An interesting twist on the old fairy tales. Isabelle is one of Cinderella's(Ella's) ugly sisters. The tale is dark and begins with the Fates and Chance bickering over the map of Isabella's life and laying a bet on who will get to direct her path. The stepsisters and their mother are in dire need of money and Ella has gone off with her prince to a better life. Life goes wrong for them in quite a dramatic way and they lose all they had. Isabella is the most practical and has to solve their problems of how to survive. While all this is happening there is a war raging for the kingdom. Gradually Isabella manages to salvage their lives and gain what she wants most for hers. Well written characters and an interesting plot make this a great read.