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Slipper
Her life is the inspiration for the world’s most famous story.
Lucinda, a penniless English orphan, is abused and exploited as a cinder-sweep by her aristocratic relatives. On receiving her sole inheritance—a pair of glass-beaded slippers—she runs away to France in pursuit of an officer on whom she has a big crush. She joins the baggage train of Louis XIV’s army, survives a terrible massacre, and eventually finds her way to Paris. There she befriends the man who will some day write the world’s most famous fairy tale, Charles Perrault, and tells him her life story.
There is more: a witch hunt, the sorry truth about daydreams, and some truly astonishing revelations, such as the historical facts behind the story of the Emperor's new clothes, and a perfectly reasonable explanation for the compulsion some young women have to kiss frogs.
This is not the fairy tale you remember.
Lucinda, a penniless English orphan, is abused and exploited as a cinder-sweep by her aristocratic relatives. On receiving her sole inheritance—a pair of glass-beaded slippers—she runs away to France in pursuit of an officer on whom she has a big crush. She joins the baggage train of Louis XIV’s army, survives a terrible massacre, and eventually finds her way to Paris. There she befriends the man who will some day write the world’s most famous fairy tale, Charles Perrault, and tells him her life story.
There is more: a witch hunt, the sorry truth about daydreams, and some truly astonishing revelations, such as the historical facts behind the story of the Emperor's new clothes, and a perfectly reasonable explanation for the compulsion some young women have to kiss frogs.
This is not the fairy tale you remember.
371 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 17, 2018
29 people are currently reading
890 people want to read
About the author
Hester Velmans
27 books75 followersI make my living translating modern novels (French, Dutch into English), but my real love is reserved for writing my own brand of fiction. My latest is a historical novel, SLIPPER, which tells the story of Cinderella as if she had been a real-life historical character in the 17th century who meets the original author of the fairy tales, the little-known Charles Perrault. My two books for children won many fans: Isabel of the Whales and the follow-up, Jessaloup's Song . I also read everything I can get my hands on. I live in Western Massachusetts with my husband Peter, my dog Ruby and a few thousand bees.
Oh, and I have a website I hope you'll visit: http://www.Hestervelmans.com.
Oh, and I have a website I hope you'll visit: http://www.Hestervelmans.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
April 23, 2018
What if Charles Perrault's story of Cinderella was based on a real story of a real girl he just happens to meet? That is the tale this book tells. It's definitely an adult book with rape, witch hunts, and abuse. It's written very realistically. There is still so much whimsical charm and it includes other fairy tales like mother goose, the frog prince, the emperors new clothes, and of course Cinderella.
The emotional involvement with the characters was there for me and even though Lucinda can be childish, she experiences things in life that make her grow and become an adult. Do you remember the movie Ever After? I kept thinking of that movie as I read this book only change the rating to mature. I highly recommend to adults who live fairy tale retellings and historical fiction.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book for a fair and honest review.
The emotional involvement with the characters was there for me and even though Lucinda can be childish, she experiences things in life that make her grow and become an adult. Do you remember the movie Ever After? I kept thinking of that movie as I read this book only change the rating to mature. I highly recommend to adults who live fairy tale retellings and historical fiction.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book for a fair and honest review.
Read
April 17, 2018Forgive me for shamelessly posting a review of my own book, but it's just too tempting! In a nutshell: I wrote the kind of book I wanted to read. The kind of book I want to read has a sweeping plot, bumbling but engaging characters, a historical background, interesting facts or observations, and a feminist slant anchoring it firmly in the 21st century. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I hope that there will be at least one or two readers who can relate!
March 19, 2018
Lucinda's mother is thrown out by her wealthy family because she is pregnant and they believe she is not married. Lucinda is brought home to live and when she grows up is treated as the lowest class of a maid by her sister after her grandmother dies. Lucinda travels and goes from what could be happiness to disaster. Many painful times in her life but her life is a series of Fairy Tales including her inheritance of a pair of glass slippers. You can see where this is going. An interesting read. Her life gives the author Charles Perrault the inspiration for his famous stories.
April 23, 2018
LOVED this retelling! Full review to come.
February 10, 2018
Hester Velmans has come up with a delightful, creative twist on historical fiction with “Slipper” in this feminist reimagining of Cinderella.
