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Hagenheim #11
The Peasant's Dream
In this reverse reimagining of the Cinderella story, secrets and dangerous enemies threaten a fairy-tale romance.
Adela, daughter of the Duke of Hagenheim, is rarely allowed outside the castle walls. But one day, longing for freedom, she sneaks away to the market disguised as a peasant. There, she meets a handsome young woodcarver named Frederick.
Frederick, a poor farmer, is the sole provider for his family, and he often has to defend his mother from his father’s drunken rages. He dreams of making a living carving beautiful images into wood, and he is thrilled when the Bishop of Hagenheim commissions him to carve new doors for the cathedral. As Frederick works on the project, he and Adela meet almost daily, and it doesn't take long for them to fall in love. Yet her true identity remains hidden from him.
When disaster separates them, Adela and Frederick find themselves caught in the midst of deceptions far more dangerous than innocent disguises. As the powerful lords set against them proceed with their villainous plans, secrets emerge that put Frederick and Adela's future at risk.
Adela, daughter of the Duke of Hagenheim, is rarely allowed outside the castle walls. But one day, longing for freedom, she sneaks away to the market disguised as a peasant. There, she meets a handsome young woodcarver named Frederick.
Frederick, a poor farmer, is the sole provider for his family, and he often has to defend his mother from his father’s drunken rages. He dreams of making a living carving beautiful images into wood, and he is thrilled when the Bishop of Hagenheim commissions him to carve new doors for the cathedral. As Frederick works on the project, he and Adela meet almost daily, and it doesn't take long for them to fall in love. Yet her true identity remains hidden from him.
When disaster separates them, Adela and Frederick find themselves caught in the midst of deceptions far more dangerous than innocent disguises. As the powerful lords set against them proceed with their villainous plans, secrets emerge that put Frederick and Adela's future at risk.
311 pages, Hardcover
First published July 7, 2020
187 people are currently reading
6058 people want to read
About the author
Melanie Dickerson
41 books6,526 followersMelanie 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 425 reviews
October 29, 2020
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
Oh, I was so nervous about this final Hagenheim book. It’s sad to say goodbye to this family, but at the same time, I’m ready for the start of a new series by this author.
I’m giving this a personal rating of 3.5 stars. I would give it four stars because of the plot twists, the elements of the Cinderella story, and those final chapters. However, Adela and Frederick were not my absolute favorites to say the least. There were instant attraction feelings between the two of them and I felt like I was constantly saying, “Adela, noooooo. Don’t do that!” I could take or leave Frederick—he was fine—but Adela felt a little too young at times in her reactions to different events. I am content, though, in how this series ended. I’ve followed this series from over seven years now and I’m satisfied at the ending.
{{ If you are looking for a more fangirling/talking about my thoughts review, please look forward to a video review to be posted in the future on my BookTube channel. :) }}
{{Official Content Review to Come.}}
Oh, I was so nervous about this final Hagenheim book. It’s sad to say goodbye to this family, but at the same time, I’m ready for the start of a new series by this author.
I’m giving this a personal rating of 3.5 stars. I would give it four stars because of the plot twists, the elements of the Cinderella story, and those final chapters. However, Adela and Frederick were not my absolute favorites to say the least. There were instant attraction feelings between the two of them and I felt like I was constantly saying, “Adela, noooooo. Don’t do that!” I could take or leave Frederick—he was fine—but Adela felt a little too young at times in her reactions to different events. I am content, though, in how this series ended. I’ve followed this series from over seven years now and I’m satisfied at the ending.
{{ If you are looking for a more fangirling/talking about my thoughts review, please look forward to a video review to be posted in the future on my BookTube channel. :) }}
{{Official Content Review to Come.}}
June 9, 2020
I WAS SO EXCITED - AND SO DISAPPOINTED
I absolutely love fairy tale retellings, so learning that this was supposed so be a reverse Cinderella story really had me excited to read it. Sadly, nothing about it lived up to my expectations. I have read other of Dickerson's books and been slightly underwhelmed, but this fell flat in every way.
👎 WHAT I DISLIKED 👎
Cinderella: What attracted me to this book was the premise of a reverse Cinderella, but I can honestly say that I don't see anything related to the Cinderella fairy tale. Sure, Frederick is a peasant and Adela is the daughter of a Duke. And Frederick has two sisters. But that does it - that's where it ends. Sorry, but that to me is not enough to call it a reverse Cinderella story.
Writing: As with other Dickerson novels, the writing of this one struck me as half-assed and slightly amateurish. It felt like she just wrote without editing herself or ever using the option to delete - but she still backtracks and takes stuff back. Why not just delete it? It just didn't feel like there was any effort put into it.
Bible stories: Why include Bible stories that play no part in the story? Honestly, I found it a bit offensive. Felt like a sermon in the middle of the book. I am really not okay with that.
Plot: If you read fanfiction or Wattpad stories, you are familiar with those stories that are written chapter-by-chapter. They often don't have a red threat that takes you from beginning to end and that guides the actions in each chapter. I had the same feeling while reading this book. It was just a bunch of chapters strung together with seemingly no thought to the overall storyline.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
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I absolutely love fairy tale retellings, so learning that this was supposed so be a reverse Cinderella story really had me excited to read it. Sadly, nothing about it lived up to my expectations. I have read other of Dickerson's books and been slightly underwhelmed, but this fell flat in every way.
👎 WHAT I DISLIKED 👎
Cinderella: What attracted me to this book was the premise of a reverse Cinderella, but I can honestly say that I don't see anything related to the Cinderella fairy tale. Sure, Frederick is a peasant and Adela is the daughter of a Duke. And Frederick has two sisters. But that does it - that's where it ends. Sorry, but that to me is not enough to call it a reverse Cinderella story.
Writing: As with other Dickerson novels, the writing of this one struck me as half-assed and slightly amateurish. It felt like she just wrote without editing herself or ever using the option to delete - but she still backtracks and takes stuff back. Why not just delete it? It just didn't feel like there was any effort put into it.
Bible stories: Why include Bible stories that play no part in the story? Honestly, I found it a bit offensive. Felt like a sermon in the middle of the book. I am really not okay with that.
Plot: If you read fanfiction or Wattpad stories, you are familiar with those stories that are written chapter-by-chapter. They often don't have a red threat that takes you from beginning to end and that guides the actions in each chapter. I had the same feeling while reading this book. It was just a bunch of chapters strung together with seemingly no thought to the overall storyline.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Follow me for more book loving content!
Blog ✨ Facebook ✨ Instagram ✨ Twitter
Blog Post: 8 Books to Read at the Beach
Want to read
November 19, 2019I am already in love.....LOOK AT THIS GORGEOUS COVER!!!!!!!!!!! I NEED this book NOW! 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
February 4, 2022
I'm a mix of emotions right now, the strongest is the sentimental feeling. Can't believe this series is over honestly, and this was such a sweet, fun, and exciting conclusion to one of my favorite series!!! I smiled, gasped, squealed, and nearly cried. And honestly, that epilogue couldn't have been MORE PERFECT!!! 😍 I was a mix of so many emotions, remembering all the stories before this one. Been such a pleasure to watch these characters grow up and find their own journey!!! (Well, I've watched most of the characters grow up. Read every book in the series except book two for some unknown reason. *shrugs* Go figure.) I still remember the day I picked up my first Melanie Dickerson novel from my library three years ago (The Princess Spy in case any of you were wondering.... yes, I did read them all terribly out of order. XD) It was the story that introduced me to the romance genre and Christian fiction, so I feel that I really owe this series, and the amazing author behind them, a lot.
And yes, this was really less of a review and more of a journey down memory lane. 😜#IRegretNothing I told y'all I've got a lot of sentimental feelings going on right now. XD
And yes, this was really less of a review and more of a journey down memory lane. 😜#IRegretNothing I told y'all I've got a lot of sentimental feelings going on right now. XD
March 31, 2020
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I must confess this book was exactly what I expected it to be. Definitely not a literary masterpiece, but not that bad either.
I'm maybe a bit too influenced in my judgement by the fact that this seems part of a very popular and prolific series that I haven't had the chance to read before, but I couldn't connect with the story nor the characters in the deep way that I usually like.
I didn't expect the romance aspect to be so prominent, even though it's pretty obvious it takes a huge part of the plot. Yet, I expected maybe less of it or perhaps I would have liked it if it wasn't so thrown in my face all the time.
I also found some scenes to be way too fast and some definitely too dull, which caused me to be bored or confused more than I'd want to admit.
