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

I am a big fan of Melanie Dickerson's and have read every book in this series. I am not very knowledgeable of the Aladdin fairytale, so the story was completely fresh to me. I loved the truths and morals presented in the story; that the truth always comes out and temptation may arise no matter what, but God's love and protection always prevails. It was very interesting to read about Kirstyn, and I look forward to her future books in this series. I did dock two stars from this because of a couple hiccups I believe made this book less enjoyable for me.

The beginning and middle parts of the novel have a very wide timespan and it's somewhat hard to keep track of all the events in a linear manner because of the timing confusion. This is alleviated later on in the novel. Additionally, it just seemed a little...sparse, lackluster, and rushed compared to the other books in the series. Not quite as powerful and a little more forced, if you will. I did enjoy reading this book, same as all the rest (and is Hilde the same woman that was friends with Kirstyn's mother in "The Healer's Apprentice" or was the name just similar?) and I look forward to future works in this series. However, this one is probably ranked lowest for me because of the two problems I've mentioned above.

First of all, I want to thank Thomas Nelson for allowing me to review this book. I have not read the other books from this series but this book has made it a promising collection.

Frankly, I did not know what to expect from this book even after reading the summary. I just thought the cover was pretty and would like to give more Christian Fiction a try. Truly this book has not disappoint and I love the story a lot. If I'm not wrong, it is a retelling of the Aladdin story from Disney. And I love retellings more than anything !!

I guess you could say it's a contemporary set in the days were people still travelled by horses and carts were used for transportation. The plot was certainly quite unpredictable as I assumed that in certain places it had reached the climax even though the story was still far from the end. If I were to make it into a TV series, there would be a lot of places where suspense were present to separate the different episodes.

The writing was simple which made reading easy and hence suitable as a YA read. There were no gaps that needed to be filled as everything was clearly explained. There was no part that left me clueless to the train of events. In short, there were no loopholes to be found.

The characters were on point !! And being a Christian novel, I could find tons of values to aspire for, especially in Aladdin. Aladdin possessed the tons of qualities that earned him favour; trustworthiness, integrity, kindness, helpfulness, whatever you can name. The growth and maturity of his character was most inspiring. Kirstyn, on the other hand, was a nice girl too but she was a little selfish when it came to relating with Aladdin. Melanie did a great job in developing each character well and portraying their qualities perfectly. However, I would have liked to know what happened to Herr Goteken who was stealing from the other merchants.

The best part of this book was watching Aladdin gain his success in Luneburg because the favour of God and man were on his side. It was amazing to see how wholesome a person can be which in turn could win the favour of God. The blessings that came were just overflowing.

The worst part though was when Michael died in his fight with Aladdin. I was like..that's it? Maybe it was because I have read too much fantasy and was expecting a longer duel. But I would understand if it was to avoid too much violence.

Before I end, I would like to add the development of romance in the story. I would say that I did not enjoy it as much because it was a little too draggy for me. I was really frustrated at the fact that Aladdin and Kirstyn won't come straight out about how they felt for each other. It was a great torture!! But the ending was great which compensated for the frustration I felt. Haha..

Lastly, I would recommend this book to those who are into YA contemporary romance / drama set in the olden times. Overall, it was a great story and it has spark my interest in Melanie's other works.

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

The Orphan’s Wish (Hagenheim Fairy Tale Romance series #8)
by Melanie Dickerson


Release Date: June 26, 2018

My rating: 4.5 stars

SUMMARY: After being orphaned and doing what he can to survive, you Aladdin is rescued and raised in a land far away from his birthplace where he meets Lady Kirstyn and becomes her friend. Through the years, their childhood friendship grows.

MY THOUGHTS: You may think you know the story of Aladdin, but author Melanie Dickerson takes his story and reinvents it. My teenage daughter is a long-time fan of Melanie Dickerson and has read everything Ms. Dickerson has ever written. My daughter told me time and again that I *must* read these reinvented fairy tales and that they are *so* good! Well, I never quite got around to it. When I saw NetGalley offer up the newest of the Hagenheim fairy tales, I jumped at the opportunity. After reading The Orphan’s Wish, I must admit my daughter is right. I thoroughly enjoyed this retelling and want to read more of them.

