Book Review: The Wicked Ones by Robin Benway

Format: ebook
Published: January 10th, 2023
Age: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy – Retellings
Goodreads

Rating: 4/5 Stars

This book was a whole lot of fun, and Benway has done an excellent job with this prequel to the events of Cinderella. The Wicked Ones really adds some depth to the ‘ugly stepsisters’, and shows how they suffer under their mother’s wrath as much as Cinderella does.

Drizella and Anastasia are as close as sisters can be, but it’s a bond easily strained by their rivalry, encouraged by their mother’s. The sisters protect each other as much as they can, but it’s not always possible when going against the bitter Lady Tremaine. As the royal debut party approaches, both girls make new discoveries. Drizella starts to learn about science instead of going to her singing lessons, and Anastasia meets a young man and falls in love. Then, of course, there’s their stepsister, Ella. But it’s every woman for herself in this household, as Drizella and Anastasia soon learn.

This adds some wonderful depth to both Drizella and Anatasia, giving them a backstory and personalities that fit in with their animated versions, but still manage to show them as more than the ‘ugly stepsisters’. The events of this book lead really nicely into the story of Cinderella, who is a minor, background character in The Wicked Ones. We also get more depth to Cinderella’s cruel stepmother, who in trying to secure a future for her daughters, manages to rob them of their individual lights.

The characters were distinctive and handled really well by someone who, it feels like, has a great love for the original film, and possibly the sequels. These versions of Drizella and Anastasia experience a lot, but start off as softer, kinder women then they end the book as. It’s the opposite of a growth character arc, in a way, but it works really well so we’re actually on their side through most of this.

Benway handles these characters beautifully, giving them more depth while keeping them recognisable as familiar characters. It’s not an easy task, but placing these two sisters front and centre, giving them their own story, makes for a really fun YA novel, and definitely makes me keen to check out the others in the Dark Ascension series.

Reading Challenge
Disney Reading Challenge 2024
Prompt: Grumpy – “Angel, ha! She’s a female! And all females is poison! They’re full of wicked wiles!” – a book with an evil female character
Progress: 14/40 Completed