This book was an interesting retelling and take on the Aladdin myth! I enjoyed the plot and the characters, this was a good read and would be well suited to a teenage audience. At times I found a lull in the action but would soon get taken back into the story. Thanks so much to Netgalley for the ARC, this is a 4 stars out of 5.

I’m such a fan of Melanie’s and this book was perfect! I loved it so much and would read it again for sure! Thank you so much for the ARC!!

This book is a historical fiction based on the 1400s and I thought it would be great as it was a retelling of Aladdin. I found this book to be intriguing, suspenseful, including love and loss and love with the hope of rescue. I enjoyed the details she went into in this story and it really caught my attention. It made me happy, scared and sad sometimes, with an eagerness to find out what happens next and to keep on reading. The main female character's courage was inspiring in the way of how she faced her fears.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I am not a fan of re-tellings. I think that may be my overall issue with this story and the Silent Songbird, book 7 in this series. I didn't realize it was part of a series until after the fact as it is not mentioned on the request.

I think I'm a bit too set in a particular retelling style that this once just did wow me or grab my obsessiveness like some other books might. The fact that it started off slow and not in a good way, didn't help much either.

The fact that I finished it was a plus. It's not my cup of tea, but the interesting way the Aladdin lore is retold may grab its intended audience rather well. I find it really disappointing that kids don't have imagination any more and can't see in their mind anything beyond the 21st century or even the 20th. The 1600-1800s has a lot of unique cultural differences that romanticizes relationships and in a retelling like this, I think it adds a unique aspect to the story that would be different if this story were written the exact same way, but in 2018 with iphones and unbelievable technology.

3.5 stars.

Rating 4/5

I really liked this retelling! I have only ever read one Aladdin retelling and that was focused on the Villain and his perspective so this was a welcome retreat from my normal reads! I haven't read any other books in the series and don't feel that I really needed to. There were few parallels to the Disney version, but I like that in retellings because that is the point of them! It's not to *copy* someone else's version but to create your own so this hit the mark for sure!

I enjoyed this book a lot. Aladdin was a determined young man. He wanted to prove he was not just another orphan. He had a special friendship with with Lady Kirstyn. Lady Kirstyn always had a heart for orphans. Aladdin decides he must make his own way in life. Lady Kirsten is kidnapped. Life doesn’t always turn out the way we expect. Another fairy retale by this author. There are excellent lessons to be gleaned and it’s a great book for teens and adults.

This unique retelling of Aladdin is the eighth book in the Hagenheim series.
Aladdin is born in the Middle East, but when he becomes an orphan, he is forced to steal by a cruel master who takes him in. One day, Aladdin is rescued by a kind priest and is taken far away to Hagenheim, where he befriends fellow orphans and the Duke's daughter, Lady Kirstyn. As Aladdin and Lady Kirstyn get older, they grow to be best friends, and Aladdin becomes trusted and beloved by the Duke's family and the townspeople. When Aladdin leaves to seek his fortune, he never imagines that he will unwittingly put Kirstyn in harm's way and that he will face his greatest test yet as he tries to thwart an evil plot.
I enjoy retellings of fairy tales and old legends, and this book was not an exception. Placing Aladdin in Hagenheim instead of his home country in the Middle East was creative and unique. Aladdin and Kirstyn's relationship was sweet and enduring, and the descriptive writing was excellent. I thought there was a little too much obsessive thinking about kissing, but that's typical for young adult fiction. I personally didn't agree with the Catholic influence in the book, but I realize that it's historically accurate. I got bogged down with the story in the middle, but other than that I thought the plot was well done. The romance is clean, and there is some violence, but not too much. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys retellings and historical fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Melanie Dickerson's latest, The Orphan's Wish, is an entertaining spin on the beloved tale of Aladdin. The 8th book in her Hagenheim series, Melanie presents the story of Aladdin and Kirstyn, two young adults caught up in events ripe with danger and the struggle to be a person of character amid crooked schemes.
Fans of Dickerson and of medieval history will fall in love with this story and its bevy of well developed characters. The dialogue, the ever present intrigue, and the depth of friendship between the hero and heroine will hold you spellbound. A good, clean young adult read, this is a refreshing tale of honor, integrity, and lasting love that overcomes the most daunting of obstacles.
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. All opinions in this review are my own.

