Review for "The Cracked Slipper"

"The Cracked Slipper" is the first book in Stephanie Alexander's quartet by the same name.

A blonde woman in a white shift walks down a dirtpath, golden blades of grass growing tall to either side. A crystal slipper dangles carelessly from one finger, either forgotten or meant to entice. A large winged red bird swoops in from the sky, angling towards the young woman.
Eleanor Brice is swept into a world of whimsy, fantasy, and political intrigue when she wins the heart of the crown prince while dancing in glass slippers. After eight years of menial labor under the yoke of her stepmother and stepsisters, Eleanor is ready for her happy ending. But the prince isn't always charming and happy endings aren't so easy to come by.

What I liked

• If you haven't figured it out by now it's a Cinderella story. I love retelling of practically any traditional fairy tale
• Eleanor is a well-educated, opinionated, and strong female character...most of the time
• If anything was missing from the original it was unicorns and dragons, well they aren't missing now
• Take away the fairy godmother and replace her with an intricate system of witches and magicians

What I disliked

• Call me naive but I like happy endings and believe in the sanctity of marriage. I know that sadly that's most often not the reality but in my fiction and especially in my fairytales, it should be.
• The real reason however for the half crown subtraction were the many spelling, proof-reading, and usage errors scattered throughout, some of which were down right distracting.
• Eleanor should have called off the wedding the first night she found out about the prince's true nature. A strong heroine would have.

'The Cracked Slipper' is an intriguing spin on an classic yarn. The author manages to simultaneously bring the tale of Cinderella closer and yet further from reality with her unique world and character building. Her style of writing put me in mind of the Robin McKinley's 'Chalice'. At the time of this review 'The Cracked Slipper' is available for the Kindle for .99. Aside from the grammatical errors it's well worth your time and money. I was actually rather surprised to find out that 'The Cracked Slipper' will be a quartet, but a quick internet search found the second book, 'The Red Choker' available for $2.99. I'm intrigued enough to add it to my wish list. You can find out more about the series and the author at www.thecrackedslipper.com


4.5 out of 5 crowns

Recommended for mature readers of fantasy and women's romance. The subject matter includes sexual themes, loss, adultery, and the occasional strong language. Those with a particular bent for the retelling of fairy tales will also enjoy this book.






Synopsis: "When Eleanor Brice unexpectedly wins the heart of Gregory Desmarais, Crown Prince of Cartheigh, she's sure she's found her happily-ever-after. Unfortunately, Prince Charming has a loose grip on his temper, a looser grip on his marriage vows, and a tight grip on the bottle.
Eight years of mistreatment, isolation and clandestine book learning hardly prepare Eleanor for life at Eclatant Palace, where women are seen, not heard. According to Eleanor's eavesdropping parrot, no one at court appreciates her unladylike tendency to voice her opinion. To make matter worse, her royal fiancé spends his last night of bachelorhood on a drunken whoring spree. Before the ink dries on her marriage proclamation Eleanor realizes that she loves her husband's best friend, former soldier Dorian Finley.
Eleanor can't resist Dorian's honesty, or his unusual admiration for her intelligence, and soon both are caught in a dangerous obsession. She drowns her confusion in charitable endeavors, but the people's love can't protect her from her feelings. When a magical crime endangers the bond between unicorns, dragons, and the royal family, a falsely accused Eleanor must clear her own name to save her life. The road toward vindication will force a choice between hard-won security and an impossible love."