The White Slipper: A Clean Fairy Tale Retelling of The White Slipper

Nevertold Fairy Tale #1

by Brittany Fichter

What can a poor apothecary offer the princess who has it all?

In this fairy tale retelling of The White Slipper, Princess River is the envy of all her peers, for her doting father has always promised her she could marry for love. But when he loses the healing slipper that prevents his ghastly foot injury from killing him, he makes a horrifying edict. The man who makes him an identical slipper and saves his life shall have River's hand in marriage.

To River's chagrin, such a man, poor and unknown, does come forward, claiming he's found the secret cure. But River, discontent to helplessly hand over her future and her kingdom, seeks to learn about his past. To her surprise, however, her search reveals far more than she ever expected.

This mysterious young man may not only hold the true secret to helping her father...but he might be the one who claimed her heart long ago.

Delve into these standalone fairy tale retelling novellas of lesser-known tales as told by Wendy and Peter Pan. The Nevertold fairy tales are not set in the same world as the Classical Kingdoms Collection, but they have the same clean romance, magical mystery, and heroic happily-ever-afters.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Fairy Tales, Fairy Tale Retellings, Retellings, Novella, Fiction

131 pages, ebook

Published February 15, 2023

About the author

Brittany lives with her Prince Charming, their little fairy, and their tiny prince in a decently clean castle in whatever kingdom the Air Force has most recently placed them. When she's not writing, Brittany can be found chasing her kids around with a DSLR or belting it in the church choir. You can find more of her work at her website BrittanyFichterFiction.com.

Reviews

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars, personally. A little clean fairytale story ✨

I don’t have much to say about this book, but I truly did enjoy it! This was just a really sweet and clean, short read. It kept my attention the whole time I was reading it and was a fun fairytale-esque story. It was really nice to see a healthy father-daughter relationship. There was also a bit of faith content, which I wasn't expecting to see. I will definitely check out the others in the series.

(Age recommendation: 14+ because of a detailed kiss. Prior to that kiss, I was thinking it would be fine for pre-teens, but there was one kiss that was a bit much. 😅)


Main Content-

River prays & Elliot thanks God; 'H's are capital when referring to God; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers & praying; A mention of church going; A mention of God Almighty having a purpose for River; A mention of a catastrophe that happened "by the hands of God".

Magic content wise, there's mentions of fairies, fairy rings, faes and their potions, will-o'-the-wisps, & a magical type of wood that's been blessed by fairies to heal whoever uses it (also called a "miracle wood" and Elliot prays when using it on someone).

No language stronger than 'stupid', 'shut up', 'idiot', and 'blasted'; A mean family member is called a "witch" (but is not an actual witch); Some sarcasm & eye rolling.

Elliot's cousin puts him down & mentions of this and physical abuse happening for years; Many mentions of the king's foot injury, infection, pain, & the condition of his foot (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of deaths & grief (Elliot for his parents and River for her mother, up to semi-detailed); Mentions of people being thrown overboard on a ship; Mentions of lying & executions for lying to the king; A couple mentions of possible kidnappings; A couple mentions of wine (River drinks a bit but it's not on-page); A mention of vomiting.

A not-detailed kiss, two semi-detailed kisses, and a detailed kiss (lasting 5-8 sentences); Touches, Embraces, & Shivers (up to semi-detailed); Nearness & Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Ends with a wedding night and a couple very mild suggestions; River is afraid that the man who heals her father (& thus wins her hand in marriage) will be an old man It's revealed at the very end that her father had prepared for that and added conditions that that wouldn't have happened ; River imagines what it would be married to a man (noticing his build and character & touching/embracing); A mention of a young boy thinking that a girl around his age is an angel because of her beauty.

[Sarah Ryder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not sure where to begin in talking about this book. I honestly went in so nervous I wouldn’t like it (a fear I think all of us have every once in awhile when one of our favorite authors releases a new book) that I nearly stopped reading even though I had just begun but I needn’t have worried. Despite being a novella this story is powerful. And beautiful. And so much what I needed right here and now in this very moment of my life and I suspect I’ll need more reminders of in the future.

River and Elliot’s journeys gave me courage and hope—just seeing them go through trials afraid of what the outcome could be yet forging onward despite it all because doing the right thing and keeping your word is the most important thing you can do, the bravest thing you can do, even if you don’t know how it’s all going to end.

I cried at the end. In fact, I’m tearing up right now in writing this review just thinking about what this book means to me, how I can’t fully explain in words but know deep in my heart that this story changed me in some small way I don’t fully understand yet.

This is a powerful, sweet, wonderful tale. I know nothing about the original White Slipper fairy tale, but if it’s anything like this retelling I don’t doubt it will be a favorite.