Said this, I think The Peasant's Dream is overall a decent book, one that you wouldn't regret reading as it's short and pleasant enough to not make it feel like a chore. I also didn't mind the writing and I'd probably would have become a fan of Melanie Dickerson if this was the first book in the series instead of the last.
I must confess this book was exactly what I expected it to be. Definitely not a literary masterpiece, but not that bad either.
I'm maybe a bit too influenced in my judgement by the fact that this seems part of a very popular and prolific series that I haven't had the chance to read before, but I couldn't connect with the story nor the characters in the deep way that I usually like.
I didn't expect the romance aspect to be so prominent, even though it's pretty obvious it takes a huge part of the plot. Yet, I expected maybe less of it or perhaps I would have liked it if it wasn't so thrown in my face all the time.
I also found some scenes to be way too fast and some definitely too dull, which caused me to be bored or confused more than I'd want to admit.
Said this, I think The Peasant's Dream is overall a decent book, one that you wouldn't regret reading as it's short and pleasant enough to not make it feel like a chore. I also didn't mind the writing and I'd probably would have become a fan of Melanie Dickerson if this was the first book in the series instead of the last.
February 26, 2025
4 Stars ✨
“Evil could never defeat good. Though evil could lie and steal and destroy for a time, it was only for a time; God always had the final say.”
I’m such a Melanie Dickerson fan girl. I’m a sucker for her sweet historical romances. My favorite part about them is how she always manages to insert scripture, and the importance of it, in each one of her stories. This was her final book in the Hagenheim Series and it was a delight. Her main characters are always so sweet and great role models for younger readers. I am sad this series is over, but it’s been so fun following this family’s adventures and reading all their stories.
“Evil could never defeat good. Though evil could lie and steal and destroy for a time, it was only for a time; God always had the final say.”
I’m such a Melanie Dickerson fan girl. I’m a sucker for her sweet historical romances. My favorite part about them is how she always manages to insert scripture, and the importance of it, in each one of her stories. This was her final book in the Hagenheim Series and it was a delight. Her main characters are always so sweet and great role models for younger readers. I am sad this series is over, but it’s been so fun following this family’s adventures and reading all their stories.
July 18, 2020
5 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Peasant’s Dream is a unique reversed retelling of the much beloved fairytale of Cinderella but the author creates an authentic story of her own that makes this book special and new.
• The writing is smooth and immersive. I was immediately immersed into the story that progressed on a very good pace without prolonging or dulling the scenes even if it consisted mostly of dialogue.
• The world-building was fitting for the book although it wasn’t as atmospheric, but I was able to create images for each scene.
• The plot was an unexpected treat for me since the author intricately weaves into the story other storylines without steering away from the central plot. When it comes to the action scenes it did a good job at gripping me while the sweet and romantic scenes were so endearing and swoon-worthy.
• The cast of characters were excellent! I grew fond and rooted for the two main characters Adela and Frederick from the very start since the author manages to establish both characters early on. The secondary characters were distinctive since each character played a role and contributed to the story.
• This book has one of the sweetest and purest love stories I’ve ever read about. The build up of the Romance was developed by using one of my least favorite tropes: insta-love but it did not feel... tacky? I think this is one of the books that used this trope in an effective way that convinces the reader that this indeed is a love story worth following. Adela and Frederick were such an appealing couple and their chemistry made the butterflies in my fly flutter until they almost bursted out chaotically.
• If you’re looking for a light read with a sweet romance and an engaging story them this is it!
The Peasant’s Dream is a unique reversed retelling of the much beloved fairytale of Cinderella but the author creates an authentic story of her own that makes this book special and new.
• The writing is smooth and immersive. I was immediately immersed into the story that progressed on a very good pace without prolonging or dulling the scenes even if it consisted mostly of dialogue.
• The world-building was fitting for the book although it wasn’t as atmospheric, but I was able to create images for each scene.
• The plot was an unexpected treat for me since the author intricately weaves into the story other storylines without steering away from the central plot. When it comes to the action scenes it did a good job at gripping me while the sweet and romantic scenes were so endearing and swoon-worthy.
• The cast of characters were excellent! I grew fond and rooted for the two main characters Adela and Frederick from the very start since the author manages to establish both characters early on. The secondary characters were distinctive since each character played a role and contributed to the story.
• This book has one of the sweetest and purest love stories I’ve ever read about. The build up of the Romance was developed by using one of my least favorite tropes: insta-love but it did not feel... tacky? I think this is one of the books that used this trope in an effective way that convinces the reader that this indeed is a love story worth following. Adela and Frederick were such an appealing couple and their chemistry made the butterflies in my fly flutter until they almost bursted out chaotically.
• If you’re looking for a light read with a sweet romance and an engaging story them this is it!
August 17, 2020
What is this? I gave a Melanie Dickerson book 3 stars??? WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO??!!!
I can't help it though and if I'm being honest here, there's a couple others in this series that only deserve 3 stars from me as well.
I feel like around the time after The Golden Braid released, Melanie just stopped caring about this series. Or something. Because the writing and dialogue often feels like she wasn't even trying at all. And that's what most of this book felt like. No real depth or feeling. And Adela, I swear, if you say "We are both artists" one more time...
That being said, there were parts about the story I liked (which is why it's getting 3 stars,) But the parts I liked, I feel could have been written better.
It pains me to say these things but I can't keep living in denial. It's sad the series had to end this way.
I can't help it though and if I'm being honest here, there's a couple others in this series that only deserve 3 stars from me as well.
I feel like around the time after The Golden Braid released, Melanie just stopped caring about this series. Or something. Because the writing and dialogue often feels like she wasn't even trying at all. And that's what most of this book felt like. No real depth or feeling. And Adela, I swear, if you say "We are both artists" one more time...
That being said, there were parts about the story I liked (which is why it's getting 3 stars,) But the parts I liked, I feel could have been written better.
It pains me to say these things but I can't keep living in denial. It's sad the series had to end this way.
August 20, 2020
Again, I love christian fiction, fairy tales and historical fiction, so as expected, this book was right up my alley. I really enjoyed the whole role reversal on the Cinderella plot. I'd never imagined a story about a male Cinderella, but that was my take on this book. I think it was also interesting how she presented herself as poor. Either way, the whole backwards thing was fun to read.
July 11, 2020
2.5/5 stars
I’ve got to be honest… this book barely did anything for me 😬 I hate to be a hater, but this review is definitely a rant review.
The Peasant’s Dream follows a young girl named Adela. All she wants for her life is to go on an adventure, albeit a safe one, and explore the world to paint. Her kind parents wish for her to marry though, and she begins a courtship with Lord Barthold. But when a young, poor wood-carver named Frederick catches her eye in town, she tests the limits of her heart.
Honestly, the blurb sounds way more exciting than the book actually is. From the get-go, The Peasant’s Dream is boring. BORING. I trudgeddd through this book. The two main characters, Adela and Frederick, have no personality. The plot is surface level, way too predictable, and extremely anti-climactic. I was beyond excited to finally dive into Melanie Dickerson’s work. Christian fairytale retellings?? Sounds amazing!! Right? Yeah, I was looking forward to seeing my favorite fairy tales as YA romance within Christian parameters, as a model for how romance really is for those who follow Jesus.
But what I got was a stuffy, overly polite semi-relationship. WHAT?? I feel bad for young Christian girls who might read this book and think danggg this is what love is when you’re a Christian? It’s really this boring? Count me out.
Ok, I appreciated the elements of God, how the characters pursue Him in their lives everyday and trust Him with everything; in that way, they are good role models. But dang, those who follow God are still allowed personality. Yeah this book is boring, but beneath that is the idea that to follow God one has to be suffocatingly polite. I promise that when I like a boy, I’m NOT going to agree with everything he says and compliment his every move and tell him his name is masculine and strong because I’m a submissive Christian girl. Not like Adela does. No, sir, that’s not how we roll, and it’s frustrating to know this book promotes that. And don’t even get me started on Frederick’s role in this - I’m all for a gentle, handsome hero love interest, but he was equally as boring and I guess has a thing for submissive girls?? I don’t know.
Maybe her other books are better - I have a couple more that I’ll try. But as a Christian book, I’m sure there are better out there (at least, I hope so), and girls reading this, you’ll have a more interesting love story!! 😆
Thank you so much, The Fantastic Flying Book Club and Thomas Nelson for providing me an ARC copy for the blog tour. If the blog tour was still occurring, I probably would have held off on the rant… but I couldn’t help myself. This is an honest review, all opinions are my own.
