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Lady Tremaine
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
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, ebook
First published March 3, 2026
2746 people are currently reading
63629 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Hochhauser
1 book279 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 1,351 reviews
March 6, 2026
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
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I'm so sorry to the author, but I am simply not picking up what you're trynna put down.
The evil stepmother is SUCH a great villain character, and I felt like this book did not do her justice. I love a good women empowerment novel, but was not expecting it in this book. It was written very pinterest, with female empowerment quotations slapped between every other page. The evil stepmother can be a great mother and a horrible person at the same time and I don't think the author understood that.
I understand this is a reimagine, but I think it's safe to say, I find it a bit impossible that the evil stepmother would be so big on feminism. Like girl look at how she treated Cinderella omg. The connection between Cinderella and this book was very paper-thin, it honestly could've passed (and made it more enjoyable), without the marketing of it being a Cinderella reimagine. I was cringing and bored for the latter half of the book.
The cover is reallly pretty though and I think it was well written. I enjoyed the immersive details, but the pacing was very slow and I found myself taking breaks because I just could not deal with the sluggish plot. I kinda feel tricked because the synopsis did not relate to what was written or maybe I just had different hopes.
I was hoping that the POV was of the evil stepmother being a psychopath trying to find justification of her treatment of Cinderella, while literally going loony pins and crashing the hell out. Now how fun would thattt book have been? Someone else write for me pleaseee and thank uuuu.
The evil stepmother is SUCH a great villain character, and I felt like this book did not do her justice. I love a good women empowerment novel, but was not expecting it in this book. It was written very pinterest, with female empowerment quotations slapped between every other page. The evil stepmother can be a great mother and a horrible person at the same time and I don't think the author understood that.
I understand this is a reimagine, but I think it's safe to say, I find it a bit impossible that the evil stepmother would be so big on feminism. Like girl look at how she treated Cinderella omg. The connection between Cinderella and this book was very paper-thin, it honestly could've passed (and made it more enjoyable), without the marketing of it being a Cinderella reimagine. I was cringing and bored for the latter half of the book.
The cover is reallly pretty though and I think it was well written. I enjoyed the immersive details, but the pacing was very slow and I found myself taking breaks because I just could not deal with the sluggish plot. I kinda feel tricked because the synopsis did not relate to what was written or maybe I just had different hopes.
I was hoping that the POV was of the evil stepmother being a psychopath trying to find justification of her treatment of Cinderella, while literally going loony pins and crashing the hell out. Now how fun would thattt book have been? Someone else write for me pleaseee and thank uuuu.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️ 5 ⭐️ What is hunger if not a drive to survive?
This is a story about a girl she once was and a woman she became in the world that wanted to silence her (and women in particular). It’s an emotionally rich tale that shows the depths of a mother’s love, care and sacrifices that a woman makes for the sake of her children. Lady Tremaine completely rewrites everything that you know about the original Cinderella and gifts us a new version of Lady Tremaine that is shocking and epic all in its own right. Is she really a villain or perhaps a struggling mother?
We meet Ethel when she was just a little girl, growing up in a home full of boys (brothers) and men with no real motherly guidance or a female touch that will raise her to be a genteel woman. Since childhood, Ethel develops a strong connection to nature which further solidifies when she married her first husband. The first marriage results in two daughters but she becomes a widow too soon when her first husband dies tragically and unexpectedly. She learns that her marriage (one of true love and affection) wasn’t as financially stable as she thought it was and to provide for her daughters futures she decided to remarry, but he too dies shortly after, leaving her with a crumbling estate and a difficult stepdaughter to raise. When an opportunity rises to present her daughters to the prince, Lady Tremaine will do anything in her power to secure a future for her daughters. But that opportunity is not as simple as it appears—it’s dark, twisty, sinister even. The Prince is not as charming and gentle as he appears. It’s a complete deviation from the story that we all know and love. But it will shock and surprise you, perhaps even startle you!
Instead of a detestable character, we are given a very admirable one. Hochhauser took a morally grey character, a villain to be exact, and gave a complexity that supersedes everything that we know about her. We’ve known her as the wicked stepmother who was cruel, cold, conniving. But here, Lady Tremaine is a mother who suffered the loss of two husbands, financial ruin and was under constant scrutiny from a society that judged a woman’s worth on appearance and social standing. In that world, nature was a system, not a nurturer. Lack of resources left her bare handed, testing her limits of preservation. Dire conditions only made her work harder. From letdowns, disappointments and road blocks, there wasn’t anything that she couldn’t and wouldn’t do to protect her children. It’s how she tackled those hurdles, is what made this book so compelling and empowering.
I was completely in awe of how deeply the book explored motherhood, mother-daughter relationships (and friendships) and the concept of ‘a mother’s cry for help’. In the movie, Lady Tremaine's jealousy and ambition manifest as cruelty and contempt towards Cinderella. Elin's character (Cinderella) in the book was quite different--she was portrayed as pious, devoted to her genteel studies, unwilling, always finding things that were requested of her beneath her, perhaps even lazy. She was very unlikable and needed a good wake up call. I was surprised by how patient, kind and understanding Tremaine was towards her. Her attitude, given Elin's unlikable traits, was always positive and supportive. She really didn't view her as an unnecessary stepchild. She’s given that love and support and extended her wing of protection just as far out for Elin as she did for her own daughters. It’s truly a propulsive story about the lengths a woman and a mother would go to keep her children safe and secure from all the evil in the world.
I was NOT expecting this to be so immersive, dark and twisty, so sharp and gritty. This was unputdownable! Don’t hesitate to add this, it’s desperate, it’s protective, it’s resilient. It’s dark but dark in the feminist sense of way. It’s so much more than a shiny glass slipper.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the author, Rachel Hochhauser for an early ARC!
Publication date: March 3, 2026
This is a story about a girl she once was and a woman she became in the world that wanted to silence her (and women in particular). It’s an emotionally rich tale that shows the depths of a mother’s love, care and sacrifices that a woman makes for the sake of her children. Lady Tremaine completely rewrites everything that you know about the original Cinderella and gifts us a new version of Lady Tremaine that is shocking and epic all in its own right. Is she really a villain or perhaps a struggling mother?
