The Orphan's Wish

Hagenheim #8

by Melanie Dickerson

A reimagining of the beloved folktale, Aladdin, set in medieval Germany.

Orphaned and alone, Aladdin travels from the streets of his Arab homeland to a strange, faraway place. Growing up in an orphanage, he meets young Lady Kirstyn, whose father is the powerful Duke of Hagenheim. Despite the difference in their stations, Aladdin quickly becomes Kirstyn’s favorite companion, and their childhood friendship grows into a bond that time and opposition cannot break.

Even as a child, Aladdin works hard, learning all he can from his teachers. Through his integrity, intelligence, and sheer tenacity, he earns a position serving as the duke’s steward. But that isn’t enough to erase the shame of being forced to steal as a small child—or the fact that he’s an orphan with no status. If he ever wants to feel equal to his beautiful and generous friend Kirstyn, he must leave Hagenheim and seek his fortune.

Yet once Aladdin departs, Lady Kirstyn becomes a pawn in a terrible plot. Now, Aladdin and Kirstyn must rely on their bond to save her from unexpected danger. But will saving Kirstyn cost Aladdin his newfound status and everything he’s worked so hard to obtain?

An enchanting new version of the well-known tale, The Orphan’s Wish tells a story of courage and loyalty, friendship and love, and reminds us what “family” really means.

Full length clean fairy tale reimaginingIncludes discussion questions for book clubs

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Christian, Young Adult, Fantasy, Retellings

351 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 26, 2018

About the author

Melanie Dickerson is the New York Times bestselling author of happily-ever-after romance. She believes in love, laughter, afternoon tea, and the power of story.

With a million books sold and numerous awards, including two Christy Awards, two Golden Quills, a National Readers Choice Award, Christian Retailing’s Best, and Book Buyers’ Best Awards, her books have hit #1 in her category on the New York Times bestseller list.

When she’s not writing, Melanie can be found watching Pride and Prejudice for the hundredth time, cozying up to her handsome hero husband, or shaking her head at her slightly unhinged Jack Russell terrier. She lives in the beautiful foothills of the Appalachians near Huntsville, Alabama.

Reviews

[R.F. Gammon · Rating 2 out of 5]

So I made myself finish this. I did receive it in exchange for a review, but review was not required.

I'll be quite honest--I hated this book. I'm going to try to find some good things, but we'll see. XD

POSITIVES:
+The 1400s was kind of a cool setting! I didn't feel like it was utilized as much as it could have been, but that's an era I haven't read a ton of fiction from.

+Childhood friends to lovers is a trope I enjoy, so the fact that it was present (despite the fact that I wasn't thrilled with the way it was executed) was fun.

+Abu, while not a terribly interesting character, was cute.

NEGATIVES:
-Oh boy, where to start.

-For one thing there's the awkward fact that while this is ADVERTISED as an Aladdin retelling, other than the obvious fact that the male lead was named Aladdin and he had a little sidekick named Abu, I couldn't have told that for the life of me. I can kind of find some parallels? But for the most part they were not present at all.

-The characters were incredibly flat, and also insanely Mary-Sue and Gary-Stu-ish. The only word I can come up with to describe Aladdin is "perfect." Don't believe me? Take the word of the other characters for it. They probably called him that fifty times over the course of this novel. Aladdin is perfect. Kirstyn is beautiful. Abu is young. Michael is cruel. There's no depth to these characters, and it made it incredibly difficult to care about any of them. Eventually, I stopped trying.

-The writing style is uninspired, flat, and rank with "telling not showing." I'll concede that this is something I need to work on myself...I'm not always good at writing with showing and not telling. But in a published book by a famous author? I don't know. I never connected with the world, and I felt like the scenes that were supposed to be suspenseful were way too short and undetailed.

-On that note, I was never genuinely worried about the characters at all. So there's that.

-The world was simply never clear to me. Like, they were constantly talking about Aladdin being "King Midas with the golden touch" but when did that story originate? Was it around in the 1400s? I'm just not sure. And then there were some other things that maybe I simply wasn't picturing right...but again, it just didn't make sense.

-The dialogue. Oh, the dialogue. So cringey. I'm sorry. It was...sad, honestly.
In context: They are drinking water from a stream in the woods. They're like twelve.

Kirstyn: "It's refreshing. Try some."
Aladdin: "Good. Whoever lived here chose a favorable spot for fresh water."

This is just a random example. The book is full of dialogue like this, and I'm...just not a fan. Sorry. :/

-Then the sheer number of flashbacks to Aladdin and Kirstyn's childhood walks in the woods, where apparently all they ever did was talk about what good friends they were and how they never wanted this to change. I...don't know how accurate this is. Seems like they should have a lot more memories of chasing each other through a forest and swimming and playing games than of telling each other how much they love each other (JUST AS FRIENDS!!!!!) as little kids.

-The plot was kind of all over the place. I just....was there a plot, beyond Aladdin becoming successful? Besides the romance? I don't even know.

I'm going to give this book 2.5 stars, because I did finish it and I really tried to find a couple of positive things to say about it. But overall? I did not like this book. That doesn't mean I don't recommend it...this is more a matter of personal taste than anything, I think. But it does mean that I don't think I'll be reading anything more by this author in future. A pity...I had really hoped to like this one.

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 4 out of 5]

About this book:

“From the streets to an orphanage in a faraway kingdom, Aladdin has grown up alone. Until he meets Kirstyn. With a father who is the duke of Hagenheim and a mother who is the patroness of the orphanage where Aladdin lives, Kirstyn is a member of the most powerful family in the land . . . and way out of his league. Despite the difference in their stations, Aladdin quickly becomes Kirstyn’s favorite companion for taking walks in the forest, and their childhood friendship grows along with them.
Through his scrappy skills, intelligence, and hard work, Aladdin earns a position serving in the duke’s house. But he knows it isn’t enough to grant him his one desire: Kirstyn’s hand in marriage. If he hopes to change his station in life and feel worthy of marrying Kirstyn, he must leave Hagenheim to seek his fortune.
But once Aladdin leaves, no one is around to protect Kirstyn, and the greedy men desperate to take advantage of her father’s wealth take notice. Now, more than Aladdin’s background stands in the way of the future he’s worked so hard to obtain. His only hope is to rescue Kirstyn and somehow manage to win her hand as well.”


