Anne Elisabeth Stengl

I found this book in the fantasy section of the library, and picked it up because of the title and the cover art (I skimmed the back of the book blurb, too, and that piqued my interest).

I enjoyed the story, but the telling of it seemed very simple. The style left me in mind of a young adult, or middle grade novel. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't what I expected.

I was a little disappointed with the lack of character development/ depth - especially with the secondary characters. Una, the princess who is the main character of the story, is tended to by Nurse. I couldn't help but wonder what mother would name her poor child that - I could understand the princess not bothering to learn her name, but everyone refers to her by her profession, rather than name, and I felt that pull me out of the story a bit.

Despite this lack of depth, the unexpected simplicity of the writing and relationship interactions, I found the story engaging enough that I wanted to see how it got to the inevitable end. The path the characters took was unique enough to make it a fun, light read for me.… (mere)

This was a delightful collection of five versions of the Cinderella story. Author Anne Elisabeth Stengl hosted a writing contest in 2014 and chose the five short stories she felt were best representations of one of the most popular fairy tales ever published.

WHAT EYES CAN SEE by Elisabeth Brown - Painfully shy Arella begs her stepmother to let her stay home from the prince’s ball. But kindly Duchess Germaine is determined that her beautiful stepdaughter should be presented at court along with her own two daughters.

BROKEN GLASS by Emma Clifton - The slipper fits, just on the wrong girl! Rosalind never once danced with Prince Marius at the ball, for she is in love with his brother Henry. If only Rosalind and Marius would stop bickering long enough to invent a scheme, perhaps the three of them can find the real mystery lady.

THE WINDY SIDE OF CARE by Rachel Heffington - Alisandra is determined to have her rights. She knows that she is the king’s secretly dispossessed daughter, the true heir to the throne. Prince Auguste is an imposter, and if she plays her cards right, Alis will prove it to the world!

A CINDER’S TALE by Stephanie Ricker - It’s a dangerous life, yet Elsa wouldn’t trade this opportunity to work at Tremaine Station, mining cendrillon from the seething surface of planet Aschen. When a famous deep space explorer and his handsome son dock their starcraft at the space station, Elsa finds herself dreaming of far galaxies beyond Aschen's blistering heat.

THE MOON MASTER’S BALL by Clara Diane Thompson - After her terrifying experience there several years ago, the one place young housemaid Tilly wants to avoid is Bromley’s Circus. But when kindly Lord Hollingberry begs her to deliver a message to the mysterious Moon Master hidden away among the circus dwellers, Tilly can’t refuse and finds herself ensnared in a web of enchantment cast by the loathsome Mrs. Carlisle and her beautiful goddaughter.

This is the first volume in three current collections based on popular fairy tales. The other two currently available are Five Enchanted Roses (Beauty and the Beast) and Five Magic Slipperles (Sleeping Beauty) and they are all creative and enjoyable.… (mere)