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Tales of Faith #2
The Secret Slipper
Being a cripple is only the beginning of Lia’s troubles. It seems as if Bioti’s goal in life is to make Lia as miserable as possible. If Lia’s purpose is to be a slave, then why did God make her a cripple? How can He make something beautiful out of her deformity?
Raoul never questioned the death of his daughter until someone reports her whereabouts. If Ellia is still alive, how has she survived these ten years with her deformity? When Raoul doesn’t know who to trust, can he trust God to keep Ellia safe when evidence reveals Bioti’s dangerous character?
As time brings more hindrances, will Raoul find Ellia, or will she forever be lost to the father she doesn't even know is searching for her?
Raoul never questioned the death of his daughter until someone reports her whereabouts. If Ellia is still alive, how has she survived these ten years with her deformity? When Raoul doesn’t know who to trust, can he trust God to keep Ellia safe when evidence reveals Bioti’s dangerous character?
As time brings more hindrances, will Raoul find Ellia, or will she forever be lost to the father she doesn't even know is searching for her?
166 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2017
4 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Tero
30 books545 followersAmanda Tero grew up attending a one room school with her eleven siblings—and loved it! She also fell in love with reading to the point her mom withheld her books to get her to do her chores. That love of reading turned into a love of writing YA fiction.
Amanda is a music teacher by day and a literary guide by night, creating stories that whisk readers off to new eras and introduce them to heroic but flawed characters that live out their faith in astonishing ways.
Amanda is a music teacher by day and a literary guide by night, creating stories that whisk readers off to new eras and introduce them to heroic but flawed characters that live out their faith in astonishing ways.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
May 8, 2017
Wow! This was SO good! I loved it. I was hooked from the very beginning and couldn't put it down! I loved the fact that this was based on a father\daughter relationship as opposed to your stereotypical romance. I am always a sucker for a father\daughter story, and this one didn't disappoint! I also love how non-cliché it was. Based off Cinderella, yet so different. Never did I think, "wow, that was so expected, just like Cinderella!".
I love how realistic Lord Kiralyn was; he was by no means perfect, and struggled with anger, and letting things go to God. His character arc was very well done, and so realistic! I felt like Ellia's was slightly lacking, but still very good. Similarly, Lia was not your typical oh-so-patient and perfect Cinderella either; she had real issues too, which made her far more relatable than Cinderella, which I loved.
The writing was very well done, and had very few typos. It was clear and concise, yet still flowery and beautiful. I love how Amanda attempted to use "Old English" dialogue. It really lent to the story without confusing it.
I have loved nearly all of the Amanda Tero novels I have read. Her stories are such that I would not be afraid to give to my younger siblings. I can trust that there will be no excessive violence, romance, language, or other explicit details. Highly recommend this and all of Amanda's works!
I love how realistic Lord Kiralyn was; he was by no means perfect, and struggled with anger, and letting things go to God. His character arc was very well done, and so realistic! I felt like Ellia's was slightly lacking, but still very good. Similarly, Lia was not your typical oh-so-patient and perfect Cinderella either; she had real issues too, which made her far more relatable than Cinderella, which I loved.
The writing was very well done, and had very few typos. It was clear and concise, yet still flowery and beautiful. I love how Amanda attempted to use "Old English" dialogue. It really lent to the story without confusing it.
I have loved nearly all of the Amanda Tero novels I have read. Her stories are such that I would not be afraid to give to my younger siblings. I can trust that there will be no excessive violence, romance, language, or other explicit details. Highly recommend this and all of Amanda's works!
March 11, 2017
Enjoyable story...full review when published!
October 3, 2017
Originally posted on Reveries Reviews.
Title: The Secret Slipper
Author: Amanda Tero
Series: Tales of Faith, #2 (can function as stand-alone)
Genre: Christian Fairytale Retelling
Setting: non-magical fantasy world
Publisher: Amanda Tero
Source: from author (in exchange for honest review)
Overall Rating: 5/5 stars
The Review:
Just as with Befriending the Beast, I loved this book. It was definitely a five-star read, and, as with BtB (what? I like acronyms!), it was special. I love the idea of retelling fairytales with father/daughter relationships. It’s sweet and an amazingly creative twist.
(Note: all the blog tour stuff is at the bottom of this post, including a giveaway, info about the other tour stops, etc. Be sure to check it out!)
PLOT: 5/5
I tried so hard to come up with something to say here other than the fact that it was amazing, and I did manage to come up wit the fact that a twist at the end seemed a little out-of-nowhere. But, then, that’s kind of the point of a plot twist, right?
Basically, it was a sweet story – and at times a heartbreaking story – that was amazingly original. I especially like the whole thing with Lia’s crippled foot. That has got to be the best take on the slipper story ever!
CHARACTERS: 4/5
I had trouble keeping a few of them separated in my head, but, overall, they were great.
Lia was such a sweetie, and I really felt for her! I just wanted to give her a hug. And tell her about Jesus. Because she really needed Him, poor baby!
Raoul‘s character arc was really impressive. I felt bad for him, although I don’t think I really identified with him that much.
Dumphey and Noel were awesome. I love how they took care of Lia, especially Dumphey!
Jolin has got to be the best supporting character ever.
Bioti was awful. Some of her motivations didn’t make sense to me, but I guess she’s just a disturbed lady …
SETTING: 4/5
I feel like this could have been done a little better, but it was pretty good. The descriptions of the village, the forest, and such were great. I would have liked to understand the feudal system in this imaginary world a little better, but we can’t have everything, especially in a novella.
WRITING: 5/5
I think I’ve mentioned this before, but I really like Amanda Tero’s writing style. It’s really neat and minimalistic, but it’s also somewhat flowery and old-fashioned. It just gives me a happy feeling.
THEME: 5/5
After reading another of Miss Tero’s books, Journey to Love, I remember emailing the author and saying that she had really inspired me … and that was true!
CONTENT: 1.5/5
Language: n/a
Violence: mentions of dying/death, Bioti strikes Lia once or twice.
Sexual: n/a
Other: mentions of people dying in a plague, a scene in a jail, someone almost gets hung for thievery, a child was kidnapped in the past, Lia has club-foot.
Okay for all teens. More sensitive younger children may be a little disturbed by the idea of being kidnapped, hangings, etc. However, almost anyone should be able to read this book; it was very clean.
OVERALL: 4.5/5
The Secret Slipper by Amanda Tero is a fantastic book (that I have simply got to buy in paperback soon). I’d recommend it to any middle-grader or teenager who loves Christian fairytale retellings.
~Kellyn Roth~
Title: The Secret Slipper
Author: Amanda Tero
Series: Tales of Faith, #2 (can function as stand-alone)
Genre: Christian Fairytale Retelling
Setting: non-magical fantasy world
Publisher: Amanda Tero
Source: from author (in exchange for honest review)
Overall Rating: 5/5 stars
The Review:
Just as with Befriending the Beast, I loved this book. It was definitely a five-star read, and, as with BtB (what? I like acronyms!), it was special. I love the idea of retelling fairytales with father/daughter relationships. It’s sweet and an amazingly creative twist.
