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Danielle Teller
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All the Ever Afters: The Untold Story of Cinderella's Stepmother Kindle Edition

by Danielle Teller (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 452 ratings

In the vein of Wicked, The Woodcutter, and Boy, Snow, Bird, a luminous reimagining of a classic tale, told from the perspective of Agnes, Cinderella’s "evil" stepmother.

We all know the story of Cinderella. Or do we?

As rumors about the cruel upbringing of beautiful newlywed Princess Cinderella roil the kingdom, her stepmother, Agnes, who knows all too well about hardship, privately records the true story. . . .

A peasant born into serfdom, Agnes is separated from her family and forced into servitude as a laundress’s apprentice when she is only ten years old. Using her wits and ingenuity, she escapes her tyrannical matron and makes her way toward a hopeful future. When teenaged Agnes is seduced by an older man and becomes pregnant, she is transformed by love for her child. Once again left penniless, Agnes has no choice but to return to servitude at the manor she thought she had left behind. Her new position is nursemaid to Ella, an otherworldly infant. She struggles to love the child who in time becomes her stepdaughter and, eventually, the celebrated princess who embodies everyone’s unattainable fantasies. The story of their relationship reveals that nothing is what it seems, that beauty is not always desirable, and that love can take on many guises.

Lyrically told, emotionally evocative, and brilliantly perceptive, All the Ever Afters explores the hidden complexities that lie beneath classic tales of good and evil, all the while showing us that how we confront adversity reveals a more profound, and ultimately more important, truth than the ideal of "happily ever after."

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  1. Print length
    375 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    William Morrow
  4. Publication date
    May 22, 2018
  5. File size
    5.2 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Teller pulls off the spellbinding trick of turning an easy-to-hate character into a strong and conscientious female lead.

-- "Publishers Weekly"

The author's understanding of the severe challenges posed by gender and class in this society adds depth to the story. A provocative revision of this familiar fairy tale.

-- "Kirkus Reviews"

From the Back Cover

Compelling fiction often obscures the humble truth . . .

We all know the story of Cinderella. Or do we?

As rumors about the cruel upbringing of beautiful newlywed Princess Cinderella roil the kingdom, her stepmother, Agnes, a woman who knows all too well about hardship, privately records the true story. But what unfolds is not the princess’s history. The tale Agnes recounts is her own.

A peasant born into serfdom, Agnes is separated from her family and forced into servitude as a laundress’s apprentice at Aviceford Manor when she is just ten years old. Alone, friendless, and burdened with a grueling workload, Agnes carves a place for herself in this cold place that is home to Sir Emont Vis-de-Loup, a melancholic and capricious drunkard.

Using her wits and ingenuity, Agnes eventually escapes and makes her way toward a more hopeful future, serving as a housemaid for the powerful Abbess Elfilda. But life once again holds unexpected, sometimes heartbreaking twists that lead Agnes back to Aviceford Manor, where she becomes nursemaid to Ella, Emont’s sensitive, otherworldly daughter. Though she cares for Ella, Agnes struggles to love this child, who in time becomes her stepdaughter and, ultimately, the celebrated princess who embodies all our unattainable fantasies.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B071S5VVJN
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ William Morrow; Reprint edition (May 22, 2018)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 22, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5.2 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 375 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 452 ratings

About the author

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Danielle Teller

Danielle Teller

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Danielle Teller (formerly Morse, née Dyck) grew up in Canada, where she and her two brothers were raised by the best parents in the world. As a child, she was a bookworm who dreamed of being a writer, but she chickened out and went to medical school instead. In 1994, she moved temporarily to America, and she has been living temporarily in America ever since.

Danielle attended Queen’s University during her undergraduate years, and she received her medical training at McGill University, Brown University and Yale University. She has held faculty positions at the University of Pittsburgh and Harvard University, where she investigated the origins of chronic lung disease and taught in the medical intensive care unit.

In 2013, Danielle quit her job to pursue her childhood dream of being a writer. She lives with her husband, Astro Teller, and their four children in Palo Alto, California. She is currently working on a novel about the life of Cinderella’s stepmother.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
452 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book enjoyable and well-written, with one mentioning they couldn't stop reading it. The story receives positive feedback as terrific historical fiction, with one review noting it goes beyond the traditional fairy tale narrative. The pacing is rich in detail, and customers appreciate the strong female characters and the author's exquisite mastery of the written word.

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32 customers mention "Story quality"30 positive2 negative

Customers praise the book's quality, describing it as terrific historical fiction that weaves a wonderful tale, with one customer noting how it goes beyond the traditional fairy tale and incorporates very real human experiences and events.

"...like historical fiction...if you like fairy tales... if you like good storytelling and real-seeming characters that you will care about and root for..." Read more

"...to watch its secure stroke, its expert unfolding; a painting that becomes sculpture and walks you all around an image, a scene, a character, a plot...." Read more

"This was a fun take on the Cinderella fairy tale, told from the perspective of the "wicked" stepmother. Turns out, she wasn't so wicked after all!..." Read more

"...This is a delightful twist on an old story - making the incredulous believable, and inviting you to reflect on the fairy tales we tell our children...." Read more

30 customers mention "Enjoyment"27 positive3 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable and fun to read, with one mentioning they couldn't stop reading it.

