Read Online The Silent Songbird Book PDF
The Silent Songbird
What They Said About This The Silent Songbird Book (Reviews):
Shantelle
Writes about Read Online The Silent Songbird Book PDFIt is always a pleasure to read another book by Melanie Dickerson! This latest release, is a historical retelling of . Though it's a non-magical retelling, set in the medieval era, I did see nods to the original fairy tale, which was fun.This book follows Evangeline, young ward of the king ... a woman destined to an arranged marriage and stifled life. Until one evening, she takes a chance for freedom. With its medieval setting, wandering among servants and lords, attending festivals, and fighting villains, this imaginative romance story is sure to enchant those who love a happily-ever-after.I enjoyed the twists and turns; the little mysteries and wondering which characters you could trust. I loved Evangeline's little journey of faith. -How open, honest, and vulnerable she was. No, she wan't perfect; but her heart was true. Seeing characters from was delightful! *smiles* The love story was sweet, as always. ^_^Overall, I quite loved it! The book itself is absolutely gorgeous, and I enjoyed returning to its pages. I am, of course, looking forward to Melanie Dickerson's next two coming releases - another fairy tale retelling (from the THORNBECK series), and a regency romance! The Silent Songbird
Amber Stokes
Writes about Read Online The Silent Songbird Book PDFFor fun and easy reading, I can always count on Melanie Dickerson's books! And I always enjoy trying out each new fairy-tale retelling. is a retelling of . While you won't find the ocean starring in this tale, you will find a water rescue and a heroine (Evangeline, or "Eva") with a beautiful singing voice.Eva is an interesting character. At times I found her a bit immature, which made it hard to really dive deep into her story and cheer her on. But she is supposed to be rather young, and her insecurities have a way of making her endearing in time, especially combined with her innocence and moments of insight and growth.The hero (Wesley), on the other hand, pretty much swept me off my feet. ;) Granted, he's not perfect, and he has his own moments of immaturity and obliviousness. Still, I found him to be quite sweet. His family's interactions are touching...and especially fun to read about if you're familiar with one of Dickerson's earlier books, !While didn't turn out to be a favorite, it met my expectations for an entertaining historical read with generally charming characters and a good dash of danger.*With thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for providing me with an e-ARC of the book.*
Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls)
Writes about Read Online The Silent Songbird Book PDFI've been so excited about this novel because I get to see the le Wyse family again:I was basically freaking out the entire time I was reading this novel:So, in the opening chapter poor Evangeline learns she’s supposed to marry a repulsive jerk:And she wants to leave and Muriel's all like: And then later when Eva says to Westley, I just got tickled:There were a few parts that reminded me of :But it was all so lovely and worth the wait:About this book:Series: Book #7 in the series. {Reviews of #1 Here, #2 Here, #3 Here, #4 Here, #5 Here! and #6 Here!} {You do not have to read this series in order to understand it, but I highly recommend that you do read them in order.}Spiritual Content- Many Prayers; Scriptures are mentioned, quoted, read & remembered; Bible reading; Church going & sermons; Many talks about God, His plan, servants of God, & Bibles; Talks about & Mentions of those in the Bible; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Evangeline imagines God as the father she never knew; Many mentions of God, Jesus & peace; Many mentions of Bibles, Bible reading, & books of the Bible; Many mentions of churches, chapels, priests, confessions, sins & miracles; Mentions of prayers; Mentions of thanking & praising God; Mentions of forgiving; Mentions of others not liking talks about God; A few mentions of blessings; A few mentions of Christians; *Note: Someone accuses another of being the devil’s servant, trying to poison them with Satan’s cap mushrooms; A mention of satanic dreams; Mentions of evil & the devil. Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘stupid’, two ‘dumb’s, & two forms of ‘shut up’; a couple mentions of curses (said, not written); A bit of Sarcasm; Pain & Blood (up to semi-detailed); Fighting, being held at knife point, being slapped, shooting arrows at others & where they land (up to semi-detailed); A mob, injuries/wounds & bruises (up to semi-detailed); A couple threats of suicide & dying; A few mean, jealous girls & their unkindness; Many mentions of deaths, killing, murders, almost killing/murders, fighting & knives (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of beatings & men beating their wives (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of lies, lying & deception; Mentions of pain, injuries/wounds, blades & blood (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of being hit & almost drowning (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of plagues/illness & deaths; Mentions of threats of harm, killing & breaking a neck; Mentions of torture, abuse, bruises & pain; Mentions of punishments, pillories, thievery, flogging & mobs; Mentions of hunting & meat (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of drunks, drinking, the devil drink & strong ale; Mentions of hating & hatred; Mentions of treachery; Mentions of gossip; A few mentions of kidnapping & ransom; A couple mentions of slitting throats; A couple mentions of hangings & robbing; A couple mentions of throwing up; A mention of a massacre; A mention of beheading.Sexual Content- a hand kiss, three cheek kisses, seven forehead kisses, three not-detailed kisses, two barley-above-not-detailed kisses, and three semi-detailed kisses; Remembering a kiss (barley-above-not-detailed); Wanting to, Longing to be, & thinking about being kiss(ed) (up to semi-detailed); Talks about & mentions of kissing & kisses; Touches, Shivers/Tingles, Embraces, Smelling & Nearness (up to semi-detailed); Noticing; Evangeline was born out of wedlock; Evangeline is supposed to marry a repulsive man who’s much older than her; Mentions of men leering at (one stares at her chest) and touching Evangeline without her permission & their lewd comments; Mentions of wondering about kissing & touching, but also not taking advantage of someone else; Mentions of kissing; Mentions of reputations & Ruth laying at Boaz’s feet; A few mentions of men expecting a plaything for a wife & planning to make her submit to him; A few mentions of flirting; Mentions of illegitimate children; Mentions of married couple’s romantic bond; Mentions of love & falling in love; A few mentions of a girl who went to the woods with a guy alone and ended up with child (no details); A few mentions of attacks; A few mentions of staring at someone’s lips; A couple mentions of men’s lusts; A couple mentions of what to expect on a wedding night (it’s cut off, no hints); A couple mentions of unwanted attention from men; A mention of a man asking Evangeline to go home with him; A mention of a married couple kissing (barley-above-not-detailed); Love, falling in love & the emotions; *Note: A few mentions of striking an attacker in-between his legs/groin. -Evangeline, age 17-Westley le Wyse, age 21 P.O.V. switches between them Set in 1384 {Medieval} 283 pages~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Pre Teens- One Star New Teens- Two Stars Early High School Teens- Three StarsOlder High School Teens- Four Stars My personal Rating- Four Stars (and a half){Add half a star for those who have already read the previous books in the series.}Ahh. That was so worth the wait! has always been my favorite in this series because of Ranulf le Wyse and the whole plot. And let me just tell y’all, his son is just as wonderful. Add in another heroine who wants to read the Bible for herself and . *tears up*Really, though, all fangirl emotions aside, Miss Melanie Dickerson hit it out of the park with and I truly just adore the le Wyse family. I would love to see a spin-off series featuring all of Westley’s siblings. Link to (a less GIFs) review:*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.
