I am really enjoying this new series by Melanie Dickerson. It was fun to catch up with Edwin.
I really appreciated how Dickerson developed what defined the characters' lives based on historical context and how therefore the injury that both Audrey and Edwin sustained from their respective accidents would impact their view of themselves and their role in society. Overall heartwarming story.

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

I should know better by now not to start reading a Melanie Dickerson book in the evening Why? Because it will undoubtedly keep me up until I have finished the entire thing. And, more than likely, I'll make the same mistake next time.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Melanie Dickerson is a master storyteller and her creativity and unique writing ability shines through this latest novel. I dare you to start reading and be able to put it down. Once you get into the first chapter, you are hooked. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Full of intense moments and nail-biting suspense, Melanie Dickerson has crafted a story about what it truly means to be masculine and beautiful aways from the current definition. In many ways, I found myself relating to Audrey and other readers will no doubt be able to identify with one or more characteristics of the characters.

In true Melanie Dickerson fashion, this is a thrilling love story that I won't be able to forget soon. Please, for all the readers out there who want a true love story, look no further than this book.

This book is appropriate for ages 13+ for acts of violence.

Castle of Refuge continues the story of Edwin, Lord Dericott. With great attention to 14th century detail, Melanie Dickerson weaves a tale of service, dedication, love and the willingness to sacrifice for others. By looking to the care and comfort of others, 2 scarred individuals will find a level love they never expected. Months after he and his family fight their way from execution and prove their innocence, Edwin is working on adjusting to life with only 1 arm as he as learns to be the new Earl. Audrey is also working through a difficult situation, how to deal with God's directive to obey and love while living in fear of those who should love and protect her. Her older sister has always loathed her and her father has never protected her. But things have gone too far and now Audrey bares the scars of her sister's hate. When she returns home Audrey sees no hope but to flee. When her path crosses with Edwin, they both start to learn how scars do not have to define a person. But Audrey's sister has not given up her need to punish and hurt Audrey. When put to the test, they will both realize that the outward appearance matters little when their inner strength is what defines them. A great story of how to look past the outer to the most important inner traits. I love Melanie Dickerson's fairy tale retellings, they have great detail that pulls the reader into the story. She brings the past to life with vivid descriptions and captivating characters. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Castle of Refuge is a very well written regency romance. Good plot and character development. I recommend this book.

Castle of Refuge was overall a great story and more along the lines of what I'm come to expect from a Melanie Dickerson book. There was romance, drama, adventure, and suspense. It is a retelling of The Ugly Duckling, which was easy to see as you learned more about the main characters. Both Audrey and Edwin bear scars that make them feel less than others and unlovable. Audrey suffered burn marks to her face caused by her vengeful sister. Edwin is missing one of his arms following injuries he sustained saving his siblings in the first book in this series, Court of Swans.

In my opinion, I enjoyed the overall story and characters better in Castle of Refuge than the previous book. I am a sucker for broody leading men and Edwin certainly is that. He feels like less of a man because of his missing arm. But when Audrey shows up mysteriously at his home and falls seriously ill, he is determined to keep her safe. I also admire Audrey's strength. Sure she has some emotional scars to go alongside the physical ones, but she has a lot of tenacity and an overwhelming desire to do good in the world. This book can be read as a standalone, but is technically book 2 in this series. I don't think a reader would feel lost if they didn't read book 1 first.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and I'm leaving an honest and voluntary review.

Castle of Refuge
by Melanie Dickerson
Book 2 in the Dericott Tales series
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction, Fairytale Retelling
Rating: 4/5

Loosely based on the Ugly Duckling, this beautiful story about acceptance was just what I needed to read today. I am such a huge fan of Melanie Dickerson and she did not disappoint. I really liked how she set up the story. I could feel the main character, Audrey, and her feelings of unworthiness that she grew up with coming from her father and her older sister, Maris. I could feel the malice that Maris held toward her younger sister. As someone interested in psych, Maris would be a fascinating character study, but I also felt Audrey's love for her sister and desire to see her healed. Audrey just desires to belong and be accepted while also pursuing a worthy goal. She finds that by teaching the young girls (no matter their status) to read and write. I also loved seeing how Edwin, the young Earl of Dericott, dealt with the loss of his arm. I didn't think he would have so much trouble with his balance but his darker thoughts were very authentic and relatable. His fear of rejection and fear of being useless was similar to Audrey's fears. They were a perfect couple. Audrey's scars were minimal but still dearly affected her, especially in the eyes of her father. How many times do we allow our scars to define who we are? How many times do we think no one will accept us because we are different? Such a powerful and timely message about unconditional love and the power of belonging!

