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The Stepsister Scheme (Princess #1)

by Jim C. Hines (Goodreads Author)

3.76 of 5 stars 3.76 · rating details · 2,255 ratings · 401 reviews

What would happen if an author went back to the darker themes of the original fairy tales for his plots, and then crossed the Disney princesses with "Charlie's Angels?" Hines delivers a new take on what happened to Cinderella and her prince after the wedding. Original.

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You know how all those old fairy tales take you through lots of scary adventures till you finally reach...more

Mass Market Paperback, 344 pages

Published January 6th 2009 by DAW (first published December 17th 2008)

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The Best Fairytales and Retellings

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Jan 01, 2011 Cait rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fairy tale fans who enjoy clever concepts

Shelves: novel, currently-shelved-guestroom, queer, fairy-tales, all-of-my-reviewed-books

I really love retold fairy tales, but I also have what I think should not be a terribly picky rule: a clever concept is not a substitute for a story. A disappointingly large number of so-called "fractured fairy tales" fail this simple test, and the cover art and blurb for this book were not very promising, to the point where I would not have picked it up at all if I hadn't been rather impressed with this author's book Goblin Quest , which had a clever concept and a very good story. This book doe...more

7 likes · like · see review

Mar 21, 2010 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: cinderella, fairy, grimm, sleeping-beauty-rapunzel, snow-white, favorites, jimchines, fantasy-fairy-tales-influ, feminist-fiction

One of the more recent cultural phenomenon is the rise of the Disney princesses. Everywhere you look, you see young girls wearing Disney Princess gear. On Halloween, young girls dress up as Belle, Aurora, Cinderella, and Snow White. Even Mulan has been declared an honorary princess (how, I don't know. Can someone explain it to me?). Some women have expressed concerned about young girls being, well, girly, and lacking good role models. The Disney princesses, in other words, seem to be a tamer ver...more

14 likes · like · see review

Feb 10, 2011 Riccarla Roman rated it 5 of 5 stars

It would be easy to write this off as fairytale princesses as Charlie's Angels. But Jim C. Hines does an amazing job of telling the story behind the story and making you believe that maybe his version is the true one.

We meet Princess Danielle Whiteshore nee de Glas (also known as Cinderella). She has the strange ability to communicate with animals. As she adjusts to being a princess, she is attacked by her stepsister, Charlotte, and saved by the Queen's servant, Talia. In short order she learns...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 04, 2009 Nan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: signed, fairy-tale-retellings, fantasy

(I don't know if anyone would consider this a spoilery review, so please be warned . . .)

Danielle is the princess formerly known as Cinderwench. Predictibly, she's having a hard time settling into her new role in life, despite the fact that she genuinely loves her husband. She has a hard time establishing a relationship with her servants, as she finds it difficult to tell them what to do and to allow them to do their own work. She doesn't enjoy learning the protocol she needs to know. However, a...more (I don't know if anyone would consider this a spoilery review, so please be warned . . .)

Danielle is the princess formerly known as Cinderwench. Predictibly, she's having a hard time settling into her new role in life, despite the fact that she genuinely loves her husband. She has a hard time establishing a relationship with her servants, as she finds it difficult to tell them what to do and to allow them to do their own work. She doesn't enjoy learning the protocol she needs to know. However, all that changes when her stepsister, Charlotte, reappears in her life. One assassination attempt later, Danielle finds that she must become assertive if she is to live--and if she is rescue her husband, currently at the mercy of her stepsisters. She has the help of Snow, a witch with mirror magic, and the mysterious Talia, known popularly as Sleeping Beauty.

The Stepsister Scheme is an engaging read, and I've been looking forward to reading it ever since talking to the author, Jim C. Hines, at a conference in Minnesota in 2006. I used to study fairy tales as an academic area of pursuit, and I can say that Hines has clearly done his research. He knows the older, darker, alternate versions of these tales quite well. However, he doesn't bludgeoun (sp?) his readers with that knowledge. Instead, it unspools slowly as their history becomes relevant to the plot. Shrek 3 used many of these same princesses to tell a far different story. In that movie, their passive traits (ex: Sleeping Beauty's ability to fall asleep at will and trip soldiers with her body) are used to save the day. Here, Hines tells the story of women that refuse to be passive and reshape their various curses into strengths.

