4.5 Stars Out Of 5
4.5 out of 5
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4.6 out Of 5
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Value:
4.6 out Of 5
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Meets Expectations:
4.5 out Of 5
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Displaying items 1-5 of 29
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  1. Madi's Musings Book Review Blog
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Highly Recommended
    June 14, 2016
    Madi's Musings Book Review Blog
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    This review was written for The Captive Maiden.
    Gisela misses the days when her father was alive. The days when she experienced love, laughter, and family. Now all she experiences is her stepmothers cruel tongue and hard work.

    Valtens parents want him to get married. Thing is, he hasn't come across a girl who has caught his eyeuntil now.

    Romance begins to bloom, but will it be squashed under a nefarious scheme plotted by Giselas stepmother and a sworn enemy of Valtens? If, and only if Gisela and Valten are able to escape the danger surrounding them will they discover the future God has planned.

    There is no impropriety and no foul language. The Captive Maiden sweeps you up into a time with dukes, knights, fair maidens, and chivalry. This book is a marvelous retelling of a popular fairy tale, mixed with faith in God.

    For any teen girls wanting a sweet, clean, captivating,romance, I highly recommend this book.
  2. JCMorrows
    Age: 35-44
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    The absolute BEST Cinderella story I've ever read!
    March 31, 2014
    JCMorrows
    Age: 35-44
    Gender: female
    Quality: 4
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    This review was written for The Captive Maiden.
    WOW! What a surprise!

    I never saw this coming. In fact, I almost didn't read The Captive Maiden because I had downloaded a sample of it for Kindle...

    The way Gisela's stepmother treats her is just so harsh — from the very first page (and this is where you first see the excellence of Melanie Dickerson's writing), I could never have expected just how exceptional the rest of the story would be.

    But I am thrilled that I won a copy! Winning a copy compelled me to read it so that I could review it and support a fellow author.

    And I am SO glad I did!

    This is a wonderful story! Melanie Dickerson did a great job of molding a popular fairy tale into an inspirational story for teens that, I think, will appeal to adults as well.

    It's also an answer to a prayer since I am hesitant about letting my daughter read more traditional fairy tales — which focus so much on magic. Now I can collect the previous 3 books Melanie has written and any more that are yet to come.

    Melanie Dickerson has taken out the magic and weaved God into every part of this story. So instead of confusing teens, Melanie Dickerson offers hope and truth.

    What a blessing!

    Read it.

    Disclaimer: I won a free copy of this book. THANK YOU Grace! I was not required to review the book but I have to share thoughts on such a wonderful book!
  3. Lala
    Age: 18-24
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Another Great Fairy Tale Retelling!!!
    December 26, 2013
    Lala
    Age: 18-24
    Gender: female
    Quality: 4
    Value: 4
    Meets Expectations: 4
    This review was written for The Captive Maiden.
    I have loved all the fairy retelling's that Melanie has done and this latest novel is no exception! She really brought this Cinderella story to life in such a way that was full of suspense and great romance! I wished through most of the book that I had super fast reading skills so I could flip to the end to see what was going to happen! I had to keep reminding myself to slow down and comprehend everything because I was so nervously anticipating the next scene! Melanie can definitely weave a tell that has you not only on the edge of your seat, but visually imagining yourself with Gisela in every situation. I felt like I was really there at the stables with her, smelling the hay, and seeing the connection between the horse and it's owner!

    My favorite part of Melanie's novels that make me love these fairy tells is the Christian message she in corporates throughout the story. The message in The Captive Maiden would come through a humble friar. As he talks about his travels and the things he has said to all kinds of people, he shares with Gisela that each person is born with a purpose from God. My absolute favorite quote from him is this:

    "God wants us all to strive to grow more like Jesus, to become holy as he is holy, but God has a specific purpose for each person. How could it not be so? Everyone in a village cannot be a baker, because who would then make the candles or shoe the horses or grow the food? God says we are like a body. . . . Just as the villagers are part of a village and have different tasks, we all have tasks to do for the Lord God."