Series: Book #8 in the “Hagenheim” series. {Reviews of #1 Here, #2 Here, #3 Here, #4 Here, #5 Here!, #6 Here!, and #7 Here!} {You do not have to read this series in order to understand them, but I highly recommend that you do read them in order.}


Spiritual Content- Scriptures are mentioned, quoted, read, & remembered; Many Prayers & Thanking God; Going to churches/chapels to pray; Talks about God & Witnessing; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Many mentions of God & Jesus; Many mentions of prayers, praying, & thanking God; Mentions of witnessing & talks about God; Mentions of Jesus on the cross & crucifixes; Mentions of Bibles; Mentions of churches/chapels/cathedrals, church going, priests, stained glass, & angels; Mentions of Christians; Mentions of being baptized & a baptism; Mentions of being blessed; A few mentions of those in the Bible; A few mentions of Heaven; A few mentions of pilgrims; A couple mentions of Godfearing people; A mention of a miracle; A mention of a cross necklace; A mention of a godsend; A mention of a sin;
*Note: Mentions of evil people & their actions/words; A few mentions of a man having Satan on his side; A couple mentions of the devil; A mention of a fiend from hell; A mention of a demon spirit.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘stupid’ and two ‘shut up’s; A couple mentions of courses (said, not written); Fights, Fighting, & Killing someone (up to semi-detailed); Being hit, passing out, pain, blood/bleeding, & being kidnapped and tied up (up to semi-detailed); Kirstyn has flashbacks & triggers of her kidnapper and attack (up to semi-detailed); A bear attack, being bitten/hurt badly from it, pain, & blood/bleeding (also seeing it happen, up to semi-detailed); Being slapped (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of a kidnapping, believing someone might be dead, blood/bleeding, & wounds/injuries (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of a (physically) abusive relationship & seeing it (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of beatings & pain (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of a bear attack, pain, & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of punishments & threats of cutting off a body part & beatings (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of wanting to slit someone’s throat; Mentions of wanting to sell a fellow human; Mentions of threats; Mentions of fights, fighting, weapons, & blood/bleeding (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of a (planned) hanging/execution; Mentions of deaths & illnesses (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of stealing, robbing, cheating, & thieves/outlaws; Mentions of poison; Mentions of alcohol/wine, drinking, & breweries; Mentions of hatred; Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of gossip & rumors; Mentions of nightmares; A few mentions of wars & battles; A few mentions of threats of killing; A few mentions of human & animal waste; A few mentions of throwing up; A couple mentions of gambling; A couple mentions of screams.


Sexual Content- a fingers kiss, four cheek kisses, a not-detailed kiss, three barely-above-not-detailed kisses, two semi-detailed kisses, and a border-line semi-detailed // detailed kiss; Staring at another’s lips (barely-above-not-detailed); Wanting to give/receive a kiss & touch (barely-above-not-detailed); Touches, Embraces, & Nearness (x2, barely-above-not-detailed); Remembering a (cheek) kiss & warmth (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes; Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of kisses, kissing, & wanting to kiss (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of seeing a couple kissing; A mention of a man looking up and down at Kirstyn; A mention of lecherous eyes; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: A few mentions of a young teen boy’s bare chest & a girl blushing; A few mentions of young women’s figures being full and conducive to having children; A couple mentions of a wife who died in childbirth; A couple mentions of not being molested; A mention of a brother trying to molest his cousin/adopted sister (he was caught before anything happened).

-(Lady) Kirstyn, age 16-17(?)
-Aladdin, age 18-19(?)
P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 1414-1415 (Also a chapter or so in 1401, 1403, 1406, 1409, 1410; Epilogue set two years later) {Medieval}
352 pages

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Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
{Best for 14/15+ due to romance and some content.}
While not my favorite fairy tale, personally, or my new favorite Melanie Dickerson book, this was a fun read!
It was different with many the flashbacks at the beginning, but I do like seeing their history together. Since typically in “romance” books, it’s more common to see the main couple meeting for the first time in the book, having a childhood friendship was really sweet and a nice touch.
I liked Kirstyn’s heart for orphans and, honestly, her goal is my goal. ;) Aladdin was a unique character and it was neat to see Miss Melanie’s take on his personality. Both of their faiths were shown an incredible amount of time and I definitely love it. Near the end, it did get a bit kissier than I was expecting, but overall still pretty clean.
That Epilogue was the cutest thing and made me grin. :)


Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...


*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.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Holy Land, 1401—
A little boy, grieving the recent death of his mother, is taken under the wing of a street lord and forced to steal in the marketplace for food. Until the day he is seen and adopted by a kindly priest, who takes him back to the faraway Holy Roman Empire.

Years pass, and the boy grows to young adulthood in the duchy of Hagenheim. They call him Aladdin now, which the book treats as a Westernization of Ala ad’din. He’s the big brother of every orphan in town, and he’s nursing a wicked childhood crush on the duke’s daughter, Kirstyn, whom he once saved from a bear attack and has the scars to show for it.

Aladdin knows that a duke’s daughter can’t marry a man with no title or fortune, so he leaves Hagenheim in the hopes of becoming rich. In the next city over, Lünesberg, he gets embroiled in a deathly quarrel between a wealthy merchant and his maladjusted son. Kirstyn is also swept up in it, and all she wants is to go home…

Content Advisory
Violence: A young woman is violently kidnapped, tied up, imprisoned in various dark and unsanitary basements, struck, and repeatedly threatened with death. A young man beats his girlfriend. Another man hits and threatens little kids.

Two men duel and the victor stabs the loser through the heart.

