
From the handsome prince to the evil stepsister, nothing is quite as it seems in Tracy Barrett's stunning retelling of the classic Cinderella tale.
Jane Montjoy is tired of being a lady. She's tired of pretending to live up to the standards of her mother's noble family-especially now that the family's wealth is gone and their stately mansion has fallen to ruin. It's hard enough that she must tend to the animals and find a way to feed her mother and her little sister each day. Jane's burden only gets worse after her mother returns from a trip to town with a new stepfather and stepsister in tow. Despite the family's struggle to prepare for the long winter ahead, Jane's stepfather remains determined to give his beautiful but spoiled child her every desire.
When her stepfather suddenly dies, leaving nothing but debts and a bereaved daughter behind, it seems to Jane that her family is destined for eternal unhappiness. But a mysterious boy from the woods and an invitation to a royal ball are certain to change her fate...
From the handsome prince to the evil stepsister, nothing is quite as it seems in Tracy Barrett's stunning retelling of the classic Cinderella tale.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
15 people are currently reading
2789 people want to read
About the author
Tracy Barrett
40 books142 followersTracy Barrett has written more than twenty books for children and young adults. She’s much too interested in too many things to stick to one genre, and has published nonfiction as well as historical fiction, mysteries, fantasy, time travel, myth and fairy-tale retellings, and contemporary realistic novels. She knows more about ancient Greece and Rome and the European Middle Ages than anyone really needs to know, can read lots of dead languages, and used to jump out of airplanes.
Tracy grew up near New York City, and went to college in New England and graduate school in California. She majored in Classics and earned a Ph.D. in Medieval Italian. She was awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to study medieval women writers and won the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Work-in-Progress Grant in 2005. She taught Italian and other subjects at Vanderbilt University for almost thirty years. She lives in Tennessee with her 6’7” husband, a rescue cat, and two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
Tracy grew up near New York City, and went to college in New England and graduate school in California. She majored in Classics and earned a Ph.D. in Medieval Italian. She was awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to study medieval women writers and won the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Work-in-Progress Grant in 2005. She taught Italian and other subjects at Vanderbilt University for almost thirty years. She lives in Tennessee with her 6’7” husband, a rescue cat, and two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews
July 29, 2014
DNF at 75%. It is inoffensive, but it is so. fucking. dull.
I've been at 75% for months.
Something exciting could happen in the next 25%. I don't care.
It would take me roughly 20 minutes to finish the book, it's not much time at all. I don't care.
You know why? I don't want to. This book is really, really freaking boring.
It takes the myth of Cinderella and make it so that "Cinderella" is a spoiled, whiny (but really, really pretty!) little bitch.
Here's how the plot goes.
The "stepsisters" are really poor. They have a mother who is determined above all else to maintain their image, including stick her head in the sand and pretend that they're still nobility, while her two daughters starve and shiver and shake in their boots and rags.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
BOOM. Mommy all of a sudden marries a rich man. It doesn't really matter, because they're still really poor and they still don't have anything to eat (how the fuck?!).
Cinderella is a bitch. She cries, she screams, she does everything to manipulate poor old blind daddy.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
Cinderella's daddy dies. Well, what's there of the money is gone.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
There are some people living in the woods who helps them out sometimes. A sad attempt is made at launching a romance between one of the poor boys and the "not-so-evil" stepsister.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
A prince in disguise comes by.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
A ball invitation is sent out.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
Did I mention that they're really poor and they're really hungry?
I've been at 75% for months.
Something exciting could happen in the next 25%. I don't care.
It would take me roughly 20 minutes to finish the book, it's not much time at all. I don't care.
You know why? I don't want to. This book is really, really freaking boring.
It takes the myth of Cinderella and make it so that "Cinderella" is a spoiled, whiny (but really, really pretty!) little bitch.
Here's how the plot goes.
The "stepsisters" are really poor. They have a mother who is determined above all else to maintain their image, including stick her head in the sand and pretend that they're still nobility, while her two daughters starve and shiver and shake in their boots and rags.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
BOOM. Mommy all of a sudden marries a rich man. It doesn't really matter, because they're still really poor and they still don't have anything to eat (how the fuck?!).
Cinderella is a bitch. She cries, she screams, she does everything to manipulate poor old blind daddy.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
Cinderella's daddy dies. Well, what's there of the money is gone.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
There are some people living in the woods who helps them out sometimes. A sad attempt is made at launching a romance between one of the poor boys and the "not-so-evil" stepsister.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
A prince in disguise comes by.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
A ball invitation is sent out.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
They're really poor. They're really hungry.
Did I mention that they're really poor and they're really hungry?
June 11, 2014
Also reviewed for Addicted2Heroines
This isn't the first time I've read a retelling of Cinderella from the POV of the wicked stepsister, and I'm sure it won't be the last. I'm addicted to retellings, and if I don't get my fix I start shaking like a crack addict. The good thing about my kind of addiction is that you get to keep all of your teeth.
Just somthin' to keep in mind, if you're weighing your options.
Crack...living in a cardboard box beside a Waffle House dumpster.
Retellings...too much time spent wandering around local Barnes and Noble.
I mean, they both have their drawbacks, but...
So.
The Stepsister's Tale was really good. It's nothing like I thought it would be, but I still enjoyed every minute of it. I thought it was going to explain, from Jane's point of view, why she ended up being mean to Ella. As in, maybe Ella was pulling some iffy shit, and Jane got sick of it. And it was sort of like that...but not really.
Turns out, neither Jane nor her mother and sister, were ever cruel to Ella. She just made that shit up so people would feel sorry for her.
I know she was just a kid, but I really wanted to pop her head off by the end of the book!
But it's not exactly cut and dried when it comes to Ella, either. The main problem with her? Her idiotically doting father managed to thoroughly spoil her.
Letting your kid know you love them more than anything in the world...won't spoil them.
Letting them have, say, and do whatever they want...will ruin their life.
And while it was obvious that he truly loved his daughter, it also became painfully obvious that he wasn't quite the man he said he was. When he dies, all of his shady secrets start to come to light, and Jane is left to pick up the pieces. His death turns into a tipping point for everyone involved, and it all culminates at the ball. However, much like the rest of this story, the events do not play out the way you might expect.
So, who was the real Fairy Godmother?
How Charming was the Prince?
Why was Ella covered in cinders?
And finally, what got lost in translation when the story was retold?
The answers to these question might surprise you...
I'm not say it blew my mind, but it's certainly worth reading if you're looking for a good twist on a classic fairlytale!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital arc for review.
This isn't the first time I've read a retelling of Cinderella from the POV of the wicked stepsister, and I'm sure it won't be the last. I'm addicted to retellings, and if I don't get my fix I start shaking like a crack addict. The good thing about my kind of addiction is that you get to keep all of your teeth.
Just somthin' to keep in mind, if you're weighing your options.
Crack...living in a cardboard box beside a Waffle House dumpster.
Retellings...too much time spent wandering around local Barnes and Noble.
I mean, they both have their drawbacks, but...
So.
The Stepsister's Tale was really good. It's nothing like I thought it would be, but I still enjoyed every minute of it. I thought it was going to explain, from Jane's point of view, why she ended up being mean to Ella. As in, maybe Ella was pulling some iffy shit, and Jane got sick of it. And it was sort of like that...but not really.
Turns out, neither Jane nor her mother and sister, were ever cruel to Ella. She just made that shit up so people would feel sorry for her.
I know she was just a kid, but I really wanted to pop her head off by the end of the book!
But it's not exactly cut and dried when it comes to Ella, either. The main problem with her? Her idiotically doting father managed to thoroughly spoil her.
Letting your kid know you love them more than anything in the world...won't spoil them.
Letting them have, say, and do whatever they want...will ruin their life.
And while it was obvious that he truly loved his daughter, it also became painfully obvious that he wasn't quite the man he said he was. When he dies, all of his shady secrets start to come to light, and Jane is left to pick up the pieces. His death turns into a tipping point for everyone involved, and it all culminates at the ball. However, much like the rest of this story, the events do not play out the way you might expect.
So, who was the real Fairy Godmother?
How Charming was the Prince?
Why was Ella covered in cinders?
And finally, what got lost in translation when the story was retold?
The answers to these question might surprise you...
I'm not say it blew my mind, but it's certainly worth reading if you're looking for a good twist on a classic fairlytale!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital arc for review.
July 12, 2017
This was a really cute story. Jane and Maude are the stepsisters. But they aren't evil. They are dirt poor. Jane works hard to keep a small bit of food on the table, then their mother comes home with a new husband and his little girl. All Jane sees is more mouths to feed.
A wonderful twist on the Cinderella story.
A wonderful twist on the Cinderella story.
June 7, 2014
When it comes down it, while nothing out of the ordinary happens beyond a few liberties taken with Ella's character, The Stepsister's Tale remains an unconventional and refreshing story.
A retake on the Cinderella tale, it treads the very same path yet out comes a very different story-in the way that past is prone to, in the hand of history and verbiage. Myths, rumors and truths become tangled irrevocably with no one to care.
Frankly, the way the story is being pitched leaves much to be desired, at least for me. The Stepsister's Tale doesn't follow in the same vein of fairytales nor retellings: it's a slow story of a poor family, a mother who wants the best for her daughters, step or not, yet her life is stuck in a pretend replica of her past; and three girls with whom life doesn't play fair with.
