Cinders, Stars, and Glass Slippers

The Classical Kingdoms #6

by Brittany Fichter

What if the prince didn't throw the ball to meet his true love? What if he was trying to save her life instead?

Since the murder of her gifted mother, Elaina has been sheltered on her father’s ship. But when Elaina’s secret is compromised, she must return to land and live under the king’s protection...much to Elaina’s objection.

Ashland's crown prince, Nicholas, has never been without. He is, however, facing a deadly foe who preys on his gifted citizens and a possible civil war. So when he meets Elaina, Nicholas delights in insisting she shares her military expertise gained on her father’s ship. He gets more than he bargains for, though, when he finds that he might have fallen for the one girl who refuses to fall for his charms.

A dark turn of events finds Elaina exiled and forced into servitude, a civil war declared, and the murderer bloodthirstier than ever. Can Nicholas and Elaina defeat the dark forces that have poisoned their kingdom…and find their own happy ending as well?

Cinders, Stars, and Glass Slippers is sixth in the Classical Kingdoms Collection, a series of fairy tale retellings for those who still believe in sacrifice, true love, and the magic of happily ever afters.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Cinderella, Fairy Tale Retellings, Fairy Tales, Young Adult, Retellings

594 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2023

About the author

Brittany lives with her Prince Charming, their little fairy, and their tiny prince in a decently clean castle in whatever kingdom the Air Force has most recently placed them. When she's not writing, Brittany can be found chasing her kids around with a DSLR or belting it in the church choir. You can find more of her work at her website BrittanyFichterFiction.com.

Reviews

[Sarah Ryder · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Just let me love you!”

Hands down my favorite Cinderella retelling in the whole world. 🥰🥰 I’ve read and watched probably hundreds of Cinderella retellings or just Cinderella inspired stories and none of them come close to what this one has…which I can’t fully articulate, lol. It’s amazing on a million different levels I can’t even begin to touch, so I’ll just try to share some of the things I love and just discreetly shove the book at you to read for yourself if my insignificant rambles do it any justice. You’re welcome. 😇

Elaina and Nicholas are so flawed yet so wonderful and they go through SO STINKING MUCH it’s not even funny all the pain and heartache they go through, but it also makes their growth and happily ever after that much sweeter and well won. Especially Elaina learning to let go and surrender—that was so powerful and exactly what I needed to hear and see as I struggle with doing the same so much, and this story gives me hope that one day I will actually learn how to do so. And I’m so glad we’re getting a book all about Henri’s happily ever after because I’ve loved him ever since Beauty Beheld, and I’m so happy he and Everard were included in this story!

There’s not much high action leading to a more quiet story, but boy are there high stakes so don’t let the non-action fool you into thinking otherwise! I also liked that Eliana couldn’t use a sword by just not being good at it so Nicholas had a chance to step in and shine in these scary situations they got tangled in. Oh, and Eliana is a navy captain’s daughter and grew up on a ship, so that was a fun twist!

And the villains are scary pieces of vile scum who all deserve to drown or be thrown off cliffs! Ugh, I HATED them!!!!! 😡😡

The themes and Christian message were so powerful and beautiful while not crossing the line into the preachy, beat-you-over-the-head kind of way (which I hate), making it a story I think both believers and non-believers alike can enjoy and love.

Such a beautiful, wonderful take on Cinderella that’s going to be hard, if not impossible, for another retelling of this tale to beat. Which is more than fine because I am happy and delighted to have this one. 🥰🥰🥰 Highly recommend if you love Cinderella retellings, beautiful and powerful Christian themes, sweet and swoony romance, dynamic and flawed characters who all need hugs, and large books, because this thing is massive (almost 600 pages) and I wouldn’t have it any other way!


‼️Content‼️

Language: bloody; wench; hell (as a place)

Violence: a knife is held to a girl’s throat; people with magic are being drained of their magic and murdered; a guy hits another on the head with a rock; fighting with weapons and magic (not detailed); injuries and blood (not detailed); a man’s arm is pinned to the wall by a dagger; magic lights a boat on fire; a character is beaten with a horse whip (not detailed)

Sexual: a married man has mistresses (not shown in a good light); kissing (not detailed)

Drug/Alcohol: characters go to a tavern; a drunk man; characters drink wine; a plant is being sold that is said to have an addictive, drug like quality

Other: magic; magical abilities and objects; people are going missing; people are sold as slaves; people are chained/gagged/tied up; death and grief

[May (previously Violet) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll write a super long review the next time I reread this (which I have over 6 times) BUT this book is the best Cinderella retelling I have ever read, hands down. I love it with my all and it’s what made me fall in love with Brittany Fichter’s writing style.

