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Lady Tremaine
Not yet published
Expected 3 Mar 26A breathtaking reimagining of Cinderella, as told through the eyes of its iconic "evil" stepmother, revealing a propulsive love story about the lengths a mother will go to for her children
A widow twice-over, Etheldreda is now saddled with the care of her two children, a priggish stepdaughter, and a razor-taloned peregrine falcon. Her entire life has become a ruse, just like the manor hall they live grand and ornate on the exterior, but crumbling, brick by brick, inside. Fierce in the face of her misfortune, Ethel clings to her family’s respectability, the lifeboat that will float her daughters straight into the secure banks of marriage.
When a royal ball offers the chance to secure the future she desperately desires, Etheldreda must risk her secrets, pride, and limited resources in pursuit of an invitation for her daughters—only to see her hopes fulfilled by the wrong one. As an engagement to the heir of the kingdom unfolds with unnerving speed, she discovers a sordid secret hidden in the depths of the royal family, forcing her to choose between the security she’s sought for years and the wellbeing of the feckless stepdaughter who has rebuffed her at every turn.
As if Bridgerton met Circe, and exhilarating to its core, Lady Tremaine reimagines the myth of the evil stepmother at the heart of the world’s most famous fairytale. It is a battle cry for a mother’s love for her daughters, and a celebration of women everywhere who make their own fortunes.
A widow twice-over, Etheldreda is now saddled with the care of her two children, a priggish stepdaughter, and a razor-taloned peregrine falcon. Her entire life has become a ruse, just like the manor hall they live grand and ornate on the exterior, but crumbling, brick by brick, inside. Fierce in the face of her misfortune, Ethel clings to her family’s respectability, the lifeboat that will float her daughters straight into the secure banks of marriage.
When a royal ball offers the chance to secure the future she desperately desires, Etheldreda must risk her secrets, pride, and limited resources in pursuit of an invitation for her daughters—only to see her hopes fulfilled by the wrong one. As an engagement to the heir of the kingdom unfolds with unnerving speed, she discovers a sordid secret hidden in the depths of the royal family, forcing her to choose between the security she’s sought for years and the wellbeing of the feckless stepdaughter who has rebuffed her at every turn.
As if Bridgerton met Circe, and exhilarating to its core, Lady Tremaine reimagines the myth of the evil stepmother at the heart of the world’s most famous fairytale. It is a battle cry for a mother’s love for her daughters, and a celebration of women everywhere who make their own fortunes.
352 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 3, 2026
54 people are currently reading
19436 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Hochhauser
1 book99 followersRachel Hochhauser was born in Santa Barbara, CA. She graduated from New York University and has a masters in fiction from the University of Southern California. Outside of writing, she is the co-founder of Piecework, a design-forward puzzle company. She lives in Portland, OR with her husband and two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 248 reviews
December 7, 2025
Every so often, a book takes a story you think you know by heart and cracks it wide open, revealing something unexpected, raw, and breathtakingly human. Lady Tremaine does exactly that. Forget the wicked stepmother trope — this reimagining dares to ask us to see Etheldreda Tremaine not as a villain, but as a woman clawing for dignity, stability, and hope in a society that would rather watch her crumble.
Twice widowed, trapped in a decaying manor, and responsible for two daughters with no marriage prospects, Ethel fights like a cornered lioness. Add in a polished yet frustrating stepdaughter and a falcon perched ominously at her side, and you have a heroine unlike any I’ve encountered in a fairy tale retelling. She is flawed and prideful, sometimes sharp enough to wound, but every action, every sacrifice, is driven by the desperate need to secure her children’s futures. Watching her maneuver for invitations to the royal ball, only to see her plans unravel in dangerous and unexpected ways, had me glued to the page.
What elevates this story beyond a simple “twist on Cinderella” is its emotional core. This is not about glass slippers or magical transformations — it’s about motherhood in its rawest form. The sacrifices made in silence, the constant worry that keeps you awake at night, the small acts of love that never make it into fairy tales. Through Ethel’s narration, we feel the ache of compromise, the sting of failure, and the ferocity of a woman who refuses to stop fighting for her daughters, even when the world insists on labeling her cruel.
The writing is stunning — lyrical yet razor-sharp, rich with atmosphere and brimming with lines that linger in your mind. The world feels both familiar and startlingly fresh: a royal family with secrets festering behind its golden façade, a crumbling estate heavy with dust and desperation, and women who refuse to fade quietly into the margins of history. Even Elin, the Cinderella figure, is reframed not as an angelic victim but as a complicated young woman whose choices and flaws challenge both Ethel and the reader to reassess everything we thought we knew.
This retelling is a feast for fans of gothic drama, historical realism, and morally complex characters. It’s not about villains and heroes — it’s about survival, sacrifice, and the messy, complicated truths of love. By the end, I didn’t just sympathize with Lady Tremaine; I admired her resilience, her courage, and her unwavering devotion to her daughters.
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sharing this remarkable retelling of Cinderella from the perspective of the “evil” stepmother in exchange for my honest thoughts that I highly appreciated.
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Twice widowed, trapped in a decaying manor, and responsible for two daughters with no marriage prospects, Ethel fights like a cornered lioness. Add in a polished yet frustrating stepdaughter and a falcon perched ominously at her side, and you have a heroine unlike any I’ve encountered in a fairy tale retelling. She is flawed and prideful, sometimes sharp enough to wound, but every action, every sacrifice, is driven by the desperate need to secure her children’s futures. Watching her maneuver for invitations to the royal ball, only to see her plans unravel in dangerous and unexpected ways, had me glued to the page.
What elevates this story beyond a simple “twist on Cinderella” is its emotional core. This is not about glass slippers or magical transformations — it’s about motherhood in its rawest form. The sacrifices made in silence, the constant worry that keeps you awake at night, the small acts of love that never make it into fairy tales. Through Ethel’s narration, we feel the ache of compromise, the sting of failure, and the ferocity of a woman who refuses to stop fighting for her daughters, even when the world insists on labeling her cruel.
The writing is stunning — lyrical yet razor-sharp, rich with atmosphere and brimming with lines that linger in your mind. The world feels both familiar and startlingly fresh: a royal family with secrets festering behind its golden façade, a crumbling estate heavy with dust and desperation, and women who refuse to fade quietly into the margins of history. Even Elin, the Cinderella figure, is reframed not as an angelic victim but as a complicated young woman whose choices and flaws challenge both Ethel and the reader to reassess everything we thought we knew.
This retelling is a feast for fans of gothic drama, historical realism, and morally complex characters. It’s not about villains and heroes — it’s about survival, sacrifice, and the messy, complicated truths of love. By the end, I didn’t just sympathize with Lady Tremaine; I admired her resilience, her courage, and her unwavering devotion to her daughters.