    I recommend The Captive Maiden to anyone who is looking for a YA novel that can not only tell an amazing story, but when finishing the last page they will be inspired to ask God what their purpose in life is. I give this novel a 5 out of 5 stars!

    *I received an ARC copy from Zondervan's Z Street Team and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed her are my own. (Thank you Zondervan!!!)*
  4. Kate
    Age: 25-34
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    A fresh spin on Cinderella!
    September 30, 2013
    Kate
    Age: 25-34
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    This review was written for The Captive Maiden.
    I just want to start off by saying, "Thank You!!" to Melanie Dickerson. In every Cinderella tale I have seen or read, there is always been one thing that has driven me nuts. Cinderella has always been introduced to the Hero as the servant of the house or she tells him, she is a servant in her stepmothers house. With that, there will always be misunderstandings and "Cinderella" never mentions that she is related to her stepmother, at least not till the end and everything resolves with that. Melanie Dickerson has fixed that issue in this story and it made my heart happy!

    Gisela was just two-years-old when she lost her mother, then she was seven-years-old when she lost her father. He had remarried not long before his passing, so the house and his horses he prized and sold were passed on to his new wife, Evfemia. Evfemia only cared about her two daughters Irma and Contzel and forced Gisela to a small room to live in, never allowed a fire in winter, and made Gisela care for her father's prized horses, which wasn't a punishment to her, since she loved the horses.

    Valten, Lord Hamlin, the eldest son of the Duke Wilhelm and eldest brother to Gabe (The hero from The Fairest Beauty), is back in Hagenheim after being away for a couple of years participating in tournaments around the kingdom. One of his first days back, Valten decided to see how things in the town where he and his family lived and so not draw attention to himself, dressed as a commoner. It was in this visit he spots a horse that looks like his horse's twin brother and goes to investigate, only to find that the horse belongs to Gisela. After visiting with her for a short time, Valten invites Gisela to the three day tournament and ball his family is hosting in his honor. It is then that Valten watches as Gisela is treated horribly by her stepmother and regrets that she has to go with her supposed family.

    Gisela doesn't have the help of a fairy godmother in the story, just a friend that hates that she is mistreated by her family. Gisela's friend Ava does her best to see that Gisela has a way to the tournament and to make sure Gisela's favorite horse is safe while she is away. At the tournament, Gisela is able to visit with Valten and even his family, but the happiness that Gisela is short lived when her stepmother, stepsisters, and a friend of theirs interferes, trying to keep her from festivities. What follows are chases, fights, thirst for revenge, and more fights.

    Melanie Dickerson presents such an interesting twist to the Cinderella story. It is refreshing! The Captive Maiden was a book that was hard to put down, but so easy to pick back up and immerse yourself in again! Evfemia, Gisela's stepmother has the right amount of nastiness about her, she makes Lady Tremaine seem civil. There is also another force going against Valten and Gisela and he is one who is easy to loath.

    The Captive Maiden is such a fun and fast paced story!

    Thank you to Zondervan, I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
  5. Melissa
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    You will be held captive by this story
    April 21, 2014
    Melissa
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    This review was written for The Captive Maiden.
    This might be a young adult book but any woman who loves a good fairytale, or historical romance will adore this book.

    This is the first book I have read by Melanie but I am planning on reading more. If the others are as good as this I may have found another author I need to keep my eye out for.

    If you know the story of Cinderella then you get the general idea for this book but it is different. Gisela and Valten meet before the ball and Valten is smitten by Gisela. Valten is a strong hero who will do what it takes to protect Gisela, he does this even before he knows her. Sigh.

    You will see Gisela emerge from a scared young woman into a woman who blossoms under the love of a hero. Just as we do under the love of our Savior.

    I had a feeling of anticipation the whole time I read this book. I couldn't wait to see how Melanie would handle the storyline and the love between the two main characters is heart-twisting.

    This is a must-read for any historical romance lover and a great read for your teen who enjoys reading as well.

    A copy of this book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying items 1-5 of 29
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