The Orphan's Wish #8 Hagenheim by Melanie Dickerson

The Orphan's Wish is a lovely and fun retelling of the fairy tale Aladdin. Melanie Dickerson weaves a delightful story with a faith theme woven throughout which gives a deeper depth of the story-line and characters. There are several characters that soon made it to my favorites list and those who had evil intents that had me hoping they would be found out in time. I enjoyed the childhood adventures Aladdin and Kirstyn had and hoped they could recapture that adventurous spirit once again in adulthood. Of course, things are so different for them now than when they were children. Will these differences hinder their friendship or give them a strength to build upon? Then something tragic occurs that forces Aladdin to rethink his priorities and goals. Will he be in time to help Kirstyn before it is too late and never be able to declare his true feelings for her? Will the ordeal Kirstyn is forced into destroy her or will she find the strength she needs to keep going and believing God will provide a miracle for her?

I appreciate the faith elements within the story-line and the lessons the characters learned. . .such as, to learn to lean on God and trust Him in all areas of their lives (a lesson for us all). I enjoyed the descriptive details of the era the story is set in, which brought the story to life for me. Growing up, Aladdin was never a favorite fairy tale but this retelling has changed my mind about the story.

~I received an e-book copy of this book from the publisher/author/NetGalley (no monetary gain were exchanged), this is my honest review~

I did NOT enjoy this book at all. I only kept reading because it was from Netgalley and I had to read it.
It was just bad, okay? for so many reasons.

1) The enforced westernization and inherent anti-islam attitude.
Apparently, if the "christian" priest isn't around, poor orphans will be abused by cruel Islamic masters. Never mind the countless abuse stories we know of from Christian history. Remember the Children's Crusades? Where Christian priest sent orphans to evangelize Islamic countries, only to turn them over the slavers at the Mediterranean?
This anti-Islam attitude is front and center from the very first page. If Aladdin hasn't been taken by the German priest, he would died an orphan in the "holy land" Also, the priest randomly said his native name was too hard to pronounce, so he randomly renames the six year old. Wow.


2) Mary Sue Characters
everyone in this book is a two dimensional, flat character. I nearly barfed at the treatment of the Duke's Daughter, Kristyn. her relationship with Alladin is solely made up of past walks through the woods.
And how many times do we need to be reminded how far out of Alladin's league Kristyn is? For one, it's patronizing. And two, there's absolutely no other girls that have ever caught Alladin's interest? Come on.

3) Boring, predictable plot
Um, was this an actual retelling? Here, Alladin is the epitome of goodness, not a questionable young man. And there's no real competition for Kristyn's hand. It's just boring. Mostly flashbacks and predictable actions so that these two washed out characters can finally be together.

4) Ameturish writing
The dialogue made me cringe, OVER AND OVER again. Seriously, I felt like editing just didn't happen. Add a predicable, boring story to flat storytelling and this book was just painful to read.

In conclusion
I cannot being to describe my disappointment. I've read Melanie Dickerson before, but her Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood retelling were interesting, at the very least. And they didn't slam Arabic cultures for the sake of promoting Christianity. And not just christianity, but very western practices. I cannot recommend this book or author anymore.

ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review

I didn't enjoy the way that this book was written, I just couldn't get on with the point of view or style.

I recently finished reading Ms. Dickerson's new fairy tale retelling and absolutely loved it!! The twists she added made it intriguing and kept me interested. Aladdin has always been one of my favorites, ever since Disney's Aladdin hit the big screen. He's a diamond in the rough, most wouldn't give him a second glance, but deep down, he's bright and so kind. There are definitely parts that are easy to guess,"How things are going to end," but the getting there is the mystery. This is definitely worth the read and very enjoyable.

