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Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers
You already know how the "wicked stepmother" has become enshrined in legend and folklore. But in this modern era, most of us who are stepmothers or have one ourselves have seen a different truth. Many stepmothers are loving, courageous and innovative.
In this collection of original tales, you will find many kinds of stepmothers—queens, scholars, warriors, travelers and entrepreneurs. Turn the pages and see how these heroic parents and their children achieve greatness and overcome adversity together!
In this collection of original tales, you will find many kinds of stepmothers—queens, scholars, warriors, travelers and entrepreneurs. Turn the pages and see how these heroic parents and their children achieve greatness and overcome adversity together!
225 pages, Paperback
Published April 12, 2023
6 people are currently reading
2871 people want to read
About the author
Georgina Warren
1 book130 followersGeorgina Warren is a graduate of Christopher Newport University, where she majored in French, and recently received her Master of Library and Information Science degree from the Catholic University of America. She lives in Washington, D.C. and currently works at the Library of Congress.
Homeschooled until she was fifteen, she later attended the British School of Washington and the Field School, where she first cultivated her profound love of the literary, visual and performing arts, and pursued her vision to become a writer, artist and actor. Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers is the first installment of what will eventually be a three-volume collection.
Readers can also follow the author on Substack, Bluesky, Fable and the Storygraph.
The author enjoys musicals and dramatic plays all year round. On weekends, Georgina likes dancing, yoga, recreational biking and exploring museums.
Georgina Warren has been featured as a guest speaker on In The Blend, Raising His Kids, The Stepmom Wisdom Circle (Stepmom Coach), The Stepfamily Summit, Women Winning At Writing, and the DC Public Library podcast channels.
Editorial Reviews
"Georgina Warren seeks to defy the perception of the wicked stepmother in her new book, "Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers." Maybe it is time to trade-in Cinderella for one of the many inspiring stories in her collection and see stepmothers portrayed in a whole new light?!"
- - Laura Jenkins, podcast host, In The Blend, Australia
"Georgina Warren's debut collection is a delightful departure from the weary figure of the "wicked stepmother." In twelve original fairy tales, stepmothers take the redemptive center stage as loving family guardians and encouraging mentors. Drawing inspiration from her own connection with her stepmother, Warren's writing is fresh, imaginative, and heartfelt; her stories are entertaining and charming remakes of stories of the blended family."
- - Michelle LaFrance, writer, Hill Rag Magazine, Washington DC
"It takes great strength to share your personal feelings. Georgina Warren has made her readers richer by elegantly reworking the customary fairytale villainess into an object of admiration."
- - Mary Bird, contributor, The Georgetowner, Washington DC
Homeschooled until she was fifteen, she later attended the British School of Washington and the Field School, where she first cultivated her profound love of the literary, visual and performing arts, and pursued her vision to become a writer, artist and actor. Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers is the first installment of what will eventually be a three-volume collection.
Readers can also follow the author on Substack, Bluesky, Fable and the Storygraph.
The author enjoys musicals and dramatic plays all year round. On weekends, Georgina likes dancing, yoga, recreational biking and exploring museums.
Georgina Warren has been featured as a guest speaker on In The Blend, Raising His Kids, The Stepmom Wisdom Circle (Stepmom Coach), The Stepfamily Summit, Women Winning At Writing, and the DC Public Library podcast channels.
Editorial Reviews
"Georgina Warren seeks to defy the perception of the wicked stepmother in her new book, "Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers." Maybe it is time to trade-in Cinderella for one of the many inspiring stories in her collection and see stepmothers portrayed in a whole new light?!"
- - Laura Jenkins, podcast host, In The Blend, Australia
"Georgina Warren's debut collection is a delightful departure from the weary figure of the "wicked stepmother." In twelve original fairy tales, stepmothers take the redemptive center stage as loving family guardians and encouraging mentors. Drawing inspiration from her own connection with her stepmother, Warren's writing is fresh, imaginative, and heartfelt; her stories are entertaining and charming remakes of stories of the blended family."
- - Michelle LaFrance, writer, Hill Rag Magazine, Washington DC
"It takes great strength to share your personal feelings. Georgina Warren has made her readers richer by elegantly reworking the customary fairytale villainess into an object of admiration."
- - Mary Bird, contributor, The Georgetowner, Washington DC
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
February 14, 2025
In a Nutshell: A children’s fairy tale collection with each story having a virtuous stepmother in a major or minor role. Love the intent, and enjoyed most of the stories. A great option for little ones, especially those who have stepmothers, so that they can finally see some positive representation of this vilified category of parents.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This short story collection contains twelve fairy tales. Each of the stories is varied in its content. Some have intriguing magical creatures such as ogres and dragons while some others have animals and birds in the main roles. Those with human narrators have either commoners or kings at the helm. Some recite stories of ordinary living while others contain tales of royal adventures. But no matter what, every story has one factor in common: a good stepmother.
The preface contains a heartfelt note by the author about how the wicked stepmother trope from fairy tales created negative perceptions in her mind when it came to accepting her own stepmother. But her stepmother persisted and succeeded in creating a loving bond that lasts till today. This amazing lady became the main motivation for the author to pen this collection and ensure that other children who might also have stepmothers don’t struggle to search for positive ‘stepmother’ representation in fairy tales.
There is another note by the author at the end of the book, which is more detailed about her writing choices. I think this note will work better for adults than for kids, though older middle-graders will certainly have no issues getting the point it makes, as it is much lengthier and more complex than a simple children’s book note usually is.
All this might make you assume that the stepmother is the main protagonist of every story. Not true. Some of the tales do have the stepmother in the central role, either saving her family from danger, or sacrificing something for her kids, or some other ‘virtuous’ task. But a few stories also show her playing a secondary role in the narrative, acting more as the catalyst than as the facilitator.
A couple of the tales even show stepmothers making mistakes and learning from them, which is so essential in keeping this narrative grounded in reality despite its fantastical components. Mothers are already burdened by expectations of perfection; there’s no need to add that pressure onto stepmothers as well, who are already struggling against different (and worse) expectations.
The stories cover a variety of themes such as dangerous friendships, broken promises, risky adventures, and brave sacrifices – all components of memorable fairy tales. Reading this book made me reminisce about all the folktale and fairy tale collections I had devoured in my childhood. This book has a similar kind of vibe, though it takes a good step ahead by ensuring justice for the much-defamed stepmother character.
Unlike most fairy tales, this one doesn’t stick to stepdaughters alone. Many of the stories also show the stepson-stepmother combination, which makes this book suitable to all fairy-tale-loving children. Another fun component is the character names, which are quite unique. I have a strong feeling that the author used etymological roots from many Romance languages to cook up such interesting names. Sometimes, the names hint at a specific physical or behavioural trait of the character, which is fun when you get the inside joke. However, I wasn’t able to decode a few of the names and hence lost out on the subtler nuances.