(Note: all the blog tour stuff is at the bottom of this post, including a giveaway, info about the other tour stops, etc. Be sure to check it out!)
PLOT: 5/5
I tried so hard to come up with something to say here other than the fact that it was amazing, and I did manage to come up wit the fact that a twist at the end seemed a little out-of-nowhere. But, then, that’s kind of the point of a plot twist, right?
Basically, it was a sweet story – and at times a heartbreaking story – that was amazingly original. I especially like the whole thing with Lia’s crippled foot. That has got to be the best take on the slipper story ever!
CHARACTERS: 4/5
I had trouble keeping a few of them separated in my head, but, overall, they were great.
Lia was such a sweetie, and I really felt for her! I just wanted to give her a hug. And tell her about Jesus. Because she really needed Him, poor baby!
Raoul‘s character arc was really impressive. I felt bad for him, although I don’t think I really identified with him that much.
Dumphey and Noel were awesome. I love how they took care of Lia, especially Dumphey!
Jolin has got to be the best supporting character ever.
Bioti was awful. Some of her motivations didn’t make sense to me, but I guess she’s just a disturbed lady …
SETTING: 4/5
I feel like this could have been done a little better, but it was pretty good. The descriptions of the village, the forest, and such were great. I would have liked to understand the feudal system in this imaginary world a little better, but we can’t have everything, especially in a novella.
WRITING: 5/5
I think I’ve mentioned this before, but I really like Amanda Tero’s writing style. It’s really neat and minimalistic, but it’s also somewhat flowery and old-fashioned. It just gives me a happy feeling.
THEME: 5/5
After reading another of Miss Tero’s books, Journey to Love, I remember emailing the author and saying that she had really inspired me … and that was true!
CONTENT: 1.5/5
Language: n/a
Violence: mentions of dying/death, Bioti strikes Lia once or twice.
Sexual: n/a
Other: mentions of people dying in a plague, a scene in a jail, someone almost gets hung for thievery, a child was kidnapped in the past, Lia has club-foot.
Okay for all teens. More sensitive younger children may be a little disturbed by the idea of being kidnapped, hangings, etc. However, almost anyone should be able to read this book; it was very clean.
OVERALL: 4.5/5
The Secret Slipper by Amanda Tero is a fantastic book (that I have simply got to buy in paperback soon). I’d recommend it to any middle-grader or teenager who loves Christian fairytale retellings.
~Kellyn Roth~
May 23, 2018
FTC DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of this book. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
This is the third book I’ve read by this author, and I really love her writing style and strong Christian themes. From the cover onward, this book was charming and very unique. (Even just the chapter headings were adorable.) ;) I enjoyed every minute of Dumphey and Noel, but it was really sad how Lia misunderstood their helpfulness.
The Raoul, Jolin, Galien team was very dynamic, which made for some fun exchanges and good lessons. Bioti? She made my blood boil. I thought she was horrid when she was first introduced, but she just got worse and worse. I knew exactly what she meant to do when she told Lia to keep driving. Poor girl. *sniffs*
When everything went wrong (even sweet Dumphey’s loyalty), it went really, really wrong. I wasn’t sure for a while if a happy ending was even possible! But I loved how everything turned out, and Zuzarene’s words to Lia. (I want to be her when I grow up!) ;) The Cinderella elements weren’t extremely obvious, but they were there! And I LOVED the way this author did the slippers. <3 Not recommended for very young readers because of intense action and mentions of possible death.
Altogether, I loved this book and can’t wait to share it with my sisters! (In fact, one of them started reading it the same day I finished.) ;)
Also, Jolin should be real. :D
This is the third book I’ve read by this author, and I really love her writing style and strong Christian themes. From the cover onward, this book was charming and very unique. (Even just the chapter headings were adorable.) ;) I enjoyed every minute of Dumphey and Noel, but it was really sad how Lia misunderstood their helpfulness.
The Raoul, Jolin, Galien team was very dynamic, which made for some fun exchanges and good lessons. Bioti? She made my blood boil. I thought she was horrid when she was first introduced, but she just got worse and worse. I knew exactly what she meant to do when she told Lia to keep driving. Poor girl. *sniffs*
When everything went wrong (even sweet Dumphey’s loyalty), it went really, really wrong. I wasn’t sure for a while if a happy ending was even possible! But I loved how everything turned out, and Zuzarene’s words to Lia. (I want to be her when I grow up!) ;) The Cinderella elements weren’t extremely obvious, but they were there! And I LOVED the way this author did the slippers. <3 Not recommended for very young readers because of intense action and mentions of possible death.
Altogether, I loved this book and can’t wait to share it with my sisters! (In fact, one of them started reading it the same day I finished.) ;)
Also, Jolin should be real. :D
September 28, 2019
This was the first book in this series that I read, due to it being the only one available during a road trip. And despite beginning a series in the middle, this book ended up being my favorite of the trilogy. The characters were so sweet (or . . . vivid in other ways!), the plot was intriguing, and the themes, deep and inspirational. Amanda's writing style is God-honoring, and every one of her books has reflected her heart for Him. The Secret Slipper portrayed modern, realistic heart struggles and reactions in an old-fashioned setting - an intriguing and gripping combination. To see people in other circumstances and settings coming to terms with the very same issues I face today is motivating in my walk with God. Trusting God, not leaning on my own understanding . . . this book is well worth the read.
May 22, 2017
4/4.5 stars
What a sweet retelling story! <3 The characters were amazing and feel-able, the setting lovely, and the plot sucked me in.
Lia was such a sweet dear and a character that made me just want to grab her and hug her. (And save her from Bioti!)
Raoul was amazing too. His inner struggles and search for his daughter was just... <3 <3 I especially liked the relationship between Raoul and Jolin. Raoul was ready to run off into any situation, and Jolin was there to hold him back. I'm pretty sure Raoul would've ended up in trouble without Jolin around to keep him sane. ;)
Dumphey and Noel were so sweet too, always looking out for Lia! <3
The antagonist storyline was very well done. Bioti and her decisions never felt 'forced' or unrealistic.
The medieval-fantasy setting! Don't even get me started. Ahh, the people and town names were all sooo pretty. <3
Ordinarily speaking, I wouldn't have minded a closer connection to the original Cinderella story. But for this? It was perfect as it was. ^.^
If you enjoy fairytale retellings, particularly subtle ones with unique twists, then the Tales of Faith series is for you!
**I received an e-ARC from the author in exchange for my honest review.**
What a sweet retelling story! <3 The characters were amazing and feel-able, the setting lovely, and the plot sucked me in.