May 4, 2018
"Slipper" is a fairy tale retelling of the story of Cinderella. In this book, we have Lucinda, a beautiful but unfortunate girl, born to a young woman who was pregnant out of wedlock and tragically passes after she has Lucinda. This book explores just what would have happened if a real woman told author Charles Perrault of her plight and gave him the inspiration for one of our timeless fairy tales.
I love, love, love fairy tale retellings. They are so much fun and while this one was fun, be warned, it also has some pretty adult topics not for the faint of heart. I loved seeing how the author chose to explain some of the details of the fairy tale: the fairy godmother, the slippers, the prince, etc. It is clear that a lot of thought went into how Perrault could have taken some of the less glamorous parts of Lucinda's story and turned them into something truly fantastic.
As with Cinderella, I found myself pulling for Lucinda throughout the book and hoping that her life would finally change for the better after she seemingly goes from tragedy to tragedy. I loved Lucinda and I loved "Mother Goose."
This was a good book! It will appeal to those that like their historical fiction with a touch of the unexpected and magical.
I love, love, love fairy tale retellings. They are so much fun and while this one was fun, be warned, it also has some pretty adult topics not for the faint of heart. I loved seeing how the author chose to explain some of the details of the fairy tale: the fairy godmother, the slippers, the prince, etc. It is clear that a lot of thought went into how Perrault could have taken some of the less glamorous parts of Lucinda's story and turned them into something truly fantastic.
As with Cinderella, I found myself pulling for Lucinda throughout the book and hoping that her life would finally change for the better after she seemingly goes from tragedy to tragedy. I loved Lucinda and I loved "Mother Goose."
This was a good book! It will appeal to those that like their historical fiction with a touch of the unexpected and magical.
August 6, 2018
I received this book through Netgalley. I voluntarily offer my honest opinion of this book.
I am a big fan of the original Cinderella story and enjoy retellings of the story. However I struggled with this story and found that certain parts felt like they dragged on a bit in parts.
Lucinda suffered a lot more than the original story, which she begins as an orphan and then the unwanted bastard of her mother's family. Her only friends are Bessie Goose who delivered her and the other servants. She survives being raped by her uncle, becoming a mistress and war. Even though Lucinda had a tough life I found I started to dislike Lucinda as she got older. It was a good story but I really struggled to complete it amd do not think I will read it again or recommend the story. xx
I am a big fan of the original Cinderella story and enjoy retellings of the story. However I struggled with this story and found that certain parts felt like they dragged on a bit in parts.
Lucinda suffered a lot more than the original story, which she begins as an orphan and then the unwanted bastard of her mother's family. Her only friends are Bessie Goose who delivered her and the other servants. She survives being raped by her uncle, becoming a mistress and war. Even though Lucinda had a tough life I found I started to dislike Lucinda as she got older. It was a good story but I really struggled to complete it amd do not think I will read it again or recommend the story. xx
May 12, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. It's a completely different (and much more realistic) take on the Cinderella story. Lucinda is such a strong character who, no matter how many people try and push her down, always gets back up to make the best with what she's been given in life.
This book is sad and frustrating, yet also hopeful. You can't help but cheer Lucinda on as goes moves from England to France, Amsterdam to Paris. While her happy ending isn't quite the one we're familiar with, it's still a great story nonetheless. I definitely recommend this one!
** I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
This book is sad and frustrating, yet also hopeful. You can't help but cheer Lucinda on as goes moves from England to France, Amsterdam to Paris. While her happy ending isn't quite the one we're familiar with, it's still a great story nonetheless. I definitely recommend this one!
** I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
March 21, 2018
Thanks to NetGalley and Van Horton Books for the ARC.
SLIPPER by Hester Velman (published April 17, 2018 by Van Horton Books) is the retelling of Cinderella. And, trust me, it is nothing like the Disney version. This Cinderella suffers a lot more than a torn dress and dirty fingernails thanks to all of that cleaning she had to do. This Cinderella survives rape, a witch hunt, war, and massacres. Life teaches her some very hard lessons – yet it takes her a long time to learn anything from them. And, in the end, the glass slipper doesn’t even fit!
