The Stepmother

The Seven Kingdoms #0.5

by Cordelia Castel

Karma for the wicked stepmother! Candide Perrault thinks she's committed the perfect crime: selling her step-daughter to an ogre and stealing the girl's mansion. But when the girl runs away, and the village busybodies gossip about her treachery, Candide finds herself being investigated by constables and chased out of town by an irate ogre. But Mother’s Misfortunes are only just beginning… Anyone who ever wished the wicked stepmother got her comeuppance will love The Stepmother. Grab your copy today and join the adventure!

Genres: Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Short Stories, Cinderella

56 pages, Paperback

Published May 25, 2018

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 1 out of 5]

The idea behind this is good, solid. The execution not so much.

It's the names, quite frankly, that broken. The author seems to be drawing on the French version of the tale, so many of the names are French, or suppose to be. Candide, however, is a man's name. A title becomes a man's name and apparently is a sheriff though that is not his title. Then Savannah gets thrown in, and I'm like really?

[Jerecho · Rating 3 out of 5]

Karma in its finest...

[⚜️XAR the Bookwyrm · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a somewhat well written short story about Cinderella's stepmother and stepsisters. There were lots of twists in it, so it was almost unrecognizable as part of that story. There wasn't a lot of backstory given about the world or the characters, and that really ruined the story for me. I think I'll check out other books in the series see if it expounds any further.

[Debbie Eyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! I always love a good fairytale wether a retelling or the original story and I also love it when the baddy gets their comeuppance As the wicked stepmother does it this fun read! It’s entertaining and exciting to read!

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. A typical wicked Stepmother. Sells Cendrilla to an Ogre but is in big trouble when she runs away. Short but fascinating.

[Reena · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Stepmother" is a side story in the Seven Kingdoms series, following the events of "The Magestaff" and Cendrilla's running away. The story follows the adventures of Cendrilla's stepmother, Candide, and her step-sisters, who flee the consequences of their actions. We find out more about Candide's background and we watch as she finally gets what she deserves!

Cordelia Castel's unique writing style has once again delivered an exceptional story, full of well fleshed-out characters and vivid descriptions, that suck you into the story and make you a part of it.

Still, there are more adventures in store for Candide and her daughters, even after the end of this book, so make sure to read it before you read the other books in the series.

[Leopardwolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book grabbed me with the best opening sentence I have ever read. The descriptive imagery that Cordelia Castel uses in her books is absolutely magical. The scenes jump out off the pages and I can see ever single nuance of the discomfort that Candide and her daughters feel when they use the poop chute - never mind I can imagine the smells!!!! Phewy! !!
A beautifully written book that I feel should be held up as an example on how to write scenes so real that I could practically feel the squelchy bouillabaisse glopping off my own hair.
If you want to know if the wicked stepmother ever gets her comeuppance then read this book and enjoy what happens.

[Scarolet Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Stepmother by Cordelia Castel is a great story to read. This is a great story that I really enjoyed reading and I highly recommend this story to everyone who wants the wicked stepmother to gett her comeuppance than this is the story for you.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jo-ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be careful how you treat others...

A stepmother sells her stepdaughter to an orge for $2500. But after doing that anything that could go wrong did. A fairy tale of stepmother with a really wicked twist.

Jo-Ann Doyle

[Cleocutie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you ever wondered what happened to the wicked stepmother after Cinderella marries the prince this book is for you. Candide is wonderfully self centered and reading about what scrapes her haughty attitude gets her into is very amusing.

[Basicsadie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great preview into the series of The Seven Kingdoms Series. This is the build-up to the series. Certainly left me wondering what happens next!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Richard Goodrum · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightfully vicious tale of karma visited upon Cendrilla's wicked stepmother, Candide Perrault.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting take on what else could go wrong for Cinderella's stepmother.

[Morgan Blomstedt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the telling of the evil stepmother!

[Bobby]

Good

[Cheryl Viner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story

I enjoyed that someone was witty and brave enough to write a story based on realism about what happened to the step family of Cinderella also know as Cindrilla.

[James Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and deserving of everything she got.

Five stars for tying up loose ends on what happened to the Stepmother and her dumb daughters. Thought it was a delight to read.

[Renee Angela Byrd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend reading this story first before reading the 7 Kingdoms. Great job Cordelia!