As I didn't read previous books from the series I can say this one is easy/fast read. Characters - nicely written. Plot - ok.

I've read many of Melanie Dickerson's books. This one was like a warm cup of cocoa and a blanket on a cold day. The perfect comfort read.

Princess Elyce has been condemned to marry a man she doesn't love as part of an alliance that will bring her father greater wealth. It doesn't benefit her or her beloved people, so she formulates an escape plan. A potion that will make her appear dead for three days. A plan worthy of Juliet. Until she doesn't awake on the third day. And a knight tries to give her mouth-to-mouth. And hijinks ensue.

While this is not the typical Sleeping Beauty story, there are so many things to love. A young woman who refuses to accept anything less than what her kingdom needs. A knight who follows the call of God, even when it seems absurd. A company of friends who learn to trust each other, to fight for each other, and to step back and support when each person needs to fight for themselves. The love story is sweet. Naive, yes, but it fits a naive princess who hopes for beautiful things but has yet to experience them. I loved it. As always, I can't wait to read the next book.

I was given a free copy by NetGalley and have reviewed it willingly.

I'd like to thank Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Even though it's book three in the the series it did read as a stand alone. Thankfully, since I hadn't read the first two books.

This is a sort of Sleeping Beauty retelling. I'm a sucker for anything fairy tale so I was excited to be chosen to read this book. I'm also in love with the cover. Simply gorgeous!!

This book was ok. I found it, whether intentional or not but more geared to a younger crowd. It seemed a little simplistic and just didn't go as deep as it could have.

I do like that it was a sweet, clean YA novel. So I would have no worries about my daughters reading this book. I liked Princess Elyse, especially her faith and the love she has for her country and the costs she will go through to save them from slavery. A cost that even separates her from her father. The Princess was for show only and held no true power. So I loved that she took that and changed the minds of those her father ruled over and brought them to her side.

Recommended for middle school readers.

3rd of the series. Sleeping Beauty retelling. I LOVE Melanie Dickerson! Have been reading her stuff for years, Always a delight, plus I grew up in the 90s, I'm always a sucker for any and all fairytale retellings

Melanie Dickerson is such a fantastic story teller. I love her attention to detail and how well she can weave a story that makes you feel like you are a part of it. Veil of Winter is just one of those stories. Once I started reading it, I had a hard time putting it down and read long into the night to finish it. Well done!

I liked Elyce’s trust in God and her care for her people. I didn’t like her disrespect for her father, which is unscriptural and not a good example for young readers. This story seemed rather simplistic and lacked the depth and delight of the author’s earlier books. It did have some great quotes though. I received a copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own. #VeilofWinter #NetGalley

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

When you need a read that you can't put down...look no further than Melanie Dickerson.

I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised with this new series of books. I loved the Hagenheim series and all her other series but this one really hits home for me. There is just something about a castle, a princess, and a dashing knight that really get to me.

Melanie's writing on this book is superb and she is my go-to author for historical fiction (and I don't read a lot of it). This book had me on my toes from the very beginning and kept me interested with all the plot twist and turns. This is a must-read and I look forward to reading more of her content.

“Veil of Winter” is an enjoyable story of faith, love, and how the characteristics that we believe make us unlovable or unworthy may be the characteristics that show us at our best. Princess Elyce is determined to prevent her marriage to Rodrigo, King Claude's nephew, and more importantly stop her father (King Leandre) from going through with his alliance with King Claude, which will result in the people in the kingdom, who are shepherds and farmers, being forced to work in the mines, to the detriment of their health and lives. Princess Elyce is emotional by nature (wearing her heart on her sleeves, so to speak), but she has been raised to believe that princesses should not show emotion, and that her emotional nature, which she has worked to suppress, will prevent anyone from loving her. However, and despite mishaps and confusion, she will eventually learn that is not true through Gerard, an unexpected ally in her effort to protect the people of her kingdom.