Lucinda (AKA Cinderella) is a penniless orphan growing up in the mid to late-1600s. Because her aristocratic family believes her to be a bastard, Lucinda is not treated very well. At best, she is ignored by her family. At worst, she is forced to work as a servant in the family’s sprawling countryside mansion. Lucinda’s only friend is her godmother/family cook Bessie Goose (who, in this story, becomes the inspiration for Mother Goose), and the other household servants who spoil her.
I somewhat enjoyed SLIPPER in the beginning, but then, around halfway through, I decided that I didn’t like the novel. By the end, I was on the fence about it. It is an interesting story, but, as Lucinda got older, I found that I couldn’t stand her. Lucinda is a very imaginative child, and she has herself convinced that her daydreams will one day become reality. That her Prince Charming will one day come rescue her from her miserable life. I didn’t think that Bessie Goose was the most likeable of characters either. Instead of giving Lucinda some lessons in life and common sense, she instead allows the girl to remain ignorant. After being raped by her uncle, Lucinda throws herself at a captain in the English army who is betrothed to her cousin, believing that this man in her knight in shining armor. Leaving her home in the English countryside, Lucinda follows the captain to France where he is a captain in the army. Lucinda and Bessie join the baggage train, and Lucinda becomes the captain’s mistress. Lucinda begins to see the captain for what he really is, but she continues to cling to her dream that he’s her Prince Charming. She also develops an unhealthy interest in the whores who are also part of the baggage train. At this point, it’s too late for Bessie to give the teenage Lucinda any life lessons because Lucinda isn’t about to listen to anything that anyone has to say. When Lucinda finally realizes that the captain is never going to marry her, she turns to physician John Prynce. Upon learning that Prynce is responsible for both of her parents’ deaths, she flees the baggage train and makes her way to Holland. After a brief marriage to a boorish painter, Lucinda moves to Paris where, as a female artist, she is treated as a novelty and flattered by men who wish to make her their mistress. She also meets Charles Perrault, the man who will take her life story and use it to create the Cinderella fairy tale. He also uses Bessie’s stories (passed on to him through Lucinda since Bessie is now dead thanks to Lucinda’s recklessness) and turns them into the Mother Goose tales. It’s in Paris that Lucinda finally begins to open her eyes and realize that her daydreams are what got her into this mess. She then returns to England to see if she can work things out with Prynce.
While SLIPPER was an interesting and well plotted novel, it just wasn’t for me. I just didn’t like Lucinda at all. Most of the time I was irritated with her – as well as Bessie – for her naivety and recklessness. I spent the majority if the novel wanting to reach through the pages to smack Lucinda upside the head for her foolishness. Yes, life has dealt Lucinda a lot of crap, but she brings a good portion of it onto herself. The rest of the female characters are wicked – filling the roles of wicked step-mother and step-sisters even though they are Lucinda’s aunts and cousins. The male characters leave a lot more to be desired. I didn’t want a stereotypical Prince Charming, but it would have been nice to have a male character that was at least remotely likeable.
For me, the most interesting part of the novel was learning about the origins of some of the classic fairy tales. I also enjoyed that there were historical figures woven into the storyline. That helped add to the historic backdrop of the time period.
If you’re a diehard fan of Disney’s Cinderella, this novel probably won’t be for you. If you’re open to adaptations of the fairy tale, give SLIPPER a try.
SLIPPER by Hester Velman (published April 17, 2018 by Van Horton Books) is the retelling of Cinderella. And, trust me, it is nothing like the Disney version. This Cinderella suffers a lot more than a torn dress and dirty fingernails thanks to all of that cleaning she had to do. This Cinderella survives rape, a witch hunt, war, and massacres. Life teaches her some very hard lessons – yet it takes her a long time to learn anything from them. And, in the end, the glass slipper doesn’t even fit!
Lucinda (AKA Cinderella) is a penniless orphan growing up in the mid to late-1600s. Because her aristocratic family believes her to be a bastard, Lucinda is not treated very well. At best, she is ignored by her family. At worst, she is forced to work as a servant in the family’s sprawling countryside mansion. Lucinda’s only friend is her godmother/family cook Bessie Goose (who, in this story, becomes the inspiration for Mother Goose), and the other household servants who spoil her.
