Book Review: Five Glass Slippers

Hello everyone, Happy New Year!  So, I am going to be doing my first book review about five stories on Cinderella.

What Eyes Can See: By Elisabeth Brown

This one was my favorite!  It was well done being a "Cinderella" story with a twist.  In this book Cinderella is called Arella, and she does NOT want to go to the ball.  The Stepmother and sisters you can't help but like.  They are pretty nice. They just don't understand Arella. Drusilla is the kindest. She is very thoughtful, and considerate to her stepsister Arella. She wants what's best for her...they all do. Which in the original was not the case. 

Arella was not my favorite character though. She wouldn't share her thoughts or feelings with anyone.  Even though she easily could have to Drusilla if she wanted to.  My favorite character was Drusilla. She was kind and had some good points.

It is more of a slow paced one out of the five, but I liked it very much.  Elisabeth brings the characters to a whole new light and makes them better.  It is not your "typical" thought of Cinderella, but is Cinderella any how.  It is light and fun with some good points like, you can't fall in love and marry simply because someone is beautiful.  You need to know what is inside a person. 

The Prince asks for Arella's hand in marriage, but she refuses.  He is persistent though, and he will not take "no" for an answer.  What Eyes Can See, is a lovely little story, well written, and enjoyable.  I will not tell you the end...you will have to find out yourself if you deiced to give this retake of the classical Fairytale we all know and love a chance.

5 out of 5.

Broken Glass: By Emma Clifton

This was a fun take on Cinderella.  What happens when the slipper fits...but on the wrong girl?  This story has more than one main character. It's not just about Cinderella here, who is called  Evelyn.  In this story there are two girls, three princes, one fairy godmother, and one wicked stepmother (who is barely in it). 

There is a bit of magic in this one. A magic fountain/water that makes you powerful if you drink it. A fairy godmother, who is actually young, and has been breaking tea cups accidently when she tries to make them disappear. 

Lady Rosalinda is in love with the youngest son of the king, Prince Henry.  Now that the slipper fits her, she is going to have to marry his older brother, Marius, who she can't stand.  Henry is more shy and won't speak up to his father about him being in love with Rosalinda. Marius knows that she is the wrong girl and keeps telling his father, but he won't listen. He wants his son to marry.  While the middle brother, Darcy, is a shadow on the wall. He does whatever he can to please his father. He wants the crown more than Marius.

In this story with many characters, there are lots of twists, turns, and plotting to Happily Ever After. 
This story is about courage, friendship, and doing what's right.  There is also some good humor in this one, especially between Prince Marius and Lady Rosalinda.  One of my favorite parts was the Epilogue, which I will not tell, I will say, it took me by surprise.

 4 out of 5 

The Windy Side of Care: By Rachel Heffington

I liked this one. It is about Lady Alisandra who is a servant to her stepmother and sisters.  She see's that she bares the looks of royalty and believes that the prince is an imposter that is going to inherit her throne!  So, she contacts Lord Humphries for help, and he gladly does just that.  For he knows that she is the king's daughter and that the prince and her were switched at birth. 

Prince Auguste doesn't even want his crown.  He rather be a farmer, off somewhere else, but he knows his duty.  When he meets Alisandra, he immediately likes her. She likes him too, which surprises her since she wants to steal his throne.

This was a fun book! One of my favorite characters though, if not my favorite, is Lord Humphries. I like him not just because he is funny and kind, but he is like the fairy godfather, instead of fairy godmother.  Overall, this is a nice take on Cinderella, being the princess by birth instead of by marriage.  It has the slippers, the gown, the girl, the prince, and the Happily Ever After.

4 out of 5

A Cinder's Tale: By Stephanie Ricker

This one, in short is sci-fi, which I don't normally read. I'd rather watch sci-fi than read it.  Elsa is a cinder/miner on a planet off in the galaxy.  The prince is not really a prince, its just a nickname because his father is a well-known respected Captain. 

What I liked about this one is that there were some familiar names like, Bruno, Jaq, and Gus.  There is an alien, a cyborg, and two clones as well.  It is a very different take on Cinderella, especially since she is in space!  But I kind of liked it. It was well written, funny, and imaginative.  I would normally not think of this for Cinderella. It's a fresh take on it.  If you prefer space and sci-fi novels, this is the one for you.

One part I really thought cleaver was "I am looking for the cinder Elsa," cinder Elsa?  Cinder Elsa?  Do you hear it?  I like it.

4 out of 5

The Moon Masters Ball: By Clara Diane Thompson

Tilly is afraid of the circus. Something happened to her there when she was little.  But when the Lord Hollingberry asks her to deliver a letter to the Moon Master there, she can't say no.  Through twists and turns and questions unanswered.  This take on Cinderella was in short...my least favorite.  It was all right, but I just didn't care for it like I did the other ones.

The Moon Master, who is also the "Prince" is cursed to stay with the circus with all the other people who work it because they are cursed as well.  He can't even leave his tent.  Only one night he is allowed to leave for his "Ball" and there he hopes the girl he chose will free him from the curse.

Now, I don't mind magic, but when there are a bunch of curses and evil fairy godmothers and what not, it's not my cup of tea.  Tilly is alright, so is the Moon Master, but I didn't feel like this was really Cinderella. The only thing that linked to Cinderella was the glass slippers, dress, and pumpkin stage coach with footman. Other than that, I didn't even feel like the prince was the prince...does that make sense?  Anyway, not my favorite, but that's ok!  It might be someone else's favorite, everyone is different.

3 out of 5

Overall book; 4 out of 5


I really enjoyed most of this collection of books about Cinderella.  I definitely recommend them to anyone who loves a good fairytale or loves Cinderella.  Also, it's Cinderella week over at Heidi's blog. She has a Tag and a giveaway!  Blessings!