‼️Content‼️

Violence: a man’s foot is seriously injured (not detailed); a boat crash

Sexual: kissing (not detailed); mild suggestive hints

Other: magic; memories of dead parents and the grief

[M Shen · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was so cute. i love fichter's retellings

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️! What a cute, adorable fairy tale retelling. Short and to the point. Elliot is a sweetheart 💕

[Coralie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Y'all know how much I love Fichter, so of course I got my hands on this one when she released it a few months ago. But I've just now made time to read it. And it was cute!

A quick, easy read that retells an uncommon fairy tale. I can't say I've heard of the White Slipper before this, but now I want to go look it up. I'm excited for these Nevertold stories and curious to see what other stories Fichter takes to.

The childhood lovers is always a cute story and this one had a fun twist. I really, really liked how Fichter used a hero who wasn't all broad shoulders and thick muscles. I mean, I can get behind a hunky hero, but it's refreshing to see a wiry, bookish hero, too. And I really appreciate how she focused on the character underneath the cute.

I liked River. It was cool how Fichter managed a small growth arc in such a short space. Novellas don't typically have enough space for characters to really develop deeply and change realistically. It isn't fleshed out super deeply, but it was neat to see her get a little gumption and come into her own. She loved her father very much, but she wasn't impervious to irritation or confusion at his actions. She had spunk and she loved her people, but she also had a softer, sentimental side that was sweet. I liked how she handled the mystery of the newcomer and I liked how we got to see the humility and steadfast love of the hero. He was kind and took his lemons in stride. I liked him quite a bit.

I'll also add that I liked the side characters. The king had me going, but Fichter twisted his storyline and gave him a cute little ending. River's aunt was sweet too. And Madame Balastrade was one of the best characters in the book! We need more of her!

Clean, sweet romance that focused on what really matters in a relationship. No violence, no language. Preteen safe.

[Book Savy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked this one a lot! Short and sweet

[ChildOfGod💜🙌🏽 (for God I live and for God I die) ~ in my Christian pop era · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 ✨

I liked it, I thought it was cute. I didn’t give five stars for a few reasons but they weren’t huge. I did feel like it was a little surface level for a cf book in my opinion. But other than that I liked it. I recommend if you’re looking for a quick, sweet read of a fairytale retelling.


*I received this book free on kindle. All opinions expressed are my own.*

[Artham · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read to page... 89?? 98?? I think?? And while this wasn't a bad book, it wasn't all that great. About average, I'd say... Nothing stood out to me, and I didn't have any motivation to continue it. 🤷‍♀️

[Rachel Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was cute little novel/novella I read in one night.
I loved how each character developed and shifted into great things. Eliot’s love of books was so nice to see in a book. I also loved Rivers character. Her character development was by far well done! I loved the dad and despised Avery iykyk. A cute story with minor faith themes.

Content: violence (minor, lightly described), romance, kisses (semi-detailed)

[Tayler Marie Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet story! I really admired how Elliot was so kind to the princess. Definitely a keeper!

[Renae | Redhair_and_Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and clean, with a pining man who proves his worth and gets the girl. A wholesome, much appreciated little palette cleanser between heavier reads.

[Story enthusiast (●´⌓`●) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a white slipper fairy tale retelling. I'm not particularly familiar with this retelling, nor have I heard anything about it. For those who have no clue what the white slipper retelling is, I recommend searching it up in advance rather than going into the book blindsided like I did. I would enjoy it more if I knew that retelling. However, I'm interested in learning more about this retelling. I might revisit this book once I familiarize myself.  At the same time, I enjoyed this book and the romance. I wasn't a huge fan of Princess River's character; she seemed naive. But other than that, I liked the book; however, I'm not sure I will continue the series.

[Rosalyn Nightshade · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was so interesting! I loved the way Brittany Fichter rewrote a lesser known fairytale. I never heard of the story the White Slipper before this, so I am happy that this book introduced me to a new fairytale. The book was intriguing and the plot was interesting. The characters were also great. However, I think that the romance is a bit rushed, because the girl doesn't even know the boy, they just met a couple of times on the street.

[Coree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic retelling of a little known fairytale! I loved this sweet story, it was the perfect pick me up at the end of a long day! I can’t wait for more short stories!

[Smasher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Content:

Language: None.

Violence: Mild, pretty much none. There is some blood and infection barely described from an accident that wounds a character.

Sexual: Mild. Kissing, but not steamy. There is some talk of having children but no sexual scenes of any sort, not even closed door or fade to black.