I received a copy of the e-book via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

A sweet and clean YA tale that is loosely based on Sleeping Beauty. The first meeting between Gerard and Elyse was probably my favorite part in the whole book. Elyse believes herself to be too emotional. She's been taught that showing any kind of emotion is wrong and feels unlovable because her emotions are not easily controlled. I thought it was a nice touch to show readers that emotions are a natural part of life. Elyse's father, the king, is a cruel man who is willing to sell his daughter for more wealth, the emotional toil is what pushes Elyse to finally stand up to her father and seek a better way. I did at times struggle to connect with Elyse and the writing style. There were several instances where Elyse repeats her bemoaning about how she's too emotional, yet by the end of the book, nothing has changed. She does not see herself any differently, but Gerard loves her, so everything is fine. I would have enjoyed seeing her come to appreciate herself first, but overall the story was engaging and descriptive. Though it is the third book in the series, it can be read as a standalone with a few of the previous main characters making an appearance throughout the novel. I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Veil of Winter is the third installment in author Melanie Dickerson's A Dericott Tales series. This is the authors retelling of Sleeping Beauty. While you do not have to have read the previous books, characters often show up in sequels. Case in point is Sir Gerald, who, along with his 7 brothers, was charged with treason by his step-monster and sent to the Tower of London where escape is almost nonexistent in Court of Swans.

Kingdom of Montciel, in the mountains near France late 1382, King Leandre has chosen to make a bad deal with King Claude of Valkenfeld. Leandre will give Claude workers, who are all shepherds and farmers, to work in his mines in exchange for the protection of his army against the Ottoman Empire. In return, Leandre sacrifices his only daughter, Princess Elyce, to Count Rodrigo as a political pawn. With little help of freedom, and without any power of her own, Elyce chooses to purchase a sleeping poison which will put her to sleep for 3 days.

Back in Dericott Castle, Bedfordshire, England, Sir Gerald, a knight in the service of the King, as well as the Duke of Westmoor, and a skilled swordsman, is urged by his only sister Delia, who is now married to Duke of Strachlegh, to find a way to help Princess Elyce of Montciel who she's friends with. Delia has learned that Elyce plans to make everyone believe that she's dead so that she can escape and hopefully find help from King Wenceslaus and free her people from tyranny. After praying for guidance, Gerald see's Elyce in trouble, so he and his friend and mentor Sir Oswalt decide to help.

When he arrives, he manages to revive Elyce from her sleep. However, thinking the stranger was trying to kiss her, the princess immediately distrusts him. But her desperate situation forces her to accept his aid. Pursued by her enemy’s guards over mountainous terrain, Gerald, Elyce, and Oswalt must also battle the deadly winter elements in hopes of gaining an audience with King Wenceslaus in Prague. Along the way, we meet a few others including Prince Bertold of Valkenfeld, Astrid, the woman who allegedly fell to her death, as well as King Wenceslaus, a true life historical figure who was King of Bohemia from 1378 until his death and King of Germany from 1376 until he was deposed in 1400.

Elyce's greatest challenges may be to overcome the voices of disapproval and accusation from her childhood. She's too passionate. She's been told never to allow anyone to see her cry, or any showings of feelings. Elyce thinks that if she does show her emotions, no one will love her and that emotions are disgusting and dangerous. Gerard is a strong and courageous man who defends Elyse on her travels through the countryside. Throughout the story, Gerard finds that Elyce was put in his path for a reason, and he would do almost anything to ensure she doesn't get used by her father or anyone else.

This story is clean. There's a bit of kissing here and there, but no sex scenes. There's some action, and adventure, and this story will most definitely not be enjoyed by anyone who hates the Christians.

I really loved this book! If you enjoy fairy-tale retellings, check this one out!

This isn't a passive sleeping beauty just waiting for her prince, and I loved that. Princess Elyce is trying to save her kingdom and her people and takes the sleeping potion for a specific reason, but alas...things go a bit wrong.

Melanie Dickerson has a writing style that just sucks you into the story. It's descriptive and beautiful, and I highly recommend if you enjoy this type of story!

