Hello awesome readers! I am excited to share another book now knocked off my TBR pile and what a fun read this was! A Cinderella retelling that shows you her step-sisters side of the story as well as their struggles for marriage in a wildly humorous and imaginative way.
For the month of March this book is discounted to $0.99 (also free with Kindle Unlimited!) Take advantage of the sale here: http://amzn.to/2oF3XND
Now, onto my review. (Find more info and handy dandy links below the review)
The Step-Spinsters
Author: Madina Papadopoulos
Category: Fairytale Retelling, Cinderella, Comedy, Historical Fiction/Romance
Suitable for: Teens+
My Rating: 5 Stars
Format Read for Review: Kindle copy provided by the author in return for an honest review.
Pages: 238
Description: This is the story not only of Cinderella but of her step-sisters and their missions for marriage. The eldest, Fredegonde wants to get married to someone with a title so that she can selflessly save her family home, and the youngest Javotte wants to marry for love. With the help of special slippers and other magical aid, each one of them is about to go through some wild trials. You’ll just have to read it to see how it all works out, and who (if anyone), will live happily ever after in the end.
“Here, for you, a fairy tale of what truly—maybe—happened on that day.”
In Short: I highly recommend this book. I have had so much fun reading it. If you like books full of humor you should check this one out. Whether or not you like fairytale retellings this book is a unique piece of art that I think would be enjoyed by anyone looking for something fun to read.
“As they danced, the count complimented Javotte on her one tooth, saying that, though it was just one, it was possibly the most beautiful tooth in all of Normandy.”
Pros: I never knew what to expect next. This fairytale was full of wild twists, deception, mystery, romance and even a love triangle or two or three. There is a hint of magic, poetic songs and a very healthy dose of comedy that kept me entertained until the very last page. I thought I would be confused by the large line-up of characters and all their nicknames but I wasn’t in the least. Maybe because each character is so vivid and unique. The descriptions are very bizarre and interesting and there are definitely no “perfect people” in this tale. I loved the entire cast and the amount of growth and development for every character. Even some of the characters that didn’t make a great impression with me in the beginning changed into admirable people by the end. In this story it’s true nothing is what it seems. It’s not always clear who is good and who is evil and what will happen in the end, and that’s part of what makes it so much fun to read! You get to see the story from all sides and even the cruel reveal their tender spots. This book did have a solid conclusion but I NEED to read more. I know there is still more story to be told for some of our characters so I can’t wait for the sequel! This book is beautifully written and well edited. I loved the silly yet rhythmic songs, to me it felt like Disney for grown ups with a slightly sarcastic sense of humor.
“I might have brains and personality, but I’m being judged on my looks and dowry.”
Cons: I have no notable issues with this book.
“Fredegonde and Javotte began to hum, and Isabelle knew there was a song coming. She pretended to fiddle with her headpiece but actually covered her ears. Though it made her happy when they sang, listening to them sing was a whole other matter.”
Parent’s Guide: Very minor non-graphic violence in the form of jousting and imprisonment in a dungeon. Some kissing but no sexual content. Overall clean book.
“Few ladies could boast of having foreheads so high and lips so thin.”
“As he’s passed along from house to house, the shoe hidden in a protective box, he had heard villagers who had not been invited to the ball argue about whether the maiden had worn pantoufles de verre—glass slippers—or pantoufles de vair—gray-squirrel-fur slippers. French was such a romantic language, yet so misleading.”
This book reminded me of an article I read a while ago on the website of another author (Jeff Chapman, of whom I am a big fan) about the history of the word “vair” and its connection to the Cinderella tales of olde. Take a look at that here: http://www.jeffchapmanbooks.com/vair/
~*More Info*~
THE STEP-SPINSTERS
“Do not judge till you have heard both sides of the story: the stepsisters’ words.”
BOOK BLURB
Once upon a time, in a land far, far away…
…(actually, in Medieval France, to be exact) there lived Cinderella’s stepsisters, Fredegonde the tall and Javotte the small. They wake up the morning after the legendary ball to learn that they each still have a chance to be the bride—all they have to do is make their feet fit into that tricky slipper. Alas, these two damsels under stress never quite seem to fit in anywhere. But that doesn’t stop them from wishing and hoping as they set upon a quest for grooms and grandeur of their own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Madina Papadopoulos is a New Orleans–born, New York–based freelance writer and author. She studied French and Italian at Tulane University and went on to pursue her MFA in Screenwriting at UCLA. After graduating, she taught French and Italian to children in early childhood and elementary school programs. Her nonfiction freelance writing focuses on food, drink, and entertainment. Her portfolio includes lifestyle articles in Delta Sky Mag, The Village Voice, Paste Magazine, Cosmopolitan, and Eater, among others.
BOOK INFO & LINKS
Title: The Step-Spinsters
Series: Unspun Fairytales
Release Date: August 15, 2017
Words: 67K | Pages: 238
Chapters: 43 with illustrations
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fairytale
Author and Illustrator: Madina Papadopoulos
Book Cover Design: Drew Luster
Awards: Winner of Amazon’s Kindle Scout Contest
Formats: eBook and Paperback
Excerpt: https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/MGPLXIOXYPN2
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2oF3XND
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35695209-the-step-spinsters
Social Media: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
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