My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I adore Melanie Dickerson's novels, and so I was very excited to read this one. There are so many princess retellings out there, but Dickerson always tells them in such an intriguing new light. This one was no different.

Evangeline, like most of Dickerson's characters, is bold, independent, and assured she deserves more than she has been offered. When she is told she will be marrying a man that she believes to be cruel, she decides to run away instead. She pretends to be mute in order to aid in her escape.

I really liked Westley. While he made some stupid decisions, I found him to be an interesting love interest.

Can I read out of order? Yes.

So why 3.5 stars? It wasn't my favorite Dickerson novel, but it was very enjoyable all the same.

In Summary: Dickerson's retelling of The Little Mermaid is a delightful read.

Warnings/Side-notes: None. This book is suitable for all ages.

The Wrap-up: I can't wait to see what the next one in the series brings.

Love,

Danica Page

I really wanted to love this one, as The Little Mermaid is my favorite animated Disney movie. This retelling fell short for me, though pieces of it were an entertaining homage to that story and its predecessor (the original penned by Hans Christian Andersen).

The adventure was fun, but much of it felt repetitive in the series. Many elements were the same, such as illegitimate-child background, forced engagement, runaway bride, female lead skilled with a bow and arrows, someone pretending to be a servant, and hidden identity.

A couple of the characters were oddly obsessed with a girl’s blistered hands. While salve can help soothe the sores and provide quicker healing, blisters don’t so easily get infected as the book claimed. Perhaps they did in medieval times. However, there have been times that I did nothing more than use soap and water for blisters, and they survived just fine without getting infected. Since it’s already been well established in this series that the characters care about personal hygiene much more than the time period hints at, I figured the girl would have done that basic task of cleaning the blisters with soap and water. This plot thread was lost on me and slowed down the story.

The cover of this book was what originally caught my eye. The vivid red of the lady’s hair was perfectly offset by the rich forest-green tones. It’s a beautiful cover that still catches my eye. I just wish the story beneath it would have been fresh and original, for I would have completely adored it then.

Content: unwed pregnancy and illegitimate child mentioned

Melanie Dickerson’s The Silent Songbird is a new take on the fairytale, the Little Mermaid. This isn't my favorite book in the series because the storyline didn't capture me as thoroughly as some of the others, but I still enjoyed it, and it is a good addition to the series.

Another amazing book from Dickerson, The Silent Songbird is another classic tale retold in a new light and from a Christian perspective. Every book that Dickerson writes expands on the world she has created and makes you fall in love with every character. Her books often feature strong female leads that everyone needs to read.

The Silent Songbird is a historical retelling of The Little Mermaid. I’m not familiar with this fairy tale so can’t really compare the two.

It’s an interesting story set during the time of King Richard II in the year 1384. A young woman with no desire for the arranged marriage thrust upon her takes matters into her own hands. Evangeline is daring, brave and wants her life to mean something more being so and so’s wife.

This is a well written story that isn’t just about Evangeline and the search to find her but also has mysterious aspects to keep one on their toes. Most retelling tend to have magical elements but not this one and that’s okay.

Melanie Dickerson is a new author for me, she came recommended for her retellings and is respected for her YA stories. This is Christian fiction and it is a large part of the story. This is book 7 in the Hagenheim Series, I am not sure if they need to be read in order, I didn’t feel like I missed anything by not reading the others.

Evangeline longs for a simpler life where she is more than a political pawn to be used in marriage to secure alliances or reward faithfulness. So when she gets the news that she is to be wed to a cruel man many years her senior she and her maid servant run away, joining a group of commoners and finding employment in their village. Eva pretends to be mute, to hide her identity.



But when her secret catches up with her will her freedom be short lived?



Eva is a fairly naive young woman, having had a sheltered life. I didn't personally care for her, as I felt that there were many instances where she never really learned to acceptably master a task, while there were kind people like Niccola who took the time to teach her some things, I thought it rather unrealistic how much free time she had and how they kind of let her get away with not completing the task she was given. And then later when she was suddenly a natural at the bow in practically no time at all it just seemed too unbelievable--building the upper body strength to pull back a bow takes time, not to mention how long it would take to learn to shoot accurately. She talks about how she isn't selfish, yet she feels strongly that her chance at finding love is worth putting her friends in danger, she is reckless, and I think it just didn't sit well with me. I think her behavior could have been tempered with some humility, and more common sense--because she isn't dumb, but her sheltered upbringing and wide-eyed innocence didn't always ring true with all the situations that she faced.