Lia was such a sweet dear and a character that made me just want to grab her and hug her. (And save her from Bioti!)
Raoul was amazing too. His inner struggles and search for his daughter was just... <3 <3 I especially liked the relationship between Raoul and Jolin. Raoul was ready to run off into any situation, and Jolin was there to hold him back. I'm pretty sure Raoul would've ended up in trouble without Jolin around to keep him sane. ;)
Dumphey and Noel were so sweet too, always looking out for Lia! <3
The antagonist storyline was very well done. Bioti and her decisions never felt 'forced' or unrealistic.
The medieval-fantasy setting! Don't even get me started. Ahh, the people and town names were all sooo pretty. <3
Ordinarily speaking, I wouldn't have minded a closer connection to the original Cinderella story. But for this? It was perfect as it was. ^.^
If you enjoy fairytale retellings, particularly subtle ones with unique twists, then the Tales of Faith series is for you!
**I received an e-ARC from the author in exchange for my honest review.**
June 1, 2017
4.5 stars
I had the privilege of beta-reading The Secret Slipper and I enjoyed the story immensely! The father-daughter take on an old fairy talk classic was delightful, and I cannot wait to share it with my sister, who is impatiently awaiting the paperback.
The characters were all done very well; there really wasn't any that were in the book for no reason. They all had a purpose. Which was nice to read for a change. ;) The struggles of the characters were also very well done and very relateable.
And, as always, Ms. Tero was able to weave the thread of the gospel message into the story flawlessly, in a way that didn't at all feel preachy. It made it stand out so much more because of that.
So yes, a wonderful retelling that I would definitely recommend!
I had the privilege of beta-reading The Secret Slipper and I enjoyed the story immensely! The father-daughter take on an old fairy talk classic was delightful, and I cannot wait to share it with my sister, who is impatiently awaiting the paperback.
The characters were all done very well; there really wasn't any that were in the book for no reason. They all had a purpose. Which was nice to read for a change. ;) The struggles of the characters were also very well done and very relateable.
And, as always, Ms. Tero was able to weave the thread of the gospel message into the story flawlessly, in a way that didn't at all feel preachy. It made it stand out so much more because of that.
So yes, a wonderful retelling that I would definitely recommend!
May 29, 2017
The Secret Slipper was one of the sweetest Christian books I’ve read this year.
It’s technically the sequel/companion to the beautiful Befriending The Beast. That being said, The Secret Slipper works perfectly fine as a stand-alone. Like, I haven’t read Befriending the Best in around … 9 months and forgot most of the details but The Secret Slipper made perfect sense, save for about 5 sentences at the beginning of the book which made way more sense when I actually remembered stuff. As I’m re-reading Befriending The Beast, it does connect it beautifully.
- The characters were awesome. I feel like these were slightly more in depth than Befriending The Beast. They were very realistic and I seriously suffered along beside them in their pain and felt elated at their happiness.
- The duel points of view worked wonders. I’ve oftentimes come across books that have way too much character head hopping going on that serves no point. Even in books with only two character PoV’s, they oftentimes fall short or really make no sense. This one was excellent. There’s just enough tension on both sides of the story, the perfect amount shown of the thoughts of both Raoul and Lia, that the duel points of view were perfection!
- Lia’s and how she dealt with her deformity and life in general was really nice. I loved the real look into the bitter emotions behind everything, how she worked her way around it and knew she was capable and strong even with her deformity. Just … asdfjlnaerg. I said it before but I have to say it again the characters were epic. They were just so real and emotional and I’m going to go flail around on the ground for an hour because they were so lovely. I loved Lia’s entire outlook and how real it was.
- Same with Raoul his entire outlook was also cool. I’m going to try to resist squealing about the characters for a year though, so bear with me.
- The Christianity … Ach. This was so inspiring. It was beautifully written, not coming off as preachy, but also not afraid to tell the truth. Most books these days, even books labelled “Christian” aren’t really Christian. That can’t be said about The Secret Slipper. I’m not going to go too deep into the Christian message and spoil anything for any of you guys who haven’t read this yet but let me tell you: it’s beautiful and it was inspiring and I think I really needed to hear this again.
The fairy tale aspect is interesting and really different. I don’t think I really have to say that most fairy tale retellings are getting kind of old. They’re predictable, generic and full of cliches. This one really wasn’t. I wouldn’t say it’s an exact retelling, it’s more of … there are aspects in this book that are based off Cinderella. So if you’re not into retellings … have no fear, this one isn’t quite the same as all the others, and if you are into them … read this anyway! ;)
- There wasn't really any romance? Which, lemme tell you, is really refreshing when it comes to books, especially fairy-tale retellings which are kind of shoving romance in your face. The nice thing though, is it really didn't need romance! The relationship between father and daughter was the perfect twist to the original fairy-tale.
Honestly there weren’t that many things that I disliked, but just to mention …
- I wished it was longer. The story wasn’t exactly lacking anything, and no one part was rushed, but it was so. short. As an aspiring author I can completely understand this, but the reader part in my head was longing for more.
- The names … were confusing … I mean, I didn’t dislike them but my poor little brain that’s realllly bad at remembering names was hurting. We have Raoul, two servant type guys, Lia, Lia’s two friends, Lia’s two step-sisters, Lia’s “step-mum” and others who don’t pop up this much. Like … how am I supposed to keep track of Lia’s friends and which one of the Raoul’s buddies is which as ahhhh … Albeit, this is kind of my fault for having a weird brain but … y’know. ;)
And … honestly that’s all that comes to mind right now?
My overall rating turned out to be 4.5 stars. There's a lovely, lovely lil book here. :D
It’s technically the sequel/companion to the beautiful Befriending The Beast. That being said, The Secret Slipper works perfectly fine as a stand-alone. Like, I haven’t read Befriending the Best in around … 9 months and forgot most of the details but The Secret Slipper made perfect sense, save for about 5 sentences at the beginning of the book which made way more sense when I actually remembered stuff. As I’m re-reading Befriending The Beast, it does connect it beautifully.
- The characters were awesome. I feel like these were slightly more in depth than Befriending The Beast. They were very realistic and I seriously suffered along beside them in their pain and felt elated at their happiness.
- The duel points of view worked wonders. I’ve oftentimes come across books that have way too much character head hopping going on that serves no point. Even in books with only two character PoV’s, they oftentimes fall short or really make no sense. This one was excellent. There’s just enough tension on both sides of the story, the perfect amount shown of the thoughts of both Raoul and Lia, that the duel points of view were perfection!
- Lia’s and how she dealt with her deformity and life in general was really nice. I loved the real look into the bitter emotions behind everything, how she worked her way around it and knew she was capable and strong even with her deformity. Just … asdfjlnaerg. I said it before but I have to say it again the characters were epic. They were just so real and emotional and I’m going to go flail around on the ground for an hour because they were so lovely. I loved Lia’s entire outlook and how real it was.
