I knew very little about Jennifer Donnelly’s Stepsister, except it was a re-telling of Cinderella, and I typically enjoy re-tellings. This book is SO much more, though! It is insightful, a little heartbreaking, and very clever.
Synopsis:
Isabelle should be blissfully happy – she’s about to win the handsome prince. Except Isabelle isn’t the beautiful girl who lost the glass slipper and captured the prince’s heart. She’s the ugly stepsister who’s cut off her toes to fit into Cinderella’s shoe . . . which is now filling with her blood.
When the prince discovers Isabelle’s deception, she’s turned away in shame. It’s no more than she deserves: she’s a plain girl in a world that values beauty; a bold girl in a world that wants her to be pliant.
Isabelle has tried to fit in. She cut away pieces of herself in order to become pretty. Sweet. More like Cinderella. But that only made her mean, jealous, and hollow. Now she has a chance to alter her destiny and prove what ugly stepsisters have always known: it takes more than heartache to break a girl.
I grew to love Isabelle – I was cheering for her all the way. I also found myself anxious at times, not quite sure where the story would go. This is dark fantasy (reminds me a lot of Holly Black’s books) – the author isn’t afraid to get a little gruesome, so it often felt like no one and nothing was “safe.” That also makes it feel more real to me, though, as if the author trusts the reader to accept what is true to the story, no matter what.
And something unexpected, but totally rewarding: the author has written an interesting umbrella over the main story, with characters old as time and truths that really made me think. There were several passages of writing that made me catch my breath – it’s likely I’ll buy a paper copy so I can underline them to reference again.
Finally, I have to clap for the wonder of a stand-alone book. The pacing in this book was perfect, and the richness and beauty of the story and characters were wonderful. The author built a world and created a future for it in just one book. I loved it!
BOOK:30 