Highly recommend if you enjoy clean fairytale retellings with a Christian message.

My thanks to the author and publisher 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.

I had trouble putting this book down! I was so caught up in the story and wanting to know how it would end. I’m not sure what I’d do with a sister like Maris! You won’t be disappointed with this book!

Enjoy a story set in the days of English knights and ladies. It took a little while for me to get into the story, but then it had my attention to the end.
The plot is good, but I struggled with the Mavis character. I understand she was abused as a child and may even have been mentally challenged, but I can’t understand catering to and ignoring the underlying issues instead of dealing with them before they escalated so far.
I also felt the author could have laid a more rounded version of Edwin’s situation with his step mother. I understand the author leaving hints here any there, but I still would have appreciated more detail.
In a time that was often a duty to marry whomever was pick for women, it is refreshing to read of a true love story.
I received a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A fabulous retelling of The Ugly Duckling set in 14th Century Medieval England. Melanie Dickerson brings us the next tale in the Dericott series, and it does not disappoint. This is an excellent clean, sweet tale fitting for YA lovers of historical fiction. Audrey and Edwin both discover their intrinsic value and worth and that they are lovely to others because of their heart, not their appearance. Audrey is a sweet girl who has lived through some very trying experiences. Her sister is mad with jealousy and her father doesn’t stand up to protect her very well. Edwin is one of the brothers we met previously who lost his arm and is learning how to live and lead with his new disability. Together, they made a sweet couple who overcome so much conflict and hardships; a true happily ever after. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own, freely given.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Adult Romance, Christian Fiction
Page Count: 336 (Hardcover)
Rating: 0 out of 5 stars
Warnings: A whole lot of really disgusting attitudes towards and descriptions of people with mental disabilities. This novel is ableist as f***.

Quick Look (out of five):
Plot Rating: 0
Character Rating: -
Romance Rating: 1
World-Building Rating: 1
Writing Style Rating: 2
Recommended?: Only if you want to read something with dangerously ableist (discriminatory or prejudiced attitudes towards people with disabilities) depictions that feed into the ways people with disabilities are treated as inferior and undeserving and violent.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book made me vibrate with anger. If I did not feel it was my duty to finish this book for you guys so that I could more fully discuss why it is awful, I would have stopped within the first 20 pages. This novel revolves around an extremely dangerous depiction of disability. The two main characters have some kind of physical disability or disfigurement, and their love story is disability inspiration porn at its finest. The villain is described constantly as having a mental disability which causes her to be violent and cruel. At its core, this novel is about an ableist depiction of ‘good’ disability versus ‘bad’ disability. The novel also works extremely hard to cash in on the emotions of a storyline around two disfigured people finding love, without making either character less than traditionally beautiful and functional. All of this is tied up in overarching Christianity that I am not religious enough to untangle. There is so much to unpack, that I will not be doing a traditional “Spoilers” section. Instead, after the analysis of the overall novel, I will delve into the common disability stereotypes in media, the way this novel uses them, and why they are very, very dangerous.

Set in the late Middle Ages, Castle of Refuge follows Audrey, our perfectly beautiful and good heroine. At the start of the novel, Audrey is 15-years-old and her father wants to begin talks to marry her off to Lord Dericott’s son Edwin. However, her older sister Maris, in a fit of jealousy, trips Audrey into a fire. Though left with mild burns, her father decides her marriage prospects are significantly lowered and stops pursuing a match for her. Maris is sent to a convent and four years pass. Audrey, now 19, discovers her father intends to marry her to a knight more than twice her age and that her sister is returning home. Desperate to escape a loveless match and her older sister’s cruelty, Audrey flees. She ends up at Dericott castle, working as a maid to the man she was supposed to marry four years ago.