Sex: It would appear that a disturbed young man lured a vulnerable orphan girl (who’s about fourteen years old) to accompany him between cities for sexual purposes, although nothing is shown or stated. The same man is said to have molested his own sister. Al and Kirstyn engage in a bit of kissing and snuggling.

Language: Nothing.

Substance Abuse: Michael and most of his allies have drinking problems.

Nightmare Fuel: Kirstyn is often held hostage in small, stuffy, dark rooms. The whole experience of being kidnapped leaves her with symptoms that the modern reader knows point toward PTSD.

Politics and Religion: The book pirouettes around the subject of the Crusades. The wars themselves had ended by the time this story takes place, but their aftereffects were just beginning.

The book never explicitly identifies any characters as Muslim, even though we know that they almost certainly were. One is Aladdin’s mother, a poor artisan with a noble soul whom we never properly meet, since the novel opens at her funeral. Another is a violent thief lord named Mustafa, who takes the newly orphaned child Aladdin off the streets in exchange for petty thefts. Aladdin himself is adopted by a priest as a little boy, so it’s not surprising that he becomes Christian while still a child.

Dickerson has finally tired of bashing Catholic clergy—there are two living, wholesome priests in this story. Unfortunately, she addresses the elder and more important of these characters as “Priest” instead of Father, and has the younger priest tell Kirstyn to “call him Francis.” As a Catholic, I can tell you that THIS JUST DOESN’T HAPPEN.

That said, at least the characters now do Catholic things like cross themselves, bless themselves with holy water, genuflect before the Tabernacle, look upon actual Crucifixes with Corpuses, and meditate on the suffering and death of Jesus. Previous books in this series found characters acting like modern Evangelicals several centuries before that denomination even appeared, so having them observe the rituals that made up a huge part of daily life in medieval Western Europe is a big step in the right direction.

A Whole New World, a Whole New Boring Point of View
Aladdin always struck me as a folktale that wouldn’t adapt well as magic-free historical fiction. So much of the story depends on the Genie, and so much of the Genie as we know and love him depends on Robin Williams.



The well-loved Disney version is already far removed from the source material…

“Aladdin, or the Wonderful Lamp” is not even part of the Thousand and One Nights proper. It was added in by translator Antoine Galland, who also grafted in the tale of Ali Baba, in a French translation of the tales from 1709. There is no known prior Arabic source to either tale.
The original story is ostensibly set in China, although clearly viewed through a Middle Eastern cultural lens.

The Disney version, almost certainly the best-known variant in modern times, moved the setting to a magical medieval Arabian kingdom, changed the name of the princess from Badroulbadour to Jasmine, re-sequenced some of the main events (the wedding of Aladdin and the princess happens about halfway through the original story), and altered other aspects (the Genie of the Ring has been replaced by the magic carpet). Of course, we all know that the real main character of the 1992 film is the Genie, whose frenetic energy the screen can scarcely contain.



Unfortunately, the mood of the story is completely lost when the setting is changed to medieval Germany. The desert, caves, gardens, and vast skies of the Near East are as fundamental to “Aladdin” as the Black Forest and flowered meadows of Germany are to “Snow White and Rose Red” and “The Goose Girl.” The later environment is the setting for all Dickerson’s other retold fairytales (save the two that take place in England). And they work fine for those stories. But “Aladdin” needs the desert and “The Little Mermaid” needs the sea or at least the coast. Sheesh.

Granted, this series is named the Hagenheim series, and most of the books are about the children of Duke Wilhelm and Lady Rose. That said, they follow the children even when they venture outside their parents’ duchy—usually just to other parts of Germany, but still.

I don’t think it would have hurt this book—in fact, I think it might have helped it tremendously—to set the story in the Middle East, perhaps in Jerusalem itself. Kirstyn could easily have gone there on pilgrimage. The factions and unease in the city would have given the tale some badly needed tension, and the setting would have been fresh.

Prince Ali, Nothing to See
The stale setting would have been alright if the characters had pep. Alas, they just meekly plod wherever the plateau of a plot tells them to go.

Michael is wantonly cruel and demented because the story needs a villain. The villain who actually belongs in this story is a power-hungry authority figure who demands the heroine’s hand in marriage, but Dickerson couldn’t use that guy—let’s call him Jafar—because she already shoehorned him into The Silent Songbird, an ostensible Little Mermaid retelling which could have really used a fiendish female villain with designs on the prince (or earl, in that case).

Then there’s Herr Kaufmann. He could never have eclipsed a blue genie who does Groucho impressions, but he could have been fun, and at first I found him promising in a Fezziwig kind of way. Alas, he instead turns out to be morose and maddeningly gullible.

We’re told that Kirstyn is insecure, feeling always overshadowed by her adventurous older siblings. The narrator repeats this fact several times, but the book never examines it in any depth and it feels hollow. She is brave and compassionate, which we see in action when she finally escapes from Michael, or reaches out to Anna despite the latter being complicit in what happened to her. So Kirstyn is nice, but doesn’t have much of an internal life. Whereas there was a bit of steel in Jasmine—other Disney Princesses have songbirds for pets, this one has a tiger.

Our boy Al is pretty vapid and blank. If you drew a map of his brain, one hemisphere would be labeled “Earning a Fortune to Impress Kirstyn” and the other one would be labeled “Petty Theft Committed Under Duress at Age Five, Which He Still Feels Very, Very Guilty About.” The latter is as close as this character ever gets to having a conflict. You’d really think Father (I’m not calling him “priest”, because that’s disrespectful) would have talked this over with him.

Then there’s a moment of startling violence on Aladdin’s part, where he’s dealing with a known villain and stabs the guy through the heart without first offering clemency or trying to disarm him or anything. That’s not very chivalrous of him. It reminds me a lot of the very ending of the Aeneid, where Aeneas, who has spent the whole poem up until that point building an image of honor and grace, viciously stabs a grievously wounded enemy who cannot defend himself and is begging for mercy.

