The Captive Maiden

Melanie Dickerson has done it again.  Another Teen Fiction that I would without a shadow of a doubt let my teenager read!

Simple retelling of the classic Cinderella.  This book is a cross of the Disney and the movie, Ever After versions of Cinderella.  BTW, I absolutely loved both versions.

Surely, you know the Disney version, right?  Okay, so let us start there and expound on that.  A wealthy young girl (Gisela) left in the care of step mother (Evfemia) and her two step sisters (Contzel and Irma).  Once loved by her father, now tormented and treated as a servant in her own home.  As a child servant, she dreamt of life away from her home and the evilness within it.  She longed to live inside the Hagenheim Castle and being married to remaining eligible Prince, Valten.  What girl has not dreamt of  being the Princess she was destined to become?  Well, a chance passing, then a chivalrous act lead to all things #teamfairytalish!

Now you know, this book would be incomplete without a villain or in this case villains.  The villains are always someone who is overlooked, jealous of your status, envious of all you do or what you may have, or even someone who wants to see you fail so that they may gloat.  Regardless of how you try, they will never stop.  After poison attempts, being locked away, being sold, beaten, conspired against, kidnapped and being lied to, good has to prevail right?  This book has all of that, along with horses and a sprinkle of Jesus!  So, if you are in need of a good and light read (of course from an adult’s perspective) this is it.

Side note: Fairytales always end with the girl gets the guy, they fall in love, marry and live happily ever after.  I would like for more fairytales to end with strong women who will be okay even if they don’t get the guy, just saying!

Until the next book, be blessed!