I did like the side characters, and how kind the le Wyse family was to her, being more than fair with her in many situations. Niccola was probably one of my favorite, she was kind and was patient with Eva, offering friendship. There were also some surprising characters, who were more than met the eye.

Wesley was kind, compassionate, and noble, determined to treat others fairly, and altogether the epitome of a gentleman.

Overall, this was a quick read. It was enjoyable, and I liked the idea of it being a re-telling of The Little Mermaid. But it was rather hard to like Eva because of the way that she handled the situations she faced. In the end this just wasn't one that I particularly loved.

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

Melanie Dickerson’s The Silent Songbird is a spin off of the well-known fairytale of the Little Mermaid. Although I didn’t really enjoy the Little Mermaid, I really did like The Silent Songbird. Eva’s touching tale ties so well with the other books in Melanie Dickerson’s Hagenheim books, especially the second one since the main male character was the son of the main characters in that one. This isn't my favorite book in the series because the storyline didn't capture me as thoroughly as some of the others, but I still enjoyed it, and it is a good addition to the series.

It was okay. I like the idea of retelling familiar fairy tales but somehow it's not quite what I was hoping for.

Evangeline suffers in her captivity of sorts - as the king´s ward, she is supposed to be hidden from the world and used as a pawn in the game of the powerful men. But Evangeline longs for freedom. Her push for it comes when king orders her to marry the shady, older lord Shiveley, who wants nothing but her submission. So Evangeline, accompanied by her friend Muriel, runs. She hopes to hide under the cover of mute servant girl. But her beauty and her lack of work knowledge could play against her - but the gentle members of the le Wyse family can care even for the supposed servant. Namely Westley, the young son. He first pities the mute girl, but more and more he is attracted to her.
But what comes, when Evangeline admits her protective lies? And will the threat of an unwanted marriage ever stop?

This is the best I have ever read from Melanie Dickerson. The plot is quite intriguing and it is processing fast, so my attention has been captured constantly.
While I consider Westley to be too gentle and meek for his own good and the treatment of servant Evangeline generally to be too gentle (no one cares for the quality of servants´work here?), I was still quite immersed into the reading - and this is a sign of an interesting read.

Honestly thought I had given up on Dickerson's books for good after what I believe was my sixth attempt at enjoying one of her books but I foolishly gave her a seventh read. Good grief, when will I learn?

The sad part is that this wasn't actually the worst I've read by her, but it suffered from many of the same issues as all her others. Which maybe wouldn't be so bad if, you know, it wasn't the SAME basic story/characters/tropes over and over and over again.

We have a girl, a stunning and gifted singer, being forced into a marriage she doesn't want so she runs away from home to go live like a peasant. Literally falls in love with the first man she encounters, and proceeds to be strong-willed, incompetent at anything domestic, and convince somebody to teach her self-defense and also masters the longbow in like 2 hours, no joke. Saves her sexy masculine perfect man from drowning, has a few encounters with the resident Mean Girl TM, and eventually true love prevails.

I just can't get behind what Dickerson is offering. I spend more of the book rolling my eyes and praying that it will end than enjoying any part of it.

Also, lol at the very modern Christian thinking that your sins are forgiven just because and that confession isn't super necessary. It's not like this was the 1300's and everybody was Catholic and confession was A BIG DEAL.

Fun quotes:

"Compared to the Earl of Shiveley, he had such young, perfect, masculine features. Perhaps she was already falling in love..."

Page 31, ladies and gents.

"Westley? Are you all right? Please don't die. You are the most beautiful person I've ever met."

Also this was a retelling of The Little Mermaid, I guess??? Which upon being told that, I can see a couple references or resemblances, but dear Lord, that's really stretching it. I honestly had no idea until the author told me so in the Acknowledgements.

I always enjoy Melanie Dickerson's stories--for young adults and for adults. More still, I love the fairytale worlds she has appropriated to tell in her own unique narrative against the fictional kingdom of Hagenheim.

Of course, it was just a matter of time before she pursued the Little Mermaid.

These are not cut and dried retellings; rather the draw on elements of the original stories but woven into a new narrative of their own.