Turnus was an awful person and so was Michael; they certainly deserved their fates, but choosing mercy would have been a major character milestone for Aeneas and Aladdin. I doubt that was the effect Dickerson was going for. It’s completely at odds with the tone of the book up till that point, and a paragraph after the stabbing, we’re right back to love letters and skipping through the sunny fields. Something’s not quite right.

I also found it a bit weird that Abu immediately started referring to Al and Kirsty as “Father” and “Mother” when they’re only about twelve years older than him.

Conclusions
One of Dickerson’s weaker books. It’s not messy and bizarre like The Healer’s Apprentice, but it is largely free of plot, character development, or a pulse. On the strengths of the well-crafted Merchant’s Daughter, the rollicking Golden Braid, and the flimsy-but-action-packed Silent Songbird, I’m curious about the upcoming book, which is about Mulan and will likely feature some actual conflict. I just wish this one could have been as much fun as those three.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

My blog: A Magical World Of Words

The premise is great and I had high hopes for the book. This review will also contain a lot of quotes from the book, because I think that's the best way to show why I didn't like the story.


The writing is not great. It's amateurish, and littered with cliches; examples include: "Her touch light like a butterfly's wings", "Blood surging through her veins", "His dark eyes captured her", "Aladdin's stomach tied itself into a knot", and "Her soft skin was like silk".
The dialogue is also terrible, and way too on-the-nose. There's no subtext whatsoever, and it's just boring.

The author has white-washed the Aladdin story. In the first chapter we get a glimpse of Aladdin in the Middle East (Iraq I'm guessing? It's never explicit), but then suddenly he's carried off to Germany and the story begins there. I HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THAT AND WITH WHAT FOLLOWS. The rest of the story takes place in Hagenheim (Germany) and Aladdin's love interest and the heroine of the story is a girl called Kirstyn, who is blue-eyed, Caucasian, and blonde.
Look. Retellings are retellings, and yes authors change stuff. But to take Aladdin to Germany and surround him with white people and have almost every page focus on a blonde white girl? That's not what I wanna read about if I wanna read about Aladdin. The Middle East, Jasmine, and the whole culture there is the essence of Aladdin's story, and I do not wanna read about a white girl in Germany when I should be reading about a brown boy in the Middle East. Moving the brown boy to Germany and filling the pages with his interactions with a blonde Caucasian girl does not remedy that. It's insulting to the original story and characters. It's called white-washing.

The characters are so flat and stereotypical. Kirtsyn is the beautiful, quiet, well-mannered girl who can do no wrong, and Aladdin is the sweet, honourable lad who's loved by everyone (and those who don't love him are obviously the villains). To give you an idea of just how perfect Aladdin is thought to be, here are some passages: '"Aladdin here. He is the wise one. He shall be running my business - and this town! Someday, you watch. Richer than all the swag merchants combined."',
'“Everything you do turns to gold, as if God’s favor follows you wherever you go. You come to Hagenheim as a poor orphan boy from the Holy Land and suddenly you are the talk of everyone at the orphanage. You are the stable master’s favorite, and you even gain the favor of the duke , who puts you to work in the castle as his steward in training. You’re the favorite playmate of the duke’s own daughter, and when you leave to make your fortune, the first man you meet is so impressed with you that he wants to hire you.”' And because Aladdin is a martyr and oh so modest: '“I’m not perfect. But I wish I was.”'
Ugh. It's so annoying.

The romance is awful. It gets worse when the love triangle enters, hence the character of Grethel, and Aladdin's behaviour is appalling as he deals with his feelings for both girls:
'She was pretty, he supposed, but not as beautiful as Kirstyn. Her hair was brown and smooth, her brown eyes and mouth rather small and delicate. He couldn’t help comparing her to Kirstyn’s pale-blonde hair, her full lips, and large blue eyes. Kirstyn was also taller than Grethel.' - 'This was the moment of every day that he should kiss her. After all, they were making plans to be married. But a memory of Kirstyn would always leap into his mind. It was what happened every time he thought about kissing Grethel.' - 'Aladdin had never really loved Grethel. He’d only agreed to marry her because . . . well, he wanted to please his mentor. And it was an attempt to stop his pain over Kirstyn’s death.' - '“Did you promise to marry her?” “Only after I thought you were gone forever."'
Oh how sweet. Not. Can Aladdin jolly well make up his mind and stop treating the girls like dirt? Poor Grethel, I say.

But the worst thing about Aladdin and Kirstyn's relationship is how Kirstyn getting abused by the villain is only used to push her towards Aladdin. The way the abuse is handled is literally the definition of a romanticised plot device. I discussed this topic in yesterday's Romanticised Abuse post, so you can read that in depth HERE. I won't discuss it now.




The Orphan's Wish is very poorly written and the characters are unrealistic and boring. But the worst thing about the story is how problematic its content is.

[Faith M:) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Storyline: This book has a good plot!!! Guessable at times, but still good.
It felt like a different storyline than Aladdin... but there were some similar parts. (Aladdin’s name, wealth and trickery like the original story, etc).
I didn’t connect with the characters, but I still enjoyed them:)

Romance- There was a few kissing scenes that I didn’t enjoy, but everything was clean!!! I just don’t enjoy a lot of romance...

Violence- Murders, kidnapping, bad wounds, etc. Not graphic:) I enjoyed the action parts.

Overall- this was a good book! Go give it a try!!!

Good job, Mrs Dickerson!!! I love your writing!!!

[Maddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I didn't plan on reading this whole book in one day but I just couldn't put it down. Oh my goodness, I loved it so much! I've had it on my shelf for months and was a little nervous to read it because of the mixed reviews I've seen, but I don't know why I doubted it. Melanie Dickerson is one of my favorite authors and her writing style is just beautiful. Aladdin is such a fun Disney movie and I'm so glad that she wrote a retelling of it. 😍

[Julie Carpenter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Melanie Dickerson's writing and stories. My absolute favorite of hers is The Merchant's Daughter. I've read and reread it multiple times and could continue to do so for a very long time. I was so excited to see a spin off of Aladdin as her newest book. Unfortunately for me, it wasn't quite what I was hoping for. It was a great story, predictable at times and clean. This is one that I would definitely highly recommend for YA and Christian fiction fans, and Melanie Dickerson fans who fall in those two previous categories. I think that YA aged readers will love this and gobble it up.

