Review: The Silent Songbird

The Silent Songbird by Melanie Dickerson is a loose retelling of A Little Mermaid. The last couple of books from this author were not that great in my opinion, but I was happy to see that this story was better. From the very beginning I was hooked with Evangeline's story line.

Evangeline is a ward of King Richard II and has always been trapped inside the castle unable to go out because of the fear of someone taking her and using her as ransom. Dying to be free, she sings beside her open window often as she looks longingly out at the world around her.

When the king comes back from a trip and states that Evangeline is to marry his closest advisor, Lord Shively, she tries to get the king to change his mind. She knows Shively is a bad man trying to use her for his own gain, but the king will not yield to her pleas. Desperate, she decides to flee and joins another group of servants for protection. Evangeline covers her red hair and pretends to be mute so no one will figure out who she is. She is amazed at the kindness from the group's leader, Westley le Wyse, and he in turn is captivated by her. As they get to know each other, Evangeline wants to tell him the truth but is afraid to. What will Westley think when he finds out the truth?

I found this book very enjoyable and loved Evangeline's determination. She was sweet and kind but also firm in her decision not to marry just anyone. Plus, she had dreams and wasn't about to let them go, and I really liked that about her. She became my favorite character from Melanie Dickerson. I can't wait for more fairy tale retellings! It's always nice to be able to delve into a fantasy world for a little while, and this story was perfect for that.

I was given this book for free from Booklook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: The Golden Braid

The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson is the last book set around Hagenheim. This time the author concentrates her story around Rapunzel, a free spirit who loves to learn anything. I highly recommend that you read The Princess Spy before this story because both stories are intertwined. That was one of the best parts of the book to me because I loved seeing the other side to the previous story. It definitely made the book more interesting.

Rapunzel's mother decides it's time to move on from their little village and travel to Hagenheim. Rapunzel iso excited to finally see what a big, bustling city is like. Maybe there she can finally learn to read. But on the way there, they get attacked by two men. Sir Gerek gallops in to rescue them, but when fighting starts out again, he becomes hurt. Rapunzel manages to convince her mother to care for him and get him to help. They drop him off at a monastery near Hagenheim and continue on to their little home. Rapunzel is surprised that they don't live far from the monastery and an idea begins to bloom. Maybe someone there could teach her to read.

Sir Gerek is not happy that he is forced to teach Rapunzel to read. He doesn't want to have anything to do with a peasant girl, but he has no choice since he's confined to bed to heal. Slowly, the two become friends, and Gerek realizes she is much more than he ever thought.

I did not like this book as much as the earlier ones. It didn't have as much tension or spark. It just felt flat and contrived to me. I know these stories are marketed to YA, but this last one really felt like it was written to a younger audience. It was too simplistic without a lot of depth. The characters didn't grab my attention, and the story line was slow and boring. I wish I could say something different because I do love this author's stories. Maybe it's just me, though, and I wasn't in the mood for this kind of story or something. But anyway, I'm really hoping her next books are better!

Now on to what I did like. I liked the concept of who Rapunzel really is. For some weird reason, I didn't expect that, but it was perfect. I do wish there was a better epilogue afterwards just so I could read about everyone's reactions! I thought it was funny that Rapunzel liked to sing and paint like in the movie Tangled. I kept expecting a chameleon to pop up, though. haha Plus, I loved her desire to read and how excited she was over a Bible. It's so commonplace for us to have a Bible we don't appreciate it as much as we should, and I'm always thankful when authors remind us what a gift we have in reading God's word any time we want.

Overall, I wish I could have liked Rapunzel more, but if you are a fan of Melanie Dickerson you will probably enjoy this story. Especially since it fits in so well with the previous book, The Princess Spy.

I was given this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Let me know what you think about this story. :-)

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Review: The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest

The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest by Melanie Dickerson is the first book in the Tales of Thornbeck. I was super excited to read the author's newest book especially when I found out it was a mix of the Swan Princess and Robin Hood! But for me, the book did not live up to expectations. It just wasn't as good as the other fairy tale retellings. It started out pretty slow, and I had to force myself to keep on reading until I got about two-thirds of the way through. I thought it got interesting and more fast paced around there.