Jane and her sister struggle day and night, in hiding and outright, to keep their house standing. Farming and rearing animals in secret to make for what little food they can, scrubbing and milking, while their mother goes on not acknowledging the fact that they're poor, ignoring her daughters' toil. Life is a struggle as is but then Mama brings home a new husband. Theirs is not a marriage of love, but convenience: a rich man who is need of a noble name for his surviving daughter and a noble woman who is in need of money.
Enters Ella, who is not the most easy person to live with. Having been spoiled by her adoring father, she has no idea how to conduct herself amongst country people who have no time for personal recreation nor care for beauty and grandiose. In a similar predicament are Jane and her sister, constantly criticized for their lack of finesse and lady-like skills.
What I truly liked was that despite being a trying character, even Ella herself wasn't an evil character. She indeed makes questionable decisions that momentarily earned her a place in my personal Tartarus, but she makes attempts to establish relations, although they go awry. Nor was Mama, despite her seeming lack of care where her daughters were concerned, is redeemed to some extent.
While they don't directly pertain to Jane herself, there are also troubles going on-the prince now owns the forests, hunting has becomes poaching and the forest people live in fear of starving, displacement, and incarceration. This aspect of the story was a paradigm to what once happened world wide, what happens now-indigenous people being forced out of their homes and livelihood.
The construction and introduction of this particular aspect leads to expectations of solutions, IMO. However, beyond witnessing the hardships, it wasn't really explored which, while reasonable, was a bit disappointing.
Mostly my love has to do with the narrator, the elder evil Stepsister of Cinderella, Jane. Characters these days are obsessed with angst, emotional drama, kick asses and whatnot-these characters are supposedly kickass. They get boring, can be superficial and there are so. fucking. many. it feels like you're reading the same book again and again.
On the other hand, characters like Jane and Jem from Numbers are everlasting, fewer in numbers these days and inherently more fabulous, mature and definitely not prone to histrionics. Jane has her head on right, she has no objective in mind, no people to kill, no camp to break out of, no relative to save, no boy/girl to enrapture-all she does everyday is make her way through morning and night, scrounging for food and fire. This doesn't leave her a lot of time to bemoan her fate.
Bemoaning one's fate is all good and acceptable but not everyday, every moment because well... that can depress one.
The twist on the prince and fairy godmother was not exceptionally mind bending; but clever and believable. Some changes in the story are subtle while others differ from the original in obvious yet not glaring ways.
There is absolutely no magic bewitching or tricking people until a few whispers at the end. Magic exists only in stories that aren't passed around at night because who has the time? Fey creatures come in only when the woods sing at night, simultaneously chilly and beautiful with their melodies.
Jane's romance with a not-so-mysterious guy from the woods never takes central place in the story, never outshines Jane and her sisters' own story. Consequently, it also doesn't burn the brightest but to a limit, it was sweet sans declarations of passionate, undying love and slavery. The one major hitch their romance encounters, however, felt very deliberate. Although it wasn't far out of the realm of possibility and that scene was necessary for their relationship to discover and stretch out the kinks, execution itself was lacking. While I agree that their romance needed it, I think the story could've done without it, if that makes sense.
One last quarrel to be had is with the cover. WHAT IS UP WITH IT? It could lead to several misconceptions about the story, from the glamorous dress to the the model's expression. NO. And Cinderella is quite young in this story, not even fifteen. WHUT?!
Overall, I quite liked The Stepsister's Tale and I leave you with feels that were provoked in me after finishing the story:
Thank you Harlequin TEEN!
A retake on the Cinderella tale, it treads the very same path yet out comes a very different story-in the way that past is prone to, in the hand of history and verbiage. Myths, rumors and truths become tangled irrevocably with no one to care.
Frankly, the way the story is being pitched leaves much to be desired, at least for me. The Stepsister's Tale doesn't follow in the same vein of fairytales nor retellings: it's a slow story of a poor family, a mother who wants the best for her daughters, step or not, yet her life is stuck in a pretend replica of her past; and three girls with whom life doesn't play fair with.
Jane and her sister struggle day and night, in hiding and outright, to keep their house standing. Farming and rearing animals in secret to make for what little food they can, scrubbing and milking, while their mother goes on not acknowledging the fact that they're poor, ignoring her daughters' toil. Life is a struggle as is but then Mama brings home a new husband. Theirs is not a marriage of love, but convenience: a rich man who is need of a noble name for his surviving daughter and a noble woman who is in need of money.
Enters Ella, who is not the most easy person to live with. Having been spoiled by her adoring father, she has no idea how to conduct herself amongst country people who have no time for personal recreation nor care for beauty and grandiose. In a similar predicament are Jane and her sister, constantly criticized for their lack of finesse and lady-like skills.
What I truly liked was that despite being a trying character, even Ella herself wasn't an evil character. She indeed makes questionable decisions that momentarily earned her a place in my personal Tartarus, but she makes attempts to establish relations, although they go awry. Nor was Mama, despite her seeming lack of care where her daughters were concerned, is redeemed to some extent.
While they don't directly pertain to Jane herself, there are also troubles going on-the prince now owns the forests, hunting has becomes poaching and the forest people live in fear of starving, displacement, and incarceration. This aspect of the story was a paradigm to what once happened world wide, what happens now-indigenous people being forced out of their homes and livelihood.
The construction and introduction of this particular aspect leads to expectations of solutions, IMO. However, beyond witnessing the hardships, it wasn't really explored which, while reasonable, was a bit disappointing.
Mostly my love has to do with the narrator, the elder evil Stepsister of Cinderella, Jane. Characters these days are obsessed with angst, emotional drama, kick asses and whatnot-these characters are supposedly kickass. They get boring, can be superficial and there are so. fucking. many. it feels like you're reading the same book again and again.
On the other hand, characters like Jane and Jem from Numbers are everlasting, fewer in numbers these days and inherently more fabulous, mature and definitely not prone to histrionics. Jane has her head on right, she has no objective in mind, no people to kill, no camp to break out of, no relative to save, no boy/girl to enrapture-all she does everyday is make her way through morning and night, scrounging for food and fire. This doesn't leave her a lot of time to bemoan her fate.
Bemoaning one's fate is all good and acceptable but not everyday, every moment because well... that can depress one.
The twist on the prince and fairy godmother was not exceptionally mind bending; but clever and believable. Some changes in the story are subtle while others differ from the original in obvious yet not glaring ways.
There is absolutely no magic bewitching or tricking people until a few whispers at the end. Magic exists only in stories that aren't passed around at night because who has the time? Fey creatures come in only when the woods sing at night, simultaneously chilly and beautiful with their melodies.
Jane's romance with a not-so-mysterious guy from the woods never takes central place in the story, never outshines Jane and her sisters' own story. Consequently, it also doesn't burn the brightest but to a limit, it was sweet sans declarations of passionate, undying love and slavery. The one major hitch their romance encounters, however, felt very deliberate. Although it wasn't far out of the realm of possibility and that scene was necessary for their relationship to discover and stretch out the kinks, execution itself was lacking. While I agree that their romance needed it, I think the story could've done without it, if that makes sense.
One last quarrel to be had is with the cover. WHAT IS UP WITH IT? It could lead to several misconceptions about the story, from the glamorous dress to the the model's expression. NO. And Cinderella is quite young in this story, not even fifteen. WHUT?!
Overall, I quite liked The Stepsister's Tale and I leave you with feels that were provoked in me after finishing the story:
=)))) You should read this booook while I dance because this calls for dancing. Not nobility-style but I-can't-dance-but-the-music-begs style. =))))
Thank you Harlequin TEEN!
September 30, 2015
When I first started reading The Stepsister's Tale, I was actually very invested in the story. As a fan of fairy tale retellings, it's always interesting to be able to read from the villain's perspective. But as I read on, I found the book to be too long because it was full or narratives, which I never seem to enjoy. In addition to that, I actually read Snow, Glass, Apples by Neil Gaiman, which is a Snow White retelling from the Evil Queen's perspective.
The main difference of that book and this one is in Snow, Glass, Apples, it showed the misrepresentation of the story, but it also showed that the events were still true. The Evil Queen really tried to poison Snow White, but she had her reasons. In The Stepsister's Tale, the author made it so that the stepsisters were absolutely kind, and everything was Cinderella's fault. In this sense, there was a role reversal. I think I would have liked it more if the characters weren't made to be so absolutely good or so absolutely bad.
I would have to admit though, that Tracy Bennett's imagining of the novel is very much commendable. It seems like a simple enough plot, but if I were tasked to think of something like this, I'm pretty sure that I won't be able to do it. The idea is really great, and I always enjoy reading from another perspective, but I think it could still be improved.
The main difference of that book and this one is in Snow, Glass, Apples, it showed the misrepresentation of the story, but it also showed that the events were still true. The Evil Queen really tried to poison Snow White, but she had her reasons. In The Stepsister's Tale, the author made it so that the stepsisters were absolutely kind, and everything was Cinderella's fault. In this sense, there was a role reversal. I think I would have liked it more if the characters weren't made to be so absolutely good or so absolutely bad.
I would have to admit though, that Tracy Bennett's imagining of the novel is very much commendable. It seems like a simple enough plot, but if I were tasked to think of something like this, I'm pretty sure that I won't be able to do it. The idea is really great, and I always enjoy reading from another perspective, but I think it could still be improved.
July 2, 2014
2.5 stars.
Thank you First Reads for the opportunity to read this book.