If you enjoyed this review, feel free to follow me here on Goodreads and on my Instagram/Twitter @ashton_reads! Love ya!
I’ve got to be honest… this book barely did anything for me 😬 I hate to be a hater, but this review is definitely a rant review.
The Peasant’s Dream follows a young girl named Adela. All she wants for her life is to go on an adventure, albeit a safe one, and explore the world to paint. Her kind parents wish for her to marry though, and she begins a courtship with Lord Barthold. But when a young, poor wood-carver named Frederick catches her eye in town, she tests the limits of her heart.
Honestly, the blurb sounds way more exciting than the book actually is. From the get-go, The Peasant’s Dream is boring. BORING. I trudgeddd through this book. The two main characters, Adela and Frederick, have no personality. The plot is surface level, way too predictable, and extremely anti-climactic. I was beyond excited to finally dive into Melanie Dickerson’s work. Christian fairytale retellings?? Sounds amazing!! Right? Yeah, I was looking forward to seeing my favorite fairy tales as YA romance within Christian parameters, as a model for how romance really is for those who follow Jesus.
But what I got was a stuffy, overly polite semi-relationship. WHAT?? I feel bad for young Christian girls who might read this book and think danggg this is what love is when you’re a Christian? It’s really this boring? Count me out.
Ok, I appreciated the elements of God, how the characters pursue Him in their lives everyday and trust Him with everything; in that way, they are good role models. But dang, those who follow God are still allowed personality. Yeah this book is boring, but beneath that is the idea that to follow God one has to be suffocatingly polite. I promise that when I like a boy, I’m NOT going to agree with everything he says and compliment his every move and tell him his name is masculine and strong because I’m a submissive Christian girl. Not like Adela does. No, sir, that’s not how we roll, and it’s frustrating to know this book promotes that. And don’t even get me started on Frederick’s role in this - I’m all for a gentle, handsome hero love interest, but he was equally as boring and I guess has a thing for submissive girls?? I don’t know.
Maybe her other books are better - I have a couple more that I’ll try. But as a Christian book, I’m sure there are better out there (at least, I hope so), and girls reading this, you’ll have a more interesting love story!! 😆
Thank you so much, The Fantastic Flying Book Club and Thomas Nelson for providing me an ARC copy for the blog tour. If the blog tour was still occurring, I probably would have held off on the rant… but I couldn’t help myself. This is an honest review, all opinions are my own.
If you enjoyed this review, feel free to follow me here on Goodreads and on my Instagram/Twitter @ashton_reads! Love ya!
July 10, 2020
**Thanks to Goodreads for the print copy I received through a Goodreads giveaway!**
Since childhood, my favorite fairy tale has been Cinderella. I’m drawn to adaptations of the story, so it was no surprise that The Peasant’s Dream by Melanie Dickerson would pique my interest. In this version, the narrative is somewhat reversed, in that the “Cinderella” is actually a poor farmer’s son who falls in love with a duke’s daughter. The male protagonist is Frederick, a wood carver who has in his life characters similar to an evil step-parent and two troublesome siblings. While there is no fairy godmother, no transforming pumpkins or glass shoes, this is still a delightful story and a fine addition to Dickerson’s Hagenheim series. The eleventh and final volume of this particular collection of fairytale adaptations, The Peasant’s Dream features the romance between Frederick and Adela, the duke’s daughter. Unlike the traditional story, this imagining features more action and internal thought, allowing for greater suspense building and a bit of character development. Incidents and individuals from other episodes in the Hagenheim series are mentioned, but knowledge of those other books is in no way required to enjoy this specific novel.
The book could be categorized as Christian YA fiction, so the content is very family friendly. The romantic content is fairly modest, the violence measured and without gory details. Dickerson’s style is not as complex as you would find in most adult titles, which makes it very accessible to younger readers and a quick page-turner for those of us in the ‘mature’ category. Topics regarding Christian faith do emerge from time to time, providing important lessons within the story. I appreciated the themes of redemption, forgiveness, and humanity’s ability to choose righteousness even when surrounded by evil. God is not seen as a “fairy Godfather in the sky” granting all our wishes, but Someone who will be with us through our trials, sometimes providing deliverance, and sometimes providing strength to endure hardship instead. That said, the spirituality of the story is not heavy-handed, and could easily be read by those from outside the faith.
I reviewed Dickerson’s The Beautiful Pretender four years ago, and while I think I enjoyed that title a bit more, The Peasant’s Dream was still very entertaining. Not only did I enjoy the trajectory of the main characters' lives, but I appreciated the development of their family members and loved ones as well. There's even a romantic royal ball at the climax of the story! If you enjoy fairy tale adaptations or any of the other titles in the Hagenheim series, this one would make a pleasant addition to your “To Be Read” list.
Since childhood, my favorite fairy tale has been Cinderella. I’m drawn to adaptations of the story, so it was no surprise that The Peasant’s Dream by Melanie Dickerson would pique my interest. In this version, the narrative is somewhat reversed, in that the “Cinderella” is actually a poor farmer’s son who falls in love with a duke’s daughter. The male protagonist is Frederick, a wood carver who has in his life characters similar to an evil step-parent and two troublesome siblings. While there is no fairy godmother, no transforming pumpkins or glass shoes, this is still a delightful story and a fine addition to Dickerson’s Hagenheim series. The eleventh and final volume of this particular collection of fairytale adaptations, The Peasant’s Dream features the romance between Frederick and Adela, the duke’s daughter. Unlike the traditional story, this imagining features more action and internal thought, allowing for greater suspense building and a bit of character development. Incidents and individuals from other episodes in the Hagenheim series are mentioned, but knowledge of those other books is in no way required to enjoy this specific novel.
The book could be categorized as Christian YA fiction, so the content is very family friendly. The romantic content is fairly modest, the violence measured and without gory details. Dickerson’s style is not as complex as you would find in most adult titles, which makes it very accessible to younger readers and a quick page-turner for those of us in the ‘mature’ category. Topics regarding Christian faith do emerge from time to time, providing important lessons within the story. I appreciated the themes of redemption, forgiveness, and humanity’s ability to choose righteousness even when surrounded by evil. God is not seen as a “fairy Godfather in the sky” granting all our wishes, but Someone who will be with us through our trials, sometimes providing deliverance, and sometimes providing strength to endure hardship instead. That said, the spirituality of the story is not heavy-handed, and could easily be read by those from outside the faith.
I reviewed Dickerson’s The Beautiful Pretender four years ago, and while I think I enjoyed that title a bit more, The Peasant’s Dream was still very entertaining. Not only did I enjoy the trajectory of the main characters' lives, but I appreciated the development of their family members and loved ones as well. There's even a romantic royal ball at the climax of the story! If you enjoy fairy tale adaptations or any of the other titles in the Hagenheim series, this one would make a pleasant addition to your “To Be Read” list.
June 26, 2020
This was a Goodreads giveaway book, albeit, not the book I won. I won a different book, and a different Valerie won this book, and they got switched.
Now, I don't typically read Christian fiction, but this one looked appealing to me; the cover, the summary, the retelling of a classic fairytale theme.
I ended up enjoying this book more than I thought I would. The language was modern, but I could hear the periodization in the tone of the writing. It was a fantastic blend of modern and traditional. The classic fairytale theme was better than expected, the characters were original, deep and had their own developed personalities. Adela wasn't a carbon copy of a floozy Disney princess and Frederick wasn't picture-perfect Prince Charming, either.
This is my first exposure to Melanie Dickerson's work, and I am pleasantly surprised by how well-written this book is. I will definitely keep my eye out for her in the future.
Also, when I say "Christian fiction," I don't mean religion was shoved down the reader's throat. Rather, the time period itself held pious individuals, families and communities. It is then acknowledged in the book as a way of life of the characters; casual discussions of the Bible, praying to God during hardships, adhering to traditional family values. It fit in well with the story and helped develop the characters without explicitly stating "Frederick was a devout Christian."
Probably one of my favorite Goodreads giveaway books, even though it wasn't mine.
Now, I don't typically read Christian fiction, but this one looked appealing to me; the cover, the summary, the retelling of a classic fairytale theme.
I ended up enjoying this book more than I thought I would. The language was modern, but I could hear the periodization in the tone of the writing. It was a fantastic blend of modern and traditional. The classic fairytale theme was better than expected, the characters were original, deep and had their own developed personalities. Adela wasn't a carbon copy of a floozy Disney princess and Frederick wasn't picture-perfect Prince Charming, either.