The romance, setting, resplendent historical feel and voice are as expert here as they are in all of Dickerson's books.

Known for her voice, Evangeline must pretend to be mute when she runs from the castle. She is the king's ward, and therefore is fleeing a political marriage the king has arranged to his closest Advisor Lord Shiveley, a man with secret plans against the king.

She may have gotten away with it, until she falls in love. . .

I was given the opportunity to read The Silent Songbird by Melanie Dickerson, by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I did not realize this was a Christian religious based book when requesting. I read many of these as a child but as I've gotten older these began to get on my nerves. This was not for me.

ARC given by netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love fairy-tales re-imagined. I always love unique ways to retell a classic myth or folklore. This I didn't really see until somewhere towards the last 3/5ths of the book. So this is also my first Melanie Dickerson book. What got me first was the fact that this is book SEVEN in a series. I hate picking up a book in a series without knowing it, particularly if it is the first time I'm reading a book by the author. I've read enough and seen a lot of fairy tales that I could kind of overlook it a bit, but that really puts a mountain in the way of the story as a whole when you have to read the previous books, regardless of if the fairy tale the story is told from is different.

I really enjoyed the writing. I've read some titles that have the author "telling" and not showing us elements of the story that need more of a mental graphic image. I appreciate that in stories.

A lot of people dislike the arranged marriage, but at the same time, I understand that the cultural context of the story is set in a time where that was the thing. My one issue, historically accurate or not, is the age gap. I'd prefer something a little less somewhat creepy old guy. But again I understand that.

Evangeline is a really great character and so is her love interest. They are very sweet together. I'm not a fan of "princess and prince charming" stories. They are so overly done that the story has to be something unimaginably unique and different for me to like it as the overall romantic concept.

Another big element of this is the Christian themes. I am not a fan of Christian literature in any form for the most part so I did not like that in the story. However, given that it is, this is a very clean semi-romantic adventure for teens who are brought up in the faith and have parents who want them to read things that aren't graphic or overtly violent. This has that in spades. It's not my cup of tea because I'm not Christian, but if I were and didn't want my 12-15 year old reading about sex, blood, and graphic violence, this definitely fits the bill. It is also a nice way to introduce the adventure aspect of historical fiction in teen/ya fiction. Anything before 1990 is really hard to make relevant, so focusing a little on the relationship aspect of the story and the fairy tale elements I feel is a good way to introduce a new time setting that kids aren't used to and can't relate to.

Overall it is a really good clean read. Sweet, definitely more for those who don't mind and prefer Christian ya/teen fiction. 3.5 stars

Searching for freedom she finds love...

There is something truly magical about a Melanie Dickerson book. Her attention to detail and ability to completely transport the reader so deeply into the story that you almost feel like you are right there is amazing. I'd almost swear that each new book that she releases becomes my new favorite and The Silent Songbird was no exception.

I quickly fell in love with the Evangeline and Westley, she with her courage and he with his kind heart. And I despised the truly despicable Lord Shiveley. It was also fun to check into the later lives of the hero and heroine of a previous Melanie Dickerson book...

The Silent Songbird is a truly delightful and engrossing tale, one of romance, chivalry, and intrigue, set in the fascinating and dangerous Medieval period. This is one book you'll want to carve out some reading time for, because once you open that gorgeous cover you won't be able to put it down.

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

This is the second time I have requested a Christian themed book through NetGalley only to realize it afterward. Now, I'm not opposed to books with religious themes, it's just that too often books that are written as Christian fiction tend to feel like the themes are tacked onto a story that would be essentially the same without them. So what is the point if religion isn't woven into the story somehow? Melanie Dickerson does a fantastic job integrating Christian themes and stories into The Silent Songbird. The main characters are defined by their beliefs and use biblical stories to reflect on their own lives. The characters never use religion to justify their actions (an issue I had with the previous Christian book I read), but instead use their reflections to make themselves better and stronger.

My problem with the book stems from its simplicity. There isn't any subtlety of character or plot, it's all very straightforward. I never had a doubt how it would end. I enjoy books more when there is something to figure out, whether it's part of the plot or how characters feel, grow, interact. There were plenty of things that could have been explored or developed, but The Silent Songbird isn't that kind of book. It's light and sweet, where I prefer more grit... dark and bittersweet.

