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The Princess and the Shoemaker: A Fairy Tale Retelling
Cornelius Shoemaker will make one last pair of shoes this Yule, and then he is shuttering his doors. He can't keep making shoes no one wants to buy. But when Gwen, a beautiful fairy, picks his shop to spend her Yuletide nights in, everything changes. The Princess and the Shoemaker is a short tale of love, family, and sweetpunk magic, where mistletoe kisses hold the promise of happily-ever-after.
The Princess and the Shoemaker is a cozy, closed-door, holiday romantasy inspired by the fairy tale "The Elves and the Shoemaker." While this is a standalone novella, readers familiar with Smoke, Steel, & Ivy will notice some returning characters.
The Princess and the Shoemaker is a cozy, closed-door, holiday romantasy inspired by the fairy tale "The Elves and the Shoemaker." While this is a standalone novella, readers familiar with Smoke, Steel, & Ivy will notice some returning characters.
86 pages, Paperback
Published December 5, 2025
2 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
Amy Trent
7 books25 followersI'm Amy Trent, and I write cozy fantasy, sweet romance, fairy tale retellings, and various concoctions of the aforementioned. Banter is my favorite thing to read and write. But characters who are so well written they become friends are also my favorite. And cookies. Cookies are always my favorite too.
If you are a fan of any of the above, let's talk! Let's talk books! Let's talk fairy tales! Let's talk about what makes for the best, swooniest banter!
Embrace your cozy and subscribe to my monthly newsletter. Subscribers receive my novella, Curses, Diamonds, & Toads, for FREE. https://amytrent.com/newsletter/
If you are a fan of any of the above, let's talk! Let's talk books! Let's talk fairy tales! Let's talk about what makes for the best, swooniest banter!
Embrace your cozy and subscribe to my monthly newsletter. Subscribers receive my novella, Curses, Diamonds, & Toads, for FREE. https://amytrent.com/newsletter/
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 23, 2025
Content:
Profanity: None.
Violence: None.
Sexual: High mild-low moderate. There are a few kisses, but only mention swooping stomachs, racing hearts, and such. There are mentions of a character who loves women, all at the same time, and has multiple children from multiple women-at the same time. There's a remark that the man would've married them all at the same time if the archbishop would allow it. There are a few innuendos throughout the book. Like a line where one character says another has pretty feet, then she replies, 'wait until you see the rest of me.' And another line where someone makes a crack about a girl not being pregnant (she's been missing at night), insinuating that this is not shocking behavior or unexpected or wrong. A fade-to-black honeymoon moment at the end which stops with a comment about switching clothing and the man putting the woman on the bed.
Despite this having a content warning at the front for dealing with grief, I found that aspect to be very mild and in the background. What I wish there would've been a content warning for were all those borderline crude sexual innuendos and commentary about the promiscuous king in this. Wow, did that ever make me uncomfortable. Nothing like a would-be polygamous king where everyone just accepts and shakes their head and totally undersells him as being "impulsive" in his relationships.
Wow.
The story was cute, the two protagonists fell in love in the blink of an eye, and then went from 0-100 mph on their romance without blinking. The shoes were cute, the poetry aspect adorable, and the parents were fun. But the red flags were all over the place for me as mentioned above.
This is the second short story I've read from the author, and I'm not going to read any more of her books. She just wanders into sexual content territory I'm not comfortable with; despite it not being explicit at all, it's just that type of humor you see in a PG rom-com that makes me wince/cringe and I don't think it's funny or cute at all.
Not for me, but lots will like this.
Profanity: None.
Violence: None.
Sexual: High mild-low moderate. There are a few kisses, but only mention swooping stomachs, racing hearts, and such. There are mentions of a character who loves women, all at the same time, and has multiple children from multiple women-at the same time. There's a remark that the man would've married them all at the same time if the archbishop would allow it. There are a few innuendos throughout the book. Like a line where one character says another has pretty feet, then she replies, 'wait until you see the rest of me.' And another line where someone makes a crack about a girl not being pregnant (she's been missing at night), insinuating that this is not shocking behavior or unexpected or wrong. A fade-to-black honeymoon moment at the end which stops with a comment about switching clothing and the man putting the woman on the bed.
Despite this having a content warning at the front for dealing with grief, I found that aspect to be very mild and in the background. What I wish there would've been a content warning for were all those borderline crude sexual innuendos and commentary about the promiscuous king in this. Wow, did that ever make me uncomfortable. Nothing like a would-be polygamous king where everyone just accepts and shakes their head and totally undersells him as being "impulsive" in his relationships.
Wow.
The story was cute, the two protagonists fell in love in the blink of an eye, and then went from 0-100 mph on their romance without blinking. The shoes were cute, the poetry aspect adorable, and the parents were fun. But the red flags were all over the place for me as mentioned above.
This is the second short story I've read from the author, and I'm not going to read any more of her books. She just wanders into sexual content territory I'm not comfortable with; despite it not being explicit at all, it's just that type of humor you see in a PG rom-com that makes me wince/cringe and I don't think it's funny or cute at all.
Not for me, but lots will like this.
December 13, 2025
3🌟
This took me way longer to read than it should have. I thought the romance was far too insta lovey and I felt like they had no emotional connection. I know it was a novella but they were in love with each other for basically the whole book and it was kind of boring. Even though I didn’t enjoy some parts of the book I did really like the Christmas vibes and there were some quotes I thought were cute. Overall, it was okay but I recommend if you want a clean and short Christmas fairytale retelling. For ages 13 and up.