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sharing this remarkable retelling of Cinderella from the perspective of the “evil” stepmother in exchange for my honest thoughts that I highly appreciated.
medium blog
August 10, 2025
SPECTACULAR. Read an ARC of this one for a potential quote, and will definitely be giving one.
October 14, 2025
4.25 / 5 Stars
Wow, what an incredibly well-written, special book. “Lady Tremaine” is an exceptional reimagining of Cinderella told through the “evil” stepmother’s point of view. What if Ethel (Lady Tremaine) isn’t a (literal and metaphoric) cartoon villain and instead is a strong but flawed woman who is trying to make the best out of a horrible situation for her daughters? Twice widowed, she is left to take care of her two daughters, her stepdaughter, and a crumbling estate with no money. She desperately tries to cling to the image and title of a proper Lady while having to make ends meet in ways that were not lady-like during those times. She hunts for food in the woods with her falcon. She sells off furniture and belongings and literal scraps for money. Ethel fights tooth and nail to give her daughters a chance to have a better life. When only Elin (Cinderella) is invited to the royal ball, Ethel has to shallow her pride and beg for an invitation for all three of her daughters. As the story goes, Elin is the one who gets engaged to the prince. But something feels off about their engagement and as Ethel learns the truth about the royals, she has to decide what is most important to her: the security that comes with titles and money or doing right by her stepdaughter who she doesn’t really understand or connect with.
You will probably like this book if you like:
💛 Feminist retellings of classic princess stories
💛 Discussions of grief
💛 Exploration of motherhood
💛 Female friendships
💛 Complex family dynamics
💛 Nuanced, fully formed, beautifully written characters
The prose was spectacular. The characters were all so fully alive and deeply human: they were layered and flawed and real. No one was the villain but no one was the hero either. We got to read Ethel’s backstory to even better understand her motivations and character traits and how her world view was shaped. Elin was not perfect either so you could see how a rift would have formed between them. Because we understood each character so well, the dialogue became a game to understand the true meaning behind the “proper” things that they said which added to the meaningfulness of the story. The world building was also super lush and vibrant.
It was impossible not to root for Ethel. She was so fierce, independent, clever, and strong willed. My heart broke when hers did. I felt embarrassed when she did. I just wanted the best for her (which is a sign of good writing). Even Ethel’s flaws (her judgementalness, her lack of patience for weaknesses, her sometimes imposing her will on to daughters without asking what they wanted) were understandable because of how the characters and the world were written. Ethel had to try to succeed in a world set up to fail her. Women only had power within the context of men and within the rules that were written for them and yet Ethel fought and fought and fought. I also loved the exploration of what it meant to be a mother, what power and challenges that allowed the women of this time, and what it meant to be a mother to a child that you may not connect with. And there is a very small romantic subplot for those of us (me) who need something romantic to feel satisfied with the story.
Also, I loved Ethel’s connection to falconry and how it served as a metaphor for motherhood. Ethel’s peregrine, Lucy, was one of my favorite characters in the story. Give me more books with badass women with falcons, please!
The first 70% of the book followed the plot that we know with additional connective tissue unique to this story. The rest of the book veered off from what we know in a way that felt tonally different but still connected. It wrapped up the story in a satisfying way that connected to the themes and showed character growth for our lovely group of women.
My only real qualm is that, because the prose was so rich, sometimes the pacing felt slow, especially in the first half of the book. I would sometimes find myself checking how long I had felt in the chapter.
I am hoping that the final version of the book will have a content warning but if not (or if you are ARC reading as well), please note that there was incest and rape (happened off the page but was discussed on the page) and an animal death (on the page).
Overall, I definitely recommend this book, especially if you loved Cinderella but wanted a more nuanced look at the story.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: March 3, 2026
______________________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: I am so excited to read this one. This is a Cinderella retelling told from the "evil" stepmother point of view. Also her full name in the book is Lady Etheldreda Verity Isolde Tremaine Bramley. How 👏 fucking 👏 iconic 👏.
Wow, what an incredibly well-written, special book. “Lady Tremaine” is an exceptional reimagining of Cinderella told through the “evil” stepmother’s point of view. What if Ethel (Lady Tremaine) isn’t a (literal and metaphoric) cartoon villain and instead is a strong but flawed woman who is trying to make the best out of a horrible situation for her daughters? Twice widowed, she is left to take care of her two daughters, her stepdaughter, and a crumbling estate with no money. She desperately tries to cling to the image and title of a proper Lady while having to make ends meet in ways that were not lady-like during those times. She hunts for food in the woods with her falcon. She sells off furniture and belongings and literal scraps for money. Ethel fights tooth and nail to give her daughters a chance to have a better life. When only Elin (Cinderella) is invited to the royal ball, Ethel has to shallow her pride and beg for an invitation for all three of her daughters. As the story goes, Elin is the one who gets engaged to the prince. But something feels off about their engagement and as Ethel learns the truth about the royals, she has to decide what is most important to her: the security that comes with titles and money or doing right by her stepdaughter who she doesn’t really understand or connect with.
You will probably like this book if you like:
💛 Feminist retellings of classic princess stories
💛 Discussions of grief
💛 Exploration of motherhood
💛 Female friendships
💛 Complex family dynamics
💛 Nuanced, fully formed, beautifully written characters
The prose was spectacular. The characters were all so fully alive and deeply human: they were layered and flawed and real. No one was the villain but no one was the hero either. We got to read Ethel’s backstory to even better understand her motivations and character traits and how her world view was shaped. Elin was not perfect either so you could see how a rift would have formed between them. Because we understood each character so well, the dialogue became a game to understand the true meaning behind the “proper” things that they said which added to the meaningfulness of the story. The world building was also super lush and vibrant.
It was impossible not to root for Ethel. She was so fierce, independent, clever, and strong willed. My heart broke when hers did. I felt embarrassed when she did. I just wanted the best for her (which is a sign of good writing). Even Ethel’s flaws (her judgementalness, her lack of patience for weaknesses, her sometimes imposing her will on to daughters without asking what they wanted) were understandable because of how the characters and the world were written. Ethel had to try to succeed in a world set up to fail her. Women only had power within the context of men and within the rules that were written for them and yet Ethel fought and fought and fought. I also loved the exploration of what it meant to be a mother, what power and challenges that allowed the women of this time, and what it meant to be a mother to a child that you may not connect with. And there is a very small romantic subplot for those of us (me) who need something romantic to feel satisfied with the story.
