Interesting plot, but the execution was slightly lacking. I really loved the first few Dickerson novel that I read, but this one was not quite up to the same level.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

One of the first books I read in 2021 was by the queen of fairytale retellings - Melanie Dickerson. Her stories have always brought me such joy. Although the characters have to overcome great obstacles, I know that everything will work out for the best. Isn’t that why we love Disney?

Prior to reading Court of Swans, I did not know anything about the fairytale, Wild Swans, but after I read the book, I did a little research on the classic. Although Melanie maintains the overarching concept of the story, she truly makes the story her own, bringing life and depth into the characters.

As a reviewer, I do my best to be honest and truthful. Every book has its own elements that make it unique and special, but every book cannot be a must-read or even a five/four heart. Although I did enjoy Court of Swans, it was not my favorite and I do not see myself rereading it in the near future. While I read, I often absorb the emotions of the narrator. I feel what the character is experiencing, whether it be good or bad. That does not mean I do not enjoy reading books of great depth and heartache, because more often than not, I would much rather read a book with pain than the predictability of a “hallmark” plot. But this book left me feeling more anxious than satisfied. I just wanted to reach the end, rather than enjoy the journey.

Delia was a character I appreciated but frustrated me at times. She seemed immature, almost to a fault. Delia often seemed short-sighted, naive, and a bit loose-lipped for someone attempting to pull off such a monumental task. On the other hand, I did like Sir Geoffrey but felt l like he early on made decisions that didn’t make sense to me. He has the opportunity to lose so much for someone he barely knows.

With all that said, I am looking forward to the next book in the series, releasing in June. I enjoy books involving a “beauty and the beast” feel and based on what I have discovered so far, Castle of Refuge’s “Ugly Duckling” will be worth the wait!

The Red Review: ❤️❤️❤️
*** 3 Stars: Compelling Characters, Well-Written, Interesting Storyline (.5), Unable to Stop (.5)

I have found in recent years that Melanie Dickerson is a hit or miss author for me, and while there were many nice things about this story, there were far more things that frustrated me.

Delia is a devoted sister, though very naïve. She disregards her aunt's advice to trust no one, and constantly brushes off red flags, which annoyed me throughout. I had a hard time connecting with the main characters and plot in this book, which made this a slower read.

I wish that this book had taken place in a fictional kingdom instead of a historical location, as it was hard for me to realistically see this story unfolding within the Tower of London.

Overall, this book just wasn't the one for me, I have adored other books by this author in the past, but had difficulty connecting with this story. I did enjoy that the author chose a more obscure fairy tale to loosely retell, and while this one wasn't for me, fans of this author will enjoy it.

I received a complimentary ebook, opinions are my own.

I absolutely love this author. I read every book in the Hagenheim series and was excited to start a new series.
While it took me a bit to get into this world it was absolutely wonderful. It felt good to have new characters and a new place for the journeys.
As always the main story was interwoven with a fairy tale and just worked.
I cannot wait for more!!!!

This story immerses us in 1381 England, where intrigue and plots abound. Delia and her seven brothers are caught up in the nefarious conspiracy of those who want to destroy them. This even involves accusations regarding the king and his court. Will they be able to uncover the truth and resolve all the issues involved? As usual, the author does a great job of bringing the time period to life and peopling it with true-to-life characters who engage the reader well. Although marketed for teens, adults will enjoy the story too. It could make a fine family read-aloud with older children and discussion of events portrayed or in a book club. I enjoy historical fiction and reading about other places and look forward to the sequel. I received a book from the publisher through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Melanie Dickerson, author of the beloved Hagenheim fairy tale tellings, has started a new medieval series for her young adult readers.

Lady Delia Dericott enjoys her life with her father and seven brothers. But after her father remarries, things quickly go downhill. Before long, all seven of her brothers are arrested on suspicion of murdering a coroner in a nearby town. Delia is outraged and scared, because her youngest brother is only ten years old. There's no way he could have plotted to murder anyone, nor is murder anything her brothers would have done in the first place.

Traveling to London, Delia poses as a seamstress in order to stay close to her brothers and try to help them. Will the trial clear their name? Who has anything to gain by getting rid of all seven of her brothers?