"...The ending is truly wonderful. It's a fun read -- a good plot -- but there's depth here too...." Read more

"...Turns out, she wasn't so wicked after all! Great, fun read, but not recommended for younger readers...." Read more

"...This is a delightful twist on an old story - making the incredulous believable, and inviting you to reflect on the fairy tales we tell our children...." Read more

"...I could not stop reading it and loved the interpretation...." Read more

19 customers mention "Pacing"19 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, finding it rich in detail and well-paced, with one customer noting how Teller captures the reader's heart through Agnes' perspective.

"...and the twists and turns her life takes are unexpected, detailed, and fascinating...." Read more

"...Great world building and characters." Read more

"...Let me add that the ambient details are carefully researched and deftly described so that you find yourself immersed in a time and place different..." Read more

"...Feeling relevant for our times, it subtly questions how we often value appearance over substance, and how the classic tale celebrates the dainty,..." Read more

14 customers mention "Writing quality"14 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting its exquisite mastery of the written word and beautiful storytelling, with one customer highlighting the author's meticulous attention to detail.

"...The settings felt very real -- they were described in such elegant prose, that I felt I was actually in the manor house, the laundry, the abbey, etc..." Read more

"...Let me add that the ambient details are carefully researched and deftly described so that you find yourself immersed in a time and place different..." Read more

"...the familiar tale and setting, the place and time untold but beautifully described, I wanted to see how the next thread of the story unwound, and..." Read more

"...weaves together the events of her life in a thoughtful and well-written portrayal that allows the reader to empathize with not only the "evil..." Read more

7 customers mention "Beauty"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book beautiful, with one customer describing it as colorful and another noting its adoring portrayal of Cinderella.

"...The book is so pretty too..." Read more

"...I picked it up again and it was the winter read, dark and beautiful. Great world building and characters." Read more

"...A great story, very enjoyable read, and beautifully presented." Read more

"...parts of the traditional Cinderella story that we all know, with a beautiful and touching narrative of women hood and motherhood." Read more

4 customers mention "Character development"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, particularly noting the strong female characters.

"...if you like fairy tales... if you like good storytelling and real-seeming characters that you will care about and root for... I really recommend..." Read more

"...Great world building and characters." Read more

"...Stepmother is a strong female character who does everything in her power to succeed in a world where women had little respect or power...." Read more

"...Excellent storytelling and great characters. A must read!" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Careless Whiz
    5.0 out of 5 stars A really enjoyable read! Terrific historical fiction
    Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I LOVED this book! Extremely absorbing, a very well-told tale, the characters were well drawn and deeply felt. The historical part of this book felt effortless, and so I was able to engage fully with the plot and the characters. The settings felt very real -- they were described in such elegant prose, that I felt I was actually in the manor house, the laundry, the abbey, etc -- the visuals were so clear that sometimes it was like I was seeing it on a screen (this would make a GREAT movie, by the way!!). The main character, Agnes, is really sympathetic (while not at all pathetic -- she empowers herself), and the twists and turns her life takes are unexpected, detailed, and fascinating. You feel her love for her daughters (aka the "ugly stepsisters") and you love them too (I was shocked by this, the nasty-girl images from the fairy tale are so strong in my mind that I didn't think I could see the stepsisters any other way, no matter what excuses this author concocted in this book-- I was wrong!).

    It reminded me of THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH by Ken Follett. This book focuses on the lives of *women*, though, which made it really interesting, and in many ways much more heartfelt than other very good historical fiction.

    No spoilers here, but I will say that this author is very clever in how she addresses some of the elements from the fairy tale -- when she points out some really obviously nonsensical parts of the fairy-tale plot, you may feel what I did -- "wow, why did I never question that before?".

    I do love fairy tales, and I didn't feel this book diminished or ruined the Cinderella story at all. It actually felt as if this is the way the Cinderella story *must* have happened -- this realistic, solid tale seems far more compelling than some downtrodden powerless girl clutching a slipper and weeping into the ashes. Also, this book goes BEYOND the fairy tale -- well before it, and even afterward, so you really do feel totally satisfied. I much prefer this story to the fairy tale. The ending is truly wonderful.

    It's a fun read -- a good plot -- but there's depth here too. The story brings up a lot of interesting questions that are really relevant today--for example, about how society values appearance so much over character at times, and how facts often get distorted for entertainment/gossip purposes -- so this is a great choice for a book club, or a book to read along with your teen. Some themes/events might be a little mature for the very young. Older teens will probably really like this book. I would say 14 or 15 years old and over.

    The book is so pretty too (the cover is even more gorgeous in person than online, and the inside has all kinds of little decorations on the pages to set apart scenes and chapters etc) that it will make a very nice gift. I have bought a couple more copies for that purpose!

