Shards of the Glass Slipper

Queen Cinder

By: Roy A. Mauritsen

Narrated by: Christopher Crosby Morris

One Last Chance to Save Happily Ever After!

Can a group of heroes, including Goldenhair, Red Riding Hood, and Rapunzel, help General Snow White and her dwarven resistance fighters defeat the tyrannical Queen Cinderella? And will they succeed before a war with Wonderland destroys everything? Their only hope to stop Cinderella's quest for power lies with a young girl named Patience Muffet. She carries the fabled shards of Cinderella's glass slippers, as well as the dark secret of who murdered the last of the fairy godmothers. Roy A. Mauritsen's fantasy adventure fairy tale epic begins with Shards of the Glass Slipper: Queen Cinder.

Narrated by Christopher Crosby Morris. This enhanced audiobook features music and sound effects for a more immersive listener experience.

About the Narrator: Christopher Crosby Morris is a singer, musician, songwriter, novelist, and narrator born in New York City in 1946. In July of 1977 Chris's debut album, Christopher Morris Band, was released on MCA Records. The album was hailed by Ken Tucker of Rolling Stone as something new in pop music - fusion - a blend of roots, rock and jazz forms. Christopher Crosby Morris's passion is voice in all its aspects, but especially as it manifests in storytelling, both in prose and verse, literature and song.

©2012 Padwolf Publishing (P)2015 Roy A. Mauritsen

good story

it was a great spin on the old stories. the only problem with the performance was the background sound and effects drowned out the reader.

Interesting Take on the Fairy Tale World

What made the experience of listening to Shards of the Glass Slipper the most enjoyable?

The narration of the story gives it a different depth and feel to the story. From having read the book, I enjoyed it immensely, but as an audiobook the story takes on a new life of it's own, fully immersing the audience in the experience.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Patience Muffet by far. From her name she is Little Miss Muffet, but she is not one to stand by and be a victim especially where those spiders are concerned.

What does Christopher Crosby Morris bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

It reminded me of the Hobbit series originally done by Rankin & Bass. The narration was very similar to that experience and again heightened the story to a new level. I think he did a phenomenal job.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

If I had the time I would listen to this in one sitting but it served well as my companion on the highway during my morning and evening commute.

Any additional comments?

Can't wait for the follow up. As great as the novel, and definitely an enjoyable experience.

Completely unique listening experience!!!

All I can is wow. This is an audible of the decade for me. I was super impressed with this book. I loved the storyline and the characters. It was an intense ride that is for sure. I got the opportunity to listen to the audio book and it was a completely unique experience. I heard a clip on Facebook and I knew I had to get it. It was enhanced with music and sound effects. For the first time ever I felt like I was watching a movie in my head. It is going to be difficult to listen to any other audible books because none can compare to this. If you want to give yourself quite a treat pick yourself up a copy of the audible book because you will not be disappointed. I loved the journey the story you took you on. It went so many different directions there was no way to predict it which is a nice change. I am dying to listen to the next book. This is the first work I have read from this author and definitely will not be the last. I would recommend this to anyone who likes a different twist on some old characters.

A fantasy seen from a yet unexplored angle

Any additional comments?

Shards of a Glass Slipper is a wonderful title. It suggests what this book is about: shattering vintage objects so they reflect new and surprising visions. Based on iconic images from classic fairy tales (such as the Brothers Grim) it takes a different approach to these images, expanding our understanding of what they mean. Written by the artist-turned-writer, Roy A. Mauritsen, this book is truly creative, evoking images (such as large battle scenes) by use of words, and allowing characters we have known for since childhood to be seen from a yet unexplored angle. Case in point: Cinderala, whom we thought we knew as a sweet, innocent girl, turning into Queen Cinder, a cruel, scheming dictator, and the symbol of her uniqueness—the elegant glass slipper she wore that unforgettable night—breaking into shards. That is vessel that contains the last remnants of fairy magic in the kingdom. And so, beware, anything can happen!

The narration of it, by Christopher Crosby Morris, is simply a pleasure for children of all ages. My sense of it is that Christopher truly had fun bringing this magical, whimsical fantasy to life. He used different pacing and different tones of his voice, and the full range of his storytelling technique, to reflect the many different characters and the drama unfolding between them. On top of this, he made this audiobook a performance like no other, with music and sound effects in the background, which sweeps you into the scene and enriches the experience.

Five stars.

Interesting.

Any additional comments?

Interesting twist on the fairy tale, but the narrator was ... Odd. It was the prefect voice for a fantasy, but was far too slow. It was putting me to sleep, rather than grasping my undivided attention.

Simply Magic

Would you consider the audio edition of Shards of the Glass Slipper to be better than the print version?

I didn't read the print version and I'm only starting to listen to audio books, but I absolutely love them now. They require a different kind of mental effort, but are much more relaxing than reading a book. Somehow, they take you to a different time and place and you can lose yourself in the narrator's voice and sound effects.

What other book might you compare Shards of the Glass Slipper to and why?

I would compare it to a darker twist on the original Cinderella, but with modern and unique twists. At the beginning of the story, our protagonist is a crippled woman in severe pain, using a wheelchair to get around. It's a completely different spin on a classic fairytale which makes it entirely unique.

Which scene was your favorite?