We meet Ethel when she was just a little girl, growing up in a home full of boys (brothers) and men with no real motherly guidance or a female touch that will raise her to be a genteel woman. Since childhood, Ethel develops a strong connection to nature which further solidifies when she married her first husband. The first marriage results in two daughters but she becomes a widow too soon when her first husband dies tragically and unexpectedly. She learns that her marriage (one of true love and affection) wasn’t as financially stable as she thought it was and to provide for her daughters futures she decided to remarry, but he too dies shortly after, leaving her with a crumbling estate and a difficult stepdaughter to raise. When an opportunity rises to present her daughters to the prince, Lady Tremaine will do anything in her power to secure a future for her daughters. But that opportunity is not as simple as it appears—it’s dark, twisty, sinister even. The Prince is not as charming and gentle as he appears. It’s a complete deviation from the story that we all know and love. But it will shock and surprise you, perhaps even startle you!
Instead of a detestable character, we are given a very admirable one. Hochhauser took a morally grey character, a villain to be exact, and gave a complexity that supersedes everything that we know about her. We’ve known her as the wicked stepmother who was cruel, cold, conniving. But here, Lady Tremaine is a mother who suffered the loss of two husbands, financial ruin and was under constant scrutiny from a society that judged a woman’s worth on appearance and social standing. In that world, nature was a system, not a nurturer. Lack of resources left her bare handed, testing her limits of preservation. Dire conditions only made her work harder. From letdowns, disappointments and road blocks, there wasn’t anything that she couldn’t and wouldn’t do to protect her children. It’s how she tackled those hurdles, is what made this book so compelling and empowering.
I was completely in awe of how deeply the book explored motherhood, mother-daughter relationships (and friendships) and the concept of ‘a mother’s cry for help’. In the movie, Lady Tremaine's jealousy and ambition manifest as cruelty and contempt towards Cinderella. Elin's character (Cinderella) in the book was quite different--she was portrayed as pious, devoted to her genteel studies, unwilling, always finding things that were requested of her beneath her, perhaps even lazy. She was very unlikable and needed a good wake up call. I was surprised by how patient, kind and understanding Tremaine was towards her. Her attitude, given Elin's unlikable traits, was always positive and supportive. She really didn't view her as an unnecessary stepchild. She’s given that love and support and extended her wing of protection just as far out for Elin as she did for her own daughters. It’s truly a propulsive story about the lengths a woman and a mother would go to keep her children safe and secure from all the evil in the world.
I was NOT expecting this to be so immersive, dark and twisty, so sharp and gritty. This was unputdownable! Don’t hesitate to add this, it’s desperate, it’s protective, it’s resilient. It’s dark but dark in the feminist sense of way. It’s so much more than a shiny glass slipper.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the author, Rachel Hochhauser for an early ARC!
Publication date: March 3, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an ALC of Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser.
The most sophisticated and lyrically eloquent f#k you to " The man" & men I have ever come across. Before there was Destiny's child belting out Ms independent, there was Lady Tremaine.
Ummmmmmmmmm.. yeah.. so, if we could just have this author rewrite/retell every fairytale ever known to man, that'd be grreeat.. thanks 🫶🏼
Honestly though, reading this book is the closest one can get to the feel fairytales brought to us as children..Like a completed rubrics cube. This story feels like the full circle completion to the story of Cinderella most of us first heard so long ago.
Personally, all my flabbers were gasted.. especially with the duality here. This story fits so seamlessly into the classic tale but knowledge of the story isn't needed to enjoy this book. You could have never heard of Cinderella in your entire life and still thoroughly enjoy this book from start to finish.
There are very few books I wouldn't change an ATOM of, and this is without a doubt one of those. The cover is beautiful, the writing is beautiful, the creativity is beautiful. If you like retellings , there is absolutely no question about it, you absolutely have to read this book! The only regrets will be from not starting it a millisecond sooner, and finishing it.
Definitely a hardcopy book trophy that will be added to this Under Lord's collection!
Until next time,
Hades
🩵
The most sophisticated and lyrically eloquent f#k you to " The man" & men I have ever come across. Before there was Destiny's child belting out Ms independent, there was Lady Tremaine.
Ummmmmmmmmm.. yeah.. so, if we could just have this author rewrite/retell every fairytale ever known to man, that'd be grreeat.. thanks 🫶🏼
Honestly though, reading this book is the closest one can get to the feel fairytales brought to us as children..Like a completed rubrics cube. This story feels like the full circle completion to the story of Cinderella most of us first heard so long ago.
Personally, all my flabbers were gasted.. especially with the duality here. This story fits so seamlessly into the classic tale but knowledge of the story isn't needed to enjoy this book. You could have never heard of Cinderella in your entire life and still thoroughly enjoy this book from start to finish.
There are very few books I wouldn't change an ATOM of, and this is without a doubt one of those. The cover is beautiful, the writing is beautiful, the creativity is beautiful. If you like retellings , there is absolutely no question about it, you absolutely have to read this book! The only regrets will be from not starting it a millisecond sooner, and finishing it.
Definitely a hardcopy book trophy that will be added to this Under Lord's collection!
Until next time,
Hades
🩵
August 10, 2025
SPECTACULAR. Read an ARC of this one for a potential quote, and will definitely be giving one.
March 3, 2026
A reimagining of Cinderella through the eyes of Lady Tremaine gives us another look at the well known classic. What if there were reasons for everything Lady Tremaine did pertaining to her stepdaughter? What if she wasn’t as evil as once thought? The novel gives a completely different spin on the traditional Cinderella story, one that will make you see things from a completely different perspective, a much darker perspective. There are no talking, helpful mice.( Sorry, Gus Gus)
This is the first retelling that I’ve read, and it was definitely a good one. I liked how original it was, but yet kept to the bones of the traditional story we all are familiar with. My only complaint would be it seemed a little drawn out at times and could’ve been scaled back just a bit. Other than that, it was an enjoyable read and one that has you questioning what would you do in those situations.