TW: One character has a horrible cousin and aunt who both mistreated him and caused him to be isolated and alone through his childhood. It's very mild and not overly described. But I know that may trigger some people.


Confession: I didn't expect to like this story.

Second confession: I did like this story. a lot.

At 131 pages (according to my kindle) I honestly didn't expect it to be paced well for a romance. It's wicked hard to not rush a romance into the realms of unbelievability in that short amount of time without a deft hand. What helped is the two romantic interests already had a relationship built when the story starts. One of deep friendship and solidarity. They just had to find each other in 'real life' to let the relationship bloom more deeply into love.

It was so sweetly done. In my opinion, there aren't enough books where the male character is the one in the peasant role. That happens in fairy tales pretty often, but most retellings anymore are about hidden princes, cursed princes, and their heroine who either rescues them and is elevated in status or a princess who needs them to see her as she is.

This was refreshing. And I was engaged the entire time, urging River to figure it out already! The sweet way they come together just made me 'awwwww' all over the place. This was the warm fuzzy read I didn't know I needed.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded down to 3. I had never heard of this fairy tale so I had no idea what to expect when I went into it. Fichter's version is a quick, enjoyable read. Princess River has been promised by her father she'll be allowed to marry for love, unlike most royal heirs. However, when her father loses the magic shoe that had kept his badly injured foot from killing him and he issues a new decree that whoever can either replace the shoe or somehow replicate its healing effects will be the one to marry her, she is furious since she already had an understanding with the prince of a nearby kingdom. Meanwhile, a poor apothecary is determined to complete the task and win River's hand, as he has a secret connection to her that even she is unaware of.
It bothered me a little how little time River and Elliot actually had together before they got married. Yes, they had their secret gift correspondence she thought was actually with her childhood best friend (who turns out to be a real ass), but they don't actually know each other all that well. We, the audience, know Elliot is a good guy and worthy to be her partner, but they don't have much time to develop a real romance--the story is him trying to woo her and win her from afar, and for most of the book he's a complete stranger to her.

[Hadley Houston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this short novella by Brittany Fichter! Truthfully, I love all of her books, and this one certainly did not disappoint! I loved River’s devotion to her father, even when he made important choices about her life without her permission. That kind of love is priceless! Add in sweet Elliot, who has loved River since childhood, and it doesn’t get much better than that! My one note is that I wish the point of views split between River and Elliot were more evenly revealed. The first half is all River. The climax is Elliot, and the end is River again. I wish we could have gotten to hear more from Elliot throughout the story. I know that part of the mystery in the beginning is not knowing who is giving River these precious gifts, but still! Elliot is adorable, and I just want more!! ;) Overall, the is usually my only gripe with Brittany Fichter’s books. I love the hero’s point of view, and when that perspective is small or nonexistent, I am slightly disappointed. Do not mistake me, however!! The White Slipper is a marvelous little novella, and I highly recommend partaking in its sweetness yourself!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The White Slipper by Brittany Fichter
🔳 A princess named River
🔳 A mysterious young man
🔳 A doting father
🔳 Learning about the past
🔳 Sweet romance, a kiss (no spice)
Genre: Fantasy romance
A retelling of The White Slipper. When River's father is stricken ill, a man, poor and unknown, comes foward, claiming to have a secret cure...
Well, this was one fairytale I wasn't familiar with! I looked up the original afterwards and this retelling does follow it fairly closely with only a few key differences. It's a sweet story all round with one nice twist from perhaps what you expect at the beginning. I plan on reading more stories from this author in the future.
Book 1 in the Nevertold Fairy Tales series
Opening line: "River smiled smugly as she pulled the shawl off her head and shook out her curls."
⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Kessa Turnbull · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was so unbearably sweet

There are very few authors that I would buy a book I missed in unlimited, but Brittany Fichter is definitely one of them. HOW I missed these books when I born follow her as an author AND am subscribed to newsletters, I don't know, but at least I found them eventually. And very much enjoyed the diversion. You know what I really loved though? This was not only dual perspective, but she didn't even feel the need to label it for us like we're idiots! I very much appreciated the faith she showed to her audience to be able to tell who's POV we're in. And I love that even when her father seemed to do this ghastly thing, he actually HAD taken precautions. I wish it weren't religious, but that's just something I have to accept about this author. Her fairytales are unique and charming enough that I accept it as a price to pay for wonderful stories.

