Peasreads: Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser

Now THIS is how a reimagining is done well. I want to feel the emotions and see the stories that lead up to how a character is shaped. I want to know their story and I want the story to make me understand, or at least give me a glimpse. This is a love story. Whether her actions were correct or not, Lady Tremine loves her children. Was she evil? Was she misguided? Was she a product of society and the time she was living in? At what lengths will a mother go to secure her children's futures in a society where women have so few rights afforded to them? 

Once Lady Tremine's plan start falling into place and her children's futures seem secure she discovers that the royal family is hiding a dark secret that could bring harm. Will she look the other way to cement a place for her girls in society?  This book was very good and I will re-read it.   

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Description

A breathtaking reimagining of Cinderella, as told through the eyes of its iconic "evil" stepmother, revealing a propulsive love story about the lengths a mother will go to for her children

Twice-widowed, Lady Etheldreda Verity Isolde Tremaine Bramley is solely responsible for her two children, a priggish stepdaughter, a razor-taloned peregrine falcon, and a crumbling manor. Fierce and determined, Ethel clings to the respectability her deceased husband’s title affords her, hoping it will secure her daughters’ future through marriage.

When a royal ball offers the chance to change everything, Ethel risks her pride in pursuit of an invitation for all three of her daughters—only to see her hopes fulfilled by the wrong one. As an engagement to the future king unfolds, Ethel discovers a sordid secret hidden in the depths of the royal family, forcing her to choose between the security she craves and the wellbeing of the stepdaughter who has rebuffed her at every turn.

As if Bridgerton met Circe, and exhilarating to its core, Lady Tremaine reimagines the myth of the evil stepmother at the heart of the world’s most famous fairy tale. It is a battle cry for a mother’s love for her daughters, and a celebration of women everywhere who make their own fortunes. 

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I received this egalley from NetGalley and St Martin's Press I was under no obligation to give a review. All opinions are my own. 

Peasreads- Never Ever After by Sue Lynn Tan

Sue Lynn Tan is, admittedly,  a must-read author for me. Never Ever After is a reimagining of Cinderella with the beautiful fantasy writing that Sue Lynn is so good at. I  enjoyed the story and the strong characters in this book. Yining is a strong female character who is looking for a better life, an escape from the land and kingdom that took her beloved family from her.  The are two other main characters, one is the prince of the kingdom of which she wants to escape. The other is an advisor from a rival kingdom. Both of these characters have a mystery and danger to them. The story progresses and unfolds with good pacing. The ending is not as much of a cliffhanger, though this is the first in a series. I was thankful for that. I can't wait to continue this story and see more of it unfold in the next books. 

Pub Date Oct 28 2025 |

Description

Not all fairy tales end happily ever after in this powerful and fierce reimagining of Cinderella by the bestselling author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess—for fans of Renée Ahdieh, Tahereh Mafi, and Stephanie Garber.

Order now and receive the SPECIAL FIRST EDITION while supplies last—featuring a designed case cover under the jacket and illustrated endpapers, in addition to shiny foil and embossing. This must-have special edition is only available in a limited first printing.

Life in the Iron Mountains is harsh and unforgiving. After the death of her beloved uncle, Yining has survived by becoming a skilled thief and an even better liar. When she acquires an enchanted ring that holds the key to a brighter future, it is stolen by her step-aunt, and Yining must venture into the imperial heart of the kingdom to seize it back.

 

Amid the grandeur of the palace, Yining catches the eye of the ruthless and ambitious prince, who tempts her with a world she’s never imagined. But nothing is as it seems, for she’s soon trapped in a tangle of power, treachery, and greed—her only ally the cunning advisor from a rival court who keeps dangerous secrets of his own. To break free, she must unravel the mystery of her past and fight for a future that both frightens and calls to her.

Never Ever After is the first in a breathtaking new fantasy romance series influenced by Chinese fairy tales from the acclaimed author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess.

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I received this egalley from NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. I was under no obligation to give a review. All opinions are my own. 

Peasreads: Worth Fighting For by Jesse Q. Sutanto

 If it were not for my love for Mulan and all things Mulan retellings I wouldn't have given this book a second glance. 

This is a Disney a Mulan retelling in an urban setting. There's no going off to war in a literal sense and Mushu isn't a spirit. At first it was a little cheesey then the character development was good, the humor, the way I could relate as a first generation Asian American, the swoon worthy Sheng. I'm laughing, I'm tearing up. I'm hooked. All of a sudden I'm looking down and I'm 95% done with this book but I don't want it to end! Such a sweet fun read 

This is the first book I've read in the Meant To Be series. If they are all this good, sign me up. 

They are all standalone books which is great because I prefer that.

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I received this book from NetGalley for this review. I was under no obligation to give a positive review. All opinions are  my own. 

Peasreads: Glass: A Cinderella Tale by Kathryn Lasky

 

From the Publisher:

Newbery Honoree and New York Times bestselling author of the Guardians of Ga’Hoole series Kathryn Lasky delivers an enchanting prequel to the Cinderella story from the perspective of a young fairy godmother.

In a grand glass house, there was a girl named Bess whose power would, one day, change the fate of her family. . . Bess Wickham has always felt like a bit of an outcast among her family of extraordinary glassblowers, but then an immense, magical power that’s lain dormant in her bloodline begins to emerge. So, when she suspects her family’s business has taken a sinister turn, Bess must find the strength to defeat dark magic and save a certain cinder girl. But will she shatter under the weight of such evil or get her happily ever after?