I would love to read any future novels by this author, especially any new retellings.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first retelling that I’ve read, and it was definitely a good one. I liked how original it was, but yet kept to the bones of the traditional story we all are familiar with. My only complaint would be it seemed a little drawn out at times and could’ve been scaled back just a bit. Other than that, it was an enjoyable read and one that has you questioning what would you do in those situations.
I would love to read any future novels by this author, especially any new retellings.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Lady Tremaine is a gorgeously written character study that explores a villain we love to hate, both in fiction and the real world—a strong woman willing to make sacrifices for her daughters.
This book explores, grief, love, sacrifice, and motherhood. It answers the question, what if the women we think of as villains are really just doing the best that they can, in a world built to break them?
We certainly love to hate a strong woman don’t we? We pass judgement on the choices women make to protect themselves and their loved ones. Whether it be a fictional woman, a woman in the spotlight, or a woman we know irl. Judging women, painting them as villains, is a beloved pastime, or so it would seem. It’s no wonder that so many of the Disney villains are female. I, for one, am ready to chuck that pastime in the bin.
Pretty sure Rachel Hochhauser is with me if this book is any indication. She’s taken a villain and shown us an alternate framing. One that is as unexpected as it is moving. History is written by the victors and this time Lady Tremaine has come out on top.
The heart of this book is motherhood. The sacrifices mother’s make to protect their children. The challenges they’re faced with, and the impossibly difficult decisions they make to ensure that their children don’t suffer.
Lady Tremaine is a god-damn masterpiece.
Audio Narration: 5/5 Bessie Carter did such an amazing job on this audiobook performance! I have no critiques. Pacing, pausing, inflection, voice variation were all perfect! She’s been added to my “must listen” list - I’m actually a little bummed to discover she’s only narrated a handful of other titles.
| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
This book explores, grief, love, sacrifice, and motherhood. It answers the question, what if the women we think of as villains are really just doing the best that they can, in a world built to break them?
We certainly love to hate a strong woman don’t we? We pass judgement on the choices women make to protect themselves and their loved ones. Whether it be a fictional woman, a woman in the spotlight, or a woman we know irl. Judging women, painting them as villains, is a beloved pastime, or so it would seem. It’s no wonder that so many of the Disney villains are female. I, for one, am ready to chuck that pastime in the bin.
Pretty sure Rachel Hochhauser is with me if this book is any indication. She’s taken a villain and shown us an alternate framing. One that is as unexpected as it is moving. History is written by the victors and this time Lady Tremaine has come out on top.
The heart of this book is motherhood. The sacrifices mother’s make to protect their children. The challenges they’re faced with, and the impossibly difficult decisions they make to ensure that their children don’t suffer.
Lady Tremaine is a god-damn masterpiece.
Audio Narration: 5/5 Bessie Carter did such an amazing job on this audiobook performance! I have no critiques. Pacing, pausing, inflection, voice variation were all perfect! She’s been added to my “must listen” list - I’m actually a little bummed to discover she’s only narrated a handful of other titles.
| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
January 11, 2026
I love a good retelling from the villain's perspective and in Rachel Hochhauser’s Lady Tremaine, we get the story of Cinderella from the ‘evil’ stepmother’s point of view.
Lady Tremaine is a beautifully written tale centered around a mother's love and hard work to give her daughters and stepdaughter a promising life. The story also centers on the importance of self-reliance.
Of course, the author took her own creative liberties, and the story isn't an exact retelling of the Cinderella we all know. Without giving anything away I will say the author removes the romanticized notions in a fairy tale and makes it more realistic (in the best way possible). Rachel’s prose and word structure are those of a seasoned author and I was blown away to learn this is her debut.
I alternated between listening to the audiobook format and reading the book myself. The audiobook is narrated by Bessie Carter who did a fantastic job bringing this story to life.
Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser will be available on March 3. Many thanks to St Martins Press, Netgalley, and Macmillan Audio for the gifted copies!
Lady Tremaine is a beautifully written tale centered around a mother's love and hard work to give her daughters and stepdaughter a promising life. The story also centers on the importance of self-reliance.
Of course, the author took her own creative liberties, and the story isn't an exact retelling of the Cinderella we all know. Without giving anything away I will say the author removes the romanticized notions in a fairy tale and makes it more realistic (in the best way possible). Rachel’s prose and word structure are those of a seasoned author and I was blown away to learn this is her debut.
I alternated between listening to the audiobook format and reading the book myself. The audiobook is narrated by Bessie Carter who did a fantastic job bringing this story to life.
Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser will be available on March 3. Many thanks to St Martins Press, Netgalley, and Macmillan Audio for the gifted copies!
February 18, 2026
Wow! This book was amazing! If I could give it more than five stars, I would. This is a retelling of Cinderella, but through the step mother’s eyes! It took me on an adventure that I had no idea I needed. It is emotional, reflective and very dark. This historical retelling really explored the trauma that shaped the villain in this novel. It is a medium paced book that is primarily character driven. The characters in this story were extremely well developed. Furthermore, it contained both lovable and unlikable characters. I really enjoyed the world building, it wasn’t too much or too little. I felt like the world building was perfect for the story! It starts off a little slow, but then quickly builds up as this book comes along. This novel is very powerful and intense! Overall, I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars rating!
If you enjoy retellings from a different perspective, I highly suggest checking this one out! It gave me “Circe” and the movie “Ever After” vibes!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Rachel Hochhauser and St. Martin's Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is set to be published on March 3, 2026!
If you enjoy retellings from a different perspective, I highly suggest checking this one out! It gave me “Circe” and the movie “Ever After” vibes!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Rachel Hochhauser and St. Martin's Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is set to be published on March 3, 2026!
February 17, 2026
I love a fairy-tale reimagining and using one of my favorites makes it even better. Rachel Hochhauser spins a unique take on Cinderella with a soft feminist enchantment, told from the perspective of the “evil” stepmother, who isn’t that evil at all. She’s a mother doing what she believes will protect her daughters.
This Cinderella isn’t helpless, obedient, and dreamy or waiting to be rescued. The stepsisters are not envious and insecure. They are surprisingly likable. They all show strength and survival in different ways. The bonds between them felt real and layered, the kind that make you wish the book lingered longer in their relationships.
