I found this book while I was out thrifting with my sister. It tells the story of how Cinderella came to be through the eyes of her stepsister Iris. This book tells the story of Iris, her mother Margrethe, and her sister Ruth and how they became Cinderella's stepsisters and stepmother. Iris who was the younger one of the ugly stepsisters was the one telling the story. It does not tell the tale of the Cinderella story we know today. In this story the sisters got along and Ruth was mute. Their mother worked as a maid in Clara's (Cinderella) house before she worked u a scheme to become Clara's stepmother. Iris and Ruth loved Clara and they became close as sisters. Before they became sisters Iris was hired to work at Clara's house to reach her English. This story is based in Holland so they spoke Dutch except for Margrethe and Iris who spoke English and Dutch. Iris tells the tale of how her family came to Holland and all the things that led up to them becoming Clara's stepsister. Margrethe was truly a wicked stepmother and let it be known. She spent every last penny of her husbands fortune and schemed her way to get what she wanted even if that meant shaming her own daughters. Ruth, although mute was also a schemer. She blinded her mother and set a painter's portrait of Clara on fire. She did these things not to harm but for good as so she thought. Iris didn't care about money she wanted to be female painter. In the end Cinderella got her prince, Iris got what she wanted, Ruth was taken care of, and Margrethe lived out the rest of her days as a shut in.
It was a pretty good read and I liked reading about the life of the ugly stepsisters. Although they had a hard life they did end up having a good life and living it the best way they could. I liked reading about a different take on the story of Cinderella and that the girls did get along for the most part. If you like the story of Cinderella and would like to know about the stepsisters and how their lives were I would say get this book.
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