the setup…
What if there was another side to the Cinderella fairy tale? Introducing Lady Etheldrada (Ethel) Verity Isolde Tremaine Bramley, better known as the evil stepmother. She’s twice widowed with two daughters from her first marriage, Mathilde and Rosamund (Rosie), and stepdaughter Elin from her last. Both men left her virtually penniless except for the home of her second husband, Bramley Hall, a manor stately looking on the outside but crumbling underneath its facade. Theirs is an unconventional life as Ethel trains them in the life of the manor born while teaching them real life skills to survive. She’s pragmatic, fierce and a reckoning force who also is a skilled falconer. When they receive an invitation to the Prince’s upcoming ball, Ethel is distraught to find that Elin is the only invitee despite the fact that Rosie has caught his eye.
the heart of the story…
This isn’t a retelling, rather a reimagining of the fairy tale. I loved Ethel who did what she had to do to care for all of her daughters, biological and found. Elin isn’t the put upon stepchild, more the entitled only child of her father. In this world, the only safety route for women is through marriage and Ethel uses her skills to prepare and present her daughters despite their circumstances. The Prince seems to be that route but is he truly the charming man he appears to be?
the narration…
I’d never heard of Bessie Carter until this story and she is magnificent here! She nailed everything.
the bottom line…
I was riveted to the story from the outset and think it’s going to be the one I think of as “Cinderella” going forward. All of the fairy tale elements are turned upside down and believably so. I gave this a pass until Reese selected it as a book club choice and took another look. It’s will be one of my favorites for the year.
Book Info
- Release Date: March 3, 2026
- Narrator: Bessie Carter
- Audio Length: 12 hours, 41 minutes
- Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Listen to a Sample!
Blue Mood Café 
On my tbr! 🙌
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