Anita Ojeda
Writes about Download The Silent Songbird PDFAnother fascinating fairy tale romp from Mrs. Dickerson. Teenage girls (and their mothers and sisters and grandmas) will love the protagonists Evangeline and Westley. Evangeline, the ward of King Richard, longs for a life of freedom in an era when wealthy women served as pawns in political machinations. She takes matters into her own hands when her ward insists that she marry an older man whom she doesn't trust. She disguises herself and runs away. Her maid, Muriel ends up coming along with her. Although Evangeline values honesty, she accepts a lie told by Muriel to keep the two of them safe when the king sends our search parties. Evangeline longs for what each of us long for--acceptance by our Heavenly Father and acceptance by those around us. Dickerson artfully weaves history and story together to show the universality of our need to be accepted and the search to be authentic in a world that doesn't seem to reward authenticity.
Kim
Writes about Read Online The Silent Songbird Book PDFSilent Songbirdby Melanie DickersonRating: 4/5Book 7 of Hagenheim seriesThomas Nelson - Fiction | Historical RomanceMeet Evangeline. She has the most beautiful singing voice and is privileged to be a ward and cousin of the great King Richard II, so she gets to live at Berkhamsted Castle. She would completely be satisfied with her comfortable life, right?Unfortunately, due to her royal blood (even if she was illegitimate) she has never been free to go and do whatever she wanted. The walls of Berkhamsted always seem to be her own personal dungeon and nothing changes when she hears that King Richard II has agreed to Lord Shiveley's marriage proposal for her. Lord Shiveley is rich, twice her age and one of the king's trusted advisors, but Evangeline longs to fall in love just like in the poems and songs she sings. With her impending wedding, Evangeline makes an impulsive decision to leave everything she knows and rely on the kindness of a stranger, Westley le Wyse. Though she has never lived as a peasant, she is determined that she would have more freedom to live and marry if she became a peasant. In order to disguise her identity, she tells her companion, Muriel, to say that she is mute. Her brilliant red hair and striking green eyes along with her substantial height already attract enough attention.When the travelers reach Glynval, Evangeline learns that Westley is actually the eldest son of Lord le Wyse and not just a peasant. She is disappointed but she tries her best to fit in as a servant. Obviously, antics ensue since she's never worked a day in her life, but Westley's kindness to her even in the face of her inadequacies stirs her heart toward him. How can she ever tell Westley the truth about who she is without completely having him hate her? Westley feels pity and compassion toward her because he thinks she lost her voice from being abused by her master. Will Evangeline ever be able to tell Westley the truth? Could they possibly find a way to be together despite Lord Shiveley's frantic search for her? Is there more to what Lord Shiveley desires and can Evangeline discover this before it's too late? Yay! The newest installment in the Hagenheim series! I am a HUGE fan of Melanie Dickerson. What women doesn't love a good fairytale? I didn't even realize it was a reimagining of until the very end. This book can stand alone but Westley's parents are from so it was nice to see them again. I really liked how Evangeline grows as a character. Every girl needs to know how to defend herself and believe that she is loved for who she is. As much as I enjoyed Westley's character, he almost seemed too good to be true - he could have had more flaws to make him more real in my opinion. This historical romance is full of romance and vivid scenery that transports the reader into medieval times. I highly recommend this series and I can't wait to read what's next.I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Stacey
Writes about Reading The Silent Songbird BookEvangeline is the King Richard’s cousin. Her beautiful singing voice is the jewel of the land, and she is admired by noblemen and peasants alike. But Evangeline has a problem. As the King’s cousin she is used to ‘reward’ Lord Shiveley through marriage. Lord Shiveley is a faithful ally to the king, but Evangeline is forced to accept the nuptials with no regard to her feelings and without the benefit of courtship. Lord Shiveley may seem loyal to the king, but Evangeline knows he is a cruel, brutal man who intends harm to her. Even as she accepts the king’s will, she plans her escape. Traveling with a band of peasants, she ends up in Glynval, home of the le Wyse family, (from The Merchant’s Daughter). Evangeline, pretends to be mute, and struggles to serve as a peasant. It isn’t long before Westley, Lord Ranulf’s son, discovers there is more to Evangeline than meets the eye. An honorable man, Westley does not approve of lies and deceit, and his disappointment stings deep in Evangeline’s heart. When Evangeline witnesses a betrayal against Westley her warnings fall on deaf ears. As Lord Shiveley closes in on finding his “songbird”, and the truth of le Wyse’s enemies are revealed, will Westley and Evangeline forgive and learn to trust one another in time to save Gynval and King Richard? I won’t give away all the details, but this was a great YA story by Melanie Dickerson. Plenty of action, courage, tension, and sweet romance fill the pages from beginning to end. This story falls between The Merchant’s Daughter and The Princess Spy and is expected to release November 2016. I received this book early from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Rachel's Book Reviews