I love fairytale retellings, especially when they look at the original story a little differently. This is Cinderella from the perspective of the ugly stepsister, called Jane in this telling. Only it's not the same story at all. Jane lives with her mother and sister Maude in their family's manor house. But the once stunning estate has fallen into extreme disrepair. They have no servants and must do all the work to survive themselves, although their mother pretends not to notice the realities of their situation. They live in a few rooms on the first floor as the staircase to the second level has begun to rot away, and their clothing is old and frequently mended. Then Jane's mother gets remarried to an old family friend, with the hopes of increasing the family's wealth. Only that doesn't work out how she planned either. The man soon dies leaving her with no money and a spoiled stepdaughter who is used to fine things.
It is Jane who works hard to hold the family together, and this is her story more than any others. Although it is mostly a story about family and finding your own place in the world, when you feel like you no longer fit where you're supposed to be. How does a once fine family fit into the world around them? Are they really better than the friendly laborers who live in the woods, especially when no one in their own class will acknowledge them anymore? Appearances can be deceiving, and facing reality can be tough, but also rewarding. I like that message, especially watching Jane struggle through the pull between what her mother wants of her, what she needs to do to survive, and what she wants of her own life.
Unfortunately, nothing much happens in this book. The characters nearly starve a few times. But most of the plot elements are centered around fracturing the original fairytale, in scattered details. I liked the idea of finding out the "real story" behind the one we all know, but this book was painfully slow in places and just did not hold my interest. It does have a romance as a smaller side plot, but that failed to draw me to this book either. There is nothing I greatly disliked about this book (except for the cover), there was just nothing that I loved either.
Love Triangle Factor: None
Cliffhanger Scale: standalone
Thank you First Reads for the opportunity to read this book.
I love fairytale retellings, especially when they look at the original story a little differently. This is Cinderella from the perspective of the ugly stepsister, called Jane in this telling. Only it's not the same story at all. Jane lives with her mother and sister Maude in their family's manor house. But the once stunning estate has fallen into extreme disrepair. They have no servants and must do all the work to survive themselves, although their mother pretends not to notice the realities of their situation. They live in a few rooms on the first floor as the staircase to the second level has begun to rot away, and their clothing is old and frequently mended. Then Jane's mother gets remarried to an old family friend, with the hopes of increasing the family's wealth. Only that doesn't work out how she planned either. The man soon dies leaving her with no money and a spoiled stepdaughter who is used to fine things.
It is Jane who works hard to hold the family together, and this is her story more than any others. Although it is mostly a story about family and finding your own place in the world, when you feel like you no longer fit where you're supposed to be. How does a once fine family fit into the world around them? Are they really better than the friendly laborers who live in the woods, especially when no one in their own class will acknowledge them anymore? Appearances can be deceiving, and facing reality can be tough, but also rewarding. I like that message, especially watching Jane struggle through the pull between what her mother wants of her, what she needs to do to survive, and what she wants of her own life.
Unfortunately, nothing much happens in this book. The characters nearly starve a few times. But most of the plot elements are centered around fracturing the original fairytale, in scattered details. I liked the idea of finding out the "real story" behind the one we all know, but this book was painfully slow in places and just did not hold my interest. It does have a romance as a smaller side plot, but that failed to draw me to this book either. There is nothing I greatly disliked about this book (except for the cover), there was just nothing that I loved either.
Love Triangle Factor: None
Cliffhanger Scale: standalone
August 13, 2016
You can also find this review at: YA Midnight Reads
This one was just simply boring to me. I made it through forty nine percent of The Stepsister’s Tale before I called it quits. I just felt like I was reading nothing but empty words. I couldn’t connect to any of the characters on any sort of level. I just found myself in a observer sort of role. The issue came in through when I was observing….nothing. Just the constant monotony of Jane doing farming chores. Milking the cow, gathering food…it was just a detached cycle for me.
I do appreciate that this Tracy tried to put a spin on the original tale and I feel like it could have worked out as the story went on. At forty percent though we still hadn’t met the fairy godmother, see any hint of romance or even got the invitation of the ball. In a way it felt like The Stepsister’s Tale was just a overwrought tale that was frankly unnecessary. I sadly couldn’t force myself through the heavy descriptions and the slow pace. I also found the majority of the characters to be quite juvenile, which made it even harder for myself to truly connect with them. I found reading this one to be a chore in itself, and at forty percent I just didn’t see the point of continuing onward when I felt like nothing of particular interest was happening.
Even as I type this I find myself reaching for something that wasn’t there. It’s been around three days since I DNF’ed this one however I find myself forgetting what occurred and having nothing to report on. I feel that exemplifies the reason I couldn’t finish this one. It was truly unmemorable, slowly paced, had bland characters and I didn’t find myself invested in the least.
This one was just simply boring to me. I made it through forty nine percent of The Stepsister’s Tale before I called it quits. I just felt like I was reading nothing but empty words. I couldn’t connect to any of the characters on any sort of level. I just found myself in a observer sort of role. The issue came in through when I was observing….nothing. Just the constant monotony of Jane doing farming chores. Milking the cow, gathering food…it was just a detached cycle for me.
I do appreciate that this Tracy tried to put a spin on the original tale and I feel like it could have worked out as the story went on. At forty percent though we still hadn’t met the fairy godmother, see any hint of romance or even got the invitation of the ball. In a way it felt like The Stepsister’s Tale was just a overwrought tale that was frankly unnecessary. I sadly couldn’t force myself through the heavy descriptions and the slow pace. I also found the majority of the characters to be quite juvenile, which made it even harder for myself to truly connect with them. I found reading this one to be a chore in itself, and at forty percent I just didn’t see the point of continuing onward when I felt like nothing of particular interest was happening.
Even as I type this I find myself reaching for something that wasn’t there. It’s been around three days since I DNF’ed this one however I find myself forgetting what occurred and having nothing to report on. I feel that exemplifies the reason I couldn’t finish this one. It was truly unmemorable, slowly paced, had bland characters and I didn’t find myself invested in the least.
August 11, 2014
3.5 stars
An interesting spin on Cinderella. Wish it were written in a little more mature way. It read as an MG novel, the feeling was exacerbated by the audio narrator who sounded as if she was 10.
An interesting spin on Cinderella. Wish it were written in a little more mature way. It read as an MG novel, the feeling was exacerbated by the audio narrator who sounded as if she was 10.
July 21, 2014
A copy of this book was provided by the author via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This review is also posted on The Storybook Kingdom
I love me a good fairy tale re-telling. I pretty much read every one I hear about. Unfortunately I don't always love the ones I read. This is one of those stories....(dun dun) Sorry I had a Law and Order moment.
My main problem? I was so incredibly bored. There is just so much time spent telling about how their daily lives. I mean I feel like I'm told every single interesting, and more importantly un-interesting, thing that happen. I bet I could tell you how often the cow is milked or the chickens are fed. Yup, there's lots of talk about daily chores. I just wanted something, anything, to happen.
My second biggest problem? It was so incredibly depressing. There's lots of talk about how poor they are and how much they don't have to eat. I get that they are poor and there's no food. I don't need to be reminded of it just about every second. I've read books about people in horrible situations, but I think this one was just overkill.
Was there anything I liked? I kind of like how Cinderella became unlikable. She was mean, rude, and a complete brat. It's nice when a re-telling doesn't rigidly stick to the story. Besides that, there really wasn't much I liked. For such a short book, it really was a bit painful to read and took me far longer than it should have.
This review is also posted on The Storybook Kingdom
I love me a good fairy tale re-telling. I pretty much read every one I hear about. Unfortunately I don't always love the ones I read. This is one of those stories....(dun dun) Sorry I had a Law and Order moment.
My main problem? I was so incredibly bored. There is just so much time spent telling about how their daily lives. I mean I feel like I'm told every single interesting, and more importantly un-interesting, thing that happen. I bet I could tell you how often the cow is milked or the chickens are fed. Yup, there's lots of talk about daily chores. I just wanted something, anything, to happen.
My second biggest problem? It was so incredibly depressing. There's lots of talk about how poor they are and how much they don't have to eat. I get that they are poor and there's no food. I don't need to be reminded of it just about every second. I've read books about people in horrible situations, but I think this one was just overkill.
Was there anything I liked? I kind of like how Cinderella became unlikable. She was mean, rude, and a complete brat. It's nice when a re-telling doesn't rigidly stick to the story. Besides that, there really wasn't much I liked. For such a short book, it really was a bit painful to read and took me far longer than it should have.
July 12, 2014
Tracy Barrett's engaging new Young Adult novel, "The Stepsister's Tale" is an imaginative and immensely entertaining retelling of the classic "Cinderella" story. The setting is the Montjoy family farm and the formerly grand old home now crumbling around the two sisters who live there with their mother. Made destitute by the debt-ridden father who abandoned them, Jane and Maude struggle daily to find food and survive the harsh winter, often sharing only an egg or two a day and huddling together for warmth. And then Mama goes to town and returns with a wealthy new husband—and his spoiled, beautiful young daughter, Isabella (shortened quickly to "Ella.") Mama's delusions of now having a better life for herself and her two daughters come to a crashing halt when her new husband dies—penniless, after all—leaving her, Jane, and Maude facing poverty along with the bereaved and bitter Ella, who whiles away the time sitting by the meager fire, stirring the ashes with her fingers.
Under these circumstances, how could anyone live happily ever after?