Audrey does not feel 19-years-old to me, often acting childlike and impulsive. Audrey develops more of a personality as the novel progresses, but in the beginning she is a caricature of the perfect woman. Her ‘personality’ is good, pious, patient, forgiving, unfailingly kind, cheerful, and beautiful – she is the archetype of the patriarchal ‘perfect’ woman in every way. Audrey dreams of doing something to leave a mark on the world, something important and grand, such as teaching girls to read. The longer Audrey is away from the constant fear she experiences around Maris, the more she gains confidence and a personality. Never enough to make her anything less than the ideal woman, though. Audrey’s scars are described as marring one ear and extending the width of two fingers onto her face and are easily hidden with her hair. Audrey’s storyline is clearly supposed to be about someone scarred and considered ugly finding someone who loves her anyways. However, it feels cheapened in too many ways. Audrey’s scars are never described as enough to mar her perfect beauty. Edwin, our romantic interest, thinks to himself how unfair it is that such a beautiful, kind woman has scars, as though scars are only meant for ugly, mean women. That her beauty overcomes them. Not that he does not see them or does not find them ugly, but that she is beautiful enough to compensate for them. It creates the sense that this is the amount of disfiguration that can be overlooked on a woman, that any increased disfigurement being ‘overlooked’ would be too unbelievable. The aim is to craft a character storyline that shows a man who finds a scarred woman beautiful despite her being considered ugly, and falling in love with her personality and scars. What we get is a woman who is conventionally beautiful having a slight ‘issue’ with her appearance overlooked, presented as some kind of inspirational story about broken people falling in love.

Edwin has even less personality than Audrey, somehow. He is 19 at the beginning of the novel, and 23 when Audrey works for him incognito. He recently lost his arm protecting his brothers during their time in the Tower of London after falsely being accused of treason. I was hopeful that the novel would delve into the feelings of loss and the struggle to adapt to a new way of life in a nuanced and realistic way. At first, there are moments that show Edwin struggling with balance and walking much slower than others while he adjusts to having only one arm. However, by the middle of the novel, these moment of Edwin actually experiencing the disability that comes from having one arm in a world designed for people with two vanish. He is suddenly riding his horse at a gallop, when a week ago balancing on a horse walking was difficult. Edwin is wielding his sword with perfect skill, despite the fact that he would need to retrain his body to perform these motions with a different center of balance. We never see Edwin doing the hard work of relearning things he used to take for granted. The only depictions of Edwin’s struggle that remain are his emotional struggles. Edwin regularly thinks of himself as “half a man” who must conquer his weakness and refuses to use a walking stick. This is fine as a starting point during a journey of adaptation, but it only changes when the disabilities that come with one arm vanish from the narrative.

Maris is a disgusting, ableist caricature of mental disability. To start with, the only evidence given by the narrative and the other characters for why Maris is “touched in the head” (one of many terrible euphemisms used in the novel) is that she is violent and cruel. This pulls from the damaging stereotype of those with mental disabilities as inherently dangerous and violent. Maris is presented as evil incarnate. She has no good qualities and is motivated only by hatred and jealousy, the stereotypical cartoon villain. The most disgusting part of Maris’s character is her backstory, which is used to explain away and justify her actions. When Audrey was born, a nursemaid was hired to take care of the children. The nursemaid doted on Audrey and physically abused Maris for three years before her actions were discovered and she was fired. Audrey describes how this experience clearly “altered [Maris’s] mind” and is the root cause of her hatred and anger issues. Physical abuse as a child can cause lasting trauma, but painting this as the reason for Maris’s villainy is awful. It is supposed to make the reader pity Maris, as Audrey does, and create a sense of empathy that dulls the edge of Maris’s cruelty. This depiction of abuse leading to mental disability pulls from multiple dangerous stereotypes about both groups and paints them as deserving of pity and less capable. Further, the novel creates a dichotomy of good and evil with different types of disability depicted as naturally falling to one side or the other. It is the ‘good’ disability of physical disability/disfigurement (Edwin’s lost arm and Audrey’s burns) versus the ‘bad’ disability of mental disability.

Despite being a romance novel, the romantic plotline feels bland. There is never any sense of the characters falling in love. The narrative observes moments where the characters have growing feelings, but in a way that does not feel believable. Audrey is already in love with Edwin by the time she meets him, simply because she saw him once four years ago and was supposed to marry him. There is never any sense of romantic tension when they are together. Other characters comment upon this ‘tension’ but the reader never sees it. We do not see Audrey and Edwin engage in very many serious conversations that bring them closer together. Some of the blandness of the romance comes from the fact that these characters are boring, and some of it comes from a lack of romantic moments between Audrey and Edwin.