I liked this book, and I look forward to the sequel, The Mermaid's Madness, promised in October 2009. The cover copy made this book sound like it was going to be much funnier than it was, but once I adapted to Hines' humor, that wasn't an issue for me any longer. The next novel has the potential to be stronger (and maybe funnier?) now that these characters have been established in their roles.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Jan 13, 2011 KevinB rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: humor, reviewed, fantasy, fairy-tale

This is a fun book. A quick read filled with action, magic and humor.

The story starts with Cinderella, 'real' name Danielle de Glas, mere months after the classic fairy tale ends, at a time she should be busy living happily ever after. Instead Danielle's husband, Prince Armand, gets kidnapped by her stepsisters. Aided by Talia (also known as Sleeping Beauty), whose fairy blessings grant her some mean fighting skills and Snow (White of course), a sorceress using mirror magic, Danielle sets out to...more

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 22, 2009 Steven rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is not a goblin book like Jim's three other books, Goblin Quest, Goblin Hero, and Goblin War. You may have been clued in by the three kick-ass women on the cover.

Remember that scene in Shrek 3? The kick ass one with Led Zeppelin in the background?

Okay, imagine that - except funnier, with more plot, and fully realized characters. And more actual fairy tale stuff. This book is what that one scene wants to be when it grows up. The women are fully realized people, the action is packed, and the...more

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Feb 24, 2009 CJ - Secret Charm rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fables fans, fairytale fans

Shelves: fantasy, fiction-for-women, faerie-tale-with-a-twist

Very good first book in a new series. If you like fantasy, fables and fairytales, legends and magic and you enjoy interesting takes on the classics- you'll appreciate this book.

You have Talia (Sleeping Beauty) a master warrior, Snow (Snow White though her real name is Ermilina) a skilled sorceress and Danielle - otherwise known as Cinderella.

A husband gets kidnapped, a son is to be born and a vengeful duo of stepsisters as well as some very not-nice faeries are all front and center in this stor...more

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Jul 28, 2012 Moira rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Nevěděla jsem, co od této knihy čekat. Vlastně jsem se k ní dostala jen náhodou, rozhodně toho však nelituju! Skoro jsem váhala nad čtyřkou, ale nebuďme až moc hodní.
Nejen že kniha splňovala těch „pár“ náročných kritérií, které by podle mě ucházející fantasy příběh měl mít, ale dokázala spojit vtipnou, poutavou i vážnou stránku věci, v což jsem asi ani nedoufala.

Dostáváme se do světa, ve kterém jsou pohádky skutečností. Tohle zní zajímavě že? Jenže mohlo by mě to tak bavit, kdybych četla pohádku...more

1 like · like · see review

Jun 02, 2010 Brownbetty rated it 2 of 5 stars

I wanted to like this book. Hines is one of a few authors whose internet presence doesn't come across as an egotistical gasbag, and you cannot imagine how this predisposes me to liking him. But this book!

First, obviously, lots of people do like this book, since it has sequels, and his editors presumably know their business, but I could not. I made it through the first two chapters only by mentally writing increasingly hysterical editorial directions to Hines, at which point I gave up. This book'...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 11, 2009 Jen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, read-in-2009

This book is thoroughly charming. My socks have been completely charmed off my feet, so it's good that I have blankets and a dog to keep my toes warm.

I am so, so glad that I purchased this book. It is clever, has a good plot, has fun use of magic and fighting, and had I not been feeling like death warmed over, may have made me laugh until I cried. As it was, it made me smile really big a couple of times, which is a huge reaction right now.

I had this book highly recommended by other folks who lik...more

3 likes · like · see review

Jan 28, 2009 Eric rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, 2009

Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty unite to form a kick-ass superhero team. Imagine a mash-up of the Brothers Grimm and the Powerpuff Girls. This is mostly Cinderella's story (she rescues her abducted prince), but things pick up noticeably when Snow White summons her seven little friends. The dwarves bring the pain and help the Powerpuff Princesses tear down Fairytown. Hi ho!

1 like · like · see review

Dec 08, 2008 Kurt rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

I found The Stepsister Scheme to be a real delight. This is the first book in a new series from Jim Hines and I'm looking forward to future volumes. You may be familiar with Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty, but you haven't seen them kick butt like this before. The book has Jim's great sense of humor, but there are dark elements to this story as well.

