Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser
Lady Tremaine
by Rachel Hochhauser
Fantasy | Historical Fiction
339 Pages
Released March 2026
Rating: ★★★ 1/2
Goodreads
Content Warnings
I love a good fairy tale retelling and this story was definitely one of my favorite retellings as of late.
This book follows Lady Tremaine, after the loss of not one but two of her husbands. Left with no other choice, she does what she must to take care of her two daughters, and the step daughter that shuns her at every turn. But when an opportunity to better her daughter’s lives arises,
I think it goes without saying (even though I’m going to say it anyways) that this is a Cinderella retelling, although I find this version of the story much more compelling than the original. As I’m sure you already know (but I’m going to say it anyways too), Cinderella is a very stark good-vs-evil story, which I’ve found to be quite boring, even as a child.
To start, I adored all the characters. I loved how Rachel Hochhauser turned the traditional narrative on its head, transforming the whole cast of characters from good and evil into morally gray ones. I loved that, instead of painting Cinderella (or Elin, in this case) as the clear victim, she is equally imperfect (but in a way that makes sense). I particularly enjoyed Lady Tremaine, and her drive to protect her children felt much more understandable and relatable in this book. There were also some new characters in this novel that I found really added to the story.
The story itself flowed wonderfully, and I felt myself fully engaged throughout the whole novel. There were some really intriguing differences in this book that I much preferred over the original story though, in an effort to prevent any spoilers, I will refrain from elaborating. There is also a smidgeon of romance which I liked as well.
I think if you enjoy retellings (or fantasy in general), this is a really interesting take on an already well-known story. The writing is really accessible and the fact that the characters aren’t starkly good or bad make for a much more intriguing plot line. Definitely recommended!