Barrett expertly gives readers a sweet romance, a ball, a prince, and glass slippers in an evocative story illuminating various kinds of love, pride, the stubborn will to survive under the most challenging circumstances, and the true nature of friendship. An elegant and evocative epilogue brings the tale to a satisfying close.
Under these circumstances, how could anyone live happily ever after?
Barrett expertly gives readers a sweet romance, a ball, a prince, and glass slippers in an evocative story illuminating various kinds of love, pride, the stubborn will to survive under the most challenging circumstances, and the true nature of friendship. An elegant and evocative epilogue brings the tale to a satisfying close.
October 29, 2014
This is one of those books I went into a little curious about, but ultimately got swept away in a fantastical fantasy world. THE STEPSISTER’S TALE is truly a fairytale for more grown up people, and Tracy Barrett does a brilliant job of bringing the storied tale of Cinderella to life in a whole new way.
I’m a huge fan of de-villainizing a villain. I love seeing a character typically written off as bad become reformed and a heroine. Jane is just such a character. Seeing the humanity of Jane, of seeing the conditions she was growing up in while her mother was simply more and more disillusioned, was heartbreaking.
I think the true brilliance of Barrett’s writing is that while she has completely twisted the Cinderella tale I knew as a child, she is still able to keep the reader entranced with that childlike wonder and purity of a story that drew me to fairy tales in the first place. The magic is still very much here (not the talking/sewing mice, although she does make a nod to several characters in brilliant ways), but it’s a grown up magic.
I started this book the afternoon I got it in the mail and finished it the same evening. It is a fast, cleansing read that I cannot recommend enough. Flowing prose and fantastic narration drive this original plot to the very end.
I’m a huge fan of de-villainizing a villain. I love seeing a character typically written off as bad become reformed and a heroine. Jane is just such a character. Seeing the humanity of Jane, of seeing the conditions she was growing up in while her mother was simply more and more disillusioned, was heartbreaking.
I think the true brilliance of Barrett’s writing is that while she has completely twisted the Cinderella tale I knew as a child, she is still able to keep the reader entranced with that childlike wonder and purity of a story that drew me to fairy tales in the first place. The magic is still very much here (not the talking/sewing mice, although she does make a nod to several characters in brilliant ways), but it’s a grown up magic.
I started this book the afternoon I got it in the mail and finished it the same evening. It is a fast, cleansing read that I cannot recommend enough. Flowing prose and fantastic narration drive this original plot to the very end.
September 23, 2021
I guess my expectations were too high. I thought it will be a multidimensional, non-cardboard and not black&white retelling of Cinderella story and I was really excited. But all it did was reverse the roles of good and evil and leave it at that. DNF.
March 14, 2017
I love fairy tale retellings and Barrett's twist on Cinderella is amazing! I haven't read one from the stepsister's POV before and when I stumbled upon this story, I decided to check it out. I'm so glad I did!
Without giving away too much of the plot, I can say that I loved the main character, Jane, who works so hard to keep her mother and sister (and, later, her stepfather and stepsister) from starving--they may live in a grand house, but it's falling down around their ears and there's little food to be had. Despite all the hardships they face, Jane keeps fighting to make things work out.
And work out things do, though not the way you might expect...
The story is a light read, easy to inhale in an afternoon with a cup (or three) of tea. I highly recommend it to lovers of Cinderella retellings and fairy tales in general.
Without giving away too much of the plot, I can say that I loved the main character, Jane, who works so hard to keep her mother and sister (and, later, her stepfather and stepsister) from starving--they may live in a grand house, but it's falling down around their ears and there's little food to be had. Despite all the hardships they face, Jane keeps fighting to make things work out.
And work out things do, though not the way you might expect...
The story is a light read, easy to inhale in an afternoon with a cup (or three) of tea. I highly recommend it to lovers of Cinderella retellings and fairy tales in general.
September 2, 2015
I love fairy tale retellings. Love them. I have 100% drunk the kool-aid for The Lunar Chronicles. I was charmed by Entwined by Heather Dixon. I also have great affection for Harlequin Teen, especially on NetGalley. I cried through most of the new Disney Cinderella movie that came out this earlier this year. So you would think that a Cinderella re-telling told from one of the step-sister’s POV would be perfect for me, right? How could it go wrong?
Too bad it was boring as all get out.
Full disclosure: I DNF this sucker at 40%. Because nothing was happening. Nor had anything really happened in that 40% that prompted me to keep reading.
So the story follows Jane, one of the not-so-ugly stepsisters. Their family is really poor. And really hungry. Jane milks the cow a lot. Mother brings home a new husband and a stepsister for Jane and her actual sister Maude. They continue to be very poor and very hungry. Jane milks the cow about ten more times. Poor, hungry men come to fix their roof. Everyone continues to be poor and miserable. Jane milks the cow again. We spice things up a bit by eating mushrooms for dinner instead of cheese or eggs. Yet again, Jane finds herself milking the cow. New husband randomly dies. Jane continues to milk the cow. Everyone is still poor and hungry.
I am not even exaggerating. There was sort of maybe the beginnings of a romance between Jane and a boy named Will who was not even remotely interesting.
Is it too much to ask to have some conflict in a book?
I suppose if you’re looking for something very calm, where almost nothing happens, you might enjoy this. The first chapter was very promising, but then we entered a sort of limbo where each chapter felt exactly like the first and the story went nowhere. I hear there’s a ball near the end, but I don’t care enough. I know how Cinderella ends. A retelling has to capture my interest to make me forget how the story ends, or at least, keep me interested in HOW the story is different from the original.
Or, you know, be interesting just in general.
If you like reading about people milking cows, this is the books for you.
Too bad it was boring as all get out.
Full disclosure: I DNF this sucker at 40%. Because nothing was happening. Nor had anything really happened in that 40% that prompted me to keep reading.
So the story follows Jane, one of the not-so-ugly stepsisters. Their family is really poor. And really hungry. Jane milks the cow a lot. Mother brings home a new husband and a stepsister for Jane and her actual sister Maude. They continue to be very poor and very hungry. Jane milks the cow about ten more times. Poor, hungry men come to fix their roof. Everyone continues to be poor and miserable. Jane milks the cow again. We spice things up a bit by eating mushrooms for dinner instead of cheese or eggs. Yet again, Jane finds herself milking the cow. New husband randomly dies. Jane continues to milk the cow. Everyone is still poor and hungry.
I am not even exaggerating. There was sort of maybe the beginnings of a romance between Jane and a boy named Will who was not even remotely interesting.
Is it too much to ask to have some conflict in a book?
I suppose if you’re looking for something very calm, where almost nothing happens, you might enjoy this. The first chapter was very promising, but then we entered a sort of limbo where each chapter felt exactly like the first and the story went nowhere. I hear there’s a ball near the end, but I don’t care enough. I know how Cinderella ends. A retelling has to capture my interest to make me forget how the story ends, or at least, keep me interested in HOW the story is different from the original.
Or, you know, be interesting just in general.
If you like reading about people milking cows, this is the books for you.
See this review and others like it in a more awesome format at Ramblings On Readings
June 17, 2014
To see full review click on one of the following links:
My blog
Booklikes
Disclaimer: I do not own the lyrics to “I Want It Now” which belongs to Warner Brothers. Also, I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley. It did not effect my opinion of this book.
Yes, I read another Cinderella retelling.
I can’t help it. Fairytale tellings are like my weak point in YA. Luckily, this one was a lot better than the last fairytale retelling I read, Cinderella’s Dress.
I actually enjoyed reading The Stepsister’s Tale, but it did have some problems.
The plot I thought was nice. It wasn’ t very action pack. And some might call it, I dare say boring, but it worked for me. The story is really, more or less, character driven. And I did like the development you saw with the character Jane. So much, that I was able to avoid yawning at the constant drudgery that is farm chores.
The main character really was the best thing this book had going for it. Jane felt like a real character. She wasn’t ridiculously perfect, but she wasn’t unlikeable either. Though, I have to say for an evil stepsister Jane wasn’t that evil.
In fact, she was really the Cinderella character (in my opinion) of the novel.
Who had ugly written all over her, on the hand, was Cinderella.
Dear lord. As well developed as Jane is, the Cinderella character is hardly realistic. From the book, I’m guessing she’s suppose to be about fourteen tops, but she seemed like she was about six to be honest.
It was ridiculous. That’s how I can only describe it. Don’t believe me. Here’s an example (paraphrased) of a conversation that Cinderella (know as Isabella) would have with her father:
Isabella: Daddy, I want a pony.
Father: Of course, darling.
Isabella: A pony driving a pumpkin colored carriage and pretty mirrored shoes and…I want a bean feast
Father: Oh, one of those.
Isabella: Cream buns and donuts and fruitcakes with nuts….
Okay wrong movie, err…boook…you know what I mean. I think Veruca Salt is the inspiration towards this character. She i sjust horrible. And her quick turn around towards the end of the novel, just doesn’t do it for me. You can’t make up all the shit you did the first ninety-five percent of the novel.
My blog
Booklikes
Disclaimer: I do not own the lyrics to “I Want It Now” which belongs to Warner Brothers. Also, I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley. It did not effect my opinion of this book.
Yes, I read another Cinderella retelling.
I can’t help it. Fairytale tellings are like my weak point in YA. Luckily, this one was a lot better than the last fairytale retelling I read, Cinderella’s Dress.
I actually enjoyed reading The Stepsister’s Tale, but it did have some problems.