I felt like this story started strong, but it lagged some in the second half. The way things unfolded required more suspension of disbelief than I prefer, and the characters were not relatable to me. I did enjoy the book, and Dickerson sets up several storylines which I can't wait to see unfold throughout the series. I would recommend this book for fans of YA medieval romance.

I received my copy of the book from the publisher. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Life hasn't been the same for Delia and her seven brothers since their father remarried and their new stepmother began to do all she could to turn him against them - but none of them expected all seven sons to be arrested for murder and treason soon after their father's death. Determined to prove their innocence, Delia secretly travels to London and visits her brothers in prison - only to meet the soldier who arrested them! Sir Geoffrey has dedicated his life to justice and righting wrongs, having himself been betrayed by his uncle for the sake of property and title. The more he sees of the seven brothers he was forced to arrest, the more he is convinced of their innocence, but can he prove it and save them from execution? In a court where it can be impossible to tell friend from foe and justice is frequently violated, will Delia and Geoffrey succeed in their attempts to save her brothers?

This is the first book I've read by the author, but I hope it won't be the last. It's set in a time period that I often tend to avoid for various reasons, but none of them applied in this case. The characters felt real and made me care about them, and the setting was well done - showing the harshness of the time but without overdoing it or including gratuitous violence. My one quibble was the 'sweaters' she was knitting. I wasn't sure when knitting was introduced, but that seems reasonable when I looked into it, but calling an item of clothing sweaters seems a century or few too early - and it jarred somewhat. Nevertheless, it was a good read and I would recommend it not only to young adults but to anyone looking for clean historical fiction.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is not Young Adult fiction...at least not for any intelligent young adults. This book would be fine for someone under age 10, but the writing is extremely simple and I had to force myself to finish it.

I am a scholar of the 13th and 14th century, and this is certainly not historical fiction. She writes as if her characters lived in the 21th century, and I cringed at the historical inconsistencies in this book. She would be better sticking to fantasy where she can create her own consistencies in the world.

I appreciate what Dickerson is trying to do. She wants to write clean fiction with a godly message. But as an author, you also have the impetus to create beautiful stories and to make your writing beautiful too.

A retelling of the fairy tale Seven Swan Brothers. However, the characters are one-dimensional and the plot is way too predictable.

When Delia's life began to fall apart, she didn't sit back hoping for things to get better - she sought to do everything in her power, even if it meant breaking her brothers out of the Tower of London!

Delia had a strong faith - the kind that helps weather storms. However, she did question why bad things happen to good people and it appears that evil men are allowed to prosper. And who doesn't wonder that at least occasionally? The faith message was strong. Another reviewer mentioned having trouble with the timeline - how Delia could have had access to the scriptures and in English. I spent a LOT of time trying to figure that out as well (was very distracted by the story by it). And as the reviewer pointed out, it was possible but not likely.

I liked Delia and Gregory and loved her brothers, especially Edwin and Roland. Their characters were well rounded, with doubts and fears along with their strengths.

While I have loved other books by this author, Court of Swans was more in the "like" category. It was good, just not great.

The story starts us out with the marrying of Delia’s father to Parnella, a young lady about the same age as her. The story jumps ahead a few years to her brothers being arrested for murder and treason. One of the knights in charge of bringing them in is Sir Geoffrey. Delia leaves to visit her Aunt Beatrice whom she hasn’t seen in years and beg for her help, only to be sent to London with letters of referral for her to work around the palace. Throughout the course of the book, as we learn more about her brothers situations, as well as Sir Geoffrey, we meet Sir Elliott, King Richard, his betrothed Anne, Mistress Wattlesbrook, Larissa and a few others. Engaging story that draws you in fairly quickly. It’s set in the 1300’s in England and the surrounding countryside. All the brothers, Delia and Geoffrey are strong characters. I look forward to what is in store for the rest of the series.
A complimentary copy was provided by Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. A review was not required and all thoughts are my own.