[Katherine Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A girl who lost her mother and will do anything to save her father who is also a princess who doubts if she is ready to be a queen. An undervalued brilliant young man who can't see his own worth. A king in need of saving who also needs to save someone else. This story manages to be both sweetly endearing and motivationally empowering. The novella flys by as the reader follows the two main characters as they grow into themselves while working to save the ones they love.
The White Slipper is a great read for those who don't have a lot of time but still want a good story, who like truth lying deeper than appearances, coming of age stories, clean romance, meaningful side characters, stories told from two perspectives, and fairy tale retellings.

[Andrea Stoeckel · Rating 5 out of 5]

"She could rise to her place in the world, God willing. She just hoped her heart could rise to the challenge as well."

Princess River lost her mother too soon and her father has been hurt. Many healers come from many places but relief comes from one who fashioned a shoe from a special kind of tree. Things go well until they don't and the young princess must grow up quickly to find the cure for her father and reliance on her own abilities.

Will the poor apothecary be the cure? And why does he seem so familiar?

Brittany Richter has written a lovely story of hope and self esteem that lives within all. I got quickly carried into the story and was actually sad when it ended because I wanted to stay there with River. Highly Recommended 5/5

[Laura Dean]

A heartfelt retelling!

A sweet retelling of a much lesser known fairy tale, told with Fichter's usual heart and depth.

I consider myself an intermediate fairy tale scholar, but Fichter has surprised me with this one! I'd never heard of it! It's always nice to be surprised like this!

I am impressed with this novella. Neither rushed, nor leaving me wanting more, it's an excellent quick read. It isn't directly attached to the Classical Kingdom series, so it, and the following stories can be read alone. I'd recommend this book to those just getting introduced to obscure fairy tales, fairy tale retellings, or Fichter's work

[Rebekah Sweet · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The White Slipper,” from “The Nevertold Fairy Tale Novellas Book 1,” is another great story with a different take by Brittany Fichter.

Elliot wants the Princess to like him. When a decree is given by the king for search of his lost slipper and someone to find a cure for the King, Elliot jumps at his chance. But will all be right in the end?

The princess is devastated to know that now she may be forced to marry a man against her will. She is in love with Avery…he loves her, gives her small gifts…but is he the right one and why would her father take away her choice to marry whom she pleases?

This is a good and clean book and one I highly recommend.

[Lisa Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the stories I learned about after completing all of Andrew Lang's Fairy Books. While it didn't quite make my top ten list, I liked it quite a bit compared to some of the other more obscure fairy tales. Brittany Fichter did a fantastic job fleshing out the characters and turning it into a full-length book (or partial length if you don't consider novellas full). I really liked the princess, River, and how she learned the truth about her fiancé. I also liked Elliott for how humble and sincere he was in wanting to help her and her family.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a sweet story!! I've never heard of the fairytale of the white slipper before and so it was fun to dive into the unknown. I think my favourite part is how selfless and humble our MMC is. The care and love he shows for River is beautiful and I love how he tries and gives the quest his all, even though he doesn't feel worthy of the honour or her love. I also loved the development of our dear Princess River. It was nice to be able to relate to characters who have feelings of unworthiness and to see how they deal with that.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story

I really liked this story! This is a new to me author that I hope to read more from in the future. I enjoyed the setting, purple gorgeous dresses, that cover is beyond gorgeous! The main characters were so easy to connect with; it was like reading about your friends. The story was never dull and made you want to keep reading. And there's a sweet bunny in the story, too. I had never heard The White Slipper story before, so this is an interesting fairy tale retelling. Highly recommend!

[Orangetails · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another charming fairy-tale retelling from Mrs. Fichter, this tale delivers on heart, creativity, and adorable romance. I especially love how stalwart the main characters are; they are determined to do right even when it's difficult. They also fight for each other and their future, as customary for this author's heroes and heroines.

While the tale is less known than others, expect another lovely, heart-warming story in this book. All the stars for an adorable tale of love in all forms.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally, there's a clean Fairy Tale!

What I like most about this novel is the fact that it is clean and there's mention of God. It is difficult as a Christian to find faith-based novels or just clean secular ones. Also, I like how Princess River is relatable although she is royalty and she is also humble. The only "complaint" I have is that I would love to have seen a little more fantasy, but otherwise, overall, I enjoyed the novel.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was more like "The Wooden Shoe"

But I loved it anyway. Brittany Fichter skillfully shows that a noble character is far better than noble birth, but harder to detect. Young people need to be very careful when choosing a future spouse. Appearances can be deceiving and unscrupulous people lie.

[S.E.E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice clean story

It's kinda cool to read a familiar story that's been imaginatively altered and told in a similar, but many times, more exciting way than the original that everyone knows so well.
This is a fairy tale I was unfamiliar with so I'm glad I've finally been introduced to it.
And I'm so very happy there are almost no grammatical errors!
Thank you. 🤓