Book review: Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser
Genre: Fantasy
Release date: March 3, 2026
Goodreads rating: 4.47
My rating: 5
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Most of us know the story of Cinderella, but this book made me realize that I’ve never considered the story from the stepmother’s perspective. Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser does exactly that… it pulls back the curtain on the ‘villain’.
I absolutely loved this book. It’s an easy five stars for me.
In this retelling, the stepmother, Etheldreda Tremaine, is a twice-widowed mother doing everything she can to secure a future for the three young women in her care: her two daughters and her stepdaughter. In a kingdom where a woman’s survival depends almost entirely on marriage and male protection, Etheldreda makes hard, sometimes ruthless choices. When the prince announces his search for a bride, the stakes aren’t romance, they’re survival.
What I loved most is how grounded this version feels. There’s no magic, no helpful mice, no pumpkin carriages, just the practical realities of life inside and outside the castle walls. Etheldreda is portrayed as an independent, resilient, and fiercely protective mother who is painfully aware of how little power women truly hold. Watching what she has to do to keep her household afloat gave the story a deeply believable feminist edge.
The dynamics inside the all-female household is also compelling. We see the tensions and vulnerabilities that shape the relationship with stepdaughter Ella. I would argue that the novel also gently hints at elements of disability and neurodiversity, pulling in aspects of inclusion.
The pacing is excellent, and I found myself looking forward to seeing how elements of the story that I knew were upcoming would be interpreted.
If you enjoy retellings, I strongly recommend this one!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for granting me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
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