First published 1999
Iris, a plain girl from the slums, is swept into a world of wealth and ambition when her path crosses with Clara, a mysteriously beautiful girl destined to become her stepsister. As Clara retreats into the shadows, Iris uncovers the shadowy secrets of her new household and the treacherous truth of her own past. In this lush, provocative retelling of the Cinderella story, beauty is a curse, and the bond between sisters is the only light in a world of illusion and deception.
Genres: literary-fiction, historical-fiction, fantasy
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Haarlem, Netherlands
Period: 17th Century
372 pages · Paperback · MorrowPb
Content warnings: emotional-abuse