Overall, this simply wasn't a book for me. BUT! I'm glad I read it, because I know there is an audience who will really love this book.

The Silent Songbird was just what I was hoping. A light, fun read with romance and danger. It was easy to read and wasn't too deep, so I could easily fly through the pages. I liked the characters and the storyline was interesting. The villain was CREEPY and vile. I really did not like him at all.

I loved the ending and how everything happened the way it did. So seamless and just a perfect way to go.

All in all, a great read and one of Melanie Dickerson's books that I recommend.

*I received a complimentary eBook copy of this book for my honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

I received a copy of The Silent Songbird off Netgalley in return for an honest review. The Silent Songbird is the seventh instalment in Melanie’s iconic Hagenheim series. This time we follow Evangeline in her escape from a disastrous betrothal and her subsequent adventures in a non-magical Little Mermaid retelling! So let’s get into it…

I need to start this review off by saying that I love this series. I think it’s so fun, engaging and inspiring and Songbird is no exception. It’s a wonderful take on The Little Mermaid, focusing more on the loss of someone’s voice both literally (well, kind of, read to find out) and metaphorically in terms of being a woman in Medieval times and suffering at the hands of the Patriarchy. That’s what I love about Melanie’s writing, it has so many levels. I particularly loved the emphasis she put on singing. As a singer myself, I was able to appreciate the value of being able to use your voice in that way.

A key feature of the Hagenheim series is the romance – and this one is particularly good! It’s a real slow burner full of twists and turns and will-they-won’t-theys which made this book impossible to put down. Her love interest is a bit of a dreamboat, I have to say. There’s some really funny moments too, notably the p81OM12ln4nL.jpgig scene! Runaway pigs…need I say more? It’s truly wonderful.

The book also has some really encouraging strong female friendships, which is really refreshing. Too often in books, the women are always at each other’s throats. I really loved seeing those dynamics here and the sacrifices that as friends, sometimes you have to make.

Evangeline is such a great character. She’s so strong and determined, which is also great to see. One thing I liked about her most actually is how morally ambiguous she is. She’s not perfect, by any means. She lies, she betrays people and causes a lot of trouble. I found myself at times saying “WHY Eva!?” when she made her biggest mistakes, but in terms of character growth, it’s really important that she makes those mistakes and hopefully learns from them in the long run. In terms of the original story, Ariel isn’t perfect either so this was a really clever nod toward the original story whilst bringing it to a whole new level.

The growth and hope the characters find through God in the story is subtle but inspiring and makes for a great Christian lit read, without it being too overpowering.

The series also is not ending there! Melanie tweeted me and said she’s currently working on an Aladdin retelling and a Mulan one is coming soon. MULAN. A MULAN RETELLING. So I cannot wait for that!

A great addition to one of my favourite series and cannot wait for more!

Rating: ★★★★★

About this book:

“Evangeline longs to be free, to live in the world outside the castle walls. But freedom comes at a cost.
Evangeline is the ward and cousin of King Richard II, and yet she dreams of a life outside of Berkhamsted Castle, where she might be free to marry for love and not politics. But the young king betroths her to his closest advisor, Lord Shiveley, a man twice as old as Evangeline. Desperate to escape a life married to a man she finds revolting, Evangeline runs away from the king and joins a small band of servants on their way back to their home village.
To keep her identity a secret, Evangeline pretends to be mute. Evangeline soon regrets the charade as she gets to know Wesley, the handsome young leader of the servants, whom she later discovers is the son of a wealthy lord. But she cannot reveal her true identity for fear she will be forced to return to King Richard and her arranged marriage.
Wesley le Wyse is intrigued by the beautiful new servant girl. When he learns that she lost her voice from a beating by a cruel former master, he is outraged. But his anger is soon redirected when he learns she has been lying to him. Not only is she not mute, but she isn't even a servant.
Weighed down by remorse for deceiving Wesley, Evangeline fears no one will ever love her. But her future is not the only thing at stake, as she finds herself embroiled in a tangled web that threatens England's monarchy. Should she give herself up to save the only person who cares about her? If she does, who will save the king from a plot to steal his throne?”