Also, I loved Ethel’s connection to falconry and how it served as a metaphor for motherhood. Ethel’s peregrine, Lucy, was one of my favorite characters in the story. Give me more books with badass women with falcons, please!
The first 70% of the book followed the plot that we know with additional connective tissue unique to this story. The rest of the book veered off from what we know in a way that felt tonally different but still connected. It wrapped up the story in a satisfying way that connected to the themes and showed character growth for our lovely group of women.
My only real qualm is that, because the prose was so rich, sometimes the pacing felt slow, especially in the first half of the book. I would sometimes find myself checking how long I had felt in the chapter.
I am hoping that the final version of the book will have a content warning but if not (or if you are ARC reading as well), please note that there was incest and rape (happened off the page but was discussed on the page) and an animal death (on the page).
Overall, I definitely recommend this book, especially if you loved Cinderella but wanted a more nuanced look at the story.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: March 3, 2026
______________________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: I am so excited to read this one. This is a Cinderella retelling told from the "evil" stepmother point of view. Also her full name in the book is Lady Etheldreda Verity Isolde Tremaine Bramley. How 👏 fucking 👏 iconic 👏.
November 6, 2025
Wow wow! A stunning story of an amazingly strong woman.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you think you are too old for fairy tales, I am going to challenge you on that right here!
Have you ever been blown away by a writer and their imagination? This new author has done just that with a retelling of a classic book. Cinderella as you have never seen her!
At first, I was not sure about reading this book. It hit my inbox time and time again, and finally, I said yes. Thank goodness! My mind is swirling!
Lady Tremaine is an amazing story of the evil step-mother and her children, but it is nothing like you think it will be. The author has created characters who are fierce and unbelievably strong for the time, considering what we read in fairy tales.
Hochhauser has writing skills for days. Her storytelling ability will suck you in, mind-bend you, and spit you out, jaw dropped and shaking your head, saying, “What did I just read??”
This is a stunning story of an amazingly strong woman. Imaginative and creative writing skills that will change the way you think about many books we grew up on, asking, What if…!
Do yourself a favor and read it!
~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* * Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/lady-tremain...
~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you think you are too old for fairy tales, I am going to challenge you on that right here!
Have you ever been blown away by a writer and their imagination? This new author has done just that with a retelling of a classic book. Cinderella as you have never seen her!
At first, I was not sure about reading this book. It hit my inbox time and time again, and finally, I said yes. Thank goodness! My mind is swirling!
Lady Tremaine is an amazing story of the evil step-mother and her children, but it is nothing like you think it will be. The author has created characters who are fierce and unbelievably strong for the time, considering what we read in fairy tales.
Hochhauser has writing skills for days. Her storytelling ability will suck you in, mind-bend you, and spit you out, jaw dropped and shaking your head, saying, “What did I just read??”
This is a stunning story of an amazingly strong woman. Imaginative and creative writing skills that will change the way you think about many books we grew up on, asking, What if…!
Do yourself a favor and read it!
~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* * Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/lady-tremain...
November 30, 2025
Ethel, a widow with two daughters from her first marriage, marries a man with a young daughter. Elin is nothing like Ethel's girls, who have to help out since neither husband left any money. Elin is always spouting self-righteous quotes, and doesn't pull her weight doing chores. When there's an announcement of a royal ball, Elin is invited, and Ethel manages to wrangle an invite for her two girls as well. Her girls diligently make their dresses, but lazy Elin again doesn't do her part. She does use some subterfuge to get to the ball, and wins the prince's heart. But what Ethel learns is disturbing enough for her to try and stop the wedding. A loose retelling of the Cinderella story from the stepmother's POV. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.
October 11, 2025
An emphatic 5 ⭐️
Wow. I am head over heels in love with this book. Lady Tremaine, you have surprised me and captured me in way few characters do.
This reimagining of who we all know as the “evil stepmother” from Cinderella, completely swept me off my feet. I was captivated and completely emotionally invested from the first page to that GOOSEBUMP INDUCING last line.
While reading this, absolutely enthralled and wowed by the writing, I paused at the 60% mark after bingeing it all morning to go and add more Hochhauser books to my TBR. Well, I was stunned to find that this is a DEBUT NOVEL. The writing holds the same finesse and confidence as a book written by a tried and true author. I was so impressed and simultaneously disappointed I didn’t have more books by this author to dive into.
I don’t want to get into any details of the book because I really feel it’s best to go in not having any expectations of how Rachel Hochhauser will reimagine the “evil stepmother” and the original story of Cinderella. But the bones of the fairytale are there but the new perspective is even better.
I will also say this: it was emotional, impactful, raw, honest, scenic, thrilling, beautiful, unique and surprising.
Highly highly recommend for readers who like retellings, period pieces, and feminist themes.
Thank you St. Martins Press and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Wow. I am head over heels in love with this book. Lady Tremaine, you have surprised me and captured me in way few characters do.
This reimagining of who we all know as the “evil stepmother” from Cinderella, completely swept me off my feet. I was captivated and completely emotionally invested from the first page to that GOOSEBUMP INDUCING last line.
While reading this, absolutely enthralled and wowed by the writing, I paused at the 60% mark after bingeing it all morning to go and add more Hochhauser books to my TBR. Well, I was stunned to find that this is a DEBUT NOVEL. The writing holds the same finesse and confidence as a book written by a tried and true author. I was so impressed and simultaneously disappointed I didn’t have more books by this author to dive into.
I don’t want to get into any details of the book because I really feel it’s best to go in not having any expectations of how Rachel Hochhauser will reimagine the “evil stepmother” and the original story of Cinderella. But the bones of the fairytale are there but the new perspective is even better.
I will also say this: it was emotional, impactful, raw, honest, scenic, thrilling, beautiful, unique and surprising.
Highly highly recommend for readers who like retellings, period pieces, and feminist themes.
Thank you St. Martins Press and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
September 21, 2025
When I first learned I was approved on NetGalley for LADY TREMAINE by Rachel Hochhauser, I was beyond ecstatic!! I absolutely adore any fairy tale reimagining, especially those that create a story surrounding those characters who are historically depicted as evil—villains such as Maleficent or the Evil Queen. Lady Tremaine is such a character, so much more than the Wicked Stepmother we grew up reading about in Cinderella. In this wonderful and beautifully written novel, we are introduced to a woman who is first and foremost a devoted mother whose life is a testament to strength, resilience, and unconditional love.
From the very first chapter, I was swept into a world not of fairy tales, but of hardship, heartache, and ultimately, enduring strength. Hochhauser’s writing is compelling and immersive, drawing you into Etheldreda's story with incredible detail and emotional depth. What I loved most is how the author gave Ethel a voice that felt authentic, flawed, layered, and deeply human. She is not the flat or one-dimensional character we see in the fairy tale, but a strong, intelligent, and complex heroine who we as readers can relate to. The pacing was perfect—never dragging, always pulling me forward and compelling me to read just one more chapter. The prose was so beautifully written that I often found myself rereading passages just to enjoy them again.