For me it was hard to connect with the characters. Yes, I did have a connection with them at the very beginning. Aladdin was written well to show his struggles and his beginnings as a thief and then his being saved from the streets and meeting Kirstyn. The first couple chapters show about 13 years of time passing. I thought it was done really well. Creating connections between us and showing the friendship between Aladdin and Kirstyn. But then I had a harder time connecting with them. They were still 16 and 18 years old but were written as if they were quite a few years older and I just couldn't wrap my mind around that. I tried, I really did.

Aladdin was awesome, almost a perfect character (even though he wasn't and his character acknowledged that he wasn't). Then, I struggled with the constant flashbacks of their memories of outings with each other. Aladdin sets off to find his fortune to prove his worth to himself for marrying Kirstyn (hopefully in his mind). They are separated and throughout the separation they remember each other. Which is great, but for me the flashbacks showed up too frequently and then when they were back together and thinking about each other so much, they refused to talk or acknowledge their feelings.

I think also that my life is very busy right now that I was trying to read this and it was hard to feel completely invested in the story. I would love to say that I think I would probably connect better when my life wasn't so busy. But I don't know if I could say that. Even though I have mentioned several aspects that made it harder for a connection between me and this story, there were several things that I did enjoy. As I said before, Aladdin was a "perfect" character. I enjoyed his and Kirstyn's goodness. Their friendship was sweet and their love for each other wasn't an instant love but grew over time. There are many struggles and challenges that they have to face and I liked how the author address many of those challenges and showed that it wasn't an instant fix but that the characters had to work together or put forth effort to fix them.

This is loosely based on Aladdin but I think it worked. Especially if you don't go into reading it thinking about Disney's story of Aladdin and Jasmine. Definitely don't have that perception in your mind because that's not really this story at all.

If you are a Melanie Dickerson fan don't let me thoughts put you off of reading this book. Take a chance and find out for yourself if you enjoy it. I think it will appeal to many others and is a sweet story for YA aged readers.

Content: Clean. Christian fiction so there is talk about God and the characters praying to him occasionally and turning their lives to him. Some talk about forgiveness and change. There are a couple moments of talk about physical abuse in the story. The "bad guy" is definitely a bad guy. He's manipulative, abusive to his girlfriend, threatens lives, kidnaps a character, definitely personifies the antagonist character. Written very well and not overly graphic. There is also no sexual content, just a couple sweet kisses.

I received a copy from the publisher, Thomas Nelson, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 personal rating; would give four stars if I was the intended YA audience.

This is a great, clean book that I would hand to any teen girl without batting an eye. There are some scenes with a bit of violence, but not a bunch of gore. There is a kidnapping, so heads-up to those who might dislike that element, but otherwise there’s really nothing to warn against.

It was a really quick read for me and it was nice that it wasn’t too terribly predictable. Aladdin and Kirstyn are enjoyable characters and the Gerstenberg family was a pleasant one as usual.

A few modern turns of phrase in conversation got on my nerves, as well as a man being called Priest (historically, he would be Father ___, not “priest”) and a few other such things. Super stars go to Dickerson for using blonde/blond correctly, since this is an error that has really been on my nerves in a whole stack of books lately.

It was fun to see an interracial couple, since that isn’t often seen in CF.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy. A favorable review was not required.

[Terry Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to say this book is of the same caliber as her other books...but I cannot.

This book is by far her best work to date. She has brought out the very real self doubts and fears we all have and infused them into her characters.
Melanie kept the action and adventure but also dove deep into these characters, making them as real as the person sitting next to me

What seems as unfair struggles become more clear to these characters as they come out the other side of adversity. They learn to not lean on their own understanding and strength but to lean on God.
Melanie isn’t afraid to bring faith into her books and I find this refreshing in the world we live in today.

A masterpiece that must be read!

[Elizabeth Dragina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m sorry but nope. This book was soooo cringe. I feel like the more I read Melanie Dickerson the less I appreciate her writing.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

O my goodness, I’m so excited about this book! (flails arms in excitement and squeals!) If you didn’t already know, Melanie Dickerson (also known as the “Queen of fairy tale retellings”) has long been one of my favorite authors. I always eagerly anticipate her next release. The book I’m reviewing today is called “The Orphan’s Wish” and is an Aladdin retelling and it’s amazing! Okay, enough fan-girling.

“The Orphan’s Wish” is a fantastic Aladdin retelling! Even though it’s a fairy tale retelling, Ms. Dickerson sets her stories in realistic settings, choosing not to use the fantastical elements some would equate with the words “fairy tales.” She uses great historical details and I felt like I was transported to medieval Europe and the Holy Land. While reading, I was in the midst of a bustling German town with ornate doors, I could smell the fresh bread, and see the old churches so vividly. She uses great descriptions of the culture, clothing, and it’s obvious that she possesses a vast knowledge of the time and place. I also enjoyed picking up on the nods to the original Aladdin fairy tale and the Disney version.

I love the main characters in this book, especially their faith and their love story. I’m a sucker for stories with childhood friendships that later lead to something more, so this one melted my heart from the very beginning. Our main characters, Kirstyn and Aladdin, start off with a strong friendship at a young age. It’s so sweet how protective Aladdin is of Kirstyn and how kind Kirstyn is to Aladdin. They are both great characters who have both dealt with trauma in their past and are forced to grow in their faith separately before they are able to be together. I love the way God teaches both of them through their trials. It’s great watching how they grow stronger through those trials instead of becoming bitter. They pray a lot and God is such a huge part of their lives. The Gospel message is also clearly conveyed, which I love!

This is such a great book for all ages! Parent and child alike will relish this retelling with strong faith aspects and lessons such as depending on God, knowing His peace, and trusting Him through trials. I highly recommend this book!