- Same with Raoul his entire outlook was also cool. I’m going to try to resist squealing about the characters for a year though, so bear with me.
- The Christianity … Ach. This was so inspiring. It was beautifully written, not coming off as preachy, but also not afraid to tell the truth. Most books these days, even books labelled “Christian” aren’t really Christian. That can’t be said about The Secret Slipper. I’m not going to go too deep into the Christian message and spoil anything for any of you guys who haven’t read this yet but let me tell you: it’s beautiful and it was inspiring and I think I really needed to hear this again.
The fairy tale aspect is interesting and really different. I don’t think I really have to say that most fairy tale retellings are getting kind of old. They’re predictable, generic and full of cliches. This one really wasn’t. I wouldn’t say it’s an exact retelling, it’s more of … there are aspects in this book that are based off Cinderella. So if you’re not into retellings … have no fear, this one isn’t quite the same as all the others, and if you are into them … read this anyway! ;)
- There wasn't really any romance? Which, lemme tell you, is really refreshing when it comes to books, especially fairy-tale retellings which are kind of shoving romance in your face. The nice thing though, is it really didn't need romance! The relationship between father and daughter was the perfect twist to the original fairy-tale.
Honestly there weren’t that many things that I disliked, but just to mention …
- I wished it was longer. The story wasn’t exactly lacking anything, and no one part was rushed, but it was so. short. As an aspiring author I can completely understand this, but the reader part in my head was longing for more.
- The names … were confusing … I mean, I didn’t dislike them but my poor little brain that’s realllly bad at remembering names was hurting. We have Raoul, two servant type guys, Lia, Lia’s two friends, Lia’s two step-sisters, Lia’s “step-mum” and others who don’t pop up this much. Like … how am I supposed to keep track of Lia’s friends and which one of the Raoul’s buddies is which as ahhhh … Albeit, this is kind of my fault for having a weird brain but … y’know. ;)
And … honestly that’s all that comes to mind right now?
My overall rating turned out to be 4.5 stars. There's a lovely, lovely lil book here. :D
June 2, 2017
About this book:
“Being a cripple is only the beginning of Lia’s troubles. It seems as if Bioti’s goal in life is to make Lia as miserable as possible. If Lia’s purpose was to be a slave, then why did God make her a cripple? How can He make something beautiful out of her deformity?
Raoul never questioned the death of his daughter until someone reports her whereabouts. If Ellia is still alive, how has she survived these ten years with her deformity? When Raoul doesn’t know who to trust, can he trust God to keep Ellia safe when evidence reveals Bioti’s dangerous character?
As time brings more hindrances, will Raoul find Ellia, or will she forever be lost to the father she doesn't even know is searching for her?”
Series: Book #2 in the “Tales of Faith” series. Review of Book #1 Here!
Spiritual Content- Many Prayers; Scriptures are read, quoted, mentioned, & remembered; Bible reading; Being witnessed to; Many talks about God & Jesus; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Lia doesn’t think God has a purpose for her, *Spoiler* *End of Spoiler*; Many mentions of God; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of a Bible & reading it; Mentions of sinners & sin; A couple mentions of blessings;
*Note: A couple mentions of Lia’s foot being looked at as a curse.
Negative Content- A bit of sarcasm; A couple mentions of curses (said, not written); Pain & Being slapped (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of deaths, dying, graves, burying people, & plagues (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of thieves, stealing, killing, hangings, & dungeons (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of an attack & murder; Mentions of a battle, fighting & deaths; Mentions of pain & injuries; Mentions of hatred & anger; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of manure; A few mentions of debts.
Sexual Content- N/A
-(Princess) Ellia/Lia, age 13
P.O.V. of Ellia, Raoul, & Nes (once)
{Medieval/Fantasy}
135 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Three Stars
New Teens- Four Stars
Early High School Teens- Four Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
I’ve been looking forward to reading this book since I heard after reading “Befriending the Beast” that this would be a series! I’m so excited at the thought of more sweet fairytale re-tellings. Loosely inspired by Cinderella, this one had it’s own twists and also no romance!
I *think* I enjoyed this one even more than the first book…? Maybe? Yes? Haha, I can’t pick! Both are so cute, sweet and lovely. :)
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Author for this honest review.
“Being a cripple is only the beginning of Lia’s troubles. It seems as if Bioti’s goal in life is to make Lia as miserable as possible. If Lia’s purpose was to be a slave, then why did God make her a cripple? How can He make something beautiful out of her deformity?
Raoul never questioned the death of his daughter until someone reports her whereabouts. If Ellia is still alive, how has she survived these ten years with her deformity? When Raoul doesn’t know who to trust, can he trust God to keep Ellia safe when evidence reveals Bioti’s dangerous character?
As time brings more hindrances, will Raoul find Ellia, or will she forever be lost to the father she doesn't even know is searching for her?”
Series: Book #2 in the “Tales of Faith” series. Review of Book #1 Here!
Spiritual Content- Many Prayers; Scriptures are read, quoted, mentioned, & remembered; Bible reading; Being witnessed to; Many talks about God & Jesus; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Lia doesn’t think God has a purpose for her, *Spoiler* *End of Spoiler*; Many mentions of God; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of a Bible & reading it; Mentions of sinners & sin; A couple mentions of blessings;
*Note: A couple mentions of Lia’s foot being looked at as a curse.
Negative Content- A bit of sarcasm; A couple mentions of curses (said, not written); Pain & Being slapped (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of deaths, dying, graves, burying people, & plagues (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of thieves, stealing, killing, hangings, & dungeons (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of an attack & murder; Mentions of a battle, fighting & deaths; Mentions of pain & injuries; Mentions of hatred & anger; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of manure; A few mentions of debts.
Sexual Content- N/A
-(Princess) Ellia/Lia, age 13
P.O.V. of Ellia, Raoul, & Nes (once)
{Medieval/Fantasy}
135 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Three Stars
New Teens- Four Stars
Early High School Teens- Four Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
I’ve been looking forward to reading this book since I heard after reading “Befriending the Beast” that this would be a series! I’m so excited at the thought of more sweet fairytale re-tellings. Loosely inspired by Cinderella, this one had it’s own twists and also no romance!
I *think* I enjoyed this one even more than the first book…? Maybe? Yes? Haha, I can’t pick! Both are so cute, sweet and lovely. :)
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Author for this honest review.
January 6, 2026
4.5 stars (4/10 hearts). Ooo, this is the second time I reread this book and it's quite fun to see the difference between 2018/2019 me and 2026 me! Once again, I enjoyed the book. Having completely forgot the ending, I was just as anxious over the last few chapters as I was the first time I read it. I appreciated both sides of the story—Raoul and Lia both had excellent lessons. I also really loved the Cinderella retelling from the POV of Cinderella and the prince. Once again, there were some great humour and awesome characters (Jolin & Noel are my favourites, and I need more about Zuzene!). Well done, and I'm very eager to reread book 3!