Ultimately, LADY TREMAINE is a love story, but not a typical one—it is a love story about a mother, her enduring love for her children, and the lengths she will go to protect them from a world that is too often cruel. This will definitely be one of my favorite books of the year!! And as a bird lover, Lucy left an indelible impression on me, and I truly loved the significant part she played in Etheldreda's story.
By the epilogue, I didn’t want the story to end. This is one of those rare books that stays with you, and moves you in ways you never anticipated. I cannot wait to read more from this author. Highly recommend for anyone who loves fairy tale retellings with a strong, beautiful, unforgettable heroine!
I want to extend a huge thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Hochhauser, and St. Martin's Press for gifting me the ARC of LADY TREMAINE. I appreciate you trusting me with an honest review!! It was a privilege to be able to read this novel before publication in 2026!!
From the very first chapter, I was swept into a world not of fairy tales, but of hardship, heartache, and ultimately, enduring strength. Hochhauser’s writing is compelling and immersive, drawing you into Etheldreda's story with incredible detail and emotional depth. What I loved most is how the author gave Ethel a voice that felt authentic, flawed, layered, and deeply human. She is not the flat or one-dimensional character we see in the fairy tale, but a strong, intelligent, and complex heroine who we as readers can relate to. The pacing was perfect—never dragging, always pulling me forward and compelling me to read just one more chapter. The prose was so beautifully written that I often found myself rereading passages just to enjoy them again.
Ultimately, LADY TREMAINE is a love story, but not a typical one—it is a love story about a mother, her enduring love for her children, and the lengths she will go to protect them from a world that is too often cruel. This will definitely be one of my favorite books of the year!! And as a bird lover, Lucy left an indelible impression on me, and I truly loved the significant part she played in Etheldreda's story.
By the epilogue, I didn’t want the story to end. This is one of those rare books that stays with you, and moves you in ways you never anticipated. I cannot wait to read more from this author. Highly recommend for anyone who loves fairy tale retellings with a strong, beautiful, unforgettable heroine!
I want to extend a huge thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Hochhauser, and St. Martin's Press for gifting me the ARC of LADY TREMAINE. I appreciate you trusting me with an honest review!! It was a privilege to be able to read this novel before publication in 2026!!
Want to read
December 30, 2025Thank you, St. Martin Press, for sending me this ARC. Pub Date: Mar 03, 2026
"A breathtaking reimagining of Cinderella, as told through the eyes of its iconic "evil" stepmother, revealing a propulsive love story about the lengths a mother will go to for her children"
I can't wait to read this!!!!
As always, all thoughts are my own. 🖤💫
"A breathtaking reimagining of Cinderella, as told through the eyes of its iconic "evil" stepmother, revealing a propulsive love story about the lengths a mother will go to for her children"
I can't wait to read this!!!!
As always, all thoughts are my own. 🖤💫
October 1, 2025
5 million stars ⭐️ Review to come. ❤️
August 14, 2025
A twisted fairytale retelling of Cinderella from the stepmothers pov. Maybe she isn't the villain of the story and is just trying her best to be a good mom. In this version of the story, the stepmom is truly trying to help all the girls, and you'll be surprised by how some of the characters are portrayed. I really enjoyed this version. ya appropriate.
November 23, 2025
“You do not need to be afraid. You do not have to be good … You are the scariest thing in the woods.”
I haven’t felt such mixed emotions in a long time. what a wild ride and one hell of a book!! lady tremaine was superbly written, it's engaging and exciting. i didn't want to put this down once i picked it up. as a cinderella retelling/reimagining, i loved the different perspective and the creative twist rachel hochhauser put on it.
my favorite thing about lady tremaine is how she's a villain. one of the more well known and famous ones. yet i couldn't help but want the best for her, while also wanting to hate her at the same time. i was so confused by the mix of emotions i had throughout reading this book, and i mean that in a good way! i loved how one minute i was rooting for the ethel and the next i was mad at her. i haven't felt like this while reading in a long time and i really enjoyed it.
i also loved the different perspective of cinderella. i found it interesting how hochhauser displayed elin (this version of cinderella) as both good and bad depending on the circumstances. it really put things into perspective. i loved and hated both ethel and elin at different moments but i could see both sides of the story. it's really complicated to try and explain, but you get to see elin as both spoiled and struggling to do what's expected of her. you can see ethel as both dealing with a spoiled child who won't do anything, and not giving adequate instructions to the girl. both and neither are at fault. it was a genius way of writing the characters.
lady tremaine is perfectly medium paced. it's not too slow nor too fast. it's easy to follow along and get lost in the story. i definitely plan on rereading this book once i get a physical copy as i need to annotate the hell out of it.
I haven’t felt such mixed emotions in a long time. what a wild ride and one hell of a book!! lady tremaine was superbly written, it's engaging and exciting. i didn't want to put this down once i picked it up. as a cinderella retelling/reimagining, i loved the different perspective and the creative twist rachel hochhauser put on it.
my favorite thing about lady tremaine is how she's a villain. one of the more well known and famous ones. yet i couldn't help but want the best for her, while also wanting to hate her at the same time. i was so confused by the mix of emotions i had throughout reading this book, and i mean that in a good way! i loved how one minute i was rooting for the ethel and the next i was mad at her. i haven't felt like this while reading in a long time and i really enjoyed it.
i also loved the different perspective of cinderella. i found it interesting how hochhauser displayed elin (this version of cinderella) as both good and bad depending on the circumstances. it really put things into perspective. i loved and hated both ethel and elin at different moments but i could see both sides of the story. it's really complicated to try and explain, but you get to see elin as both spoiled and struggling to do what's expected of her. you can see ethel as both dealing with a spoiled child who won't do anything, and not giving adequate instructions to the girl. both and neither are at fault. it was a genius way of writing the characters.
lady tremaine is perfectly medium paced. it's not too slow nor too fast. it's easy to follow along and get lost in the story. i definitely plan on rereading this book once i get a physical copy as i need to annotate the hell out of it.
September 27, 2025
Wow, this book completely caught me off guard. This story is a retelling of Cinderella but from the perspective of the Stepmother. I liked the premise and it was an interesting take on an old classic. However the last part of the story really blew my mind. I was not expecting what happened at all.