Series: Book #7 in the “Hagenheim” series. {Reviews of #1 Here, #2 Here, #3 Here, #4 Here, #5 Here! and #6 Here!} {You do not have to read this series in order to understand it, but I highly recommend that you do read them in order.}


Spiritual Content- Many Prayers; Scriptures are mentioned, quoted, read & remembered; Bible reading; Church going & sermons; Many talks about God, His plan, servants of God, & Bibles; Talks about & Mentions of those in the Bible; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Evangeline imagines God as the father she never knew; Many mentions of God, Jesus & peace; Many mentions of Bibles, Bible reading, & books of the Bible; Many mentions of churches, chapels, priests, confessions, sins & miracles; Mentions of prayers; Mentions of thanking & praising God; Mentions of forgiving; Mentions of others not liking talks about God; A few mentions of blessings; A few mentions of Christians;
*Note: Someone accuses another of being the devil’s servant, trying to poison them with Satan’s cap mushrooms; A mention of satanic dreams; Mentions of evil & the devil.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘stupid’, two ‘dumb’s, & two forms of ‘shut up’; a couple mentions of curses (said, not written); A bit of Sarcasm; Pain & Blood (up to semi-detailed); Fighting, being held at knife point, being slapped, shooting arrows at others & where they land (up to semi-detailed); A mob, injuries/wounds & bruises (up to semi-detailed); A couple threats of suicide & dying; A few mean, jealous girls & their unkindness; Many mentions of deaths, killing, murders, almost killing/murders, fighting & knives (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of beatings & men beating their wives (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of lies, lying & deception; Mentions of pain, injuries/wounds, blades & blood (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of being hit & almost drowning (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of plagues/illness & deaths; Mentions of threats of harm, killing & breaking a neck; Mentions of torture, abuse, bruises & pain; Mentions of punishments, pillories, thievery, flogging & mobs; Mentions of hunting & meat (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of drunks, drinking, the devil drink & strong ale; Mentions of hating & hatred; Mentions of treachery; Mentions of gossip; A few mentions of kidnapping & ransom; A couple mentions of slitting throats; A couple mentions of hangings & robbing; A couple mentions of throwing up; A mention of a massacre; A mention of beheading.


Sexual Content- a hand kiss, three cheek kisses, seven forehead kisses, three not-detailed kisses, two barley-above-not-detailed kisses, and three semi-detailed kisses; Remembering a kiss (barley-above-not-detailed); Wanting to, Longing to be, & thinking about being kiss(ed) (up to semi-detailed); Talks about & mentions of kissing & kisses; Touches, Shivers/Tingles, Embraces, Smelling & Nearness (up to semi-detailed); Noticing; Evangeline was born out of wedlock; Evangeline is supposed to marry a repulsive man who’s much older than her; Mentions of men leering at (one stares at her chest) and touching Evangeline without her permission & their lewd comments; Mentions of wondering about kissing & touching, but also not taking advantage of someone else; Mentions of kissing; Mentions of reputations & Ruth laying at Boaz’s feet; A few mentions of men expecting a plaything for a wife & planning to make her submit to him; A few mentions of flirting; Mentions of illegitimate children; Mentions of married couple’s romantic bond; Mentions of love & falling in love; A few mentions of a girl who went to the woods with a guy alone and ended up with child (no details); A few mentions of attacks; A few mentions of staring at someone’s lips; A couple mentions of men’s lusts; A couple mentions of what to expect on a wedding night (it’s cut off, no hints); A couple mentions of unwanted attention from men; A mention of a man asking Evangeline to go home with him; A mention of a married couple kissing (barley-above-not-detailed); Love, falling in love & the emotions;
*Note: A few mentions of striking an attacker in-between his legs/groin.

-Evangeline, age 17
-Westley le Wyse, age 21
P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 1384 {Medieval}
283 pages

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars (and a half)
{Add half a star for those who have already read the previous books in the series.}
Ahh. That was so worth the wait! “The Merchant’s Daughter” has always been my favorite in this series because of Ranulf le Wyse and the whole plot. And let me just tell y’all, his son is just as wonderful. Add in another heroine who wants to read the Bible for herself and I’m so happy. *tears up*
Really, though, all fangirl emotions aside, Miss Melanie Dickerson hit it out of the park with “The Silent Songbird” and I truly just adore the le Wyse family. I would love to see a spin-off series featuring all of Westley’s siblings. Pleeeeease???


*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Thomas Nelson) for this honest review.