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Liked It “Introduction |
Didn’t Like It “I tried to read it, but I just couldn't get into it. I felt as if the author was shying away from giving his characters depth, whenever there was an opportunity to do so he avoided it. It was a chore to considered picking the book back up after I set it down, so I chose not to finish it.” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“I tried to read it, but I just couldn't get into it. I felt as if the author was shying away from giving his characters depth, whenever there was an opportunity to do so he avoided it. It was a chore to considered picking the book back up after I set it down, so I chose not to finish it.”
Mari wrote this review yesterday. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Introduction
Jet T wrote this review 4 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The Step Sister Scheme is the first book in a series that revealed what cynical grown-ups always knew: life is never a fairy tale. Cinderella has just married her prince charming, but life after marriage was not at all a smooth journey. Her step sisters had launched a revenge plot that resulted in the prince being kidnapped and squirreled away in Fairy Town, the realm of the Fairies. Pregnant with the prince’s child, Cinderella, whose real name is actually Danielle, sets off to rescue her one true love with the help of – wait for it – Snow White, a mirror mage with first class first instincts and Talia, a fairy-blessed, martial arts expert who is really Sleeping Beauty. Familiar villains abound and a few surprising twists springing up now and then, Cinders has to rely on her new companions and her furry and feathered friends to get back that “happily ever after” the Grimm brothers promised her.
Review
I love retellings and it is often difficult to find someone who does retellings well, much less someone who can do an engaging parody the way Hines does it. In The Step Sister Scheme, Hines gives familiar classics a dry sense of humour interspersed with dark realism, while placing a fresh (and often sinister) lens on some of the plot loopholes that we have conveniently overlooked in the rose-tinted Disney versions of these fairy tales. While the book is clearly meant more for light entertainment, it is not a simple fanciful romp through fairy tale land – Hines went out of his way to make this a relatively intelligent read. Not only does he do his research into the origins of these fairy tales, he also provides some room for thought and will probably give feminists a field day. Being a natural dork, I appreciate the fact that Hines has chosen the Grimm Brother’s version of Cinderella, Aschenputtel, as his source story. The plot is fast moving and well-paced, leaving no room for the reader to put the book down once past the first chapter.
Above all, Hines has made Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty a lot more likeable and believable than their original namesakes. No more damsels in disguise depending on magic and the goodwill of some external forces, these ladies are fantastic heroines with functional brains and wits of their own. Nor are they one-dimensional archetypes: these women have to grapple with their respective pasts and moral dilemmas and in the process, make some choices with such a cavalier attitude that that their princess-y predecessors would be tearing their beautiful tresses out six feet under. There may be some complaints about how Hines give each of these princesses specific personality traits that border on being stereotypes, but I am giving the benefit of the doubt since this is but the first in the series.
If I have a complaint, it would be Hines’ treatment of secondary and particularly villainous characters. Just as all the fairy tales, these characters remain underdeveloped and come across as the singular archetypes that the good guys are not. The only exception was Danielle’s stepsister, Charlotte, who could have been a tad more interesting if there was enough air time. Randomly, does anyone share my fascination with the fact that the princes in these fairy tales are really the most token characters? They are there just for the kiss – how’s that for objectification?
Magnus opus this is not, but boy, it is a delightful and highly engaging read. I am waiting impatiently for my book dealer to give me the next book.
Final verdict
Take this book for what it is – an entertaining trade paperback. Do not expect grand themes and complex characters. Think Hollywood’s spring vacation movie offerings, and you are good to go.
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“Find my review at http://lyraroses.blogspot.com”
Lyra Rose wrote this review Thursday, October 15 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Everyone's heard the fairy tales that end with '...and they lived happily ever after': Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Sleeping Beauty... But what really happened to these women? What if these tales didn't truly end with that 'happily ever after'? Hines mixes the traditional, bloody Grimm brothers fairy tales with a bit of Disney and then adds in some action and adventure. The result is three kick-ass princesses who don't wait around for a prince to save them.
TJ wrote this review Tuesday, September 22 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Danielle Whiteshore, better known as 'Cinderella', managed to get her 'happily ever after'--for a few minutes. When her prince, Armand, is kidnapped by her jealous stepsisters, it's only with the help of two other princesses--Snow White and Sleeping Beauty--that Danielle can hope to regain her prince and happy life.
I started The Stepsister Scheme assuming I'd love everything about it. Princesses rescuing their princes while kicking ass? I am all about that.
It was a rather rude awakening then for me when I found that the book failed to grab my attention (despite the first scene starting the action). I can't figure out exactly what was off-putting about the beginning of the book. Perhaps it was because the main characters seem just about as interesting as cardboard. Or perhaps because everything about the beginning is just a touch awkward: the dialogue, plot, characterization, the bumbling antagonists...
