The novel is a re-imagining of the classic fairy tale, “Cinderella”, and is told from the perspective of the younger stepsister who is called Iris Fisher. Iris has a reserved nature, but is kind-hearted and a peacemaker between her mother and her beautiful stepsister, Clara. She is also in charge of taking care of Ruth, her older sister, who isn’t mentally well. Iris has suffered greatly in her life, which caused her hardened aura.
Iris lost her father early, changed home many times before settling in the Netherlands, and was forced to grow up and take responsibility early on. She gains interest in painting and starts taking painting lessons, where she meets the young and handsome Caspar. She slowly begins to develop feelings for him. Margarethe, Iris’s mother, pressures Iris and Ruth to go to the ball in hopes of catching the prince’s attention, and forces Clara to stay at home.
Kindhearted Iris helps Clara get to the ball as well, and the prince is immediately stricken by her. Ruth has a jealousy fit at Clara at the ball, and Clara (Cinderella) takes the carriage home. Prince eventually finds Clara and they get married. The novel ends with showing how Iris’s story developed. She married Caspar, and they became painters together, while taking care of Ruth.