Etheldreda finds herself in dire circumstances after her second husband passes away and leaves her with no money, lots of debt, and a large house to maintain. She also has her two daughters, Matilda and Rosamund from her first marriage, and a stepdaughter, Elin, to take care of. The only way she can see out of this situation is successful marriages for her daughters. When an announcement comes that there will be a ball, Etheldreda must find a way to get money, invitations for all the girls, and appropriate dresses so that the girls can go and meet the prince and other possible husbands. There is of course conflict with her stepdaughter.
The book is set in the Middle Ages and there was some other interesting information about hawking which was a popular sport for the upper classes during this time period. Overall, this was a great retelling and if you have ever loved reading Cinderella or just enjoy a story where there are strong female characters I recommend reading this book.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
Etheldreda finds herself in dire circumstances after her second husband passes away and leaves her with no money, lots of debt, and a large house to maintain. She also has her two daughters, Matilda and Rosamund from her first marriage, and a stepdaughter, Elin, to take care of. The only way she can see out of this situation is successful marriages for her daughters. When an announcement comes that there will be a ball, Etheldreda must find a way to get money, invitations for all the girls, and appropriate dresses so that the girls can go and meet the prince and other possible husbands. There is of course conflict with her stepdaughter.
The book is set in the Middle Ages and there was some other interesting information about hawking which was a popular sport for the upper classes during this time period. Overall, this was a great retelling and if you have ever loved reading Cinderella or just enjoy a story where there are strong female characters I recommend reading this book.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
December 11, 2025
4.25 stars
This re imagining of Cinderella is a wonderful story of what a mother will do to protect her daughters. Etheldreda Tremaine is not an "evil" stepmother, nor is Elin an abused stepdaughter in this re telling of the beloved tale. Ethel has married once for love and had her two daughters, and then again in order to protect her daughters from being forced into very early marriages. Her second husband has a daughter as well, who is a pampered girl who refuses to really accept Ethel as a mother figure.
Since I don't want to give spoilers I will just say the story has some similarities to the traditional tale, until we get about 75% through, when it turns into an adventure story. I thought the writing was excellent and I was immersed in the story from the beginning even though fairytale retellings are not usually my jam. Ethel was a very interesting character, and although I didn't agree with all her decisions, I had to admire her motivation and machinations to protect her family. I even learned something about falconry. If you are a fan of fairy tail retellings, or just interesting stories about strong mothers protecting her brood, I would encourage you to give this one a try.
Thank you to net galley and the publisher for the e galley.
This re imagining of Cinderella is a wonderful story of what a mother will do to protect her daughters. Etheldreda Tremaine is not an "evil" stepmother, nor is Elin an abused stepdaughter in this re telling of the beloved tale. Ethel has married once for love and had her two daughters, and then again in order to protect her daughters from being forced into very early marriages. Her second husband has a daughter as well, who is a pampered girl who refuses to really accept Ethel as a mother figure.
Since I don't want to give spoilers I will just say the story has some similarities to the traditional tale, until we get about 75% through, when it turns into an adventure story. I thought the writing was excellent and I was immersed in the story from the beginning even though fairytale retellings are not usually my jam. Ethel was a very interesting character, and although I didn't agree with all her decisions, I had to admire her motivation and machinations to protect her family. I even learned something about falconry. If you are a fan of fairy tail retellings, or just interesting stories about strong mothers protecting her brood, I would encourage you to give this one a try.
Thank you to net galley and the publisher for the e galley.
September 14, 2025
4.5-5 stars! This was a great reimagining of the Cinderella story from the “evil” stepmother’s point of view! It was a little slow in the beginning, but I honestly didn’t want to put it down! I have always loved the Disney version of Cinderella and I loved how this book explains everything, but in a completely different kind of way. I also loved that there were no fantasy elements, just a great story of strength and determination. And also, the cover is beautiful!
December 30, 2025
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
full review to come closer to publication
full review to come closer to publication
August 4, 2025
As someone who loves retellings—especially when they give voice to the so-called villains—I found Lady Tremaine to be a striking, elegant, and emotionally intelligent reimagining. Rachel Hochhauser doesn't seek to redeem or excuse the infamous stepmother, but instead, she gives her depth, grief, and a story worth hearing.
So often, fairy tales (particularly those written by men) reduce older women to bitter antagonists—jealous of youth, beauty, or virtue. But Hochhauser turns that trope on its head. She explores what it means to be a woman grieving her own losses, expected to step into the role of “mother” to a girl who neither wants her guidance nor understands her pain.
This quote captures the heart of that emotional tension:
“But most critically: she did not want my mothering. And I did not know how to be an unwanted mother. I did not know how to grow love from infertile ground. It was unnatural for both of us.”
There is so much quiet devastation here. The loneliness of trying to love someone who cannot, or will not, accept that love is rendered beautifully and without melodrama.
Equally powerful is the portrayal of Elin (Cinderella), who is not cunning or rebellious, but quietly shaped by her place in society:
“Elin still self-governed with the expectations of the daughter of a lord. She had little ability to think for herself. She had, instead, her book. Her listless behavior was marked not by cunning, but by belief in virtue and its ability to protect—and save—you.
But in this version, being “good” doesn’t save her. And being “bad” doesn’t explain Lady Tremaine. Both women are caught in a story that never really saw either of them clearly—until now.
Lady Tremaine is not just a retelling—it’s a reframing. It’s a quiet act of rebellion against the tidy roles fairy tales assign. And in doing so, it gives readers something rare: empathy for the misunderstood, and space to question who really writes the rules of villainy.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of Lady Tremaine in exchange for an honest review.
So often, fairy tales (particularly those written by men) reduce older women to bitter antagonists—jealous of youth, beauty, or virtue. But Hochhauser turns that trope on its head. She explores what it means to be a woman grieving her own losses, expected to step into the role of “mother” to a girl who neither wants her guidance nor understands her pain.
This quote captures the heart of that emotional tension:
“But most critically: she did not want my mothering. And I did not know how to be an unwanted mother. I did not know how to grow love from infertile ground. It was unnatural for both of us.”
There is so much quiet devastation here. The loneliness of trying to love someone who cannot, or will not, accept that love is rendered beautifully and without melodrama.
Equally powerful is the portrayal of Elin (Cinderella), who is not cunning or rebellious, but quietly shaped by her place in society:
“Elin still self-governed with the expectations of the daughter of a lord. She had little ability to think for herself. She had, instead, her book. Her listless behavior was marked not by cunning, but by belief in virtue and its ability to protect—and save—you.
But in this version, being “good” doesn’t save her. And being “bad” doesn’t explain Lady Tremaine. Both women are caught in a story that never really saw either of them clearly—until now.