I love reading Fairy Tales retellings and MelanieDickerson's are the best!
I liked that this book is set in the medieval era, which I love. And that there are characters that I know from her previous books. The Duke of Hagenheim's family, Lena the healer, etc.
Both main characters are very likeable. I liked Aladdin's integrity since he was young, and his loyalty for his childhood friend. Lady Kirstyn is sweet and so kind... I felt a bit bad that she didn't feel worthy at times because she was the youngest in a big family and was often overlooked. But she grew up through out the story. Both characters were endearing.
The plot had the Aladdin theme but it was original in itself. It had unexpected twists, and it captivated me from the start until the end. I especially liked the second half. The ending was great!
I liked that the romance was sweet and clean. The only thing is that I thought they took very long to admit their feelings for each other when it was so evident. But even with that, it made it more interesting and intriguing.
I has everything: love, adventure, suspense and a bit of humor.
I totally recommend this book as well as the rest of Melanie Dickerson's books. For teens and adults as well.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Orphan’s Wish is written by New York Times bestselling author Melanie Dickerson. It was published in 2018 by Thomas Nelson.
The following book review contains spoilers.
This newest installment in Melanie Dickerson’s fairy tale romance series puts an interesting spin on the classic story of Aladdin. The book takes place in Hagenheim, Germany, and follows the story of two young lovers. Aladdin, an orphaned Arab boy rescued from his life of poverty and stealing, falls in love with Kirsten, the daughter of Duke Wilhelm. Their love seems forbidden by the chasm of their ranks, and so Aladdin sets off to make a life and fortune for himself. But when Kirsten is kidnapped and pulled into a terrible plot, Aladdin must overcome his feelings of unworthiness and risk sacrificing everything he has built in order to save her.
I’m a huge fan of Melanie Dickerson, and so of course I was on board for The Orphan’s Wish. I was pleasantly surprised with how well she formed the plot. Ms. Dickerson never ceases to amaze with the ability to put an original twist on fairy tales, and work in a Christian message while she’s at it. This book was no different, and it addressed some pretty important modern issues too. For instance, Aladdin struggles with feelings of guilt from his past, when he was forced to steal for Mustapha, his master. He sees himself through Mustapha’s eyes and battles with self-rejection as a result. This is a perspective he is forced to overcome. Another serious problem that was displayed was abusive relationships. Two of Kirsten’s captors, Anna and Michael, are dating. However, Michael is both verbally and physically abusive to Anna. The story shows her being continually hurt by him, and yet still going back to the unhealthy relationship because she has nowhere else to go. This, tragically, is a concern that is all too common, and I appreciate that the author did not turn a blind eye to social problems in favor of a happy-go-lucky story. That being said, I would not recommend the book to younger audiences because of the mature issues addressed, but ages thirteen and up should be fine. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and am anxiously anticipating the next one.

Thank you to the Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Guild, as well as Net Galley, for providing a copy of this book for me to review. All opinions are my own and were not required to be positive.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion – which I’ve done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

The Orphan's Wish by Melanie Dickerson

Could this orphan ever be good enough for the duke's daughter?

My rating is 4.5 stars

Aladdin felt compelled to be perfect. He remembered the sins of his youth with shame and felt he had to somehow be perfect to atone for them. He loved Lady Kristyn from the first time he saw her and didn’t think he was good enough to aspire to her hand. These were such strong motivations for him, driving him to excel in all he did and to leave Haggenheim to seek his fortune.

My heart went out to Aladdin when his mother died and he found himself destitute at the age of 5. The shame he felt over the thieving he had been forced to do until he was rescued by Priest and brought to Germany to live followed him throughout his life. I loved his strong protective nature towards Lady Kristyn. . .

It was interesting to see the way Aladdin viewed himself, flawed and insignificant, compared to the way others saw him, perfect and able to succeed at anything he put his hand to. I think we often do this very same thing, look at ourselves through the veil of our sins and not through the new life and forgiveness which comes through Christ. I appreciated the way author Melanie Dickerson brought Aladdin to the place where he was able to see his worth in Christ in such a sensitive and compassionate way.

