It took me a while to get into the story and I never really got past the fact that Aladdin's initial master was cruel to him. He would hit Aladdin and threaten to have the Sultan's guards cut off his head if Aladdin didn't steal for him. The story got better from there and it did have a positive message overall, but I still feel like the beginning of this fairy tale retelling could traumatize young children.

The Orphan’s Wish is a retelling of Aladdin. Aladdin is taken from his homeland and is brought to Hagenheim as an orphan. There he meets the beautiful Lady Kirstyn, the Duke of Hagenheim’s daughter. They become childhood friends and eventually fall in love. However, Aladdin realizes that he is poor and has nothing to offer the duke. He leaves Kirstyn and goes off to seek his fortune. While Aladdin is gone Kirstyn gets kidnapped. Will Kirstyn ever be saved and be reunited with Aladdin?

Kirstyn is a very realistic and complex heroine. She is portrayed as a lonely young woman and the only one who can truly understand her is Aladdin. There were moments that I thought she was childish and stubborn. Eventually, she grows as a character when she gets kidnapped. Thus, the reader can sense how vulnerable she is. She becomes a stronger woman and is able to save herself in the situation. However, the event still traumatizes her and she has to deal with the aftermath. Thus, we can empathize with Kirstyn that she may never recover from the event.

Aladdin is also a very likable character. He is also flawed. He sometimes gets caught up in his quest for ambition and wealth that he forgets what is most important in his life. He has some insecurities. He spends most of the book feeling that he is not good enough for Kirstyn. However, he realizes that Kirstyn loves him for who he is. Thus, Aladdin realizes that money is not everything. What matters is his loved ones.

Overall, The Orphan’s Wish is about love, family, friendship, and happiness. The message of this book is to be thankful for what you already have rather than pursue earthly ambitions. Melanie Dickerson’s writing has greatly improved and I thought this was the most mature book out of all her novels. While The Orphan’s Wish did have a happy ending, the story hints that it is not a true happily ever after. The characters are still left with some emotional scars that will most likely never go away. The novel does have some flaws. There were many flashbacks that distract the reader from the story and there were a few repetitive scenes. Still, this novel was one of my most anticipated books of 2018, and it did not disappoint! I can’t wait to read the next book in the Hagenheim series! The Orphan’s Wish is definitely a must read for fairy tale lovers and a superb addition to Melanie Dickerson fans!

I have been a huge fan of the Hagenheim series for a while now. So, when I saw that the latest installment was available in advance on NetGalley I jumped at the chance! And I was approved! If you aren’t familiar with the Hagenheim series, each book is a Medieval fairytale retelling. Each is loosely based on various fairytales we all know and love, including such as Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel, etc. The Orphan’s Wish is loosely based on the story of Aladdin, and is #8 in the series.

The great thing about this series is that you really can read them as stand-alones. The characters from the previous books will show up, but it is not imperative to the story line that you know anything about their stories. I have actually missed the past few books in the series, which I was a little bit worried about when I started this one, but I needn’t have worried.

First, I must say I really appreciated Dickerson’s portrayal of Aladdin. It had enough of a nod to the traditional story that I didn’t feel like it he was completely different, but he was certainly a character that felt brand new. I really love when a retelling has its own legs to stand on. Aladdin certainly came from a childhood of stealing and being a ‘street-rat’, but he came to know the Lord and moved to Hagenheim as a small boy. He works the rest of his life trying to prove himself to be worthy, both of respect and of Lady Kirstyn’s love.

I liked Kristyn, but I had a few problems with her. Now, I realize that she was supposed to be around 17 or so when she is kidnapped, but her actions later on in the book screamed immaturity to me. I was a little bit miffed at her in the latter parts of the book. Another character that I had a few problems with was Herr Kauffmann. His actions in the latter half of the book were also frustrating. I also found his motives to be a little bit confusing. It is for these two storylines that I had to dock this book a star.

I really did love the love story that emerged for Aladdin and Kirstyn. A classic friends-to-lovers trope, but one that was done very well. It had me rooting for them the whole time, and isn’t that what you really want?

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

My Rating:
4.0/5.0

Overall, I gave The Orphan’s Wish 4 STARS. It was a great story with thrilling adventure, and a lovely romance. I highly recommend it if you like Christian fiction with some fairytale magic mixed in!

I thoroughly enjoyed this newest book by Melanie Dickerson. It was a great continuation in the series and also a interesting adaptation of the familiar Aladdin story.