We get a story where the women aren't waiting to be rescued. Quite the contrary, it's the men who better watch out this time around. Th...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 25, 2009 Lauren rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

I found this book by reading Alma Alexander's lj blog, where she recommended it. It was definitely a fun read, and the world needs more adventuring princesses! It was interesting to see different versions of the three princesses used, rather than just the typical Grimm's/Disney/Marchen versions that most people are accustomed to.

1 like · like · see review

Jan 25, 2009 Kevin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

This was a terrific book, a fractured fairy tale that any lover of strong Heroines should love.

1 like · like · see review

Apr 10, 2012 Beth Cato rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: in, 2009, fantasy

Cinderella - aka Danielle - thought she found her happily-ever-after. She married her prince, toured the kingdom, and has discovered she has the funny knack to talk to animals. But when one of her stepsisters breaks into the castle and tries to assassinate her with some peculiarly powerful witchcraft, it's obvious that something is very wrong. As her stepsister escapes, she announces that they have the Prince - Armand - in their possession. Fortunately for Danielle, a woman by the name of Talia...more

1 like · like · see review

Feb 09, 2009 Danika rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: escape-reality, magick

I picked this book up randomly. I won't lie: I thought the cover art was pretty. What is not to love about three gorgeous girls looking ready to kick some butt?

The Stepsister Scheme is definitely a book meant to be taken with a grain of salt. The only thing that popped for me was the author's take on the fairytale classics we've come to know and love. The real stories of Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty are far from those Disney put to animated film. They are even just different enoug...more

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Apr 22, 2013 Fangs for the Fantasy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Cinderella, (Danielle) has her Happily Ever After. She’s married to her prince, Armand, she lives in the palace. Everything seems wonderful.

But the stepsisters haven’t give up and gone away just because Danielle made it down the aisle with her prince. And after an aborted assassination attempt on Danielle, Armand has gone missing and the sisters are clearly implicated.

Thankfully, Danielle is not without resources – especially since her new mother-in-law, Queen Beatrice has been collecting extra...more Cinderella, (Danielle) has her Happily Ever After. She’s married to her prince, Armand, she lives in the palace. Everything seems wonderful.

But the stepsisters haven’t give up and gone away just because Danielle made it down the aisle with her prince. And after an aborted assassination attempt on Danielle, Armand has gone missing and the sisters are clearly implicated.

Thankfully, Danielle is not without resources – especially since her new mother-in-law, Queen Beatrice has been collecting extraordinary young women with amazing talents to help find her lost son Danielle doesn’t step out alone – but with the lethally skilled Talia (Sleeping Beauty) and the magically gifted Snow (Snow White). Even though it takes them to the depths of fairy land, they will find her Prince.

There’s something so delightfully fun about retelling fairy tales that we all know so very well. Especially taking the often passive princesses and re-writing the story to make them the saviour and the Prince the one in peril for once. I love the application of cynical realism to these fairy tales – especially how the Happily Ever After could never ever be that neat. How could Cinderella so quickly transition from being a servant to being a princess? How can Sleeping Beauty go to sleep for a hundred years and not expect her kingdom to have been taken over and her legend be exploited and controlled? That her throne would just be waiting for her when she woke up? And could Snow White really kill her mother who has been Queen for how long and expect to step into her shoes without any political support or allies? Things are not nearly as neat as fairy tales require them to be. Or that the villains don’t just go away because they’ve been defeated, it’s not so simple.

I also love the reinterpretation of the tales. What Talia does with her dancing gift from the fey. I love Snow’s dwarfs - that was definitely something I didn’t expect – and Snow using mirrors for magic. It’s some excellent developments of the core fairy tales, adding reality and depth to these shallow tales.

Naturally this makes the world a very fun one, just expanding on the fairy tale worlds then adding vast variety and possibility from the fairy kingdom alone makes it one with vast potential. And because it has been found with a sense of cynical politics, there’s a greater level of humanity and realism than such a magical setting would suggest.

The plot itself is rather linear, but then this is an adventure quest on which the fate of the kingdom rests. There really isn’t time for side-quests or distractions nor is there ever any question about whodunit , only really how and why – and, more importantly, how to get the prince back. It’s decently paced with lots of appropriate exposition without getting too distracted along the way. Perhaps a little long windedness here and there or moments that could have moved faster, but I’m nitpicking more than anything. It could have been faster – but that doesn’t mean it was slow, long winded or dragging.