Lady Kristyn is a younger daughter and often feels invisible. Her dad even forgot her birthday one year. Granted, he was dealing with a serious situation, but what young girl wants to have such an important day overlooked? The one person she always knew who heard her was Aladdin. From the time they were young, he had been her dearest friend and her champion. He even bore scars as a reminder of the time he almost lost his life to save hers. Anyone who has struggled with feelings of self-doubt, inadequacy or invisibility will be able to relate to her.

While some aspects of the story were anticipated, there were also a number of unexpected twists. One of the characters made me mad when he betrayed Aladdin unexpectedly, however it fit and needed to happen. I do wish more details would have been given about the situation with the merchant in Hagenheim. and its resolution Yes, it was obvious that it was resolved, but it felt like something more should have been said about it.

I have enjoyed all the books in this series I have read (I missed one somehow!) I appreciate the way the author integrates her faith so naturally into the lives of the characters. I also like the way she tells the stories in the time and place I picture the original fairy tales to have taken place and yet writes them as “regular” stories without magic and fairies. Melanie Dickerson is one of the authors on my “if the book is by her it is worth reading” list.

Read the full review of The Orphan's Wish by Melanie Dickerson with a Preview at AmongTheReads.net

I would like to thank JustRead Tours for giving me a copy of this book. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.

First… GORGEOUS cover! Very compelling. :)
I was super excited about this book since I have read and own the first four books in the Hagenheim Series plus The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest. So yeah, I had high expectations.
I was intrigued with the way the story started, Aladdin’s mother’s death, how he was forced to steal, and how he met the priest and the knight. But I was sad that he was then taken to Germany and we don’t see the Middle East again. I had been hoping that Dickerson would integrate the rich culture of the Middle East.
It was interesting that much of the story was told from Aladdin’s point of view. I had not been expecting this at all, but it was a nice change. Aladdin was hard-working, honest, and had a firm faith in God; however, he lacked notable flaws. He was, as the other characters even state, perfect. One thing, though, that bothered me about him, was the way he compared Gethel and Kirstyn. It was all about their looks! “She was pretty, he supposed, but not as beautiful as Kirstyn. Her hair was brown and smooth, her brown eyes and mouth rather small and delicate. He couldn’t help comparing her to Kirstyn’s pale-blonde hair, her full lips, and large blue eyes. Kirstyn was also taller than Grethel.” Just NO. A girl’s outside beauty does not make her truly beautiful!
Okay, moving on. The idea behind the plot was interesting. I liked how Dickerson took the Aladdin story and made it her own. Retellings do by no means have to exactly follow the Disney version. That’s the beauty of a retelling, you can make it your own.
The writing was okay, I had hoped for something more elaborate since Dickerson is an experienced writer.
Finally, as with all of Dickerson’s books, this was a clean read and I loved that about it.
But altogether, I felt a little like the publishing process for this book was rushed. If they had spent a bit more time filling out the plot, the characters, and the setting, and embellishing the writing, it would have made this book so much better.

Genre: Historical, fairytale,

My Rating: 4 Stars.

Recommendation: Anyone 13+.

My favorite character/s: Aladdin in this retelling is a different kind of hero, and I liked how he changed throughout the book. He was just so so hurt :-(, I felt bad for him when the book started... and the middle... and the whole book.... until he got his happyily ever after...

My Verse for Psalm 68:5
A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. King James Version.


My thoughts: I have read most of Miss Dickerson's books, this one was good but not as great as her others. It felt rushed like it was written in a hurry and was not as well written. I still liked it a whole lot. I enjoyed how it was a little different from most of her books as well. This was a really cute and sweet story. I was really glad when I saw that this book was out.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Orphan’s Wish by Melanie Dickerson

Published by Thomas Nelson Fiction June 26, 2018

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Drama

Pages: 352

Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Publisher’s Description

Orphaned and alone, Aladdin travels from the streets of his Arab homeland to a strange, faraway place. Growing up in an orphanage, he meets young Lady Kirstyn, whose father is the powerful Duke of Hagenheim. Despite the difference in their stations, Aladdin quickly becomes Kirstyn’s favorite companion, and their childhood friendship grows into a bond that time and opposition cannot break.