I somewhat enjoyed SLIPPER in the beginning, but then, around halfway through, I decided that I didn’t like the novel. By the end, I was on the fence about it. It is an interesting story, but, as Lucinda got older, I found that I couldn’t stand her. Lucinda is a very imaginative child, and she has herself convinced that her daydreams will one day become reality. That her Prince Charming will one day come rescue her from her miserable life. I didn’t think that Bessie Goose was the most likeable of characters either. Instead of giving Lucinda some lessons in life and common sense, she instead allows the girl to remain ignorant. After being raped by her uncle, Lucinda throws herself at a captain in the English army who is betrothed to her cousin, believing that this man in her knight in shining armor. Leaving her home in the English countryside, Lucinda follows the captain to France where he is a captain in the army. Lucinda and Bessie join the baggage train, and Lucinda becomes the captain’s mistress. Lucinda begins to see the captain for what he really is, but she continues to cling to her dream that he’s her Prince Charming. She also develops an unhealthy interest in the whores who are also part of the baggage train. At this point, it’s too late for Bessie to give the teenage Lucinda any life lessons because Lucinda isn’t about to listen to anything that anyone has to say. When Lucinda finally realizes that the captain is never going to marry her, she turns to physician John Prynce. Upon learning that Prynce is responsible for both of her parents’ deaths, she flees the baggage train and makes her way to Holland. After a brief marriage to a boorish painter, Lucinda moves to Paris where, as a female artist, she is treated as a novelty and flattered by men who wish to make her their mistress. She also meets Charles Perrault, the man who will take her life story and use it to create the Cinderella fairy tale. He also uses Bessie’s stories (passed on to him through Lucinda since Bessie is now dead thanks to Lucinda’s recklessness) and turns them into the Mother Goose tales. It’s in Paris that Lucinda finally begins to open her eyes and realize that her daydreams are what got her into this mess. She then returns to England to see if she can work things out with Prynce.
While SLIPPER was an interesting and well plotted novel, it just wasn’t for me. I just didn’t like Lucinda at all. Most of the time I was irritated with her – as well as Bessie – for her naivety and recklessness. I spent the majority if the novel wanting to reach through the pages to smack Lucinda upside the head for her foolishness. Yes, life has dealt Lucinda a lot of crap, but she brings a good portion of it onto herself. The rest of the female characters are wicked – filling the roles of wicked step-mother and step-sisters even though they are Lucinda’s aunts and cousins. The male characters leave a lot more to be desired. I didn’t want a stereotypical Prince Charming, but it would have been nice to have a male character that was at least remotely likeable.
For me, the most interesting part of the novel was learning about the origins of some of the classic fairy tales. I also enjoyed that there were historical figures woven into the storyline. That helped add to the historic backdrop of the time period.
If you’re a diehard fan of Disney’s Cinderella, this novel probably won’t be for you. If you’re open to adaptations of the fairy tale, give SLIPPER a try.
May 1, 2018
Slipper is an impressive tour de force: in imagining the backstory of Charles Perrault’s muse for Cinderella, Velmans weaves history and modern social commentary into a compelling tale about the motivation for the classic fairy tale. The muse Lucinda, unjustly forced to be a cindersweep, must undergo a transformation of modern proportion, rejecting the violence and fantasy of 17th century patriarchy, to get to the ball and beyond towards self-actualization. A remarkable book: it is both moving and important. Highly recommended.
May 2, 2018
Wow! What a fantastic book! I wanted to read it in one sitting! I almost did. This is an exquisite twist on the classic Cinderella. It's amazing and unputdownable! The things our heroine is subjected to in this book is unbelievable. I thought it was awesome and I highly recommend it.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. Thank you, Netgalley!
All opinions are my own.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. Thank you, Netgalley!
All opinions are my own.