4.5 stars for the entertainment and enjoyment. I knocked a half star off, as the romantic struggle dragged on a bit too long for me.

Even though this is the eighth book in the Hagenheim Fairy Tale Romance series, I felt the story could easily be read and understood without having read the previous tales.

This book is recommended to anyone—tween to senior citizen—who likes fairy tales with clean romance.

I will be buying it to add to the other seven books in the series in our church library.

===============
At my request, I received a free electronic copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. This review reflects my honest thoughts and opinions on the book, and I received no compensation for this review.

The Orphan's Wish
by Melanie Dickerson
Thomas Nelson--FICTION
Thomas Nelson
Christian , Teens & YA
Pub Date 26 Jun 2018
I am reviewing a copy of The Orphan's Wish through Thomas Nelson and Netgalley:



Get ready to be transported back to the early fifteenth century where Aladdin, Orphaned and alone at the age of five travels from the streets of his Arab homeland to a strange and faraway place. Aladdin ends up growing up in an orphanage where he meets young lady Kirstyn her father is the powerful Duke of Hagenheim. Aladdin quickly becomes Kirsten's favorite despite their different stations in life. The two develop a friendship that neither time or opposition can break!


As a child Aladdin works hard, learning everything he can from his teachers. Through his integrity intelligence, and sheer tenacity he is able to earn a position servicing as the Dukes Steward, that does not take away the shame of having been forced to steal as a child, or the fact he has no status due to the fact he's an orphan. Aladdin must leave Hagenheim and seek his fortune if he wants to be equal to his beautiful, generous friend Kristyn.


Once Aladdin departs though his friend Kristen becomes a pawn in a terrible plot. Aladdin and Lady Kristyn must rely on their bond to save Kristyn from danger. Saving Kristyn could cost cost Aladdin his Newfound status, but it is worth the risk.


The Orphan's Wish is a beautiful twist on a well known tale. The Orphan's Wish is a story of courage, loyalty and friendship.


I give The Orphan's Wish five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

I've read some others by this author, and found them enjoyable. She writes retellings of old familiar fairy tales, and they are especially geared for YA.

Aladdin is an orphan boy who really does find himself living in a fairy tale. Everything good seems to happen to him.

I like the fact that it is set in the 1400s. A truly delightful setting.

There wasn't as much depth to the characters as I would have wanted to see, but overall, this is an enjoyable read. Lighthearted, fairy-tale like, and yes-- charming.

Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

In The Orphan’s Wish, orphaned Aladdin travels from his Arab homeland to the German orphanage where he meets Lady Kirstyn, daughter of the Duke of Hagenheim. Kirstyn’s mother is the patroness of the orphanage where Aladdin lives. They become childhood friends in spite of the differences in their stations.

Aladdin works hard to secure a position serving the Duke. He loves Kirstyn but believes he cannot overcome his family background without a fortune. Aladdin leaves the Duke’s service to make his fortune, leaving her open to fortune hunters. When she is kidnapped, he returns to rescue her. Will he be in time? Will they have a future together?

Dickerson’s tales feature wholesome relationships, making this a good choice for teen readers. Dickerson excels as a storyteller with a carefully crafted plot. Dickerson creates characters who learn the meaning of sacrifice and nobility as they adjust to life’s difficult situations. As in her earlier books, the faith element is not preachy but clearly evident. The Orphan’s Wish is told more from Aladdin’s point of view. Aladdin is hard-working and determined to prove himself in order to improve his chances for a future with Kirstyn.

About a year ago I discovered how much I loved Melanie Dickerson’s books. After I read the first book in this series, I went and found all her books and read them. I have loved all of her books so when The Orphan’s Wish became available, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it! This book did not disappoint! I actually had not read anything about it before I started reading it so it wasn’t until I was a couple chapters in that I realized it was based on Aladdin’s story. Both Aladdin and Lady Kirstyn have wishes in this story. They are both wishing for something that may not be considered acceptable in that day and age. She comes from a wealthy and powerful family. He grew up in an orphanage. Their worlds are miles apart, yet they desire to be together and will do whatever it takes to be there for each other and take care of each other. I love the friendship you see between the two friends and how they grow to love each other even more.