I was happy to see that one of the princesses, Talia, was both a POC (including with her own culture and her own cuisine) and that she was a Lesbian. The downside on both is that, of course, she was focused on someone else’s Happily Ever After (but then, so was Snow), that she was the only POC and foreign – so POC is the external other and, of course, as a Lesbian she has both an unrequited love on a straight woman (though I still loved that scene) and is a victim of rape. There’s a really nasty trope that Lesbians in particular and GBLT people in general are GBLT because of a terrible experience with the opposite sex and though there’s no link drawn in the text.

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Mar 28, 2013 Laura Stone rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

WASN'T REALLY INTO THIS BOOK, FRIENDS - SORRY!

Author didn't really transcend any stereotypes that come to mind when I think about fantasy. The story played with three fairy tale story lines and real-worldified their stories. That was cool - the main characters were badasses who could fight and were intelligent. This book also passes the Bechdel test, but that fact doesn't detract from the fact that the point of the book is a man. Literally, the thing being quested to is a dude. I know it's playi...more

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Sep 21, 2012 Tessa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Voilà une saga originale de par ses personnages tout d’abord: Talia alias La belle au bois dormant, Blanche alias Blanche Neige et Danielle alias Cendrillon forment un trio de chic et de choc pour voler au secours du Prince Armand, mari de Danielle, qui a été kidnappé par les demi-soeurs de cette dernière.

Comme on peut s’y attendre, les origines de ces personnages bien connus, sont au rendez-vous. Mais c’est là qu’on est assez surpris. En effet, au fil du livre, chaque héroïne nous raconte son h...more Voilà une saga originale de par ses personnages tout d’abord: Talia alias La belle au bois dormant, Blanche alias Blanche Neige et Danielle alias Cendrillon forment un trio de chic et de choc pour voler au secours du Prince Armand, mari de Danielle, qui a été kidnappé par les demi-soeurs de cette dernière.

Comme on peut s’y attendre, les origines de ces personnages bien connus, sont au rendez-vous. Mais c’est là qu’on est assez surpris. En effet, au fil du livre, chaque héroïne nous raconte son histoire qui se révèle ne pas être toute rose car mêlant les contes d’où elles proviennent, l’univers crée par Walt Disney mais aussi quelques ajouts de l’auteur. On se retrouve alors avec des Princesses qui n’en sont plus vraiment car se rapprochant plutôt de la guerrière et de la femme moderne (même si l’histoire ne se passe pas de nos jours).

De plus, l’auteur a réellement bien su mêler les genres: action, humour, moments joyeux ou moments tristes avec une belle portion de magie pour mélanger tout ça, et la potion prend assez bien.

On est plongé dans l’univers des Princesses dès les premières pages et l’épopée pour secourir le Prince Armand ne manque pas de rebondissements! Entre bagarres et tours de magie, les règlements de compte et la jalousie sont en centre de l’histoire. Le côté histoire d’amour, contrairement à ce qu’on pourrait s’attendre avec ces personnages, n’est quasi pas exploité par rapport au reste.

Les protagonistes sont assez bien développés au fil du livre. Chaque Princesse a son caractère et ses secrets, les demi-soeurs sont détestables à souhait et pour cette fois, ce n’est pas le Prince qui vole au secours de sa Princesse pour lui voler un baiser, il sera d’ailleurs bien niais voire même un peu inutile…

C’est donc une lecture agréable mais qui, cependant, a quand même quelques longueurs pendant lesquelles on se demande si l’action va se débloquer ou non, un peu du genre “Un jour mon Prince viendra…” mais on sait pas quand. On se perd aussi légèrement au milieu des descriptions dans la Cité de Faërie, l’auteur alourdi le voyage des héroïnes et alourdit notre lecture au passage.

De bons personnages et une histoire assez construite, je devrais être conquise! Cependant, la lecture reste agréable mais n’est pas prenante. On ne s’attache pas vraiment aux héroïnes et au final, j’ai eu l’impression de plutôt survoler les évènements. On n’est malheureusement pas marqué par l’histoire et l’envie absolue de savoir la suite ne pas envahie.

