Review: The Golden Slipper
One of my favorite things about Valia Lind is how well she develops romance in her fairy tale books . The Skazka Fairy Tales take place in a unique fantasy world built on Russian folklore that's split between the magical realm and the human realm. The Golden Slipper is a "Cinderella" retelling from this series that provides a slow-burn romance where a prince and a hard-working peasant girl fall in love over time. It does a great job of providing both perspectives and building them into realistic, fleshed-out characters. There are also a lot of great supporting characters that give the protagonist someone to turn to when she feels overwhelmed by her stepfamily. The story is brimming with magic and romance. Mira is a hard worker who is skilled in many areas. She runs a flower shop and also helps her best friend, Oksana, with her bakery. Her least favorite duty is tending to her stepmother and stepsisters, who seem to be out to get her. When a clumsy young man show...