This novel is very loosely set in the late Middle Ages. The main elements are there, such as lords with field workers beholden to them and fewer options for women. However, the setting offers no true constraints or color to the novel. It feels like a prettified vision of how the Middle Ages were, with anything that does not fit with what the author wants tossed aside. It does not feel like the author did very much research about the Middle Ages. Scars were not uncommon during this time period. There were wars, not great medicine, and a lack of understanding of how disease spread, making it difficult to stop. Peasants engaged in hard labor and had poor nutrition. Disfigurement and scars would not have stood out in the way the author presents them, nor were people so superstitious that they would think scars the sign of the Devil. The time period setting is not well-crafted or accurate. This means that all of the disability representation cannot be written off as a product of the time period (nor would that be an acceptable excuse no matter what). For example, Audrey is able to travel quite far on her own. She is robbed, but none of the robbers with “evil in their eyes” touch her. She is allowed to run wild through flower fields and befriend people in the village nearby, something no women of good birth over 12 would be allowed to do. The fashion and social customs are vaguely accurate, but again they bend into whatever the author wants them to be.

The writing style is fine. It feels like the author is attempting to recreate how they believe people spoke during the Middle Ages. However, it just makes the dialogue feel clunky, like puppets talking without emotion behind them. It also is not accurate in any way. The actual words used in the late Middle Ages might be different than those used by modern speakers, but they did not speak in formal and unnatural tones. The plot, like the dialogue, is stilted. The narrative tension is poorly held, and most of the struggles the characters face are overcome too easily. Maris causes problems throughout the novel, in a way that begins to feel boring and repetitive in nature. Her actions do not feel like they come from personal feelings and wants. Maris’s actions and desires are designed to move Audrey’s plot forward, making Maris’s actions feel heavy-handed and flat. Further, the author does too much telling and not enough showing. We are told that Audrey loves learning and is smart. We are also told that this woman who loves to read histories has named her horse Blackie. Considering the lifespan of horses, Audrey named him when she was old enough to have a favorite figure in history that she named him after. Blackie is the name a child gives an animal, not a woman who is presented as intelligent and interested in history.

I do not say this lightly, I feel this novel should be boycotted. It somehow manages to present every single negative stereotype of mental disability. The attitude of the narrative conveys a sense of judgement and dehumanization toward people with mental conditions. The novel has terrible representation of physical and mental disabilities and exists solely for the enjoyment of an able-bodied audience. I have read books I dislike for various reasons, but I have never read a book I hated the way I hate this one. As someone with a disability, reading this novel made my skin crawl. Castle of Refuge is a disgusting and dangerous depiction of disability that should never have been published.

DISCUSSION

Ableism is defined as discrimination or prejudice against individuals with disabilities. Disability is the experience of decreased ability level due to a person functioning in a way that society is not set up to accommodate. This novel presents a façade of disability representation that falls apart very quickly. The author crafts a story that hinges around the inherent evil of people with mental disabilities. Instead of simply having an ‘evil stepsister’ type villain, the author tries to have her cake and eat it too. Maris is vicious and cruel, but it is not her fault because she is “touched in the head”. This is damaging disability representation in two ways. First, the only evidence presented to prove Maris is “mad” is her violent behavior. There is not a single mental disability that can be diagnosed by the presence of cruelty. Rather than pulling from accurate information about mental disabilities, the author instead presents a character based solely on dangerous and inaccurate stereotypes. Second, it leans into this idea that people with mental disabilities are less capable and deserving of pity. It dehumanizes those who are different, showing their differences as something sad. In this novel, this attitude intertwines with religious ideas of everything being the work of God. However, it is Audrey who experiences this. She thinks of Maris’s cruelty and mental instability as something done to her as a test or something to overcome. It does not center Maris in her own life and instead makes her an ornament in Audrey’s. Her personhood is stolen by the narrative in the ways Maris’s “madness” is discussed and presented, and the ways in which Maris’s actions always revolve around Audrey’s storyline.

These stereotypes have real-world consequences. They are the reason people get scared and call the cops if homeless people are ‘acting strange’. They are why interactions between those with mental disabilities and the cops so often end in tragedy, especially if that person is also a person of color. They are the reason that people with mental disabilities are fired from jobs and discriminated against. I had a teacher who had revealed that they had bipolar during a class discussion beg our class not to say anything, for fear that they would be fired. I myself have faced discrimination due to my disability. Teachers have made me cry in the ways they belittle me or refuse to believe that I need certain accommodations in order to survive. The world is incredibly dangerous for people with disabilities, and this book pushes forward the exact kind of attitude that makes everything more unsafe.