You will enjoy The Orphan’s Wish! Be sure to check out all of Melanie Dickerson’s other books, too!

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

I love the Hagenheim series and the Fairytale Retelling series, but this one was not my favorite. There were a couple things at play, the first being that I felt like the book was rushed. We sped through so many years that it never felt like you were really getting into the characters' lives. Dickerson sort of made up for that with the flashbacks when they were older, but I feel like the story was just trying to cover too much time.

While this is supposed to be an Aladdin retelling, that didn't work for me. I think Aladdin would have been better served in the other series. Bringing the Middle East to 15th century Germany just didn't seem to fit. And there really wasn't much from the Aladdin story after the beginning, besides the names Aladdin and Abu. I didn't love that those were the names either. One thing I've really enjoyed throughout this series is the subtlety of the stories. There aren't overt names and plotlines. Enough so you know the story usually, but no more.

Honestly, what I did keep thinking of while reading was the account of Joseph, in the Bible. Aladdin's story sort of reminded me of that in some ways. I don't know if Dickerson intended for that or not.

I know this review sounds like I didn't like the book, but that's not true. I did like it, it just wasn't my favorite and I think that the story she was trying to tell would have been better told as a stand alone or in a different series.

-- I received a free review eARC of this title via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review --

This book sets out to be a 'retelling' of Aladdin during the Crusades. Aladdin is the titled 'Orphan' who gets taken to Germany by a priest who encounters him in the Middle East during his crusading journey, he is smart, social, and all over incredibly perfect. Once he grows up, he has one goal, and achieves that and much more.
I found this book rather frustrating. The first few chapters of exposition read very well and made me excited for the story, but as soon as Aladdin gets to Germany, it all goes downhill. He barely struggled, and was great at everything and charmed everyone he met - there was no character growth and the story was utterly predictable. The secondary characters stayed even more one dimensional as Aladdin himself... Sadly, the Middle Ages as described in this novel have absolutely nothing to do with the actual Middle Ages, which, as a medieval historian, I tend to find very frustrating, and apart from the name, there seem to be no similarities to the tale of Aladdin.

Aladdin refocused!

An interesting take on Aladdin joins Melanie Dickerson's insightful series of traditional folk and fairytale retellings, set in the German dukedom of Hagenheim. The vision Dickerson brings to these works is so original. I am always in awe of the prism through which the stories are told and the wellspring of creativity Dickerson seems to flawlessly draw upon. That said, for all its interesting perspective, I didn't warm to Aladdin's story in the same way that I have to others. The tale of a young boy rescued by a monk from an Oliver Twist type start to life in Palestine, who journeys to an orphanage in Hagenheim and then to Lüneburg. A tale of love, courage and friendship.
Growing up with the Duke of Wilhelm’s daughter Kirstyn, Aladdin and she become inseparable. As he becomes older Aladdin realizes he must leave to make his fortune in order to be deemed worthy of Kirstyn. A deeper challenge for Aladdin is his self image, his needing to redeem himself. Even though he is successful, he continues to see himself through the eyes of Mustapha, his old thief mentor, his "Faigin."
Aladdin "needed to prove he wasn’t just a poor, unlovable thief. A rat, Mustapha had called him. Those memories brought him so much shame. "
Back in Hagenheim, all is not as it should be, and when Kirstyn is kidnapped, all that Aladdin loves is threatened.
A rewarding read despite my misgivings.

A NetGalley ARC

This book is a loose retelling of Aladdin. The story begins as Ala Ad'din's mother dies. He is left an orphan with no one to see to his well being. But a kind man (crook) takes him in and teaches him the art of stealing. When he tries to steal from the wrong, or right, people, he finds himself in better circumstances.

I liked that even as a small boy Aladdin had a strong sense of right vs wrong. He wanted to do what is right and hated doing something he knew to be dishonest. He always stood up for the less fortunate and treated everyone with respect. This mindset brought him respect, honor, and loyalty to those who were fortunate enough to work with him.