What Hexed Me
The pacing faltered for me. Lady Tremaine spends a lot of time explaining her feelings about motherhood when her actions already showed it. The repetition weakened the emotional spell. Instead of tempting me into “one more chapter,” I sometimes felt relieved once a chapter ended.
Reading vs Listening
I both read and listened to the audiobook and I preferred listening.
When a story feels long-winded, audio works better for me. I can stay immersed without over-focusing on every sentence, whereas reading had my mind drifting toward other books I wanted to pick up instead.
Bessie Carter’s performance carried warmth and personality that grounded the characters and made me want to keep going.
Mood Rating
Loved the concept and character dynamics, but the pacing dragged a little. The audiobook performance lifted it.
A softer stepmother, stronger sisters, and a Cinderella who doesn't need saving herself. I just wish the story trusted its magic instead of explaining it.
A Witches Words buddy read with Debra!!
I received both an Ebook and Audio book from the publisher through NetGalley.
This Cinderella isn’t helpless, obedient, and dreamy or waiting to be rescued. The stepsisters are not envious and insecure. They are surprisingly likable. They all show strength and survival in different ways. The bonds between them felt real and layered, the kind that make you wish the book lingered longer in their relationships.
What Hexed Me
The pacing faltered for me. Lady Tremaine spends a lot of time explaining her feelings about motherhood when her actions already showed it. The repetition weakened the emotional spell. Instead of tempting me into “one more chapter,” I sometimes felt relieved once a chapter ended.
Reading vs Listening
I both read and listened to the audiobook and I preferred listening.
When a story feels long-winded, audio works better for me. I can stay immersed without over-focusing on every sentence, whereas reading had my mind drifting toward other books I wanted to pick up instead.
Bessie Carter’s performance carried warmth and personality that grounded the characters and made me want to keep going.
Mood Rating
Loved the concept and character dynamics, but the pacing dragged a little. The audiobook performance lifted it.
A softer stepmother, stronger sisters, and a Cinderella who doesn't need saving herself. I just wish the story trusted its magic instead of explaining it.
A Witches Words buddy read with Debra!!
I received both an Ebook and Audio book from the publisher through NetGalley.
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 👏.
February 27, 2026
"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."
Ethel is the "wicked" stepmother who has been widowed twice and works hard to support her daughters Rosamund and Matilda and her stepdaughter Elin. She pitches in to maintain the estate. When Elin is invited to a royal ball, she naturally insists on invites for her and her daughters as well. When things progress following the ball, she discovers a sinister royal plot and comes up with a plan.
A masterful and lush retelling of a classic that can be passed down to today’s daughters. Not the love at first sight, happily ever after we grew up with. A story of a mother and stepmother who wasn’t all bad and a stepdaughter who wasn’t completely perfect. Ethel is actually a stepmother you come to understand and even like. She also has a pet falcon named Lucy who is an important character (rather than Lucifer the cat). I loved it and highly recommend this to anyone who loves a fairytale with a twist and a celebration of resilient and resourceful women!
The audiobook performance by Bessie Carter is perfection and brought the lush prose and richly layered characters to life. It is the ideal companion to the printed copy.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Rachel Hochhauser for the gifted advance reader's copy and advance listening copy. All opinions are my own.🎧📚
Ethel is the "wicked" stepmother who has been widowed twice and works hard to support her daughters Rosamund and Matilda and her stepdaughter Elin. She pitches in to maintain the estate. When Elin is invited to a royal ball, she naturally insists on invites for her and her daughters as well. When things progress following the ball, she discovers a sinister royal plot and comes up with a plan.
A masterful and lush retelling of a classic that can be passed down to today’s daughters. Not the love at first sight, happily ever after we grew up with. A story of a mother and stepmother who wasn’t all bad and a stepdaughter who wasn’t completely perfect. Ethel is actually a stepmother you come to understand and even like. She also has a pet falcon named Lucy who is an important character (rather than Lucifer the cat). I loved it and highly recommend this to anyone who loves a fairytale with a twist and a celebration of resilient and resourceful women!
The audiobook performance by Bessie Carter is perfection and brought the lush prose and richly layered characters to life. It is the ideal companion to the printed copy.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Rachel Hochhauser for the gifted advance reader's copy and advance listening copy. All opinions are my own.🎧📚
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...
March 8, 2026
(4.75 stars)
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read and listen to an advance copy of Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser.
Even if you’re not always a fan of fairy tale retelings, I can wholeheartedly recommend Lady Tremaine to you. It’s a fabulous retelling/reimagining of the Cinderella story, from the point of view of the stepmother, with a feminist twist.
(If you follow these things, note that it’s been chosen as a Reese’s Book Club Pick.)
Ethel is the titular Lady Tremaine (short for Etheldreda), the twice-widowed stepmother of lore, and she tells the tale. Her two daughters from her first husband, who she loved, are Matilda and Rosamund; the stepdaughter is Elin. Their household has fallen on very hard times after the death of Elin’s father, Ethel’s second husband. And yet they must keep up appearances somehow, because how else will Ethel manage to find worthwhile husbands for all three of them? “I had already cut so many corners, I was holding a circle,” Ethel thinks.
All the characters are such distinct people, with their own personalities, skills, etc. Not a single cardboard stereotype here. You get a real flavor of what people had to go through to do/obtain things that we think virtually nothing of - such as countless household tasks, or having to (as opposed to choosing to) make your own ball gown with very little to work with and very little time to do so. There’s no magic or fairy godmother here! There’s some interesting information on hawking and falconry as well.
Narrated beautifully by Bessie Carter, the audiobook totally held my interest throughout. The pace of the story really picked up after the ball, however, and I sped through it at that point. The ending was totally unexpected and I loved it.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read and listen to an advance copy of Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser.
Even if you’re not always a fan of fairy tale retelings, I can wholeheartedly recommend Lady Tremaine to you. It’s a fabulous retelling/reimagining of the Cinderella story, from the point of view of the stepmother, with a feminist twist.
(If you follow these things, note that it’s been chosen as a Reese’s Book Club Pick.)