Lady Tremaine is not just a retelling—it’s a reframing. It’s a quiet act of rebellion against the tidy roles fairy tales assign. And in doing so, it gives readers something rare: empathy for the misunderstood, and space to question who really writes the rules of villainy.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of Lady Tremaine in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2026
𝐴𝑠 𝑎 𝑚𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟, 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑚𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑡ℎ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑠, 𝑝𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑖𝑠ℎ, 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑛. 𝐹𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑦 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒 ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑝 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑦𝑜𝑢, 𝑤𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑠 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑛𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑙𝑒𝑒𝑝, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑒𝑥𝑡𝑟𝑎 𝑘𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑡 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝑑𝑏𝑦𝑒. 𝑌𝑜𝑢 ℎ𝑜𝑝𝑒, 𝑏𝑒𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒, 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑖𝑠ℎ 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑛, 𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑓𝑢𝑙, 𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑔𝑜𝑛𝑒. 𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛. 𝑇𝑜 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑟𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑙𝑒, 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒, 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑏𝑙𝑒, 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑡-𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑑, 𝑓𝑙𝑒𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑢𝑛𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡.
In this feminist retelling of Cinderella, we focus on the ‘wicked’ stepmother’s perspective as Etheldreda Tremaine, a fierce but struggling widow trying to secure her daughters’ futures, who uncovers dark secrets within the royal family while navigating complex motherhood, ultimately choosing between societal security and her stepdaughters’ well-beings.
This book was amazing. It took a fairy tale we all know and added a unique change in perspective, forcing you to reevaluate the entire tale in a completely different light. I think there is a lot to love, but if you are a mother, this one will hit a bit differently. It focuses heavily on the sacrifices necessary in motherhood but also showcases feminine strength in ways I wasn’t expecting.
This story is powerful, beautifully written, and had me bewitched the entire time.
This book is described as Circe meets Bridgerton, and this was the perfect description of this book. I seriously can’t recommend it enough. I had the pleasure of listening to this one on audio and was easily swept up in Bessie Carter’s narration. She added so much to this story and I was hanging on to every word. I can’t wait for this book to be available to everyone. I’ll also be picking up a physical copy because I need this masterpiece in my collection.
Overall - 5 stars. The more I reflect on this story, the more I realize it was flawless. From the romance to the pacing - perfection. Again, there is something to love about this story for everyone!
Special thanks to Macmillan Audio for early access to this amazing audiobook in exchange for my honest review!
In this feminist retelling of Cinderella, we focus on the ‘wicked’ stepmother’s perspective as Etheldreda Tremaine, a fierce but struggling widow trying to secure her daughters’ futures, who uncovers dark secrets within the royal family while navigating complex motherhood, ultimately choosing between societal security and her stepdaughters’ well-beings.
This book was amazing. It took a fairy tale we all know and added a unique change in perspective, forcing you to reevaluate the entire tale in a completely different light. I think there is a lot to love, but if you are a mother, this one will hit a bit differently. It focuses heavily on the sacrifices necessary in motherhood but also showcases feminine strength in ways I wasn’t expecting.
This story is powerful, beautifully written, and had me bewitched the entire time.
This book is described as Circe meets Bridgerton, and this was the perfect description of this book. I seriously can’t recommend it enough. I had the pleasure of listening to this one on audio and was easily swept up in Bessie Carter’s narration. She added so much to this story and I was hanging on to every word. I can’t wait for this book to be available to everyone. I’ll also be picking up a physical copy because I need this masterpiece in my collection.
Overall - 5 stars. The more I reflect on this story, the more I realize it was flawless. From the romance to the pacing - perfection. Again, there is something to love about this story for everyone!
Special thanks to Macmillan Audio for early access to this amazing audiobook in exchange for my honest review!
August 23, 2025
I want to start this review by clarifying that I am not really a Disney person. I know that some people love Disney and are going to be hooked by the retelling of a classic story that's centered on an iconic Disney villain. I want to say that even if Disney isn't your thing, this retelling was fantastically done. It is not a sugarcoated, magical world, but one that gradually gets darker and more twisted as you progress through this book.
The evil stepmother in this book is introduced as a child and we watch her fall in love with her first husband-- the love who fathers her two stepdaughter children. We see how life plays with the family, forcing them to make decisions that were never part of the Happily Ever After that our heroine expected. She's not always a pleasant or entirely sympathetic character-- she hurts others and is so focused on upward social gain that she often overlooks her own family's frustration and unhappiness-- but she works hard to keep her daughters' future possibilities open.
Elin, the Cinderella character, has some issues. And Prince Charming is one of them.
I thought this was a very well executed book. I felt a great deal of tension as I was reading, torn between my hope that this hard-working woman could achieve a better future for her daughters and my knowledge that the evil stepmother's story seldom ends happily. I could nitpick things here or there that I wish had been handled a tiny bit differently, but nothing would have mattered in the grand scheme of these. Excellent book.
Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book in exchange for my review.
The evil stepmother in this book is introduced as a child and we watch her fall in love with her first husband-- the love who fathers her two stepdaughter children. We see how life plays with the family, forcing them to make decisions that were never part of the Happily Ever After that our heroine expected. She's not always a pleasant or entirely sympathetic character-- she hurts others and is so focused on upward social gain that she often overlooks her own family's frustration and unhappiness-- but she works hard to keep her daughters' future possibilities open.
Elin, the Cinderella character, has some issues. And Prince Charming is one of them.
I thought this was a very well executed book. I felt a great deal of tension as I was reading, torn between my hope that this hard-working woman could achieve a better future for her daughters and my knowledge that the evil stepmother's story seldom ends happily. I could nitpick things here or there that I wish had been handled a tiny bit differently, but nothing would have mattered in the grand scheme of these. Excellent book.
Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book in exchange for my review.
books-i-have-but-haven-t-read
July 23, 2025got a giveaway copy of this!!! super excited to read it!
Want to read
July 21, 2025giveaway copy yay :)
August 18, 2025
A retelling of Cinderella with a unique perspective and several unexpected twists. The narrative included extensive details at times, which I found somewhat lengthy, but I appreciated the perspective of the stepmother and the unconventional ending. Overall, an enjoyable read.
Read
September 15, 20253.75 ⭐️
I have a soft spot for a retelling of the classic Princess stories of my youth and so when I see them come across NetGalley, I like to request them for when I need an escapist read.
Lady Tremaine is a reimagining of #Cinderella told with a darker, feminist twist. It’s the story of Ethel, her two girls and the stepdaughter that she inherited by the marriage of her second husband. There is a ball, a Queen, a dashing (evil) Prince, but the story centres more on themes of family, womanhood and the strength a woman can have on their own…. Rather than the fairy tale love story.