If you love Cinderella and fairy tales, you HAVE to read this book

[Seraphia Bunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cinders, Stars and Glass Slippers by Brittany Fichter is a retelling of Cinderella. In this story instead of the prince throwing a romantic and beautiful ball to meet his true love by happen chance, he is fighting to save her life. Elaina is one of the gifted and she can speak to the stars. After her mother was killed her father took her to live aboard his ship. For thirteen years that has been Elaina's life, helping her father avoid danger and win battles with her gift. While most of the crew is loyal to her father, knows her secret and willing to keep it secret there is one who destroys that in a drunken rant. Now Elaina's father believes that it is no longer safe for her aboard his ship and sends her to live with her aunt and cousin. Elaina is against it whole-heartedly until she meets the prince. Prince Nicholas finds himself charmed by Elaina, but once she sees he likes his ladies, she is less than charmed by him. But he wishes to spend time with her and learn what she knows. A dark turn however has Elaina exiled and forced to become a slave. War is declared and the murderer is free to run rampant. Can Nicholas and Elaina bring the kingdom back together, save themselves and have a happy ending or will the darkness win?
Cinders, Stars and Glass Slippers is the first book that I have read by Brittany Fichter but it will not be the last by any stretch. I absolutely loved this book and I want to read the others. The author takes the time to build this story up by starting the story with Elaina out at sea with her father. When they are in port we see the dangers that are running rampant throughout the kingdoms with people disappearing. When Elaina's father's ship disappears things are quickly beginning to come to a head. Elaina is such a strong character and well written. She is clever, strong and beautiful. She's not like other girls who are silly and come off a bit empty-headed. She's a strong "Cinderella" and I love how Nicholas works so hard to make sure that he is different from his father.
There really isn't anything that I don't like about this book. It is truly engaging and draws you in right from the beginning. There is magic, danger, romance and pain so this book is well rounded.
This is one of those books that you will find hard to put down because you'll constantly want to know what happens next. If you are a fan of the original Cinderella story and want something a bit different grab this one. I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. I absolutely loved it and can't wait to read more from this author in the future.

[Coralie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, guys. Cinderella. The classic fairy tale. Fichter's favorite. One of my top fairy tales (Currently working on my own retelling!) Here at last. I've come to Cinders, Stars, and Glass Slippers. I've been eyeballing this beauty (Is that cover not stunning?!) for a while now, but I was determined to read the series in order. Let me tell you, it was worth the wait.

First of all, I have to preface this. We all know I love fairy tales. I've just admitted that Cinderella is dear to my heart. But let me tell you this: everyone has bits and pieces that make them up. Two pretty sizable chunks of my soul are the sea and the stars. I wouldn't be who I am if not for my love of the sea and the stars. That said, I didn't feel that yearning in my soul stir by just reading the title of this. Fichter drew it out in the writing! The way she incorporated the stars into this story filled me with peace and comfort and love. I gaze at the stars and love them. I find their utter beauty incomparable. They fascinate me. And this book did that obsession justice. Similarly, I'm pretty sure I have sea water in my veins. I practically learned to walk on a beach and get cranky when I spend too much time away from my beloved ocean. Fichter may have had a leg up tossing the sea and stars and Cinderella all into one pot, but the book dove in so much deeper than I could have expected.

Guys, I fangirled when Ever showed up. Hardcore. I squealed worse than Elaina did. Verifiably. And when Henry showed up?! I straight up melted into the floor. I cannot wait for his story! Good Lord! My little Henry all grown up and making friends? Doing what's right and using his powers! And telling stories about his parents. Ima faint just thinking about it all over again! I LOVED the returning characters who made little cameos! They were glittering little lights that made my heart very happy. I will say this, though, I thought it was odd how and when they were called away from the story. I kind of wished they'd stayed for their part and moved on (thought I am super glad they were in the book as much as they were!) as opposed to coming and going and coming and going. Henry's bits felt completely natural to me, but Ever. He left right in the thick of battle so to speak at the end, and for some unnamed reason. I wonder if we'll get a chance to see what that was one day.

As for new cast members, Elaina was so much fun. She had just a dash of sass and I loved it. The girl couldn't walk away from a challenge and honestly I just about died when Nicholas challenged her in public at the shipyard. Possibly one of my favorite parts of the whole book right there. That moment where Lydia groaned and Elaina's eyes narrowed. Yes. That was perfection. Anyway, back to characters. XD Elaina struggled with control, with letting go, and with trusting. I can relate to that on so many levels. Watching Elaina grow and learn from the stars and the Maker was a treasure in and of itself.

Nicholas! Guys, Nicholas was...boy, there are no words for him! He's probably the character with the most drastic, easy to see change in any of Fichter's characters. He made me smile in the beginning, and I couldn't help but like the boy we met since I knew he was our MC, but by the end...well, by the end he was a man. I liked watching him get under Elaina's skin. I liked the glimpses into something more. I liked his relationship with his parents and seeing those parts of him wrestle with each other. But I really liked seeing him change. I liked watching him grow and want to be more, to be worthy, to be noble and just and good. Nicholas became a character who stole my heart a little. His devotion and nobility drew me in (fairy tale, lover? Me? Nooo, course not.) and it was mesmerizing to watch his relationship with Elaina develop.

Lydia and Charlotte kept me on my toes. I spent half the book wondering who the step-family would be. Elaina's father ran truer to the original Cinderella than any other retelling I've read, which I have mixed feelings about. I mean, I loved his role in this book as the admiral. (Oh, and I must add I loved the crew! I'm a sucker for that gangly group of old giezers who look out for their girl with such fierce loyalty! And when the admirals showed up at the meeting! Be still my soul!) I loved the life he'd paved for Elaina, but then, well, let's just say we wouldn't have had a story if he hadn't made the choices he did. The villain took me by surprise. Didn't see that one coming at all, and I really enjoyed the mystery of the plot and the villain both. Oh! Also, that fairy godmother, y'all! I'm pretty sure my neighbors heard me screech! I hope we see more of some of these characters. I would be intrigued to see more of Lydia for sure.

