REVIEW: Stepsister (Jennifer Donnelly)

Book: Stepsister

Author: Jennifer Donnelly

My rating: 4.5/5.

Premise: Cinderella has her happily ever after. But this is stepsister Isabelle's story. She is brave and strong-willed - but not beautiful. And she has bloody feet from trying to fit into the glass slipper. But now Isabelle has a chance to alter her destiny and prove what ugly stepsisters have always known: it takes more than heartache to break a girl.

I enjoyed this book a lot. Its fast paced with short chapters so I romped through it in no time! We follow Isabelle from the point where she cuts off her toes to fit into the glass slipper. We see her ostracised by the village for her treatment of Ella. But she's really struggling to fit in this mould of what she's been told she should be, rather than embracing her fierce nature. Also, there's the other sister, Octavia, who just wants to study maths and science (a girl after my own heart!). In the meantime, we have Fate and Chance betting on whether Isabelle can change her future. This book is full of strong women and tells you that it isn't all about being pretty. Loved it!