Though her mother will never let her forget the high class
line they descend from, Jane feels anything but noble. The
family's wealth has long since been gone, leaving Jane and
her sister, Maude, to attempt to find food and make it
through harsh winters. When their mother returns from town
one day with a new husband and a spoiled daughter, they have
hope that money will improve...until their stepfather dies
and
there is no money. Now, Jane must find a way to keep her
family and stepsister from starvation, even if it means
talking to people from the woods and going to a certain
ball.
As a huge fan of fairy tales and villains, I was so excited
to read THE STEPSISTER'S TALE by Tracy Barrett. This
wonderful spin on the classic Cinderella story does not
disappoint. Jane, the original stepsister, takes on an
entirely new light in this novel. In this book, Jane is a
firm believer in hard work and sometimes is a little rash
when speaking but is never cruel. I think most of all she
feels alone, especially with all of the hardship her family
has gone through. She fiercely loves her family, even
Isabella (the Cinderella of the story) though their
relationship definitely takes time.
One of the parts that makes this novel shine is the fact
that even though this is the stepsister's viewpoint,
Isabella still isn't the antagonist. She's certainly
spoiled and not a sub-par manipulator, but she does have a
heart. I love all the relationships between Jane, Isabella,
Maude, and the mother and how they develop so realistically
while still giving the story the Cinderella feel it derives
from. I also love the side characters of some of the wood
people, like Annie and Will, that add another perfect layer
to the story (and a little romance to it with Will).
Full of heart, loyalty, and complexity of character, THE
STEPSISTER'S TALE could easily be a favorite for any fairy
tale lover. I absolutely loved the beautiful story Tracy
Barrett has woven, and I would recommend it to anyone needs
reminding that everyone has their own side to the story.
What really happened after the clock struck midnight? Jane Montjoy is tired of being a lady. She's tired of pretending to live up to the standards of her mother's noble family—especially now that the family's wealth is gone and their stately mansion has fallen to ruin. It's hard enough that she must tend to the animals and find a way to feed her mother and her little sister each day. Jane's burden only gets worse after her mother returns from a trip to town with a new stepfather and stepsister in tow. Despite the family's struggle to prepare for the long winter ahead, Jane's stepfather remains determined to give his beautiful but spoiled child her every desire. When her stepfather suddenly dies, leaving nothing but debts and a bereaved daughter behind, it seems to Jane that her family is destined for eternal unhappiness. But a mysterious boy from the woods and an invitation to a royal ball are certain to change her fate…. From the handsome prince to the evil stepsister, nothing is quite as it seems in Tracy Barrett's stunning retelling of the classic Cinderella tale.
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