The story follows Cinderella, but as Fichter does so well, it turns it into something altogether new. The common elements like the ball and the glass slipper are puzzle pieces that every writer strives to throw a new twist on, but Fichter takes it even further and gives each element a significance to her plot that ironically makes her stories so original and different from the fairy tale. I thought her take on Cinderella's servitude and step-family was rather ingenious. It's one I hadn't seen before and it explained the classic tale rather well. But it was just one piece of a much larger plot within her world, a plot that drew me in, one I was far more invested in than seeing how Fichter hit the Cinderella elements. And, man, there were definitely some moments I spoke to my book like a crazy lady. My jaw dropped, my blood boiled, and my heart swooned. Near misses and witty remarks. The story is full of excellent writing and a world I've come to love dearly.

I did find one small inconsistency in the book and two typos, but I was so engaged in the story that I couldn't be upset by them. The book had I think like one mild swear word that I didn't even blink at honestly. The romance is clean and realistic, beautifully written. There is some violent content--there's a civil war that breaks out, though we don't actually see any of the battles--but none of it more graphic than a little drop of blood and a dagger. There is, however, some thematic content to consider for any young ones. Personally, I think I'd be comfortable with giving the book to a pre-teen, but I might sit down and have a discussion about some of the themes. The book does deal with ideas such as slavery and there's a section that mentions physical abuse. None of it is graphic, but the book is darker than Disney for sure. We're all left by scars, and our experiences shape us. This book doesn't belay that, but it doesn't despair either. It shines a glorious light and reminds us that everything has a season, a purpose, and a silver lining.

I am DYING to get my hands on the next book and cannot wait for it to come out!!! Thank you, Fichter, for your amazing fairy tales! They hold an iron grip on my heart!

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a top read this year. Magical and clean ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Megan Coppadge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This could've easily been broken into two books but I'm so happy it wasn't!!! This was a great retelling and I loved every minute of it. It was original, it had amazing characters, and the world building and descriptions of everything was fantastic I could imagine and see everything! Plain and simply I loved it! **I received an advanced copy in exchange for a review.**

[M Shen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cinders, Stars, and Glass Slippers is my second book by Brittany Fichter, and just as beautiful and brilliant as the first. But while Girl in the Red Hood had a haunting, eerie sort of quality to it, Elaina's story breathed of adventure and suspense.

I love Brittany's writing style-- it is descriptive and immersive so that once you get drawn in it's difficult to pull yourself out. It has its own lyrical voice. In Girl in the Red Hood that voice was mysterious and dark and brooding; in Cinders, Stars, and Glass Slippers it was sparkling and just a tad bit whimsical. Both have a clear thread of light and hope running through each.

I loved the characters, particularly Elaina. That's one of the highest compliments I can give to an author-- I rarely like the main protagonist of a story. But how can you not love Lady Elaina Starke? From the beginning it was obvious that she's the kind of girl I would love to befriend. And that initial first impression remained staunch through the rest of this 500-some page novel. She was put through so, SO much, and yet she endured and loved and hoped and prayed and we were there to experience it along with her. She was real and true and genuine and had fantabulous spunk-- definitely one of my top ten YA protagonists of the year.

Nicholas, too, was brilliantly done. He had to go through as much horrors as Elaina, though their situations were worlds apart in vast differences. He was realistic and flawed but so lovable and it hurt when he hurt. Which was a lot. This author makes her characters suffer: I'll give that to you. Of course, that only made their happily-ever-after ending all the sweeter and well-deserved.

I enjoyed the side characters too-- Lydia was a very interesting addition to the cast. I admit I am in love with Henri's character and need his story QUICK. King Everard from the Becoming Beauty Trilogy (the first three books in the Classical Kingdoms series, of which Cinders, Stars, and Glass Slippers is the sixth) also made an appearance, and now I'm intrigued by his story and have just ordered Before Beauty. The villains were... *shudder* I won't give much away, but believe me when I say Ms. Fichter knows how to put a twist on the Cinderella story.

Speaking of which, I know that the fact that this is a Cinderella retelling would immediately turn most people off; except this one is by far the most unique on I've ever read. For starters, Cinderella is a navy admiral's daughter who's spent her entire life at sea... and who has the ability to talk to stars, a magical gift given to her by the Maker (ALLEGORY, y'all!). The magic system in this world, people. It's flawless. All I can say. And the twists on her "stepfamily" and the fairy "godmother" and the whole ball-and-glass-slippers thing-- this book had a LOT in it. The faith message... the immersive storyline... gorgeous writing... I just... I love it all. I love it so much.

Seriously, I cannot recommend this series enough. Everyone needs to read these books. Fairytale lovers, romance readers, readers who abhor romance, indie authors, traditionally-published authors, or those who are aspiring to be authors-- work of art. Buy it, read it, love it, thank me later. You're welcome, in advance, by the way.

[Julianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

After her gifted mother’s untimely death, Lady Elaina Starke is raised on her father’s ship, where she uses her own gift of talking to the stars to help guide them. But after her secret is revealed, she’s sent to live with her aunt and cousin, which she’s wholeheartedly against, until she meets Prince Nicholas. But after witnessing him giving similar attention to numerous young ladies, she starts to resent him. Meanwhile, Nicholas has many difficulties facing him, such as a viscous murderer that’s taking the lives of the gifted in his kingdom. And he might have fallen for the one girl that refuses to fall for his charms. After a dark twist of fate, Elaina is sold into servitude, and Nicholas spends years searching for her, even throwing an elaborate ball in an attempt to save her life.

This is probably the most unique retelling of Cinderella that I’ve ever read. Fichter has an enchanting way with words and I was utterly enthralled with this retelling. There are Christian themes throughout, with the idea of the Maker giving certain people gifts that they’re able to use. The classic Cinderella plot didn’t happen until about halfway through, after Elaina was sold into servitude, and it lasted throughout the rest of the book. I loved Nicholas’s character and his development over the course of the story. The part when he finally realized that he was super womanizing like his father was very satisfying to read. The relationship development between Elaina and Nicholas was well done, and I loved that we got chapters from both perspectives.

[Kanyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cinders, Stars, and Glass Slippers is a beautifully written captivating tale of love, betrayal, and happily ever after. This is a uniquely written fairytale retelling of Cinderella. Brittany has created a wonderful world of magic that is still imagined after you read the last page and she has created characters that will be remembered quite fondly. This book is also the sixth story in the Classical Kingdoms Collection.

This is my first book by Brittany Fichter and it will not be my last. I simply adored this story and hope every other book she writes is just as emotional and magical as this. While the story is long, it is well used to build up the world and character development. Really, I was so engrossed in this book I finished it in a day. Whenever I had to stop reading I was constantly making excuses to pick it back up. Elaina and Nicholas’s love story is one of the best I have read this year. You will not walk away from this book without feeling every emotion, good and bad.

Elaina has grown up on her father’s naval ship and treasures her learning of the sea. When her magical secret is discovered, she is forced to move back home and is thrown into the new world of silk gowns and flirting boys. While she wishes to be back with her father, Elaina is drawn into this new world and the charming Prince Nicholas. While the two butt heads most of the time, Nicholas is eager to learn military expertise from her. The land is at war and the two hide secrets from each other, some that could be dangerous.

After a dark twist of fate, Elaina is banished from Ashland and is forced into slavery. While Elaina is sure Nicholas is disgusted with her and Nicholas sure Elaina is lost forever, can the love these two share beat the darkness that threatens to extinguish them forever? It will take a very calculated plan to save Elaina and the kingdom from the terrify monsters that try to outmaneuver them at every step.

Though I have purchased this, I was also given an ARC copy by the author in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank her for her generosity.

Final Rating: 5 Stars

[Dangermousie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The hero was beyond useless and the plot ended up meandering. Oh well, win some lose some.

[Karisa P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! The characters, plot, and message were all fantastic. Elaina was a very relatable character, and I especially enjoyed the romance- most notably because of how much both parties changed for the better throughout it, as well as because I thought they were absolutely adorable together. (If you haven’t read the earlier books in the series, this next bit will be somewhat of a spoiler for you!) It was very interesting to see King Everard and his son again, as well as another side of Sortheliege as it was introduced in the Silent Mermaid. There are plenty of twists and turns along the way and it was overall another wonderful read from the wonderful Brittany Fichter!

[Brittney Browne · Rating 2 out of 5]

DRAGGED ON

I feel bad leaving a review for a book I didn’t finish but I didn’t even get halfway through this book - and that’s NOT something I do. It. Just. Dragged. On. And. On. Perhaps if I’d gotten to the end I would have understood the connection to Cinderella but from where I left, there was no connection other than there is a prince in the book. I really wanted to get behind this and enjoy it, I really did. But I found myself dreading coming back to this book and had to move on.

[Lisa Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't enjoy writing negative reviews, which is why I put this one off for about a month. I've read quite a few books by Brittany Fichter, so I'm used to her stories being dark and religious without even a hint of comic relief. In the case of the Autumn Fairy trilogy and Clara's Soldier, the melancholy thematic elements are often redeemed by touching star-crossed romances that overcome all obstacles. That was not the case for Cinders, Stars, and Glass Slippers, the sixth book in her Classical Kingdoms anthology. Whenever I read a new take on "Cinderella," it feels as though someone is trying to reinvent the wheel. It's a simple fairy tale with a simple message that doesn't always work under the scrutiny of modern feminists. Yes, Gail Carson Levine did it right with Ella Enchanted back in 1998, but even that was turned into an overly complicated movie in 2004 that made a mockery of her simplistic story-telling techniques.

Cinders, Stars, and Glass Slippers takes place in Brittany Fichter's Classical Kingdoms universe where many famous fairy tale characters live. It takes place after the events Silent Mermaid, her adaptation of "The Little Mermaid," which I did not particularly enjoy as a retelling of my favorite fairy tale. This version of "Cinderella" names the titular character Elaina instead of Ella. She gives herself the nickname "Cinderlaina" at a pivotal point in the story, which does not roll off the tongue nearly as well as "Cinderella." Elaina is not an orphan but instead the daughter of an admiral on a ship. She grew up climbing sails and charting stars with a lot more freedom than other ladies from her era. Her lack of a ladylike upbringing and competitive nature are what attract Prince Nicholas to her. Their relationship bothered me because it felt very one-sided for the majority of the book. I didn't find myself wanting Elaina to end up with him because I never got the impression that was what she wanted.

The thing that bothered me the most about this book was the development of the world where it took place. Brittany Fichter has a tendency to dive into elaborate fantasy worlds without any explanation of the rules or magic work. For me, this was the biggest detriment to her "Frog Prince" adaptation, The Green-Eyed Prince. Cinders, Stars, and Glass Slippers takes place in a world that is very reminiscent of Marvel's X-Men in which random people are gifted with supernatural abilities at birth and hunted down by the government. This would have made for a story if we actually got to see any of these abilities in practice instead of just hearing about them. Elaina's ability, in particular, was so mediocre that it took me half the book just to figure out what it was. She has the ability to talk to stars. It was useful to her on her father's ship because it would help her father navigate and warn them of incoming storms, but the instances in the book where she uses this ability seem completely arbitrary. The stars give her nothing but vague fortune cookie proverbs that made me wonder why the villain would want her for such a useless ability.

The second half of the book sees Elaina kidnapped and forced into slavery, which is where Fichter's version of the "wicked stepmother" character comes into play. Prince Nicholas makes it his mission to rescue her from this life, which would have been a terrific update to the "Cinderella" story if she had been stuck in that situation for longer than she actually was. Elaina was tormented for such a short time that I couldn't feel sorry for her in the same way that I do for the original Ella, who was abused for most of her childhood by the only family she had. Cinders, Stars, and Glass Slippers had so much wasted potential. The dry narrative and static characters made it nearly impossible to connect with emotionally. I thought Elaina's ability to talk to the stars might play into the Grimm version of the fairy tale in which Ella prays at her mother's grave for a ballgown and slippers to rain down on her so she could go to the ball, but instead the "Fairy Godmother" character turned out to be an ordinary woman introduced later in the story who was not nearly as interesting or magical.

I wanted to enjoy this book, but there was so little in it for me to connect with. Elaina's supernatural ability was vague and unimpressive in the grand scheme of things. I didn't feel like she loved Prince Nicholas and only needed him to help her escape the life she was kidnapped into. The narration was dry and static and never took the time to fully immerse the reader in what could have been a fascinating world full of people with miraculous abilities. If you are a fan of the original "Cinderella," I am sorry to say that I would not recommend this book as an alternate version.

[Limecello · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh I had no idea until just now as I was about to read the book that King Everard and Queen Isa not only had their story told but it was a trilogy. (Well with Henri ...)

Elaina and Nicholas. Well.
(Also, Everard having his own books explains why it's so ok for him to know she's Gifted/also the fact that he is too.)

... I'm still not sure why TF the villain was so obsessed with her/like ... I guess he ABSOLUTELY TOTALLY MISUNDERSTOOD HER GIFT and just never bothered actually learning about it even though he killed possibly hundreds of people just for the gift AND STARTED A CIVIL WAR?
... >.> so like - shit like this is what I mean by "the author skips over major things"

... this book was much more religious in tone to me, the whole The Maker and "He" speaks through the stars to Elaina and such.
Oof. I really thought Lydia was going to be the stepsister character but ... nope! "Forgot" how long these books are :P
I'm ... I dunno that I really particularly cared for Cynthia, but ... whatever. More importantly, I know Elaina's father loved her but he ... I dunno. He felt a bit static to me.
There were some things that were so/too pat - but I do get it.

Nicholas on the other hand like ... gosh. Consistently inconsistent? I kinda hoped Henri would be the hero but ...
I mean Nicholas definitely DEFINITELY grows into his own standing - and it's not that he was BAD other than being a womanizer, and in part it was to be exactly not like his dad - when he has the bad moment of seeing he low key is just like him...
[Although his parents ~working things out at the end was a bit too far fetched for me, if that's really what was being alleged....]

ANYWAY. Holy cow is there A. LOT. And like days and days of details - and I did NOT expect The Shadow to be who he was - although there were some hints there was major misdirection too. So well done there.
[I guess you can't trust anyone...]

It was a lot a lot a lot.
Elaina's TSTL going to the tower annoyed me so much I almost wished she died. Also the shoes thing was a bit much for me - like it didn't make sense but also took pages if not chapter and I get the "the powers are too much" but ... why could the shoes take it?
And WTF with going to the ocean?
And what on earth really did happen with the ship switch?

I'm glad I read this story - I'm kinda waffling on if I'd read more.
(I'd already decided to skip the little mermaid one before this ... although that might be slightly more because the racist stuff going on w/ the Disney live action pick - but also I just meh on it.)

C- -

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grabbed at this book with great anticipation; one of my favourite authors writing a version of my second favourite fairy tale? Come on! And I was not disappointed. As usual with this author, I was immediately captured by the characters; they are living, breathing people.

I confess that I love the universe that Brittany Fichter has built up, the way in which magic works there, and the strength, humanity and gentle humour of her characters. This book fits that universe perfectly and I am delighted to glimpse some old friends.

I did wonder to start with how this tale was going to fit with the well-beloved fairy tale, but I trusted the author and sure enough, it is truly a Cinderella story. But it has improvements on the original. The characters of hero and heroine are well rounded, and the ending is perfect. In the past, I have found certain events in the Cinderella story to be too sad to allow it to be my favourite-ever fairy tale. In this version of it, though, not only do we have a strong, brave Elaina, but also those particular elements are resolved so as to make what seemed to me to be a totally happy result.