This took me way longer to read than it should have. I thought the romance was far too insta lovey and I felt like they had no emotional connection. I know it was a novella but they were in love with each other for basically the whole book and it was kind of boring. Even though I didn’t enjoy some parts of the book I did really like the Christmas vibes and there were some quotes I thought were cute. Overall, it was okay but I recommend if you want a clean and short Christmas fairytale retelling. For ages 13 and up.
December 11, 2025
This was charming and adorable. Amy does it again! Her books are filled with witty charm and wonderful characters. I loved this spin on the shoemaker story. The shy poet with ginger curls and the outgoing feisty princess who falls in love with his words. I haven’t read a single story from Amy I haven’t loved.
December 24, 2025
The Princess and the Shoemaker is a lovely gift of comfort and joy! It's a sweetly romantic cozy fantasy retelling of The Elves and the Shoemaker set in Trent's #sweetpunk fairy tale universe during the winter holidays. It's a short novella full of delicious treats, festive gifts, affectionate families, and love. It was just what I needed to make my season bright.
December 21, 2025
Reader’s Notes:
-this is connected to the Enchantment Retold series, but can be read as a stand-alone
-this is told from Cornelius & Gwen’s points of view
-it is mentioned that a character’s sibling died in a war (past event)
-it is mentioned that a character’s parents are absent in their life
-it is mentioned that a character’s parent had kids with multiple other people (all/almost all outside of marriage)
Review:
This is my first book written by Amy Trent and I’m excited to read more from her!
This was cute! I loved finding another Elves and the Shoemaker retelling (the only other one I know of is The Snowy Footprints by Abigail Manning). I enjoyed the way Amy Trent mixed the fairytale with her own world and how she had her couple to be meet. Cornelius was adorable and I loved that he fell hard for Gwen. Gwen was sweet and I loved that she got the chance to meet Cornelius as herself before her hidden identity was revealed. I also loved the relationship Gwen had with her sisters! Both the teasing and the planning they had to make it so Gwen could get to know Cornelius on her own terms before the family met him.
Summary:
*I am not including a summary from Gwen’s point of view as I believe it would be a spoiler*
Cornelius Shoemaker has the weight of his family’s shoe making business on his shoulders. With his father unable to make shoes anymore, it is up to Cornelius to make them. Though he wonders why he should keep making shoes when no one is buying them?
But one night when Cornelius falls asleep trying to make one last pair of shoes, he wakes to discover someone else entered the shop that night and not only finished the shoes, but made them even better than he could have. With the new merchandise, the shop begins to thrive. But who can his family thank for their good fortune?
-this is connected to the Enchantment Retold series, but can be read as a stand-alone
-this is told from Cornelius & Gwen’s points of view
-it is mentioned that a character’s sibling died in a war (past event)
-it is mentioned that a character’s parents are absent in their life
-it is mentioned that a character’s parent had kids with multiple other people (all/almost all outside of marriage)
Review:
This is my first book written by Amy Trent and I’m excited to read more from her!
This was cute! I loved finding another Elves and the Shoemaker retelling (the only other one I know of is The Snowy Footprints by Abigail Manning). I enjoyed the way Amy Trent mixed the fairytale with her own world and how she had her couple to be meet. Cornelius was adorable and I loved that he fell hard for Gwen. Gwen was sweet and I loved that she got the chance to meet Cornelius as herself before her hidden identity was revealed. I also loved the relationship Gwen had with her sisters! Both the teasing and the planning they had to make it so Gwen could get to know Cornelius on her own terms before the family met him.
Summary:
*I am not including a summary from Gwen’s point of view as I believe it would be a spoiler*
Cornelius Shoemaker has the weight of his family’s shoe making business on his shoulders. With his father unable to make shoes anymore, it is up to Cornelius to make them. Though he wonders why he should keep making shoes when no one is buying them?
But one night when Cornelius falls asleep trying to make one last pair of shoes, he wakes to discover someone else entered the shop that night and not only finished the shoes, but made them even better than he could have. With the new merchandise, the shop begins to thrive. But who can his family thank for their good fortune?
December 8, 2025
Sweet, with a royal twist - the author did it again with an original royal twist to what I recognize as a retelling of The Elves and the Shoemaker. (No elves were harmed in this sweet Christmas romance!)
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 16, 2025
I really loved reading this wonderful book! I loved the characters and the plot! I had a hard time putting this really wonderful book down! I absolutely loved this retelling of An Elves and the Shoemaker!
December 19, 2025
This was a really cute fast Christmas inspired retelling. I would highly recommend this cute book! I loved the main male character and how sweet he was and the main female character added a lot to the story.
January 20, 2026
Such a cute story! This story has just the right amount of fantasy and romance. It's a cute retelling of the elves and the shoemaker including Christmas. I loved the family dynamics and the sweet angst between the main characters.
December 15, 2025
Oh my sweet twinkly, happy, fairytale hallmark-like goodness. If you need a quick, cozy, romantic read to get you in the holiday spirit, you can’t go wrong with this little one!
January 2, 2026
This was a really interesting retelling. I liked it a lot! Cute and Sweet.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews