The Stepsister Scheme by Jim C. Hines

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: DAW (January 6, 2009)

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? What’s delivered is The Stepsister Scheme—a whole new take on what happened to Cinderella and her prince after the wedding. And with Jim C. Hines penning the tale readers can bet it won’t be “and they lived happily ever after.”

This book is full of adventure, magic, and girls who kick ass. These Princesses aren't to be confused with their Disney versions. The story's focus is on Princess Danielle AKA Cinderella. Her husband Prince Armand is kidnapped and put under a spell by Cinderella's evil stepsisters. Her mission is to make it to Fairytown to rescue her love with the aid of her two friends Talia (Sleeping Beauty) and Snow (Snow White....obviously).

There are a couple of twists in the story that keep it from being boring and although I felt that it had a slow start it picked up in the end. What I find very interesting is that the story begins AFTER the fairy tale portion....Cinderella has already married her prince and is supposed to be living happily ever after. The same thing with Talia's and Snow's stories. They are living in the castle as the Queen's personal servants even though they are princesses to escape their terrible pasts.

I would love to know more about the Princesses and what brought them to where they are now. The hopes that future book will reveal more about them is enough to keep me reading this series. The second book is The Mermaid's Madness. A third book in the series, Red Hood's Revenge, will be released on July 6, 2010.

3.5/5