In the vein of Wicked, The Woodcutter, and Boy, Snow, Bird, a luminous reimagining of a classic tale, told from the perspective of Agnes, Cinderella’s “evil” stepmother.

We all know the story of Cinderella. Or do we?

As rumors about the cruel upbringing of beautiful newlywed Princess Cinderella roil the kingdom, her stepmother, Agnes, who knows all too well about hardship, privately records the true story. . . .

A peasant born into serfdom, Agnes is separated from her family and forced into servitude as a laundress’s apprentice when she is only ten years old. Using her wits and ingenuity, she escapes her tyrannical matron and makes her way toward a hopeful future. When teenaged Agnes is seduced by an older man and becomes pregnant, she is transformed by love for her child. Once again left penniless, Agnes has no choice but to return to servitude at the manor she thought she had left behind. Her new position is nursemaid to Ella, an otherworldly infant. She struggles to love the child who in time becomes her stepdaughter and, eventually, the celebrated princess who embodies everyone’s unattainable fantasies. The story of their relationship reveals that nothing is what it seems, that beauty is not always desirable, and that love can take on many guises.

Lyrically told, emotionally evocative, and brilliantly perceptive, All the Ever Afters explores the hidden complexities that lie beneath classic tales of good and evil, all the while showing us that how we confront adversity reveals a more profound, and ultimately more important, truth than the ideal of “happily ever after.”

Out May 22, 2018

MY THOUGHTS:

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

Once again, wowsa for the cover! It is just stunning! I’ve found lately that Harper Collins Publishers has stepped up their game with their cover designs.

Very impressive. As was this retelling of a very well-known classic.  I felt the whole concept was unique, original and enticing.

The author did an excellent job laying out the plot and keeping the pace moving at a steady rate to keep the reader engaged. I wasn’t sure if I’d like this book but I was pleasantly surprised.

I love how the author uses Agnes’ POV to tell the story. This gave a common story an extra flare of inspiration and interest. There is no magic involved but rather a story through a poor woman and about struggle and survival and how a stepmother had been so unfairly misjudged. Even Cinderella’s stepsisters had a total change from the traditional fairy tale. I absolutely loved this book!

What a brilliant read!

 

I gave this book: