Book Review: Castle of Refuge by Melanie Dickerson

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Genre: YA/ Christian Fiction

Release Date: June 1, 2021

Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis:

Audrey is a viscount’s daughter who has suffered her sister Maris’s cruel, jealous behavior all her life. An act of malice led their father to send Maris to a convent, but Audrey was still left with scars. Three years later, Audrey’s father is determined to marry off his damaged daughter, and Maris is returning. Desperate, Audrey sneaks away.

However, life outside her home is dangerous, and she soon finds herself attacked, injured, and in dire straits. She is taken in at Dericott Castle to be nursed back to health. While there, she decides to keep her identity a secret and work as a servant in the castle. But she doesn’t count on falling in love with the young and handsome Lord Dericott, who lost his arm several months earlier.

Meanwhile, Edwin—Lord Dericott—is curious about the new, well-educated servant’s identity. When the man Audrey’s father wanted her to marry comes looking for her, each must make a life-changing decision about what to believe and whether or not love is truly worth trusting.

Sarah's Review:

This is the second book by Melanie Dickerson that I have had the pleasure of reading. This book was a quick, fun, and refreshing read. While there are historical inaccuracies, they don't take away from the book as a whole. I like that Dickerson adds her faith into her books. Castle of Refuge had a lot more talk about God, and faith than the other book I read by her. I don't mind that aspect at all, and I think it is extremely relevant in the time period the book is set in.

Castle of Refuge is a retelling of The Ugly Duckling, and I really admire how Dickerson spins well known stories into unique tales. The author is extremely creative and talented in the way that she writes these books.

I loved Audrey, and Edwin. Seeing them grow and discover themselves in terms of their independence was really nice to see. I liked the conflict because it kept me hooked, and I could not stop reading!

Once again, I highly recommend Melanie Dickerson's books. I think this is yet another great novel, and I am excited to see what she comes up with next.