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The Ugly Stepsister (Unfinished Fairy Tales, #1)

Aya Ling

Start date: August 1, 2015

Finish date: August 31, 2015

Discussion: Old Archives

Why we're reading this: August 2015 Group Read
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Dearest - September 2015
By Rachmi · 16 posts · 15 views

last updated Jan 17, 2016 03:29PM

Hero - September 2015
By Rachmi · 35 posts · 21 views

last updated Oct 01, 2015 12:14PM

What Members Thought

Aug 10, 2015 Lisa rated it really liked it

Cinderella is my least favorite fairy tale, so I was pessimistic about reading this version, fully expecting to dislike this one as well. I was very pleasantly surprised! This retelling is delightful. Unlike the original tale, and most of the retellings I have read, the story doesn't focus on "poor, unfortunate Cinderella, stuck in circumstances she can do nothing to change". The book focuses on one of the stepsisters, neither of which are truly ugly, but Kat is the plainer of the two. In realit ...more

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Oct 31, 2018 Kirstie rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, romance, fairy-tale, strong-female-characters

I do love me a fairy tale retelling, ESPECIALLY ones that don't just give us the exact same plot but veer off in new ways. I'm also quite partial to Cinderella retellings since I've done one of my own, so when I read this book's blurb I was clicking buy instantly.

Kat is such a fun character, and her angst is at just the right level, enough that it hurts in the good way (not the exhasperating ;p ) I am a bit over the 'I'm soooo clumsy' trope though, I'm almost as sick of it as the girl is so bad I do love me a fairy tale retelling, ESPECIALLY ones that don't just give us the exact same plot but veer off in new ways. I'm also quite partial to Cinderella retellings since I've done one of my own, so when I read this book's blurb I was clicking buy instantly.

Kat is such a fun character, and her angst is at just the right level, enough that it hurts in the good way (not the exhasperating ;p ) I am a bit over the 'I'm soooo clumsy' trope though, I'm almost as sick of it as the girl is so bad at cooking trope(though that one's more of an anime trope).

The novel probably falls into the YA category, but honestly it didn't feel overly YA, perhaps because of the historical setting there was no high school to emphasize the vibe.

While we're on the subject of the setting, I loved it. The details of the clothing, while not wasting pages on details gave me wonderful sensations of silk sliding over skin as fine chemises went on. There were lovely details of what it was like in regency times during a girls season, the multiple events, the multiple changes of clothes every day, the expectation and flirtation. You could tell it was well researched not just 'yo I read Pride and Prejudice and now I know all about regency time'.

Speaking of Pride and Prejudice Kat herself made several references to it, Harry Potter, and several other great books (she's a book nerd, which of course makes her even easier to like), but she did go a bit overboard with likening the love interest to Mr. Darcy. It started to become distracting, but was dropped before it reached maddening levels.

You can tell the author loves food as we took several trips into food porn descriptions most of which made me pretty hungry.

I love the fact she really was in the deep end at the start. She had to make the story turn out as it should, but she didn't know who Cinderella was (only that she wasn't her ;p ), where the fairy godmother was at, when the ball would be, ANYTHING. It was a wonderfully deep problem, and I loved seeing her confidence grow as she progressed through the story. (view spoiler)

I did have a small plot hole issue I couldn't get past though: (view spoiler)

While this book clearly could be considered a complete story, it has sequels, and you can bet your sweet bippity boppity boo I'll be reading them. ...more

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Aug 07, 2015 Tirza Magdiel rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I love it!

I picked up The Ugly Stepsister mostly because I am in a Goodreads Group that is reading the book this month. When I started reading, I was very apprehensive and highly critical, mostly because it seemed like it was going to be a cheesy teen-flick. If I'm completely honest, I am also a little tired by all of the Cinderella-related stories out there. (There's been a lot of retellings of that story!) I had to remind myself that I need to read at least 25 pages in before I put the book do ...more

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Feb 14, 2018 ❄Elsa Frost❄ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, latinx, fairy-tale, fantasy, kindle-unlimited

I didn't expect the ending. (view spoiler)

Great book! 4 stars. ...more

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Jan 13, 2017 Laura rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, cinderella, fairy-tales-retellings, romance

A beautiful, Cinderella retelling that is also a bit bittersweet! Kat has spunk, and is not afraid to speak up for what's right, however, at the same time she is not obnoxious, nor is she unnecessarily rude or disrespectful. Edward, oh, how I love Edward. While he may be the prince, he has been raised to care about and respect everyone, no matter their class. He really does want to do well by the people of this country.................................. And he is so besotted with Kat that it's ad ...more

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Jan 14, 2018 Misty rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Wonderful

This book kept surprising me. I really enjoyed that I love the character of Kat. The ending was really unexpected! If you like fairy tales definitely give this book a try.

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