From the instant that I began this book, I was enchanted. Jennifer Donnelly's writing style is exquisite and feels very poetic as she effortlessly switches between character focus. In Stepsister, we follow the story of Isabelle, one of Cinderella's ugly sisters, towards the end of the fairy tale we all know and love. It's about what happens when Cinderella finds her happily ever after.
Oddly enough, I really liked Isabelle as a character - even from the beginning! She came across as a victim in her own way, but underneath there's a strong young woman. Throughout the book, we see her develop and discover herself, as well as see how, contrary to popular belief, beauty does not define a person.
I loved how this book was a little bit of a fantasy story whilst being very realistic, which makes it a perfect read for so many different types of reader. We meet a whole host of wonderful, and not so wonderful, characters who really come to life, and some remind me of my favourite fantasy leads whilst others could've been drawn straight from the history books. I highly, highly recommend Stepsister for anyone who's after a book that will stay with you long after you've finished it and captivate you whilst you read it.
Oddly enough, I really liked Isabelle as a character - even from the beginning! She came across as a victim in her own way, but underneath there's a strong young woman. Throughout the book, we see her develop and discover herself, as well as see how, contrary to popular belief, beauty does not define a person.
I loved how this book was a little bit of a fantasy story whilst being very realistic, which makes it a perfect read for so many different types of reader. We meet a whole host of wonderful, and not so wonderful, characters who really come to life, and some remind me of my favourite fantasy leads whilst others could've been drawn straight from the history books. I highly, highly recommend Stepsister for anyone who's after a book that will stay with you long after you've finished it and captivate you whilst you read it.