A spiritually encouraging retelling of a classic fairy-tale…
Court of Swans is Melanie Dickerson’s opening book in her new series, A Dericott Tale. This clean teen/YA adaptation of The Wild Swans by Hans Christian Andersen, is set in fourteenth century England, a time when power and wealth gave a person significant control and was sought after by unscrupulous means. When the heirs to two families, who were stripped of their land and titles by dubious means, are brought together under tragic circumstances, their faith in God and humanity is put to the test. As Delia and Sir Geoffery work to save Delia’s seven brothers, some still young children, from being executed for treason and murder they find that they are drawn to the goodness they see in the other even as fear and doubt seeks to envelope them.

For the most part, Court of Swans is a highly intriguing and compelling story that keeps you in suspense to the very end. My biggest issue is with Delia, who for a good part of the story is too trusting and naïve, which results in decisions and actions that in that day and age would have ended with far more devastating results. Because I truly did like her and the other secondary characters, I ended up stopping mid-chapter on more than one occasion out of frustration and angst; the thought of a disastrous event due to her actions was very off-putting. Fortunately, I didn’t give up and was rewarded with a happily-ever-after that was believable and satisfying both intellectually and spiritually.

Melanie Dickerson has created a wonderfully entertaining work that is the perfect balance between captivating historical fiction and Christian applications for life. Her biblical ponderings and ruminations fit seamlessly with the plot and are a realistic worldview for people of that time. The life lessons that Delia and Sir Geoffery garner from their trials and the scriptural support and encouragement they receive during those difficult times is uplifting and encouraging for modern day people of all faiths.

A solid 3.5; originally appeared on LitBuzz

Court of Swans is a historical novel written by Melanie Dickerson. It is book one in the A Dericott Tale series.

Summary: Delia’s may be the daughter of a earl, but her life has never been easy. A cold and distant father and a vindictive step-mother make life difficult at best.

But still, Delia loves her tight-knit bond with her seven brothers, and knows that nothing can break the bond they have together. Or can it?

In what seems like the blink of an eye, her father is dead and her brothers are arrested for treason.

Delia is determined to do whatever she can to save them from certain death-even if it means following them to their London prison. Surely, there is SOMETHING she can do……as long as she doesn’t trust the wrong person………

My Thoughts: I liked this book. The plot is unique, there is action and a good mystery, and there is even a bit of romance as well.

It was a very enjoyable read, and I look forward to getting to know the other characters better as the series progresses!

I would like to thank Thomas Nelson for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you!

Court of Swans
by Melanie Dickerson
Book 1 in the Dericott Tales series
Rating: 4/5

I believe I have read every book by Melanie Dickerson and she did not disappoint. Court of Swans is the first book in a brand new series and I was excited to visit the world of 1381 and meet the Dericott family. This particular story is a retelling of The Wild Swans and the author definitely had her own take on the story.

Delia Dericott is the only daughter of the Earl and has lived a fairly sheltered life surrounded by her seven brothers. After her father remarries a horrible woman, she keeps her distance and hopes for the best, especially when she gains a new half-brother. However, her new stepmother has plans of her own. When her father dies suddenly, all her brothers return to the family home (most were off training to be a knight) while they mourn together. Her eldest brother, Edwin, barely has a chance to get used to his new position and title before the king of England's soldiers arrive to arrest all of her brothers for murder and treason. When Sir Geoffrey realizes that the youngest one is but 10 years old, he is unsure why all these brothers are being sent to the Tower of London. Delia is distraught and must find a way to save her brothers. She suspects her stepmother did something but has no evidence. Afraid of what her stepmother might do to her, Delia escapes to her aunt for guidance. Her aunt arranges for Delia to become a seamstress in the king's castle in order to find a way to convince the future queen and young King Richard of her brothers' innocence. Delia finds herself once again confronted with Sir Geoffrey and must find a way to work with him to free her brothers before it's too late. Can Delia trust the man who arrested her brothers? Can she find a way to rescue her brothers and exonerate them?

There's definitely never a lack of drama in Melanie Dickerson's books. lol. I really enjoyed this story of political intrigue set in the late 1300s which is not a time period that I read a lot about. It was interesting to read about the different historical figures and try to get into their head. I finished the book in a few hours and could not put it down. I know I will enjoy getting to know this new family and cannot wait for the next book in the series.