For certain there is love, but it’s the backdrop to the author’s tale. I will say I wasn’t expecting it to get as dark as it did towards the end, but it did make “sense” for the feminist aspects of the story.
This story is more about the glass slipper that was never meant to fit. And the reader who didn’t want it there by the end.
I enjoyed this as expected.
I have a soft spot for a retelling of the classic Princess stories of my youth and so when I see them come across NetGalley, I like to request them for when I need an escapist read.
Lady Tremaine is a reimagining of #Cinderella told with a darker, feminist twist. It’s the story of Ethel, her two girls and the stepdaughter that she inherited by the marriage of her second husband. There is a ball, a Queen, a dashing (evil) Prince, but the story centres more on themes of family, womanhood and the strength a woman can have on their own…. Rather than the fairy tale love story.
For certain there is love, but it’s the backdrop to the author’s tale. I will say I wasn’t expecting it to get as dark as it did towards the end, but it did make “sense” for the feminist aspects of the story.
This story is more about the glass slipper that was never meant to fit. And the reader who didn’t want it there by the end.
I enjoyed this as expected.
August 19, 2025
The story of Cinderella is one that’s been told hundreds of times over, but I would argue, not like this. I was so intrigued to see how Rachel Hochhauser would not villainize the Stepmother (it’s actually so hard not to automatically call her the Evil Stepmother). A stunning story with a huge twist/shock in the last 1/3 of the book.
I cannot say I’ve read a villain retelling this good, probably ever. The small details that were adjusted but still fit the core of the story, the way you love the sisters and the despair of being left with an estate falling into disrepair. A great book, and I can’t wait for you to read it!
I cannot say I’ve read a villain retelling this good, probably ever. The small details that were adjusted but still fit the core of the story, the way you love the sisters and the despair of being left with an estate falling into disrepair. A great book, and I can’t wait for you to read it!
August 22, 2025
I’ve always loved fairy tales and this book is a wonderful, unexpected retelling of Cinderella through the eyes of the “wicked”(?) stepmother. A brilliant concept. And even more brilliant is the story we get here. Beautifully written prose that reads like a dark fairytale with twists at every turn yet with revelations about motherhood and what lengths we’d go to for those we love.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦-𝘈𝘙𝘊
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦-𝘈𝘙𝘊
August 21, 2025
Wow! I was not expecting this to be as great as it is - I totally devoured it. This may be the best fairy tale reworking that I've ever read.
August 28, 2025
4.5 Stars! This book was beautifully written. It would have been a 5 star book, but it did seem to drag a little in the middle.
December 18, 2025
Fans of TK Kingfisher’s dark fairytale retellings will eat this up!
First off, fairytale lovers, if you’re looking for something highly romanticized in this genre, this is not it. A light and happy fairytale, this is not. This is not a feel good read. It’s VERY realistic on what life was like in historical time periods and it doesn’t gloss over anything. It’s brutal, unfair, and at times, insanely depressing. Life SUCKS for these people. But like, all that with the backdrop of a kingdom and princes and princesses lol. It’s not an idealized but realistic fairytale retelling, and that hardship was how it was back then. Lady Tremaine is more, Les Mis than the Four Kingdoms series, if you know what I mean. You know how Bridgerton romanticizes an idealized version of the regency era, glossing over things like poverty, death, plague, what happens to unwed women in this time period, as if that doesn’t exist? Yeah, this book is definitely not that.
Which, a darker realistic fairytale honestly is not my thing or my preference, but I am ASTOUNDED by how well written it was. The writing is poetic, skilled, with some of the most creative prose I’ve ever read. This is extremely well written for a debut novel. I’m actually shocked that this is a debut because this is some of the most skilled prose I’ve ever read.
In this version of Cinderella, rather than being someone who toils while her stepmother and stepsisters relax, it’s the opposite. In fact, she’s actually kind of useless lol. When their circumstances change, Ethel and her daughters learned to roll up their sleeves. Elin (Cinderella) on the other hand, who was raised as a lady, is unwilling, and spends her time waiting for her circumstances to change rather than adapting to them. Elin isn’t a villain or anything, but to be honest, she is a complete brat. Her ineptitude, laziness, pretentiousness, her unwillingness to help while her stepfamily toils, her lack of humility, and spoiled behavior makes it hard for me not to see her as a villain. She definitely isn’t the villain of this story and you do eventually stop hating her, but it takes you until like 95% of the book to stop disliking her lol.
As for the big plot twist in this, I clocked it before I was even halfway through. It’s very easy to guess and I don’t think anyone would be surprised by the big reveal, but it’s the shock factor is still there. Disappointing that it’s so easy to guess, but the ending is still so gripping that you just can’t wait to see how it all plays out. This is a fairytale without magic, one where the evil is all human evil. Which in itself is terrifying. And the ending! The ending is INSANE.
As for the ending? I don’t know if happily ever after is the right word. Maybe just happy enough? It’s happy, but also bittersweet. But you know what? That’s life. That’s how life was back then. And this book isn’t intended to be an idealized fairytale, but a realistic one.
This story is not a fairytale you’ll want to romanticize or wish you lived in. And while that is not at all my personal preference for fairytales, the prose is so skilled, the writing so effective, I can’t give this any less than 5 stars. I didn’t exactly “enjoy” this the same way as I enjoy my usual fairytales, and that is not anything against this book, because this book isn’t intended to make you feel as if you just watched a Disney princess movie. This book is “enjoyable” in the same way Les Mis is enjoyable. It’s incredibly well done, but it’s not a happy story (though the ending resolves itself as well as it can get for the most part!) You don’t exactly close the book feeling super amazing, but I think that’s exactly what the author intended.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
First off, fairytale lovers, if you’re looking for something highly romanticized in this genre, this is not it. A light and happy fairytale, this is not. This is not a feel good read. It’s VERY realistic on what life was like in historical time periods and it doesn’t gloss over anything. It’s brutal, unfair, and at times, insanely depressing. Life SUCKS for these people. But like, all that with the backdrop of a kingdom and princes and princesses lol. It’s not an idealized but realistic fairytale retelling, and that hardship was how it was back then. Lady Tremaine is more, Les Mis than the Four Kingdoms series, if you know what I mean. You know how Bridgerton romanticizes an idealized version of the regency era, glossing over things like poverty, death, plague, what happens to unwed women in this time period, as if that doesn’t exist? Yeah, this book is definitely not that.
Which, a darker realistic fairytale honestly is not my thing or my preference, but I am ASTOUNDED by how well written it was. The writing is poetic, skilled, with some of the most creative prose I’ve ever read. This is extremely well written for a debut novel. I’m actually shocked that this is a debut because this is some of the most skilled prose I’ve ever read.