The length of the stories is quite varying, but most of them range between eight to twenty-five pages. The only exception is the story named ’The Bird of Many Voices’, which is almost novella-length in comparison, with 70+ pages. As this story comes right in the middle of the book, it breaks the reading flow. It’s good that the author divided this story into sections, so kids can still pause in between if they need a break. But I feel that it would have been better to place this story at the end of the book and make it clear in the title or table of contents that it is a novella and hence lengthier than the rest. (The page numbers in the ToC gives a clue, but it is not a clear indicator.)
Remembering that these stories are fairy tales is important. And when I say ‘fairy tales’, I don’t mean the cutesy Disney retellings but the original grim Grimm stories. The stories in this book don’t shy away from darker content or sad events, and many cannot be considered light or fun reads. but the writing never becomes too gruesome. That said, a few of the stories venture into topics suitable for slightly older kids, so perhaps parents could read the book first and decide the age-appropriateness of the tales as per their children’s reading taste and understanding level.
As always, I rated the stories individually. As these are written for children, my ratings are my guesstimates of how children might feel about these tales. Every single one of the stories reached/crossed the three-star mark, which means I didn’t hate any of the entries. These are my top favourites with 4+ stars each:
Overall, I am very happy with this indie collection. I admire it not just for its intent but also for its content. The stories are entertaining as well as thought-provoking, just as good fairy tales ought to be. This is supposedly the first of a planned three-volume collection, and based on how this went, I’m on board for the remaining two.
Much recommended! This book would make a wonderful gift for any child who has/is going to get a stepmother. Heck, why restrict its reach? Let’s edit that to: It would make a wonderful gift for every child who loves reading fairy tales.
3.9 stars, based on the average of my ratings for each tale. (If you are familiar with my ratings, you know that an average coming close to 4 stars is wonderful for an anthology.)
My thanks to author Georgina Warren for providing me with a complimentary copy of “Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
The digital version of this book is currently available on Kindle Unlimited.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Threads || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This short story collection contains twelve fairy tales. Each of the stories is varied in its content. Some have intriguing magical creatures such as ogres and dragons while some others have animals and birds in the main roles. Those with human narrators have either commoners or kings at the helm. Some recite stories of ordinary living while others contain tales of royal adventures. But no matter what, every story has one factor in common: a good stepmother.
The preface contains a heartfelt note by the author about how the wicked stepmother trope from fairy tales created negative perceptions in her mind when it came to accepting her own stepmother. But her stepmother persisted and succeeded in creating a loving bond that lasts till today. This amazing lady became the main motivation for the author to pen this collection and ensure that other children who might also have stepmothers don’t struggle to search for positive ‘stepmother’ representation in fairy tales.
There is another note by the author at the end of the book, which is more detailed about her writing choices. I think this note will work better for adults than for kids, though older middle-graders will certainly have no issues getting the point it makes, as it is much lengthier and more complex than a simple children’s book note usually is.
All this might make you assume that the stepmother is the main protagonist of every story. Not true. Some of the tales do have the stepmother in the central role, either saving her family from danger, or sacrificing something for her kids, or some other ‘virtuous’ task. But a few stories also show her playing a secondary role in the narrative, acting more as the catalyst than as the facilitator.
A couple of the tales even show stepmothers making mistakes and learning from them, which is so essential in keeping this narrative grounded in reality despite its fantastical components. Mothers are already burdened by expectations of perfection; there’s no need to add that pressure onto stepmothers as well, who are already struggling against different (and worse) expectations.
The stories cover a variety of themes such as dangerous friendships, broken promises, risky adventures, and brave sacrifices – all components of memorable fairy tales. Reading this book made me reminisce about all the folktale and fairy tale collections I had devoured in my childhood. This book has a similar kind of vibe, though it takes a good step ahead by ensuring justice for the much-defamed stepmother character.
Unlike most fairy tales, this one doesn’t stick to stepdaughters alone. Many of the stories also show the stepson-stepmother combination, which makes this book suitable to all fairy-tale-loving children. Another fun component is the character names, which are quite unique. I have a strong feeling that the author used etymological roots from many Romance languages to cook up such interesting names. Sometimes, the names hint at a specific physical or behavioural trait of the character, which is fun when you get the inside joke. However, I wasn’t able to decode a few of the names and hence lost out on the subtler nuances.
The length of the stories is quite varying, but most of them range between eight to twenty-five pages. The only exception is the story named ’The Bird of Many Voices’, which is almost novella-length in comparison, with 70+ pages. As this story comes right in the middle of the book, it breaks the reading flow. It’s good that the author divided this story into sections, so kids can still pause in between if they need a break. But I feel that it would have been better to place this story at the end of the book and make it clear in the title or table of contents that it is a novella and hence lengthier than the rest. (The page numbers in the ToC gives a clue, but it is not a clear indicator.)
Remembering that these stories are fairy tales is important. And when I say ‘fairy tales’, I don’t mean the cutesy Disney retellings but the original grim Grimm stories. The stories in this book don’t shy away from darker content or sad events, and many cannot be considered light or fun reads. but the writing never becomes too gruesome. That said, a few of the stories venture into topics suitable for slightly older kids, so perhaps parents could read the book first and decide the age-appropriateness of the tales as per their children’s reading taste and understanding level.
As always, I rated the stories individually. As these are written for children, my ratings are my guesstimates of how children might feel about these tales. Every single one of the stories reached/crossed the three-star mark, which means I didn’t hate any of the entries. These are my top favourites with 4+ stars each:
🥚 Aisimetra and the Manticore’s Eggs: A good start to the proceedings with a brave stepmother who understands the pain of another mother. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🦶🏻 Princess Sanspied: The best part of the story was the representation of the disability of the princess, her frustration with it, and her stepmother’s role in ensuring her future. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🐉 The Dragon Mother: Rare to see a dragon in such a loving and sacrificing role. I love dragon stories anyway, so this was an easy one to enjoy, though I did miss fire-breathing scenes. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🍈 The Giantess, the Roc, and the Durians: A true-blue fairy tale with a bit of whimsy and magic woven into a human dilemma. Very entertaining! - ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
🟡 The Gilded Foreman: A good old good vs. evil storyline with a great ending. Loved the woman power rep in this! - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
👹 The Ogre’s Wedding or Soursop Stew: A clever protagonist uses their intelligence to outwit ogres. Classic fairy tale stuff, this! - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🐴 Truffle the Magic Mare: Who doesn’t like magical animals, right? - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall, I am very happy with this indie collection. I admire it not just for its intent but also for its content. The stories are entertaining as well as thought-provoking, just as good fairy tales ought to be. This is supposedly the first of a planned three-volume collection, and based on how this went, I’m on board for the remaining two.
Much recommended! This book would make a wonderful gift for any child who has/is going to get a stepmother. Heck, why restrict its reach? Let’s edit that to: It would make a wonderful gift for every child who loves reading fairy tales.
