The Noble Servant Review

Posted by abakersp in Contemporary / 0 Comments

You know how a cover can just grab your attention? This is one of them. I love the simplicity of it, and it feels very fairy tale-ish, wouldn’t you say?

About the Book

She lost everything to the scheme of an evil servant.

But she might just gain what she’s always wanted . . . if she makes it in time.

The impossible was happening. She, Magdalen of Mallin, was to marry the Duke of Wolfberg. Magdalen had dreamed about receiving a proposal ever since she met the duke two years ago. Such a marriage was the only way she could save her people from starvation. But why would a handsome, wealthy duke want to marry her, a poor baron’s daughter? It seemed too good to be true.

On the journey to Wolfberg Castle, Magdalen’s servant forces her to trade places and become her servant, threatening not only Magdalen’s life, but the lives of those she holds dear. Stripped of her identity and title in Wolfberg, where no one knows her, Magdalen is sentenced to tend geese while she watches her former handmaiden gain all Magdalen had ever dreamed of.

When a handsome shepherd befriends her, Magdalen begins to suspect he carries secrets of his own. Together, Magdalen and the shepherd uncover a sinister plot against Wolfberg and the duke. But with no resources, will they be able to find the answers, the hiding places, and the forces they need in time to save both Mallin and Wolfberg?

My Perspective

I have enjoyed reading fairy tales since I was a child. It can be so fun to travel to some enchanted place in your imagination and frolic among the characters. One thing that is typically missing from a fairy tale, of course, is sharing the gospel, or showing the characters to rely on God. This book? Not a problem! Woven delicately in the fabric of the storyline was faith and prayer. There was no mistaking Magdalen and Steffan’s faith in this book, and for me it only enhanced the fairy tale.

While I am not familiar with the fairy tale that The Noble Servant is based on, it didn’t take long for me to get the gist of it. And to be completely honest, I fell in love with both characters early on in the book. In their own special way, both Magdalen and Steffan had to find bravery during a time when everything they knew was stripped away. It kind of reminded me of the story of Job, and yet they continued to pray and be thankful for what the Lord had done for them. Even better is the fact that they continued to rely on the Lord throughout the entire book. Not only for direction in keeping themselves safe, but in their love life as well.

Yes, this is a romantic story. Aren’t all fairy tales? However, rather than be forced into a marriage of “convenience”, I enjoyed how the author took her time with these characters. Oh it was obvious from the start that Magdalen was quite smitten with Steffan, but he was a different story. He didn’t believe people should ever marry for love, but rather as a business transaction so to speak. Oh Steffan you silly man! You could see little changes in him throughout the book until I think his feelings finally exploded and God said, okay you can do this! It was such a sweet and endearing story.

While this may be classified as young adult, I think adults of all ages might enjoy this. I certainly did! I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 About the Author

Melanie DickersonMelanie Dickerson is the New York Times bestselling author whose two favorite time periods are Medieval, which she has combined with her love of fairy tales, and Regency England, which stems from her love of Jane Austen. She is a 2-time Christy Award finalist, a 2-time Maggie Award winner, winner of The National Reader’s Choice Award for 2010’s Best First Book, and winner of the 2012 Carol Award in Young Adult fiction. She earned her bachelor’s degree in special education from The University of Alabama and has taught children with special needs in Georgia and Tennessee, and English to adults in Germany and Ukraine. Now she spends her time writing, hanging out on facebook, and being with her husband, two daughters, and two guinea pigs near Huntsville, Alabama. Visit her on the web at http://www.MelanieDickerson.com.