In this series opener, Benway offers a prequel to Disney's animated classic Cinderella from the points of view of the original protagonist's stepsisters. Widowed Lady Tremaine, mother to Drizella, 17, and Anastasia, 16, and stepmother to Ella, more than lives up to her bad press. To repair the family's tattered fortunes, she commands her daughters to compete with far wealthier young ladies at the prince's upcoming debut party, hoping one of them will win his heart with her beauty and accomplishments. The sisters are reluctant and untalented students of music, but Drizella is nevertheless to sing, accompanied by Anastasia on the flute. Ella, 16, made a household drudge since her father's death, is ordered to accompany her stepsisters as their servant. Lady Tremaine, sadistically ladylike, bullies and disparages her daughters; they in turn have a conflicted relationship with Ella, who sings beautifully, sews clothes for mice, and meekly accepts abuse. The sisters dread the ridicule their threadbare gowns and awful performances will elicit. Then, chance meetings offer both sisters the opportunities to escape to different lives, provided they can avoid detection by Lady Tremaine. Despite interludes of humor, hope, and joyful anticipation, the prevailing mood is dark. Illuminated by emotional intelligence, Benway's humanizing backstories give these iconic characters a claim to readers' sympathy while prompting pointed questions as to the genealogy of evil. Characters read White. Psychologically astute entertainment with a bite. (Fantasy. 12-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

In this excellent account, the author imagines the backstories of Drizella and Anastasia, known best as Cinderella's wicked stepsisters. Except, they were not always wicked; in fact, they were quite ordinary girls who did not receive love at home and instead are burdened by their mother's expectations. Stepsister Ella, meanwhile, plays her classic role of the servant in her late father's home. While the inspiration for this story clearly comes from the Disney animated adaptation, the magical elements and everything that came from them in the movie are absent here. Instead of Cinderella meeting a fairy godmother, Drizella meets a mentor who is a scientist, and Anastasia meets a suitor who is a servant (not unlike the operatic version of the story, in which Cinderella believes she has befriended a valet). Each section of the story is told from the perspective of Drizella or Anastasia, who take turns as events take place. One can't help feeling hopeful for the sisters as the story unfolds, like there is redemption on the horizon for them, before it all comes crashing down.

Gr 7 Up--In this prequel to the animated Cinderella, Benway takes the point of view of stepsisters Drizella and Anastasia. Lady Tremaine is a villain to more than just Cinderella, forcing her daughters to compete for the prince's hand against young ladies by displaying their skill at music--a skill they don't have--at the prince's debut. Lady Tremaine uses etiquette maliciously, cutting down her daughters and Ella, and encouraging the strained relationship between stepsisters. Suddenly, the girls are offered a chance at new lives--if only they can escape their mother. The magical elements of the animated classic do not exist in Benway's world, but most characters fit their molds. While there is hope on the horizon, the story is dark, highlighting the abuse and trauma consistent to fairy tales. VERDICT A secondary purchase, though an easy sell to Disney fans.--Emmy Neal