Writes about Download The Silent Songbird PDFGood! Review to come. ...... But this is definitely a love letter to Princess Bride! His name is Westley and at least twice, someone says "as you wish" This is possibly my favorite Dickerson novel yet ❤️❤️❤️
Sheryl
Writes about Read Online The Silent Songbird Book PDFThis a sweet YA by Melanie Dickerson one of my favorite Christian Authors. Evangeline is forced to marry Lord Shivley by the King ( her cousin). King Richard think Lord Shively a good man since he is one of his "faithful" advisors, but Evangeline knows he is a evil and cruel man. Evangeline runs away to become a peasant so that she can marry for love. She and her maid Muriel leave with a group of men to Glynval. One of the men is Westley who is the son of the Lord of Glynval. She and her maid lie and say she is mute to help her diguise but as always the truth comes out and Eva and Westley have to rebuild their budding relationship. Of course there are jealousies from another girl and the evil Lord Shively is still looking for her. Plenty of adventure and action. Eva also comes to know God better. Good clean book, no sex and no foul language. I received this ebook early Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Caroline
Writes about Read Online The Silent Songbird Book PDFAs ward of King Richard II, Evangeline has lived under his rule and sequestered in Berkhamsted Castle. When she finds that he has guaranteed her hand in marriage to a deplorable older man she decides it’s better to run away and live as a servant than to suffer at the hands of a violent cruel older man. She manages to join Wesley le Wyse’s band of men on their way home. Disguised as a mute servant Wesley takes her in and offers her a position within his home. Verdict: As another sweet novel by Melanie Dickerson, this is the 7th book in the Hagenheim series. Firmly in the YA department it was sweet and poignant and everything you want to read and will warm the heart of any teenage girl. It was absolutely just perfect. I can’t wait for Ms. Dickerson’s next book, no matter the series.*Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Katie Clark
Writes about Read Online The Silent Songbird Book PDFMelanie has done it again with another exciting and romantic fairy tale retelling! Two thumbs up!
Amy Tyner
Writes about Download The Silent Songbird PDFThe Silent Songbird is a wonderful woven tale of deception, heroics deeds, forgiveness and love. Evangeline (Eva) is the ward of King Richard whom has given her to the Earl of Shiveley. To escape being married off as a political pawn Eva runs away with a band of peasants, whose leader turns out to be Westley (the son of the Lord of le Wyse). She and her companion tell Westley that she is mute in they're looking for work so he takes them to Glynval to work for his family. All is good, well as good as it can be for someone who has never been a servant, let just say Eva talent is definitely her voice! Until Eva witnesses someone who attacks Westley and she chooses to save him from drowning. In calling for help she reveals her lie and has to face the consequences of that lie on her budding relationship with Westley. The hero and heroine are both learning to forgive each other as well as trusting each other at the same time.Eva ultimately learns that her true deliver and healing is only found in Christ when she turns her heart and life over to Him. Then she finds the peace and strength to face her future no matter what happens to her. I loved returning back to Glynval once again and once again Melanie doesn't let the reader down with her humor, faith and romance. Thanks again for the wonderful adventure Mrs. Dickerson!I received an advanced copy of the book from NetGalley and the author but was not required to leave a review. The review is my honest opinion of the story.
Susan Snodgrass
Writes about Download The Silent Songbird PDFI love Melanie Dickerson's fairy tale stories. As a child, I loved to be read to and, when I grew old enough, to read myself. My mama had a huge book of fairy tales and read to us every night from that book. Now, Melanie Dickerson has brought fairy tales to a whole new level. Written for YA, they appeal to all ages, with a wonderful spiritual theme. Well written and with wonderful characters, I always love reading her next fairy tale.You're never too old for fairy tales!*I was provided with a copy of this book by Net Galley. I was not asked to leave a positive review. My opinions are my own and honest.
Karen
Writes about Read Online The Silent Songbird Book PDFAnother exciting romantic adventure tale! Taking place this time in medieval England, it continues the story begun in The Merchant's Daughter, one of my favorites in this series of fairy tale spins. Thoroughly enjoyed all the colorful characters, which include a dastardly villain, a kind hearted hero and a desperate young woman who learns to put her hope in God in her time of need. A good lesson in how lies grow and eventually will come to light also. The only thing that would have improved this would have been a soundtrack, since her lovely singing was something I'd love to hear! Love the wink and nod to the Princess Bride mixed in with this fun take on the Little Mermaid. Recommend to anyone who enjoys a historical romantic adventure with some inspiration. 4.5 stars(Book provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.)