While I enjoyed reading the book and getting to know the characters, at times it seemed to move a little slow. However, i felt that you really got to know the characters and Ms. Dickerson does a great job allowing you to see all their flaws along with their strengths. They come across more real than a lot of other books I have read.

Even though this book starts in the Middle East, most of it is set in Germany. Aladdin, orphaned at a young age, ends up in an orphanage in Germany. Aladdin is instantly captivated by a beautiful sweet girl, Lady Kirstyn. As they grow up together, they become best friends. Since Aladdin doesn't feel worthy of Lady Kirstyn, he leaves her father's estate to make his fortune when he becomes a man. Aladdin has the Midas touch while Kirstyn's life changes unexpectedly. I was given a free copy of this book from the publisher through Netgallery. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. This book was just okay for me. Even though it was a quick read for me, it seemed to drag in places when they would reiterate their childhood memories. There were other times where the dialogue seemed stilted. The romance was sweet and predictable. I was disappointed that it didn't tie closely with the Arabian Nights. I did like how their faith kept them going during tough times This is the first book that I have read by this author and I will try another one of her books.

Our curtain opens in the dusty streets of the Holy Land in the year 1401. Little 5-year-old Ala ad'din kneels beside his mother's still body - all alone in the world on the cruel streets of the Holy Land. Thus unrolls the story of our Alladin. The tiny street rat alone and stealing for his keep.

Come and enjoy this new spin on a favorite childhood tale as only Melanie can do. Read along as she weaves this tale from the sands of the Holy Land to the green forests of Saxony - here you will meet characters new and old in a tale of heartache, love, acceptance, friendship, and sacrifice.

Aladdin escaped a merciless master who forced him to steal, when a Priest took him back home to Hagenheim. There, he lives in an orphanage but has the opportunity to receive an education--and to he meets Lady Kirstyn, the daughter of the duke of Hagenheim. They quickly become friends. As they grow older, though, Aladdin comes to realize that he doesn't want the position offered to him--to be a steward to the duke. He wants to make his fortune and, even it's a long shot, become worthy to ask for Kirstyn's hand in marriage. He leaves Hagenheim, and he does manage to find his place in the world--but before he can see if Kirstyn might care for him as he cares for her, Kirstyn is kidnapped, and Aladdin doesn't know if he'll ever see her again.

I've read all of Melanie Dickerson's books, and while there are others that I like more, I still enjoyed this newest addition to the Hagenheim series. It started out a little slower for me than some of the others and didn't hook me quite as fast as some of her others, but I think that's definitely due to my own personality and preferences (I'm pretty feisty and feel a natural connection with characters who are pretty spirited, whereas Kirstyn and Aladdin are more sweet and kind than spirited.) That said, they are both lovable characters, always trying to help others and caring about each other so much. Aladdin's worries about not being good enough and wanting to appear as perfect as possible to others was realistically developed, as was Kirstyn's sense of being overlooked within her large family (although I wish the resolution of those feelings had been shown more strongly--and acknowledged by her family), and I think those feelings of insecurity and wondering if one matters will resonate with lots of readers.

I'm looking forward to the next book in the series--a retelling of Mulan!

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

Another great addition to the Hagenheim series of stories. Aladdin is an orphan taken in by a priest and taken to Hagenheim where he eventually winds up in the orphanage. He meets Kirstyn and it’s special friends from the start. We follow them into adulthood and the trials, including her kidnapping, that come up for both of them. Wonderful story, that keeps a steady pace and is hard to put down. Very likeable characters, which of course include Kirstyn’s family.
A complimentary copy was provided by Thomas Nelson Publishing through NetGalley. No review was required and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

*I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review. All opinions are my own*
I’m a huge fan of retellings. There’s just something great about reading stories from different perspectives. I don’t think I’ve seen many Aladdin retellings, so I was really excited to be able to read this book.
The characters seemed well developed. I sometimes felt there were certain details missing or skipped over. Like with Anna and how she came to know who Michael was. I feel like there could have been a bit more development with some characters.
The love story between Aladdin and Kirstyn was so cute. They grew up as childhood sweethearts and spent the whole book wondering whether the other liked them (that part wasn’t cute, it was a bit annoying).
I think the changing points of view made this book a little confusing. It was hard to tell at times when the point of view was changing. It might be helpful to add a way to identify who’s point of view it is.
I also just felt the book lacked details. It skipped large periods of time which was kinda confusing. Details were lost in those periods of time or they strangely appeared out of nowhere.
Overall, it was a good book. There are some things that could be done to improve the book overall. The ending was really cute and I’m glad it ended that way for sure!