This is my first exposure to Melanie Dickerson's work, and I am pleasantly surprised by how well-written this book is. I will definitely keep my eye out for her in the future.
Also, when I say "Christian fiction," I don't mean religion was shoved down the reader's throat. Rather, the time period itself held pious individuals, families and communities. It is then acknowledged in the book as a way of life of the characters; casual discussions of the Bible, praying to God during hardships, adhering to traditional family values. It fit in well with the story and helped develop the characters without explicitly stating "Frederick was a devout Christian."
Probably one of my favorite Goodreads giveaway books, even though it wasn't mine.
January 9, 2021
There’s another one YES YES YES YES YES YES
June 24, 2020
Originally posted on Inside the Wong Mind:
The Peasant's Dream
by Melanie Dickerson
Book 11 in the Hagenheim series
Rating: 4.5/5
Release date: July 7, 2020
Reverse Cinderella story? Yes, please. I always love a good fairytale retelling but when you reverse the roles and fill out the characters and backstory so much, I did not want to put the book down. I am a huge fan of Melanie Dickerson because she takes the time to really develop her characters and fill in the fairytale background. She brings you back into her world of Hagenheim and it was such a fun adventure. Though this is part of a series, you can read this book by itself but I still highly recommend reading the rest of the series because it's that good.
Frederick is a talented woodcarver who dreams of being able to escape his abusive father's farm and make a living for his mother and younger twin sisters. When he gets a chance to sell some of his carvings at the market, a priest sees his talent and convinces the bishop to hire Frederick to carve the new doors for the cathedral. While at market, Frederick meets Adela and a friendship begins.
Adela is the youngest daughter of the Duke of Hagenheim who wishes she could travel and pursue her painting and creative side. Her father is very protective of her and Adela just wishes she could explore the world without being recognized as the Duke's daughter. She disguises herself as a servant and goes off to explore the marketplace where she meets Frederick. She is surprised to find someone who understands her as an artist - someone who is kind and makes her smile. Although her parents are trying to help her find a kind nobleman to marry, Adela doesn't feel anything for him - at least not what she starts feeling for Frederick, who doesn't know who she really is.
What happens when Frederick finds out the truth about Adela's status? What happens when someone wants Frederick out of the way? Can Adela and Frederick find a way to be together?
I am never disappointed with a Melanie Dickerson novel. Her characters have depth and a charm that makes the reader want to cheer them on. She has been building this world of Hagenheim for many years and it's always such a pleasure to dive back into this fantasy world. I feel like the transformation that the main characters go through could have been developed more but it doesn't take away from the amazing adventure and the awesome reveals in this story.
I highly recommend this book if you enjoy fairytale retelling with a twist.
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.
The Peasant's Dream
by Melanie Dickerson
Book 11 in the Hagenheim series
Rating: 4.5/5
Release date: July 7, 2020
Reverse Cinderella story? Yes, please. I always love a good fairytale retelling but when you reverse the roles and fill out the characters and backstory so much, I did not want to put the book down. I am a huge fan of Melanie Dickerson because she takes the time to really develop her characters and fill in the fairytale background. She brings you back into her world of Hagenheim and it was such a fun adventure. Though this is part of a series, you can read this book by itself but I still highly recommend reading the rest of the series because it's that good.
Frederick is a talented woodcarver who dreams of being able to escape his abusive father's farm and make a living for his mother and younger twin sisters. When he gets a chance to sell some of his carvings at the market, a priest sees his talent and convinces the bishop to hire Frederick to carve the new doors for the cathedral. While at market, Frederick meets Adela and a friendship begins.
Adela is the youngest daughter of the Duke of Hagenheim who wishes she could travel and pursue her painting and creative side. Her father is very protective of her and Adela just wishes she could explore the world without being recognized as the Duke's daughter. She disguises herself as a servant and goes off to explore the marketplace where she meets Frederick. She is surprised to find someone who understands her as an artist - someone who is kind and makes her smile. Although her parents are trying to help her find a kind nobleman to marry, Adela doesn't feel anything for him - at least not what she starts feeling for Frederick, who doesn't know who she really is.
What happens when Frederick finds out the truth about Adela's status? What happens when someone wants Frederick out of the way? Can Adela and Frederick find a way to be together?
I am never disappointed with a Melanie Dickerson novel. Her characters have depth and a charm that makes the reader want to cheer them on. She has been building this world of Hagenheim for many years and it's always such a pleasure to dive back into this fantasy world. I feel like the transformation that the main characters go through could have been developed more but it doesn't take away from the amazing adventure and the awesome reveals in this story.
I highly recommend this book if you enjoy fairytale retelling with a twist.
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.
December 20, 2023
I finished the series 😭😭😭 maybe it’s just the emotions making me give it five stars and I might change my rating… but I’ve been working on this series for like two months. I am NOT ready to say goodbye to these characters, I’ve come to love them all so much.
EDIT: A couple months later, I'm not changing my rating- this last book, while a bit predictable, was so sweet and beautiful, and I loved how it called back to the other books in the series as well. I wish I'd read this series around middle school, because I would have absolutely adored it. I liked it now, but it's definitely targeted toward young teen girls. Overall, I'm so glad I read this series and that it ended with such a sweet, wholesome love story.
Other Reviews:
"The Healer's Apprentice"
"The Merchant's Daughter"
"The Fairest Beauty"
"The Captive Maiden"
"The Princess Spy"
"The Golden Braid"
"The Silent Songbird"
"The Orphan's Wish"
"The Warrior Maiden"
"The Piper's Pursuit"
EDIT: A couple months later, I'm not changing my rating- this last book, while a bit predictable, was so sweet and beautiful, and I loved how it called back to the other books in the series as well. I wish I'd read this series around middle school, because I would have absolutely adored it. I liked it now, but it's definitely targeted toward young teen girls. Overall, I'm so glad I read this series and that it ended with such a sweet, wholesome love story.
Other Reviews:
"The Healer's Apprentice"
"The Merchant's Daughter"
"The Fairest Beauty"
"The Captive Maiden"
"The Princess Spy"
"The Golden Braid"
"The Silent Songbird"
"The Orphan's Wish"
"The Warrior Maiden"
"The Piper's Pursuit"
August 17, 2020
The Pheasants Dream is a reverse Cinderella Story and is the story of Duke Wilhelm's youngest daughter, Adela. The story starts out with her longing to do something more in her life, have some adventures just as all of her siblings did but it seems impossible since she isn't allowed to go outside the castle walls. One day she sneaks away just to have a little taste of what it's like in town at the market. Then she meets Frederick... and he changes everything. They fall in love but seems like everything is trying to keep them apart. Will they ever have there happily ever after? You'll have to read to find out. :)
I was soo excited about this book! The cover is gorgeous, the plot intriguing, and I've loved all of Ms. Melanie Dickerson's other books. I was so thrilled and grateful to receive a copy from the publisher!
Now while this wasn't my favorite of her books, it still was good and it kept my attention. I did feel like it moved a bit slowly at first but once things started happening, it was fast-paced and awesome just like all of her books are.
I loved all of the faith content. I was really inspired by how Frederick and his mother kept their faith even in the hardest situations. They really had to go through a lot!
Adela was a sweet character and although I didn't connect with her as much, I still love her because she is part of a fictional family I love so much. #fangirl 😅
I would recommend this for older teens, however, because there is a little more romance and mild violence though nothing goes into much detail.
The ending was perfect. Finishing this book was definitely bittersweet. Ahhh! I love this family so much. I can't realize that there won't be anymore to this series! I'm attached to their family and stories. I'll just have to reread them every once in a while. But I'm still kind of sad...
Anyways, I give this book 3.5 stars. I still really enjoyed it, it's just not my absolute favorite. But that being said, I do recommend it for a sweet romance with some action and if you're a fangirl of this family and series like me, you have to read it! 😉
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
I was soo excited about this book! The cover is gorgeous, the plot intriguing, and I've loved all of Ms. Melanie Dickerson's other books. I was so thrilled and grateful to receive a copy from the publisher!
Now while this wasn't my favorite of her books, it still was good and it kept my attention. I did feel like it moved a bit slowly at first but once things started happening, it was fast-paced and awesome just like all of her books are.
I loved all of the faith content. I was really inspired by how Frederick and his mother kept their faith even in the hardest situations. They really had to go through a lot!
