From fantasy legend and SFWA Grand Master Mercedes Lackey comes a twisted retelling wherein the "ugly stepsisters" must protect a young, naive Cinderella from harm

A Regency fairy tale perfect for fans of Bridgerton

Mercedes Lackey puts her own spin on the classic Cinderella story. Here, the "ugly" stepsisters are actually Cinderella's Fairy Godmothers; they are Elemental mages, Water and Earth, trained in secret by their father to use their powers to conceal their beauty. Thus disguised, they can spend their time trying to escape their mother-whom they suspect of murdering their father, Cinderella's father, and maybe a husband or beaux before that!

The stepsisters work to protect the naive Cinderella from the worst of their mother's excesses, all the while trying to navigate polite society. But time is running out and their mother seems to be growing stronger. How can they find justice without alerting her? And is it possible that young Cinderella has powers of her own?