In this version of Cinderella, rather than being someone who toils while her stepmother and stepsisters relax, it’s the opposite. In fact, she’s actually kind of useless lol. When their circumstances change, Ethel and her daughters learned to roll up their sleeves. Elin (Cinderella) on the other hand, who was raised as a lady, is unwilling, and spends her time waiting for her circumstances to change rather than adapting to them. Elin isn’t a villain or anything, but to be honest, she is a complete brat. Her ineptitude, laziness, pretentiousness, her unwillingness to help while her stepfamily toils, her lack of humility, and spoiled behavior makes it hard for me not to see her as a villain. She definitely isn’t the villain of this story and you do eventually stop hating her, but it takes you until like 95% of the book to stop disliking her lol.
As for the big plot twist in this, I clocked it before I was even halfway through. It’s very easy to guess and I don’t think anyone would be surprised by the big reveal, but it’s the shock factor is still there. Disappointing that it’s so easy to guess, but the ending is still so gripping that you just can’t wait to see how it all plays out. This is a fairytale without magic, one where the evil is all human evil. Which in itself is terrifying. And the ending! The ending is INSANE.
As for the ending? I don’t know if happily ever after is the right word. Maybe just happy enough? It’s happy, but also bittersweet. But you know what? That’s life. That’s how life was back then. And this book isn’t intended to be an idealized fairytale, but a realistic one.
This story is not a fairytale you’ll want to romanticize or wish you lived in. And while that is not at all my personal preference for fairytales, the prose is so skilled, the writing so effective, I can’t give this any less than 5 stars. I didn’t exactly “enjoy” this the same way as I enjoy my usual fairytales, and that is not anything against this book, because this book isn’t intended to make you feel as if you just watched a Disney princess movie. This book is “enjoyable” in the same way Les Mis is enjoyable. It’s incredibly well done, but it’s not a happy story (though the ending resolves itself as well as it can get for the most part!) You don’t exactly close the book feeling super amazing, but I think that’s exactly what the author intended.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
November 11, 2025
I love a good retelling and Lady Tremaine did not disappoint. This story is told from the POV of the "evil" stepmother. Lady Etheldreda Tremaine is twice widowed, caring for her two daughters (Matilda and Rosie) and stepdaughter (Elin) and trying to keep up appearances while being so broke she can't even pay her servants. The family is visited by the royal retinue and only Elin is invited to the prince's ball. Ethel must swallow her pride and visit her oldest frenemy, who just so happens to be the Queen, in order to secure invites for all three girls. After many sacrifices (from everyone but Elin) and long nights the girls make it to the ball. Of course, drama ensues once the prince falls for Elin, and what happens next is a slow burn of intrigue and mystery as Ethel uncovers the royal family's secrets.
I think what I like about these retellings is that the modern day versions are able to give the characters more depth. An old school fairytale is meant to entertain while ultimately providing a moral to one of life's many lessons, and because of this the characters are often one dimensional and surface level only. I liked the complexity of Ethel and Elin's relationship. One one hand, you have an adult woman raising three children on her own without any income (because her husband, Elin's father, put all of his money into Elin's dowry), and one of the children wants nothing to do with her. On the other hand you have a child who lost both parents within a couple of years. She is grieving the loss of her old life, isn't interested in a new mother figure, and wasn't raised to look after herself. Ethel's on and off feud with her stepdaughter feels real, and her ultimate decision to ensure she is safe and secure really speaks to a mothers ability to love.
The story also deviates from the typical "and they lived happily ever after" ending. The epilogue (no spoilers!) reflects on whether the story told was indeed happy or not, which I both liked and also felt just a tad let down by. However, the beautiful prose, cast of complex and compelling (and realistic) characters, and the lessons learned by all added up to a wholly original and entertaining take on Cinderella's story. I definitely liked this better than the source material!
I think what I like about these retellings is that the modern day versions are able to give the characters more depth. An old school fairytale is meant to entertain while ultimately providing a moral to one of life's many lessons, and because of this the characters are often one dimensional and surface level only. I liked the complexity of Ethel and Elin's relationship. One one hand, you have an adult woman raising three children on her own without any income (because her husband, Elin's father, put all of his money into Elin's dowry), and one of the children wants nothing to do with her. On the other hand you have a child who lost both parents within a couple of years. She is grieving the loss of her old life, isn't interested in a new mother figure, and wasn't raised to look after herself. Ethel's on and off feud with her stepdaughter feels real, and her ultimate decision to ensure she is safe and secure really speaks to a mothers ability to love.
The story also deviates from the typical "and they lived happily ever after" ending. The epilogue (no spoilers!) reflects on whether the story told was indeed happy or not, which I both liked and also felt just a tad let down by. However, the beautiful prose, cast of complex and compelling (and realistic) characters, and the lessons learned by all added up to a wholly original and entertaining take on Cinderella's story. I definitely liked this better than the source material!
November 24, 2025
A Cinderella retelling, but told entirely through the eyes of the so-called wicked stepmother… yes please!
I picked this up right after watching Wicked For Good which couldn’t have been more perfect. This story leans into the same question: what does it actually mean to be “wicked”? Who gets to decide what is “good”?
Lady Tremaine is simply a woman who has been widowed twice, doing everything she can to support her daughters, keep her household afloat, and make sure everyone is cared for. And yes, that includes her stepdaughter… who is, in fact, pretty spoiled. And dare I say a bit of a brat.
The writing in this one is absolutely stunning — atmospheric, emotional, and rooted in humanity. When you take away the magic from the Cinderella tale, what you’re left with is people just trying their best to survive the hand they’ve been dealt, and it’s unexpectedly gorgeous. Because humanity is gorgeous.
I picked this up right after watching Wicked For Good which couldn’t have been more perfect. This story leans into the same question: what does it actually mean to be “wicked”? Who gets to decide what is “good”?
Lady Tremaine is simply a woman who has been widowed twice, doing everything she can to support her daughters, keep her household afloat, and make sure everyone is cared for. And yes, that includes her stepdaughter… who is, in fact, pretty spoiled. And dare I say a bit of a brat.
The writing in this one is absolutely stunning — atmospheric, emotional, and rooted in humanity. When you take away the magic from the Cinderella tale, what you’re left with is people just trying their best to survive the hand they’ve been dealt, and it’s unexpectedly gorgeous. Because humanity is gorgeous.
November 30, 2025
This book was a wonderful surprise. I expected it would be interesting and entertaining but underestimated how rich of a story this is or how it captured my attention. I thoroughly enjoyed this and highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys a strong female lead and an engaging fiction set in the past. It has a slight fairytale aspect but there is nothing cutesy or fantastical.
I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
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