I love Melanie Dickerson's writing and stories. My absolute favorite of hers is The Merchant's Daughter. I've read and reread it multiple times and could continue to do so for a very long time. I was so excited to see a spin off of Aladdin as her newest book. Unfortunately for me, it wasn't quite what I was hoping for. It was a great story, predictable at times and clean. This is one that I would definitely highly recommend for YA and Christian fiction fans, and Melanie Dickerson fans who fall in those two previous categories. I think that YA aged readers will love this and gobble it up.

For me it was hard to connect with the characters. Yes, I did have a connection with them at the very beginning. Aladdin was written well to show his struggles and his beginnings as a thief and then his being saved from the streets and meeting Kirstyn. The first couple chapters show about 13 years of time passing. I thought it was done really well. Creating connections between us and showing the friendship between Aladdin and Kirstyn. But then I had a harder time connecting with them. They were still 16 and 18 years old but were written as if they were quite a few years older and I just couldn't wrap my mind around that. I tried, I really did.

Aladdin was awesome, almost a perfect character (even though he wasn't and his character acknowledged that he wasn't). Then, I struggled with the constant flashbacks of their memories of outings with each other. Aladdin sets off to find his fortune to prove his worth to himself for marrying Kirstyn (hopefully in his mind). They are separated and throughout the separation they remember each other. Which is great, but for me the flashbacks showed up too frequently and then when they were back together and thinking about each other so much, they refused to talk or acknowledge their feelings.

I think also that my life is very busy right now that I was trying to read this and it was hard to feel completely invested in the story. I would love to say that I think I would probably connect better when my life wasn't so busy. But I don't know if I could say that. Even though I have mentioned several aspects that made it harder for a connection between me and this story, there were several things that I did enjoy. As I said before, Aladdin was a "perfect" character. I enjoyed his and Kirstyn's goodness. Their friendship was sweet and their love for each other wasn't an instant love but grew over time. There are many struggles and challenges that they have to face and I liked how the author address many of those challenges and showed that it wasn't an instant fix but that the characters had to work together or put forth effort to fix them.

This is loosely based on Aladdin but I think it worked. Especially if you don't go into reading it thinking about Disney's story of Aladdin and Jasmine. Definitely don't have that perception in your mind because that's not really this story at all.

If you are a Melanie Dickerson fan don't let me thoughts put you off of reading this book. Take a chance and find out for yourself if you enjoy it. I think it will appeal to many others and is a sweet story for YA aged readers.

Content: Clean. Christian fiction so there is talk about God and the characters praying to him occasionally and turning their lives to him. Some talk about forgiveness and change. There are a couple moments of talk about physical abuse in the story. The "bad guy" is definitely a bad guy. He's manipulative, abusive to his girlfriend, threatens lives, kidnaps a character, definitely personifies the antagonist character. Written very well and not overly graphic. There is also no sexual content, just a couple sweet kisses.

I received a copy from the publisher, Thomas Nelson, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

3.5 personal rating; would give four stars if I was the intended YA audience.

This is a great, clean book that I would hand to any teen girl without batting an eye. There are some scenes with a bit of violence, but not a bunch of gore. There is a kidnapping, so heads-up to those who might dislike that element, but otherwise there’s really nothing to warn against.

It was a really quick read for me and it was nice that it wasn’t too terribly predictable. Aladdin and Kirstyn are enjoyable characters and the Gerstenberg family was a pleasant one as usual.

A few modern turns of phrase in conversation got on my nerves, as well as a man being called Priest (historically, he would be Father ___, not “priest”) and a few other such things. Super stars go to Dickerson for using blonde/blond correctly, since this is an error that has really been on my nerves in a whole stack of books lately.

It was fun to see an interracial couple, since that isn’t often seen in CF.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy. A favorable review was not required.

I have read the first seven Hagenheim books and I really enjoyed them. I didn't necessarily read them in order because I did not realize it was a series until kind of late but that's okay. These books can be read in any order and still be enjoyed. Now on to The Orphan's Wish... I liked this book. I loved Aladdin and it's one of my favorite Disney movies so I was happy to see a retelling of it by one of my favorite authors. I actually liked the set up of this book starting with Aladdin being only five years old and in the holy land. His mother had just died and he was forced into stealing by an evil man but when he tried to steal from the wrong person, he was caught and it was the best thing to happen to him. He was taken to Hagenheim and goes to live in the orphanage. He meets Kirstyn and they quickly become friends. The first few chapters take the reader through Aladdin and Kirstyn's relationship from when they met until they are older and Aladdin has decided to leave; Aladdin was eighteen and Kirstyn was sixteen. I liked that I got to see them as children and it made me feel closer to the them. 