Adela was a sweet character and although I didn't connect with her as much, I still love her because she is part of a fictional family I love so much. #fangirl 😅
I would recommend this for older teens, however, because there is a little more romance and mild violence though nothing goes into much detail.
The ending was perfect. Finishing this book was definitely bittersweet. Ahhh! I love this family so much. I can't realize that there won't be anymore to this series! I'm attached to their family and stories. I'll just have to reread them every once in a while. But I'm still kind of sad...
Anyways, I give this book 3.5 stars. I still really enjoyed it, it's just not my absolute favorite. But that being said, I do recommend it for a sweet romance with some action and if you're a fangirl of this family and series like me, you have to read it! 😉
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
December 31, 2021
I hate rating this book so low because I LOVE some of this author’s other works, but with her being a hit or miss author for me these days…this was a giant miss.
The cover is pretty like always, but I didn’t see many Cinderella elements though it did have strong Joseph vibes. It also didn’t have much of a storyline for that matter which was rather odd, though I have noticed this seems to happen with characters who didn’t have much of a personality from the other books to begin with (I’m thinking of Kristyn from The Orphan’s Wish, another huge miss for me).
Adela and Frederick, while somewhat likable, were rather flat to me and their romance as WAY too fast and wasn’t based on much of anything other than…I’m not sure what. Oh, they were both artists. That’s it, that’s the only reason. And they spent most of the book crying or imprisoned which is fine and something I like if it’s earned and with a more dynamic storyline to go with it but found really annoying here. Not to mention all their dialogue between each other was stiff, weird, and not natural at all.
The villain was lame and did we really need all those other POVs? They added nothing to the story. I do hope someday Toby gets a story (since he is the actual last sibling), but if he does I sure hope it’s better then this one.
Sadly this book (along with several of her newer releases) has told me I shouldn’t keep trying her stories as they are no longer for me nor very good in my opinion, which is really, really disappointing since I love several of her other books. 😢
The cover is pretty like always, but I didn’t see many Cinderella elements though it did have strong Joseph vibes. It also didn’t have much of a storyline for that matter which was rather odd, though I have noticed this seems to happen with characters who didn’t have much of a personality from the other books to begin with (I’m thinking of Kristyn from The Orphan’s Wish, another huge miss for me).
Adela and Frederick, while somewhat likable, were rather flat to me and their romance as WAY too fast and wasn’t based on much of anything other than…I’m not sure what. Oh, they were both artists. That’s it, that’s the only reason. And they spent most of the book crying or imprisoned which is fine and something I like if it’s earned and with a more dynamic storyline to go with it but found really annoying here. Not to mention all their dialogue between each other was stiff, weird, and not natural at all.
The villain was lame and did we really need all those other POVs? They added nothing to the story. I do hope someday Toby gets a story (since he is the actual last sibling), but if he does I sure hope it’s better then this one.
Sadly this book (along with several of her newer releases) has told me I shouldn’t keep trying her stories as they are no longer for me nor very good in my opinion, which is really, really disappointing since I love several of her other books. 😢
July 3, 2020
"The Peasant's Dream" by Melanie Dickerson is the eleventh and final book in the “Hagenheim” series. It is a sweet, gentle, reverse “Cinderella” story, telling the story of Adela, the youngest daughter of Duke Wilhelm. It can be read as a standalone.
I love the diversity of Melanie’s characters and their personalities. In this series, there is a hero and heroine to suit everyone. There are kick-butt heroines and valiant knights. In this installment, the hero and heroine are both gentle, kind and artistic. Adela loves to paint, and Frederick loves to carve wood. I love how they bond over their passion for art and creating things with their hands. Frederick, especially, is very masculine, but also kind and gentle. I love how he looks out for others; one example being how he is kind to his prison guard and even prays for him. Adela grapples with the reality that she may have a hard time going from the privileged life of a Duke’s daughter, to the poor wife of a woodcarver and farmer. I find it very refreshing to see a character not jumping headlong into a new life without really considering the ramifications. I admit, some parts of this story were a little slow for me. But the end picked up and it was one of my favorite Dickerson endings! I loved not only seeing the conclusion of Adela and Frederick’s love story, but the love story of Frederick’s mother pan out. And the family reunion and updates on characters from the other books in the series were so satisfying to read. I am sad to see the end of this wonderful series! I cannot wait to see what Ms. Dickerson writes next!
Content: I give this book a PG rating. Some examples of the content are: a man drinks a lot of alcohol and is verbally and physically abusive; a woman is pregnant out of wedlock; some of the more “uncomfortable” Bible stories are mentioned; it’s said that men curse, but the words aren’t actually written.
Rating: I give this book 4 stars.
I want to thank Melanie Dickerson, Thomas Nelson 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.
I love the diversity of Melanie’s characters and their personalities. In this series, there is a hero and heroine to suit everyone. There are kick-butt heroines and valiant knights. In this installment, the hero and heroine are both gentle, kind and artistic. Adela loves to paint, and Frederick loves to carve wood. I love how they bond over their passion for art and creating things with their hands. Frederick, especially, is very masculine, but also kind and gentle. I love how he looks out for others; one example being how he is kind to his prison guard and even prays for him. Adela grapples with the reality that she may have a hard time going from the privileged life of a Duke’s daughter, to the poor wife of a woodcarver and farmer. I find it very refreshing to see a character not jumping headlong into a new life without really considering the ramifications. I admit, some parts of this story were a little slow for me. But the end picked up and it was one of my favorite Dickerson endings! I loved not only seeing the conclusion of Adela and Frederick’s love story, but the love story of Frederick’s mother pan out. And the family reunion and updates on characters from the other books in the series were so satisfying to read. I am sad to see the end of this wonderful series! I cannot wait to see what Ms. Dickerson writes next!
Content: I give this book a PG rating. Some examples of the content are: a man drinks a lot of alcohol and is verbally and physically abusive; a woman is pregnant out of wedlock; some of the more “uncomfortable” Bible stories are mentioned; it’s said that men curse, but the words aren’t actually written.
Rating: I give this book 4 stars.
I want to thank Melanie Dickerson, Thomas Nelson 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.
July 6, 2020
The Peasant's Dream
by Melanie Dickerson
Back of the Book: “In this reverse Cinderella story, a poor farmer’s son, who dreams of using his talent as a woodcarver to make a better life for himself, falls in love with a duke’s daughter and must fight for a chance to win her heart.
Adela is the youngest daughter of Duke Wilhelm of Hagenheim and is never allowed outside of the castle walls. She loves her family, but she sneaks away one day to the market in the town center. There she meets a handsome young man and wonders what it might be like to fall in love with a poor farmer with a kind heart instead of marrying the man her family is suggesting for her.
Frederick earns the income for his family and defends his mother from his father’s drunken rages. He also uses his talent and creativity to carve figures, animals, and scenes into wood, and he's asked to carve these scenes into cathedral doors when his talent is noticed. Frederick is inspired by the sweet and beautiful Adela, but he has no knowledge of her true identity. When he gets swept up into a plan to kidnap the duke’s daughter, both are shaken by what they learn about the other.
With the heartbroken Adela resigned to an arranged marriage with her noble suitor, Frederick must decide what he’s willing to risk for love.”
Impressions: This was a sweet and clean young-adult romance.
Liked: I think this was a fun and different take on the traditional Cinderella story.
Disliked: The story seemed a bit dramatic but alas it is a fairytale retold so I suppose that gives it some extra allowance of drama.
Learned: Being honest and true consistently builds your reputation and character. You never know when this will play in your favor. More so, God is faithful in caring for us and providing.
Quotes:
“Once she was married, she’d be trapped in the dullness of daily life.” – I feel like this is a common thought for young people, referring to marriage. I don’t feel trapped… all the time. 😉
“You should choose a man with good character; someone you can trust to love you and always do what is best for his wife and children.”
“She realized it was easier this time. Was that always how it was when one did something wrong? Easier each time they did it?” – Sin is so deceiving. It might seem like it is getting easier but coming clean is going to be a lot harder. Putting sin into your life also puts a wedge in your relationships with others. The more you lie to yourself that everything is ok the further you get from having good relationships around you.
“God, it rained on Noah for forty days and forty nights. How long will you let it rain on me?” – Oh, how I feel this pain. This statement really hit home for me. Have you ever struggled for such a long time that you think it will never end? I was never stuck in jail but I have and do suffer from anxiety and depression. I love how the Bible is full of so many real people struggling though. God used these ordinary people like you and me to show us that he provides. He loves us and even when things seem hopeless and out of our control it is balm to my soul to know He is my hope and He is in control. He sees me and knows me."
by Melanie Dickerson
Back of the Book: “In this reverse Cinderella story, a poor farmer’s son, who dreams of using his talent as a woodcarver to make a better life for himself, falls in love with a duke’s daughter and must fight for a chance to win her heart.