The descriptions of place are so vivid that I can imagine myself being there, surrounded by those costumes, sights and sounds. I can even almost smell the spices or the flowers. Brittany is particularly good at showing how characters develop, how they come through all the difficulties that life throws in their way, to become well-rounded, thoughtful people. They do not lose their vulnerability and kindness, they develop a strength which upholds those gentler qualities, and we get to be with them each step of the way.

I also love that the ending is not cut short, we get to see clearly what happens to all our friends -- and enemies. I am glad that we are even told what happens with Dog, Barker and their animal pals.

I am a little unsure as to why the stars would not talk to, and comfort, Elaina closer to the time of the ball, when she was not actively talking to them; the beginning of the book shows that they can call to her when she is not alone. I am also slightly puzzled as to why the stars needed her to search for the item at the first balls so blindly. But these thoughts did not affect my suspension of disbelief nor dim my enjoyment of the tale. It all felt very real.

This book is one that I shall want to read again and again; I pre-ordered it and it stays in my library.

[Seanean · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://librarytalker.blogspot.com/201...

For over 10 years, Elaina Starke has lived about the flagship of the Ashland Navy on which her father is the Admiral. She has become an expert in all things ship related from tying knots to fighting battles. But when someone finds out her secret and reveals it to others, her father sends her into the land of the unknown.

She's sent back to her home to become the well-bred lady that she was born to be (even though she has no idea what she's doing). Because she's been raised by sailors, she can sometimes have a sailor's mouth and she says things when she probably shouldn't... especially to the prince. The two form a strange friendship and things seem to be adding up the way they should, until Elaina's secret is unearthed again and she is put in mortal danger.

Prince Nicholas is doing all he can to save Elaina, but when she's taken and forced to become a slave, he fears he may never see his one true love again.

Can they save each other from a fate that even the stars won't talk about?

Final thoughts: I love so much about this book! Elaina is a well-drawn, no-nonsense character who doesn't fall head over heels for the prince, as so many other Cinderellas do. She's her own person and wants to fight her own battles. Nicholas is a new kind of prince fighting his old-fashioned father's ideas of what running a kingdom must be like. The two are opposites until they suddenly aren't. My only real issue comes at about the halfway point when the author has to figure out how to get Elaina sold into slavery in order to continue the story. This short section took me completely out of the book and had me arguing with the rest of the story from that part on. She is accused of treason with a country never mentioned before or after. She is accused during a party, then tried, judged, sentenced, and sent away in exile all in a matter of hours. It's even mentioned that people have to go placate the party-goers once this whole farce happens. That's right. The whole thing happens DURING THE PARTY. And it's a farce from start to finish; completely unbelievable. I really enjoyed almost every other things about this book, but that section is STILL bugging me.

[Angeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cinders, Stars, ad Glass Slippers by Brittany Fichter
It took me so long to start this book because it looked so big and long. I am kind of scared of big books :), but once I started reading it I could not put it down. Cinders, Stars and Glass Slippers is the 6th book in Brittany Fichter’s Classical Kingdom series. I think that this is my favorite book in the series. I love Cinderella retellings and this one was amazing!
Elaina was born gifted and because of her gift she has been sheltered on her father’s ship since her mother was murdered. Nicholas is the crown prince of Ashland and has everything he wants except for the fact that his father will not listen to him. Nicholas believes the gifted people in his kingdom are in danger but his father refuses to help. However when he gets to know Elaina, he starts to realize how dangerous things are getting. Will he be able to save his kingdom from the man who wants the gifts given to people by the Maker or will he lose everything including Elaina?
Elania was so stubborn but she was also kind. She had been living on her father’s ship for most of her life so she didn’t exactly fit society’s standards. I thought that her gift was so cool! I really liked how she didn’t try to confirm to society but that she was herself. She was a lovely character and I really enjoyed reading about her. She was stubborn like me but she needed to learn that she couldn’t hold the weight of the world on her shoulders.
Nicholas was a sweetheart. He had been a “player” for most of his life because he wanted to protect himself from falling in love. However he was kinder and nobler then he appeared. I really liked him, he was a young man who truly cared for his subjects. He truly grew throughout the book and I loved seeing how much he loved Elaina.
The storyline was so different from other Cinderella stories and yet I still loved it! You actually got to know Nicholas and Elaina. It was cool because Ms. Fichter gave Elaina more background than the traditional Cinderella story usually gives. I have to admit I was a little worried, it seemed like everything was going wrong. The dark turn of events led to a civil war and Elaina being forced into servitude. However things worked out in the end and it helped both Nicholas and Elaina grow. Nicholas had to learn what it meant to be a man and Elania had to learn to trust the Maker.
I adored Cinders, Stars, and Glass Slippers! It had me on the edge of my seat, I could not put it down. This was a wonderful retelling of Cinderella. Nicholas held a ball not to find a bride, but to save his true love. I would definitely recommend this book! The whole Classical Kingdom series is awesome!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Brittany Fichter's books, I really do, but at times the "lessons & trials" being learned by our heros and heroines feel very much like sludging through endless angst, doom, and gloom.

