Melanie Dickerson’s reimagined fairytales are always fun to read. And just like Disney, she slips some of the characters from her former books into her new ones.

Both Lady Magdalen and the Duke of Wolfberg are betrayed by people close to them. But in the betrayal, in the losing the trappings and status they’ve taken for granted, each of them finds their true character.

Lady Magdalen has always been sweet and concerned for her family as well as her people but what she finds out about herself is that she’s braver than she believed. The Duke of Wolfberg believed he took good care of his people but he didn’t allow himself to form relationships with them. When trouble strikes, he’s left with no one to turn to.

As Lady Magdalen and Steffan find themselves in the same predicament, they become allies, intent on exposing the lies going on in the duke’s castle. But they also see each other’s best traits coming to light.

This story that is based on The Goose Girl tale with a bit of The Prince and the Pauper thrown in has a bit of everything—intrigue, betrayal, friendship, growth, God, and love. Once again, Dickerson gives readers an engaging, entertaining story that brings light to her readers.
Disclosure statement:

I receive complimentary book via the author, publisher, or blogging programs, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Does not disappoint -- this is my favorite one so far. Both main characters change (for the better) over the course of the story. Excellent job, as one has come to expect from Ms. Dickerson.

Castles, dukes, lords, ladies, conspiracies, dangers, mines and geese are all part of The Noble Servant! Author Melanie Dickerson has written an exciting tale with interesting characters and twists! You will enjoy this medieval story. I read an early copy of this book through Net Galley. This is my honest opinion.

In true Melanie fashion this latest story “A Noble Servant” is a delightful fairy-tale woven with Christian values and a reminder that through every hardship God is with us, guiding our steps.

Lady Magdalen has thought often of the handsome Duke of Wolfberg since meeting him two years ago at Thornbeck Castle. She is surprised to receive a letter from him asking her to be his wife and to travel to Wolfberg castle. Along the journey there she is forced to trade places with her trusted maidservant and assigned to tend the geese and watch from the fringes as her maidservant marries the Duke.

Steffan, Duke of Wolfberg has been away at university and during his absence, he has been ousted by his scheming uncle and cousin. Steffan is able to escape from the mercenaries that set upon him and disguises himself as a shepherd to gain access to Wolfberg and discover what is going on.

Magdalen & Steffan are reunited while tending the animals and begin to devise a plan to get back their stolen identities.

Will our hero and heroine get caught sneaking thru the castle to uncover the proof they need? Will they be able to get help from their friends at Thornbeck or from Magdalen’s family? How are their secrets getting discovered?

With believable characters and a story line that will draw you in and keep the pages turning, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading Christian fiction. This is a delightful spin on the German fairy-tale of the Goose Girl and one you will not want to miss!

I give this book 5 stars

I am very pleased with this book!

This is the third book in the Thornbeck/ A Medieval Fairy Tale Series. I have read almost all of Melanie Dickerson’s books and for the most part I have been pleased with them all, including this one. I grew up being read fairy tales, so I like it very much that Dickerson’s books all include a retelling of a fairy tale. This book was a unique version of the story, the Goose Girl originally told by the Grimm Brothers. I would say Dickerson did a fine job with this retelling and made this story intriguing and fun.
Dickerson is one of those authors that you can read anytime, because her books are clean and have a good story line. That is why I like her books.

I love the story of The Goose Girl and didn't realize that was what this book was about. I'd previously read and listened to (multiple times) "The Goose Girl" by Shannon Hale and absolutely loved it! This was a fun retelling by another favorite author and it did not disappoint! This one is more of a Christian fiction than Hale's retelling but I loved how it was done.

This is a sort of Prince and the Pauper type story...except the switch between nobility and servant is not a mutual exchange. Deceit and lies run rampant throughout this story as certain characters wish to be raised in status and the only way they know how is to achieve it through cunning lies and force.

Steffan, the Duke, has been away at school. He is the only remaining member of his immediate family. His uncle has stepped in to help care for his castle and people while he is away but his sinister designs are put into action and Steffan will soon find himself in the center of it all, trying to save his people and himself. Then when he realizes who else is in danger, he must work extra hard to save her as well.