April 4, 2018
With her new novel, Slipper, Hester Velmans has given us a highly entertaining romp with lessons. Part historical fiction and part fairy tale romance, it follows the life of a love child, an orphaned 17th century aristocratic beauty, whose innocence gets her into trouble and—as she grows—whose talents rescue her. Inspired by Charles Perrault, a name we should know but universally do not, an actual “functionary in the glittering court of Louise the Fourteenth,” Perrault penned some of our oldest cautionary tales: Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Puss in Boots, among others. Velmans puts his literary style and story content through both kaleidoscopic and meat grinder changes. Slipper’s heroine, Lucinda’s, downfall and ascent trace a shaky path through witch trials, incest, scandal, war, and intrigue. With these, Velmans mixes for us an intoxicating brew of re-imaged fairy tales. We follow Lucinda, borne along by her notion of true love as it submits to the constant revisions of realism. Fantastic but not fantastical, Velmans’ endlessly diverting tale has ogres, rogues, imps, fairy princesses and princes aplenty but in human form. In the rare (best) cases, they also have human hearts. A delightful novel, Slipper delivers grown-up fun in wonderfully rendered scenes that engross, horrify and satisfy the child-enthralled-by-their-bedtime-tale in each of us.
March 10, 2018
Thank you Netgalley and Van Horton Books for the ARC
This is a very special novel. It kept me engaged and guessing what was real and what was not all the way until the end, including the author's notes. I enjoyed the adult historical fiction and smiled like a little girl reading a fairytale.
We are guided by Charles Perrault, founding father of the original tale, who's voice we hear through anecdotes and life lessons, explaining elements of the story to his audience. It felt nurturing, like being read to as a child. I liked discovering the origins of the Silver Spoon and a Broken Heart.
We're following the life of Lucinda, born a bastard child in England's 17th century. After the dead of her mother she's left in the care of her non-committed family, destined for spinsterhood in a society full of pretty girls and nasty men.
Daydreaming of Prince Charming, mesmerized, on we go, to France and then the Low Countries. We end up in the French-Dutch offensive. Through this warzone Lucinda makes it to Amsterdam and then to Paris, making a name for herself painting portraits for the high and mighty. She becomes a member of a salon of strong, artistic woman and eventually finds her place in life.
Slipper is a satisfying read, highly recommended.
This is a very special novel. It kept me engaged and guessing what was real and what was not all the way until the end, including the author's notes. I enjoyed the adult historical fiction and smiled like a little girl reading a fairytale.
We are guided by Charles Perrault, founding father of the original tale, who's voice we hear through anecdotes and life lessons, explaining elements of the story to his audience. It felt nurturing, like being read to as a child. I liked discovering the origins of the Silver Spoon and a Broken Heart.
We're following the life of Lucinda, born a bastard child in England's 17th century. After the dead of her mother she's left in the care of her non-committed family, destined for spinsterhood in a society full of pretty girls and nasty men.
Daydreaming of Prince Charming, mesmerized, on we go, to France and then the Low Countries. We end up in the French-Dutch offensive. Through this warzone Lucinda makes it to Amsterdam and then to Paris, making a name for herself painting portraits for the high and mighty. She becomes a member of a salon of strong, artistic woman and eventually finds her place in life.
Slipper is a satisfying read, highly recommended.
did-not-finish
January 24, 2022DNFing this one around page 45. I was intrigued by this so-called feminist retelling of Cinderella, but although the writing and the historical details felt well done, the story itself was somehow so....unpleasant? I don't mean that I only read books that are all sunshine and rainbows, but this just made me feel like I needed to shower, and I was only eight chapters in. Every man that Lucinda (the main character) meets lusts after her, even though she's like....in her young teens, maybe? Not sure of the age, but since this book is told through third-person omnipotent we have to hear the lecherous thoughts of her cousin, her uncle, and other older men that she encounters....pretty much constantly.
I know from skimming other reviews that this book involves the protagonist being raped by her uncle, and I don't think I need to reach that particular plot point to say that this book is not for me.
(I may have already been biased against this book from the onset because of the cover. That weird-looking foot really sums up the uncomfortable nature of this book.)
I know from skimming other reviews that this book involves the protagonist being raped by her uncle, and I don't think I need to reach that particular plot point to say that this book is not for me.
(I may have already been biased against this book from the onset because of the cover. That weird-looking foot really sums up the uncomfortable nature of this book.)
November 21, 2018
Growing up, Cinderella was my favorite Disney princess. I watched all the Cinderella story related movies, read all the books in the library based on it, and dressed up like Cinderella for years on Halloween. This story is certainly its own version of that classic tale I love so dearly.