Cinders, Stars, and Glass Slippers is probably my least favorite title (so far) in the Classical Kingdoms series. There's some nice elements, but overall our Cinderella's stubbornness and determination to do things her own way got a bit grating. I liked her at first, but in order for her "life lesson" to be learned, her personality took a hit for the sake of plot. The Prince Charming was actually way more likable, even though at first his classic charm was somewhat twisted to mean player and hopeless flirt. He saw the error of his ways quickly, but our heroine kept mistrusting or assuming the worst of him until much later for plot's sake. Hence why I found him to be the more likeable of the two characters.

Some of the author's attempts to stick to key moments of Cinderella lore (such as all women of the kingdom getting a chance to try on the slipper) felt out of place and a waste of precious time considering what was going on plot-wise.
Cinderella's disguises at the balls felt worthless considering practically everyone recognized her.
I disliked the extended amount of time our hero/heroine were separated. (They are separated for a large chunk of the book.)
And the whole Lydia discord side-plot felt poorly handled and wrapped up.

I realize my list of dislikes are somewhat long, but I didn't dislike the book entirely. As I mentioned, I liked the prince a lot. And we did get a few nice moments before the "great divide" happened between the main couple. I also enjoyed having King Everard and Henri pop up a few times. Hopefully we get a book about Henri at some point.

Overall, it was an interesting take on the tale of Cinderella. I do recommend it if you've read the others in the series. Just know (imo) it has some flaws to go with its charms. :)

[Ella Ferris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loveeeed this!! I honestly wasn't expecting much, 'just another Cinderella retelling' was my attitude towards it, similar to Traitor's Masque, but like that book, I was pleasantly surprised.

Characters:
All of them were interesting and likeable. The main heroine, Elaina, was relatable, well written, and fun to read about. I really liked her progression throughout the book; it was a great arch.
I did not initially like Nicholas much, but he definitely redeemed himself as the book went along and by the end of it, I wanted to marry him myself. :D Henri was also great, and I'm super curious to see if there's a book with him as a main character...

Plot:
Amazing. I was hooked cover to cover. The plot twists were just *gasp*. And that part where there was the time jump to two years ahead gave me a mini heart attack. Was not expecting that. Normally something like that would annoy me (Asimov's Foundation) but it was well placed and served the pace of this well. Also did not see her mom comin' either...

Writing:
Simple but enjoyable. It didn't really have the uniqueness of Traitor's Masque, but was still good. The descriptions were well written, and I could see everything in my mind quite clearly.

A wonderful take on Cinderella! I will absolutely be looking into Fichter's other books.

5 stars

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not my mother’s Cinderella story
Or anyone else’s previous story for that matter

With the title and being familiar with previous work by the author, I started reading looking for the standard elements of a Cinderella story and identifying which role each character played. There was a heroine, a prince and even glass slippers.

But this story goes beyond those standard features as a reader follows the heroine who may face Cinderella-like circumstances. But the prince’s side of this story rings more like a Beauty and the Beast transformation.

I love fairy tales in all their renditions but if you can’t create a real interest in the characters so I care enough to spend my time finishing the story, well, I won’t finish the story. Fichter gives her characters interest with flaws and everything - I just had to know how their story ends.

Moral of this review – don’t go in with preconceived notions. If a reader is too busy looking for a fairy god mother’s wand they are likely to miss aspects of Brittany Fichter’s “Cinder, Stars and Glass Slippers” that give it depth and interest.

4 starts for not being what I expected at all and instead entertaining me to the very end.

[Brittany Sailors · Rating 5 out of 5]

slow start but wow what a twist




I am a cinderella fan. It's the fairy tale I gravitate to the most .  When I saw this was a cinderella story I was instantly excited. especially since I have read several books by this author now and love her writing style.
The book started off slow, and I spent half the book so confused not seeing the cinderella story line. Exactly half. Then boom it all became so clear. The slow build up didn't ruin the book for me though, it was sweet with a peek at some old well loved characters from past books. The end left everything wrapped up tidy and clean with no unanswered questions which I always appreciate. The writing is smooth, there is a religious undertone but I knew from past experience to expect that. I think most of the story was predictable ( it is cinderella after all). but there was a large twist I never saw coming and I liked the surprise element there that separates this from every other cinderella book ever . Overall despite the slow start I still loved the book and shed a few tears along the way.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this retelling of the Cinderella story. It took quite awhile for the Cinderella story to become evident, and then Brittany stayed pretty true to the story.

There were lots of surprises in this story. Betrayals that truly were and some that were thought to be but truly weren't.

I hope someone writes a story one day where the main character actually trusts the "Maker" even though He is leading them through incredibly difficult times. Rather than asking "Why me?" She should have been asking, "What do You have for me to do next?" "What do you have for me to do in this situation?" She did obey when she could have gotten herself out of her difficult and horrible situation - that was awesome. I just wish she had more faith that where He led He would enable and that He was trying to do good in evil situations rather than just leading her into evil situations. That would have made the story much better for me. I still gave it five stars because I found the book hard to put down.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Notable Content: "Buxom," "voluptuous," and other comments on figure, such as "lingering" gazes. Sexual implications, including of assault. "Mistress." Lap-sitting.