3.9 stars, based on the average of my ratings for each tale. (If you are familiar with my ratings, you know that an average coming close to 4 stars is wonderful for an anthology.)
My thanks to author Georgina Warren for providing me with a complimentary copy of “Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
The digital version of this book is currently available on Kindle Unlimited.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Threads || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
February 8, 2024
Must read
Dive into a refreshing collection of original tales that shatter the stereotype of the 'wicked stepmother.' In this modern twist on age-old folklore, stepmothers emerge as loving, courageous, and innovative figures, spanning roles from queens to scholars, warriors to entrepreneurs. Through these inspiring stories, witness the bonds of family triumph over adversity as stepmothers and their children navigate challenges and achieve greatness together. A celebration of resilience, love, and the power of blended families, this anthology is a must-read for anyone seeking heartwarming tales of courage and connection. And don’t forget to admire the stunning illustrations! Each story is accompanied by the author's own heraldic coat of arms, incorporating a mosaic of stained glass elements, reflecting the unity of blended families and their diverse backgrounds.
Dive into a refreshing collection of original tales that shatter the stereotype of the 'wicked stepmother.' In this modern twist on age-old folklore, stepmothers emerge as loving, courageous, and innovative figures, spanning roles from queens to scholars, warriors to entrepreneurs. Through these inspiring stories, witness the bonds of family triumph over adversity as stepmothers and their children navigate challenges and achieve greatness together. A celebration of resilience, love, and the power of blended families, this anthology is a must-read for anyone seeking heartwarming tales of courage and connection. And don’t forget to admire the stunning illustrations! Each story is accompanied by the author's own heraldic coat of arms, incorporating a mosaic of stained glass elements, reflecting the unity of blended families and their diverse backgrounds.
April 28, 2024
"Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers" is a unique departure from the usual representation of stepmothers in folklore. Georgina Warren presents a captivating collection of original stories that offer a fresh perspective, celebrating stepmothers' loving, courageous, and innovative roles. This book is a delightful read for anyone who loves stories.
August 14, 2025
A beautiful twist on the classic fairy-tale image of stepmothers. These twelve stories show them as brave, loving, and resourceful women who protect and nurture their families. The language feels timeless, like old fairy tales, yet the messages are full of modern warmth and acceptance. A magical and heartfelt read for anyone who believes family is built on love.
May 9, 2024
A heartwarming anthology that turns the wicked stepmother trope on its head, fresh and uplifting
December 8, 2024
With the holiday season beginning, it is a good time to celebrate true love in all its forms, including the unexpected. Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers by Georgina Warren is a book that celebrates the love that stepmothers have for their families by deconstructing the "wicked stepmother" tropes. The book contains a foreword and afterword from the author explaining why she wrote it and how passionate she feels about children learning to accept their stepmothers as part of their family, something that she struggled with as a child. Her passion for this comes through on every page of this fairy tale anthology, which is written in the same style as the classic tales. Although this format might not appeal to the shorter attention spans of today's TikTok generation, the book contains twelve bedtime stories about loving stepmothers that incorporate many classic elements and can be appreciated by fairy tale lovers of any age. I received a review copy of this book from the author.
The thing that impressed me the most about this book is the variety of stories contained within its pages. Not every story has a stepmother as the main character, but each story has a loving and ambitious stepmother who wants the best for her family. One story from this anthology that stood out to me was "Dalecarlia, the Porcelain Girl," a gender-bent version of The Adventures of Pinocchio about a doll who comes to life and wishes to get away from her overprotective parents to live the life of a real little girl. The addition of a stepmother to this story helped with the themes of girlhood and growing up with an unusual childhood. Another story I really enjoyed was "The Dragon Mother" which is about a dragon who adopts some human boys and decides to undergo a magical transformation to support their growth. In addition to fostering loving stepfamilies, the book is also pro-adoption and has some great stories to help adopted kids understand that it isn't always blood that makes a family.
One story I didn't enjoy as much was "The Bird of Many Voices," which takes up a shocking third of the book despite its eleven other stories. Unlike the other fairy tales in this book, this one was too long to read in one sitting (unless you have a lot of free time) and contained none of the magic or whimsy of the other stories. Additionally, the allegory of the bird entering a toxic relationship with a predator hawk who kills members of her family can be interpreted as a woman being stuck in a relationship with a serial killer, which is probably too dark of a theme for younger readers. The story about a bird who can mimic the calls of other species demonstrates a vast array of avian knowledge, which is probably another one of the author's passions. However, it drags out the middle portion of the book with few of the pleasant feelings that are usually conveyed in fairy tales.
Although this book was intended to counteract an old stereotype, it is written in an older poetic style that demonstrates a love of literature. There are little to no instances of the "modern princess" trope of being resistant to romance and physically stronger than every man around her. In this respect, the stories feel as timeless as the ones written two hundred years ago when fairy tales were at their peak. This style of writing is less likely to appeal to modern children than to adults who love literature, so it might be difficult for a younger child with a new stepmother to dive into this book. However, the stories could be used as a tool for stepmothers to read to their children as a jumping-off point for discussions about their intent to love and care for their children and help them grow. The original concepts also make it a fun read for fairy tale lovers even if they don't come from blended families and just want to be entertained by a brief bout of fantasy.
Through Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers, Georgina Warren weaves a charming collection of fairy tales that challenge outdated tropes and celebrate the love and devotion of stepmothers. While the classic writing style may appeal more to seasoned literature lovers than young readers, the stories offer a valuable tool for stepfamilies to explore themes of acceptance, love, and growth. With its unique blend of timeless storytelling and modern sensibilities, this anthology is a delightful read for fairy tale enthusiasts and a thoughtful resource for families navigating the complexities of blended relationships.
The thing that impressed me the most about this book is the variety of stories contained within its pages. Not every story has a stepmother as the main character, but each story has a loving and ambitious stepmother who wants the best for her family. One story from this anthology that stood out to me was "Dalecarlia, the Porcelain Girl," a gender-bent version of The Adventures of Pinocchio about a doll who comes to life and wishes to get away from her overprotective parents to live the life of a real little girl. The addition of a stepmother to this story helped with the themes of girlhood and growing up with an unusual childhood. Another story I really enjoyed was "The Dragon Mother" which is about a dragon who adopts some human boys and decides to undergo a magical transformation to support their growth. In addition to fostering loving stepfamilies, the book is also pro-adoption and has some great stories to help adopted kids understand that it isn't always blood that makes a family.
One story I didn't enjoy as much was "The Bird of Many Voices," which takes up a shocking third of the book despite its eleven other stories. Unlike the other fairy tales in this book, this one was too long to read in one sitting (unless you have a lot of free time) and contained none of the magic or whimsy of the other stories. Additionally, the allegory of the bird entering a toxic relationship with a predator hawk who kills members of her family can be interpreted as a woman being stuck in a relationship with a serial killer, which is probably too dark of a theme for younger readers. The story about a bird who can mimic the calls of other species demonstrates a vast array of avian knowledge, which is probably another one of the author's passions. However, it drags out the middle portion of the book with few of the pleasant feelings that are usually conveyed in fairy tales.
