“Lady Tremaine” is Rachel Hochhauser’s debut novel and it is also a Reese’s Book Club pick. Some sites have put it in the Fantasy genre, but it seemed more like historical fiction to me. Remember the fairy tale of ‘Cinderella’? Well, “Lady Tremaine” reimagines this story from the stepmother’s point of view . . . and she is not an evil villain, but a mother trying to help her daughters (and step-daughter) survive in a very difficult world.
Etheldreda is a twice widowed mother to Mathilde and Rosamund, and step-mother of Elin. She is in charge of finding food for the family and keeping their large manor running without it appearing that times are desperate for the family. Ethel also owns a peregrine falcon named Lucy, who plays a big role in the novel. When the king and queen plan a ball for the purpose of finding a wife for their son, the prince, Ethel knows that her daughters’ futures depend on being able to attend that ball. She is often desperate, but never gives up hope of giving her girls the best opportunity for their future. There are secrets in the royal family that affect Etheldreda’s decisions and make the 2nd half of the book a much more engaging read than the first, so be patient…
This novel is definitely NOT the romantic version of Cinderella that we all know. “Lady Tremaine” is more realistic and much darker in its story. Etheldreda is a fierce mother who has to make difficult choices in a harsh medieval world. I was glad I picked this book up for a read! (The audiobook gets very high recommendations as well!)