The Ugly Stepsister

Hey guys!

I finished another book from Xpresso Book Tours on the weekend, so I thought I'd upload the review today.

 

 

Book Details:

 

The Ugly Stepsister by Aya Ling

Publication date: June 12th 2015

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Pages: 295

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Format: PDF

 

 

Synopis:

 

When Kat accidentally rips apart an old picture book, she’s magically transported into the world of Cinderella–as Katriona, one of the ugly stepsisters! Life turns upside down now that she’s a highborn lady and must learn how to survive the social season, including how to get through the door in a huge metal hoop skirt. To get back, she’ll have to complete the story, right to the end of happily ever after. But the odds are huge: the other stepsister is drop-dead gorgeous, the fairy godmother is nowhere to be found, and the prince, despite being insanely hot, openly dislikes balls. Can she ever return to the modern world?

 

 

My Thoughts:

 

I have always been a fan of fairy tales and retellings, so when I saw the blurb of The Ugly Stepsister, I knew I had to read it. Fortunately, I was in luck as Xpresso Book Tours were giving out copies in return for reviews. You can imagine my relief when I was approved for a copy.

 

 

The Ugly Stepsister is a retelling of Cinderella. Except there is a twist. At the beginning of the novel, we are introduced to Kat, a normal teenager living in the modern world. Whilst cleaning out the attic, Kat accidently trips over a book of fairytales (did I mention she's a bit of a klutz?) and is transported into story world. Naturally, Kat has absolutely no idea where she is - at first, she thinks she's dreaming, but with the help of a rather peculiar goblin called Krev, Kat soon realises that she is trapped in the world of Cinderella. In order to break the curse, and return to the present day, Kat must "put the story back together again."

 

 

As I mentioned in my mini review, The Ugly Stepsister is a fun read. Being familiar with the original plot of Cinderella, it's easy to expect this story to head in a similar direction. However, that is not always the case in The Ugly Stepsister. We follow the protagonist as she tries to find the Fairy Godmother and ensure that Cinderella (who is better known as Elle in this book) attends the ball, whilst falling in love herself (though I won't reveal whom with). Kat's clumsiness adds an element of humour to the novel, and she becomes more accustomed to her surroundings as the story progresses.

 

I found myself feeling quite sorry for Kat: she is bombarded with a seemingly impossible task, and understandably she makes a few mistakes along the way, though she manages to handle it pretty well. I like the fact that Kat isn't only interested in returning home - she also wants to help the children in the workhouse. To Kat, "it's second nature...that children shouldn't work at all", so it's not surprising that she is shocked at the harsh conditions the children of this time are forced to work in.

 

Overall, The Ugly Stepsister is a fantastic retelling of Cinderella. While it does remind me a little of Lost in Austen (which I never actually managed to finish - ooo, maybe I should do that tonight!), Aya Ling's book is original. It's easy to follow and the main character is relatable, since she is a bookworm, just like me. My one problem would be the ending, but other than that, I would definitely recommend The Ugly Stepsister.

 

 

Favourite quotes:

 

1. "Edward. He is everything a fairy tale prince should be, everything a girl could ask for. Smart, sympathetic, sexy as hell. His concern for me - slightly domineering but forgivable, given his status and Athelia's old-fashioned concept of women - is simply sweet. Every time he smiles at me, every time he touches me, every time he tries to show me he cares, my heart melts a little."

 

2. "I suppose I should be relieved he hasn't called me a lunatic and ordered to have me taken to an asylum."

 

3. "For a moment, I'm living in paradise. I breathe in his scent and cling to his back, listening to the water running from the nearby fountain and birds chirping in leafy branches."

 

4. "I have an ominous sense of impending doom."

 

 

Let me know if you read this book (or if you have read it already!)!

 

 

Hasta luego!

 

 

Serena