Although this book was intended to counteract an old stereotype, it is written in an older poetic style that demonstrates a love of literature. There are little to no instances of the "modern princess" trope of being resistant to romance and physically stronger than every man around her. In this respect, the stories feel as timeless as the ones written two hundred years ago when fairy tales were at their peak. This style of writing is less likely to appeal to modern children than to adults who love literature, so it might be difficult for a younger child with a new stepmother to dive into this book. However, the stories could be used as a tool for stepmothers to read to their children as a jumping-off point for discussions about their intent to love and care for their children and help them grow. The original concepts also make it a fun read for fairy tale lovers even if they don't come from blended families and just want to be entertained by a brief bout of fantasy.
Through Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers, Georgina Warren weaves a charming collection of fairy tales that challenge outdated tropes and celebrate the love and devotion of stepmothers. While the classic writing style may appeal more to seasoned literature lovers than young readers, the stories offer a valuable tool for stepfamilies to explore themes of acceptance, love, and growth. With its unique blend of timeless storytelling and modern sensibilities, this anthology is a delightful read for fairy tale enthusiasts and a thoughtful resource for families navigating the complexities of blended relationships.
July 22, 2025
I very much enjoyed reading this book, not just about the stepmothers and their tenacity, but also about the author’s inspiration. In addition to the concept of stepmothers, I appreciated the author’s feminist approach to this book, showing how powerful women are. If I could pick five favorite stories to be made into animated Disney films, I would choose The Ogre’s Wedding or Soursop Stew, The Bird of Many Voices, The Dragon Mother, the Pâtissier in the Pudding, and The Prince Who Learned to Forgive.
June 4, 2024
Finally! Fairytales that paint stepmothers in a positive light!
As a stepmother of three adult boys, who tracked down and reunited two (still working on the third) with my husband after he lost touch with them through a marriage breakdown, time and distance, I was delighted to find a book that painted stepmothers in a more positive light.
My favourite tales were those of the princess born with no feet whose stepmother loved, encouraged and challenged her to be all she could be until the right man came along who would accept and love her as she was, the polyglot thrush who struggled to fit in because of her mimicry abilities and becomes a stepmother who uses her gift and risks her life to protect her stepchildren, the kind dragon who took human form for twenty years to raise her human twin stepsons in a kingdom that hunted her kind; and the witch stepmother who turned her bitter son, who suffered rejection by his princess mother, into a sparrow to teach him compassion and forgiveness.
These, among many other stories in this delightful book, teach acceptance, kindness, and the importance of fighting for those you love. Who couldn’t cheer on these stepmothers?
The perfect gift for all stepmothers on ‘Stepmother’s Day’ to make them smile.
As a stepmother of three adult boys, who tracked down and reunited two (still working on the third) with my husband after he lost touch with them through a marriage breakdown, time and distance, I was delighted to find a book that painted stepmothers in a more positive light.
My favourite tales were those of the princess born with no feet whose stepmother loved, encouraged and challenged her to be all she could be until the right man came along who would accept and love her as she was, the polyglot thrush who struggled to fit in because of her mimicry abilities and becomes a stepmother who uses her gift and risks her life to protect her stepchildren, the kind dragon who took human form for twenty years to raise her human twin stepsons in a kingdom that hunted her kind; and the witch stepmother who turned her bitter son, who suffered rejection by his princess mother, into a sparrow to teach him compassion and forgiveness.
These, among many other stories in this delightful book, teach acceptance, kindness, and the importance of fighting for those you love. Who couldn’t cheer on these stepmothers?
The perfect gift for all stepmothers on ‘Stepmother’s Day’ to make them smile.
December 5, 2024
Forget the “wicked stepmother” trope—this book says, *Not today, clichés!* Georgina’s *Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers* is a bold, beautiful celebration of stepmoms who slay (sometimes literally). From warrior queens to brainy scholars, these women prove that love, courage, and resilience can create magic in blended families.
Every story packs a punch of adventure, heart, and pure inspiration. Whether it’s a stepmom uniting a divided kingdom or teaching her stepkids to believe in themselves, these tales redefine heroism. Seriously, why weren’t these women in our fairy tales growing up? They’d have changed the game!
The best part? The relationships. These stepmoms and their stepchildren show us that family isn’t about blood—it’s about love, trust, and showing up for each other. The feels are *real*, and the stories are as empowering as they are entertaining.
Okay, we *might* have wanted a few stories to be longer because they were THAT good. But honestly, this collection is a game-changer. If you’re ready to see stepmoms become the queens they truly are, pick this one up ASAP.
Every story packs a punch of adventure, heart, and pure inspiration. Whether it’s a stepmom uniting a divided kingdom or teaching her stepkids to believe in themselves, these tales redefine heroism. Seriously, why weren’t these women in our fairy tales growing up? They’d have changed the game!
The best part? The relationships. These stepmoms and their stepchildren show us that family isn’t about blood—it’s about love, trust, and showing up for each other. The feels are *real*, and the stories are as empowering as they are entertaining.
Okay, we *might* have wanted a few stories to be longer because they were THAT good. But honestly, this collection is a game-changer. If you’re ready to see stepmoms become the queens they truly are, pick this one up ASAP.
June 10, 2023
A marvelously original collection. Taking a common fairy-tale trope and looking at it with new eyes makes for a most illuminating collection. The writing style is elegant and one that would work well if being read aloud (not every well-written work succeeds in this area). The names are particularly original and effective; I do not know if many/any of them are taken from fairy-tale or other sources but they certainly add an original tang to the contents. Likewise, I do not know if all the stories are wholly original, (I assume so) but they all have an often original and gripping narrative drive.
With one central theme running through the collection there could have been a degree of over-similarity between the stories but this is not the case and there is enough originality in content to make the reading of each story a pretty gripping experience; the author masters the most significant element of story-telling, viz. making the reader want to read on. And the names are marvelously original too.
With one central theme running through the collection there could have been a degree of over-similarity between the stories but this is not the case and there is enough originality in content to make the reading of each story a pretty gripping experience; the author masters the most significant element of story-telling, viz. making the reader want to read on. And the names are marvelously original too.
May 3, 2024
Truffles,Topaz and loads of Trouble
Fans of short stories will enjoy the author's take on traditional fairy tales. The stories
may often seem flippant, yet every tale will make you stop and think .From an accidental bonding to a newborn manicure, a crown with a hidden secret, a doll filled with love, an unusual well, a sparrows forgivness and a cursed factory, the author delivers a unique view of the world of stepmother. My own favorite was the story of the insecure thrush that falls for the tricks of a scheming hawk who uses her talent, until the truth comes out, and she has to outwit the hawk to save her family. However, the dragons' choice after saving two lost human boys was also heart-rending. And absolutely no wicked step- mothers involved. If you like variety, I think you will enjoy the stories.