While more historical fiction based than fantasy, there is certainly no shortage of real-life magic and hints of fairy tales of our youths lingering throughout. A story of adventure, love, and courage it fits the bill of a perfect fairy-tale, but it also grapples with much more adult story lines as well. I would also argue that because of this it has some qualities that are reminiscent of some of my favorite Brit Lit works.
For those of us who are "grown up" now, this book is perfect for someone looking to find that mature version of a fairy tale. A surprisingly delightful find -- highly recommend it!
While more historical fiction based than fantasy, there is certainly no shortage of real-life magic and hints of fairy tales of our youths lingering throughout. A story of adventure, love, and courage it fits the bill of a perfect fairy-tale, but it also grapples with much more adult story lines as well. I would also argue that because of this it has some qualities that are reminiscent of some of my favorite Brit Lit works.
For those of us who are "grown up" now, this book is perfect for someone looking to find that mature version of a fairy tale. A surprisingly delightful find -- highly recommend it!
April 23, 2018
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Van Horton Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Slipper by Hester Velmans is a delightful piece of fiction retelling and re-imagining the much loved tale of Cinderella. It is creative and beautifully written. Velmans’ intertwines pieces of fairy tales from history to create a magical but sometimes tragic tale of heartache, rejection, the cruel twist of fate and ultimately redemption and love. I did find myself wishing for happier outcomes for characters that I got to know. However, the reality is that happiness is sometimes what we make it and destiny is often made by oneself.
The author’s superb ability to bring a page to life allows the reader to immerse oneself in its picturesque landscapes, glittering ballrooms and sometimes lonely corners of its grand estates.
Overall, I would give “Slipper” 5 stars and will certainly look forward to reading more from Hester Velmans.
Slipper by Hester Velmans is a delightful piece of fiction retelling and re-imagining the much loved tale of Cinderella. It is creative and beautifully written. Velmans’ intertwines pieces of fairy tales from history to create a magical but sometimes tragic tale of heartache, rejection, the cruel twist of fate and ultimately redemption and love. I did find myself wishing for happier outcomes for characters that I got to know. However, the reality is that happiness is sometimes what we make it and destiny is often made by oneself.
The author’s superb ability to bring a page to life allows the reader to immerse oneself in its picturesque landscapes, glittering ballrooms and sometimes lonely corners of its grand estates.
Overall, I would give “Slipper” 5 stars and will certainly look forward to reading more from Hester Velmans.
October 17, 2018
What a terrific read, particularly appropriate for our times. While the Cinderella tale is familiar, this wry, sly re-telling brings it vibrantly alive. With a broad geographic sweep from London to Paris to the Battle of Maastricht, this novel is meticulously researched and brings presents a heroine who triumphs in the end, finding true love without compromise. The use of language is delightful, with skillfully incorporated archaisms to evoke the 17th century setting. The completely accurate inclusion of historical background and biography make this a novel for all, male and female alike. A wonderful novel.
March 9, 2018
This ambitious rendering of the Cinderella story combines the style of an 18th century novel (think "Tom Jones" or" Vanity Fair") with the charm and pace of a modern romance. Velmans' Lucinda is a complex, headstrong, adventurous heroine who travels across Europe and through historical moments encountering adversity at every turn. Beautifully written, this book is a page-turner, one that delights the reader with its inventiveness. Can't wait for the mini-series!
April 23, 2018
Great read
March 6, 2018
Quite a good treatment of the Cinderella story. Bit of Moll Flanders in there too. Very well written, lovely, sad and wise. Highly recommended.
This review was based on an ARC ebook received by the publisher in return for an honest, unbiased review.
This review was based on an ARC ebook received by the publisher in return for an honest, unbiased review.
July 17, 2018
I felt I was reading history, turns out it was historical imagination so well wrought that it fit my foot. It’s a Me too, it’s a love story, it’s deep, it’s sexy, it’s world of fables explained through the eyes of a cinder girl. Wild mustangs couldn’t pull me away from this wonderful book.
July 19, 2018
I received a copy of this ebook from a Goodreads Giveaway.
I agree with the other 2-star reviews on this site. I didn't find the main character, Lucinda, likable. While I understand the desire to write about the daydream fantasies of young girls, Lucinda acting on her whims was unbearable at times. The dialogue didn't help (too wordy for me).
