Ardennia: The Unlikely Story of Cinderella’s Prince
by Bruce Calhoun
A Cinderella story like no other, Ardennia is a young adult historical fantasy that captures the magic, brutality and earthiness of the medieval ages. It chronicles the many adventures of Cinderella’s prince as he undergoes his baptism of fire in the Battle of Paris, is charmed by Cinderella at a masquerade ball, and sets off on a quest to find her after she flees the ball at the midnight hour. The quest takes him through strange lands supposedly inhabited by ogres, pixies, hobgoblins, man eating plants and giants, and peopled by extraordinary characters that include an epileptic bard, a bean counter who wagers his gold tooth in a dice game, a merchant who can never be too prosperous, a little girl who has a running feud with three bears, pilgrims that argue over who is the most pious and a beggar who has been cursed with leprosy for committing all the cardinal sins. Be on the look-out for a bit of Chaucer-like satire in this adapted fairy tale.
5 out of 5 fairies
If you’ve ever read one of the old Cinderella stories, you know it isn’t as nice as the Disney version that most are familiar with. This gives us a peek at the Prince’s side of things. I absolutely loved it. It’s real, it’s magical, and it transports you to another place and time. If you’re looking for sunshine and rainbows, then this isn’t for you. If you want to travel on an epic adventure, see the dark and gritty side of medieval life, all for the chance at a happily-ever-after, then you’re going to want to grab this one.
I am a literature-major drop out who received a Bachelor’s degree in biology and science education from the University of Wisconsin. I taught marine biology in Puerto Rico, worked as a diver for the Australian Institute of Marine Science, wrote an award winning play and founded Save the Rainforest in 1988 http://www.savetherainforestnow.org
