A little bit about what you'll find reviewed here

A little bit about what you'll find reviewed on this blog: I believe the best books involve characters you wish you could read more about long after the book is finished. Recently, I've been searching for hidden gems from the past. I read mostly fiction, and I'm a bit of a prude. I don't normally enjoy books with sex or excessive language.

Who I am:
I raised two wonderful girls, and I'm super proud of them. I enjoy reading (of course), sewing, cross stitching, photography and writing. I live in the high desert portion of Washington (which I didn't know existed until my husband and I decided to move here) and have really enjoyed my time out here. I am excited to see what God has next in store for my life!

Monday, November 16, 2015

The Golden Braid - Melanie Dickerson

(This book doesn't come out until tomorrow, but I won't have a chance to post it since I'll be out of town this week.  As a result, I am posting this a day early.)

Melanie Dickerson is a great author.  I love her versions of old fairy tales and her unique twists that make the stories come to life.  This is the story of Rapunzel.

Rapunzel has been moved around her entire life.  She has learned things here and there, but what she really wants is to learn to read and write.  Her mother is too busy teaching her not to trust anyone, especially men, to grant her wish.  When they are attacked on the road to Hagenheim, a brave knight saves their lives but is injured in the process.  While her mother is barely civil, Rapunzel begins to trust this man and wonder if her mother has been telling her the truth.

With a broken arm and leg, Gerek is laying in a monastery waiting impatiently to heal.  When one of the monks suggests he teach Rapunzel how to read, Gerek is reluctant, but he has nothing better to do.  The more time he spends with this young peasant girl, the more he enjoys himself.  With the lofty goals he has for his life, he tries to ignore what he’s feeling for Rapunzel and tell himself that he plans on being practical in his choice of a wife.  Circumstances force him to confront his feelings and acknowledge what’s going on.

I love the way this author puts her unique spin on fairy tales while keeping it recognizable and interesting at the same time.  These books might be listed as young adult, but they are great for adults as well.  Who doesn’t love a fairy tale with that happy ending?

This book has ties to the original fairy tales that Dickerson has written.  My post on The Princess Spy breaks down how those novels relate to each other.  You’re reading about Hagenheim, and the family members that have been written about before.  The clash between the Gerstenberg family and Lord Claybrook that occurs during The Princess Spy overlaps with this tale.

*I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


No comments:

Post a Comment