Magdalen is not as noble born as Steffan but has dreamed that he might remember her and their sweet night of dancing and talking together years ago. That he just might desire to marry her, but the likelihood of that happening is slim to none. So imagine Magdalen's surprise when she receives a missive from Steffan asking(maybe demanding is a better word here) that she come immediately and be married to him. Magdalen cannot believe her dreams could come true and her mother is beside herself and rushes Magdalen out the door and on her three day journey to her new home, village and husband.

Both Steffan and Magdalen encounter terror on their journeys back to Steffan's home and find themselves needing to disguise who they are. Magdalen's maid servant, Agnes, dresses as Magdalen and tells her if she tries to tell anyone the truth they will kill her and her friend. Steffan escapes from two servants trying to kill him. Both Steffan and Magdalen find themselves relegated to the servants position and in need to convince somebody of the truth of who they are and to overthrow the evil usurper Hazen, Steffan's uncle.

Help and strength come from some surprising sources throughout the story. Steffan and Magdalen find each other, in disguise, and work together to free his people and themselves.

Danger, intrigue, geese, cows, hidden rooms, mines, unlikely friends, kisses, God, cunning wits, peril, beautiful dresses, rags, towers, protection, love, marriage, stolen items and much much more is all contained within this gem of a book. I loved it! If you haven't read the story of the Goose Girl, now is your chance! It was sweet with some very fast paced moments, some tender moments, some moments of forgiveness and some of unrepentance. There were several characters that I thought I liked them only to be deceived and others I had a change of heart for the better about.

I love Melanie's books and I love how she connects her characters to God. If you enjoy Christian fiction, especially Fairy tales and medieval tales, I highly recommend reading her books.

Content: Clean, some fighting and a couple deaths but nothing graphic. Characters talk about God and pray several times asking for his help and guidance.

I received an ARC from the Publisher, Thomas Nelson, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

Melanie Dickerson does a masterful job recreating fairy tales in their historical setting. This story is no exception, with Magdalen, a baron’s daughter, forced to follow a false role as a lowly servant when she should be marrying the duke. Little does she know that the true duke has also been forced from his rightful place and is masquerading as a servant. Can the two of them stop an evil plot and set things right before it’s too late? The interaction between quality characters, the lively plot, and the suspense make the novel a pleasure to read.

It was a simple story with good characters. The plot was familiar which left no surprises but we still different enough to feel new or refreshing.

The Goose Girl is one of my favorite fairy tail stories and I was very excited when I saw that Melanie Dickerson would be writing a retelling.
She did a fantastic job, as usual!
The book is filled with enough tension that makes it impossible to put down. I was curious to see how Magdalen and Steffan would eventually find their happy ending, considering that at least one part was pretty much aloof towards the other.
I adored Magdalen from the start. But I was surprised at how Steffan didn't call my attention from the start. Quite the contrary... but oh it didn't take long for him to show a noble side. I appreciated the work and transformation the author did with his character.
Magdalen and Steffan went through some challenging situations. It seemed like things would never work in their favor and they had enough reason to lose heart. But oh the way they persevered and encouraged each other! They held on to truth and God until the very end. And in the end they found out that the path of obedience and sacrifice, even if a difficult one, is worth it and in the end what you find is love and family. Precious gifts from the above!

Once again the beautiful Queen of fairly tale retellings, Melanie Dickerson, has breathed new life into an old classic by the Brothers Grimm, The Goose Girl.

Magdalen of Mallin, can’t believe she has been chosen by the handsome Duke of Wolfberg to become his bride, after all it has been two years since their brief meeting and she wasn't sure he even remembered her. She, the daughter of a poor baron, whose own mother has nothing good to say to her, is finally going to be able to save her country from the poverty and starvation that has threatened them since her father's passing.