I loved Aladdin. I loved his dedication to hard work, his loyalty, his faith, and his devotion to Kirstyn. He was determined to make something of himself and not be a servant for the rest of his life. I admired that and I understood why he left Hagenheim and it was the right decision. He was so smart and willing to do what he needed to do in order to make his fortune so that he could marry Kirstyn one day. But in having that dream he had to leave her and that was painful to read. As I was reading I thought Aladdin was perfect as Kirstyn liked to say and that he just did not mess up but there were some things he did throughout the novel that clearly show that he was a young who indeed made plenty of mistakes. I didn't really get a sense of Kirstyn except that she felt like the odd child out among her many siblings and Aladdin was the one person to show her kindness and give his undivided attention. She was reckless and carefree as is expected of the daughter of a duke. It wasn't until she ends up in a horrific situation that I got to see Kirstyn's true nature. She was a fighter and did not give up when someone else in that situation would have. She kept her spirit even if it was dimmed a bit and stayed so strong. I loved, loved that Kirstyn saved herself. She was waiting on her father and Aladdin to rescue her but even then she kept trying to escape and failing but eventually she was able to do so. I thought Michael as the villain was perfect. He was pure evil and the antithesis of an abusive man. I despised Anna but also felt sorry for her. It was sad that she longed for love so much that she accepted the abuse from Michael the way she did and never helped Kirstyn. I loved Abu; he was a cute and funny little boy. Herr Kaufmann was a good character as well. I loved seeing some of the characters I'd seen in other books in the series and hearing about others as well. 

Aladdin and Kirstyn together were beyond frustrating. It took them too long to admit how they felt to each other. It took them too long to admit that fact to themselves. Because of this Aladdin ran from Hagenheim and Kirstyn did not admit how she felt for Aladdin when they were finally reunited. I understood them not being able to do so when Aladdin left but after I could not get it. So much confusion and hurt feelings could have been avoided with a little communication.  I loved it when they finally figured it out because I was rooting for them.  Overall, I truly enjoyed this book and it ended perfectly. I was nice to see Aladdin and Kirstyn in the future and what they were like a little. I loved the romance, intrigue, and everything else. It was well written and I cannot wait for another book by Melanie Dickerson.

The Orphan’s Wish ( Hagenheim #8 )
By: Melanie Dickerson
The Orphan’s Wish is book eight in Hagenheim series. Ms. Dickerson outdid herself on The Orphan’s Wish. I believe it is one of her best. She knows how to take a fairy tale and turn it into a wonderful book. I was hooked right from the start. I did not want to put it down. I love the story and the characters. Both were well written and well developed. I found myself in tears and holding my breath several times. I felt sorry for both of the main characters. I love the Faith that Ms. Dickerson is not afraid to write into her stories. There is a lesson to learn here, is to learn to lean on God. This is Aladdin and Lady kirstyn story.
I was given a complimentary copy off this book by NetGalley and Thomas Publishing, but was not told that I had to give a positive review.

Melanie Dickerson has the wonderful ability to take the foundation of a children's fairy tale and build it in to an adult version with depth and complexity as well as great historical detail. This particular Hagenheim novel is the story of Aladdin.

Aladdin is an orphan who is picked up by a man who says he will take care of him, but Mustapha's idea of care was teaching Aladdin to steal for him. When Aladdin is caught stealing, the owner feels sorry for him and takes him under his wing. Aladdin spends the rest of his childhood and early adult life trying to be perfect in order to gain the love he wants. Lady Kirstyn, daughter of Aladdin's benefactor, feels like a lost soul among her brother and sisters and is constantly trying to earn her parents' love. Thus Aladdin and Kirstyn bond as children and their relationship grows with them.

This story deviates a great deal from the original fairy tale with the magic being eliminated and more of a Christian element infused. This a clean, enjoyable read for young adults. There is no sex, but it does contain some violence with kidnapping, an abusive relationship, and sword fighting. It would be interesting to use this in a classroom setting and have the students compare the original, this version, and the Disney movie. All three very different.

O my goodness, I’m so excited about this book! (flails arms in excitement and squeals!) If you didn’t already know, Melanie Dickerson (also known as the “Queen of fairy tale retellings”) has long been one of my favorite authors. I always eagerly anticipate her next release. The book I’m reviewing today is called “The Orphan’s Wish” and is an Aladdin retelling and it’s amazing! Okay, enough fan-girling.