The love interest is the daughter of a Duke. Aladdin is always trying to prove his worth to himself, so he can feel worthy to be with Kirstyn. He causes a lot of anguish to himself and those he loves because he wants his fortune for the wrong reasons. It is mentioned that he has the "Midas touch". It seemed more like he was smart and had a good work ethic.

The book looks at greed and how it cause the downfall of a person. For the most part, the book ran smoothly, but it also had places where it seemed a little slow. Aladdin is deeply religious and he looked at everything through his faith. Don't get me wrong, that is a trait that I greatly admire, it just slowed the book down.

This book contains domestic violence, kidnapping, religious themes, and romance. I would consider it appropriate for an older teen on up.

Source: I requested a copy to review from Netgalley. Thanks to Thomas Nelson for giving me the opportunity to read this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This is the first book I have read by Melanie Dickerson, but it will not be the last. She has created an adorable romance novel set in a Medieval feeling background. Aladdin is an orphan that has grown up in the local orphanage after moving there from a foreign country. Despite his difference in social status from Lady Kirstyn, the Duke's daughter, he has grown up with her and become fond of her. He leaves her to find his fortune to one day come back for her; however, when she is kidnapped, his dream may not come to fruition.

The only part of the story that feels like Aladdin, since this is supposed to be a retelling of Aladdin, is how he starts out as a young boy stealing to survive. However, to be fair, the only experience I have with Aladdin is the Disney version. Even without more of a connection, I was not disappointed with the story line but was also thrilled with the twists at the end. I found myself laughing at how childish the main protagonists were sometimes but loved the message of how no one is perfect. Overall, a fun read and beautiful cover art.

Has Melanie Dickerson changed to writing YA novels? Did I miss something somewhere? It seems like her earlier work was for an adult audience. I don't mean that any of the content was inappropriate or anything, it just seemed less juvenile than her current writings. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy a good YA novel, except I'd like to be expecting it, and this just seemed...well, a little juvenile.

It's an interesting take on the Aladdin story. I didn't have any problems with the changes the author made. I kind of like it when the author takes liberties like that. I want to read something different from all the rest of the versions. And since there aren't a lot of versions of Aladdin (that I've read anyway) it was fun for me to read those changes. I also didn't have a problem for Germany to be involved in this telling. I don't think there was some deeper meaning. I think the author has set up a lovely world and family in Germany, and it made sense to move some of the setting to this time and place.

All that being said, I hate love triangles. I especially hate love triangles when the people don't really love each other. It makes for awkwardness, and I hate reading about awkwardness. It's definitely a personal opinion, but that kind of ruined this book for me. Other than being a little juvenile it was a fine story, but then the love triangle happened and I just cringed and kept reading because I hate stopping in the middle of a story.

If you don't mind love triangles, are looking for a quick clean read, and are a fan of Melanie Dickerson's newest stuff, definitely give this one a try.

A retelling of Aladdin that is in no way near the original story. And that is ok! This story follows Aladdin and his love as they search for a way to be together through all odds.
I really enjoyed that this wasn't like any Aladdin book I have ever read. I have read most of the other books by this author and always love how characters pop up from the other stories. This one was different in the way that you felt more for Aladdin. He wants to be able to provide, to show that he can take care of Kirstyn. In the end this book has all the romance, swooning, and love that all her other books do. A solid addition to a non-series that I can't wait to add to my collection.

I think I own all of Melanie Dickerson’s books and have enjoyed the Hagenheim series...it’s been a few years since I’ve read the first few books, so maybe I can’t remember her style of writing very well, but in this book, it felt like the story was more targeted to a young teen audience rather than young adults. The writing and conversations were more simple so I never truly felt like I knew or connected with Aladdin or Kyrsten.
However, if you are a Melanie Dickerson fan then you’ll probably enjoy the book...I just think that since I read so many books, I have developed a preference for different types of writing styles. :)

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

I am repeatedly impressed by Melanie Dickerson’s ability to take a well-known and well-loved fairy tale and create something unique while retaining elements of the familiar. And while she’s doing that, she also weaves elements and characters of her previous stories into the new one!

The Orphan’s Wish is a retelling of Aladdin. While you will find an orphan boy determined to make his mark on the world and to gain wealth in an attempt to become worthy of the girl he loves, there are no magic lamps or wish-granting genies.