On the way to meet her charming husband-to-be, Magdalen is betrayed by an evil servant who makes Magdalen trade places with his daughter. Arriving at Wolfberg, Magdalen hopes the Duke will realize the deception and rescue her, but as soon as she arrives at Wolfberg Magdalen is forced to tend the geese.
With her identity stolen and no hope in sight of a rescue, Magdalen’s sadness is lifted somewhat by the friendship of a handsome shepherd who tugs at her memory as someone she should know. When Magdalen glimpses the Duke of Wolfberg, something seems amiss, why does the shepherd look more like the Duke she was to marry than the man claiming to be the Duke?

This story was enchanting from the beginning to the end, with lots of intriguing characters, including quite a few that were nefarious, but what’s a good fairy tale without a few miscreants? Reading fairy tales as a kid was always a favorite for me. Dreaming of happy ever afters with my own special prince would always bring joy to my heart and now as an adult rereading these stories brought to life again from the imagination of Ms. Dickerson is even more thrilling. I cannot wait to see where her next adventure leads me. You can never be too old to yearn for a happy ever after!

This book is a sweet step back in time to medieval Germany. Magdalen has been forced from her rightful position by a servant and now works as a goose girl. The duke has also lost his position. Together they must try to save their positions so they can save their countries. The plot has threads of danger, romance, and intrigue. It was a sweet story, and one I enjoyed. It is also a retelling of a Grimm tale I wasn't familiar with. Perfect for teen readers and those who enjoy a great story.

This books was a wonderful tale of disguise, betrayal and poetic justice. I loved the characters and the plot and cheered with good and frowned with the bad! I thought the story was interesting and kept me turning pages until the end!

Melanie Dickerson has done it again with another romantic tale of good versus evil in Medieval Germany. The story has many twists, turns, betrayal and suspense. You will be always on the edge of your seat trying to figure out who is loyal and who is trustworthy. I enjoyed the character development of Steffan and how it was similar to king David of the Bible. I recommend this to anyone who loves historical fiction.

Oh man I loved this book but then again I love most Melanie Dickerson books.

Melanie Dickerson takes ordinary fairy tales and reworks them to make complete novels. She does a masterful job at taking the child-like story and making it an enjoyable narrative for adults to read. Magdalen has been called to Wolfberg to wed the Duke there. She only goes because she wants to better the lives of the people living in her demesne since the copper in her father's mines has played out. Steffen is the Duke, but he's been in Prague going to school and his uncle has been overseeing his land and castle. His uncle calls him home to get married, but. . .

The story is set in Germany and puts the The Goose Girl into a setting where she is allowed to bloom and grow even though her identity has been stolen from her. Steffen becomes her ally in this problematic situation because his life was being threatened by his uncle.

The Noble Servant is quite a story that is a quick read and hard to put down. I appreciate Melanie's talent in telling the tale and her ability to make it so enjoyable.

Five stars, two thumbs up, and a goose-feather quill.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson for allowing me to read and review this book.

This novel was an enjoyable read. The writing, plot and characters were good. The story brings in romance, betrayal, faith, adventure, and hope.
Steffan, the Duke of Wolfberg, has been betrayed by his uncle. His uncle is a greedy man and has tried to kill Steffan. By killing him, his uncle plans to make Alexander, his son, the Duke of Wolfberg.
Lady Magdalen is a poor baron's daughter. Her father has died and her mother is cruel to her and blames her for everything. When her mother receives a letter saying the duke of Wolfberg wants to marry Magdalen, her mother sends her immediately. Magdalen met the duke two years ago and has not forgotten him. However, on the way to Wolfberg castle, she is betrayed by her maid Agnes and her father. They force Magdalen to become a servant and threaten her to keep the secret.
Steffan finds a way to Wolfberg castle to stop his uncle. He keeps his identity a secret but recognizes Magdalen from two years ago. Both of them have been betrayed and want to get their identities back. Steffan needs to find his portrait that was hidden from his uncle, which would prove his claim. Steffan and Magdalen confide in each other about their true identities and agree to work together. They both protect and help each other. Magdalen has much faith, which shows the strength of her character. She also sees the goodness in people. Her faith and strength help Steffan become a better person. They begin to care for each other and fall in love. Magdalen believes Steffan will not love her because he does not believe in marrying for love, which has to do with his childhood. Magdalen will marry for love but also wants to help her people.
However, there are those whom will betray them and spies all around. Why did Steffan's uncle want to have his son marry Magdalen? Will Steffan and Magdalen confess their true feelings before it is too late? Will they both have their true identities confirmed and restored? Read and find out!!

