This was a book that if I would’ve done some research I would’ve realized isn’t for me, but I’m sure there is a large audience for it!

The Piper's Pursuit was a cute fairytale retelling. I'm not that familiar with the original Pied Piper story, so I'm not sure how similar this one is to that story.

The characters were okay. I guessed early on who the bad guy was, but I think that was the point. I liked the romance and how brave both main characters were. The ending was good and I liked how he finally got the rats to leave.

All in all, The Piper's Pursuit was a nice read and I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

*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.*

🐎 This is book 10 of 11 in the award-winning Hagenheim series. I started buddy reading this series with my tween granddaughter about 8 years ago, and we have really enjoyed them.

🐎 Each book in the series is a fairy-tale retelling. The settings are typically in England or Germany and take place in the 14th and 15th centuries. The stories are clean, historical romances, but they are also full of danger, intrigue, wars, and more!

🐎 The Piper’s Pursuit is a retelling of the Pied Piper of Hamlin. I did enjoy this book, but it felt a little darker than the previous books in the series. That isn’t a bad thing, just a bit of a departure from the norm IMO.

🐎 I thought the characters were great. All the books in the series are centered around coming-of-age, strong, determined women and this book does not depart from that. The historical element did evoke Pied Piper vibes for me – at least to the extent I am aware of the story.

🐎 These books are Christian based, which I really like, but it isn’t preachy at all. Anyone could read and enjoy these books, although IMO they are targeted to a younger reading audience.

🐎 I highly recommend this book (and the entire series) if you enjoy fairy-tale retellings, medieval settings, and clean romance.

Thank you @netgalley and @ThomasNelson for an eARC of this book, which I have read and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

It was interesting to read a reverse Cinderella retelling, especially about Adela's character. I've been excited to read her eventual story ever since meeting her character early in the series. I do have to say that I was surprised to read that it was written as a 'reverse Cinderella' - I kind of mistook it as a sort of "Prince and the Pauper" type when I started reading it, but there are definite Cinderella hints in there as well. I also have to admit that I was more taken by Frederick's story than Adela's; certainly, both characters have interesting character arcs, but Frederick's side has higher stakes and you just want to root for him to be happy in life. Adela almost seemed a bit flat -- repetitive in her reasoning and dialogue, which I was a little disappointed in, but I can't give the book a very low rating because I enjoyed it quite a bit nonetheless thanks to Frederick's story and its twists. The story was vivid and well-paced as usual, and I also enjoyed reading about Frederick's mother. Loved seeing how every little loose end was tied in a neat bow by the end of the novel -- I can't explain without spoiling, but if you read it, you'll see what I mean. Overall, it's a good book and one that I would consider re-reading.

In 1412 Hamlin, giant beast is on a killing rampage just outside the city walls. Children are going missing at an alarming rate. An plague of rats has overtaken the village. Katerina, stepdaughter of the village mayor, is determined to save her people. She's determined to hut and kill the beast herself, since her stepfather isn't doing anything about it. When Steffan, the handsome but brash son of the Duke comes to town seeking riches and prestige, Katerina decides that he just may be the ally she's been looking for, even if the only gentle thing about him seems to be the beautiful melodies he plays on his pipe. But, there's more to Steffan than meets the eye and she finds herself drawn to him, despite her misgivings. Steffan and Katerina must work together if they're going to stop the enemy from stealing the children of Hamlin. But, their interference may cause an even worse fate for the entire village.

I really enjoyed reading this retelling of the Pied Piper, despite it being one of Melanie Dickerson's darker tales. She managed to take this story and truly make it her own. Melanie has clearly done her research into the time period of the story and the story she's retelling. This story has strong characters and I really liked seeing Katerina's growth and how she was able to stand up for herself and her mother. It was good to see Steffan get his chance at glory and titles. Katerina and Steffan really worked well together. I truly love the Hagenheim series and this story was no exception.

I received a copy of The Piper's Pursuit from Netgalley and Melanie Dickerson. This had no impact on the content of my review.

Another great addition to the series. My teens have loved reading these and I love that I can share these stories with them. Great storytelling. I love the Christian references. Great book!

The Piper’s Pursuit by Melanie Dickerson was a great fairytale retelling with strong characters and an intriguing plot. The writing was beautiful, there was plenty of twists and turns, and the romantic tension between the two main characters was very well done. Absolutely recommend!

DNF I know better than to try this author anymore, it was so boring and slow and i didn't like the main character,

This a great YA book. It is clean and appropriate for both adults and youth. Melanie Dickerson has a wonderful way of writing that me and my oldest daughter really enjoy her books!

Synopsis:
In 1424 Hamlin, Katerina faces threats from all sides. An outbreak of rats has overtaken the village, a mysterious beast is on a killing rampage of the village’s children, and Katerina’s evil stepfather is a dark presence inside the walls of her own home. Katerina is determined to hunt and kill the Beast of Hamlin herself before more lives are lost.