Adela is the youngest daughter of Duke Wilhelm of Hagenheim and is never allowed outside of the castle walls. She loves her family, but she sneaks away one day to the market in the town center. There she meets a handsome young man and wonders what it might be like to fall in love with a poor farmer with a kind heart instead of marrying the man her family is suggesting for her.
Frederick earns the income for his family and defends his mother from his father’s drunken rages. He also uses his talent and creativity to carve figures, animals, and scenes into wood, and he's asked to carve these scenes into cathedral doors when his talent is noticed. Frederick is inspired by the sweet and beautiful Adela, but he has no knowledge of her true identity. When he gets swept up into a plan to kidnap the duke’s daughter, both are shaken by what they learn about the other.
With the heartbroken Adela resigned to an arranged marriage with her noble suitor, Frederick must decide what he’s willing to risk for love.”
Impressions: This was a sweet and clean young-adult romance.
Liked: I think this was a fun and different take on the traditional Cinderella story.
Disliked: The story seemed a bit dramatic but alas it is a fairytale retold so I suppose that gives it some extra allowance of drama.
Learned: Being honest and true consistently builds your reputation and character. You never know when this will play in your favor. More so, God is faithful in caring for us and providing.
Quotes:
“Once she was married, she’d be trapped in the dullness of daily life.” – I feel like this is a common thought for young people, referring to marriage. I don’t feel trapped… all the time. 😉
“You should choose a man with good character; someone you can trust to love you and always do what is best for his wife and children.”
“She realized it was easier this time. Was that always how it was when one did something wrong? Easier each time they did it?” – Sin is so deceiving. It might seem like it is getting easier but coming clean is going to be a lot harder. Putting sin into your life also puts a wedge in your relationships with others. The more you lie to yourself that everything is ok the further you get from having good relationships around you.
“God, it rained on Noah for forty days and forty nights. How long will you let it rain on me?” – Oh, how I feel this pain. This statement really hit home for me. Have you ever struggled for such a long time that you think it will never end? I was never stuck in jail but I have and do suffer from anxiety and depression. I love how the Bible is full of so many real people struggling though. God used these ordinary people like you and me to show us that he provides. He loves us and even when things seem hopeless and out of our control it is balm to my soul to know He is my hope and He is in control. He sees me and knows me."
September 2, 2020
This book was a bit of a disappointment. I had been so excited for it, the concept of a genderbent Cinderella retelling sounded amazing. It didn't quite fulfill its promises though.
While this is marketed as a Cinderella retelling, it didn't exactly feel like one. Some of the most iconic scenes and events from Cinderella were missing completely. I wanted a fairy godmother, the lost shoe, and the runaway beauty. In this book, we just got an insta-love romance, one-dimensional characters, and random Biblical stories. There were a few moments that I thought "Hey! that's from Cinderella." Those moments ended up being rare, which was so disappointing in a retelling.
Like I mentioned earlier, the romance in this was super insta-love. While freaking out that his neighbors baby was choking, Frederick happens to notice a beautiful girl. This girl then occupies hs thoughts for weeks, despite the fact that they didn't speak at all. As soon as they meet, the church bells ring, and it's true love. Of course, that's not the end though, we have to deal with a sinister lord who was one of Adela's suitors. The romance was really the driving force in this book, so disliking it made it super hard for me to enjoy.
Part of the reason the romance may have felt so fake was the lack of personality in the characters. We know that both Frederick and Adela are artists (that fact is mentioned so many times, it's ridiculous.) Other than that, I can't tell you much about them. Of course, they're both highly religious, but that's about it. When they're together, their conversations aren't particularly inspiring, and when they're apart, they only think of each other. I'm super used to headstrong, confident characters, so these meeker, humble characters just didn't work for me.
I also found the dialogue in this to be super stilted. Characters would make statements that were painfully obvious, and then repeat that sentiment a page later. I really struggled to get in to this book because of the awkwardness of the dialogue, and it made it super hard for me to empathize with the characters.
I do have to acknowledge the fact that I have never read any of the other books in the Hagenheim universe, and after this, I don't plan to. I think this book read fine as a standalone, but I may have missed some important crossovers. While I didn't enjoy this book, I can definitely see why others may have loved it.
I received a free copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway
While this is marketed as a Cinderella retelling, it didn't exactly feel like one. Some of the most iconic scenes and events from Cinderella were missing completely. I wanted a fairy godmother, the lost shoe, and the runaway beauty. In this book, we just got an insta-love romance, one-dimensional characters, and random Biblical stories. There were a few moments that I thought "Hey! that's from Cinderella." Those moments ended up being rare, which was so disappointing in a retelling.
Like I mentioned earlier, the romance in this was super insta-love. While freaking out that his neighbors baby was choking, Frederick happens to notice a beautiful girl. This girl then occupies hs thoughts for weeks, despite the fact that they didn't speak at all. As soon as they meet, the church bells ring, and it's true love. Of course, that's not the end though, we have to deal with a sinister lord who was one of Adela's suitors. The romance was really the driving force in this book, so disliking it made it super hard for me to enjoy.
Part of the reason the romance may have felt so fake was the lack of personality in the characters. We know that both Frederick and Adela are artists (that fact is mentioned so many times, it's ridiculous.) Other than that, I can't tell you much about them. Of course, they're both highly religious, but that's about it. When they're together, their conversations aren't particularly inspiring, and when they're apart, they only think of each other. I'm super used to headstrong, confident characters, so these meeker, humble characters just didn't work for me.
I also found the dialogue in this to be super stilted. Characters would make statements that were painfully obvious, and then repeat that sentiment a page later. I really struggled to get in to this book because of the awkwardness of the dialogue, and it made it super hard for me to empathize with the characters.
I do have to acknowledge the fact that I have never read any of the other books in the Hagenheim universe, and after this, I don't plan to. I think this book read fine as a standalone, but I may have missed some important crossovers. While I didn't enjoy this book, I can definitely see why others may have loved it.
I received a free copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway
March 2, 2020
The moment I saw this book on Netgalley I just had to request it even though, according to my own rules, I wasn't allowed to claim another book. But I was also one of the lucky ones who got to read the 10th book in this series and I really enjoyed the mix of a fairytale retelling, original twists and a little bit of faith in God. And since Cinderella is one of my favorite fairytales ever, I had high hopes for this one.
But it took me a little while to get used to the writing style again. The writing is quite simple and in a way I'm not entirely sure if it matches the characters and their age. They sound a little too young. However, the writing style did make this book an easy read and I can say that once I gotten used to it, it bothered me less and less.
Mostly because the plot was really gripping and well done. The elements of the Cinderella story are quite recognizable, but they are also twisted in such a way that they feel fresh and new and original. And that's not just because of the gender swap. It's also because Dickerson really made sure the elements fitted in naturally AND changed a few small things. One of the most satisfying things was that all of her characters, sooner or later and in one way or another, eventually took charge of their own life and happiness.
And that's what I wanted and rooted for. The characters might not be that layered or complicated, but they were endearing and charming. It was easy to care about them and care for them. And that also made it easy to understand what they saw in each other, what they were looking for and finding and what they were fighting for. And the way they express their faith in God and pray also has a lot in common with how I feel about Him. It's a rare thing to encounter in books, but I totally understand not everyone might like and appreciate it as much as I do.
The end result is a story that captures the heart, soul and feel of the original Cinderella story and yet is exciting, fresh and new too. I'm really glad I got the chance to read this book already and I'm surely gonna catch up with the first nine books. The cameo's and mentions in this one really made me long to read all their stories.
But it took me a little while to get used to the writing style again. The writing is quite simple and in a way I'm not entirely sure if it matches the characters and their age. They sound a little too young. However, the writing style did make this book an easy read and I can say that once I gotten used to it, it bothered me less and less.
Mostly because the plot was really gripping and well done. The elements of the Cinderella story are quite recognizable, but they are also twisted in such a way that they feel fresh and new and original. And that's not just because of the gender swap. It's also because Dickerson really made sure the elements fitted in naturally AND changed a few small things. One of the most satisfying things was that all of her characters, sooner or later and in one way or another, eventually took charge of their own life and happiness.