Fans of short stories will enjoy the author's take on traditional fairy tales. The stories
may often seem flippant, yet every tale will make you stop and think .From an accidental bonding to a newborn manicure, a crown with a hidden secret, a doll filled with love, an unusual well, a sparrows forgivness and a cursed factory, the author delivers a unique view of the world of stepmother. My own favorite was the story of the insecure thrush that falls for the tricks of a scheming hawk who uses her talent, until the truth comes out, and she has to outwit the hawk to save her family. However, the dragons' choice after saving two lost human boys was also heart-rending. And absolutely no wicked step- mothers involved. If you like variety, I think you will enjoy the stories.
December 6, 2023
The serendipity of the fairytale world which Georgina cleverly creates in each of the stories in this collection is that they are an impactful guides to virtuous parenting. This is not just a book of stories for young readers or one to be read to toddlers. Tales of Virtuous stepmothers should be read by everyone who aspires to be a good parent. Written to turn on his head the outdated versions of the wicked stepmother, these are well crafted stories about how parents behaved and acted in ways which actually fostered their children’s potential to find their own happily-ever- after. This is a great Hanukkah or Christmas gift.
December 24, 2023
One anthology dares to ask "What if stepmoms aren't terrible?"
These stories feature heroic stepmothers, supportive stepmothers to heroic stepchildren, and heroic women who become stepmothers somewhere along the way. They're written for adults who grew up on anti-stepmom propaganda and are maybe stepmoms themselves, rather than meant to be read to/with stepkids.
Most of the stories are pretty short but the story "The Bird of Many Voices" is more novella length. It's about a bird in an abusive relationship. Some readers may want to skip that one, but it's very well done.
Many of the stories feature good disability rep.
These stories feature heroic stepmothers, supportive stepmothers to heroic stepchildren, and heroic women who become stepmothers somewhere along the way. They're written for adults who grew up on anti-stepmom propaganda and are maybe stepmoms themselves, rather than meant to be read to/with stepkids.
Most of the stories are pretty short but the story "The Bird of Many Voices" is more novella length. It's about a bird in an abusive relationship. Some readers may want to skip that one, but it's very well done.
Many of the stories feature good disability rep.
February 27, 2024
I bought multiple copies to give as gifts to the stepmothers I know for Mother's Day. They were delighted to receive a collection of stories that provided a different view of the stepmother—turning the original trope of the wicked stepmother on its head and providing wholesome stories and relationships similar to the ones they share with their step-children.
As a teacher having a book like this easily accessible for students has been wonderful. Blended families are important, and representation of the beauty that can come from them should be showcased more, which is what I enjoyed most.
As a teacher having a book like this easily accessible for students has been wonderful. Blended families are important, and representation of the beauty that can come from them should be showcased more, which is what I enjoyed most.
July 1, 2024
This is a great collection of original fairytales. The writing style feels reminiscent of traditional fairytales, similar to those by Perrault or the Brothers Grimm. However, unlike those classic stories where stepmothers are often depicted negatively, these fairytales present stepmothers in a positive light. I plan to get a copy as a gift for my aunt. She's a stepmother to two adult stepdaughters who came into her life as teenagers, and I think she'll love the book's refreshing take on stepmother relationships.
August 15, 2024
An interesting read
I found this book to be very interesting and enjoyable to read. I especially liked the parts about the sprites and the queen in the beginning of the book. There are lovely stories contained within these pages that are sure to enchant you. At the end of the book she discusses her real life interactions with her stepmother and her feelings surrounding having a step-parent. It is a heartwarming tale and lens credibility to the overall stories contained in this book. I would highly recommend it! I would highly recommend it!
I found this book to be very interesting and enjoyable to read. I especially liked the parts about the sprites and the queen in the beginning of the book. There are lovely stories contained within these pages that are sure to enchant you. At the end of the book she discusses her real life interactions with her stepmother and her feelings surrounding having a step-parent. It is a heartwarming tale and lens credibility to the overall stories contained in this book. I would highly recommend it! I would highly recommend it!
June 19, 2024
The book we didn’t know we needed!
as much as I enjoyed the book with its step mothers battling manticores and sprite queens and as birds and in dragon form for human boys, some of the finest writing was actually in the afterword where the writer detailed her own experience with having a stepmother. this book was both timely & necessary. the outdated “wicked” stepmother trope had to die!
as much as I enjoyed the book with its step mothers battling manticores and sprite queens and as birds and in dragon form for human boys, some of the finest writing was actually in the afterword where the writer detailed her own experience with having a stepmother. this book was both timely & necessary. the outdated “wicked” stepmother trope had to die!
February 26, 2024
As a stepmother myself, I enjoyed reading about the non-wicked stepmothers. I am also a fan of fairy tales so this was a fun read for me. Each story was very different from the others. We are introduced to all sorts of stepmother and adoptive mothers. I found it refreshing to have the fathers present and helping out in some of the stories. If you read a lot of fairy tales, there are other examples of good step-parents and adoptive parents out there. I agree that the stepmother has gotten a bad reputation due to the popularity of stories like Snow White and Cinderella.
June 18, 2024
Wonderful, Thrilled and Lovely !
This book is a must read and really shows how step mothers can love children beyond biological mothers, I personally live the very first story that is The MantiCore one, i throughly enjoyed it and i strongly recommend this book to be in everyone’s library!!!
This book is a must read and really shows how step mothers can love children beyond biological mothers, I personally live the very first story that is The MantiCore one, i throughly enjoyed it and i strongly recommend this book to be in everyone’s library!!!
July 4, 2024
Very Entertaining!
“Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers” is a k collection of inspiring stories about the positive, loving and encouraging Spirit of stepmothers. I really enjoyed reading the stories because they were such an opposite depiction of stepmothers that we all grew up reading about in fairytales. Very entertaining and enjoyable!!
“Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers” is a k collection of inspiring stories about the positive, loving and encouraging Spirit of stepmothers. I really enjoyed reading the stories because they were such an opposite depiction of stepmothers that we all grew up reading about in fairytales. Very entertaining and enjoyable!!
December 17, 2024
excellent collection of fairy tales
I really enjoyed this collection of fairy tales because it put stepmothers in a better light than most fairy tales. In these tales, the stepmothers help their stepchildren instead of being "evil" to them.
I won this book through a goodreads.com.
I really enjoyed this collection of fairy tales because it put stepmothers in a better light than most fairy tales. In these tales, the stepmothers help their stepchildren instead of being "evil" to them.
I won this book through a goodreads.com.
November 24, 2025
A wonderfully written twist on the Wicked Stepmother trope. I thoroughly enjoyed each story and could easily picture many of them as animated shorts, as Georgina's writing is descriptive and beautifully crafted. I'm truly looking forward to the next book!