Ethel is the titular Lady Tremaine (short for Etheldreda), the twice-widowed stepmother of lore, and she tells the tale. Her two daughters from her first husband, who she loved, are Matilda and Rosamund; the stepdaughter is Elin. Their household has fallen on very hard times after the death of Elin’s father, Ethel’s second husband. And yet they must keep up appearances somehow, because how else will Ethel manage to find worthwhile husbands for all three of them? “I had already cut so many corners, I was holding a circle,” Ethel thinks.
All the characters are such distinct people, with their own personalities, skills, etc. Not a single cardboard stereotype here. You get a real flavor of what people had to go through to do/obtain things that we think virtually nothing of - such as countless household tasks, or having to (as opposed to choosing to) make your own ball gown with very little to work with and very little time to do so. There’s no magic or fairy godmother here! There’s some interesting information on hawking and falconry as well.
Narrated beautifully by Bessie Carter, the audiobook totally held my interest throughout. The pace of the story really picked up after the ball, however, and I sped through it at that point. The ending was totally unexpected and I loved it.
March 3, 2026
Thank 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."
Honestly, this book is one of a kind. Despite being a reimagining, it surely holds its own. The character and development throughout the story pull you in. If you love a character-driven story, this one checks off all the boxes. Lady Tremaine is a beautiful example of a villainous character, and perhaps there was more to her story. Definitely recommend this one. I can't wait to listen to the audiobook on pub day.
A powerful story.
4 stars for now.
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."
Honestly, this book is one of a kind. Despite being a reimagining, it surely holds its own. The character and development throughout the story pull you in. If you love a character-driven story, this one checks off all the boxes. Lady Tremaine is a beautiful example of a villainous character, and perhaps there was more to her story. Definitely recommend this one. I can't wait to listen to the audiobook on pub day.
A powerful story.
4 stars for now.
As always, all thoughts are my own. 🖤💫
March 8, 2026
Not what I expected at all from a retelling of Cinderella.
I am not a fan of fantasy or fairy tales, and I’m glad I read this because it reads more of a historical fiction, as opposed to the latter.
I am not a fan of fantasy or fairy tales, and I’m glad I read this because it reads more of a historical fiction, as opposed to the latter.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4⭐️
What I really loved was how fleshed out all the characters were. No one was a one-dimensional plot-point, tehre soley to be mean or cruel. Everyone had individual personalities and reasons for why they acted a certain way. You couldn't help but root for Ethel, who did everything she could for the sake of her daughters. Was she sometimes short with Elin, the story's cinderella? Yes. But she also tried to mother her, to teach her.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
"I used to think, if I am good, if I am nice, then the world will be good and nice in return."A really beautiful retelling of Cinderella, but told from the perspective of Lady Tremaine. Now this of course is not the exact fairytale as we all know it, but follows the same basic plotline- widowed mother of two marries again, only to be widowed a second time and left responsible for her step-daughter. Here we start from Ethel's childhood and journey with her through the stages of life, all the way to the royal ball. This book was so full of wonderful prose, but I did find that it sometimes weighed down the pacing.
What I really loved was how fleshed out all the characters were. No one was a one-dimensional plot-point, tehre soley to be mean or cruel. Everyone had individual personalities and reasons for why they acted a certain way. You couldn't help but root for Ethel, who did everything she could for the sake of her daughters. Was she sometimes short with Elin, the story's cinderella? Yes. But she also tried to mother her, to teach her.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Pre-Read Notes:
I can't remember exactly what drew me in here, but I did not realize from the description that it was a retelling. Since I don't like retallings, especially of Cinderella, I would not have requested this book if the marketing had been more forthcoming.
Final Review
(thoughts & recs) Look, sometimes I don't take many notes about books because I think they're shallow and puffed up. These books are messy and yet often very well received. This is one of those. And I'm just going to say for anyone who picks this up after reading my review: caring about your blood kin's life situation doesn't make you a good person. And being a terrible person does not mean you can't love your blood kin. Only this story doesn't recognize that these two facts can coexist. So the moral framework for the book is completely irrational.
Please be careful here, if you're a trauma-informed reader. I didn't record all the triggers, but there are so many.
My Favorite Things:
✔️ "I later came to realize: nature was a system, not a nurturer. For every life, there was death, for every bit of laughter, there were tears. For every anguish , there was joy. For the broken bones and crushed eggshells, there were small miracles. For the predators, there was prey. For the herbivores, there were plants, and for the carnivores, there was meat, and every meal for every being caused some other living thing harm. Nature was balance." p17 Well, it's illogical, but the writing is pretty.
✔️ "The only being that defied the ancient standard—the standard of me, first, me, only, I, I, me—was a mother. A mother, in the bone of her bones, was not in balance. She gave, without ending. She thought not as an I but as a we and more often it was you, you, you, my darling, you. A mother protects, tipping scales, weighing odds, defying the system. And I did not have one." p17 This is preposterous, but it's a pretty thought on an interesting character. The only person who would think of a mother in such idealized terms is someone with a huge mother shaped hole at the center of them.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the arc!📚
I can't remember exactly what drew me in here, but I did not realize from the description that it was a retelling. Since I don't like retallings, especially of Cinderella, I would not have requested this book if the marketing had been more forthcoming.
Final Review
(thoughts & recs) Look, sometimes I don't take many notes about books because I think they're shallow and puffed up. These books are messy and yet often very well received. This is one of those. And I'm just going to say for anyone who picks this up after reading my review: caring about your blood kin's life situation doesn't make you a good person. And being a terrible person does not mean you can't love your blood kin. Only this story doesn't recognize that these two facts can coexist. So the moral framework for the book is completely irrational.
Please be careful here, if you're a trauma-informed reader. I didn't record all the triggers, but there are so many.
My Favorite Things:
✔️ "I later came to realize: nature was a system, not a nurturer. For every life, there was death, for every bit of laughter, there were tears. For every anguish , there was joy. For the broken bones and crushed eggshells, there were small miracles. For the predators, there was prey. For the herbivores, there were plants, and for the carnivores, there was meat, and every meal for every being caused some other living thing harm. Nature was balance." p17 Well, it's illogical, but the writing is pretty.
