Usually I would put the book synopsis first in my book reviews but from now on I will just post my review first than the book synopsis afterwards since this book had a really long synopsis and I’m pretty sure you’re here more for my opinion than the synopsis (I hope!).
Anyway, I LOVED LOVED LOVED THIS BOOK!
We all know the tale of Cinderella, both Disney and Grimm version, the girl with the glass slipper, evil stepsisters, and fairy godmother.
Yeah, that story.
Except this isn’t Cinderella’s story, it’s her stepsister’s, Isabelle story and it starts right when she cuts her toes off so she can fit her foot in the glass slipper. Unfortunately, her plan fails and Cinderella actually becomes queen. You know what happens next for Cinderella.
Well, in this book takes part after Cinderella becomes queen and told in Isabelle, her stepsister point of view.
I loved Isabelle so much! She felt so real and her story was so sad because so much people were trying to bring her down and it made me so mad every time someone called her ugly and just try to break her down and I’m so glad she rose above it. This book teaches you that you are more than just a pretty face and that you can be strong and smart and brave just like any man and you can do what any man can. This book is a real feminist story I’ll tell you that.
There’s also a game between Chance and Fate, two entities that are trying to alter and control Isabelle’s. Fate has the power to create maps of people’s lives and decide when it’s time they will die and in Isabelle’s case, she was to die very soon yet there’s Chance, who tries to alter and help Isabelle detour from death. At first, I was really scared for Isabelle because I thought she was really going to have an unhappy ending. I’m sort of glad Isabelle didn’t but at the same time, I wouldn’t mind her getting a tragic ending like what would of happened if Isabelle did get her tragic ending? I’m pretty sure I’ll be an emotional wreck but the beginning just gave that foreboding dark vibe that something bad was going to happen to Isabelle.
I’m also glad their game didn’t last because it was getting old. I was so happy whenever something finally good would happen to Isabelle but there goes Fate and that stupid raven bird, trying to stop everything from going positive.
I’m SO glad the romance wasn’t really the main plot of this story and I’m SO glad that Isabelle doesn’t realize her worth and strength just from a boy. Felix was so cute and help to Isabelle and just so good to her and it was a breath of fresh sir from all of the mean people always bring Isabelle down.
To wrap up this review, I really enjoyed it and loved the message this book sent. All the characters were great and if you’re in a mood for a retelling that doesn’t involve a prince or the other cliche fairy tale then this book is for you.
I rate this book four and a half stars!
Thanks for reading!
Isabelle should be blissfully happy – she’s about to win the handsome prince. Except Isabelle isn’t the beautiful girl who lost the glass slipper and captured the prince’s heart. She’s the ugly stepsister who’s cut off her toes to fit into Cinderella’s shoe … which is now filling with blood.
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.
goodreads
bad and bookish 