the-silent-songbird



MY REVIEW:

“The Silent Songbird” is Melanie Dickerson’s retelling of The Little Mermaid in a medieval English setting. Because my children are now grown and have not blessed me with grandchildren, I am out-of-the-loop when it comes to stories like The Little Mermaid so I am unable to share whether the story remains true to the original one. I can, however, agree with Dickerson’s many fans that the book is very readable and entertaining yet set on a firm foundation of faith.

When Evangeline, the king’s ward learns that she will be forced to marry the cruel Lord Shiveley, she takes desperate steps to flee, believing she would much prefer life as a servant. In order to avoid capture, Evangeline must deceive those with whom she has taken refuge and learns to her regret that her deception has led to distrust by the very man she has learned to love. Is there anything Evangeline can do to make up for her deception and win the heart of Westley le Wyse?

“The Silent Songbird” is one of those books that pulls the reader right into the story. The plot moves along at a good pace and contains just the right balance of drama, danger, and romance to keep things interesting. Several lessons could be gained from this story including truthfulness, bravery, and loyalty. I’m sure other readers could find even more positive life lessons within its pages. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with “The Silent Songbird” and recommend this clean, fairy tale based romance to those who enjoy such stories. I believe it to be appropriate for teens and young adults.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that was provided by the BookLook Blogger Program of Harper Collins Christian Publishing. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.



ABOUT THE BOOK:

Evangeline is gifted with a heavenly voice, but she is trapped in a sinister betrothal—until she embarks on a daring escape and meets brave Westley le Wyse. Can he help her discover the freedom to sing again?

Desperate to flee a political marriage to her cousin King Richard II’s closest advisor, Lord Shiveley—a man twice her age with shadowy motives—Evangeline runs away and joins a small band of servants journeying back to Glynval, their home village.

Pretending to be mute, she gets to know Westley le Wyse, their handsome young leader, who is intrigued by the beautiful servant girl. But when the truth comes out, it may shatter any hope that love could grow between them.

More than Evangeline’s future is at stake as she finds herself entangled in a web of intrigue that threatens England’s monarchy. Should she give herself up to protect the only person who cares about her? If she does, who will save the king from a plot to steal his throne?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Melanie DickersonMelanie Dickerson is an award-winning author who earned her bachelor’s degree in special education from The University of Alabama. She has taught in Georgia, Tennessee, Germany and the Eastern European country of Ukraine. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Romance Writers of America (RWA), she now spends her time writing and taking care of her husband and two daughters near Huntsville, Alabama.

Visit Melanie’s website http://www.melaniedickerson.com/

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