And that's what I wanted and rooted for. The characters might not be that layered or complicated, but they were endearing and charming. It was easy to care about them and care for them. And that also made it easy to understand what they saw in each other, what they were looking for and finding and what they were fighting for. And the way they express their faith in God and pray also has a lot in common with how I feel about Him. It's a rare thing to encounter in books, but I totally understand not everyone might like and appreciate it as much as I do.
The end result is a story that captures the heart, soul and feel of the original Cinderella story and yet is exciting, fresh and new too. I'm really glad I got the chance to read this book already and I'm surely gonna catch up with the first nine books. The cameo's and mentions in this one really made me long to read all their stories.
June 14, 2021
I just couldn’t connect with this one. It had too many inconsistencies and an immature, bratty leading lady.
Adela wanted to prove “a woman can be just as talented as a man,” craved adventure, and bemoaned the fact that her siblings all ended up with boring lives after they married. Only one chapter later, Adela then decided painting and embroidery and romance/marriage were what she longed for. Those painted two wildly different pictures of what her goals were. Either she’s joining the feminist “movement” a thousand-plus years before that “movement” began or she’s wanting true, biblically-based femininity. She can’t have it both ways.
Another part of her journey was sneaking out of the castle to fraternize with a commoner. She claimed she had good morals and wanted to do the right thing, but her actions proved differently as she continued to sneak out and deceive her parents, even going so far as to pull her servant in on it to borrow dresses from her so she could disguise herself as a commoner, making sure to extract a promise of secrecy about her going behind her parents’ back. (I was glad to see that the servant objected and said the girl should not be sneaking out, but she still promised and lent the dresses, so I’m not sure the objection meant very much.) While she fretted that her mother would find out, she never received any discipline for breaking the rules and being a rebellious child. This was wrong to me, as it’s a parent’s responsibility to discipline their children when they break house rules. Otherwise, the child will not become a good, solid, upstanding citizen if they always get away with breaking the rules and receive no consequences to those poor decisions.
Beyond that, Adela knew she “shouldn’t play games” with the commoner, since she could never marry him because she’s so wealthy and spoiled and all; yet, at every turn, she flirted with him and hugged or kissed him and hung out with him and shared dreams and hopes with him. That’s the very definition of toying with a man’s emotions, if you ask me.
Instead of pursuing the truth and doing his due diligence for the sake of justice, the duke released a prisoner for his daughter’s sake. That was not justice, no matter if the man was innocent or guilty. Justice is to look at all the facts of the case and then see what those facts indicate about the person’s innocence or guilt. Justice is not to release someone just because his daughter says so, especially since the duke already determined earlier in the conversation that she might be biased toward the prisoner. Justice based on bias equals a crooked judicial system.
This was yet another book in the Hagenheim series that had an illegitimate-child background for one of the leads. The weird thing was that it only came to be known after the halfway mark.
Frederick was a great character, chivalrous and honest, until he decided he wouldn’t be able to resist sneaking around with Adela even though it wasn’t proper or right. That was such a complete departure from his previous character that I’m not sure where it came from.
“She just wanted the pain to end” was not a good enough reason to marry someone (or to even consider marrying someone). The reasoning on that was faulty and misleading.
The retelling origin did not feel like a fairy tale at all. It felt like a retelling of the life of Joseph from the Bible (including the prison and dream aspects). The odd thing about it was that the characters read about his story in the “Holy Writ,” then lived it out. That was a bit clunky to me.
Frederick’s mom had a POV as well, in the second half. Her mindset was no more mature than that of her sixteen-year-old self. She was still very much relying on emotions and hormones in making her decisions. I couldn’t relate to her lack of growth and maturity. I did like that she got a second chance at love, even if her story was condensed and too quick (it happened in basically one chapter).
The cover of this book was intriguing.
I liked that the duke’s first reaction when learning his daughter was attacked was to check on her and make sure she wasn’t hurt. That was a great daddy-daughter moment.
One of the late-arriving themes of overcoming fear was right up my alley.
Content: alcohol, drunkenness, illegitimate-child background
Adela wanted to prove “a woman can be just as talented as a man,” craved adventure, and bemoaned the fact that her siblings all ended up with boring lives after they married. Only one chapter later, Adela then decided painting and embroidery and romance/marriage were what she longed for. Those painted two wildly different pictures of what her goals were. Either she’s joining the feminist “movement” a thousand-plus years before that “movement” began or she’s wanting true, biblically-based femininity. She can’t have it both ways.
Another part of her journey was sneaking out of the castle to fraternize with a commoner. She claimed she had good morals and wanted to do the right thing, but her actions proved differently as she continued to sneak out and deceive her parents, even going so far as to pull her servant in on it to borrow dresses from her so she could disguise herself as a commoner, making sure to extract a promise of secrecy about her going behind her parents’ back. (I was glad to see that the servant objected and said the girl should not be sneaking out, but she still promised and lent the dresses, so I’m not sure the objection meant very much.) While she fretted that her mother would find out, she never received any discipline for breaking the rules and being a rebellious child. This was wrong to me, as it’s a parent’s responsibility to discipline their children when they break house rules. Otherwise, the child will not become a good, solid, upstanding citizen if they always get away with breaking the rules and receive no consequences to those poor decisions.
Beyond that, Adela knew she “shouldn’t play games” with the commoner, since she could never marry him because she’s so wealthy and spoiled and all; yet, at every turn, she flirted with him and hugged or kissed him and hung out with him and shared dreams and hopes with him. That’s the very definition of toying with a man’s emotions, if you ask me.
Instead of pursuing the truth and doing his due diligence for the sake of justice, the duke released a prisoner for his daughter’s sake. That was not justice, no matter if the man was innocent or guilty. Justice is to look at all the facts of the case and then see what those facts indicate about the person’s innocence or guilt. Justice is not to release someone just because his daughter says so, especially since the duke already determined earlier in the conversation that she might be biased toward the prisoner. Justice based on bias equals a crooked judicial system.
This was yet another book in the Hagenheim series that had an illegitimate-child background for one of the leads. The weird thing was that it only came to be known after the halfway mark.
Frederick was a great character, chivalrous and honest, until he decided he wouldn’t be able to resist sneaking around with Adela even though it wasn’t proper or right. That was such a complete departure from his previous character that I’m not sure where it came from.
“She just wanted the pain to end” was not a good enough reason to marry someone (or to even consider marrying someone). The reasoning on that was faulty and misleading.
The retelling origin did not feel like a fairy tale at all. It felt like a retelling of the life of Joseph from the Bible (including the prison and dream aspects). The odd thing about it was that the characters read about his story in the “Holy Writ,” then lived it out. That was a bit clunky to me.
Frederick’s mom had a POV as well, in the second half. Her mindset was no more mature than that of her sixteen-year-old self. She was still very much relying on emotions and hormones in making her decisions. I couldn’t relate to her lack of growth and maturity. I did like that she got a second chance at love, even if her story was condensed and too quick (it happened in basically one chapter).
The cover of this book was intriguing.
I liked that the duke’s first reaction when learning his daughter was attacked was to check on her and make sure she wasn’t hurt. That was a great daddy-daughter moment.
One of the late-arriving themes of overcoming fear was right up my alley.
Content: alcohol, drunkenness, illegitimate-child background
May 20, 2020
A lovely, faith based story of a young woman who yearns to experience the world beyond her pampered life inside a castle.
Adela, daughter to the Duke of Hagenheim fortunate to live a comfortable life within the castle walls, wants more to life than being waited on and sheltered, she yearns to smell the flowers outside her windows, meet people and paint. But, being able to walk out and do just as she pleases is not an easy task because she is always under the watchful eyes of her parents and the castle guards. Tired of her mundane life Adela dons her servant's clothes and sneaks out to visit the marketplace where she encounters a young, poor farmer named Frederick. Frederick too dreams of a better life, a life where he can escape some day, produce his carvings and provide for his mother and sisters without living under the abusive hands of his father. On the same day Adela visits the marketplace she meets Frederick and the two immediately are drawn together, but Adela knows that falling in love with a poor farmer is frowned upon and yet with all her might she cannot forget the strong, but kind young man who eventually changes her life as well as his own. I thought this was a sweet, romantic read infused with faith and encouragement that appealed to me especially at a time right now when I could use a little boost of positivity. The storyline also had it's moments of drama and intrigue that kept my attention to the end.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Adela, daughter to the Duke of Hagenheim fortunate to live a comfortable life within the castle walls, wants more to life than being waited on and sheltered, she yearns to smell the flowers outside her windows, meet people and paint. But, being able to walk out and do just as she pleases is not an easy task because she is always under the watchful eyes of her parents and the castle guards. Tired of her mundane life Adela dons her servant's clothes and sneaks out to visit the marketplace where she encounters a young, poor farmer named Frederick. Frederick too dreams of a better life, a life where he can escape some day, produce his carvings and provide for his mother and sisters without living under the abusive hands of his father. On the same day Adela visits the marketplace she meets Frederick and the two immediately are drawn together, but Adela knows that falling in love with a poor farmer is frowned upon and yet with all her might she cannot forget the strong, but kind young man who eventually changes her life as well as his own. I thought this was a sweet, romantic read infused with faith and encouragement that appealed to me especially at a time right now when I could use a little boost of positivity. The storyline also had it's moments of drama and intrigue that kept my attention to the end.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
October 28, 2020
4.5/5
I LOVED this book. I def think this is one of her best books, and I highly recommend it!