✔️ "The only being that defied the ancient standard—the standard of me, first, me, only, I, I, me—was a mother. A mother, in the bone of her bones, was not in balance. She gave, without ending. She thought not as an I but as a we and more often it was you, you, you, my darling, you. A mother protects, tipping scales, weighing odds, defying the system. And I did not have one." p17 This is preposterous, but it's a pretty thought on an interesting character. The only person who would think of a mother in such idealized terms is someone with a huge mother shaped hole at the center of them.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the arc!📚
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!!
March 4, 2026
Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser
Book Blurb: 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.
Rating: *****
Feels: Fun, Nostalgia, Adventure, Satisfaction
Style: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Retellings, Historical, Romance
First published March 3, 2026: 352 pages
This gave me all the vibes I wanted so much when I picked this up. Retelling from the villain perspective yet not making anyone the saint in anything. It gave me such nostalgia in a sense of reading Grimm fairy tales growing up that tragedy teaches lessons and what we make of it is what makes us who we are. I loved the pivots between the stepmother's story and the "current day" story and how the two were intertwined. Absolutely adored the evil step sisters and their totally normal sibling interactions. Lady Tremaine was just everything ! Outstanding and a force to be reckoned with, someone who survives and rises above. Tales like this is why I started to love the villains so much in the stories. This was such a well done read and would totally recommend this book. I am hoping for a series, I need this glow up for all my villain besties !!!
Favorite Quote: "For one's approval is something they should hold in the highest esteem; it's a personal treasure! My approval for example, is like a favorite pet. I tend to it and offer it to others only in very specific circumstances." (... Literally don't judge me that this make me laugh so hard. just read the book ok.)
This book has:
Fairy Tale Retelling (Cinderella)
Villain perspective
Grief and Sacrifice
Strong Female Values
Exploration of motherhood
Book Blurb: 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.
Rating: *****
Feels: Fun, Nostalgia, Adventure, Satisfaction
Style: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Retellings, Historical, Romance
First published March 3, 2026: 352 pages
This gave me all the vibes I wanted so much when I picked this up. Retelling from the villain perspective yet not making anyone the saint in anything. It gave me such nostalgia in a sense of reading Grimm fairy tales growing up that tragedy teaches lessons and what we make of it is what makes us who we are. I loved the pivots between the stepmother's story and the "current day" story and how the two were intertwined. Absolutely adored the evil step sisters and their totally normal sibling interactions. Lady Tremaine was just everything ! Outstanding and a force to be reckoned with, someone who survives and rises above. Tales like this is why I started to love the villains so much in the stories. This was such a well done read and would totally recommend this book. I am hoping for a series, I need this glow up for all my villain besties !!!
Favorite Quote: "For one's approval is something they should hold in the highest esteem; it's a personal treasure! My approval for example, is like a favorite pet. I tend to it and offer it to others only in very specific circumstances." (... Literally don't judge me that this make me laugh so hard. just read the book ok.)
This book has:
Fairy Tale Retelling (Cinderella)
Villain perspective
Grief and Sacrifice
Strong Female Values
Exploration of motherhood
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Well, I had no idea I needed the story of Cinderella's stepmother in my life, but it turns out I very much did!
This book does not contain any wand-waving magic, just a mother fighting to secure stable futures for her daughters. It gifts readers with the stories of Ethel's girlhood and two marriages, setting the scene for the circumstances in which she finds herself when her two daughters and one stepdaughter all come of marriageable age. The flames of hope are fanned anew within the family when the palace issues invitations to a ball being held for the purpose of finding the prince a wife. Amidst the stresses of preparing the young women for the big event is Ethel's worry that her own personal history with the prince's mother, the queen herself, might stand in the way of the family's happily-ever-after.
The author skillfully makes each of the characters from the story of Cinderella (well, most of them, at least!) sympathetic while also making the reader want to grab ahold of each of them at times and shake. Additionally, the manner in which the details from the Disney tale were woven into this version were often delightful. I was invested in these characters and the course their lives would take, and I have to say, the resolution was both rather shocking and epic!
Lady Tremaine is not perfect, but she is a wonderful heroine to spend your reading time with, and her inspiring story is not likely to leave my thoughts any time soon.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
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This book does not contain any wand-waving magic, just a mother fighting to secure stable futures for her daughters. It gifts readers with the stories of Ethel's girlhood and two marriages, setting the scene for the circumstances in which she finds herself when her two daughters and one stepdaughter all come of marriageable age. The flames of hope are fanned anew within the family when the palace issues invitations to a ball being held for the purpose of finding the prince a wife. Amidst the stresses of preparing the young women for the big event is Ethel's worry that her own personal history with the prince's mother, the queen herself, might stand in the way of the family's happily-ever-after.
The author skillfully makes each of the characters from the story of Cinderella (well, most of them, at least!) sympathetic while also making the reader want to grab ahold of each of them at times and shake. Additionally, the manner in which the details from the Disney tale were woven into this version were often delightful. I was invested in these characters and the course their lives would take, and I have to say, the resolution was both rather shocking and epic!
Lady Tremaine is not perfect, but she is a wonderful heroine to spend your reading time with, and her inspiring story is not likely to leave my thoughts any time soon.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
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Bookstagram
February 8, 2026
A huge craze years back took off when Madeline Miller released Circe and suddenly the masses were scrambling to read retellings of mythos and authours were invigorated to get their own out there. The masses were quenched by many but still nothing quite did it like Miller. And this is exactly what Lady Tremaine reminds me of. Is Hochhauser the absolute first to do it? No. But she will be remembered as one of the best in retelling a fairy tale.
Lady Tremaine not only retells the story but grapples with one of the most disliked characters in a fairy tale, The Evil Stepmother. Not only does she handle this with grace but verve. I was enamored with Etheldreda from the moment I opened her pages and experienced her story alongside her.
Of course she is dynamic, but shockingly, likable. There were so many times I was screaming at the pages, desperate to shake some sense into our Cinderella (Elin), not our stepmother. And that is just a master class in good writing and empathy.