Rachel Dixon
Writes about Download The Silent Songbird PDFThis story may be a retelling of The Little Mermaid...but there are no sea witches or talking seagulls in this book. What you will find is a beautiful maiden with the voice of an angel.Eva longs to be free...Free of the restraints that have been cast upon her by her status. Even if it means to work hard as a servant for the rest of her life. When King Richard decrees that she marry Lord Shiveley, Evangeline decides that she must run away or face a life of fear and abuse. In order to avoid detection, she pretends she is mute. But when her secret is revealed will those she has come to care for be able to forgive her? When Westley's life is in danger, yet Eva is the only witness...Will they heed her word? Or has the seed of mistrust been buried too deep? Throughout her life Evangeline's voice has brought comfort and pleasure to herself and those around her. But she must stifle that gift in order to hide her identity. Throughout the story we see Westley encourage and draw out the voice, her true identity, that she has hidden. He is so gentle and sweet with her. Evangeline eventually learns that faith and trust in God is the strength she must lean on. My only knowledge of The Little Mermaid is the animated Disney version. But as you compare the stories, there are several parallel characters. I think what I love most about Melanie Dickerson is that she takes the classic childhood fairy tales and creates a world, a story, that is realistic, yet still so full of "magic". There is also the added element of faith that adds a whole new dimension to the story. Set in medieval England, the way of life was much different then. But I so enjoy immersing myself into the time period and Melanie Dickerson's books. To be swept away by the adventure and live alongside the people of Glynval. There are a few twists in the storyline that prove to be heartbreaking, exciting, and romantic. A quick read, The Silent Songbird will keep you turning the pages until you are finished. Even though this is a part of the Hagenheim Series. I did not recognize any of the characters (I have only read The Golden Braid and The Silent Songbird so far). You can read this book by itself and not have any confusion. This story is for "Young Adults" (I am still young right?), but is also great for adults. I am so thankful to Melanie for writing stories that are clean and faith filled for our teenagers.I received a free copy of The Silent Songbird. I was not required to write a review and this does not influence my review, positive or otherwise. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
Chesney
Writes about Read Online The Silent Songbird Book PDFSince I read this author's first YA novel a few years ago, I have been hooked. I love how she takes fairy tale stories and puts a new twist or spin on the plot. The Silent Songbird is just that. Somewhat similar to the Little Mermaid, Evangeline or Eva is forced to marry and evil man, Lord Shiveley. To prevent this, she escapes the castle where she is the ward of king Richard II with her servant, Muriel. While also having a lovely voice her servant tells everyone she is mute to safely escape with a group of men traveling to another village. Here she meets Westley, the son of the Lord of Glynval. He is enchanted by Eva and wants to help her while evil Lord Shiveley will not give up in finding Eva to marry her. Clean read and a great message.Thanks to the publisher via NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Margie
Writes about Download The Silent Songbird PDFIf God gave you a precious and unique gift, would you try to hide it? Like the heroine in Melanie Dickerson's latest novel, The Silent Songbird, you might feel you have no choice. Evangeline was blessed with a beautiful voice, something she once thought was a gift - along with playing the lute or drawing - until it brought her the attention of the odious Lord Shiveley. Unlike the peasants in the village and servants in the castle, when you're the ward of King Richard II, you're trapped within its walls and cannot marry for love. "If only I were a peasant," she whispered. "I could fall in love with someone kind and brave and strong." Evangeline longed for a life of freedom and independence and, until one fateful morning when she saw handsome young Westley le Wyse save a little peasant girl, she thought neither were within her reach. It would take courage to leave her life (and her voice) behind, but with her forced marriage to Lord Shiveley looming, she knew in her heart she had no choice but to run away from Berkhamsted Castle and never return. If you're a fan of Melanie Dickerson, you won't be disappointed in The Silent Songbird. If you're a new reader of her work, you're in for a treat when this book comes out in November. I was blessed to read an advance proof of Melanie's 10th novel and it was delightful. A true romance with suspense and the kind of "Happily Ever After" all girls dream of.
Kristine Morgan
Writes about Reading The Silent Songbird BookIn a new Fairytale by Melanie Dickerson, Evangeline has to decide whether it is better to live in luxury as the King's ward and obey his order to marry against her will or to flee and live freely as a peasant. Westly le Wyse is good , honorable, and noble, she hopes to be his servant. In a realistic re-telling of the Little Mermaid, the author creates a delightful tale. I love the characters and the little details are wonderful. Melanie paints pictures with her words that fill one with delight. I must say it is always a good day when I have a new Melanie Dickerson book in my hands.I was given this book by Netgalley.com in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts are my own.
Kerstin Marie
Writes about Read Online The Silent Songbird Book PDFSo excited! I really enjoy this series! Just finished it! Great! One of my favorites in this series. I loved seeing old characters from "Merchant's Daughter".
Emily Sarah
Writes about Reading The Silent Songbird Bookfollows the story of the 17 year ward and illegitimate cousin of King Richard, Evangeline. She has spent most of her life inside the walls of Berkhamstead Castle, and when King Richard returns from one of his many trips, he brings along Evangeline's newly betrothed: the old, smelly, abusive, and crown seeking Lord Shiveley. Much ado to her redheaded stubbornness and the fact the she would rather die than to be used as a pawn, Evangeline flees the castle with her handmaiden during the night.Not knowing where to go or who to trust, Evangeline - Eva pretends to be a mute peasant and eventually comes under the care of Lord le Wyse and his family in a small town a few days walk from Berkhamstead Castle. What Eva didn't expect in her new life was to fall in love, to fight for that love, to stop an assassination attempt , and to save the English monarchy. All in a day's work, right? is a story of love, loss, and forgiveness, of the sacrifices one must make to keep the things we hold dear, and to walk close to God in our darkest and lightest hours.I quite enjoyed this story, and I'm glad to have been offered a copy because it's not something I would normally pick up. My favorite quote from the book was because it holds so much truth in it. In my calculus class the other day, I learned that everything in nature is based of an exponential curve. While reading that line, I realized that life is included in that curve as well. The older we get, the more years we add on to our lives, it faster it seems to slip between our fingers. Reading this book reminded me to take a moment and enjoy the little things, and to be grateful for everything I have experienced so far.