I loved how it was so different to the classic Cinderella story, and one of my favourite parts was when ***SPOILER***** Fredericks sisters turned out to be good! The characters were well developed and relatable, and I couldn't put this book down! I was just like, "What's going to happen?" "How will this be sorted out?" I think this tied off the Hagenheim series well.
I LOVED this book. I def think this is one of her best books, and I highly recommend it!
I loved how it was so different to the classic Cinderella story, and one of my favourite parts was when ***SPOILER***** Fredericks sisters turned out to be good! The characters were well developed and relatable, and I couldn't put this book down! I was just like, "What's going to happen?" "How will this be sorted out?" I think this tied off the Hagenheim series well.
October 8, 2020
*sigh* Melanie Dickerson has cast me under a spell once again! 😄 Beautiful! Very well done!!
March 3, 2020
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I could not help but fall in love with this book. When I heard it was a reverse Cinderella, I knew I had to jump at the chance to read this book. Frederick earns all of the income for his family, plus he takes care of his mother and father who live the drunk life. Being a talented carver, his skills landed him a job to carve the doors of the cathedral. Inspired by the duke's daughter Adela who at first notices his work and is fond of it, starts becoming intrigued with the person Adela is unknowing her true identity. Then if all of that wasn't enough, Frederick gets caught up in a plan to kidnap the duke's daughter and little does he know, he is falling in love with her. Now Frederick must choose between love and risking it all. Each chapter just got better and I could not keep my eyes off of it. I felt like I was the fair maiden with the long hair mesmerized by the carving work of Frederick and then comes Adela and I am along for the ride.
We will consider adding this title to our YA collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
I could not help but fall in love with this book. When I heard it was a reverse Cinderella, I knew I had to jump at the chance to read this book. Frederick earns all of the income for his family, plus he takes care of his mother and father who live the drunk life. Being a talented carver, his skills landed him a job to carve the doors of the cathedral. Inspired by the duke's daughter Adela who at first notices his work and is fond of it, starts becoming intrigued with the person Adela is unknowing her true identity. Then if all of that wasn't enough, Frederick gets caught up in a plan to kidnap the duke's daughter and little does he know, he is falling in love with her. Now Frederick must choose between love and risking it all. Each chapter just got better and I could not keep my eyes off of it. I felt like I was the fair maiden with the long hair mesmerized by the carving work of Frederick and then comes Adela and I am along for the ride.
We will consider adding this title to our YA collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
January 21, 2024
The Peasant's Dream was a fun read. It definitely seemed like a reverse Cinderella story. I liked the characters and how he risked his life to protect her. I was surprised by the twist and liked how a certain character reacted to news that he had a secret child.
The romance was fine. It was a light read and not too deep, which was what I was expecting.
All in all, if you like fairytale retellings, you will probably enjoy The Peasant's Dream.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
The romance was fine. It was a light read and not too deep, which was what I was expecting.
All in all, if you like fairytale retellings, you will probably enjoy The Peasant's Dream.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
March 7, 2020
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
I was intrigued from the promising synopsis of reverse Cinderella story.
Although it's book 11 of the series and the story references other connected stories,you'll have no problem reading it as a stand alone plot .
Easy and pleasant to read and the writing style did make this book a fast read.
Gripping and very well tied plot.
I know it's a Cinderella retelling and there's no other way but I would've loved a less prominent and in your face from the romance side of the book but maybe it's just me.
I was intrigued from the promising synopsis of reverse Cinderella story.
Although it's book 11 of the series and the story references other connected stories,you'll have no problem reading it as a stand alone plot .
Easy and pleasant to read and the writing style did make this book a fast read.
Gripping and very well tied plot.
I know it's a Cinderella retelling and there's no other way but I would've loved a less prominent and in your face from the romance side of the book but maybe it's just me.
April 4, 2021
Melanie has crafted the perfect finale to one of my favorite series. I really enjoyed this story with a twist on the Cinderella story we all know and love. Frederick and Adela were fun characters that I really liked. The story was super good and I loved how Melanie wove all the threads together. I am sorry the series is done but this was a great way to say goodbye to these characters.
July 9, 2020
The Peasants Dream, 320 pages
Hagenheim #11
This book Was a great retelling of a river Cinderella story. Adela, who is artistic, shy, restless and unforgettable, becomes great friends with a peasant named Frederick.
Frederick is a hard-working farmboy who is honest, trustworthy, forgiving and faithful.
When he meets Adela, Their hearts collide with friendship, forgiveness and hope. Frederick’s
relationship with the Hagenheim bishop is unique because of his wood carving skills on the cathedral doors.
What surprised me was in the book explanation before I came out, it explained that Frederick was in a plan to kidnap the duke’s daughter. I thought that was the whole plot. I was surprised to find out that it only lasted a couple chapters. The plot went deeper than I ever thought it would. It leads to the discovery of Frederick’s true father and forgiveness for his foster father.
I love the involvement that Duke Wilhelm and Lady Rose have in this last book and all the love and care they show for their last daughter. I love how many times Adela, Lady Rose, and other people mention stories and times from the last books. Such as, when Rose falls out of the tree, when Margaretha drops her bracelet in the well, and when Kirstyn was kidnapped.
I loved the end, it was bittersweet.I loved at Adela and Frederick’s wedding, that all her sisters and brothers were there and she embraced and talked to every one of them individually. When Toby did not get a book, Adela spent more time talking with him and everyone else. But I do love the last conversation we get with Rose and Willhelm. I was especially happy when all their grandchildren were counted at the end and who belong to who.
The Peasant’s Dream was a story truly about finding one’s father. It reveals to us that we are always searching for our heavenly father because we lost him and where we belong.
The characters from the Hagenheim series truly help us to find ourselves, to find our heavenly father and to find our happily ever after. Thank you, Melanie Dickerson, for these great adventures. May God bless you and all your endeavors!
Hagenheim #11
This book Was a great retelling of a river Cinderella story. Adela, who is artistic, shy, restless and unforgettable, becomes great friends with a peasant named Frederick.
Frederick is a hard-working farmboy who is honest, trustworthy, forgiving and faithful.
When he meets Adela, Their hearts collide with friendship, forgiveness and hope. Frederick’s
relationship with the Hagenheim bishop is unique because of his wood carving skills on the cathedral doors.
What surprised me was in the book explanation before I came out, it explained that Frederick was in a plan to kidnap the duke’s daughter. I thought that was the whole plot. I was surprised to find out that it only lasted a couple chapters. The plot went deeper than I ever thought it would. It leads to the discovery of Frederick’s true father and forgiveness for his foster father.
I love the involvement that Duke Wilhelm and Lady Rose have in this last book and all the love and care they show for their last daughter. I love how many times Adela, Lady Rose, and other people mention stories and times from the last books. Such as, when Rose falls out of the tree, when Margaretha drops her bracelet in the well, and when Kirstyn was kidnapped.
I loved the end, it was bittersweet.I loved at Adela and Frederick’s wedding, that all her sisters and brothers were there and she embraced and talked to every one of them individually. When Toby did not get a book, Adela spent more time talking with him and everyone else. But I do love the last conversation we get with Rose and Willhelm. I was especially happy when all their grandchildren were counted at the end and who belong to who.
The Peasant’s Dream was a story truly about finding one’s father. It reveals to us that we are always searching for our heavenly father because we lost him and where we belong.
The characters from the Hagenheim series truly help us to find ourselves, to find our heavenly father and to find our happily ever after. Thank you, Melanie Dickerson, for these great adventures. May God bless you and all your endeavors!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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