The structure of this story was adaptive and flowing. I loved the backstory that was foundational to our future. And I was absolutely taken with Hochhauser’s perspective on the royal family, because books have been too kind when historically, women tend to know otherwise. I loved the ending, the ramifications, the journey of found family, and the strength every woman possesses at her core.
Lady Tremaine not only retells the story but grapples with one of the most disliked characters in a fairy tale, The Evil Stepmother. Not only does she handle this with grace but verve. I was enamored with Etheldreda from the moment I opened her pages and experienced her story alongside her.
Of course she is dynamic, but shockingly, likable. There were so many times I was screaming at the pages, desperate to shake some sense into our Cinderella (Elin), not our stepmother. And that is just a master class in good writing and empathy.
The structure of this story was adaptive and flowing. I loved the backstory that was foundational to our future. And I was absolutely taken with Hochhauser’s perspective on the royal family, because books have been too kind when historically, women tend to know otherwise. I loved the ending, the ramifications, the journey of found family, and the strength every woman possesses at her core.
March 11, 2026
Rachel Hochhauser understands how to craft depth in character viewpoints. This book is a masterclass in counternarratives.
"She was but a child, acting against change and grief in childish ways. But it did not take long for me to come to my own conclusion. We don't all draw our angels with the same hand."
Told from the perspective of Lady Tremaine, Cinderella's "wicked stepmother", Lady Tremaine walks the reader through a mother's journey of sacrifice, perseverance, and unconditional love.
Lady Etheldreda Verity Isolde Tremaine Bramley is a twice-widowed mother of three, Matilda, Rosamund, and a self-righteous stepdaughter named Elin. Left with no means to care for her girls upon the death of her late husband, she is fiercely determined to provide an abundant life for all three of her girls. Every morning, she hunts with her falcon, Lucy, and runs an apple farm alongside her two girls and house staff. Despite Elin never lifting a finger to help, Etheldreda remains sensitive to the grief of losing a father. After an invitation to the ball arrives, Etheldreda kindles hope that a better life could exist for her and her girls. But when she discovers a secret hidden by the royal family, she will do everything she can to protect those she holds most dear.
"I couldn't help but think, as we walked around a man polishing a row of decorative weapons, that burdens were easier to bear when you sat on feather pillows."
I already know this book will be on my top-five list this year. Dare I say that this version is better than the original? Of course, without the original, this book wouldn't hold the weight it carries. But it does stand alone as a solid story. The character dynamics alone had me turning pages at lightning speed. The plot twists and character backstories arrested me at page one. I am amazed at Hochhauser's ability to craft a multi-layered character perspective such as this. Her writing is poetic, and I highlighted so many quotes that I'm borderline infringing on copyright. It is absolutely brilliant and needs to be a movie. I'm already thinking of how I can get permission to adapt it for the stage. IT IS A MUST-READ!
"I walked ahead of her. 'I think you will find being a woman is nothing like being a girl. And that grace and justice are sometimes pursued by means less graceful and less just.'"
I read the audio book alongside this eARC and I can honestly say that it was an equally compelling experience. Bessie Carter is the perfecting casting choice for Lady Tremaine. Her sensitivity to the character perspectives and her vocal characterization were brilliantly delivered. Her acting pulled me right into the world of the story. I was captivated by her.
Thank you NetGalley, Rachel Hochhauser, and St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for this eARC and audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.
"She was but a child, acting against change and grief in childish ways. But it did not take long for me to come to my own conclusion. We don't all draw our angels with the same hand."
Told from the perspective of Lady Tremaine, Cinderella's "wicked stepmother", Lady Tremaine walks the reader through a mother's journey of sacrifice, perseverance, and unconditional love.
Lady Etheldreda Verity Isolde Tremaine Bramley is a twice-widowed mother of three, Matilda, Rosamund, and a self-righteous stepdaughter named Elin. Left with no means to care for her girls upon the death of her late husband, she is fiercely determined to provide an abundant life for all three of her girls. Every morning, she hunts with her falcon, Lucy, and runs an apple farm alongside her two girls and house staff. Despite Elin never lifting a finger to help, Etheldreda remains sensitive to the grief of losing a father. After an invitation to the ball arrives, Etheldreda kindles hope that a better life could exist for her and her girls. But when she discovers a secret hidden by the royal family, she will do everything she can to protect those she holds most dear.
"I couldn't help but think, as we walked around a man polishing a row of decorative weapons, that burdens were easier to bear when you sat on feather pillows."
I already know this book will be on my top-five list this year. Dare I say that this version is better than the original? Of course, without the original, this book wouldn't hold the weight it carries. But it does stand alone as a solid story. The character dynamics alone had me turning pages at lightning speed. The plot twists and character backstories arrested me at page one. I am amazed at Hochhauser's ability to craft a multi-layered character perspective such as this. Her writing is poetic, and I highlighted so many quotes that I'm borderline infringing on copyright. It is absolutely brilliant and needs to be a movie. I'm already thinking of how I can get permission to adapt it for the stage. IT IS A MUST-READ!
"I walked ahead of her. 'I think you will find being a woman is nothing like being a girl. And that grace and justice are sometimes pursued by means less graceful and less just.'"
I read the audio book alongside this eARC and I can honestly say that it was an equally compelling experience. Bessie Carter is the perfecting casting choice for Lady Tremaine. Her sensitivity to the character perspectives and her vocal characterization were brilliantly delivered. Her acting pulled me right into the world of the story. I was captivated by her.
Thank you NetGalley, Rachel Hochhauser, and St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for this eARC and audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 9, 2026
I thought it would be predictable, cutesy, and "low brow" if I'm being completely honest. And...NOPE. While yes, the Cinderella story is traceable through this, this is not a fairy tale. Our main character is the "evil stepmother", but not really. This is really about about grief. This is really about a mom just wanting her daughters to be well, and is willing to sacrifice anything for it. A mother who is a full person and a daughter too. It asks the question: is deceit less insidious if it is with noble purpose?
I greatly enjoyed a lot of the prose. There were some startling beautiful lines about grief. It was also a page turner that kept me on the edge of my seat, which is impressive for a retelling. Unfortunately, I can't all the way praise this book. Some plot choices from the 80ish percent to near the end I was not a fan of. I thought they could have been a lot more subtle to actually pull the ending off more powerfully. Some of it felt a bit cheap. BUT, the very final closing was beautiful.
