Cinderella story set in Prague with a secret society.
Eleanora is trying to survive and slowly selling off her fathers books when everything changes with the arrival of her godmother and suddenly she goes from servant to member of the elite and then her godmother tells her about the order of the crystal daggers who are spies to keep the status quo.

Not bad but not terribly memorable either. ( )

Cinderella meets historical Prague - and the result is a captivating start to a new series. Eleanora is a great heroine, and she just captures your heart. It was fun to watch her grow as the book progressed, torn between what she wants and what she needs to do. Throw in an amazing grandmother and some spies, and you have an unforgettable cast and a story that will leave you wanting more. Can't wait to read book two! ( )

Hi again, everyone! This is my upcoming novel, published through Prodigy Gold Books, and it's my editor's favorite so far, and I can think of no higher praise considering she's seen the worst of my work. I hope you enjoy it!

Here's the blurb I've written:


“I want to be free.” The words came rushing out of me before I could think through their implications and consequences.

“There are two things you need to know about yourself if you want to be free—what you stand for, and what you stand against.” Lady Penelope held up her hands, brandishing a pair of daggers that had been hidden in her skirts. “This world lives enslaved to its destruction, and so long as you are living, as long as you are fighting, you will be free.”

I gazed at the daggers, transfixed. Each blade was clothed in a leather scabbard, but the silver and obsidian of the daggers’ hilts winked at me, as though it was calling for me.

PRAGUE, 1870.

For the last ten years, nineteen-year-old Eleanora Svobodová has worked as a servant in her stepmother's household. Along with her older brother, she dreams of the day they will be free to live life on their own terms.

But everything changes when their estranged grandmother comes to Prague on behalf of Queen Victoria. Throughout Bohemia, a string of murders and secret whispers hint at a larger coup. As the leader of the Order of the Crystal Daggers, an ancient order of spies and soldiers that protect kingdoms and their rulers, Lady Penelope is determined to mete out the perpetrators. Now, Eleanora must make the choice between a life of intrigue and saving the lives of others.

Can Eleanora find a way do the right thing and still find freedom?

With a fun blend of historical fiction, true love, castle intrigue, and family dysfunction, The Order of the Crystal Daggers is the latest adventure series from C. S. Johnson.


Let me know what you think! ( )

Set in 1800's Prague, this Cinderella story features Eleanora and her brother Ben. After their father dies, they are left in the care of their evil stepmother until they are rescued by their dynamic grandmother who brings them into the Order of the Crystal Daggers, a spy organization that their mother belonged to before her death. I enjoyed this book for the characters and their interactions and for the Cinderella like story. The political intrigues included in the book were a bit confusing and hard to follow which detracted a bit from the story. All in all this was a good read. ( )

Important note from another reviewer that bears repeating: It is completely possible to get pregnant during the two weeks after ones period! So use protection.

I got this book for free from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers. It follows the adventures of Eleanora, a girl on the cusp of womanhood, caught up in the intense political intrigue of the late 1800's. Her mother was an English Lady with a mysterious past and her father was an important scion in the Bohemian government, but after they both pass she and her brother are trapped in the custody of their stepmother. However their lives take a turn when their estranged grandmother, nicknamed Lady POW, shows up on the scene.

I was very hopeful, as I like politics, bad ass ladies and fairy tales, but this story didn't end up landing for me. I underestimated how labyrinthine Bohemian politics were in the late 19th century, and the introduction of a secret society (while probable) ended up making me more confused than less. Additionally characters interactions felt flat, outside of the romance scenes between Eleanora and Ferdy, which were rather sweet. In general, I felt like the author was trying to do too much (politics, secret society, coming of age story, Cinderella retelling) when I would have preferred the do one thing well. I didn't finish the book so I won't try to comment on the end. ( )