    If you like historical fiction...if you like fairy tales... if you like good storytelling and real-seeming characters that you will care about and root for... I really recommend this book!
    23 people found this helpful
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  • Apella
    4.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful read!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I bought this book ages ago and started reading once but didn’t even get to Cinderella. I picked it up again and it was the winter read, dark and beautiful. Great world building and characters.
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars a perfectly honed tool to tell a very good story. The tale is an old and cherished ...
    Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    When I reached the end and closed this book, I felt fulfilled, and at so many levels. The language captured me first. What a complete command of expressions! A pleasure to watch its secure stroke, its expert unfolding; a painting that becomes sculpture and walks you all around an image, a scene, a character, a plot. An exquisite mastery of the written word that reminds of Umberto Eco. I even found a few words I had to look up, yet so expertly placed in the context that, from the way they fitted, I could surmise their meaning.
    In essence, a perfectly honed tool to tell a very good story.
    The tale is an old and cherished one, that of Cinderella. But wait, it’s not at all what you would expect. It is the other side of the story, a visit to the dark side of the moon. This doesn’t mean the content is dark, because it is full of hope and love. But it is also steeped in very real human experiences and events. It clearly comes from a writer who has lived a meaningful life and has developed a deep understanding. I will not spoil your pleasure by saying more about the plot. Let me add that the ambient details are carefully researched and deftly described so that you find yourself immersed in a time and place different from your own, yet familiar, because the description makes it so.
    Finally, a warning. You won’t be able to put the book down. I started reading it and could not stop even though I wasn’t supposed to strain my eyes after a minor surgery. I read through, fatigued eyes notwithstanding, until I reached the very last word.
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Elizabeth Ludwig
    3.0 out of 5 stars Charming retelling of beloved fairy tale
    Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This was a fun take on the Cinderella fairy tale, told from the perspective of the "wicked" stepmother. Turns out, she wasn't so wicked after all! Great, fun read, but not recommended for younger readers. A couple of graphic scenes not suitable for the usual Cinderella audience.
    One person found this helpful
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  • VB
    5.0 out of 5 stars A different perspective on the familiar, beautifully told and presented.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I don’t often read fiction, but this book was difficult to put down! Caught up in the familiar tale and setting, the place and time untold but beautifully described, I wanted to see how the next thread of the story unwound, and ultimately revealed its concurrence with the famous ending.
    This is a delightful twist on an old story - making the incredulous believable, and inviting you to reflect on the fairy tales we tell our children. Feeling relevant for our times, it subtly questions how we often value appearance over substance, and how the classic tale celebrates the dainty, quiet and inoffensive Cinderella. In this tale, Teller points to elevating the strong and engaged perspective, and contrasts a life won of hard work and that won of fortunate circumstance.
    It seems a pretty good time that the story of Cinderella was re-told - and while Cinderella still marries the prince, there's enough there to make you wonder whether the stories we tell ourselves are generally ripe for a re-telling. A great story, very enjoyable read, and beautifully presented.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Rr
    4.0 out of 5 stars Medieval Tale But Not a Cinderella Story
    Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Finally finished — not because I didn’t like it, but because I am a slow reader. Actually, once I divorced myself from trying to connect the story I was reading to the story of Cinderella, I enjoyed this tale of a woman who begins her life in hardship, teaches herself a skill, makes something of herself, and loves her daughters with fierce devotion. And who eventually becomes Cinderella’s stepmother. There were some inconsistencies such as chapters called “Journal” which disappeared during the last quarter of the book (guess the stepmother journals like I do - she does until she doesn’t 😊). Overall, an interesting medieval tale, but not a Cinderella story.
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  • hannah bates
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful storytelling
    Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Teller did an amazing job weaving in the parts of the traditional Cinderella story that we all know, with a beautiful and touching narrative of women hood and motherhood.
    Helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Jason Moore
    5.0 out of 5 stars I loved this book!
    Reviewed in Canada on June 4, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this book. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a fiction novel so beautifully rendered, where the characters are so fully brought to life. My wife and I read this to each other every night while travelling through Europe – we loved immersing ourselves in these characters: the firm, pragmatic Agnes, the ogre-ish laundress, the dashing Fernan. Teller effectively reimagines the two-dimensional Cinderella story in this inventive book full of surprisingly poignant moments. And she reminds us, above all, that everything we think we know is all a matter of perspective :)
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  • suhotra tripathi
    5.0 out of 5 stars 😭😭😭😭
    Reviewed in India on May 29, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I loved loved loved it!😭
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  • Chantal
    5.0 out of 5 stars A good story well told!
    Reviewed in France on June 9, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Wonderful to have the REAL and highly believable story of Cinderella's step mother revealed at last. And as a step-mother myself I appreciate the thoughtful exploration of this difficult and often misunderstood role that comes with no good owner's manual.
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  • Human
    4.0 out of 5 stars Satisfied
    Reviewed in India on October 27, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    The book came in a bubble wrapped parcel bag along with one bookmark.
    The book was in pretty good condition and the quality of pages are also great.
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    Human
    4.0 out of 5 stars
    Satisfied

    Reviewed in India on October 27, 2019
    The book came in a bubble wrapped parcel bag along with one bookmark.
    The book was in pretty good condition and the quality of pages are also great.
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