Five Glass Slippers by
by Elisabeth Brown, Emma Clifton, Rachel Heffington, Stephanie Ricker, and
Clara Diane Thompson. Rogglewood Press, 2014. 464p. (9780989447843)
I love fairy tale retellings and this was a delightful collection
of five versions of Cinderella. Last year author Anne Elisabeth Stengl hosted a
writing contest and the result was this book. Just this week the fairy tale for
the next Rogglewood Press writing contest was announced. And if the quality of
the Cinderella stories is anything to go by
Five Enchanted Roses will be a fabulous collection as well.
I’ve interspersed my initial reaction to the story jotted down right after reading each story and a short review on each tale after the summaries of
each one.
Goodreads
Summary:
ONE BELOVED
STORY, FIVE EXCITING WRITERS
A COLLECTION
TO CHERISH
What happens
when Cinderella is so painfully shy that she cannot bear the idea of attending
the royal ball? Or when the slipper fits . . . but on the wrong girl? What
happens when Cinderella is determined to oust an imposter prince from her
rightful throne? Or when she is a cendrillon miner working from a space station
orbiting a cthonian planet? What happens when Cinderella, a humble housemaid,
is sent with a message for a prisoner trapped in a frightening fairy circus?
Here is
Cinderella as you have never met her before, wearing glass slippers and off on
unforgettable adventures!
WHAT EYES
CAN SEE: Elisabeth Brown
Painfully
shy Arella begs her stepmother to let her stay home from the prince’s ball. But
kindly Duchess Germaine is determined that her beautiful stepdaughter should be
presented at court along with her own two daughters. So, dressed in a gorgeous
gown and a pair of heirloom slippers, Arella catches the eye of the crown
prince . . . and finds her life suddenly far more complicated than she ever
desired.
My Reaction:
How fun! I
do like the twist that the stepsisters and mother are nice. Though I wish we
could have heard more of Arella’s thoughts.
My Review:
Elisabeth
Brown does a great job giving us the classic story, but with a twist. Arella is
painfully shy and does not want to marry the prince. I could almost imagine the
story taking place in the settings of Disney’s movie but with a master editor
rewinding and speculating ‘what if…’
BROKEN
GLASS: Emma Clifton
The slipper
fits . . . but on the wrong girl! Rosalind never once danced with Prince Marius
at the ball, for she is in love with his brother Henry. If only Rosalind and
Marius would stop bickering long enough to invent a scheme, perhaps the three
of them can find the real mystery lady. But they must work quickly, for dark
deeds are afoot, and the kingdom is poised on the brink of disaster.
My Reaction:
Loved the
ending! Especially the epilogue. This quote stuck out: “It does take more than
one dance to find your soul-mate.” I really like that this story and the
previous one both emphasize that fact.
My Review:
Emma Clifton
mixed magic and steampunk together and came up with a story that has some of
the harshness of the original Grimm fairy tales but also the characters to love
and admire. I hope Emma continues writing stories set the land she created as I’m
quite curious as to what happened to Ophelia and of course the epilogue is a
perfect teaser for another fairy tale retelling.
The editors did
a great job picking out stories that complimented each other because this one
is a perfect bridge between a more traditional story to the political intrigue
of the next tale and the outer space setting of the one after that.
THE WINDY
SIDE OF CARE: Rachel Heffington
Alisandra is
determined to have her rights. She knows that she is the king’s secretly
dispossessed daughter, the true heir to the throne. Prince Auguste is an
imposter, and if she plays her cards right, Alis will prove it to the world!
That is, if charming Auguste doesn’t succeed in winning her heart before she
gets her chance . . .
My Reaction:
What a light
hearted piece of fun and political intrigue! And a great “fairy” godfather!
My Review:
Rachel
Heffington did a great job completely reimagining Cinderella has a charming
political schemer who is actually a disinherited princess. The dialogue was witty
and very well written.
A CINDER’S
TALE: Stephanie Ricker
It’s a
dangerous life, yet Elsa wouldn’t trade this opportunity to work at Tremaine
Station, mining cendrillon from the seething surface of planet Aschen.
Nevertheless, when a famous deep space explorer and his handsome son dock their
starcraft at the space station, Elsa finds herself dreaming of far galaxies
beyond Aschen's blistering heat. There is no time for dreaming, however, when
danger threatens the space station, and Elsa and her fellow miners are tested
to the limits of their courage.
My Reaction:
Delightful.
Nice to have a change from romance being the focus (though I’m sure a sequel
would have plenty). Great riveting action and danger.
My Review:
Stephanie
Ricker put Cinderella in a space suit in a far corner of the universe and
crafted a very exciting tale. I especially liked that she used the names Jaq,
Gus and Bruno for Elsa’s friends. Though I did keep picturing the dog when I
read Bruno. His is a story I would love to read more of. The clones with their unique
outfits were a great way to tie in the traditionally ill-dressed stepsisters.
THE MOON
MASTER’S BALL: Clara Diane Thompson
After her
terrifying experience there several years ago, the one place young housemaid
Tilly longs to avoid is Bromley’s Circus. But when kindly Lord Hollingberry
begs her to deliver a message to the mysterious Moon Master hidden away among
the circus dwellers, Tilly can’t refuse . . . and finds herself ensnared in a
web of enchantment cast by the loathsome Mrs. Carlisle and her beautiful
goddaughter.
My Reaction:
Thrilling. Spooky.
I do wish the word limit had been a bit longer since while the story is excellently
told, the climax felt very rushed.
My Review:
Clara Diane Thompson
painted an eerie scene and kept the mystery front and center. The sudden
appearance and disappearance of the Circus reminded me of the Twelve-Year
Market from the Tales of Goldstone Wood. Much has
been written about the impracticality of glass slippers – and whether they were
mistranslated and should be fur slippers, but in this story they finally had a
purpose and a point.
All in all,
this is an excellent collection of Cinderella stories. If you enjoy fairy tale
retellings or any of the genres included than I highly recommend reading this
book.
(Prices good
as of June 4, 2014 always double check for yourself)
Disclosure:
I received this book from the editor for review purposes. I was not
required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission.
~~~
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