Trina
Writes about Reading The Silent Songbird BookOk, I'm not the fan of Melanie Dickerson books, but this is based off of , and that was in my opinion the best Dickerson book written and one of my favorites. So imma go ahead and do some fangirling right now. So so so so so so so excited.
Kathleen (Kat) Smith
Writes about Read Online The Silent Songbird Book PDFThe best part of reading the Hagenheim series of novels from Melanie Dickerson, is trying to figure out which fairy tale she is going to put her own unique spin on it. In The Silent Songbird, this is a variation of The Little Mermaid, which comes off splendid and brilliant. However if you are looking to compare the two, you might be sorely disappointed. For me, the best part of these rewritten fairy tales of sorts, is that they are more down to earth and truly believable and one's I had access to when my own daughters were much younger. I would have preferred these ones to the ones most of us have read or are aware of. This novel takes place in Berkshamsted Castle, where our heroine has longed for a life with someone she could love. However that isn't about to be the case when King Richard promises his cousin, Evangeline to Lord Shiveley, a man old enough to be considered her father and whose alliance will only strengthen King Richard's holdings as most of these arrangements go. Evangeline doesn't love Lord Shiveley and he has made his intentions to marry Evangeline quite clear and even has threatened her to submit otherwise he will make her future as his wife, very miserable. Of course Evangeline knows she doesn't have many options available to her and after trying to convince King Richard of her wishes, he refuses and makes preparations for a wedding. Her final option is to runaway, but since she has never ventured far outside the castle walls she doesn't have a clue where to go or what to do. All she knows is that a future with Lord Shiveley is not what she has in her heart. She manages to convince her lady's maid, Muriel to help her escape and soon finds herself in the safe keeping of Westley le Wyse of Glynval, a small but wealthy town in its own right. She passes herself off as a servant girl who has lost her voice when her master beat her and has to maintain this disguise as King Richard and Lord Shiveley have sent men to find them both. Of course with her height, her vibrant red hair and singing voice it will be hard to keep her identity hidden from those who want to bring her back to the castle.The adventure only continues to get more exciting as you read further into this novel. I received The Silent Songbird by Melanie Dickerson compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers and Net Galley. While you can see some similarities between The Little Mermaid and this novel, it goes beyond what you could imagine. I love Evangeline's strong willed character despite the fact that she has never really been outside. She knows nothing about being a servant since her skills have been of a different set being the King's cousin. Still she tries to fit in as best as she can and while there isn't really an evil sea witch, there is a woman who works to ensure that Westley will never fall for someone like Evangeline. I would rate this novel a 5 out of 5 stars and only want more of these fairy tales. This is the seventh novel in the Hagenheim series. Trust me, you will want them all.
Marklessgirl
Writes about Download The Silent Songbird PDF(I don't really know if I started this on the 9th but that's the day I got it)I loved this book from start to finish! I loved it more or less at different parts. It was a good time and hard to say goodbye to! I LOVED seeing more of old characters and meeting the new. I am sad that this is the last book of this series. so (not Han Solo like this kind of put, guess what's on my mind lol)I had more on here and I said post and then it said goodbye to more of what I had on her! UGH! But here is some of what I said "I wish I had taken notes, I wish I could say more but I don't want to reminisce on things that some will not know yet and won't want to know and I will probably add to this later when I put myself more together". Goodreads always not posting what I say so whatever. I hope you all love this book as much or close to as much as me if you are or are still reading it, like I was not to long ago. More that I remembered good but not in your face re-telling and I have loved other reviews on here! :)
DearWilderness
Writes about Read Online The Silent Songbird Book PDFThe book was generously provided to me by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.Check out my blog at for more bookish talk, bookish recommendations, and bookish reviews!I think I have prattled on and on and on for my love of fairy retellings. A little mermaid retelling? Tell me more!The book started off quite well. Thankfully, the characters spoke in dialects befitting the time period, not in modern day speech (I once read a regency novel where the words 'swagger' and 'posh' was used. I shudder.) Anyhow, the story starts of with our main heroine Evangeline, the illegitimate daughter of the King (illegitimate or no, still a big deal back then) finds out she's betrothed to the horrible, slimy Lord Shivley. (I imagine Lord Shivley to be like Mr. Collins from Lost in Austen. Double shudder.)Although this situation was the norm at that time, it's still a horrifying position to be in. But, Evangeline immaturity really grated on my nerves."Women often married men they did not particularly want to marry, but she could not marry Lord Shively--"Fair enough, who would want to marry this creepy-Mr. Collins-look-alike"She was not like other women. They might accept unfair treatment, but Evangeline would fight, argue, rebel against injustice. Other women conformed to what was expected of them. Perhaps they did not dream of freedom and a different life."Women do not accept unfair treatment. Women have unfair treatment THRUST upon them. There is a reason forced marriages are called 'forced, it is because they did not have a say in them. Please, can we stop spreading this harmful message that women 'ask' or 'deserve' harmful treatments. No one deserves to feel afraid--silence is not an affirmation for oppression. No more victim blaming. No more victims. After 30 solid minutes of internal raging, I continued on. Evangeline decided that she would rather live a life of 'peasantry' rather than one with Lord Shively. Thus, deceiving the peasant (or is he?) Wesley, she runs away from her old life at the castle.Will the handsome Wesley forgive Evangeline once he uncovers her con? Will he return her back to King Richard?It was enjoyable to see Evangeline grow as a character, forced to earn her keep as a servant, she eventually transformed from a rather spoiled child to a hardworking, independent women. In order to further her disguise Evangeline pretends to be mute, which only causes more challenges, and a larger rift between her and Wesley once he uncovers the truth.The setting was fantastic. The medieval times was described with an eye to historical accuracy, as they went from festivals to castles. The romance was endearing, and I was pleased with the much expected happily-ever-after.Overall, this was a fun read, and despite some drawbacks, I would recommend this for anyone who wants to read a guaranteed HEA.You can read this review and others on my website:....also, follow me on instagram for all things books:...With Love,