Overall, very glad I went a bit outside of my normal, stopped being so pretentious 😂 and read this Cinderella retelling!
I greatly enjoyed a lot of the prose. There were some startling beautiful lines about grief. It was also a page turner that kept me on the edge of my seat, which is impressive for a retelling. Unfortunately, I can't all the way praise this book. Some plot choices from the 80ish percent to near the end I was not a fan of. I thought they could have been a lot more subtle to actually pull the ending off more powerfully. Some of it felt a bit cheap. BUT, the very final closing was beautiful.
Overall, very glad I went a bit outside of my normal, stopped being so pretentious 😂 and read this Cinderella retelling!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Do you ever wonder why so many Disney villains are female? In recent years, we've been offered retellings of several, like Malificient and Cruella, that portray a contrasting view of the wicked women in these fairytales.
Now, with Rachel Hochhauser's debut novel, one more is added to the list of redemption. 𝗟𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲 reimagines the classic fairytale of Cinderella by turning the story on its head to offer a new perspective: that of the evil stepmother herself. But is she really so villainous?
Twice-widowed, Etheldreda Tremaine fights tooth and nail against the odds continually stacked against her to secure her daughters' futures. Through her narration, the heart of motherhood is showcased with the sacrifices made in silence and her continual persistence and resilience in the face of a highly patriarchal society. For a character thus far only ever shown in a cruel light, this fresh take will make you sympathize and admire her.
Elin is a bratty and histrionic child and quite the opposite of what we see in the traditional Cinderella. Even so, Ethel tries time and again to be family to her, and I really enjoyed watching as their relationship arc evolved.
And that ending? Talk about a deeply satisfying (even if slightly heartbreaking) conclusion!
𝗟𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲 is one of the best retellings I've ever read. Hochhauser finds a way to remain true to the bones of the classic Cinderella tale while also offering up something fresh and more authentic in it's wake. It's an invigorating and truly special debut, and I can't wait to see what she writes next.
🎙 Bessie Carter gives an extraordinary solo narration. Her smooth accent is superbly fitting for Etheldreda, and her intonations for the rest of the characters are expertly done. She elevated the reading experience with her performance.
✨️ Thank you Macmillan Audio & St Martin's Press for the ALC & DRC!
#MacAudio2026 #smpearlyreaders
🎉 Pub date: 3•3•2026
Now, with Rachel Hochhauser's debut novel, one more is added to the list of redemption. 𝗟𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲 reimagines the classic fairytale of Cinderella by turning the story on its head to offer a new perspective: that of the evil stepmother herself. But is she really so villainous?
Twice-widowed, Etheldreda Tremaine fights tooth and nail against the odds continually stacked against her to secure her daughters' futures. Through her narration, the heart of motherhood is showcased with the sacrifices made in silence and her continual persistence and resilience in the face of a highly patriarchal society. For a character thus far only ever shown in a cruel light, this fresh take will make you sympathize and admire her.
Elin is a bratty and histrionic child and quite the opposite of what we see in the traditional Cinderella. Even so, Ethel tries time and again to be family to her, and I really enjoyed watching as their relationship arc evolved.
And that ending? Talk about a deeply satisfying (even if slightly heartbreaking) conclusion!
𝗟𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲 is one of the best retellings I've ever read. Hochhauser finds a way to remain true to the bones of the classic Cinderella tale while also offering up something fresh and more authentic in it's wake. It's an invigorating and truly special debut, and I can't wait to see what she writes next.
🎙 Bessie Carter gives an extraordinary solo narration. Her smooth accent is superbly fitting for Etheldreda, and her intonations for the rest of the characters are expertly done. She elevated the reading experience with her performance.
✨️ Thank you Macmillan Audio & St Martin's Press for the ALC & DRC!
#MacAudio2026 #smpearlyreaders
🎉 Pub date: 3•3•2026
March 10, 2026
Thank you SMP for the e-arc 🫶
4.5⭐️
I really enjoyed this one! This book explores the lengths a mother will go for her children and how society judges strong women who don’t “fit the mold.” I absolutely loved hearing this Cinderella story from the “villian” stepmother Ethel’s perspective, because in reality, Ethel is just a woman who is forced to make difficult decisions in a patriarchal world meant to keep her down. She is a fierce and resilient woman and her inner dialogue was quite entertaining. I also enjoyed the flashback scenes to her youth so we could learn more about her. Her children (2 daughters and one stepdaughter) along with some other side characters are well developed and there is a lot of great character growth that occurs. The story gets a bit darker towards the end but I was very satisfied with how it wraps up.
**There are some darker elements, so check the trigger warnings.**
4.5⭐️
I really enjoyed this one! This book explores the lengths a mother will go for her children and how society judges strong women who don’t “fit the mold.” I absolutely loved hearing this Cinderella story from the “villian” stepmother Ethel’s perspective, because in reality, Ethel is just a woman who is forced to make difficult decisions in a patriarchal world meant to keep her down. She is a fierce and resilient woman and her inner dialogue was quite entertaining. I also enjoyed the flashback scenes to her youth so we could learn more about her. Her children (2 daughters and one stepdaughter) along with some other side characters are well developed and there is a lot of great character growth that occurs. The story gets a bit darker towards the end but I was very satisfied with how it wraps up.
**There are some darker elements, so check the trigger warnings.**
March 12, 2026
Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a very original take on such a well known story. I really liked getting Lady Tremaine's point of view and backstory. I felt like it added a lot to her character as a whole. However, there was just something that did not quite land for me, and I am having trouble pinpointing exactly what it was. I do know that I did not fully enjoy the ending. It felt very rushed compared to the rest of the story.
This was a very original take on such a well known story. I really liked getting Lady Tremaine's point of view and backstory. I felt like it added a lot to her character as a whole. However, there was just something that did not quite land for me, and I am having trouble pinpointing exactly what it was. I do know that I did not fully enjoy the ending. It felt very rushed compared to the rest of the story.
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.
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