When Steffan, the handsome but brash duke’s son, comes to town seeking glory and reward, Katerina decides he might be the ally she’s been looking for—even though the only gentle thing about him seems to be the sweet music he plays on his pipe. But there’s more to Steffan than she suspects, and she finds herself drawn to him despite her misgivings.

Together Katerina and Steffan must stop the enemy from stealing the children of Hamlin. But their interference might create an even worse fate for the entire village.

The Piper’s Pursuit by Melanie Dickerson is charming, humorous, and a wonderful fairtytale retelling that takes readers on a thrilling and fun adventure filled with action, mystery, danger, suspense, romance, redemption, and love.

Interesting take on a Fairy Tale Classic. I have really enjoyed Melanie Dickerson’s storytelling. She has a way of drawing you in and holding your attention. Katerina and Steffan were both strong characters. I still need to catch up on other book but I’m looking forward to reading many more books by this Author!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the Publisher and was under no obligation to post a favorable review.

A great read from start to finish. I love how quickly you get to know the main characters and establishes a solid storyline. Another wonderful familar storyline (Pied Piper) that took a unfamiliar twist! I could hardly put it down. Though I have read almost all of the authors previous books in the series I now want to reread them since it's been a while and want to remember their stories as well. It is so fun being able to see the same characters from different perspectives and know how all their stories turn out! By the end you really feel like you know them! I always appreciate how realistically the romances develop in her stories. Common fears and themes but not love after only a few meetings or overly dramatic either. Sweet and likeable characters! Highly recommend!

I enjoyed The Healer's Apprentice well enough, so I was excited to try another one when it showed up on my NetGalley list. Our library needs more "clean" books for our younger teens, many of whom read Christian fiction, so I had high hopes as a librarian as well.

This book was much darker than I was expecting. (I suppose I should have known better from a story based on a rat infestation and kidnapping children.) The protagonists both carry a great deal of guilt with them based on their experiences with alcohol, battle, and even assault. I'm going to have a harder time recommending this one, but I'm glad the series exists and I'm going to keep reading and recommending them.

As always, a great story from Mrs. Dickerson! I was excited to see that she was branching out to less known and less obvious fairytales. We have so many retellings of Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, etc. (though her retellings of those were still unique and fun to read!), it's nice to see a story that is different from the norm and still retains the good qualities and fun of the normal retellings.

This was an entertaining read on the airplane. It is a great addition to the other books in the series. The story was enjoyable and entertaining. The characters sweet. What a difference the brother had become from the last book! I loved that she used less-well-known fairytales in this book. It made it feel a little different than the others but in a delightful way. Thank you!

Another classic fairy tale based on the Pied Piper. Loved every page of this novel. You will too. Five stars!

A wonderful novel based on the Pied Piper. I remember me as a child watching this fairytale movie and becoming fascinated. As always Thomas Nelson bringing beautifully written stories with a Christian background.

The story of Katherina and Steffan talks about love, forgiving yourself, forgiving others, betrayal, loyalty, hypocrisy and a lot of struggle.

I really like medieval stories full of intrigue and mystery, Melanie Dickerson has built a plot with all the main elements of this style with strong characters, both suffering and fragile.

Dickerson has become one of my favorite authors of all time. She takes a fairy tale, re-invents it, and then has her characters learn to turn to God to help them. What a wonderful way to write a story, especially in this day and age! The Piper's Pursuit is a take on the Pied Piper and it was wonderfully done. Huge beasts are on the loose, rats have over run the town, and children are going missing. What is happening to the town of Hamlin? Kat is their protector until Steffan shows up and tries to help. (I am so glad Steffan got his own story) Could he help and would Kat let him? I have to say that the villains are truly horrid in this story, I despised them and what they were doing! Dickerson had me so caught up in the town of Hamlin, that everything truly felt real, as if I was watching it unfold before my eyes. A masterful story-teller, Dickerson has once again worked her magic on yet another book! I received a copy of this book via Netgalley; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. Another great fairy tale retelling by Dickerson. I love how she takes the well known tale and then spins it to make it new.

This was a fun fairytale type of story about Steffan, the son of a duke and Katerina, stepdaughter of the local mayor or Burgermeister in the small town of Hamlin.

Steffan is looking for redemption and a way to get back into the good graces of his parents and family. He has heard that there is a wild beast in Hamlin who is killing the locals. He wants to reward for killing the beast. What he finds is a lot more than a wild, killing beast.

Katerina, is the stepdaughter of the mayor who is an awful, evil man. He is corrupt and cruel and completely delusional. Katerina is determined to save the town, her mother and herself. She is going to need help but she doesn't trust anyone. Then, Steffan shows up. Will she be able to put her trust in this arrogant son of a duke? Will Steffan be able to receive the redemption he longs for?

This was a clean, romantic story with lots of drama. I enjoyed reading how strong Katerina was and how kind and wonderful Steffan was. There is a happy ever after ending which is my kind of romance.

I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.