All the Ever Afters

In the vein of Wicked, The Woodcutter, and Boy, Snow, Bird, a luminous reimagining of a classic tale, told from the perspective of Agnes, Cinderella’s “evil” stepmother.

We all know the story of Cinderella. Or do we?

As rumors about the cruel upbringing of beautiful newlywed Princess Cinderella roil the kingdom, her stepmother, Agnes, who knows all too well about hardship, privately records the true story. . . .

A peasant born into serfdom, Agnes is separated from her family and forced into servitude as a laundress’s apprentice when she is only ten years old. Using her wits and ingenuity, she escapes her tyrannical matron and makes her way toward a hopeful future. When teenaged Agnes is seduced by an older man and becomes pregnant, she is transformed by love for her child. Once again left penniless, Agnes has no choice but to return to servitude at the manor she thought she had left behind. Her new position is nursemaid to Ella, an otherworldly infant. She struggles to love the child who in time becomes her stepdaughter and, eventually, the celebrated princess who embodies everyone’s unattainable fantasies. The story of their relationship reveals that nothing is what it seems, that beauty is not always desirable, and that love can take on many guises.

Lyrically told, emotionally evocative, and brilliantly perceptive, All the Ever Afters explores the hidden complexities that lie beneath classic tales of good and evil, all the while showing us that how we confront adversity reveals a more profound, and ultimately more important, truth than the ideal of “happily ever after.”


My Review


OMG. Calling all fans of fairy tales; you have to pick up a copy of All the Ever Afters. You don't want to have any regrets being the only one not talking about this book.

I really loved author, Danielle Teller's imaginative take on Cinderella's step mother, Agnes. This book is refreshing as it does not focus on the main character, Cinderella but an understated character...her stepmother. I really felt for Agnes. If you go into this story with any thoughts that Agnes is the "evil" stepmother, you will soon find yourself wanting to protect Agnes.

Agnes was so warm and inviting of a character. I just couldn't stop reading. I got "lost" in this book (in a good way). I was saddened with I came to the end as I didn't want the story to end. All the Ever Afters will surely be one of the biggest hits of 2018!