The plot I thought was nice. It wasn’ t very action pack. And some might call it, I dare say boring, but it worked for me. The story is really, more or less, character driven. And I did like the development you saw with the character Jane. So much, that I was able to avoid yawning at the constant drudgery that is farm chores.
The main character really was the best thing this book had going for it. Jane felt like a real character. She wasn’t ridiculously perfect, but she wasn’t unlikeable either. Though, I have to say for an evil stepsister Jane wasn’t that evil.
In fact, she was really the Cinderella character (in my opinion) of the novel.
Who had ugly written all over her, on the hand, was Cinderella.
Dear lord. As well developed as Jane is, the Cinderella character is hardly realistic. From the book, I’m guessing she’s suppose to be about fourteen tops, but she seemed like she was about six to be honest.
It was ridiculous. That’s how I can only describe it. Don’t believe me. Here’s an example (paraphrased) of a conversation that Cinderella (know as Isabella) would have with her father:
Isabella: Daddy, I want a pony.
Father: Of course, darling.
Isabella: A pony driving a pumpkin colored carriage and pretty mirrored shoes and…I want a bean feast
Father: Oh, one of those.
Isabella: Cream buns and donuts and fruitcakes with nuts….
Okay wrong movie, err…boook…you know what I mean. I think Veruca Salt is the inspiration towards this character. She i sjust horrible. And her quick turn around towards the end of the novel, just doesn’t do it for me. You can’t make up all the shit you did the first ninety-five percent of the novel.
May 19, 2014
http://librarytalker.blogspot.com/201...
Ever since her father gambled away the family fortune and then ran off to die drunk and alone, Jane and her sister, Maude, have trying everything they can just to survive. Their house is literally crumbling around them and their mother's mind is crumbling with it. She insists that they continue to behave like ladies even though they are alone with no servants, no money, and no future.
When Mamma returns from a long journey with a new husband and a new stepdaughter, Jane has only slight hopes that things may get better. When the new man in her mother's life dies suddenly, and it's discovered that he was deeply in debt, the sisters must not only find a way to survive the winter, they must also survive their spoiled new sibling.
With the help of a mysterious family in the woods, Jane may just get her family through the winter.
With the attention of the Prince of the Realm, Jane may just get rid of her spoiled problem.
Final thoughts: Nah. Not worth it. Barrett doesn't seem to have a grasp on the older teen mind, so what's written feels childish and petty. Is Jane 17 or 12? It's impossible to tell, especially when her younger sister reads like she's 6. Who slaps someone just because a comb gets stuck in hair? And how are we supposed to feel sympathy for that slapper? The romance is nice enough and there are some interesting changes to the traditional Cinderella story, but no one comes out sympathetic or even likeable. Even the cover looks like a Gossip Girl book. It's bland overall.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
Rating: 2/5
Ever since her father gambled away the family fortune and then ran off to die drunk and alone, Jane and her sister, Maude, have trying everything they can just to survive. Their house is literally crumbling around them and their mother's mind is crumbling with it. She insists that they continue to behave like ladies even though they are alone with no servants, no money, and no future.
When Mamma returns from a long journey with a new husband and a new stepdaughter, Jane has only slight hopes that things may get better. When the new man in her mother's life dies suddenly, and it's discovered that he was deeply in debt, the sisters must not only find a way to survive the winter, they must also survive their spoiled new sibling.
With the help of a mysterious family in the woods, Jane may just get her family through the winter.
With the attention of the Prince of the Realm, Jane may just get rid of her spoiled problem.
Final thoughts: Nah. Not worth it. Barrett doesn't seem to have a grasp on the older teen mind, so what's written feels childish and petty. Is Jane 17 or 12? It's impossible to tell, especially when her younger sister reads like she's 6. Who slaps someone just because a comb gets stuck in hair? And how are we supposed to feel sympathy for that slapper? The romance is nice enough and there are some interesting changes to the traditional Cinderella story, but no one comes out sympathetic or even likeable. Even the cover looks like a Gossip Girl book. It's bland overall.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
Rating: 2/5
July 13, 2014
This was NOT what I expected. In a GREAT way. Ms. Barrett throws readers into a difficult, back-breaking world of churning butter, scouring a barren farm for nuts and eggs and berries, and the struggle a girl goes through choosing who to keep alive. The way Ms. Barrett wove the old Cinderella tale from the stepsister's point of view had me believing this could've really happened, that the story we all know has roots in reality.
May 3, 2015
The appeal began to rise when I realized that Barrett’s book was a retelling of Cinderella from the point of view of one of the stepsisters, who always seem to get the shaft when it comes to this story. Read the rest of my review here
June 29, 2022
Jane's life, ever since her father passed away years ago, has been spent fulfilling her mother's fantasy that they still live as rich nobles in their castle while secretly carrying the weight of their crumbling family. When her mother returns from town one day with her new, rich husband and spoiled daughter, Jane is concerned, but holds hope that the money will set the family to rights.
That is, until he passes away, leaving nothing but depts and his daughter, Isabella, for Jane's family. With one more mouth to feed and no money to fill them, Jane must continue to feed the family through the terrible winter months. Despite her mother's words of warning about a Halsey speaking to those under their rank, Jane is beginning to believe requesting help from the people of the forest may be the only way for them to survive.
Then, Jane, her mother, and her sister recieve invitations to the Prince's ball, where he hopes to find his bride. Could this be the turning point for their family, or would it end in disaster?
This book was extremely hard to rate. I liked the basic storyline; the retelling of Cinderella had promise, and there were bits of the fairytale that were incorporated well. However, the romance had no chemistry, and was super cringy, and the mom's attitude was strange. Overall, the more I read, the more little things began to bother me, and the ending was just full of holes. Not terrible, but nothing special, and nothing I'd recommend. On the plus side, the cover is beautiful!
That is, until he passes away, leaving nothing but depts and his daughter, Isabella, for Jane's family. With one more mouth to feed and no money to fill them, Jane must continue to feed the family through the terrible winter months. Despite her mother's words of warning about a Halsey speaking to those under their rank, Jane is beginning to believe requesting help from the people of the forest may be the only way for them to survive.
Then, Jane, her mother, and her sister recieve invitations to the Prince's ball, where he hopes to find his bride. Could this be the turning point for their family, or would it end in disaster?
This book was extremely hard to rate. I liked the basic storyline; the retelling of Cinderella had promise, and there were bits of the fairytale that were incorporated well. However, the romance had no chemistry, and was super cringy, and the mom's attitude was strange. Overall, the more I read, the more little things began to bother me, and the ending was just full of holes. Not terrible, but nothing special, and nothing I'd recommend. On the plus side, the cover is beautiful!
June 30, 2017
I really enjoyed this overall. I loved the retelling aspect and the characters. Although the mother and Isabella drove me crazy at times. Jane is so strong as a young woman trying to care for her family and I adored Will and his family. I hated the prince. UGH!
No fantasy in this retelling, just honest, harsh struggles of a hard time. The story is a bit slow at times and parts could have been cut out to make is move along better. I liked the romance. Very sweet.
No fantasy in this retelling, just honest, harsh struggles of a hard time. The story is a bit slow at times and parts could have been cut out to make is move along better. I liked the romance. Very sweet.
April 16, 2015
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: This retelling was more of a survival story the first half, but I enjoyed it all the same.
Opening Sentence: The house- it was too small to be called a palace- sat at the top of a hill, overlooking thick woods and a river.
The Review:
Jane, her mother, and her sister used to be a part of a rich family that lived in a stately mansion. Years later, after the death of her father and him gambling away their fortune, the beautiful home is falling to ruins. Jane lives every day unsure if her belly will be full the next. Her mother refuses to see how their lives have changed, instead stuck in the ghost of a life that’s over. Until Jane’s mother meets a man whom she believes can solve all of her problems. He has a daughter, Isabella, who is spoiled and rude. Just as their lives take a turn for the better, Isabella’s father dies, leaving them with little money and one more mouth to feed. Isabella is not the sweet Cinderella of the fairytales, and when the ball comes around, it will play out more different than you could ever imagined.
Before you read The Stepsister’s Tale, you need to understand something about it. This novel is more of a survival story than a retelling. There are a few very obvious similarities, but it’s also a story of its own, born from the idea of the classic. A lot of it centers around finding the next meal, the next penny, and just managing to get by. There are many instances where Jane is out in the woods searching for berries, or mushrooms, or bird’s eggs, to feed her family for the day. She and her sister are the only ones doing the real work, with Isabella being so lazy and their mother too ladylike to dirty her hands. I really appreciated how they got down to the grit and worked hard for everything they had. They might have lived in a stately mansion, but it was decaying, old, and falling apart. The only way that they managed to survive was through hard work and each other. There was that strong family bond between the two sisters that I liked seeing.
Jane narrated the story, and through her eyes, I saw a whole new side to Cinderella, one I despised. The fact that the book could change my opinion so thoroughly of this classic princess seems to prove that it did its job as a retelling. It put a new, unique spin on a story that’s been told countless times through countless different books, legends, and mouths. There were a lot of facets to Jane’s character I really enjoyed. She was a realistic, relatable narrator. She did what she needed to do to help her family, and even if that meant getting dirt-studded knees and ripped clothing, she did it. There was also a degree of vulnerability to her character as well that I enjoyed. She wasn’t weak, but she definitely had a realistic part of her that was filled with doubts, like any other teenager or human. So did her sister, who had to grow up a little early in the harsh circumstances, but was still a tad bit naive.