March 16, 2026
In this collection, Georgina Warren has penned twelve original fairy tales that rewrite the traditional narrative of step-mothers. In “Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers” they are strong, brave and loving, facing many dangers for the sake of the children they’ve chosen to protect and cherish. Their care isn’t always appreciated at first, either – some step-children choose to defy their stepmothers – but the women persevere in their love.
The book is designed for children, to present an alternative to the stories that paint the stepmother as a villain. After all, while it’s far less common today for a stepmother to replace a birth mother who’s died, it’s a frequent case that a child’s birth parents have separated and a stepmother comes into the picture. My own son and daughter are grown, so I haven’t shared the stories with any children but as an adult I very much enjoyed reading a series of stories that feature grown women who are resourceful and strong, particularly as they don’t always get it right straight away, and as they never use their strength out of revenge or spite. They grapple with defiant children, poverty and fantastical beasts.
Many of these story feature someone who is different from those around her. They might accept their own difference with pride, like Princess Sanspied, and insist that they can only choose a mate who loves them exactly as they are without trying to change them. Or they might have a long journey to work out their true role in society without apologising for who they are, like Patois, the Bird of Many Voices. Or they might set aside their own needs for a time, while their children are helpless, like the Dragon Mother.
While the theme is inspired by fairy tale stepmothers, the stories also take inspiration from legends and tales of chivalry. There are some tropes I recognise from fairy tales, but they are used in original and unexpected ways. And there’s a veritable bestiary here, like in the medieval guidebooks about mythical creatures: a manticore, a cockatrice, an ogre, a giant, a roc and several sprites. With the classic fairy tales you can predict where they’re going next, but these tales constantly surprised me in the direction each took, and I found that very refreshing.
These were some of my personal favourites:
“The Giantess, the Roc and the Durians”
Fortuna is incredibly competent, but her father thinks she needs to learn womanly duties so he tries to press her into marrying. She doesn’t like any of the options he offers her, so she hides from them in a well. There, something very strange happens to her…Like other characters in this book who are visited by magic, she used her transformation to help a village in trouble - in this case, from a roc who wants to snatch humans to feed to her chicks.
“The Gilded Foreman”
Another brave, strong woman who works incredibly hard for her family, and fully earns the intervention she receives from a fairy. The bullying foreman is suitably punished through the magic – not in the violent, final ways of traditional fairy tales but with a temporary humiliation that teaches him the errors of his conduct.
“The Dragon Mother”
All the tales are perceptive, but this one I particularly related to. The way the dragon puts aside her dragon features and ways for the sake of her adopted children parallels the way a mother might put her own needs and interests on hold for a while when her children are small. Igneosia not only perseveres as she strives to fit in with humans, but she has her own personal journey to take as she has to deal with dragon prejudice in her adopted society and a yearning for the quiet life she’s left behind. Her fulfilment at the end is hard-won and fully earned.
The book is designed for children, to present an alternative to the stories that paint the stepmother as a villain. After all, while it’s far less common today for a stepmother to replace a birth mother who’s died, it’s a frequent case that a child’s birth parents have separated and a stepmother comes into the picture. My own son and daughter are grown, so I haven’t shared the stories with any children but as an adult I very much enjoyed reading a series of stories that feature grown women who are resourceful and strong, particularly as they don’t always get it right straight away, and as they never use their strength out of revenge or spite. They grapple with defiant children, poverty and fantastical beasts.
Many of these story feature someone who is different from those around her. They might accept their own difference with pride, like Princess Sanspied, and insist that they can only choose a mate who loves them exactly as they are without trying to change them. Or they might have a long journey to work out their true role in society without apologising for who they are, like Patois, the Bird of Many Voices. Or they might set aside their own needs for a time, while their children are helpless, like the Dragon Mother.
While the theme is inspired by fairy tale stepmothers, the stories also take inspiration from legends and tales of chivalry. There are some tropes I recognise from fairy tales, but they are used in original and unexpected ways. And there’s a veritable bestiary here, like in the medieval guidebooks about mythical creatures: a manticore, a cockatrice, an ogre, a giant, a roc and several sprites. With the classic fairy tales you can predict where they’re going next, but these tales constantly surprised me in the direction each took, and I found that very refreshing.
These were some of my personal favourites:
“The Giantess, the Roc and the Durians”
Fortuna is incredibly competent, but her father thinks she needs to learn womanly duties so he tries to press her into marrying. She doesn’t like any of the options he offers her, so she hides from them in a well. There, something very strange happens to her…Like other characters in this book who are visited by magic, she used her transformation to help a village in trouble - in this case, from a roc who wants to snatch humans to feed to her chicks.
“The Gilded Foreman”
Another brave, strong woman who works incredibly hard for her family, and fully earns the intervention she receives from a fairy. The bullying foreman is suitably punished through the magic – not in the violent, final ways of traditional fairy tales but with a temporary humiliation that teaches him the errors of his conduct.
“The Dragon Mother”
All the tales are perceptive, but this one I particularly related to. The way the dragon puts aside her dragon features and ways for the sake of her adopted children parallels the way a mother might put her own needs and interests on hold for a while when her children are small. Igneosia not only perseveres as she strives to fit in with humans, but she has her own personal journey to take as she has to deal with dragon prejudice in her adopted society and a yearning for the quiet life she’s left behind. Her fulfilment at the end is hard-won and fully earned.
December 11, 2024
When I picked up this book, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but what I found was a collection of stories that completely shattered the usual “wicked stepmother” trope. The author's stories showcase stepmothers as strong, loving, and multi-dimensional figures who redefine what it means to be a mother figure in someone’s life. Drawing from the author’s own personal experiences with her stepmother, this book is a beautiful and empowering celebration of women who step into difficult roles and transform them with love, strength, and resilience.
Each of the 12 stories takes us into the lives of different stepmothers—from warriors to scholars to magical beings. These aren’t the cold, cruel stepmothers we’re used to seeing in fairy tales. Instead, the author presents women who are courageous, kind, and fiercely protective of the children they love. Stories like "Princess Sanspied", where a stepmother helps a princess born without feet embrace her unique qualities and find love, are both inspiring and heartfelt. It’s a tale of self-acceptance, which resonated deeply with me.
In "The Bird of Many Voices", the story of a polyglot thrush who struggles to fit in, but later uses her mimicry ability to protect her stepchildren, stood out as another example of how these stepmothers are never one-dimensional. They’re complex women, each overcoming personal struggles and using their strengths to create meaningful relationships with their stepchildren. This story, in particular, touches on the themes of sacrifice and protecting those you love, which I found both moving and thought-provoking.
Another standout was "The Dragon Mother", where a dragon assumes human form to raise her twin stepsons in a kingdom that hunts her kind. It’s a powerful allegory about how love can transcend even the most impossible barriers. These tales go beyond magical adventures—they focus on real human emotions like love, loss, and the desire to protect family at all costs. The way each stepmother in the collection overcomes her struggles and builds trust with her stepchildren was truly heartwarming.
