Stepsister
When the prince discovers Isabelle’s deception, she is turned away in shame. It’s no more than she deserves: she is a plain girl in a world that values beauty; a feisty girl in a world that wants her to be pliant.
Isabelle has tried to fit in. To live up to her mother’s expectations. To be like her stepsister. To be sweet. To be pretty. One by one, she has cut away pieces of herself in order to survive a world that doesn’t appreciate a girl like her. And that has made her mean, jealous, and hollow.
Until she gets a chance to alter her destiny and prove what ugly stepsisters have always known: it takes more than heartache to break a girl.
My Review
Let me be clear that this is not a twist on Cinderella. That is because this book focuses on Isabelle. She was one of Cinderella's stepsisters. I like that this book was not about Cinderella. There have been many stories about Cinderella. Yet, does anyone care or ever wondered what happened to her stepsisters. No, but now it is Isabelle's turn to tell her story.
Yet, if you thought Isabelle would have a fairy tale ending as well you would be wrong. Not when the Fates are involved. The three Fates - the maiden, the mother, and the crone. They draw maps for every single person's life, and they predict that Isabelle's life map will not have a happy ending. This is before Chance steals Isabelle's map from the Fates. He believes that people should have a say in their lives; so he goes to Isabelle in the chance of allowing her to choose her own destiny.
Yes, this book is taking a feminist stand but can't a story about a strong woman just be that...a story. While, I did like this book; I found myself struggling to form a strong emotional connection towards the characters. However, I am a cheerleader of Isabelle.
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