A Favourite Quote: “‘Lia, all of God’s creations are fearfully and wonderfully made. Beauty is not about what a person looks like, but about who a person is.’”
A Favourite Humourous Quote: “If Raoul could weave around the people, he might have a chance to speak with Feroci... if the man would acknowledge him, dressed as a commoner. Bury propriety! He shouldn’t have to bring robes everywhere he went.”
A Favourite Quote: “‘Lia, all of God’s creations are fearfully and wonderfully made. Beauty is not about what a person looks like, but about who a person is.’”
A Favourite Humourous Quote: “If Raoul could weave around the people, he might have a chance to speak with Feroci... if the man would acknowledge him, dressed as a commoner. Bury propriety! He shouldn’t have to bring robes everywhere he went.”
May 1, 2018
The Secret Slipper was really good. I loved how there wasn't any romance in the story -- I was so refreshing!
The search her father made looking for her was great and I felt his love for her. The book was written well and the story moved along nicely.
All in all, I enjoyed The Secret Slipper and recommend it.
*I received a complimentary eBook copy of this book for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
The search her father made looking for her was great and I felt his love for her. The book was written well and the story moved along nicely.
All in all, I enjoyed The Secret Slipper and recommend it.
*I received a complimentary eBook copy of this book for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
October 2, 2019
Nothing to say but, delightful.
May 26, 2017
Have you ever read a fairy tale and had the thought, "You know what? This would be so much better without the romance. And, hey, while we're at it, let's toss out the magic, too!"?
Well, those aren’t thoughts that I’ve ever had, specifically, but I am always looking for fairy tales told in new and intriguing ways. When I heard of Amanda Tero’s Befriending the Beast, a story where the “beast” was the heroine’s father, rather than love interest, I knew I needed to read it. There aren’t many B&B retellings – much less B&B retellings stripped of magic – that I actually like. This twist, though, was unique enough to intrigue me.
Then the author contacted me asking if I’d like to participate in the blog tour for the sequel, a retelling of Cinderella where the prince was Cinderella’s father. I signed up to review, as well receive a copy of the first book, which I loved just as much as I thought that I would, then I plunged eagerly into Secret Slipper.
This story directly follows the events of Befriending the Beast, but is about Lord Raoul, the uncle with whom Belle had lived following her own mother’s death. He had lost his wife and only daughter to a plague years before, and while he had remarried, his second wife provided him with no children. For a time, Belle had filled that hole in his heart, but now she has returned to her own father and Raoul's home is empty again.
Until he receives a message that states that his daughter might be as dead as he'd believed. That she had instead been spirited away by a spiteful servant who blamed Raoul for her husband's death. Raoul immediately begins his search, dropping everything for the chance at having his child back.
Meanwhile, Lia has led a pretty miserable life as her "stepmother" has continued to take her annoyance for Raoul out on her. They've run short on money, and Lia is the one forced to get a job to support them. Even though she has a club foot and can barely hobble about.
This was a delightfully unique take on the fairy tale. There's no ball, no glass slipper scene, but it's touching and heartfelt all the same. The rags-to-riches story of redemption is ever so much stronger and more powerful when it's the father stepping in for his daughter than it is when it's a love interest that the girl meets for the first time in a rushed ball. Amanda tells her stories without shame for her faith, and the story of redemption is told clearly, even as it's shown. The characters are diverse and interest, with many different motives and struggles.
While this is the second book of the series, and it does directly follow the events of Befriending the Beast, it can be read first without majorly spoiling its predecessor. It was a delightful tale, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys Cinderella retellings and stories of faith.
Well, those aren’t thoughts that I’ve ever had, specifically, but I am always looking for fairy tales told in new and intriguing ways. When I heard of Amanda Tero’s Befriending the Beast, a story where the “beast” was the heroine’s father, rather than love interest, I knew I needed to read it. There aren’t many B&B retellings – much less B&B retellings stripped of magic – that I actually like. This twist, though, was unique enough to intrigue me.
Then the author contacted me asking if I’d like to participate in the blog tour for the sequel, a retelling of Cinderella where the prince was Cinderella’s father. I signed up to review, as well receive a copy of the first book, which I loved just as much as I thought that I would, then I plunged eagerly into Secret Slipper.
This story directly follows the events of Befriending the Beast, but is about Lord Raoul, the uncle with whom Belle had lived following her own mother’s death. He had lost his wife and only daughter to a plague years before, and while he had remarried, his second wife provided him with no children. For a time, Belle had filled that hole in his heart, but now she has returned to her own father and Raoul's home is empty again.
Until he receives a message that states that his daughter might be as dead as he'd believed. That she had instead been spirited away by a spiteful servant who blamed Raoul for her husband's death. Raoul immediately begins his search, dropping everything for the chance at having his child back.
Meanwhile, Lia has led a pretty miserable life as her "stepmother" has continued to take her annoyance for Raoul out on her. They've run short on money, and Lia is the one forced to get a job to support them. Even though she has a club foot and can barely hobble about.
This was a delightfully unique take on the fairy tale. There's no ball, no glass slipper scene, but it's touching and heartfelt all the same. The rags-to-riches story of redemption is ever so much stronger and more powerful when it's the father stepping in for his daughter than it is when it's a love interest that the girl meets for the first time in a rushed ball. Amanda tells her stories without shame for her faith, and the story of redemption is told clearly, even as it's shown. The characters are diverse and interest, with many different motives and struggles.
While this is the second book of the series, and it does directly follow the events of Befriending the Beast, it can be read first without majorly spoiling its predecessor. It was a delightful tale, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys Cinderella retellings and stories of faith.
June 7, 2017
More like 4.5 stars . . . Cinderella is my favorite fairy tale. The Secret Slipper is Cinderella with an intriguing twist it appears no one has ever written before: What if Cinderella’s father is the one who is looking for her? This creative turn of character made for a unique story that was able to focus on the yearning for family and belonging instead of the overdone romance, and, most importantly, how God turns out everything to work for the good of His children.
The story is fast-paced and the plot is tight and well written. I read it in two sittings – I did not want to put it down. I found all the characters interesting, but I did feel I wanted a bit more character development among the major characters and differentiation among the more minor characters. But that’s just me!
I really appreciated the spiritual lessons that Lia and Raoul (Lord Kiralyn) learned, especially Raoul’s conviction about not leaning on his own understanding and, instead, praying and listening to God’s leading. That was something I needed to be reminded of, and I’ve been thinking about it ever since I read it; it really helped me during some things I was going through afterward. It’s a very meaningful lesson to discover alongside Raoul.