Deborah O'Carroll
Writes about Download The Silent Songbird PDFEvangeline, a young woman with a beautiful voice (and the ward of King Richard), is kept in a castle but longs to go out into the world. She finds her chance when she must escape marriage to a horrible man, and meets a caring young man named Westley le Wyse. Deception, scheming villains, and misunderstandings all stand in her way, as she tries to escape her fate and find love and a deeper faith in God. I was curious how a retelling of The Little Mermaid would work with no magic and not even a mermaid, but it worked wonderfully in this book! It was so fun to pick out the references and see how the retelling wove through the story in surprising yet fitting ways.The plot was so interesting and really kept me on my toes, wondering what would happen next and how it would all work out. It had a lot going on, was exciting and sweet by turns, and kept me totally absorbed in the lives of these characters, who felt so real. I loved them! Evangeline was a good heroine, who I quite liked. Westley was the best--endearing, noble, kind, with a sense of humor, though also conflicted about a lot of things going on, and quite energetic which for some reason was really cool. I liked him a lot. I also love their names! (Speaking of the name Westley... I couldn't help grinning when Eva told Westley "as you wish" once. I loved that! :D)The romance was so sweet and beautiful--loved it--and the Christian elements were also lovely.The other characters were great to read about as well: Lord and Lady le Wyse, Westley's parents--his mother was so nice, and his father was simply awesome. Reeve Folsham, too. He was a gruff character who surprised me by really growing on me. The rest of the characters were all well-written. The whole book, in fact, was written excellently. And I loved the setting, which I felt so immersed in: the medieval English countryside and castles! So awesome. <3 I also loved that King Richard was in the story!The book started out a little predictably (heroine supposed to marry old, ugly, evil man, and determined to escape), so that part sounded somewhat like other books (but I suppose that couldn't be helped, and it quickly moved on to become surprising and intriguing). Otherwise, I didn't have any real complaints and I just really enjoyed it. :)I'm aware this is a sort of sequel to The Merchant's Daughter by the same author, which I've not read yet, and I can tell that anyone who read it will love reading this one and seeing references and characters from before. But The Silent Songbird also stands alone, and my lack of familiarity with the first one didn't take away from my enjoyment of reading this. In fact, it's made me even more excited to go back and read The Merchant's Daughter, very soon, to read the story of Westley's parents!
English
Writes about Download The Silent Songbird PDFI have read everything by Melanie Dickerson, including all her fairy-tale retellings. This one is the long-awaited sequel to her earlier novel The Merchant’s Daughter, which I was looking forward to as its set-in England. Sadly, I was disappointed as I felt this was one of her weakest stories in terms of historical accuracy and certain details of the plot. That's just my opinion, take it or leave it, but let me elaborate further.First off, I don’t like forced marriage stories. Why? Because the common assumption that forced marriage was normal in the Middle Ages is totally wrong. The church banned it from the twelfth century, so that any marriage which was conducted without the free consent of both parties was totally illegal.So the fact that right in the first chapter, the heroine starts whining about her lack of freedom- before being faced with a forced marriage which then features very prominently throughout the story was sort of off-putting. (The legal ban is even mentioned- but hastily dismissed as though everyone could just ignore it when it was the church, not the King who had the jurisdiction over marriage.) Ok so I could accept that in this instance, it was essential to the story- but not that the heroine was some kind of exception to all the weak, downtrodden, doormat Englishwomen who willingly accepted forced and unhappy marriages because they had not right to refuse.Most of us Englishwomen are more contentious than that! We're a stubborn race. Also, the sources from the time show many examples of Medieval English noblewomen who married people of their own choice- including royal wards, judging from the number of fines made for marriage without Royal consent.Moving on, I though this was, overall a decent story. As an adventure and fairy-tale retelling, it’s even quite good, and I could see the parallels with the Little Mermaid although it’s been a long time since I saw the movie.I don't think I ever totally warmed to the heroine Evangeline though. She came across, at least at first, as shallow, self-centred and a childish brat. Her initial objections to her marriage were a good illustration- because her suitor was old and ugly. So, her love was dependent on looks and age, as if nobody ever found happiness with someone older, or not good looking? Shouldn't real love look past that?Then, all of a sudden, Eva transforms into a strong, independent warrior woman when she takes some instruction in self-defence. OK, so that’s not improbable and we are told she had a rebellious streak. Yet mastering the longbow in 2 hours did not seem plausible at all. Medieval longbowmen trained for years, starting from when they were 7, with a weapon that had a draw weight of close to 90 pounds. Nobody learns to use one in 2 hours.And her foot stomping when Westley told her to stay behind for her own safety? That did not make her look independent or capable at all. Really, why do female characters have to behave like utter brats, or do really reckless things to prove how 'strong' they are? Overall them, The Silent Songbird was worth a read, but the German- set stories are better, especially the last two The Golden Braid and The Beautiful Pretender. I do plan to read her next few books, I just hope they get better.I requested a copy of this title from Booklook Bloggers with the intention of reading and reviewing it. I was not required to write a positive one and all opinions expressed are my own.
Kristi
Writes about Read Online The Silent Songbird Book PDFI instantly became a fan of Melanie Dickerson's writing when I read The Golden Braid (Hagenheim #6). I found the story to be well-written and have the perfect balance of romance and action and an independent female heroine that was fun to read about. I immediately jumped at the chance to read The Silent Songbird and was really hoping it would live up to my expectations. I am so happy to say it did!The Silent Songbird is a retelling of The Little Mermaid. Not being too familiar with The Little Mermaid I can't really draw a lot of comparisons between the two stories but I can say that The Silent Songbird is a good story all on its own. I liked Evangeline, the main character, and could understand her not wanting to marry Lord Shiveley. I don't know many seventeen-year-old girls who want to marry someone twenty years their elder. I liked the fact she wanted to marry for love, like the peasants did, and didn't want to do as she was told by her cousin, the king. She stood up for what she wanted and believed in and I thought that was admirable for the time period the story takes place in. Every independent heroine needs a hero that is a perfect balance to her. Evangeline finds that in Westley le Wyse. From the first scene Westley was in it was easy to like him because he seemed so nice and genuine. The entire le Wyse family seemed nice and accepting and protective of Evangeline even though she came to them under false pretenses. I enjoyed reading about this family. I also liked Nicola, the servant who became friends with Evangeline. Now, to the characters I didn't like....Sabina was a mean girl and I immediately formed a distrust and intense dislike of her. Lord Shiveley was another character I didn't like. He had an evilness about him that just came right off the page. I had lukewarm feelings about King Richard. I never felt a connection with him and didn't really like him or dislike him. Melanie Dickerson has a way with words that makes the story really come to life. It was easy to picture what was happening at every point in the story. I felt as I if I were there experiencing everything along with Evangeline. There were a few times I found myself laughing out loud at the situations Evangeline found herself in. I also thought the scenes between Evangeline and Westley were written in a way that was appropriate for the story's time period.The Silent Songbird is a great read for YA and not so YA readers. This book can easily be enjoyed by daughters, mothers, and granddaughters. This is a great book to read and discuss with others.I received a free copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are mine.
Helen
Writes about Read Online The Silent Songbird Book PDFThe Silent Songbird is a medieval fairy tale that takes place in 1384 in Hertfordshire, England. Evangeline is the cousin and ward to King Richard II. She feels like she is no better than a prisoner in the dungeon, not being able to talk to or interact with who ever she wants. One morning while looking out her window singing, she watches the servants talking and laughing while doing their work. That day she is informed the the King has chose his closest advisor, Lord Shiveley as the man she will marry. After spending the evening with them, she packs a bag of servant's clothing and decides to run away. She is caught by Muriel and they both run away together. They travel with Westley le Wyse to his parents home and become servants for them in the village of Glynval.To avoid being recognized, she pretends to be mute, but when she witnesses an attack on Westley's life, she yells for help. Sabina, a local girl who has her eyes on Westley, comes to help her. Sabina causes trouble for Evangeline. One day she gives poisonous mushrooms to Evangeline to put into the soup. When this is discovered, Evangeline is taken out to be flogged. Westley comes to her rescue and with discussion, finds out that Sabina caused the problem. Evangeline is then moved into the castle to work. It is quickly found out that she is was not a servant as she can read and has not servant skills. Evangeline's story is eventually revealed and she begs Westley to not let the men looking for her to take her back to the King to be married to Lord Shiveley. Glyncal village is having a celebration that will include a singing contest and Evangeline is told she will be taking part in it. Her singing voice is what she is known for at the King's castle and she fears she will be recognized.This is a good clean romance written for young adults. It is a very good story with suspense and mystery woven through out the story. The characters are very well developed and even through there are many characters in the story, they are introduced in such a way it is easy to follow along. The story also has humor written into it as well. This is a very easy story to get lost in. The story is so well written it is easy to get pulled into the story and not want to put it down. I especially appreciate how the author has written into the story Evangeline's desire to read the Bible and how that becomes something she and Westly do together. This is a great story for the teen age girl but is also very enjoyable for the mature woman as well.I received a copy of this book from BookLookBloggers and have written an honest review.
