I feel like Lady Tremaine is a Disney antagonist no one feels strongly about either way — but after this book? Lemme commit elder abuse. I’m gonna lock HER in the damn tower! Throw the key in the river. Let her rot.

Anastasia has had a couple of arcs that humanize her in the films, but what initially lured me into this book was the plot of Drizella. She’s never had a spotlight so, I had to give it a go.

…She wanted to be a scientist! Her biggest fear is losing her baby sister. (Anastasia’s biggest fear initially seems to be loneliness as well, but it’s actually Drizella turning into their mother.) Her storyline actually killed me. You wonder how much of the wickedness is a defense mechanism and how much is just them being ridiculous, sassy and overcompensating. They have their escape, they have their dreams within arms reach, and they have it stolen from them.

I don’t think the book *entirely* excuses them being cruel to Cinderella, but it definitely gives more depth. They want to treat her decently, but they’re canonically victims just as much as she is.

Happy ending, Drizella and Anastasia get no such thing.

That said?

I love underappreciated characters getting a storyline that suits them. I had fun. It was a cozy, quick read.