There were many themes that played a part in this novel. One was pride. How far will you go to keep your dignity? For the “wicked stepmother”, that was a whole lot longer than I expected her to hold out. At the beginning of the story, when she married Isabella’s father, she saw that as a way to restore the family to its former riches and glory. That failed. She was so convinced that they were just going through a rough spot in terms of money, and did not help either of the sisters with the chores, because working was for the servants. It got a little annoying. I wanted her to get a wakeup call- eventually, she did, but she held her beliefs for a long time. At one point Jane mentions that she wouldn’t let them have maintain a garden, because though picking berries and sewing dresses back together may be considered respectable for two young girls, gardening wasn’t. It was infuriating to watch.
Most of this novel didn’t even concern a ball. Again, mostly it was a survival story. But when the ball did come along, it played out a whole lot differently than it did in the original. It was enjoyable to see the fresh look. In the end, Isabella gets her redemption, and the girls work things out, and that helped my vicious opinion of her lesson. In any case, I found this book enjoyable. One subplot included a love interest, Will. Their relationship was very hot and cold, but I didn’t exactly disapprove. He seemed nice enough and he helped Jane to see what really mattered, in the grand scheme of things. There was also a brief epilogue that I really enjoyed. I liked seeing where all the characters ended up and how they felt about it. I thought that the pacing could have been faster, but the characters were strong and the plot stable, so altogether, I really enjoyed The Stepsister’s Tale.
Notable Scene:
Jane caught her breath. The girl looked unlike anyone she had ever seen before. Her hair was of that pale brown called ash-blonde, and it hung to her waist in shiny waves. Her oval face was a clear, delicate white, and she had pale pink cheek and dainty red lips.
FTC Advisory: HarperTeen provided me with a copy of The Stepsister’s Tale. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: This retelling was more of a survival story the first half, but I enjoyed it all the same.
Opening Sentence: The house- it was too small to be called a palace- sat at the top of a hill, overlooking thick woods and a river.
The Review:
Jane, her mother, and her sister used to be a part of a rich family that lived in a stately mansion. Years later, after the death of her father and him gambling away their fortune, the beautiful home is falling to ruins. Jane lives every day unsure if her belly will be full the next. Her mother refuses to see how their lives have changed, instead stuck in the ghost of a life that’s over. Until Jane’s mother meets a man whom she believes can solve all of her problems. He has a daughter, Isabella, who is spoiled and rude. Just as their lives take a turn for the better, Isabella’s father dies, leaving them with little money and one more mouth to feed. Isabella is not the sweet Cinderella of the fairytales, and when the ball comes around, it will play out more different than you could ever imagined.
Before you read The Stepsister’s Tale, you need to understand something about it. This novel is more of a survival story than a retelling. There are a few very obvious similarities, but it’s also a story of its own, born from the idea of the classic. A lot of it centers around finding the next meal, the next penny, and just managing to get by. There are many instances where Jane is out in the woods searching for berries, or mushrooms, or bird’s eggs, to feed her family for the day. She and her sister are the only ones doing the real work, with Isabella being so lazy and their mother too ladylike to dirty her hands. I really appreciated how they got down to the grit and worked hard for everything they had. They might have lived in a stately mansion, but it was decaying, old, and falling apart. The only way that they managed to survive was through hard work and each other. There was that strong family bond between the two sisters that I liked seeing.
Jane narrated the story, and through her eyes, I saw a whole new side to Cinderella, one I despised. The fact that the book could change my opinion so thoroughly of this classic princess seems to prove that it did its job as a retelling. It put a new, unique spin on a story that’s been told countless times through countless different books, legends, and mouths. There were a lot of facets to Jane’s character I really enjoyed. She was a realistic, relatable narrator. She did what she needed to do to help her family, and even if that meant getting dirt-studded knees and ripped clothing, she did it. There was also a degree of vulnerability to her character as well that I enjoyed. She wasn’t weak, but she definitely had a realistic part of her that was filled with doubts, like any other teenager or human. So did her sister, who had to grow up a little early in the harsh circumstances, but was still a tad bit naive.
There were many themes that played a part in this novel. One was pride. How far will you go to keep your dignity? For the “wicked stepmother”, that was a whole lot longer than I expected her to hold out. At the beginning of the story, when she married Isabella’s father, she saw that as a way to restore the family to its former riches and glory. That failed. She was so convinced that they were just going through a rough spot in terms of money, and did not help either of the sisters with the chores, because working was for the servants. It got a little annoying. I wanted her to get a wakeup call- eventually, she did, but she held her beliefs for a long time. At one point Jane mentions that she wouldn’t let them have maintain a garden, because though picking berries and sewing dresses back together may be considered respectable for two young girls, gardening wasn’t. It was infuriating to watch.
Most of this novel didn’t even concern a ball. Again, mostly it was a survival story. But when the ball did come along, it played out a whole lot differently than it did in the original. It was enjoyable to see the fresh look. In the end, Isabella gets her redemption, and the girls work things out, and that helped my vicious opinion of her lesson. In any case, I found this book enjoyable. One subplot included a love interest, Will. Their relationship was very hot and cold, but I didn’t exactly disapprove. He seemed nice enough and he helped Jane to see what really mattered, in the grand scheme of things. There was also a brief epilogue that I really enjoyed. I liked seeing where all the characters ended up and how they felt about it. I thought that the pacing could have been faster, but the characters were strong and the plot stable, so altogether, I really enjoyed The Stepsister’s Tale.
Notable Scene:
Jane caught her breath. The girl looked unlike anyone she had ever seen before. Her hair was of that pale brown called ash-blonde, and it hung to her waist in shiny waves. Her oval face was a clear, delicate white, and she had pale pink cheek and dainty red lips.
FTC Advisory: HarperTeen provided me with a copy of The Stepsister’s Tale. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
June 23, 2014
THE STEPSISTER’S TALE is an absolutely wonderful and imaginative retelling of the classic fairy tale. With a shift in perspective, not everything is as the Cinderella story led readers to believe – the stepsisters weren’t so evil, the stepmother not so wicked, Cinderella not so innocent and the prince not so charming or benevolent. And with a number of deviations from the original, this delightful tale is as captivating and enchanting as the story it was based upon.
Jane Montjoy doesn’t remember the former glory of the crumbling ruin that is her home. She doesn’t remember a life of dancing and servants and finery. She doesn’t know what it really means to be a lady.
Her life isn’t a fairy tale and the prince wouldn’t give her the time of time of day. Not with her plain looks, her work-worn hands and her threadbare clothes.
If only her mother would accept their reality and allow her to befriend those who could be of help, their lives wouldn’t be so miserable. If only her spoiled stepsister Isabella would lend a hand instead of playing among the ashes, things wouldn’t be so dire. If only she wasn’t the only one concerned with their survival, maybe her simple wish for a happily ever after could come true.
Author Tracy Barrett expands upon this well-loved classic, giving readers a longer, if different, look at the world. Told in a voice that evokes the spirit of the original, she reintroduces readers to the stepsisters – Jane and Maude – the stepmother – Lady Margaret – and Ella, who is every bit as lovely in looks, if not personality, as the girl the prince fell madly in love with.
The author’s story pays homage to all the important elements in the classic tale, letting readers view them through a new lens. Her reimagining of the story brings new life to this fairy tale in a way that will entertain, charm, engage and bewitch.
THE STEPSISTER’S TALE is a must for fans of the classic who want to see this story in a new light, for those who never really believed that Ella and the prince were as perfect as they seemed, for those who believe that good and evil aren’t so black and white, and for those looking for an ending for all that may not be quite as grim.
On a Personal Note…
As a lifelong fan of the brothers Grimm, I was incredibly curious about this story by Tracy Barrett. I loved the original, with its harshness and gruesomeness. I loved that evil was punished and goodness and innocence was rewarded. I loved the fairy tale ending.
As an adult I couldn’t wait to see things from a new perspective. I loved the idea that maybe what we knew to be true wasn’t the only truth. That maybe Cinderella wasn’t as much an innocent victim as the story led us to believe. That maybe these two stepsisters weren’t desperate enough to capture the hand of the prince that they’d cut off their toe and heel. And maybe they didn’t have to have their eyes plucked out as punishment for their deception.
I also loved getting a longer look at the world – the Grimm stories were so very short. It was absolutely wonderful spending more time in this make believe, faraway land set in a time long past. It felt very similar to the setting of many a Grimm story. It captured that simplicity of time and place. It didn’t try to elaborate too much.
This world of kings, princes, nobles and common folk, with their belief in the existence of fairy-folk, was very comforting to return to. The author did an amazing job of recreating that feeling with her story. It stayed true to the classic, but with all these fantastic extras that made me smile.
I would love to talk about all that I loved about this story, especially with what went down at the royal ball and with the prince. But as those are some of the most exciting bits, I don’t want to risk spoiling them.
THE STEPSISTER’S TALE was a super quick read although the pace was unhurried. There was a richness of detail about all things close to Jane – her daily life, her family, her home – with much left up to the imagination for the larger world beyond. The small details the author included that made it feel very much in the style of those classic fairy tales were what made this story for me.
I adored it. And Jane. And spent the entire read hoping that she got her happy ending… and hoping that Ella did not.
Original GR comments.
Loved this story. It was so reminiscent of the classic in the way it was told. But I absolutely loved it for its differences - that it was told from the not-at-all-wicked stepsister's POV, that not everything was quite as the original led you to believe, and that not everyone was as nice or as evil.