Take the quote:
"Meanwhile her uncle’s words were rattling around inside her head. The captain! Beaupree! He was talking about Henry. There was a scheme to snare Henry for Sarah! But—he was coming to Belweather Manor! He was not coming for Sarah. No, no. He was coming for her. Surely? Yes, surely! It was a ruse. A ruse on his part to see her again. Yes, that was it. He was doing it all for her, Lucinda, because he sensed his true love was in distress. He had heard her secret call! Nothing, nothing, nothing bad could happen to her now!"
And when Henry didn't whisk her off into the sunset with him:
"Where was Henry? Why wasn’t he here? He was the one who would clear up this mess, and she ached, ached for him. He was her hero; he would come to the rescue. She wished, she willed, she begged him to come. She ordered him to. Come, Henry! Now! At once!"
I guess I just don't identify with this love-struck teenage protagonist. She then does a bunch of ridiculous things in pursuit of this "prince charming." Her mentor, Bessie, also doesn't do much to try and teach her the realities of love and sex. It keeps her naive and pining. The second she doesn't like Henry anymore, she immediately falls desperately in love with some one else. Rinse and repeat.
The homages to other fairy tales are but mere paragraphs strewn here and there and felt forced. They didn't add to the plot in any constructive way.
I don't feel like this was the feminist update to Cinderella that I was hoping it was. While there is more depth to her, she still makes most of her life decisions based on her feelings for a man. She does eventually have a career of her own and become independent, but by that point in the novel I had mostly stopped rooting for her because I found her annoying.
I agree with the other 2-star reviews on this site. I didn't find the main character, Lucinda, likable. While I understand the desire to write about the daydream fantasies of young girls, Lucinda acting on her whims was unbearable at times. The dialogue didn't help (too wordy for me).
Take the quote:
"Meanwhile her uncle’s words were rattling around inside her head. The captain! Beaupree! He was talking about Henry. There was a scheme to snare Henry for Sarah! But—he was coming to Belweather Manor! He was not coming for Sarah. No, no. He was coming for her. Surely? Yes, surely! It was a ruse. A ruse on his part to see her again. Yes, that was it. He was doing it all for her, Lucinda, because he sensed his true love was in distress. He had heard her secret call! Nothing, nothing, nothing bad could happen to her now!"
And when Henry didn't whisk her off into the sunset with him:
"Where was Henry? Why wasn’t he here? He was the one who would clear up this mess, and she ached, ached for him. He was her hero; he would come to the rescue. She wished, she willed, she begged him to come. She ordered him to. Come, Henry! Now! At once!"
I guess I just don't identify with this love-struck teenage protagonist. She then does a bunch of ridiculous things in pursuit of this "prince charming." Her mentor, Bessie, also doesn't do much to try and teach her the realities of love and sex. It keeps her naive and pining. The second she doesn't like Henry anymore, she immediately falls desperately in love with some one else. Rinse and repeat.
The homages to other fairy tales are but mere paragraphs strewn here and there and felt forced. They didn't add to the plot in any constructive way.
I don't feel like this was the feminist update to Cinderella that I was hoping it was. While there is more depth to her, she still makes most of her life decisions based on her feelings for a man. She does eventually have a career of her own and become independent, but by that point in the novel I had mostly stopped rooting for her because I found her annoying.
March 23, 2018
I never thought I would enjoy a book based on a fairy tale. But this one kept my rapt attention, in fact I read it in one long sitting. It's the story of Lucinda, a young girl who is shunned by her relatives (the Steppys sisters, get it?) and raised by her nanny (Bessie Goose, a sort of fairy godmother -- get it?) The book is full of that kind of sly innuendo, making you feel clever if you get the reference. But it's also a page-turner, with great battle scenes and believable relationships. The author has thankfully omitted the magical and supernatural, focusing wholly on historical fact and plausible fiction. Highly recommended.
March 22, 2018
Such an interesting take on the Cinderella tale! I was lucky to receive an advance copy. Lucinda, Bessy John Prynce and Charles Perrault are winning characters. Clever surprising use of fairy tale themes, and I learned a lot about the history of the period.
February 12, 2018
So much more than your average Cinderella story. This piece of historical fiction is beautifully written and you can tell much research went into writing it. Velmans manages to keep this story reminiscent of the original fairytale but also relevant to modern women today.