Another twist I was not expecting was in Lia’s character. She is the “Cinderella,” but she wasn’t the tale’s typical angelic maiden; instead, she had a lot of bitterness, which was actually more realistic. Although this was important to the storyline, I was a little disappointed that my normal favorite in the Cinderella tale was not more likeable to me. As it was, I was drawn to her mainly because she had my sympathy for her crippled foot. But her depth of darkness does allow God’s work to shine forth.
Although The Secret Slipper is the sequel to Befriending the Beast, I haven’t yet read the latter. However, I found The Secret Slipper reads fine as a stand-alone . . . except that it completely whets my appetite for Befriending the Beast!
In short, this novella immersed me in an intriguing story that was hard to put down and that truly spoke to my heart.
(I purchased this book and was under no obligation to write a positive review.)
The story is fast-paced and the plot is tight and well written. I read it in two sittings – I did not want to put it down. I found all the characters interesting, but I did feel I wanted a bit more character development among the major characters and differentiation among the more minor characters. But that’s just me!
I really appreciated the spiritual lessons that Lia and Raoul (Lord Kiralyn) learned, especially Raoul’s conviction about not leaning on his own understanding and, instead, praying and listening to God’s leading. That was something I needed to be reminded of, and I’ve been thinking about it ever since I read it; it really helped me during some things I was going through afterward. It’s a very meaningful lesson to discover alongside Raoul.
Another twist I was not expecting was in Lia’s character. She is the “Cinderella,” but she wasn’t the tale’s typical angelic maiden; instead, she had a lot of bitterness, which was actually more realistic. Although this was important to the storyline, I was a little disappointed that my normal favorite in the Cinderella tale was not more likeable to me. As it was, I was drawn to her mainly because she had my sympathy for her crippled foot. But her depth of darkness does allow God’s work to shine forth.
Although The Secret Slipper is the sequel to Befriending the Beast, I haven’t yet read the latter. However, I found The Secret Slipper reads fine as a stand-alone . . . except that it completely whets my appetite for Befriending the Beast!
In short, this novella immersed me in an intriguing story that was hard to put down and that truly spoke to my heart.
(I purchased this book and was under no obligation to write a positive review.)
June 15, 2017
Once upon a time ... there was a girl named Cinderella. You all know the story, but I bet you haven't heard it told quite like this. There is no prince charming, no ball, and definitely no romance. Rather, there is a little, crippled girl kidnapped while her father, the King's brother, is fighting in a war. Ten years later, her father learns she is still alive but only has her specially-made slipper to track her down with.
The Secret Slipper by Amanda Tero is cute, to say the least. It is a heartwarming tale about a daddy-daughter relationship. This is no to say that there is no drama, danger, or adventure. The story surprised me by adding a bit of those things to make the classic Cinderella story more interesting. Kidnapping, murder, and revenge rev up the already-twisted tale. I truly enjoyed it. I wish I could see her grow up in her new family and blossom into a young woman, cherished rather than mistreated.
The main critique I had with this book is that I wasn’t able to fully immerse myself in the characters’ minds. The story felt … rushed, for lack of a better word, and there seemed to be a dividing line between me and the characters that kept me from connecting with them and from them being real. I’ve come across several books like this, and I’m not sure how to pinpoint what exactly it is that makes it seem like that. Maybe the characters are more two-dimensional, going on an adventure but never truly changing from it? I’m also unsure whether it was intentionally or unintentionally done on the author’s part—it could be a POV rarely used by contemporary authors, right? Books with that sort of distance between reader and character are not my preferred reading material, but I still enjoyed the story as a whole.
The Secret Slipper is a sweet little novella based off of “Cinderella.” I enjoyed the twist on the story as well as the added drama. I recommend this story to all fans of the classic fairy tale who enjoy retellings.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
The Secret Slipper by Amanda Tero is cute, to say the least. It is a heartwarming tale about a daddy-daughter relationship. This is no to say that there is no drama, danger, or adventure. The story surprised me by adding a bit of those things to make the classic Cinderella story more interesting. Kidnapping, murder, and revenge rev up the already-twisted tale. I truly enjoyed it. I wish I could see her grow up in her new family and blossom into a young woman, cherished rather than mistreated.
The main critique I had with this book is that I wasn’t able to fully immerse myself in the characters’ minds. The story felt … rushed, for lack of a better word, and there seemed to be a dividing line between me and the characters that kept me from connecting with them and from them being real. I’ve come across several books like this, and I’m not sure how to pinpoint what exactly it is that makes it seem like that. Maybe the characters are more two-dimensional, going on an adventure but never truly changing from it? I’m also unsure whether it was intentionally or unintentionally done on the author’s part—it could be a POV rarely used by contemporary authors, right? Books with that sort of distance between reader and character are not my preferred reading material, but I still enjoyed the story as a whole.
The Secret Slipper is a sweet little novella based off of “Cinderella.” I enjoyed the twist on the story as well as the added drama. I recommend this story to all fans of the classic fairy tale who enjoy retellings.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
June 2, 2017
Admittedly, it did take me about half the book to really get into this. The beginning was a little overdramatic for my tastes and I felt the characters needed to spend a little more time thinking through their actions than they actually did. But that is a human character trait and a personal preference issue, so don’t just take my word for it. :)
And besides, by the end of it all, I was 100% into this story. Like, I may or may not have put aside my own writing for a while, so I could finish this book in like an hour and a half. It was that good. That moment of surrender came so perfectly and so naturally, plus the climax was actually epic and the ending absolutely lovely.
Sidenote: it also helped to remind me of a place in my own life where I needed to hand things over to God more, so that was doubly cool. :)
It was good, y’all, real good.
And besides, by the end of it all, I was 100% into this story. Like, I may or may not have put aside my own writing for a while, so I could finish this book in like an hour and a half. It was that good. That moment of surrender came so perfectly and so naturally, plus the climax was actually epic and the ending absolutely lovely.
Sidenote: it also helped to remind me of a place in my own life where I needed to hand things over to God more, so that was doubly cool. :)
It was good, y’all, real good.
May 12, 2017
As a beta-reader, I helped revise this a bit. It didn't need much! For a fairy-tale retelling, this was really good. I didn't even realize that it was a retelling of Cinderella at first.
The characters in The Secret Slipper were very well-developed. Raoul's struggle and pride was believable and actually affected me personally(The need for prayer is very important!). Lia's predicament and distress endeared me to her. Bioti was evil, but her motivation made sense- as much sense as an evil person can make, that is. I also didn't appreciate Dumphey; on whose side was he, anyway?
The plot was also very well-done, and full of plot twists. I wasn't sure why everyone had a grudge on Raoul for things he couldn't control, though. How shallow are these people??
What can I say? Read this book, because it's really good.
The characters in The Secret Slipper were very well-developed. Raoul's struggle and pride was believable and actually affected me personally(The need for prayer is very important!). Lia's predicament and distress endeared me to her. Bioti was evil, but her motivation made sense- as much sense as an evil person can make, that is. I also didn't appreciate Dumphey; on whose side was he, anyway?
