Every so often, a book takes a story you think you know by heart and cracks it wide open, revealing something unexpected, raw, and breathtakingly human. Lady Tremaine does exactly that. Forget the wicked stepmother trope — this reimagining dares to ask us to see Etheldreda Tremaine not as a villain, but as a woman clawing for dignity, stability, and hope in a society that would rather watch her crumble.

Twice widowed, trapped in a decaying manor, and responsible for two daughters with no marriage prospects, Ethel fights like a cornered lioness. Add in a polished yet frustrating stepdaughter and a falcon perched ominously at her side, and you have a heroine unlike any I’ve encountered in a fairy tale retelling. She is flawed and prideful, sometimes sharp enough to wound, but every action, every sacrifice, is driven by the desperate need to secure her children’s futures. Watching her maneuver for invitations to the royal ball, only to see her plans unravel in dangerous and unexpected ways, had me glued to the page.

What elevates this story beyond a simple “twist on Cinderella” is its emotional core. This is not about glass slippers or magical transformations — it’s about motherhood in its rawest form. The sacrifices made in silence, the constant worry that keeps you awake at night, the small acts of love that never make it into fairy tales. Through Ethel’s narration, we feel the ache of compromise, the sting of failure, and the ferocity of a woman who refuses to stop fighting for her daughters, even when the world insists on labeling her cruel.

The writing is stunning — lyrical yet razor-sharp, rich with atmosphere and brimming with lines that linger in your mind. The world feels both familiar and startlingly fresh: a royal family with secrets festering behind its golden façade, a crumbling estate heavy with dust and desperation, and women who refuse to fade quietly into the margins of history. Even Elin, the Cinderella figure, is reframed not as an angelic victim but as a complicated young woman whose choices and flaws challenge both Ethel and the reader to reassess everything we thought we knew.

This retelling is a feast for fans of gothic drama, historical realism, and morally complex characters. It’s not about villains and heroes — it’s about survival, sacrifice, and the messy, complicated truths of love. By the end, I didn’t just sympathize with Lady Tremaine; I admired her resilience, her courage, and her unwavering devotion to her daughters.

A very huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sharing this remarkable retelling of Cinderella from the perspective of the “evil” stepmother in exchange for my honest thoughts that I highly appreciated.

As a child who was obsessed with the story of Cinderella to the point that I watched the Disney classic more times than I could count, I absolutely had to check out this book! I was amazed by this story and how seeing a classic tale from the point of view of the supposed villain changed the story completely.

This novel takes the classic tale of Cinderella and tells it from the point of view of the iconic "villain" Lady Tremaine. I absolutely loved how this book made me see Lady Tremaine as the main protagonist and the "hero" of the story. Her life experiences and overwhelming love for her daughters shines through the whole story. The fact that she would do anything for her children is just so powerful. In this book you feel true empathy for Lady Tremaine as she deals with her personal struggles as well as the main events in the story.

I was truly hooked! I couldn't wait to turn each page and learn more about Lady Tremaine's past and what made her the woman she is as well as eagerly trying to figure out what decisions and actions she will make!

I truly enjoyed this book and hope the are more engaging retellings to come! Overall this book is a solid 4.5/5!

I would also like to thank NetGalley as well as St. Martin's Press for this ARC!

I really liked the premise of this. I love a twist on a retelling and love a villain POV. However I thought the story moved a little slow and the writing wasn’t my style. I did still enjoy the book it just took me some time to get into.

Lady Tremaine is a retelling of “Cinderella” that centers on the “evil” stepmother, Lady Etheldreda Verity Isolde Tremaine Bramley. Widowed and living in a crumbling estate with two daughters and a priggish stepdaughter to support, Lady Tremaine – Ethel – uses her smarts to try to make good matches for the girls.
When the prince lays eyes on her stepdaughter at the ball and wants to rush into marriage, it should be the answer to her prayers. Not only would it raise their station, but it would get the girl out of her house (this is not the Cinderella you remember). But when Ethel learns a dangerous truth, she must decide whether to protect the stepdaughter who has rejected her at every turn or let the marriage happen.
This is one of my favorite books I’ve read this year. It’s entertaining and a little twisty, and though there’s a bit of romance, it’s very much about the strength of women.
This is a book I’ll be recommending to everyone. And I can absolutely picture it as a limited series on a streamer.

