The Stepsister Scheme

I read the Goblin series and really enjoyed the stories and so I bought "The Stepsister Scheme" and was not disappointed. It was a wonderful follow-up to established fairy tale endings. I would, and have, recommended the book to others.

Once upon a time...is not like I remember it. Cinderella does marry the handsome prince, Armand, but her real name is Danielle de Glas, and her stepsister's are out to get their revenge on her for stealing their prince. Danielle soon discovers that Armand has been kidnapped and his mother, the Queen, enlists the help of two other princesses to bring Armand back. Danielle's servant, Talia, is forced to reveal that she is actually Sleeping Beauty when Danielle's stepsister, Charlotte, comes to the castle and attacks her. Talia is a skilled fighter and defends Danielle, but Charlotte escapes. She then takes Danielle through a secret passageway to the queen where she encounters the princess, Snow White. Danielle, Talia and Snow go to Fairytown in search of the prince. The political climate does not support their presence there and strong magic is being used to keep the prince's location hidden. They need Talia's physical prowess, Snow's magic and Danielle's connection to the prince to help them find the way. There are enchanted trees, goblins and all manner of creatures trying to prevent them from ever finding him. The Stepsister Scheme is an amazing twist on the tales of the three princesses I grew up with. Each girl's story is woven in great detail as we discover what became of each "happily ever after" fairytale and their not-so-happy endings. Being a princess is much more difficult than I ever imagined, and there were some fun twists in turns in this story that kept me thoroughly engrossed. I laughed often, found myself sitting on the edge of my chair, and even shed a tear or two. I'm thrilled to know that two more books are on their way and will be watching for them. It was beyond my expectations, and I absolutely loved it! Reviewed at Bitten by Books Paranormal Fiction Review Site by Jaded

For Dainelle Whiteshore, the princess formerly known as Cinderella, happily ever after is proving to be harder then it looks. First her stepsisters try to kill her (they've never really fogiven Danielle for the whole 'pigeons pecking their mother's eyes out' thing) and then her husband goes missing in the dangerous and forbidden relm of Farytown. To get him back, Danielle is going to have to count on the Queen's special agents - Snow White, expert in mirror magic, and Talia - aka Sleeping Beauty - whose fairy blessings and fighting skills make her a deadly guard. The Stepsister Scheme has it all - seriously competint fairy tale princesses, adventure, fighting, fairy curses, magic, vicious pigions, and a lot of pure fun.If you like any of these things, you should read it. If you don't like any of these things, I can't possibly help you

While this sounds like a silly, fun little book, I should mention that it does touch on a few dark subjects and sexual themes. It's aimed at adults, and perhaps older teens. The story is highly imaginative, with fun and engaging characters. It's a wild ride worthy of any fairy tale, complete with wild flights, high-octane fights, good vs. evil (though not necessarily where expected), pixies, goblins, witchcraft, and more. Some of the "well-known" details of the original three fairy tales are subverted in imaginative ways (one of my favorites is the true identity of the seven dwarfs), and the process by which real events are changed into legends is examined in fascinating detail. With all of this wonderful stuff, however, I'd have to say that the best part of it all is the complex relationship that develops between the wonderful main characters.

Danielle De Glas, aka Princess Whiteshore, aka Cinderella, is having a hard time adjusting to palace life. She loves her prince, Armand, but going from the life of a slave to that of princess isn't easy. To complicate matters, three months after her wedding, Danielle is attacked by her stepsister, Charlotte. The assassination attempt fails, but Charlotte escapes - after telling Danielle she'll never see her beloved Armand again. This is the set up. Danielle, along with two other princesses (Snow White and Talia, aka Sleeping Beauty), must rescue her prince. Along the way, the true histories of all three princesses are revealed, vs. the "tales" circulating about them. Hines makes excellent use of the darker versions of these fairy tales, rather than the dressed up happily-ever-after versions we are more familiar with. I love fairy tales, retold fairy tales, and twisted fairy tales - and this book tops my list. Unable to put it down for long, I finished it in one day, and at the end, I turned the last page hoping for more. Very real, well drawn characters draw you in to the story, and fantastic descriptions, world building, adventure, and emotion keep you glued to the pages. At times, I was reminded of movies like Labyrinth or the Dark Crystal (for setting). Shades of Ever After, as well, but I say these only as a passing feeling of nostalgic warm fuzzies (all movies I liked or loved to one degree or another). This book stands completely on its own. Touches like Snow's snowflake "throwing stars" or Danielle's glass sword are unique and perfect for the story Hines is telling. I kept turning pages, not only for the story, but to see what lovely little bits of scenery Hines would include next. Not quite as funny as his Goblin books, but then, this is a different kind of story (and goblins do, briefly, make a small appearance.) But there's still plenty of humor (three fairy tale princesses kicking butt and taking names!) The world felt fantastically real, and so did the characters. Each princess has a unique personality, partly shaped by the events of her story, as our experiences shape us. Well done, Mr. Hines, and may I say, I sincerely hope this isn't the last we'll be seeing of Danielle, Snow, and Talia. I eagerly await the next in the series, Mermaid's Madness, and highly recommend The Stepsister Scheme. It's quite different from anything else out there. Edited to add: Mr. Hines has confirmed that Danielle, Talia and Snow are the main protagonists of the series!