Veil of Winter by Melanie Dickerson, 306 pages. Thomas Nelson, 2022. $19.
Language: PG (2 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: OPTIONAL
The duty of the princess is to take care of her people, and Princess Elyce (19yo) wants to be more than a political pawn for her father to marry off. Elyce plans to ask King Wencaslaus for help, starting with an elaborate scheme to escape the castle. Sir Gerard (21yo), a knight, receives a vision from God to help Princess Elyce and rushes to her side, but, by the time he arrives, he appears to be too late.
Dickerson starts the story with the impression of a Sleeping Beauty retelling, but those commonalities end after the first few chapters. Elyce and Gerard are both honorable characters who just want to do what’s morally right, but they both exhibit self-doubt, creating internal conflict. Those internal conflicts were reiterated enough to irritate me as the reader because I wasn’t getting any new information despite turning pages. Overall, this book is a predictable, happily-ever-after kind of read.
Princess Elyce is from a kingdom near France, and Sir Gerard is from England – most, if not all, of the characters are implied White. The mature content rating is for innuendo, and the violence rating is for sword fighting, death, and attempted murder.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Princess Elyce of Montciel knows emotions will get her nowhere. After all, her father and aunt berated her for showing the slightest bit of emotion. But living with expressing her feelings feels like death to Elyce. Her emotions feel God-given, especially when they make her want to protect the people of Montciel.

When her father announces Elyce must marry Count Rodrigo to seal an alliance between the crafty King Claude and Montciel, Elyce knows she must thwart the plans. She can’t stand Rodrigo, and she overhears King Claude’s plans to enslave workers for his mines.

With the aid of her servant and a healer, Elyce plots to fake her own death to avoid the marriage. She prays the potion will make her sleep and not end her life.

When Sir Gerard Dericott’s sister pleads with him to cross the channel and help her friend Princess Elyce of Montciel, Gerard agrees to pray about it. As a lowly knight, he has no influence or wealth to stop an unwanted marriage. Little does he expect to receive a vision as the answer to his prayer.

The vision leads him on a quest to save a princess, accompanied by his friend, Sir Oswalt. When they arrive at the castle, Gerard finds the princess in the room he saw in his vision—only her maid fears the princess has died. Gerard bends over to breathe life into her. When his lips touch hers, Elyce awakens—furious with a man who dares to kiss her without her permission.

What I Loved About this Book

This retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story will entertain young and old readers alike. Unlike in the fairy tale, the beauty and the man who kissed her don’t fall deeply in love. Instead, they must face perils together and work as a team to escape the clutches of an evil king.

Readers will relate to Elyce’s struggles to figure out what to do with God-given emotions and Gerard’s struggles to figure out how God wants him to serve. Although Veil of Winter is the third in the Dericott Tales series, readers can enjoy it as a standalone novel.

I hadn't realized this was a book set in a series until after it was done, which is a good thing! The story was fun and engaging, a little predictable, but it was nice with a happy ending. I feel a little critical of how neatly everything wrapped up as far as the coup went (seriously, no one but the one bad guy died in the whole revolt!), but also it was pleasant to have a story that wasn't super violent.

Language: Mild
Drugs: Mild
Sex: None
Violence: Mild

Release Date: 6.14.2022
Review Date: 6.20.2022

Princess Elyce is on the verge of marrying the nephew of the unscrupulous King Conrad of a neighboring kingdom when she discovers that Conrad will use her marriage to force her people to work in his mines. In order to fake her own death and escape him, she takes a sleeping potion, planning to awaken on the third day and then travel to Prague to seek help from King Wenceslaus, who rules the Holy Roman Empire. But her plan goes awry: the third day comes without her waking up. Sir Gerard is convinced by Delia, his sister and Elyce’s best friend, to go help the sleeping princess, still slumbering and held captive by King Conrad’s guards. He manages to wake her with a kiss, but the princess is not pleased at this rude awakening. Still, he is her only hope of escape. Thus begins their journey to Prague in the dead of winter, hounded on all sides by elements and enemies. The greatest threat may come from within, though, as they desperately fight against their growing feelings for one another.