Un avis qui sera donc mitigé pour une lecture tout de même sympathique que je recommande aux amoureux du genre!(less)

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Aug 13, 2012 Jamie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: amazing-romance, assassins-hunters-or-warriors, favorites, kickass-heroine, magic, fae-books, read-repeatedly, strange-abilities, princesses-and-princes, all-time-faves

All I can say is: Daaaaaamn (;

This book was absolutely spectacular. I loved how creative this story was because, honestly, I would have never thought about the Princesses being highly lethal killers. Well, they weren't exactly killers, but they were highly trained and able to wield magic. Also, I thought that twisting their stories was great! It showed that there was more to the Princesses and the stories weren't always true. Of course, you always wonder about what happens to the Princesses afte...more

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Aug 11, 2012 Silent_count rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: commented, fiction

This book made me think a lot about girls going through puberty. It's an age when they're starting to find their way in our, grown-up world but are themselves still touched by the glimmering magic of childhood. This is a book for all of those girls... and maybe their parents too.

It's for girls who are taught that girls are weak, and who need role-models better than the Paris Hiltons and Bella Swans of our world. It's for girls who are old enough to see through the "childish" fairy tales but have...more

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Aug 04, 2012 ContemplativeCat rated it 5 of 5 stars

Review written 5-13-09

Did you ever wonder what happened to Cinderella after she moved to the Prince’s castle? Was it really “happily ever after?” Jim Hines shows us the story after the original fairy tale ends as Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty embark on an adventure initiated by the stepsisters. He offers us a delightful tale of action, adventure and intrigue, with dashes of humor and characters that truly come to life on the page.

I had read reviews of Jim’s work before, but this is...more

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Dec 03, 2011 Leah (The Pretty Good Gatsby) rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, sci-fi-fantasy, fairy-tales-retellings

http://sosaysthewhale.wordpress.com/2...

Fairy tales & retellings seem to be in right now. There’s been an influx in the number of books, movies, and television shows dealing with fairy tale characters and I fully support this movement. I think it’s awesome and I’m really loving retellings with new takes on familiar stories.

I first came across this book at work a few months ago and it immediately caught my eye. Admittedly, I’m usually not one for an all-female cast of characters, but the artw...more

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Sep 27, 2011 Andrea Blythe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, fic-fantasy, fic-retellings

If Danielle (a.k.a. Cinderella) thought she would live happily ever after when her prince whisked her off on horseback to the castle, the idea is quickly dispelled when her vile stepsister shows up and tries to kill her. Not only that, but her stepsister has some surprising new powers and informs Danielle that her husband has been kidnapped.

With help from Talia (a.k.a. Sleeping Beauty), who is a skilled martial artist thanks to her fairy gifts, and Snow White, a master of mirror magic, Danielle...more

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Aug 04, 2011 Jill Furedy rated it 3 of 5 stars

This series popped up on my Borders 'you might also like' email, and though the cover didn't look like something I would usually pick up, the description seemed amusing. The Goodreads reviewer who mentioned that scene from the Shrek movies where the princesses go on attack as a preview of the series probably did more to make me buy it than did the 'charlie's angels' blurb on the cover. That and learning it was based on the darker, earlier tellings of the fairy tales and not the cleaned up cute v...more

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May 31, 2011 Ann rated it 3 of 5 stars

**Possible general spoilers**

I generally bypass the sci-fi fantasy aisles at book stores, but these were (quite literally) forced into my arms when I left a friend's house, accompanied by the admonishment not to call until I'd read them. My hopes were not terribly high, so to say Jim Hines exceeded them seems a weak compliment. However, I did find the whole series (this is followed by The Mermaid's Madness and Red Hood's Revenge) to be extremely enjoyable and absorbing. The story is clever, and...more

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Jan 16, 2011 Lindsay Stares rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was tons of fun! This is the best pure fantasy adventure I've read in a long time. It's also fairly unabashed girl power. I really enjoyed it.

In this world, fairy tales are true, more or less. Danielle de Glas did sneak off to the ball dressed in glass slippers she received from the tree over her mother's grave. She did not arrive there in a transformed pumpkin. Her comrades in arms are Ermillina “Call me Snow” Curtana, and Talia “ask about the fairies again and I'll kill you” Malak-el...more

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Oct 28, 2010 Chibineko rated it 4 of 5 stars

"Once upon a time there were three little princesses who ended up with three very different men. Their lives each went off into very different endings, each warped into a fairy tale. But I took them away from all that and now they work for me. Ah? My name is Queen Beatrice."