This was a magical and fun read, and if I hadn't known I was reading a modern story I might never have guessed. It was charming and delightful and it took me back to my childhood as I was devouring it.
Review TK.
Jane Montjoy doesn’t remember the former glory of the crumbling ruin that is her home. She doesn’t remember a life of dancing and servants and finery. She doesn’t know what it really means to be a lady.
Her life isn’t a fairy tale and the prince wouldn’t give her the time of time of day. Not with her plain looks, her work-worn hands and her threadbare clothes.
If only her mother would accept their reality and allow her to befriend those who could be of help, their lives wouldn’t be so miserable. If only her spoiled stepsister Isabella would lend a hand instead of playing among the ashes, things wouldn’t be so dire. If only she wasn’t the only one concerned with their survival, maybe her simple wish for a happily ever after could come true.
Author Tracy Barrett expands upon this well-loved classic, giving readers a longer, if different, look at the world. Told in a voice that evokes the spirit of the original, she reintroduces readers to the stepsisters – Jane and Maude – the stepmother – Lady Margaret – and Ella, who is every bit as lovely in looks, if not personality, as the girl the prince fell madly in love with.
The author’s story pays homage to all the important elements in the classic tale, letting readers view them through a new lens. Her reimagining of the story brings new life to this fairy tale in a way that will entertain, charm, engage and bewitch.
THE STEPSISTER’S TALE is a must for fans of the classic who want to see this story in a new light, for those who never really believed that Ella and the prince were as perfect as they seemed, for those who believe that good and evil aren’t so black and white, and for those looking for an ending for all that may not be quite as grim.
On a Personal Note…
As a lifelong fan of the brothers Grimm, I was incredibly curious about this story by Tracy Barrett. I loved the original, with its harshness and gruesomeness. I loved that evil was punished and goodness and innocence was rewarded. I loved the fairy tale ending.
As an adult I couldn’t wait to see things from a new perspective. I loved the idea that maybe what we knew to be true wasn’t the only truth. That maybe Cinderella wasn’t as much an innocent victim as the story led us to believe. That maybe these two stepsisters weren’t desperate enough to capture the hand of the prince that they’d cut off their toe and heel. And maybe they didn’t have to have their eyes plucked out as punishment for their deception.
I also loved getting a longer look at the world – the Grimm stories were so very short. It was absolutely wonderful spending more time in this make believe, faraway land set in a time long past. It felt very similar to the setting of many a Grimm story. It captured that simplicity of time and place. It didn’t try to elaborate too much.
This world of kings, princes, nobles and common folk, with their belief in the existence of fairy-folk, was very comforting to return to. The author did an amazing job of recreating that feeling with her story. It stayed true to the classic, but with all these fantastic extras that made me smile.
I would love to talk about all that I loved about this story, especially with what went down at the royal ball and with the prince. But as those are some of the most exciting bits, I don’t want to risk spoiling them.
THE STEPSISTER’S TALE was a super quick read although the pace was unhurried. There was a richness of detail about all things close to Jane – her daily life, her family, her home – with much left up to the imagination for the larger world beyond. The small details the author included that made it feel very much in the style of those classic fairy tales were what made this story for me.
I adored it. And Jane. And spent the entire read hoping that she got her happy ending… and hoping that Ella did not.
Original GR comments.
Loved this story. It was so reminiscent of the classic in the way it was told. But I absolutely loved it for its differences - that it was told from the not-at-all-wicked stepsister's POV, that not everything was quite as the original led you to believe, and that not everyone was as nice or as evil.
This was a magical and fun read, and if I hadn't known I was reading a modern story I might never have guessed. It was charming and delightful and it took me back to my childhood as I was devouring it.
Review TK.
February 28, 2022
Overall I enjoyed this inside out retelling. The pacing was uneven however, with the bulk of the "Cinderella" tale in the last 25%. Its at this point Isabella (Cinderella) goes to the ball and from there its a mad dash to reimagine it all.
+++
Obviously I enjoy fairy tale re-tellings. I have two shelves dedicated to those sorts of books alone and so many others boxed away waiting to shine forth. Cinderella though isn't a favorite since honestly nothing beats Ella Enchanted for me. That remains almost pitch perfect to me and is book I point to when folk want to know how to re-imagine a fairy tale correctly. (I love the movie Ever After as well, but movie re-tellings are a separate matter entirely).
Barrett's book has much to recommend it. Our main character, Jane (one of the "ugly stepsisters") gives us a focal character who from the start is shown to be working hard. She's trying with everything she has to preserve what her mother sees as their "way of life" and live up to those ideals while still dealing with the every day tasks of having to do everything for a large estate. Tend the animals, clean, cook...Jane (and her sister Maude) do it all just to keep up a pretense of some gentility.
Something had to give and when Isabella ("Cinderella") and her father move in and that something occurs when Isabella's father dies. Its no longer Jane keeping her mother and sister alive, its now Jane keeping her mother, sister and vain useless stepsister alive. Keeping the dreams of one person alive is hard enough, but meeting the demands of two people running around in denial is just awful.
Two problems curbed my enthusiasm for this book, no matter how much I liked Jane and appreciated their budding relationship she was building. The pacing is horribly skewed. Its not that its a slow character driven novel (I love those) its that for 75% of the book its a character driven novel and then the last 25% seemed to remember it had to weave in a whole lot of the original tale.
In short order we have Cinderella's "fairy godmother", the ball, the search for the lady who fits the shoe and the "happily ever after". It felt very rushed and several character turns rang as unrealistic and contrived. Jane fared the best, but I still was sideswiped by her abrupt 180 on how she viewed Isabella's nature.
Meanwhile Jane's mother, Lady Margaret, suddenly has character and a will of her own while Isabella gets over herself long enough to realize she made some big mistakes. In neither case does either character show many glimpses of such traits, they just appear to help save the day at the end. And if we're being technical neither ever admits they were in the wrong. After Jane conceives the solution to their problems the main book ends and in the Epilogue we're told how it all worked out for everyone because of her solution.
I really, truly HATE it when books do that. I don't believe Epilogues should prove the ending. If I read the last page and I don't believe whatever the author wanted me to believe in (the romance, the end of a war, that the sky turned red forever and ever after) I don't want an Epilogue telling me how the ending was correct. An Epilogue should add to my already established belief in the ending. Or set up the continuation of the series itself by moving the focus to a new character. Its a bit like a scientist stating in his research paper that the experiment turned out correctly after only listing the original hypothesis and nothing at all about how he came to that conclusion.
Overall this wasn't a bad book, it just needed to expand on the characters outside of Jane more.
+++
Obviously I enjoy fairy tale re-tellings. I have two shelves dedicated to those sorts of books alone and so many others boxed away waiting to shine forth. Cinderella though isn't a favorite since honestly nothing beats Ella Enchanted for me. That remains almost pitch perfect to me and is book I point to when folk want to know how to re-imagine a fairy tale correctly. (I love the movie Ever After as well, but movie re-tellings are a separate matter entirely).
Barrett's book has much to recommend it. Our main character, Jane (one of the "ugly stepsisters") gives us a focal character who from the start is shown to be working hard. She's trying with everything she has to preserve what her mother sees as their "way of life" and live up to those ideals while still dealing with the every day tasks of having to do everything for a large estate. Tend the animals, clean, cook...Jane (and her sister Maude) do it all just to keep up a pretense of some gentility.
Something had to give and when Isabella ("Cinderella") and her father move in and that something occurs when Isabella's father dies. Its no longer Jane keeping her mother and sister alive, its now Jane keeping her mother, sister and vain useless stepsister alive. Keeping the dreams of one person alive is hard enough, but meeting the demands of two people running around in denial is just awful.
Two problems curbed my enthusiasm for this book, no matter how much I liked Jane and appreciated their budding relationship she was building. The pacing is horribly skewed. Its not that its a slow character driven novel (I love those) its that for 75% of the book its a character driven novel and then the last 25% seemed to remember it had to weave in a whole lot of the original tale.
In short order we have Cinderella's "fairy godmother", the ball, the search for the lady who fits the shoe and the "happily ever after". It felt very rushed and several character turns rang as unrealistic and contrived. Jane fared the best, but I still was sideswiped by her abrupt 180 on how she viewed Isabella's nature.
Meanwhile Jane's mother, Lady Margaret, suddenly has character and a will of her own while Isabella gets over herself long enough to realize she made some big mistakes. In neither case does either character show many glimpses of such traits, they just appear to help save the day at the end. And if we're being technical neither ever admits they were in the wrong. After Jane conceives the solution to their problems the main book ends and in the Epilogue we're told how it all worked out for everyone because of her solution.
I really, truly HATE it when books do that. I don't believe Epilogues should prove the ending. If I read the last page and I don't believe whatever the author wanted me to believe in (the romance, the end of a war, that the sky turned red forever and ever after) I don't want an Epilogue telling me how the ending was correct. An Epilogue should add to my already established belief in the ending. Or set up the continuation of the series itself by moving the focus to a new character. Its a bit like a scientist stating in his research paper that the experiment turned out correctly after only listing the original hypothesis and nothing at all about how he came to that conclusion.
Overall this wasn't a bad book, it just needed to expand on the characters outside of Jane more.
July 1, 2014
Actual Rating: 3.5/5
This review can be found at The Twins Read.