Aladdin and Lady Kirstyn become fast friends in childhood. They grow up sharing everything. But an orphan is not good enough for a duke’s daughter—even one with a heart wide open to spending her life caring for those less fortunate than her.

Aladdin and Lady Kirstyn do spend a lot of the book apart and there are plenty of obstacles to them finding each other again, but their thoughts remain centered on the one they love.

This book explores what love is willing to risk, what courage can lead a person through, and what a
foundation of friendship can build. All that while providing an entertaining and sometimes action-packed storyline.

Next up for Dickerson is a Mulan retelling. Go ahead and add that one to your Goodreads shelf now.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

I thoroughly enjoyed the plot, atmosphere, and characters. I would recommend the book to friends and family for their reading pleasure.

This book was very different than Melanie Dickerson's previous books in that its subject area covered some new territory. It did follow along the Aladdin story line, which many of us are familiar with, but it was transformed into something much more realistic. I really liked that. (**spoiler alert...no magic genies came out of lamps in this story**) The new territory was that the heroine, Kirstyn, was kidnapped and treated terribly. You could even say she was abused by her captors. Later the story addressed, but not in these terms, the effects this type of event can have on a victim and issues of PTSD. I found this to be a well written aspect to this story, even though it is a delicate subject matter. For those who may have suffered a traumatizing event like this, or suffered abuse from someone, this may be difficult for them to read. It may also be difficult for a younger audience to read. The author does, as in her other novels, provide a spiritual connection to the resolution of the story, which is one of my favorite aspects of her fairy tale retellings. It makes Melanie Dickerson unique as an author.

I truly enjoyed this novel. I was somewhat surprised at the level of intensity I felt as I was reading it, especially as Kirstyn was kidnapped. As I read I wasn't sure what to expect next or how all of the plot twists were going to be resolved, which is a good thing for a reader. It was hard to put it down!

Personal takeaway...God is our rescuer, our mighty warrior, who walks with us through the battle and comforts us and binds our wounds after the fight.

**I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley to share my honest opinions, which I did.**

I enjoyed this medieval retelling of the tale of Aladdin. As a young orphan, he is rescued from a ring of thieves and taken from the Holy Land to the Holy Roman Empire by a priest. There he becomes enamored with a duke’s young daughter and the two form an enduring friendship. As they grow up, the two face danger and trials and misunderstandings. Will their love endure? What does the future hold for their relationship? Aladdin wants to make his own way and prove himself worthy. Is there any hope that he and Lady Kirstyn could ever marry? The characters portrayed seem real and make you care about them. The story drew me in and held me captive until the final page. I didn’t want the book to end. I have enjoy the author’s retellings of fairy tales and recommend them all. Each novel is thought-provoking, with lessons that could be applied to our lives. I received a copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Title: The Orphan's Wish

Author: Melanie Dickerson

Chapters: 34 plus epilogue

Pages: 352

Series: Hagenheim Series book 8



Genre: Christian fairy tale retelling, Christian Teen Historical

Rating: 3.5 stars

The Orphan's wish by Melanie Dickerson is the 8th book in the Hagenheim series Lady Kirsytn is the youngest daughter of the duke of Hageheim, and Aladdin an Orphan from the Holy Land. Kirstyn is the daughter of character's from The Healer's Apprentice the first book in this series as well as the younger sister of characters from book 3 The Fairest Beauty, book 4 The Captive Maiden, book 5 The Princess Spy and book 6 The Golden Braid. So it is best to read this series in order.

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would mainly because Aladdin was one of my least favorite Disney movies and I had read the original story that it was based on. Melanie was able to put on own spin on the story and make it her own. With all of her previous novels in this series and her other fairy tale series her characters have a strong Christian faith. While it wasn't my favorite book of the series it was still good. Readers will see aspects of the Aladdin but it is still a new story because Mrs. Dickerson adds to the story and makes it her own.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys fairy tale retelling and Christian teen historical fiction. I would say that this book is appropriate for older teens about 15 or 16 and up. I look forward to next book in this series which just happens to be a Mulan retelling.


I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.