I always fly through this author's books and this was no exception. I find them to be pretty enjoyable while reading them. I like her characters and for the most part the plot ( it is a bit the same every time). I will continue with this series for sure.

I love fairytales and Sleeping Beauty is one that is not done enough!! Melanie Dickersons spin on the tale was sweet and stayed true to that fairytale feel. The characters were well developed and easily lovable!
I do think reading the previous books in this series would be a benefit to the reader, while not crucial, I felt that I was missing some of the characters backgrounds that I would have liked filled in.
The adventure of the story is so enjoyable, but again, so many gaps needed filling when side characters came in.
There is also a religious aspect to the story, as is common with this author, but it was nicely done without feeling like too much! A great story with good morals and clean romance, and a happy ending!!

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the complimentary e-arc in exchange for my review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Content: clean
Romance: kissing
Violence: mild
Language: none

I loved this retelling of Sleeping Beauty by Melanie Dickinson. I have loved all the books I have read by this author and she didn’t disappoint. I loved how Princess Elyse cared so much about her people that she was willing to fake her own death and go on a dangerous journey in order to find help. I liked how Gerard was willing to help her even when she wasn’t the nicest to him. I also liked that as the two got to know each other they were able to falling in love. I thought this was a great book.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

Yet another wonderful medieval fairytale from Melanie Dickerson. I have read most of her books, and I love them all. This is the third book in the Dericott Tales series, it can standalone, with just mentions from other books. Princess Elyce has been raised by a loveless father and an overbearing aunt. She is being forced into a marriage, that she knows will not have love and only heartache, for herself and her people. With a hint of the Sleeping beauty story, you will be hooked from the beginning. Adventure, villains, handsome knights, and sweet romance makes for this perfectly lovely read. It is a clean, Christian, YA, medieval story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Melanie Dickerson has done it again. A sweeping story with romance, sacrifice, and daring adventures. She takes the reader back in time to an era of knights, queens, and quests. With rich characters who are full of determination, they pull the reader along on the quest to stop an evil king no matter what the personal cost. Princess Elyce of Montciel has spent her life hearing how she doesn't measure up, is too emotional, and altogether unlovable. Now her uncaring father has arranged a marriage for his own financial gain, at the cost of his own subjects. Desperation leads Elyce to a risky decision in hopes to save her kingdom, people, and herself. Will the potion work? Enter Sir Gerard, a noble knight from England. His sister has asked him to aid a friend. When a vision from God shows Gerard he must go help, he quickly agrees. Despite a journey to the main land and a language he is not fluent in, Gerard pushes on to help a determined princess who draws him in with her compassion and honesty. Snow storms, frozen lakes, and an evil king can't stop them from reaching their goal: peace and safety for the country of Montciel. Along the way they both discover the life enriching joy of love.
Melanie Dickerson is a master storyteller who brings fairy tales to stunning reality. With enough heart warming romance that will have the most stalwart heart swoon, each page takes the reader on a magical trip. Though written for a young adult audience, young and old alike will fall in love with these characters and country. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I absolutely love Melanie Dickerson’s books and this third book in the Dericott Tale series is no exception.

Although this book is the third in the series, it is a stand-alone story. So don’t worry if you haven’t read the others in the series. You can always start with this one and read the others later.

Elyce and Gerard’s adventure’s captured my attention right from the beginning. I love the Medieval setting. It is so far different from my life that it is the perfect escape into fiction.

What I love most about Melanie Dickerson’s books and this book, is that there are so many twists and turns. As soon as a problem is solved, a new one pops up that is unexpected and interesting. It’s never a dull moment in a Melanie Dickerson book.

If you haven’t read anything by Melanie Dickerson then you are missing out. Start with this book and then you have to check out the rest of the Dericott series. And of course, check out my favourite series, the Hagenheim series.