When Danielle (think Cinderella) discovers that her husband has gone missing, she doesn't quite know what to do- just that she's willing to do anything to get him back. Thanks to her quiet servant Talia, she's dodged her step...more

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Sep 29, 2010 Hobart rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009-reads

There are really only so many reactions a father can have when, thanks to his young daughter, his home and life are invaded by the Disney Princesses. Through DVDs, toys, costumes, books, clothing these characters can thoroughly infiltrate a family's collective consciousness. A dad can run to such things as home improvement projects, sports, denial, or attempts to turn their daughter into a Tom-boy; but once these girls take the beachhead of your home, they don't give an inch of it back for years...more

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Jul 31, 2010 Kim rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fairy-tale-retellings, fantasy

I am a huge fan of fairy tale retellings, from the light and amusing to the dark and twisted. I especially like when the heroines of the tales lose their traditionally passive nature, so Jim C. Hines's tale of kickass princesses was right up my alley. The characters were engaging and easy to relate to, the plot was intriguing and fast-paced, and the novel seamlessly blended fairy tale elements both light and dark.

Danielle de Glas grew up a virtual slave in her stepmother's household, waiting on...more I am a huge fan of fairy tale retellings, from the light and amusing to the dark and twisted. I especially like when the heroines of the tales lose their traditionally passive nature, so Jim C. Hines's tale of kickass princesses was right up my alley. The characters were engaging and easy to relate to, the plot was intriguing and fast-paced, and the novel seamlessly blended fairy tale elements both light and dark.

Danielle de Glas grew up a virtual slave in her stepmother's household, waiting on her two stepsisters hand and foot until the night she met and fell in love with Prince Armand. Now Princess Whiteshore, Danielle lives a life of luxury, though she struggles to learn the necessary protocol, until her stepsister Charlotte attempts to kill her. Danielle is saved by one of the "servants," Talia, who turns out to be a member of the queen's secret service AND the Sleeping Beauty of fairy tale fame. But Charlotte had more in mind than simply attacking her stepsister; with newly learned magic she and her sister have also kidnapped Danielle's husband, Armand. Danielle and Talia are joined by the sorceress Snow, and to get Armand back, the three princesses will journey to the land of Fairy and beyond.

This was just such an enjoyable read. The three main characters are all strong, but not interchangeably so, each possessing her own distinct strengths and personality. Talia is the physically strongest, with a dark history and fairy gifts that make her a powerful and graceful fighter. Snow learned magic from her evil enchantress of a mother, and later used that same magic to take her mother's life. Danielle at first seems the most ordinary, but she learns to use the magical glass sword she's been gifted by her mother's spirit, and develops her ability to communicate with animals. It was such a welcome change to have the princesses do the rescuing, but I liked that they had personalities beyond their kickass abilities--Snow was calm and flirtatious, Talia sarcastic and tough, and Danielle really just trying to find her way in this unfamiliar new world.

Aside from the character development, one of the things I liked most about The Stepsister Scheme was its use of the source material. Now if you're not a fairy tale addict like me, and your only exposure to Cinderella is the Walt Disney version, you will definitely still appreciate this novel. However, if you have read multiple versions of the fairy tales, particularly the pre-Grimm versions of Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, there are bonuses in here for you. Danielle, for instance, does not have a fairy godmother, but her mother's spirit lives inside a magical tree. And Talia's back story (and her name, as I recall) owes much to the early Italian version of Sleeping Beauty, which is sadder and less G-rated than the one you probably know. By bringing in elements from the darker, older tales, Hines adds to his characters' motivations, and keeps the novel from being pure Shrek-style satire (which is great on its own, just not what this novel is trying to be).

The Stepsister Scheme is a great fantasy adventure that is escapist without being mindless and filled with characters you'll root for. I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next books in the series, The Mermaid's Madness, and Red Hood's Revenge!(less)

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by Marion Zimmer Bradley (Editor / Contributor)

About Jim C. Hines

Jim C. Hines' latest book is LIBRIOMANCER, a modern-day fantasy about a magic-wielding librarian, a dryad, a secret society founded by Johannes Gutenberg, a flaming spider, and an enchanted convertible. He's also the author of the PRINCESS series of fairy tale retellings as well as the humorous GOBLIN QUEST trilogy. His short fiction has appeared in more than 40 magazines and anthologies, includin...more

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3598195-the-stepsister-scheme?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1305016198l/3598195.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3598195-the-stepsister-scheme?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Stepsister Scheme by Jim C. Hines[/url]

The Stepsister Scheme (Princess #1)

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