Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser

 Wow, this book completely caught me off guard.  This story is a retelling of Cinderella but from the perspective of the Stepmother.  I liked the premise and it was an interesting take on an old classic.  However the last part of the story really blew my mind.  I was not expecting what happened at all.  

Etheldreda finds herself in dire circumstances after her second husband passes away and leaves her with no money, lots of debt, and a large house to maintain.  She also has her two daughters, Matilda and Rosamund from her first marriage, and a stepdaughter, Elin, to take care of.  The only way she can see out of this situation is successful marriages for her daughters.  When an announcement comes that there will be a ball, Etheldreda must  find a way to get money, invitations for all the girls, and appropriate dresses so that the girls can go and meet the prince and other possible husbands.  There is of course conflict with her stepdaughter.  

The book is set in the Middle Ages and there was some other interesting information about hawking which was a popular sport for the upper classes during this time period. Overall, this was a great retelling and if you have ever loved reading Cinderella or just enjoy a story where there are strong female characters I recommend reading this book.