What I appreciated most was how these stories made me rethink what it means to be a stepmother. These women are not perfect, but they give everything for their families, and the stories reflect that love, acceptance, and sacrifice are at the heart of these relationships. It’s clear that family isn’t just about blood—it’s about the connections we choose to build and nurture, and the love we give freely.
By the end of the book, I found myself cheering for these stepmothers, wishing I could hear more of their stories. They’re brave, kind, and often face impossible challenges, but they rise to them with grace. It is a tribute to the power of love and the importance of showing up for the people who need you, no matter the circumstances.
This book is a must-read for anyone who appreciates stories of strength, compassion, and overcoming adversity. Whether you’re a stepmother, part of a blended family, or simply someone who enjoys a good, heartfelt tale, this collection will leave you feeling inspired and uplifted. It's a reminder that family is made through love, trust, and the willingness to fight for each other.
Each of the 12 stories takes us into the lives of different stepmothers—from warriors to scholars to magical beings. These aren’t the cold, cruel stepmothers we’re used to seeing in fairy tales. Instead, the author presents women who are courageous, kind, and fiercely protective of the children they love. Stories like "Princess Sanspied", where a stepmother helps a princess born without feet embrace her unique qualities and find love, are both inspiring and heartfelt. It’s a tale of self-acceptance, which resonated deeply with me.
In "The Bird of Many Voices", the story of a polyglot thrush who struggles to fit in, but later uses her mimicry ability to protect her stepchildren, stood out as another example of how these stepmothers are never one-dimensional. They’re complex women, each overcoming personal struggles and using their strengths to create meaningful relationships with their stepchildren. This story, in particular, touches on the themes of sacrifice and protecting those you love, which I found both moving and thought-provoking.
Another standout was "The Dragon Mother", where a dragon assumes human form to raise her twin stepsons in a kingdom that hunts her kind. It’s a powerful allegory about how love can transcend even the most impossible barriers. These tales go beyond magical adventures—they focus on real human emotions like love, loss, and the desire to protect family at all costs. The way each stepmother in the collection overcomes her struggles and builds trust with her stepchildren was truly heartwarming.
What I appreciated most was how these stories made me rethink what it means to be a stepmother. These women are not perfect, but they give everything for their families, and the stories reflect that love, acceptance, and sacrifice are at the heart of these relationships. It’s clear that family isn’t just about blood—it’s about the connections we choose to build and nurture, and the love we give freely.
By the end of the book, I found myself cheering for these stepmothers, wishing I could hear more of their stories. They’re brave, kind, and often face impossible challenges, but they rise to them with grace. It is a tribute to the power of love and the importance of showing up for the people who need you, no matter the circumstances.
This book is a must-read for anyone who appreciates stories of strength, compassion, and overcoming adversity. Whether you’re a stepmother, part of a blended family, or simply someone who enjoys a good, heartfelt tale, this collection will leave you feeling inspired and uplifted. It's a reminder that family is made through love, trust, and the willingness to fight for each other.
December 29, 2023
Love the idea behind this book. I grew up on fairy tales, with stories centered on the tragedy of women and the heroism of the men who save them. The only stepmothers and step-sisters depicted were evil. Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers turns those original stories on their heads. While each tale is original, they're all reminiscent of those I grew up on. Yet the heroes of the tales aren't the princes who fight their way to victory, they're the stepmothers who, while brave, also take the time to consider more clever, less violent means of solving their problems. It's refreshing to see women depicted as calm, thoughtful, and brave when facing down manticores and rescuing men from cliff sides. Also, the incorporation of characters with disabilities adds another welcome and unique bent to the stories.
The stories are quick reads and the writing style is similar to the fairy tales and fables many of us heard as children. However, the characters within are unique and though the stories take place in magical kingdoms, they feel somewhat contemporary. This would be a great book to read to any young child, not just those of blended families.
The stories are quick reads and the writing style is similar to the fairy tales and fables many of us heard as children. However, the characters within are unique and though the stories take place in magical kingdoms, they feel somewhat contemporary. This would be a great book to read to any young child, not just those of blended families.
March 16, 2026
Recommended for middle grade readers (ages 8-12) and above.
Great for any children old enough to enjoy the works of Roald Dahl, J.K. Rowling, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Jill Murphy, Lemony Snicket and Rick Riordan. In this collection, readers can find many opportunities to expand their vocabulary and explore alternative ideas about the roles of stepmothers and blended families in folklore.
Read if you liked these titles:
The Happy Prince and Other Tales
The Light Princess and Other Fairy Stories
The Ordinary Princess
The Princess Bride
Watership Down
The Velveteen Rabbit
According to the Aarne–Thompson–Uther Index, there are recurring motifs that most fairy tales share. After reading, consider the use and reconstruction of the following motifs:
The animal bride/bridegroom
The good sibling or the bad sibling
Rewards and punishments
Test of character - the hero's quest
Acts of trickery
Magic helpers - (animals, fair folk)
Morality lessons
Transformations
Youth and age
Modesty and virtue
The many roles of the stepmother
Some stories allow the reader to explore the stepmother's identity before the wedding. Most people don't stop to consider the stepmother's backstory before she gets married. Each story offers the reader a chance to look at the stepmother from different angles. Before she was a stepmother, this person was also a daughter, a sibling, and a friend before she becomes a wife and parent. Some stories take place after the wedding to allow readers to see how she supports her family. Sometimes the stepmother has children from a previous marriage like Cinderella's stepmother while in other cases she might enter the marriage without any biological children like Snow White's stepmother. You all know that fictional stepmothers usually have these following traits: ambitious, cunning, clever, independent, powerful and bossy. Here these traits get reframed in positive ways that support the stepmother's family. Sometimes it's good to be cunning.
One common trope I have seen is that people assume that the profile of a "strong woman" in fiction is to make her a magical girl or a warrior princess. But not all of these women need to pick up a sword and prove themselves in combat. There are women in these stories that have other ways to be strong with their intellect, creativity, patience and a bit of tough love!