A captivating and inventive retelling of Cinderella, Lady Tremaine offers a fresh perspective by stepping into the mind of the traditionally “evil” stepmother. The story is beautifully layered, combining the elegance of period drama with the intrigue and magic of fairy tale reimaginings. Lady Ethel is a compelling protagonist—fierce, flawed, and utterly devoted to her daughters—making her struggles and sacrifices deeply relatable.
The novel excels in world-building and character depth, weaving a tale of ambition, love, and maternal devotion that keeps you turning the pages. While the pacing occasionally slows under the weight of courtly detail, the rich narrative and unexpected twists more than make up for it. Fans of historical romance and feminist fairy tale retellings will find much to enjoy here.
Overall, it’s a thrilling, thought-provoking read that redefines a classic story while celebrating the strength and complexity of women—a solid 4 stars.

🤔 What if…
- …Lady Tremaine isn’t an evil stepmother, but just a single mother who loves her daughters very, very much, doing everything she can for them to survive in a time when women didn’t have much power?
- …Cinderella isn’t the humble servant to arrogant and thoughtless stepsisters?
- …The prince harbors a darker secret behind his charming smile?

🍎 Lady Tremaine is a riveting, original retelling of a classic fairy tale, and Rachel HochHauser nailed this version into something more realistic, delving into the very human hearts and nature of everyone involved in the story: from servants to friends and enemies alike. It is a bit darker and violent than a Disney fairy tale, especially towards the end, so just a heads up/trigger warning for those that are expecting a fairy tale full of lace and fluff. It’s definitely not that, and this would be considered an adult fairy tale reimagining with some historical fiction thrown in. I did love the tale, and though there were some parts that were a little slow, overall, I wanted to keep reading to see how things would turn out. There’s even a tiny little Easter egg 🍎❄️ for a possible chance that she might write another book - it’s not a cliffhanger in any way for this particular book, but it allows for a parallel fairy tale if HochHauser decides to do so (and I really truly hope she does!!!).

Lady Tremaine: A Novel by Rachel Hochhauser was such a compelling read. We all know the classic Cinderella story, but this version flips the script and really makes you think - what if everything depends on whose side you're hearing it from? The book is described as a “battle cry for a mother’s love for her daughters,” and honestly, that nails it - I found myself sympathizing with more with Lady Tremaine and less with Elin (this story's stepdaughter). Hochhauser’s Lady Tremaine isn’t just the cold-hearted stepmother we grew up with. She’s strong, fiercely protective, and deeply flawed in a way that feels real. Her backstory gives so much depth to her character, and the twists in this retelling totally caught me off guard (in the best way).

It’s not a fairy tale. It’s a dramatic, emotional reimagining that makes you see the story in a whole new light. I’d definitely recommend it to adults who want a fresh take on a childhood classic!

Big thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

Lady Tremaine was brought up to be a lady in every way. She continues to do the same for her daughters and step-daughter but keeping up appearances with little means of income is getting harder and harder. When a royal ball is announced so the prince can find a bride, Lady Tremaine wants for one of her daughters to be chosen but when her timid, naive stepdaughter is chosen by the prince, it begins an ordeal she did not plan on. When she discovers some horrible secrets about the palace and the prince himself, she does everything she can to correct the situation but will she succeed?

I admit, I was having trouble with the first half of this book, I found it boring but once the pace of the book picked up with the saga of the prince, I found myself wanting to see how the story ended. I related this story to Cinderella but instead of two wicked stepdaughters, there were daughters who wanted to become independent like their mother and one stepdaughter who wanted the world to treat her as a princess. The book is set when women were expected to be submissive and keep up with appearances. Lady Tremaine teaches all her daughters about self-reliance, which was rather refreshing.

I enjoyed this book, such a unique spin on a classic story! Overall the start was a little slow, but there was a lot of character building that needed to take place for the story to fall into place. Once it got to the present only it got very interesting and I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend this book!

3.5/5

I loved the second half of this book. The first half...not so much. I can't say that I expected the twists in this book (second half). I thought this would be mainly about Lady Tremaine herself, not her life with her daughters. The story begins switching back and forth between past and present. I would've appreciated having some sort of heading to let me know it had switched to the other timeline. Depending on what was happening, it would take me a minute to figure out what was happening due to the timeline. Once you're in the present fully, you are with Ethel, her two daughters, and her stepdaughter, Elin. The dynamic between the three of them is quite different from the traditional take on each of them. Who knows what people can hide in the shadows in this kingdom.

To me, the first half was your typical fairytale from a different point of view. Due to this, it took me quite a while to get through it. It felt slow and repetitive. I would've rather had this part condensed -- maybe skip to the parts that are different.

I finished the second half fairly quickly. Once you get to the marriage part, it starts to move much faster. It is no longer anything like the typical fairytale we all know so well. You get to start truly seeing the individual character's personalities. I really liked the supporting characters present, especially Otto. He added another element to the story, but I don't want to give away what that is.