Content: This is a clean read, with a PG to PG-13 rating for some content. Some examples of the content are: a man threatens to beat a boy if he doesn’t do what the man says; a man is abusive towards a child; someone mentions an illness could be caused by a demon;
Aladdin is met with prejudice and racism because he’s Palestinian; men are described as drunkards; some violence; an evil man beats and handles women roughly; mention that a boy has tried to molest a girl in the past; a woman is in an abusive relationship; a girl is abducted and held prisoner.

Rating: I give this book 5 stars!

Genre: Christian fiction; Historical; Fairy tale retelling; Romance

I want to thank Melanie Dickerson, Thomas Nelson, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.

[anika · Rating 2 out of 5]

That was... Pretty cringey. The dialogue was horrible and there was basically no showing and all telling, but I think by the second half of the book I was able to ignore it and focus on the storyline. I can kinda see the Aladdin resemblance here, but not much of it.

Aladdin had a tiny bit of a character arc and changed a teeny bit by the end of the book but Kirstyn was flat. She says she changed after what she went through but I didn't see any actual change??

I also feel like I was supposed to feel sorry for/like Grethel, but oMg I HATED HER. She was so selfish and bratty URGG

Anyway. XD onto the things I liked...

I was pretty invested in the ship and Aladdin finding Kirstyn. Although I'm disappointed with how easily she got away. It seemed too simple and easy.

The ending was satisfying...

Aand... I liked the slow burn friends to lovers trope. But basically the only things I liked revolved around Aladdin and Kirstyn's romance, which still wasn't even that great. Oh well. I'm excited for The Warrior Maiden; we'll see if it's any better.

[nitya · Rating 1 out of 5]

NOPE.

(And if you want a less culture vulture version of Aladdin, try The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury!)

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fairy tale retelling from Melanie Dickerson! For those of you who’ve been waiting for Kirstyn’s turn to fall in love, it’s finally here in The Orphan’s Wish. Strangely enough, did you know Aladdin left the Middle East as a little boy and grew up in Hagenheim? I guess it’s a whole new world for him to explore….

Kirstyn is the daughter of Duke Wilhelm and Lady Rose of Hagenheim, raised in the proverbial lap of luxury in 1400s Lower Saxony. But her closest companion is Palestinian orphan Aladdin, rescued as a child from a life of forced thievery. The two grow up together, their friendship surviving every trial, until Aladdin leaves to make his fortune. He believes he’ll never be worthy of Kirstyn’s affections without one, and so he moves to the city of Lüneberg, where he finds success as a merchant.

But Aladdin’s departure from Hagenheim leaves Kirstyn lonely and vulnerable to those envious of wealth, and it’s not long before she’s in very real danger. Will Aladdin and her family be able to rescue Kirstyn in time?

I wasn’t expecting so much intrigue from this book! Romantic drama, sure, and of course there had to be a villain (what’s an Aladdin story without a Jafar?), but the way it plays out in The Orphan’s Wish surprised me. Let’s just say Michael is a special kind of creep and leave it at that. I did love the relationship between Aladdin and Kirstyn as they grew from friends to sweethearts. I found some parts of their story a little hard to believe considering their ages, but if you factor in the medieval era, I suppose it balances out. I did want more resolution between Kirstyn and her family, though.

Overall, a fun fairy tale reimagining with a gentle romance that leaves you smiling. Be sure to catch up with the Duke of Hagenheim and his family when The Orphan’s Wish hits stores later this month!

[Madisyn Carlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

My ratings for Dickerson's books seem to be all over the place. While this wasn't my favorite, others will, undoubtedly, like it.

***

Positive Elements:
Aladdin take his responsibilities for Herr Kaufmann seriously; Kirstyn shows kindness and care toward orphans; Aladdin shows compassion to an orphan; Kirstyn's faith grows.

Cons
Aladdin and another steal; Kirstyn disobeys her father.

Spiritual Element:
Aladdin quotes 1 John 4:4b; Salvation is mentioned briefly; characters pray; Aladdin pictures Christ on the cross.

Violence:
Aladdin is attacked by a bear; Kirstyn is knocked unconscious by a thump on the head; a minor character is beaten by another; Kirstyn is struck; it is mentioned that whenever a minor character gets drunk, he becomes violent.

Other:
Two minor characters kiss; it is briefly mentioned tried to molest another; Kirstyn and Aladdin kiss.

Conclusion:
Aladdin is a fairy tale I'm not fond of overall, so I was eager to see how Dickerson would twist it and make me actually enjoy a story based off this Arabian fairy tale. While it's not even close to my favorite, I believe others might like it. Perhaps I wouldn't have minded it so much if there wasn't a love triangle, and if the writing didn't deviate from the earlier Hagenheim stories, most of which are positively fabulous. I've seen other reviewers complain about Dickerson "whitewashing" it by having a Caucasian heroine and moving Aladdin to Germany, but that didn't bother me in the least. It's a retelling for a reason. Certain aspects are not going to remain precise to the original story, and that's just the way any retelling worth its salt is.

So, not my favorite book, but whoee, is that cover stunning.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

"But I will always be just a servant, and it will never . . . . . . . . It will never be enough."

Reluctantly, Aladdin leaves Hagenheim Castle behind along with a hefty piece of his heart; the Duke of Hagenheim's lovely daughter, Kirstyn. Orphaned at an early age, forced into stealing for a cruel master in order to keep a roof over his head, Aladdin feels the need to prove himself worthy of a future with his childhood friend. Having been rescued from his life of thievery, brought under the tutelage of a kind priest and employed as the duke's assistant steward is simply not enough; Aladdin is convinced that he needs to become a successful man on his own merits.

Along the path to independence, Aladdin's bravery earns the attention of a wealthy Ludenburg merchant who smartly recognizes his young mentee's ability to reconcile accounts. Soon Herr Kaufmann is calling Aladdin his son; disinheriting his biological offspring who is reputed to be a cruel and notorious criminal. Meanwhile, back in Hagenheim, the unthinkable happens; Kirstyn is kidnapped and disappears, sending Aladdin into a downward spiral of guilt and despair over not having been close enough to protect his beloved. How valuable is his wealth now?