Odette Menkel is grateful to her uncle for rescuing her from the awful situation she lived in after her parents died. Now she is about to turn twenty-one and is still without a husband. Her uncle has never forced her to marry any of his business associates or friends even though it would be within his right. But if she married, she would have to give up her freedom of teaching and providing for the city's orphans. For the past year, she has been poaching deer from the margrave's forest, and she is becoming weary from lack of sleep and the guilt nagging at her. Is it really alright to steal the king's deer to feed the helpless? Or should she just marry to provide for the orphans?

Jorgen Hartman is the margrave's newly appointed forester. His adopted father was killed by a poacher four years ago so when Jorgen finds an arrow different from the margrave's in the forest he immediately begins to keep an eye out for the poacher. Jorgen is convinced it's the same man who killed his father and is determined to bring him to justice. What will happen when he finds out the poacher is a woman?

I liked how Odette was determined to help as many orphans as she could. She didn't let her good fortune make her forget what is was like to go hungry or to not be able to go to the town school. Jorgen really shone at the end of the book. He acted unexpectedly leaving me pleasantly surprised. I love to find a character doing something that's not what you suspected he'd do.

I was a little bored with the story because I had figured out the mystery early on, and I kept hoping I would be proven wrong. But I wasn't, and I was left wishing there was more depth, intrigue, and suspense. It was still a pretty good story overall, and I'm still interested in reading the next book in the series.

I was given this book free from Booklook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: A Princess Spy

The Princess Spy by Melanie Dickerson is based on the Frog Prince fairy tale. Fans of her Beauty and the Beast retelling, The Merchant's Daughter, will especially love this one since their grandson, Colin, is one of the main characters! :-)

This story takes us back to Hagenheim where Duke Wilhelm's eldest daughter, Margaretha, is being courted by Lord Claybrook from England. Margaretha isn't too sure about her new suitor, but knows she has to marry soon so her younger sister can get her chance for love.

Colin arrives in Hagenheim severely beaten. Confused and disoriented, he is desperate to protect everyone from Claybrook, But there's one problem... he can't speak English! Colin is surprised to find that someone can understand and communicate with him. When he finds out that it's the Duke's daughter, Margaretha, he is thrilled with the chance to warn them all of such a dangerous man.

Margaretha doesn't know what to think about this mysterious man. He seems like a raving lunatic, but... what if what he says his true? Margaretha knows she talks too much and wants to change, but it isn't easy when she isn't trusted by her own family with secrets. Colin believes in her, though and because of that, she is able to still be herself and learn how to control her tongue. Plus, she finds out that not only is she stronger than she realized, but she really is a force to be reckoned with!

This book really makes you think about what you say about and to others. My mom would always say that home is supposed to be an encouraging place not a discouraging place, and this story has definitely made me even more adamant to have that in our home, too. This book was such a pleasure to read, and I so wish it didn't have to end! But I know more stories are in the works. If you enjoy a good fairy tale, then you will love Melanie Dickerson's novels!

I was given this book free from Booklook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: The Merchant's Daughter

The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson is a compelling retelling of the beloved Beauty and the Beast tale. I have read three of the author's books in just as many days, and I can't wait to read another! I didn't read them in order because I didn't realize they use the same characters throughout three of the stories. It didn't ruin anything for me since I accidentally read a couple of them in order. haha But The Merchant's Daughter is a stand alone novel and is a great one to check out first. :-)

I was pleasantly surprised with how the story was written in a realistic way. The Beast is a lord of a manor and because of that he rules over the town. The Beauty is the daughter of a merchant who died three years ago leaving them destitute. Required to work at the lord's house, Annabel begins to like and respect the scarred, hurting man. Ranulf meanwhile wonders if Annabel's pretty face hides a deceitful side. He soon finds out how different she really is from his deceased wife.

One of the best parts of the story was how excited Annabel was about holding and reading a Bible. Her joy and amazement was convicting and uplifting. For some reason it seems easy to lose the wonder of the Word, but we should still react like Annabel did in the story. Plus, I loved how the truths from the Bible were woven throughout the story in such a seamless way.

This fairy tale was such a great mix of the traditional story and of the Disney cartoon, too. If you have always enjoyed fairy tales, you should definitely read this book and this series! You won't regret it. :-)

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