I really enjoyed this book. I haven't read a book about Cinderella's stepmother before. This one kept me reading until very late in the night.
I hope to read other books by this author. Thank you to the Author and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this for my honest review.

I'm sometimes skeptical of re-tellings because they often fall flat for me. However, I enjoyed this one so much! The relation to Cinderella is a bit loose which I feel like gives the author a bit more freedom. I had so much fun with it, was absolutely pulled in and so sad when it was over! This is an author I will definitely watch for subsequent books - check this one out, you won't be disappointed!

A book about the retelling of a fairytale is a super popular topic lately. I enjoyed this take in Cinderella from the step mom’s point. It was original and entertaining! Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.
What a wonderful take on the Cinderella story, from the perspective of the stepmother.
The writing is exquisite and the story is beautiful. I loved Lady Tremaine and her struggle to do the best for her 2 daughters and even her stepdaughter!
But the part that made me tear up was Lady Tremaine's relationship with her hawk, Lucy. Reading about the training of these hunting birds was fascinating.
This is such a beautiful book, I loved it and didn't want it to end.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press
A retelling of Cinderella through the eyes of Lady Tremaine, the evil Step Mother. In this story she is not a villain, she is a mother who will do anything for her children. I enjoyed this different perspective and the POV of Lady Tremaine. There were times when it felt a little slow and I had a hard time wanting to pick it up.

3.5 Stars

An engaging and imaginative retelling of Cinderella told through the eyes of the (not evil) stepmother who is only trying to do what is best for her daughters. The story goes on to tell what happens after the ball and has an unexpected twist. I couldn’t put it down. A great story about a mother’s love.

I enjoyed this read so much. Not knowing the premise ahead of time, I loved the way the story unfolded. When I realized the context I became even more invested in Lady Tremaine’s fate, and this only made the twists and turns of the plot that much more gripping . This story was propulsive and completely surprising- I would never have guessed where it went. I thoroughly enjoyed this read- could not put it down until I finished.

If you’re a lover of Emilia Hart’s Weyward and Sirens then this book is likely just up your alley!

I have to admit I misremembered Emilia’s name and thought this was a third book of hers in the beginning and then was still very enthralled by the time I realized it wasn’t.

A ‘Cinderella’-esque story from the perspective of the stepmother intrigued me from the start as an avid Disney watcher in my youth. Cinderella has always been such a likeable character and the stepmother so easy to root against.

This book managed to turn the Disney and folk Cinderella tale on its head, inside out, around, and back. I was so intrigued to know more about Lady Tremaine from a writer I could tell from the beginning had enormous storytelling talent. Every character, no matter how small their role, was brought to life in such a vivid manner I was hooked into the story.

Ethel, Mathilda, Rosie, Elin, Alice, Wenthelen, and Lucy were fascinating to get to know. People are nearly never just one thing, good or bad, and this book does a great job of exploring the gray.

The setting seemed both familiar and distinctly foreign, as I imagined a time where women had much less freedom than they do in many places now. Needless to say I was glad that I wasn’t treated as the cautionary tales when I was single and pregnant.

My heart raced, and ached, and surged throughout the book and I was glued until the end. I would definitely recommend it, and already have. What a phenomenal find.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good fairy tale retelling, and this one was entertaining. We see life through Cinderella’s (Elin) evil stepmother and see a version of her we never got to see before. From her childhood to single step motherhood, she gives us an open window through her eyes.

The character building and writing are top notch. Seeing the lines of villains and heroes be blurred was fascinating. I look forward to reading more from this author. She didn’t just use a cookie cutter Disney version and remake it. She took a classic fairy tale and reimagined it.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for my honest opinion.

An Unlikely Heroine
"Lady Tremaine" by Rachel Hochhauser
The story of Cinderella has been flipped topsy-turvy in this exciting retelling from Lady Tremaine's point of view. We are introduced to a much different version of Lady Etheldreda Tremaine than we meet in the story of Cinderella. This woman is a flawed, fiercely independent woman cast by no fault of her own into a life that finds her struggling to keep her family and home afloat, masquerading a life not at all lived. Not a villain at all. We meet the original characters but with unexpected twists to their personalities. Like their mother Rosie and Matilda’s 'cruelty' towards Elin (Cinderella) differs greatly from the original story, as does Cinderella. Prince Charming, you ask, I’ll let you read the book to discover the reality of this royal family.
This dark, twisty take on Cinderella exceeded my expectations with its surprises, and I found the ending arrived too quickly. My thanks to St Martins Press and NetGalley for an ARC copy of this novel.