THE WICKED ONES

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.