“The Orphan’s Wish” is a fantastic Aladdin retelling! Even though it’s a fairy tale retelling, Ms. Dickerson sets her stories in realistic settings, choosing not to use the fantastical elements some would equate with the words “fairy tales.” She uses great historical details and I felt like I was transported to medieval Europe and the Holy Land. While reading, I was in the midst of a bustling German town with ornate doors, I could smell the fresh bread, and see the old churches so vividly. She uses great descriptions of the culture, clothing, and it’s obvious that she possesses a vast knowledge of the time and place. I also enjoyed picking up on the nods to the original Aladdin fairy tale and the Disney version.

I love the main characters in this book, especially their faith and their love story. I’m a sucker for stories with childhood friendships that later lead to something more, so this one melted my heart from the very beginning. Our main characters, Kirstyn and Aladdin, start off with a strong friendship at a young age. It’s so sweet how protective Aladdin is of Kirstyn and how kind Kirstyn is to Aladdin. They are both great characters who have both dealt with trauma in their past and are forced to grow in their faith separately before they are able to be together. I love the way God teaches both of them through their trials. It’s great watching how they grow stronger through those trials instead of becoming bitter. They pray a lot and God is such a huge part of their lives. The Gospel message is also clearly conveyed, which I love!

This is such a great book for all ages! Parent and child alike will relish this retelling with strong faith aspects and lessons such as depending on God, knowing His peace, and trusting Him through trials. I highly recommend this book!

Content: This is a clean read, with a PG to PG-13 rating for some content. Some examples of the content are: a man threatens to beat a boy if he doesn’t do what the man says; a man is abusive towards a child; someone mentions an illness could be caused by a demon;
Aladdin is met with prejudice and racism because he’s Palestinian; men are described as drunkards; some violence; an evil man beats and handles women roughly; mention that a boy has tried to molest a girl in the past; a woman is in an abusive relationship; a girl is abducted and held prisoner.

Rating: I give this book 5 stars!

Genre: Christian fiction; Historical; Fairy tale retelling; Romance

I want to thank Melanie Dickerson, Thomas Nelson, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved fairy tales as a child and to this day, I have fond memories of the times I spent immersed in them with a feeling of being completely captivated. Until now, I didn’t realize that a Christian author brought these stories to life in such delightful detail. This is the first book I have read by Melanie Dickerson, and I’m honestly thrilled that there are seven more that I haven’t read. Quite often, upon finding an author I enjoy, I have to wait around for the next book to come out, but not this time!

Besides all the wonderful details and great characterization this is a true Christian book. I love how the author didn’t skimp on details that show the characters faith; the book is filled with people who go to church, pray and have faith. It’s a Christian book that actually has Christian details!

For all the aforementioned reasons, in my book, this is worthy of a 5 star rating!

This is another fantastic tale from Melanie. She has crafted a lovely tale with Aladdin and Lady Kirstyn, that kept me spellbound from beginning to end. I loved finally seeing Kirstyn's story, and meeting Aladdin, It was so fun to read and see how their story unfolded. If you like fairy tale stories, I highly recommend this one, it's got all the necessary pieces: .great characters, romance, danger, a cool setting and time period, good guys and bad guys, and much more. I read it in less than a day so it's a quick and easy read and it is sure to hold your attention. Check it out!

I usually enjoy books that are rooted in fairy tales, so I wanted to love this book. I just could not get into it and did not finish it. Sorry to say it was not my cup of tea.

This was a sweet story about an orphan, Aladdin, that is trying to find his way in the world and working to be accepted. Kirstyn is a young middle child that wants to be noticed and feels like nobody notices her. Aladdin and Kirstyn form a bond during childhood that seems unshakable. I enjoyed getting to know both Aladdin and Kirstyn. They grew into caring adults that still searched for approval. At times the plot seemed to slow, while delving deeper into the thoughts and feelings of the characters. This led to deeper characters and emphasized that a person needs to accept who they are before they can be the best in a relationship. I recommend to those that like a twist on a fairytale and sweet romances. I received a copy from Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This is the sweetest story Dickerson has ever written (and that is saying something) and quite possibly the sweetest story ever. An absolutely lovely Aladdin retelling with enough that is new and enough kept of the old to keep it both interesting as well as traditional. Definite crossover appeal for teens of any age, along with adult fans of inspirational/sweet romance. (posted to Goodreads)