To put it simply, I LOVED this book.
It focuses on Isabelle, one of Cinderella's ugly stepsisters. It starts with the tail end of the Cinderella story. Reminding us of how the two stepsisters mutilate their own feet to try and fit the glass slipper, of how Ella manages to escape the attic room, produce the second slipper when the first one smashes, and how the stepsisters are left behind when she leaves to marry the prince. The book continues with what happens to the sisters, with focus on Isabelle after this part of the story. We learn of the harsh words, the constant nasty reminders that they are ugly, of how the hopes and dreams of two girls who don't quite fit the mold, lead to their jealousy and therefore to their treatment of Ella. We find out how the townspeople turn on the family when they find out about how the sisters treated Ella. We see one girl who is brave and courageous, and the other intelligent with a thirst for knowledge be torn down because that's not the way of a girl.
Then we see Isabelle falling into remorse, finding the desire to heal herself, her misguided desire to be pretty and how she finds those things that make her strong and whole again. We see her come to the realisation of who she is, she finds her true self and her true desires and she saves a kingdom.
I finished this book in two days (and would have finished it in one day if not for a needy puppy ☺️) as it was a struggle to put it down. It was beautifully written and I thoroughly recommend it. If you have read poisoned, which I have and also really enjoyed, then read Stepsister because in my opinion it is even better!
It focuses on Isabelle, one of Cinderella's ugly stepsisters. It starts with the tail end of the Cinderella story. Reminding us of how the two stepsisters mutilate their own feet to try and fit the glass slipper, of how Ella manages to escape the attic room, produce the second slipper when the first one smashes, and how the stepsisters are left behind when she leaves to marry the prince. The book continues with what happens to the sisters, with focus on Isabelle after this part of the story. We learn of the harsh words, the constant nasty reminders that they are ugly, of how the hopes and dreams of two girls who don't quite fit the mold, lead to their jealousy and therefore to their treatment of Ella. We find out how the townspeople turn on the family when they find out about how the sisters treated Ella. We see one girl who is brave and courageous, and the other intelligent with a thirst for knowledge be torn down because that's not the way of a girl.
Then we see Isabelle falling into remorse, finding the desire to heal herself, her misguided desire to be pretty and how she finds those things that make her strong and whole again. We see her come to the realisation of who she is, she finds her true self and her true desires and she saves a kingdom.
I finished this book in two days (and would have finished it in one day if not for a needy puppy ☺️) as it was a struggle to put it down. It was beautifully written and I thoroughly recommend it. If you have read poisoned, which I have and also really enjoyed, then read Stepsister because in my opinion it is even better!