I loved the scene in front of the tree by the castle. This story lulls you into a false sense of security when the characters set out on their mission to the castle, but that's about to come to an end as you're jolted out of your comfort zone. I love how the characters are just plunking along, and then we quickly know an epic fight scene is coming. It was so well narrated I could envision the scene playing out in my head.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

At the very beginning, when it takes all her strength and much pain to rescue the prince washed up on shore. She literally risks her own life and endures tremendous pain to do what she did, so it was a considerable act of bravery and a wonderful lesson for children. Right at the beginning we learn bravery and compassion.

Any additional comments?

My first review of this story disappeared so I hope it doesn't happen again. As more time goes on, it's harder and harder to remember the details. But I remember thinking that as a mother, I would have LOVED to cuddle up with my son and listen to this story. Audio narration literally brings these novels to life. Back then, we read the old standbys until the little ones got sleepy. This is a whole new experience, and one I would highly recommend to anyone.

Clever take on familiar characters.

Familiar but not predictable, this tale begins the series with action and adventure. This edition is very immersive with sound effects and music.

Cinderella's story, brilliantly told for true

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I loved Shards of the Glass Slipper: Queen Cinder, by Roy Mauritsen. Narrated by Christopher Crosby Morris, this dark retelling of a story near to the hearts of million takes on a new immediacy, as if this were the original story all along. Morris' deft ear and facile voice gives us character after character so realistically I feel as though I'm right beside the characters, even seeing through their eyes.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the pace and style with which the story of Queen Cinder unfolds, told for teen to adult listeners. Morris makes you believe that this version is the truth. The narrative rolled into my ears, each character perfectly portrayed. I loved the way you're soon savoring every nuance as the story unfolds with exactly the right accents of sound effect and music.

What about Christopher Crosby Morris’s performance did you like?

Christopher Crosby Morris makes the story sound as if it's happening all around you. He voices each character unforgettably, and brings them together so that you never wonder who is speaking. He never missteps, or speaks a false note. He brings each and every character comes to life. I have read the book, and from this narration I found depths that I had missed missed in the print version.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I wanted to listen in one sitting, but this is a meaty book -- over fifteen hours. So I lsiten in two sittings.

Any additional comments?

The combination of Roy Mauritsen's deep, dark writing and Christopher Crosby Morris's compelling voice make an old story new -- sharp as a knife, wrapped in velvet.

This novel is fantasy, magic, and adventures

Shards of the glass slipper is the first book of a series with the same name, its written by Roy A. Mauritsen self ublished in March 24th 2015, its narrated by Christopher Crosby Morris (with sixteen hours and thirty two minutes).

This novel is fantasy, magic, and adventures (some will consider it to be a dystopian novel).

This novel is about a resistance movement including fairy tales heroes such as: Goldenhair, Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and Snow White against the evil queen Cinderella (she isn’t under any spell she is just evil), and her dominating step-mother. In a land with almost no magic left, that happens to be in a state of war with Wonderland.

I had a very hard time reviewing this novel, so I will be doing it in a different style (I couldn’t do it any other way).

What I liked about this novel:

1. The idea: the idea is pretty awesome and creative. It gathers many of the characters from all of the of the well-known fairy tales. Add in a dark kingdom under a dictatorship, and the coup d’état plan in a neighboring kingdom.

2. The setting: it was a very good and suitable for the mood in the story (the time is after years from the timeline in the original tales, the place is Marchenton a kingdom whose magic is about to run out, the royal palace is surrounded by “blood thorns “so no one can enter or exit without queen Cinderella or her step-mother permission ) and bunch of other interesting places

3. The events are fast paced and told in a very dramatic way (overly dramatic sometimes). I was almost able forget myself and was absorbed in the action scenes.

4. The audiobook came with music and sound effects which was totally great, it gave the story a third dimension, and made it more enjoyable.

5. Good, as in not evil (or almost good), female leader roles.

What I didn’t like about this novel:

1. The plot: the plot is confusing and chaotic, it left me with a lot of questions. Mostly wondering about plausibility of the events (a lot of them weren’t very convincing, and generally naïve even)

2. The characters: they are shallow, amateurs, boring, and just a mere shadow of their past known glory. Considering all of the fantastic story telling, this was a let down.

3. Horrible male leader models: each man in this story could be classified under one of those categories: useless, womanizer, coward, traitor, irresponsible or a combination of two or more of these characteristics …seriously it was frustrating.

4. The audiobook pacing: while I liked the music and the sound idea (I hope to see it in more books). I did find the voice of Christopher Crosby Morris to be very suitable for fairy tales. Yet it was so slow for me (and I mean painfully sloooooooow).

5. I don’t know to which age group this novel target. Because the novelty of the plot and the music would apply to children, yet there are things that I don’t feel comfortable for a child to hear.

Audiobook provided for for review by the author.

Please find this complete review and many others at audiobookreviewer dot com

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I could almost SEE the story unfold

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would and I have. Shards of the Glass Slipper is a great story, narrated brilliantly and further enhanced by background music and sound effects. It was great fun to listen to.

What other book might you compare Shards of the Glass Slipper to and why?

I can't think of another book it is like...

Just imagine reading about a character from your childhood and finding out they had a very different life than the one you read about...oh and imagine that ALL of those childhood characters are in the same world now :)

Which scene was your favorite?

There are SOOOOOO many great scenes in this story and my answer might change tomorrow but for right now, the scene where Siranka creates the title wave and pulls Hamalin to safety...great, great scene.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The Fairytale You Only Thought You Knew By Heart

Any additional comments?

I could really talk about the book in great length but don't want to spoil it for anyone :)

If it helps at all, I listened to the book straight through at work and finished it in a couple of days. I have the second book ready to read and will listen to it when it becomes an Audible selection.