I try to never go into Melanie Dickerson’s books with expectations. For some reason, even though I know that the ones based on fairy tales will be familiar, she never ceases to surpass my expectations I do have.
This story, light, fun, but with hints of deeper meaning, spoke to my heart. It reminded me of a story that I had mapped out years ago, but never wrote. I loved the sweet retelling of this fairy tale, with the depth and heart that she has. It is one that young adults and adults will enjoy alike.

When you are looking for a good book, that will brighten your life, look to buy this one.

The publishing date is May 9th and is available for preorder for 8.42 for hardcover “The Noble Servant”

Melanie Dickerson works her story-telling magic again with a character based in the Brothers Grimm fairy-tale, The Goose Girl. Dickerson fans first meet Magdalen of Mallin in The Beautiful Pretender. She is a true friend to Avelina, who ends up marrying the Margrave of Thornbeck. But, two years have past and Magdalen struggles in an unwelcoming home and suffers to watch the people of her land battle poverty. An unexpected invitation to marry the Duke of Wolfberg offers Magdalan a chance to improve the state of her home and people. She also hopes the the Duke will remember her from her brief time at Thornbeck and perhaps may come to feel a fondness for her as she has felt for him over the last two years. However, all is not as it would seem in Wolfberg. Magadalen loses her identity, and while caring for some testy geese discovers nothing is as it would seem! This is a delightful young adult tale about identity, faith, self-control, and finding the courage to face the challenges of life even when the outcome may be difficult and painful. Beautiful cover and well written tale - Another good story in the Thornbeck series!

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30649389-the-noble-servant" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Noble Servant (A Medieval Fairy Tale, #3)" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1468686697m/30649389.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30649389-the-noble-servant">The Noble Servant</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3408059.Melanie_Dickerson">Melanie Dickerson</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1913323061">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30649389.The_Noble_Servant__A_Medieval_Fairy_Tale___3_" title="The Noble Servant (A Medieval Fairy Tale, #3) by Melanie Dickerson" rel="nofollow">The Noble Servant</a> is a fairy re-telling of the Goose Girl story. I don't believe I've ever read this story (gasp!) before and as I was reading this book, I didn't have anything to compare it to as other reviewers have. <br /><br />I absolutely love a good fairy tale and this one is no exception. This is the story of Lady Magdalen (I just love that name!!) and Duke Steffan. They are both in the wrong place at the wrong time and things get really messy really fast! Lady Magdalen has her sites set on marrying Duke Steffan and when a letter arrives to her home requesting she come marry him, she jumps at the chance! I mean, who wouldn't want to marry a Duke! On her quest to reach her future husband's home, Magdalen is hijacked by her ladies maid and the maid's father and is demanded to change places with Agnes. Fearing for her life, Lady Magdalen complies and ends up becoming the Goose Girl at the castle. Can she stop the wedding of her ladies maid to the Duke? Whatever will she do? <br /><br />This is the third book in a series of medieval fairy tales. I have not read the other 2 books so I'm not sure if these characters appear in other novels by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3408059.Melanie_Dickerson" title="Melanie Dickerson" rel="nofollow">Melanie Dickerson</a> or not. However, I did not feel like I was missing any pieces by reading a book "out of order". I love Ms. Dickerson's writing style and how she weaves a great story! There is romance, suspense, and even a few comical moments throughout. <br /><br />Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it! <br /><br />I did receive a complimentary copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/736648-julie">View all my reviews</a>

3.5 Stars
A loose adaptation of The Goose Girl with Christian elements for tweens and teens. The two MCs are written with flaws that appear to be overcome by the end. I respect that the "good" characters struggle with forgiveness; makes it feel more authentic. The story flows nicely, although there is a small section in the middle that drags just for a moment. I wish the author had gone into more detail about what happened to certain supporting characters after their main part in the story was revealed. For YA readers who like historical romances and fairy tale retellings.

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