The plot was also very well-done, and full of plot twists. I wasn't sure why everyone had a grudge on Raoul for things he couldn't control, though. How shallow are these people??
What can I say? Read this book, because it's really good.
May 15, 2017
The Secret Slipper is a wonderful retelling of the Cinderella story. I loved that the prince in this case was the father, and even though I’m quite familiar with the popular fairy tale, I found myself rooting for him as I wondered if he would ever find his daughter. I liked the flavor of the setting-kind of medieval, but not as primitive. The villain is so evil, it was a pleasure to dislike her, and I found myself getting angry as I read the injustices she meted out to Lia. There was a character near the end of the story whose only purpose seemed to be to present the message of salvation to Lia. The woman seemed to have her own story, and I was disappointed the author didn’t follow through with it. Perhaps a sequel? This is the first book of Amanda Tero’s I’ve read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I plan to read the first in her Tales of Faith series, Befriending the Beast. Anyone who loves fairy tales or stories set in medieval times would enjoy this book. The main character, Lia, is thirteen, so teens may also like The Secret Slipper.
I received this book for free from Celebrate Lit, and a positive review was not required. All opinions expressed are my own.
I received this book for free from Celebrate Lit, and a positive review was not required. All opinions expressed are my own.
June 13, 2017
This was an interesting Medieval short story that was like a Cinderella story. An evil stepmother, stepsisters and Lia is the young lady hired out to work and support them all! I enjoyed the Christian theme found in this one. This tale was of hardship, friendship and forgiveness, it made an interesting quick read.
April 28, 2017
I loved this book! I don’t read or like fairy tales, but I enjoyed Book One of this series,
, because there was no magic, spells, witches, etc., so I was excited to be able to receive an advanced reader copy of Book Two.
The plot was loosely based on Cinderella, but with a lot of surprising twists! I loved reading more about the characters from
, and having the story told from two POVs instead of only one. It made the story interesting without being difficult to follow.
I appreciated the way the author handled the characters and their emotions, struggles, fears, etc. and the only real complaint I have is that I would have liked to know more about Zuzene and what became of her and why she was there in prison in the first place.
I look forward to future books in this sweet series!
, because there was no magic, spells, witches, etc., so I was excited to be able to receive an advanced reader copy of Book Two.The plot was loosely based on Cinderella, but with a lot of surprising twists! I loved reading more about the characters from
, and having the story told from two POVs instead of only one. It made the story interesting without being difficult to follow. I appreciated the way the author handled the characters and their emotions, struggles, fears, etc. and the only real complaint I have is that I would have liked to know more about Zuzene and what became of her and why she was there in prison in the first place.
I look forward to future books in this sweet series!
July 25, 2019
In the second book in the Tales of Faith series, author Amanda Tero brings to life a new and fun father-daughter Cinderella story. It’s about discovering that the people that were supposedly are your step family aren’t really your family and being reunited with family where you are truly loved and wanted. This is a fun twist on the story of Cinderella, and although it’s not a romance, story, readers will be charmed and delighted by this sweet tale.
Series: Tales of Faith
Genre: historical, fantasy, fairytale, Christian
Publisher: Artstudios
Publication date: May 25, 2017
Number of pages: 166
Other books in the series:
1-Befriending the Beast
3-Protecting the Poor (coming August 2019)
A copy of this book was purchased for review. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
Series: Tales of Faith
Genre: historical, fantasy, fairytale, Christian
Publisher: Artstudios
Publication date: May 25, 2017
Number of pages: 166
Other books in the series:
1-Befriending the Beast
3-Protecting the Poor (coming August 2019)
A copy of this book was purchased for review. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
July 16, 2019
This was a beautiful read by an author I highly respect. I love Amanda's work, and this book is no exception.
This story is told well -- the story of Raoul looking for his lost daughter he had been told was dead many years ago. The twists and turns in finding her are well documented, and I love how Raoul learns to trust the Lord through every trial in his life.
The retelling of Cinderella is delightful -- I loved the fact he still had a baby slipper from when she was little. He had kept it for years, and it finally served its purpose, much to my delight :D The many trials and twists in the storyline definitely kept me wanting to read more, and I was able to finish this one in a day.
This was a book suitable for children of all ages, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am reading this series aloud to my younger sisters, so they can enjoy it as well -- and I love the faith that Amanda always manages to bring to life without ever sounding "preachy" or "moralistic".
I loved this book, and wholeheartedly give it five stars.
This story is told well -- the story of Raoul looking for his lost daughter he had been told was dead many years ago. The twists and turns in finding her are well documented, and I love how Raoul learns to trust the Lord through every trial in his life.
The retelling of Cinderella is delightful -- I loved the fact he still had a baby slipper from when she was little. He had kept it for years, and it finally served its purpose, much to my delight :D The many trials and twists in the storyline definitely kept me wanting to read more, and I was able to finish this one in a day.
This was a book suitable for children of all ages, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am reading this series aloud to my younger sisters, so they can enjoy it as well -- and I love the faith that Amanda always manages to bring to life without ever sounding "preachy" or "moralistic".
I loved this book, and wholeheartedly give it five stars.
April 26, 2021
This is the first "Cinderella" retelling I find which doesn't have a prince nor a romance but instead is about a father-daughter relationship, and it was very surprising for that twist alone.
Ellia, the young daughter of a royal lord, is kidnapped by her nursemaid in revenge for perceived slights by her father, and pretty much lives the life of your typical ash girl for years and years. Until her father, who refuses to give up on finding her again, goes on a quest to rescue his little girl.
I liked that, in this story, Ellia is very young and it shows in her POVs, and also she has a disability to contend with on top of her difficult circumstances, yet she still doesn't give up. The story is heartwarming, though at some point it does get a bit preachy about faith.
Ellia, the young daughter of a royal lord, is kidnapped by her nursemaid in revenge for perceived slights by her father, and pretty much lives the life of your typical ash girl for years and years. Until her father, who refuses to give up on finding her again, goes on a quest to rescue his little girl.
I liked that, in this story, Ellia is very young and it shows in her POVs, and also she has a disability to contend with on top of her difficult circumstances, yet she still doesn't give up. The story is heartwarming, though at some point it does get a bit preachy about faith.
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June 13, 2017The Secret Slipper is a fairy tale similar to Cinderella, but with some very different twists in it. I love how Tero turned the main character into a cripple. This made the story-line more believable, but still intriguing. It also portrayed how strong a father's love can be.
The characters are believable and well-created. I tried and tried to figure out why Bioti did the things she did. She was a miserable woman who did some despicable things. I disliked her from the beginning of the story.
Ellia was a sweet, caring character, even though she was raised by a horrible person. She pushed past her disability in order to do what was expected of her. She knew she was being mistreated, but it didn't stop her from obeying.
