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An Unlikely Heroine

"Lady Tremaine" by Rachel Hochhauser

 The story of Cinderella has been flipped topsy-turvy in this exciting retelling from Lady Tremaine's point of view.  We are introduced to a much different version of Lady Etheldreda Tremaine than we meet in the story of Cinderella.  This woman is a flawed, fiercely independent woman cast by no fault of her own into a life that finds her struggling to keep her family and home afloat, masquerading a life not at all lived. Not a villain at all. We meet the original characters but with unexpected twists to their personalities. Like their mother Rosie and Matilda’s 'cruelty' towards Elin (Cinderella) differs greatly from the original story, as does Cinderella. Prince Charming, you ask, I’ll let you read the book to discover the reality of this royal family.

This dark, twisty take on Cinderella exceeded my expectations with its surprises, and I found the ending arrived too quickly. My thanks to St Martins Press and NetGalley for an ARC copy of this novel.

BOOK WILL BE PUBLISHED MARCH 3, 2026