While her mother may still have her delusions of grandeur, Jane Montjoy knows that her crumbling estate is now reduced to a has-been. Jane and her sister Maud milk the cow, mend and repair their own now too-tight dresses, and clean the place up to the best of their abilities while their mother pretends that servants are still doing the work for them. But Jane's mother remarries and not too soon, her new husband dies, leaving debt and his own daughter to the care of the Montjoys.
Jane Montjoy and her sister Maude are used to a life of scrubbing floors, and making do with what meager things they have. I like both sisters because while others might moan and complain about having to have a difficult childhood amidst a once-glorious setting, they both take it all in stride and try to survive a day at a time. Their mother, however, is unaccustomed to the hard life, having been born to affluent parents and a place in society. While I surmised that the mother is embarrassed of having to stoop down from her pedestal to do anything around the house, I really felt bad for the sisters for having a mother who instead of contributing anything to their survival, only thought that they might have a better life if she remarried.
And thus, we meet Ella - and she is not the angel we all pictured in our heads when we were five years old. This Ella is selfish and a total brat, but I'm guessing that this is stemming from the fact that she is uprooted and suddenly has to call a bunch of strangers her family. Ella, who knows nothing but to make herself look pretty and presentable to society, has to share an apple with other members of the family, because as it turns out, her father is good at keeping up airs. I won't go into the details anymore, as this is a retelling of Cinderella, but I did like how Barrett handled a slew of characters who had minds and personalities of their own. It's quite uncanny how very humanlike they are, as they exhibit flaws and traits that both endear and irk the reader - a huge factor, I think, why this retelling worked out so well.
Forget Grimm's version of Cinderella. Forget Disney's version as well. Barrett's version is much, much better, and it satisfactorily fills in the holes that any skeptical audience of the other versions poked at.
This review can be found at The Twins Read.
While her mother may still have her delusions of grandeur, Jane Montjoy knows that her crumbling estate is now reduced to a has-been. Jane and her sister Maud milk the cow, mend and repair their own now too-tight dresses, and clean the place up to the best of their abilities while their mother pretends that servants are still doing the work for them. But Jane's mother remarries and not too soon, her new husband dies, leaving debt and his own daughter to the care of the Montjoys.
Jane Montjoy and her sister Maude are used to a life of scrubbing floors, and making do with what meager things they have. I like both sisters because while others might moan and complain about having to have a difficult childhood amidst a once-glorious setting, they both take it all in stride and try to survive a day at a time. Their mother, however, is unaccustomed to the hard life, having been born to affluent parents and a place in society. While I surmised that the mother is embarrassed of having to stoop down from her pedestal to do anything around the house, I really felt bad for the sisters for having a mother who instead of contributing anything to their survival, only thought that they might have a better life if she remarried.
And thus, we meet Ella - and she is not the angel we all pictured in our heads when we were five years old. This Ella is selfish and a total brat, but I'm guessing that this is stemming from the fact that she is uprooted and suddenly has to call a bunch of strangers her family. Ella, who knows nothing but to make herself look pretty and presentable to society, has to share an apple with other members of the family, because as it turns out, her father is good at keeping up airs. I won't go into the details anymore, as this is a retelling of Cinderella, but I did like how Barrett handled a slew of characters who had minds and personalities of their own. It's quite uncanny how very humanlike they are, as they exhibit flaws and traits that both endear and irk the reader - a huge factor, I think, why this retelling worked out so well.
Forget Grimm's version of Cinderella. Forget Disney's version as well. Barrett's version is much, much better, and it satisfactorily fills in the holes that any skeptical audience of the other versions poked at.
April 8, 2014
In this book the stepsisters live in a big house. But the house is falling apart, they can't even go upstairs without being in danger of falling through the floorboards. The story kicks off with Jane and her sister, Maude, gathering whatever food they can find. After a bit, their mother comes home from the city in a fancy carriage with the news that she has gotten married. Now Jane has a new stepfather and stepsister. Right off you can tell that her stepsister, Isabella, is a spoiled brat. You can also tell that their stepfather doesn't really like them. Isabella is the prettiest girl anyone has ever seen. But she is very young. Their stepfather dies from an illness later on and the family is stuck in winter, in debt.
I love the Grimm Brothers Fairy Tales. I also love spin-offs of those stories, such as The Lunar Chronicles. This story is a spin off of Cinderella. It is kind-of a reverse story. "Cinderella" is a brat and doesn't do any of the chores and dresses in fine silk, while the "ugly stepsisters" do all of the chores and runs around without shoes.
This book is small and so an easy read. This book is also clean, which I LOVED and highly appreciate. Just to let everyone know this is a stand-alone. I don't know about any future spin-offs but there will be no more off of these particular people.
I thought the book and the idea of it was good, but I thought it lingered too much around the same household chores, and Isabella's many gifts, and not enough on things like, the ball and supporting characters. But I did enjoy the story and the new twist on this familiar tale. I really loved the setting, and the romance was fun, though a little sudden.
Overall it was a really good read and something that took up what would have been an extremely boring day, and turned it into something fun!
-Reagan
ReadingTeen.net
I love the Grimm Brothers Fairy Tales. I also love spin-offs of those stories, such as The Lunar Chronicles. This story is a spin off of Cinderella. It is kind-of a reverse story. "Cinderella" is a brat and doesn't do any of the chores and dresses in fine silk, while the "ugly stepsisters" do all of the chores and runs around without shoes.
This book is small and so an easy read. This book is also clean, which I LOVED and highly appreciate. Just to let everyone know this is a stand-alone. I don't know about any future spin-offs but there will be no more off of these particular people.
I thought the book and the idea of it was good, but I thought it lingered too much around the same household chores, and Isabella's many gifts, and not enough on things like, the ball and supporting characters. But I did enjoy the story and the new twist on this familiar tale. I really loved the setting, and the romance was fun, though a little sudden.
Overall it was a really good read and something that took up what would have been an extremely boring day, and turned it into something fun!
-Reagan
ReadingTeen.net
September 10, 2021
High 3.5 stars, close to 4. This was a simple read but simple in a good way. The characters were kept to a minimum so confusion did not happen. Each one played their own role perfectly. Jane was a great big sister, doing what she needed to take care of her family. Their mother tried to hold on to her glory days but eventually, by the end, came around and realized that was not important. Isabelle was a brat at first but she definitely learned that family is important, not riches and pretty things. It was so nice to see that she had a child of her own at the end, along with Jane. Maude was able to become the herb woman she wanted as well. She was a little sister, acting like it sometimes, and that was perfect for her. The fairy tale was still there, but the perspective was different. Things weren't changed to a totally different Cinderella, just shifted from Ella's to the sisters. The sisters weren't horrible and I loved that. Cute story!
August 18, 2016
Thanks to Joanne for reccing this book even if it did take me a while to get around to it
Jane lives with her Mamma and younger sister in the faded grandeur and rotting rooms of their ancestral home Halsey Hall. Once they had a father too...but drink and ultimately death separated him from his wife and children
With her mother living on the memories of what once was and her sister too young to remember anything but the squalor Jane does her best to keep things together
When her mother returns from the city she is not alone,,,.. she brings her new husband along with his daughter. Jane and Mauds stepsister Isabella is a pretty nicely dressed girl who looks down on her new home and family.
Her father is
Jane learns that people of the woods who
The prince turns out to be cruel and selfish while Isabella at first comes across as spoiled after she experiences the hardship of her stepsisters she cant cope and breaks down
She goes a bit mental and starts sleeping with her head in the fireplace and so on
'Isabella still crouched in the fireplace, sifting the ashes through her fingers. She looked up as they entered. “You’re all muddy, Maude. Mud-Maude.” She laughed. “And you’re covered with cinders.” Maude listlessly emptied the nuts from her pouch on to the table in front of Jane. “Cinder-Ella.” “Don’t call me that, Mud-Maude,” Isabella said.'
in the end the biggest culprit is misumderstandings and differences
There is a romance in The other stepdaughter but it takes a backseat At heart this book is a coming of age story
Jane lives with her Mamma and younger sister in the faded grandeur and rotting rooms of their ancestral home Halsey Hall. Once they had a father too...but drink and ultimately death separated him from his wife and children
With her mother living on the memories of what once was and her sister too young to remember anything but the squalor Jane does her best to keep things together
When her mother returns from the city she is not alone,,,.. she brings her new husband along with his daughter. Jane and Mauds stepsister Isabella is a pretty nicely dressed girl who looks down on her new home and family.
Her father is
Jane learns that people of the woods who
The prince turns out to be cruel and selfish while Isabella at first comes across as spoiled after she experiences the hardship of her stepsisters she cant cope and breaks down
She goes a bit mental and starts sleeping with her head in the fireplace and so on
'Isabella still crouched in the fireplace, sifting the ashes through her fingers. She looked up as they entered. “You’re all muddy, Maude. Mud-Maude.” She laughed. “And you’re covered with cinders.” Maude listlessly emptied the nuts from her pouch on to the table in front of Jane. “Cinder-Ella.” “Don’t call me that, Mud-Maude,” Isabella said.'
in the end the biggest culprit is misumderstandings and differences
There is a romance in The other stepdaughter but it takes a backseat At heart this book is a coming of age story
September 17, 2015
A fun, imaginative twist on the Cinderella story, told from the stepsister's point of view. Full of beautiful details and characters to root for.
April 2, 2014
I love this book -- amazing fairy tale retelling in the style of Donna Jo Napoli or Robin McKinley. It's been a pleasure working with Tracy on this one!
July 1, 2014
Such a fun retelling! The ending is clever and delights the reader with an unexpected twist.
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