Coralie
Writes about Reading The Silent Songbird BookAnother marvelous addition to my Melanie Dickerson shelf. This well-woven tale seamlessly combines elements from The Little Mermaid (a favorite) with delicious moments from The Princess Bride!!!! Not only is our main character the dashing and tender-hearted Wesley, but his Buttercup is the fiercely loyal and generous Ariel. I thought I adored Prince Eric before, but when you stitch him together with Wesley...ah, well let's just say is a guy to root for! Our heroine is full of child-like wonder, and an insatiable yearning to be loved. She learns that God is the one who will love her wholly and truly. The supporting cast made me smile just as much. (I'm really hoping we get to see them again in the future (as well as Nicola)!! Someone suggested a spin-off series with some of Wesley's siblings...gah!!! I just want to jump up and down and scream-joyfully-at the idea! I totally second that motion, if you're reading this Mrs. Dickerson!) There were characters to love and characters that drained the color from my face, characters who were flawed and characters who grew together, relatable and realistic. Returning characters just made me downright giddy. I mean, I was already head over heals for Ranulf and Annabel, but gosh! This was just heavenly!! As it is abundantly clear that I adored the characters, let's not forget the tangled web of a plot that Mrs. Dickerson has so spun. I tell y'all what, Melanie Dickerson has perfected the art of put you on the edge of your seat, stay up all night because you can't put the book down, and then make your heart melt into a puddle. She's got it down. And I love her all the more for it. I thoroughly enjoyed the several head nods to The Princess Bride's plot and even some of the characters as well as the light sprinkling of The Little Mermaid. Make no mistake, for all the artistically designed connections to the old tales, Mrs. Dickerson's tale is all her own. The Silent Songbird (that title just makes me smile. :D) explores questions of faith, integrity, and righteousness, the kinds of questions we all secretly have. Mrs. Dickerson tactfully draws out the insecurities we have as human beings and she lights the way for us to find true answers in our real lives. I have the utmost respect and admiration for Mrs. Dickerson.The setting is genuine and enchanting. We spend this novel in a small village in England. The story is cleverly written and the writing is technically very well-written. Mrs. Dickerson presents a clean story that sweeps us off our feet, leaving us breathless with the adventure and threaded just so with her delightful romance. I will be anxiously awaiting The Nobel Servant and A Viscount's Proposal.
Kelly Bridgewater
Writes about Reading The Silent Songbird BookI have read everything that Melanie Dickerson has written, so I know what to expect when I approach her writings. I expect to be enthralled with brave and heroic characters who go above and beyond their status. I will be taken on a journey through a story that is similar to the fairy tales that I have grown up with but with a twist.The major story element that I really enjoy is Dickerson's ability to create realistic characters who stick with me long after the story is finished. The hero, Westley le Wyse, enters the story while saving a young child who is about to be run over by a stray horse. Throughout the rest of the story, he shows over and over again his sweet and gentle heart by protecting the innocent from physical harm. I really like a man who seeks out the weak and gives them a brighter outlook on life. As for the heroine, Evangeline, she is a young woman who was raised up with an education and not having to work, but in order to hunt for true love, she escapes her prearranged marriage and lowers her status to seek freedom. Both characters are brave and noble. Totally worth falling in love with.The story has elements of the popular fairy tale The Little Mermaid, but it doesn't completely follow the storyline. Evangeline doesn't sell her voice to have human legs. Instead, she plays mute to save herself and her maidservant who escaped with her. I enjoyed watching the romance between Evangeline and Westley grow, especially because Evangeline is willing to work just to discover who she really wants to be. I really was enthralled with the plot. Dickerson invited me back to the land of fairytales in the late fourteenth century and kept me in that time period with her writing. I had a hard time putting the novel down. Like her previous stories in this series, I have enjoyed watching Dickerson's take on the popular stories. Even though the story is completely predictable, it was an original version of the widely popular tale.With a tale as old as time, Melanie Dickerson's The Silent Songbird invited me along for a story in a land where status rules the people. Evangeline and Westley are brave characters who will stick with the readers long after they show their love story. I highly recommend The Silent Songbird to fans of all fairy tales and Dickerson's previous novels.I received a complimentary copy of The Silent Songbird from Thomas Nelson and the opinions stated are all my own.
Kara
Writes about Read Online The Silent Songbird Book PDFAnother cover to sigh over and enjoy before even opening up this wonderful story which is a retelling of the little mermaid and another enticing read from Dickerson. As usual, I had no trouble diving in and seeing the journey Evangeline goes on after learning she is being forced to marry Lord Shiveley; an older, arrogant, controlling, and seemingly abusive man who has ulterior motives for wanting Evangeline as his wife. Evangeline at first comes across as kind of a whiny and obstinate ward and cousin to King Richard, who only wants what's best for her even if he seems a little clueless setting up this union. When Evangeline faces her cousin, convinced he will hear her out and sympathize with her, he instead tells her to deal with it and do her duty. She is forced to runaway with her maid and friend, Muriel, who decided to lie about their identities for protection. When they come across Westley and his men, Evangeline feels safe and has her first taste of real freedom. Muriel basically grumbles and mutters her unhappiness the whole time, but she is loyal to Evangeline and keeps her protected whenever possible. Despite Evangeline's childishness at the beginning, she develops true character and strength as the story progresses, Dickerson turns her into a maiden the reader will have fun with and admire.My favorite part of this was seeing Lord and Lady le Wyse from The Merchant's Daughter, they are now happily married with several children, Westley being the oldest. Evangeline witnesses how in love they are and longs for the same happiness within a husband someday also. The Merchant's Daughter is very special to me and seeing this family and how well they are doing was a huge part of this sequel's charm. It was also enchanting that Evangeline has a beautiful singing voice, but I felt like I was missing out as a reader not being able to listen in.Will Evangeline find true love in the kind man Westley is and how will she ever escape the treachery going on around her, even Shiveley obsessively searching for her the whole time? Even though Silent Songbird is not my favorite among Dickerson's stories, it was a wonderful adventure I could count on to bless me and keep me satisfied until the last page! With Dickerson's books, I'm never disappointed and I continue to love her retellings :)With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy. These comments are my honest opinion.
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