THE MOON MASTER'S BALL: Review

Wrapping up my series of reviews on the Cinderella stories that comprise the Five Glass Slippers compilation. The final tale in this lovely collection is The Moon Master's Ball by Clara Diane Thompson.

Unlike everyone else she knows, Tilly has been terrified of Bromley's Circus since she had a bad experience there as a child. This year, however, kind Lord Hollingberry, the man who took her in when her parents died and has given her employment, food, and a place to live for the past two years, has asked her to take a message into the heart of the big tent. Despite her fear, Tilly's love and admiration for the elderly gentleman who has practically adopted her prompts her to venture into the heart of her darkest nightmare.

But there is more going on than Tilly could ever imagine, and there is more at stake than the simple delivery of a message. Is Tilly prepared to face her nightmares come to life? Can she stand strong in the face of her fear and demonstrate the courage necessary to save not just her own life, but that of another she barely knows? Will the presence of magic in her world, a presence she has always doubted, give her the strength she needs, or shatter her completely?

The Moon Master's Ball is a dark, haunting, creepy tale that reeled me in immediately and kept me enthralled until the last page. Of all the stories, this one definitely deviates the most from the classic Cinderella story (even more than the sci-fi one!), and I actually, truly forgot that I was reading a Cinderella re-telling until chapter 13 (out of 14 overall chapters). To some extent, I think my only complaint would be that the "Cinderella" elements felt a teeny tiny bit like they'd been shoe-horned into the story in the eleventh hour - but on the whole even that minor distraction didn't detract from the enjoyment of the tale.

I liked the way this story twisted around and the sense of something evil and sinister watching from the darkness of the shadows. I liked the characters, which were well-developed and engaging. I also felt that the story was paced quite well - it didn't move too quickly, but there was plenty of excitement throughout, so it never felt too slow either.

If you enjoy a shiver running up your spine, shape-shifting rats, or mysterious circuses that could be either enchanting or sinister - depending on how you look at them - then you will love The Moon Master's Ball.

The Five Glass Slippers Blog Tour starts on Monday of next week! If you look up at the top image on my right-hand side-bar, you'll see a button that will take you to the Blog Tour Home page. There you can find information about the schedule for the tour, which blogs are participating, and more. Five Glass Slippers will be available on Kindle all next week for just 99 cents! Also, there will be a giveaway you can enter during the Tour for the chance to win all sorts of exciting prizes!

So, dear Reader, which of these stories intrigues you the most? I'd love to hear which one you're most interested in after reading my reviews! :)