This was a fun story! Tero made me dislike and love the characters. Her writing is well-done and her imagination is very rich.
The characters are believable and well-created. I tried and tried to figure out why Bioti did the things she did. She was a miserable woman who did some despicable things. I disliked her from the beginning of the story.
Ellia was a sweet, caring character, even though she was raised by a horrible person. She pushed past her disability in order to do what was expected of her. She knew she was being mistreated, but it didn't stop her from obeying.
This was a fun story! Tero made me dislike and love the characters. Her writing is well-done and her imagination is very rich.
May 26, 2017
My rating 3.5 stars. The Secret Slipper was an interesting read. I enjoyed it for the most part. There was not much of action, for that reason (because I really love action. (: ) I am rating it 3.5 stars. But don't let that deter you from reading it! I still enjoyed it, and my preferences are different that a lot of people. ;) Amanda did a very good job on the writing, and the story was a very interesting retelling of Cinderella. Over all it was a good read and I enjoyed it. i would recommend it to ages 10-up maybe even younger. There is no romance and the main girl is 13 years old, plus there is little to no violence. So a good read for young to old. :D
May 2, 2018
I enjoyed this book even more than the first! The father/daughter retelling of a romance is such a creative idea, and I loved all the twists this plot incorporated. The lessons were good, too, and I liked that the main characters weren't just perfect and put-upon; even though their desires were right, they had faults and lessons to learn along the way. And their struggles didn't feel contrived in the least--Lord Kiralyn's desire for instant action and Lia's frustration with her limitations were perfectly relatable. They were brought to a great conclusion as well!
I really liked the details and the setting and felt very connected to the (approximate) historical time. I'd had a little trouble with the dialogue in the first book but none in this one. (No trouble--not no dialogue...) Great work!
I really liked the details and the setting and felt very connected to the (approximate) historical time. I'd had a little trouble with the dialogue in the first book but none in this one. (No trouble--not no dialogue...) Great work!
May 10, 2017
This is really 3.5 stars not 3.
I'm not much of a fan of fairy-tales retold or original. However, I have liked every story so far by Amanda Tero and was eagerly looking forward to what she would do with "Cinderella." The father/daughter twist was a delightful change from the usual "lover to the rescue" stories. I also appreciated that the author incorporated the importance of following God's leading and the Salvation message without it feeling 'preachy' or out of place. All in all, I enjoyed this tale and would recommend it to those who enjoy fairy-tales. (And those who do now too.)
I'm not much of a fan of fairy-tales retold or original. However, I have liked every story so far by Amanda Tero and was eagerly looking forward to what she would do with "Cinderella." The father/daughter twist was a delightful change from the usual "lover to the rescue" stories. I also appreciated that the author incorporated the importance of following God's leading and the Salvation message without it feeling 'preachy' or out of place. All in all, I enjoyed this tale and would recommend it to those who enjoy fairy-tales. (And those who do now too.)
June 2, 2017
I don't really consider myself a fantasy lover. As in, if having to choose between fantasy and historical, I'd pick historical, nearly every time. However, I was excited to read Amanda's The Secret Slipper because they're fairytale retellings that don't seem like retellings.
The Secret Slipper IS a Cinderella retelling, but it's not one of those where, halfway through the first page, you go "oh...not this again." Instead, it's one of those where, two chapters from the end, you suddenly go, "Oh! This is a Cinderella-based story!" So for that, I was grateful, because fairy tale retellings often become very similar.
I also really liked how, while the Cinderella theme was woven throughout the story, not many of the actual Cinderella story aspects are woven in. For instance, there is no prince, no ball, no glass slipper, no evil stepmother, and the list goes on.
The Gospel was also clearly presented, both straightforwardly and allegorically. I also really liked that, because SO MUCH Christian fiction has about two mentions of God in all of 300 pages, and don't live up to the "Christian fiction" name.
As for the story itself, I would have liked a bit more development of the characters throughout the novella. I understand that it was a novella, so I'm cutting it a bit of slack here, but there were SO MANY good characters in the story, and I would have LOVED some more character development.
Aside from that, the story was so beautifully clean. There was no romance, much less anything other than that. And that was just SO refreshing.
The Secret Slipper IS a Cinderella retelling, but it's not one of those where, halfway through the first page, you go "oh...not this again." Instead, it's one of those where, two chapters from the end, you suddenly go, "Oh! This is a Cinderella-based story!" So for that, I was grateful, because fairy tale retellings often become very similar.
I also really liked how, while the Cinderella theme was woven throughout the story, not many of the actual Cinderella story aspects are woven in. For instance, there is no prince, no ball, no glass slipper, no evil stepmother, and the list goes on.
The Gospel was also clearly presented, both straightforwardly and allegorically. I also really liked that, because SO MUCH Christian fiction has about two mentions of God in all of 300 pages, and don't live up to the "Christian fiction" name.
As for the story itself, I would have liked a bit more development of the characters throughout the novella. I understand that it was a novella, so I'm cutting it a bit of slack here, but there were SO MANY good characters in the story, and I would have LOVED some more character development.
Aside from that, the story was so beautifully clean. There was no romance, much less anything other than that. And that was just SO refreshing.
June 3, 2017
I personally love fairy-tale retellings, and Cinderella stories are some of my favorites. This one was no exception! Following in the same style as the first one, instead of a handsome prince, the male MC is her father. I just love that! And I absolutely loved this book! Amanda did a great job developing the characters. I can’t give anything away, but she did an amazing job of slipping in an undercurrent of uncertainty with one particular character that turned out to be proven correct in the end even though I was still not expecting it to happen!
The plot development was also great! I never felt like there were any parts that dragged, but things transitioned smoothly throughout. I really like the way she switched up the chapters with the two points of view. You were able to follow each of the main characters and their stories, and I could hardly put it down when it got to the point where I could tell they were about to converge! Aahhh, I just loved it.
The spiritual journeys and lessons each of the characters learned were so good! I think one of my favorite things about Amanda’s stories is the way she weaves spiritual truth and lessons seamlessly into her work.
So in conclusion, I truly do think this is Amanda’s best book yet, and I’m giving it 5 stars! Can’t wait for upcoming stories!
Oh, and I forgot to mention just how much I love the cover! So beautiful!
The plot development was also great! I never felt like there were any parts that dragged, but things transitioned smoothly throughout. I really like the way she switched up the chapters with the two points of view. You were able to follow each of the main characters and their stories, and I could hardly put it down when it got to the point where I could tell they were about to converge! Aahhh, I just loved it.
The spiritual journeys and lessons each of the characters learned were so good! I think one of my favorite things about Amanda’s stories is the way she weaves spiritual truth and lessons seamlessly into her work.
So in conclusion, I truly do think this is Amanda’s best book yet, and I’m giving it 5 stars! Can’t wait for upcoming stories!
Oh, and I forgot to mention just how much I love the cover! So beautiful!
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