Even as a child, Aladdin works hard, learning all he can from his teachers. Through his integrity, intelligence, and sheer tenacity, he earns a position serving as the duke’s steward. But that isn’t enough to erase the shame of being forced to steal as a small child—or the fact that he’s an orphan with no status. If he ever wants to feel equal to his beautiful and generous friend Kirstyn, he must leave Hagenheim and seek his fortune.

Yet once Aladdin departs, Lady Kirstyn becomes a pawn in a terrible plot. Now, Aladdin and Kirstyn must rely on their bond to save her from unexpected danger. But will saving Kirstyn cost Aladdin his newfound status and everything he’s worked so hard to obtain?

An enchanting new version of the well-known tale, The Orphan’s Wish tells a story of courage and loyalty, friendship and love, and reminds us what “family” really means.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Story Notes

Melanie Dickerson brings another fairytale to more modern light with her latest story in the Hagenheim series, this time choosing the story of Aladdin to share with her readers.

I love the story of Aladdin and all the great literary inclusions it has, from adventure to magic to love and a young man finding a place to belong. And while Ms. Dickerson kept the essential parts of the story and created a new place and time in which to place her story, I felt that this story just lacked the “Yumph” that this classic tale needs. She began the story well enough with the orphan Aladdin being taken from the Middle East to Hagenheim to be placed in the orphanage, before becoming the assistant steward to the Lord of the land, Duke Wilhelm. As he grows in both knowledge and stature, he quickly becomes the best friend of the Duke’s youngest child, Kirstyn. They spend many days together, sharing adventures and telling each other their most guarded secrets, creating a strong friendship that grows stronger with every passing year. When Aladdin is grown, he realizes he must leave Hagenheim and make his fortune if he is to have any chance of earning the Duke’s approval of his marriage to Kirstyn. Kirstyn on the other hand, believes that Aladdin is abandoning her and will find another to love in his travels. She begs him to stay, but he knows that God is leading him to a new place, so he sets off to follow the leading in his spirit. As he travels he meets a wealthy merchant who takes Aladdin under his wing and into his home. As Aladdin learns more about business and helps the merchant grow wealthier with each transaction, he becomes the son the merchant never had given his true son had stolen from him and ran away many years before. Aladdin has all he ever wanted as a child with the exception of marriage to Kirstyn, and he is hopeful to return to Hagenheim soon to seek her hand. Kirstyn meanwhile has been very lonely without Aladdin to talk with every day. As she is out on one of her daily tasks, she is lured away from her family and into the hands of the evil Michael who hides her away to either ransom her back to her father or ensure he destroys Aladdin, the man who has taken his place in his father’s affections. In the months that follow, many search for Kirstyn without success. Aladdin is beside himself with fear for her life and heartsick he never told her of his love. But as the months pass slowly into a year, Aladdin is unsure he will ever find her again. An unexpected reunion will bring them together again, and they will have to face accusations and threats of death together if they are to have a chance at a marriage. One would think with this wonderful plot material that this story would be a non-stop adventure from first page to last, but this is just not the case with this story. Ive not read a story in a long time that was so pathetically sad. It lacked depth, imagination, and character resolve and gave us an overinflated hero that had I would been ashamed to know in real life. I think Ms. Dickerson was trying to show that people cannot be who we should place our trust in or hold to a level of perfection that they cannot possibly reach or maintain. However, Aladdin came across as a wishy-washy, wimp who lacked the manliness to step up and defend his love and fight for the chance to be together. And, as I might begin to sound much like her I will refrain from listing all the issues I had with Kirstyn. She was a whiny, spoiled brat who thought of no one besides herself and lacked any backbone at all. Her constant ridiculous pining for Aladdin got old really fast and I kept hoping she might go out and do something useful just so I could quit reading the same phrases over and over. The whole story was just poorly done and lacked needed depth and plot. I would have given this story zero stars if possible but that is not allowed apparently. I have heard there is to be another story from Ms. Dickerson soon that will be a retelling of Mulan and I’m extremely wary of reading it. It just seems that with so many books already in this series that have been really very good, Ms. Dickerson might want to branch out into another series now. I will not recommend this book to others as I would not want them to be as completely bored as I was – I made it through by sheer determination because it was offered to me for review. Otherwise I would have quit and returned the book to the library if I had checked it out for casual reading. Move on, Ms. Dickerson, please, before I take you off my “to read author” list.