However, The Stepsister Scheme finally started to draw my attention around the middle point. Where the characters previously meant nothing or little to me, they instead gain an unexpected depth from their relationship and realizations about each other. Without even realizing when exactly it happened, I ended up really adoring the three main characters. I even developed a particular soft spot for Talia (Sleeping Beauty). Before I knew it, I was racing towards the ending.
The second half of the book made up for my discontent with the first half. I'm definitely willing to check out the second in the series in hopes that the characterization continues. Maybe I'll like the princesses' next adventure better.
A bit of a cold fish in the beginning, but warms up around the mid-point for a great finish. Just stick with The Stepsister Scheme past the awkward bits and it's worth the time invested. My guess is that this is a series that only gets better with each installment.”
“A very different view of the princesses. Loved it!”
Melinda H wrote this review Sunday, August 9 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A fresh new take on the fairy tale motif. Hines reworks and mixes the stories of Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty into something that you've never seen before.
Sarah B wrote this review Friday, July 24 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Like the cover says, it's very "Charlie's Angels-meets-The Brothers Grimm". Really fun story, with a sequel on the way! Yay! ”
“Most people are well acquainted with the tales of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White. Each is a princess and in one way or another they meet their prince and live happily ever after. Well, the Stepsister Scheme by Jim C. Hine tells a different tale:
ButtonsRam wrote this review Sunday, June 21 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Danielle de Glas (also know as Cinderella) has indeed married her prince and become Princess Danielle Whiteshore. After a lovely honey moon touring the country she is trying to settle into Palace life and learn to be a proper princess. However, this is all interrupted with the disappearance of her husband. It seems he has been kidnapped by her stepsisters who have recently learned the art of witchcraft. With the help of martial arts master Princess Talia Malak-el-Dahshat (Sleeping Beauty) and Mirror Sorceress Princess Ermillina Curtana of Allesandria, better known as Snow (Snow White,) they set out to rescue the prince.
I found the first forty or so pages to be slow going. The set up just took so much time and could barely keep my interest. However I kept at, and while I got a little distracted every so often and had to re-read some passages, I was definitely rewarded by the end of the book. It was interesting and funny and I'm excited to read about their next adventure in the land of fairy tales. ”
“3.5 stars. Danielle (a.k.a. Cinderella), Talia (a.k.a. Sleeping Beauty), and Snow (White) band together to help Danielle save her husband, Armand, who has been kidnapped by her stepsisters.
LibraryCin wrote this review Thursday, June 11 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
It was a fun book, though for some reason (I’m not sure why), my mind did wander a bit, so I had to go back and reread parts. It may have been just me getting distracted. I liked the idea behind the book and it really was a fun read. I do plan to read the next book with the same three characters.
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“The Stepsister Scheme was a pleasent journey into a familiar but altogether unique twist on some classic fairy tales. One would say after reading this book that Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty would be looked on with a whole new respect. Jim Hines Princess series is a great new addition to the fantasy shelves and the next book will be much anticipated.”
Jeff wrote this review Wednesday, April 29 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“ Summary: Meet Danielle. You might know her better as Cinderella. She's married the prince and she's living the happily-ever-after lifestyle. That is, until her stepsister tries to kill her, the handsome prince is kidnapped, and Danielle discovers she's about to be a mother... and a widow. I guess life in fairy tale land really isn't all it's cracked up to be. With the help of martial arts master Talia (aka Sleeping Beauty) and super-flirt Snow (White, naturally), Danielle is off to rescue her prince and save the day.
Vanessa D wrote this review Wednesday, April 15 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
My review: This book wasn't exactly what I expected. Based on the style of the cover art and the back-cover blurb, I thought it would be pretty funny. And it definitely has its moments. Picture a lecherous gnome trying to pick up three princesses in a pixie bar. But the tone of the book is definitely more serious than I would have thought.
I enjoyed this book. I thought it was fairly well written, if a little choppy at some points. And the characters were enjoyable; I liked the twisted take on the fairy tales we all know and love. Danielle's post-traumatic cleaning flashbacks are pretty funny, and Talia never sleeps (I guess she's all caught up on her beauty rest). This is not exactly a "fairy-tale retold" type of book so much as a "fairy tale warped and extended" type of book.
The final word: I'm going to rate this book a 3, as in 3 ninja princesses out of five. A good summer read to pass the time when you don't want to invest a lot of energy in the storyline or characters, but in my opinion not worth bumping to the top of the to-be-read pile.
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