What a lovely retake of a most familiar story, with its many twists and turns; leaning heavily on the importance of truth over deception and faithfulness over foolishness.

[Maria Therese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh what a wonderful book!

This has been my favorite Melanie Dickerson book from among the few she’s written in the past few years. Somehow it seemed to me to have more soul to it. The retelling was well thought out and well written. The characters’ friendship and their struggles and obstacles were approached in a very literal and relatable way.

Aladdin was a wonderful character. I was impressed with how very accurate the story was to the trauma and pressure that would have affected him from his childhood. I was also glad to see that comments such as that he was “perfect” etc. were disproven to show that he was very human and so rather imperfect. Such a realization truly causes growth in a relationship and causes even more growth in personal development. You have to recognize that you are struggling or trying to keep up a false image of “perfection” in order to humble yourself and grow in virtue and confidence.

I won’t say anymore about the story for fear of ruining any of it. Needless to say though, I highly recommend reading this! It was a very enjoyable read. I would suggest it for maybe ages 16+.

Ratings:
Language: 5 (None!)
Violence: 4.5 (Just a few sword fights and mention of blood, but nothing graphic or disturbing)
Romance: 4 (There was kissing, but it was kept more to the minimum.)

Last comment on the romance,(**spoilers**) I really was impressed by how Mrs. Dickerson had the romance play out in this story. Aladdin is spoken of as wanting to kiss Kirstyn, but he doesn’t because he is engaged to someone else. I was happy to see that he stayed true to the boundaries he should have stayed true too. Then later, it was a delight to see little precious moments when he held her hand or kissed her cheek or whispered in her ear rather than kissing her on the mouth because it wouldn’t have been appropriate in the public setting they were in. Furthermore, when they were in private, while they did kiss each other, they were still aware of the boundaries they should preserve and controlling themselves. Thank you, Mrs Dickerson! Honestly, it is so wonderful and enjoyable to read a book that reflects a relationship that is actually relatable. When there is steamy romance in novels, it gives a false sense of what love is and what building a relationship is actually like. In that way novels could be stumbling blocks for people in learning to form and pursue healthy relationships. I applaud Mrs. Dickerson for writing a book that young people can read and actually look to as a more accurate portrayal of the warmth and fun as well as the trials and difficulties of a real relationship. Thank you again! And for those of you who haven’t read it, I highly recommend reading it!

[Nicole Pevensie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished this the other day, but never marked it as reading😅
I've always been 50/50 about the story of Aladin, but I loved the way Melanie did this! (Although she made Kirstyn a bit too relatable)
While reading this, I thought of my cousin all the time since she's loved Aladin for as long as I can remember. I want her to read this so badly since I'm pretty sure she'll love it(she's a Christian too🫶✝️)
10/10 loved this book, as I normally do.

[Elaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new favorite Melanie Dickerson book!! 😁 Loved that the main characters had known each other since they were kids. It was a fun read to me 😊 I accidently read this before the Silent Songbird somehow 😅 but I'm hoping it'll be okay. For those who've read both of these, do you think it matters I read this first?

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melanie Dickerson has the wonderful ability to take the foundation of a children's fairy tale and build it in to an adult version with depth and complexity as well as great historical detail. This particular Hagenheim novel is the story of Aladdin.

Aladdin is an orphan who is picked up by a man who says he will take care of him, but Mustapha's idea of care was teaching Aladdin to steal for him. When Aladdin is caught stealing, the owner feels sorry for him and takes him under his wing. Aladdin spends the rest of his childhood and early adult life trying to be perfect in order to gain the love he wants. Lady Kirstyn, daughter of Aladdin's benefactor, feels like a lost soul among her brothers and sisters and is constantly trying to earn her parents' love. Thus Aladdin and Kirstyn bond as children and their relationship grows with them.

This story deviates a great deal from the original fairy tale with the magic being eliminated and more of a Christian element infused. This a clean, enjoyable read for young adults. There is no sex, but it does contain some violence with kidnapping, an abusive relationship, and sword fighting. It would be interesting to use this in a classroom setting and have the students compare the original, this version, and the Disney movie. All three very different.

[M.H. Elrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have read Melanie Dickerson’s other books, you will not be disappointed with this one. This Aladdin retelling is a sweet medieval romance that is the eighth in the Hagenheim series. I have enjoyed all of the books in that series to greater or lesser degrees. With this book, it was one of those in the series I enjoyed more than some of the others, and here’s why.

Plot
This is an Aladdin retelling, but it is not a direct retelling of either the Arabic or the Disney version of the story. Therefore, if you are expecting that, you will be disappointed. However, if you are expecting a medieval romance in the vein of her other books, you will enjoy this pleasant plot like a chocolate chip cookie straight from the oven. The plot mainly centers around Aladdin’s desire to seek his fortune and prove he is worthy to win Lady Kirstyn’s hand. Because of his ambition, he ends up at the center of a foul plot that affects both Kirstyn and himself. This adds elements of adventure and action to the story, but not so much that a reader finds themselves taken out of the genre of romance and into the genre of epic fantasy. Throughout the story, there is also some short flashbacks of Aladdin and Kirstyn’s friendship, which are sweet breaks from the main plot. Overall, it is easy to follow the story.

Character
Aladdin and Kirstyn develop in some way in the book. Aladdin really experiences a full change as he comes to understand that wealth is not everything and that he doesn’t need to be perfect. Kirstyn comes to realize that she does matter to her family and to others. Their romantic development was sweet and slow, ending in such a way to make me smile from ear to ear. Unlike other novels which focus on plot, this book focuses on character. The plot is really a side story to the overall development of these two great characters.

