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A review by lavendermarch
Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly
5.0
This was, in a word, satisfying. It might be the best book I've read this year. I'm so glad that it's stayed on my want to read list throughout the years, and that I finally read it. Stepsister is a heady blend of fairy tale, historical fiction, and fantasy, with a powerful dose of feminism. It takes some of the best parts of fairy tales - telling things how they are, being brave enough to dream, and taking action to achieve the life you want - and delivers its story through vibrant, compelling writing that hits like a kick to the gut.
I adored Isabelle's story - it was a unique spin on the usual fairy tale retellings (and I don't want to boil this down to just being that, because it's so much more). I liked that not only did it take a side character and villain's POV, it focused on what happened after the end of the traditional tale. Of course, the addition of Fate and Chance also spiced things up a bit.
Overall, I'm very pleased with Jennifer Donnelly's Stepsister. The story, characters, character growth, fantasy elements, setting, and above all, the writing, delivered on every front. I called it satisfying at the beginning of my review because the entire time I was reading it, that's what I kept thinking to myself: This is an incredibly satisfying book. So, if you want a fantastic fairy tale that subverts expectations in the best ways possible, look no further. 5 stars.
I adored Isabelle's story - it was a unique spin on the usual fairy tale retellings (and I don't want to boil this down to just being that, because it's so much more). I liked that not only did it take a side character and villain's POV, it focused on what happened after the end of the traditional tale. Of course, the addition of Fate and Chance also spiced things up a bit.
Overall, I'm very pleased with Jennifer Donnelly's Stepsister. The story, characters, character growth, fantasy elements, setting, and above all, the writing, delivered on every front. I called it satisfying at the beginning of my review because the entire time I was reading it, that's what I kept thinking to myself: This is an incredibly satisfying book. So, if you want a fantastic fairy tale that subverts expectations in the best ways possible, look no further. 5 stars.