Highly recommend if you enjoy Christian historical fiction with romance and political intrigue.

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.

What I appreciate most about Melanie Dickerson's books is that they immediately draw me into whatever world she is writing about. Melanie also doesn't wait long before the action begins. Court of Swans begins with a wedding, the wedding of Delia's father to a young woman around Delia's age. At least her seven brothers got to come home to attend the wedding. If only their new stepmother wasn't convinced they were all plotting against her. Fast forward several years to the death of Delia's father and the arrest of all seven of her brothers for treason against the king of England. It's up to Delia to find a way to save them.

Delia was a fascinating person. Although all she knew was a life of privilege, she did have seven brothers and could fight for herself. Instead of every male in the book having to rescue her (although several commented that they wished they could have), she repeatedly rescued herself. And although she was passionate about finding justice for her brothers, she deferred to the advice and strategies of others when she saw their wisdom. She also had a good sense of humor which she didn't lose in the midst of danger. She was a little too trusting at first, but she learned and she never gave up. I enjoyed her character and the overall story.

But more than any fairy tale, Court of Swans had the feeling of the book of Esther, in which a powerless girl finds strength from God and family and faces the king. Bravo, Melanie.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and have reviewed it willingly.

I was so caught up in this book from the first page to the last. I was angry at the injustice and suspicious of everyone. I had to get to the end quickly because I had to know what happened! Melanie Dickerson is an amazing writer! Her characters come to life and are well developed. You feel all the emotions they are going through. My heart sped up many times and I had a few “awww” moments. I’m hoping there will be more to this story and I can’t wait to read her next book.

I have to admit I have never read the Fairy Tale this was retold from. I did not have parents who read to me as a child. I did look it up and I will be reading The Wild Swans by Hans Christian Anderson.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the Publisher and was under no obligation to post a favorable review.

2 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

I could not get into this YA Historical Fiction. I didn't like the writing style. It was too basic and didn't flow well. I was disappointed because the description of the book really interested me. This is just my opinion, however, and others may enjoy the book.

This is a classic story, this time set in the late 14th century in England. Delia is the daughter of an earl and has 7 brothers. Her father marries a woman who dislikes the children. The new young wife acts as if she's afraid of them and twists their father's relationship with them. Delia's father and new wife have a son. Three years later the father is killed in a riding accident and shortly after all 7 brothers are accused of treason and locked in the Tower of London.

Delia gets a job in the palace as a lady-in-waiting to be near her brothers and try to figure out a way to clear their names. She runs into the man who arrested her brothers, and although she hates him he is nice to her and tries to help her efforts regarding her brothers.

As I said, I couldn't get into this book, but you may have a different opinion so give it a try. I was given a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Thomas Nelson. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Melanie Dickerson is the queen of clean historical romance. While her books technically fall under the Christian category, they are not preachy, as many Christian fiction books tend to be. The faith is more realistic in the sense that it is a central part of the characters’ lives.

I have loved Melanie’s books so I never hesitate to read her newest releases.

This book had a great message, a questions many of us struggle with, where is God when bad things happen to us? Delia struggled with this throughout the book, wondering why this horrible thing had happened to her brothers as she fought for them.

But, honestly, I almost felt like someone else had written this book. It just didn’t have the same character depth and likeability that Melanie’s others books have. I had to force myself to keep reading because I really didn’t connect with the book. It felt a bit immature. Technically this is YA novel so maybe a middle school or high school student would like this more. This one wasn’t for me though.


A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I have enjoyed many of Melanie Dickerson's fairytale retellings and was excited for this first book in a new series. Court of Swans is loosely fashioned after The Wild Swan and takes place in medieval England. While I did enjoy the book overall, it was not my favorite of Dickerson's novels. I enjoyed the setting and the intrigue/mystery as well as the historical aspects of the monarchy at the time. I was intrigued by the main characters but felt like we didn't really get to know them well - the book is definitely plot driven. And while I always enjoy the faith aspects of Dickerson's books, at times this book seemed a little on the preachy side.

I am excited to read the stories of Delia's brothers as Dickerson continues to be my go-to author for fairytale retellings!

I received a complimentary copy of this book but a positive review was not required.