February 8, 2018
Such a cool idea, and such a well written book. Forget what you thought you knew about Cinderella -- Lucinda Sundriland's life is no fairytale. The basic backstory with the orphan and the wicked stepfamily is similar, but from there, Hester Velmans takes the character into exciting directions! I learned a lot from this book, which I didn't expect, and I loved how strong Lucinda remained through all of her challenges.
February 10, 2018
Ms. Velmans’ unique and inventive take is sure to appeal to readers of fantasy and historical fiction alike. Curious minds will also appreciate the mingling of real-life figures, such as Perrault (an important historical figure who hasn’t received much attention), with fairytale characters.
April 16, 2018
Thanks to the author and publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review
I'm a big fan of historical fiction and retellings - all thriller and horror fans have to have those books to have as palate cleansers in between books. SLIPPER by Hester Velmans is a combo of a fairytale retelling and some historical fiction. We are necessarily getting the fairytale version, but more so the inspiration for Charles Perrault and his story of Cinderella.
We follow Lucinda, a poor Englishwoman that is forced into working as a cinder-sweep for her abusive relatives. After receiving her inheritance, a pair of glass slippers, she flees to France to escape her evil family. She boards the baggage train of Louis XIV's army, and along the way to Paris she manages to survive a horrible massacre. Upon arriving to Paris, she befriends Charles Perrault and tells him her life story.
I loved all the aspects of this book. You get the right amount of historical fiction without it being overwhelming or boring and you have enough of a unique spin on the Cinderella story to keep it fresh. All of the hidden references were fun to pick out! If you like retellings then this will definitely be one to add to the list. Don't let the fact that it's a dash of historical fiction deter you. Velmans does a great job bringing Lucinda to life and the pacing was perfect to keep pulling you along without any lulls in the story.
I'll be looking out for more from Velmans in the future!
I give this 5/5 stars
I'm a big fan of historical fiction and retellings - all thriller and horror fans have to have those books to have as palate cleansers in between books. SLIPPER by Hester Velmans is a combo of a fairytale retelling and some historical fiction. We are necessarily getting the fairytale version, but more so the inspiration for Charles Perrault and his story of Cinderella.
We follow Lucinda, a poor Englishwoman that is forced into working as a cinder-sweep for her abusive relatives. After receiving her inheritance, a pair of glass slippers, she flees to France to escape her evil family. She boards the baggage train of Louis XIV's army, and along the way to Paris she manages to survive a horrible massacre. Upon arriving to Paris, she befriends Charles Perrault and tells him her life story.
I loved all the aspects of this book. You get the right amount of historical fiction without it being overwhelming or boring and you have enough of a unique spin on the Cinderella story to keep it fresh. All of the hidden references were fun to pick out! If you like retellings then this will definitely be one to add to the list. Don't let the fact that it's a dash of historical fiction deter you. Velmans does a great job bringing Lucinda to life and the pacing was perfect to keep pulling you along without any lulls in the story.
I'll be looking out for more from Velmans in the future!
I give this 5/5 stars
March 19, 2018
How many reimagining's of Cinderella have you read thus far? Personally, I've read a few and some were possibly even better than the original. This one falls somewhere in between.
I liked plenty in this story, but there were things that bothered me as well. I really enjoyed the telling of the tale. It mixed the real world with the fiction of the fairy tale just right. However, the male population in this tale left me cold.
Lucinda was someone that went through a lot of angst, yet her character was a survivor and I liked that.
If you're a hard core fairy tale fan, this might not be for you. However, if you're willing to embrace the unique retelling of them, I think you'll find this particular retelling of Cinderella interesting.
Melanie for b2b
Gift ARC provided by the publisher
I liked plenty in this story, but there were things that bothered me as well. I really enjoyed the telling of the tale. It mixed the real world with the fiction of the fairy tale just right. However, the male population in this tale left me cold.
Lucinda was someone that went through a lot of angst, yet her character was a survivor and I liked that.
If you're a hard core fairy tale fan, this might not be for you. However, if you're willing to embrace the unique retelling of them, I think you'll find this particular retelling of Cinderella interesting.
Melanie for b2b
Gift ARC provided by the publisher
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