Setting:
Unlike the typical Aladdin tale, this book does not take place in Saudi Arabia. Rather, it takes place in the Germanic towns of Hagenheim and the Lüneburg during the Middle Ages. Although this series isn’t an exact representation of the cities’ history, it is accurate in terms of expectations and technology of the Middle Ages. Aladdin himself is taken from the Holy Land by a Priest, a plausible explanation of his Arabic heritage. There is also a sprinkling of German terms that add to the enrichment of the story. However, even though this is an Aladdin retelling, there is no magic in this story, making it more historical. There isn’t even the hint of a genie or magic carpet, instead sticking to the realistic feel of the story. That didn’t bother me, though, because of the story itself.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Honestly, I’m still digging to think of errors that I don’t like in this book. I think maybe I could complain about Kirstyn’s actions near the end of the book. Yet, these are so minor that it is hard for me to pick at them. I’m also not just giving this book 5 stars because I like her other stories. There are some of her books in this series that I didn’t feel deserved 5 stars. So, have full confidence that this book deserved my five-star rating.

Notes on the Content: There are some passionate kisses. There is also some abuse, but it is barely mentioned or outlined.

[Joy Crain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have to say from the first beginning where this book had a title, I was excited. I love Melanie Dickerson's work completely. I am a big fan of Aladdin and this retelling was a clever spin on the enchanting tale.

I love how this book is different from her others since most of them involve meeting the two characters for the first time when they are adults while this one starts with our two leads meeting very early on as children.

The characters were very relatable and the story easy to follow. Another winner for this great author.

I highly recommend this for ages 13 and up for some mild (not graphic) violence.

[gem · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy to read fairy retelling featuring Aladdin and Abu.
What do we want from fairytales; magic, danger, swoon worthy romances, a big twist and characters to root for. This book had it all! I now want to read the others in the series.
Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

[Esther Haddie's Haven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melanie Dickerson is amazing! Her twist on one of my top favorite fairy-tales, Aladdin, is phenomenal! Granted, it was a bit slow at the start, but once I got passed the first few chapters, it picked right up. I couldn't put it down. The story is an inspiration and refreshing to read. It was just so good.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars ✨

A beautiful, wholesome retelling of Aladdin.

Melanie Dickerson is a favorite go to author of mine anytime I’m in a book slump or need something fluffy to read. My favorite of hers is still The Merchant's Daughter. This one was engaging though, and held a bit of suspense. Was an enjoyable, quick and clean read.

[Jasmine (Jazzie) [Jesus Loves You!!] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rtc!

[Jessica Baker (A Baker's Perspective) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love retellings, when they are done right. By this I do not mean they need to mimic the classic tale we all know and love. No, I simply mean they haven't changed the story so much that it isn't recognizable anymore, but they have made it uniquely their own. That is exactly what Ms. Dickerson has done here. She has taken a story I love, Aladdin, and made it something so much better. Even the clever way she added Abu's character - just a warning, Abu is NOT a monkey in this version! 

What first grabbed my attention was that she chose to provide a little back story right up front. You don't see Aladdin and Lady Kirstyn immediately grown up. Instead you see where the story truly begins - with them bonding with each other as children. I felt this was an important aspect of the story, as it gave me a realistic look into how their characters were so connected. Later on in the story when they are apart, you can understand their emotions better, and get a deeper sense of just how much love they did have for each other. Oh how I did not want Aladdin to go away, but I could certainly understand his need and desire to prove himself. Not necessarily to Lady Kirstyn and her family, but more so to himself. He wanted to prove that he was a somebody and not a nobody.

Every good story has a villain and this story is no exception. I was even surprised near the end to find out who one of the villain's was - great job by the author on that. The villains were written so well that you really disliked them. I cringed every time I saw them on the page actually. But it kept me wanting more. I just kept reading and couldn't stop until I saw what everyone wants to see - good defeat evil. Sometimes this comes at a high cost, and I was anxious to see how it would play out with Aladdin. Would he keep his promises, even though it was the wrong thing to do? At some points I wasn't really sure.

If you are looking for a fast paced, adventurous read, I encourage you to read this.I promise you'll keep the pages turning, sitting at the edge of your seat until you reach the very end! I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

My goodness, have you seen this cover?!! The girl on the cover matches the girl in the story, it makes perfect sense how things turn out. Forget everything you know about Aladdin, if you're like me then that knowledge stems from the 1992 film with the late/great Robin Williams, THIS is the Christian version of the story and is exactly what it should have been like since I first heard of this incredible character. THIS is a world I want to read more about and a family I want to be part of!

Aladdin starts off as a child and once his mom passes away, he is tricked into becoming a thief, but thankfully this doesn't last long because it's not the life Aladdin is meant to have. Him and Kirstyn become friends from the moment he sees her and that childhood friendship develops into something very sweet.

Aladdin is also introduced to Christ and the Word right away and his character becomes dedicated to being a Godly man from that point. There is no genie and there is no magic carpet, but the life Aladdin chooses for himself is much more wonderful in this version. There IS a character named Abu, but he is so much more tangible in this story than I would've thought.

The prodigal son is a strong reference in this one and there's a reference to King Solomon also. I truly loved the Biblical comparisons in Dickerson's version with Aladdin! We also get to "see" previous characters from this series and I also enjoyed that.

Aladdin and Kirstyn must go through a long separation and a few obstacles before they get their happy ending, but I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to learn what would happen as they grew and had their faith tested along the way. I was more than satisfied with the conclusion and that Aladdin's dreams come true. I was not only entertained by this wonderful re-telling, but I was also touched and inspired with the hopeful theme throughout these pages.

I was given an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley. I voluntarily reviewed this, the thoughts and comments are my own.

[Jenny Jo Weir · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice, feel good book. It's a christian take/retelling of the story of Aladdin. It was cute, lighthearted and easy to stick with. I find all books in the series easily enjoyable and pleasant reads. Although they all follow a similar formula, it's nice to clean my pallet with these innocent romantic takes on classic fairy tales.

[Angela Auten · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this retelling of Aladdin. <3