Lady Tremaine
Instant New York Times Bestseller • REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK • IndieNext Pick • LibraryReads Pick
"With transporting prose and a galloping plot, this wholly original take on Cinderella recasts the wicked stepmother...a riveting, complex paean to women's strength." —People (Book of the Week) • "Destined to be one of the biggest books of the year." —Glennon Doyle, #1 bestselling author of Untamed • "Breathtakingly beautiful." —Emilia Hart, bestselling author of Weyward
Twice-widowed, Lady Etheldreda Verity Isolde Tremaine Bramley is solely responsible for her two children, a priggish stepdaughter, a razor-taloned peregrine falcon, and a crumbling manor. Fierce and determined, Ethel clings to the respectability her deceased husband’s title affords her, hoping it will secure her daughters’ future through marriage.
When a royal ball offers the chance to change everything, Ethel risks her pride in pursuit of an invitation for all three of her daughters—only to see her hopes fulfilled by the wrong one. As an engagement to the future king unfolds, Ethel discovers a sordid secret hidden in the depths of the royal family, forcing her to choose between the security she craves and the wellbeing of the stepdaughter who has rebuffed her at every turn.
As if Bridgerton met Circe, and exhilarating to its core, Lady Tremaine reimagines the myth of the evil stepmother at the heart of the world’s most famous fairy tale. It is a battle cry for a mother’s love for her daughters, and a celebration of women everywhere who make their own fortunes.
- Pages
- 339
- First published
- March 3, 2026
- Language
- English
- Edition
- Ebook
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Shelved by 9 Litcadians
Reviews
Finished April 5, 2026
*☆3stars☆* A Cinderella re-imagining from the point of view of the evil stepmother? Don’t mind if I do. Etheldrelda—also known as Lady Tremaine—is a twice-widowed mother of two, doing her best to survive (and succeed) in a world that offers very little grace to women—especially ones on their own. Add in a lazy, ungrateful stepdaughter, and she’s really going through it. All she wants is to secure a stable, suitable future for her daughters, and a royal ball—hosted to find a bride for the prince—might be the opportunity she’s been waiting for. But of course, it’s never that simple. When an ugly secret comes to light, Lady Tremaine is forced to choose: accept the happily ever after being handed to her… or take matters into her own hands and create one herself.. This was a fun re-imagining, and I definitely enjoyed parts of it… but other parts? I was either dozing off or letting it play in the background while I found something more interesting to do. The beginning was rough. There’s a lot of reminiscing from the main character—very much tell over show—and it honestly had me flirting with a DNF. It just dragged more than it needed to. However, around the 25% mark, things finally started to pick up and deliver on the premise. We get a more grounded, realistic take on Cinderella—less whimsical, sing-song magic and more grit, survival, and tough choices. What really stood out to me was the exploration of motherhood. It shows just how far a mother who truly loves her children is willing to go to give them a better life—and I really appreciated that angle. Highly recommend this if you have patience for a slow start filled with reminiscing and day-to-day details. Once it gets going, it’s worth it. [Find my reviews on Bookstagram too!](https://www.instagram.com/literarily_laurynn?igsh=aTh6eTZ6dGwxMXpy&utm_source=qr)
Finished February 6, 2026
Finished July 17, 2026
I loved the ending of this!! Telling the story from Lady Tremaine's perspective gave this Cinderella retelling a fresh take on a character who is almost always portrayed as villainous. I really enjoyed how much this empowered the female characters instead of focusing on the fairytale romance. It empowered the women's choices, motivations, and relationships in a way that made them feel complex and it added depth to a familiar story. If you're looking for a retelling that takes a classic and turns it upside down then this is definitely recommended. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the eARC.