I received this E-book free of charge from Thomas Nelson Fiction via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation from either company for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I am a big fan of Melanie Dickerson's and have read every book in this series. I am not very knowledgeable of the Aladdin fairytale, so the story was completely fresh to me. I loved the truths and morals presented in the story; that the truth always comes out and temptation may arise no matter what, but God's love and protection always prevails. It was very interesting to read about Kirstyn, and I look forward to her future books in this series. I did dock two stars from this because of a couple hiccups I believe made this book less enjoyable for me.

The beginning and middle parts of the novel have a very wide timespan and it's somewhat hard to keep track of all the events in a linear manner because of the timing confusion. This is alleviated later on in the novel. Additionally, it just seemed a little...sparse, lackluster, and rushed compared to the other books in the series. Not quite as powerful and a little more forced, if you will. I did enjoy reading this book, same as all the rest (and is Hilde the same woman that was friends with Kirstyn's mother in "The Healer's Apprentice" or was the name just similar?) and I look forward to future works in this series. However, this one is probably ranked lowest for me because of the two problems I've mentioned above.

First of all, I want to thank Thomas Nelson for allowing me to review this book. I have not read the other books from this series but this book has made it a promising collection.

Frankly, I did not know what to expect from this book even after reading the summary. I just thought the cover was pretty and would like to give more Christian Fiction a try. Truly this book has not disappoint and I love the story a lot. If I'm not wrong, it is a retelling of the Aladdin story from Disney. And I love retellings more than anything !!

I guess you could say it's a contemporary set in the days were people still travelled by horses and carts were used for transportation. The plot was certainly quite unpredictable as I assumed that in certain places it had reached the climax even though the story was still far from the end. If I were to make it into a TV series, there would be a lot of places where suspense were present to separate the different episodes.

The writing was simple which made reading easy and hence suitable as a YA read. There were no gaps that needed to be filled as everything was clearly explained. There was no part that left me clueless to the train of events. In short, there were no loopholes to be found.

The characters were on point !! And being a Christian novel, I could find tons of values to aspire for, especially in Aladdin. Aladdin possessed the tons of qualities that earned him favour; trustworthiness, integrity, kindness, helpfulness, whatever you can name. The growth and maturity of his character was most inspiring. Kirstyn, on the other hand, was a nice girl too but she was a little selfish when it came to relating with Aladdin. Melanie did a great job in developing each character well and portraying their qualities perfectly. However, I would have liked to know what happened to Herr Goteken who was stealing from the other merchants.

The best part of this book was watching Aladdin gain his success in Luneburg because the favour of God and man were on his side. It was amazing to see how wholesome a person can be which in turn could win the favour of God. The blessings that came were just overflowing.

The worst part though was when Michael died in his fight with Aladdin. I was like..that's it? Maybe it was because I have read too much fantasy and was expecting a longer duel. But I would understand if it was to avoid too much violence.

Before I end, I would like to add the development of romance in the story. I would say that I did not enjoy it as much because it was a little too draggy for me. I was really frustrated at the fact that Aladdin and Kirstyn won't come straight out about how they felt for each other. It was a great torture!! But the ending was great which compensated for the frustration I felt. Haha..

Lastly, I would recommend this book to those who are into YA contemporary romance / drama set in the olden times. Overall, it was a great story and it has spark my interest in Melanie's other works.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.