This was amazing, unpredictable, and engaging. It was a very fascinating version of the tale; the details were kept, but it was still incredibly unique. Fully her own, but so many details. Every peice of the original tale is an integral part of this one, but it's so unique. (I'll stop repeating myself now.) The connections between the books' worlds are clearer now. I loved the characters and their relationships; at first, I shipped her with Henry, but now I'm all in for canon. I honestly caught myself praying for the characters are one point; they were so real and wonderful, flawed, but adorable. I loved it so much! So much happened from start to finish, and I loved every moment; I actually knew this would be my favorite from the first page! It had a great theme, but it wasn't preachy or miraculous. I really really loved this book!

[Haley · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I'm absolutely shocked at the consistent high ratings for this book! I thought the pacing was agonizingly slow to the point where I finally started skimming around 60%. Throughout the book I was torn between 2 and 3 stars because while I thought there was too much story and it needed to be edited down, I also thought there were some really creative things with the plot. Though the Cinderella plot didn't become apparent until after 50%, too late in my opinion, it was fun to see how the author fit in all the aspects of the fairytale. Because the book was so lengthy, there was time for a lot of character growth, especially with Nicholas. Some of Elaina's choices bothered me in the book, and there were parts of the magical gifts that I felt were unclear at the end. Elaina and Nicholas' love story was cute, and I thought the religious aspects of The Maker was tastefully done.

[Jade Togonon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book! And honestly, for me, it almost came close to being a can-never-put-it-down.

The first half had so much potential! Aweome character development, multi-faceted characters, interesting plot and the pace was just right. What I especially loved was the romance. It was nicely built and by halfway, I was convinced they were in love.

HOWEVER! It started to drag on from there. Don't get me wrong, it was still good. But there were so many unnecessary parts of the story that could've been tweaked to quicken the pace, use that time to develop the plot and characters more and so on. There were also things I wouldn't expect characters to do but do for the plot and so on.. I was disappointed. This could've been so much better. The writing was good. Characters were lovable. Plot was very intriguing.

Please. Still read this book! It's still an awesome read and very enjoyable, albeit will be sprinkled with moments of eye rolls from you most likely.

[Clara Babinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve held off making a review of this series because I just discovered this author. I can honestly say I’m pleased with the work. The stories are imaginative and the characters are interesting. This series is not a story line for little ones. There is always a darkness that is present and faith in the creator that brings the characters through the trials they must endure. I feel that the author has done a wonderful job of deconstructing the well known fairy tales and reimagining new versions that can tell the story in a different, sometimes even better, way. I believe this book was my favorite so far. I actually got full body goose bumps in a few places near the end. I love the aspect of the gifts, especially Elaina’s. What person alive hasn’t spoken to the stars? What would you do if they answered you?
Mrs. Fichter, you have a new fan. I’ve truly enjoyed all the books I’ve read and would like to say, well done!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elaina & Nicholas

I agree with other reviewers this was a looong book. But it was also the end of the series so I can understand some of the reason why.

The character of Elaina. I didn’t warm up to her quite like I had hoped. She has great opportunities and goes headstrong into whatever she puts her mind to so it was kind of a put off for me in the beginning. I am so glad I continued to the end it really tied it all up as to why Elaina was like that.

I was not happy with the 2 years later page. Really! 2 years pass and hardly anything changes for Elaina. Yes Nicholas grows and matures but still 2 years and nothing changes for Elaina!

I would also like to find out more on what happened in Destin to make King Everard leave so quickly. And what happens to Henri? Where’s his love story? Wishing there was one more in this series!

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cinders, Stars, and Glass Slippers: A Retelling of Cinderella (The Classical Kingdoms Collection Book 6)
Brittany Fichter
*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the author. The following review is of my own words with no input from the author*.
I was pleasantly surprised with this retelling of a favored classic. I’m not exactly sure what I was expecting, but this book was not it. It far exceeded expectations. There were so many surprises and twists I wasn’t sure what was going to happen next. The characters and plot-line were well thought out and executed brilliantly. This was my first book in the Classical Kingdoms collection that I had the opportunity to read, and now I will be going back and reading the five books that preceded this one.

[Kristal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since I was a baby I have been obsessed with the story of Cinderella. I would wake in the night crying as a babe, and my parents would put the Disney’s classic animated Cinderella movie on for me and I would instantly calm. When I was in 6th grade I struggled to truly love reading novels until I found the book Ella Enchanted. I was hooked, and from then on I have scoured the earth to find and read as many Cinderella stories as I can get my hands on.
This book is now my all time favorite! Brittany has set the bar so much higher now. She is an incredible storyteller and breathed life into this classic story and created something that was so much more than I could ever imagined. Truly masterful! Love love loved it!

[Cheyenne Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story

This was an amazing retelling of Cinderella! It has all the Cinderella elements typically seen, but put together in an intriguing way. The characters feel really fleshed out, the plot is fast-paced andtwisty (there were several twists I didn't see coming), and the political intrigue in the setting was very interesting. And there was no insta-love. I rather liked how Elaina's and Nicholas's relationship progressed. I loved them both separately and together. They felt real. There were a couple things that didn't quite make sense to me, such as how the antagonist wasn't under suspicion sooner, but considering it too me a bit to suspect him, I let it slide. I would definitely recommend this story to anyone who enjoys fairytale retellings.