Adoption representation (Some of these stepmothers have stepchildren with biological and adoptive siblings)
Disability representation (Some stories feature characters with congenital limb differences, amputation, PTSD, and one character using a wheelchair)
Healthy romantic relationships (Unlike the fathers from Cinderella and Snow White, these men are supportive and proactive when helping their wives and children. They are smart enough to choose the right wife for their second marriage. A few stories feature the stepmother rescuing her husband, in others, they work together as a team to face their challenges. In stories that feature the stepmother as an entrepreneur working in a job, the father raises the children at home or works in a second job as well. Some of the stories have themes about escaping from dysfunctional relationships)
Life goals (Wealth and status are not the only goals the characters strive to achieve; these stepmothers also attain their happy endings when they achieve justice, personal and financial security, acceptance, romance and prosperity for themselves and their families. Other characters achieve glory by attending school or starting new jobs that suit their interests and talents)
Challenges (While the stepmothers face mortal peril from predatory birds, natural disasters, enemy soldiers, corrupt bosses, plagues and mysterious creatures, they also experience a variety of realistic personal challenges like multi-tasking, perfectionism, emotional burnout, imposter syndrome, loyalty binds, manipulation, anxiety, and trauma in a fantasy setting. Their circumstances may be fictional, but their emotions resonate with people that experienced these challenges in reality. The stories also show creative ways for the characters to manage these challenges. A strong emphasis on self-care is present, it's hard to take care of people when you don't take care of yourself as well. Self-care is not selfish. In each story, the characters usually need to make hard choices when weighing personal good with the common good. Some choices are not black and white; there are different risks with each decision and the good characters must achieve a resolution when making imperfect choices. Sometimes the stepmother feels as though everything depends on her and she needs to face her problems alone; then her challenge is to connect with trustworthy allies to help her. So, the stories also celebrate friendship and teamwork in addition to romantic love and family love)
Great for any children old enough to enjoy the works of Roald Dahl, J.K. Rowling, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Jill Murphy, Lemony Snicket and Rick Riordan. In this collection, readers can find many opportunities to expand their vocabulary and explore alternative ideas about the roles of stepmothers and blended families in folklore.
Read if you liked these titles:
The Happy Prince and Other Tales
The Light Princess and Other Fairy Stories
The Ordinary Princess
The Princess Bride
Watership Down
The Velveteen Rabbit
According to the Aarne–Thompson–Uther Index, there are recurring motifs that most fairy tales share. After reading, consider the use and reconstruction of the following motifs:
The animal bride/bridegroom
The good sibling or the bad sibling
Rewards and punishments
Test of character - the hero's quest
Acts of trickery
Magic helpers - (animals, fair folk)
Morality lessons
Transformations
Youth and age
Modesty and virtue
The many roles of the stepmother
Some stories allow the reader to explore the stepmother's identity before the wedding. Most people don't stop to consider the stepmother's backstory before she gets married. Each story offers the reader a chance to look at the stepmother from different angles. Before she was a stepmother, this person was also a daughter, a sibling, and a friend before she becomes a wife and parent. Some stories take place after the wedding to allow readers to see how she supports her family. Sometimes the stepmother has children from a previous marriage like Cinderella's stepmother while in other cases she might enter the marriage without any biological children like Snow White's stepmother. You all know that fictional stepmothers usually have these following traits: ambitious, cunning, clever, independent, powerful and bossy. Here these traits get reframed in positive ways that support the stepmother's family. Sometimes it's good to be cunning.
One common trope I have seen is that people assume that the profile of a "strong woman" in fiction is to make her a magical girl or a warrior princess. But not all of these women need to pick up a sword and prove themselves in combat. There are women in these stories that have other ways to be strong with their intellect, creativity, patience and a bit of tough love!
Adoption representation (Some of these stepmothers have stepchildren with biological and adoptive siblings)
Disability representation (Some stories feature characters with congenital limb differences, amputation, PTSD, and one character using a wheelchair)
Healthy romantic relationships (Unlike the fathers from Cinderella and Snow White, these men are supportive and proactive when helping their wives and children. They are smart enough to choose the right wife for their second marriage. A few stories feature the stepmother rescuing her husband, in others, they work together as a team to face their challenges. In stories that feature the stepmother as an entrepreneur working in a job, the father raises the children at home or works in a second job as well. Some of the stories have themes about escaping from dysfunctional relationships)
Life goals (Wealth and status are not the only goals the characters strive to achieve; these stepmothers also attain their happy endings when they achieve justice, personal and financial security, acceptance, romance and prosperity for themselves and their families. Other characters achieve glory by attending school or starting new jobs that suit their interests and talents)
Challenges (While the stepmothers face mortal peril from predatory birds, natural disasters, enemy soldiers, corrupt bosses, plagues and mysterious creatures, they also experience a variety of realistic personal challenges like multi-tasking, perfectionism, emotional burnout, imposter syndrome, loyalty binds, manipulation, anxiety, and trauma in a fantasy setting. Their circumstances may be fictional, but their emotions resonate with people that experienced these challenges in reality. The stories also show creative ways for the characters to manage these challenges. A strong emphasis on self-care is present, it's hard to take care of people when you don't take care of yourself as well. Self-care is not selfish. In each story, the characters usually need to make hard choices when weighing personal good with the common good. Some choices are not black and white; there are different risks with each decision and the good characters must achieve a resolution when making imperfect choices. Sometimes the stepmother feels as though everything depends on her and she needs to face her problems alone; then her challenge is to connect with trustworthy allies to help her. So, the stories also celebrate friendship and teamwork in addition to romantic love and family love)
August 16, 2023
Enter the unexpected surprise of classic fairytales. These engaging original works are reminiscent of books from another era—stories of kings and queens, princes and princesses, dragons and ogres, magical seeds and poisoned fruit, talking animals and talking dolls, all weaving through lenses of love, adventure, compassion, cleverness, bias, hatred, greed, courage, strength, and kindness, and the complexities that our choices can bring. While this author has written each piece with a stepmother hero, the messages she leaves with us can empower women and children of all relationships and ages. If the Brothers Grimm were around today they would want to meet Georgina Warren. Set down the next expected volume for a day or two and take a chance on this fascinating collection of Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers.
January 10, 2024
This collection of completely original short stories is entertaining. The stories as promised in the title offer a new, timely and unique presentation of stepmothers in literature. Highly recommended for parents who seek suitable stories to read to children. Because of a sometimes advanced vocabulary the text offers excellent opportunities for parental explanations and discussion with youthful listeners.
All of the stories introduce characters who are completely original and challenge the imagination again providing occasion for interesting discussion. The stories also invite adult readers to exercise the imagination and test the knowledge of geography.
All of the stories introduce characters who are completely original and challenge the imagination again providing occasion for interesting discussion. The stories also invite adult readers to exercise the imagination and test the knowledge of geography.
November 20, 2024
“Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers,” by Georgina Warren, is a book of fairy tales with a unique spin: the stepmothers in the stories are good characters, and in some, they are the heroes of the plots. It’s a fun idea and well executed by the author. (There are some dark themes that may be disturbing to young readers.) In these stories, stepmothers are given unusual challenges, such as facing a manicore, raising a doll who came to life, or guiding a princess born without feet. Other stories focus on creatures such as a thrush bird with a gift for voices or a dragon willing to go to great lengths for her adoptive boy son. I found the stories to be engaging and imaginative!
September 15, 2024
This is a fantastic collection of short, engaging stories for people of all ages. All the stories focus on how various stepmothers are kind, thoughtful, generous, and altruistic. The stories include dolls, magic spells, queens and kings, dragons, birds, and mystical creatures while highlighting courage, love, family, and sacrifice of oneself to better the lives of others in the family. It is well-written, entertaining, and helps readers see stepmothers in a new light. If you're into fairy tales, this is THE one to read. I highly recommend it for your reading library!
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