The lack of disability representation and the presence of many harmful depictions of those with disabilities is extremely prevalent in literature. Disabled activists and authors often comment on the ways in which their experience is erased. The few instances depicting disability that are found in pop culture are designed to appeal to able-bodied audiences. They are disability inspiration porn stories. For example, many, many people have written about the ways in which the highly popular film and book Me Before You, encapsulates this genre perfectly. The story is about an able-bodied woman finding herself through working with someone with a disability. The disabled character is robbed of his voice at every turn – the novel does not feature a single chapter from his point of view. Everything is about the able-bodied protagonist, with the disabled character merely a tool and place where she works through a process of self-discovery. Maris fulfills a very similar role in this novel. All of Maris’s actions are for the purpose of driving Audrey’s story. Any information we learn about Maris comes from outside of her and is the product of people speculating and assuming. The author uses Maris as a tool in Audrey’s story, one that is immediately removed from the narrative once her usefulness is over.

Edwin, our other disabled character, is presented very differently from Maris. Yet his representation also falls into the category of ‘bad representation’. His disability is represented haphazardly at best. He only experiences physical impairment when the narrative wants to create sympathy for him. However, it vanishes when the narrative needs Edwin to fulfill the role of male rescuer for Audrey. For example, at one point they have to crawl deeper into a small cave behind a waterfall. This is simply accomplished; there is no discussion of how Edwin crawls into a cave with one arm. It would be more difficult and would require movements that would not read as befitting a ‘dashing masculine hero’ – so it is simply excluded. Edwin’s representation falls into the category of white male protagonist who ‘overcomes’ a disability through great struggle and endurance and goes back to how life was before. This paints disability as something negative that must be overcome and as something unheroic and unmanly. Edwin serves to allow able-bodied people to pity and sympathize with someone with a disability, and then to experience joy at their ‘great triumph’. It is not about crafting a story that feels authentic to a disabled audience or to create an ending triumph that does not minimize their experience. It is disabled achievement written exclusively for able-bodied enjoyment – what is often referred to as disability inspiration porn.

In this novel, Audrey is supposed to elicit pity due to her burns. However, Audrey is still conventionally beautiful – the author makes sure not to scar her enough to be always noticeable or actually disfiguring. The novel is trying to capitalize on this sense of instant pity for those who are disfigured without making its heroine less conventionally perfect. At the same time, it is pitting Audrey against Maris, physical disfigurement that should be pitied versus inherently evil mental disability. The narrative is using the two stereotypes of disability/disfigurement against one another, creating the sense that one is better. In Audrey and Edwin, the novel is trying to have an inspirational story of two ‘ugly’ people finding love while also demonizing neurodivergence, all without actually having to feature depictions of the protagonists as different from the able-bodied audience.

The author must feel the need to get their hands into all the ableist pies, because there is also representation of people with mental disabilities as childlike. Joan, a servant girl, is described as childlike by Audrey, although there is absolutely no evidence of this presented to the reader. Audrey thinks that Joan is so childlike that she must be “a little addled”. Again, like with Maris, the only evidence given that Joan must be mentally disabled is this childlike behavior. This stereotype dehumanizes people with mental disabilities and presents them as naturally underdeveloped and in need of assistance. Joan’s mental disability is used to demonstrate how kind and patient Audrey is. Edwin notices that Audrey singles out Joan in conversation more than the other girls, and is surprised since people find Joan to be slow and strange. It is evidence of Audrey’s shining character that she would charitably go out of her way to befriend Joan.

Finally, this novel falls into the category of media filled with disabled villains. This is one of the most common ways people with disabilities and disfigurement are depicted. For example, in the movie Wonder Woman, the female poisoner working for the Germans has intense facial disfigurement as a result of an experiment gone wrong. She cites the way able-bodied people treat her as the reason she wants to work for this German general who treats her well. This woman is not seizing control of her destiny and sticking it to the man. At best, she is manipulated into doing terrible things due to a need for outside praise. At worst, her disfigurement is used to make the audience pity her, thus blurring the lines between ‘good’ and ‘evil’ without having to do any work. Disfigurement and disability are used to both make the villain pitiable and to demonstrate that they are unsalvageable. It is an outward presentation that symbolizes inward evil. In particular, this novel uses Maris’s “madness” to demonstrate that she cannot change and that Audrey is right to shun and pity her. It is dehumanizing and creates mental disability and demonstration of difference into something dangerous and evil.

I cannot express how difficult it was to read this book. As someone in the disabled community, the depictions of people with disabilities in this novel cut life a knife. It is incredibly harmful to read about people like you and see them presented as inherently inferior and evil. I see myself in literature so rarely, that each disabled character is asked to carry more representational weight than is probably fair. However, the characters in this novel did not just fall short of high expectations. They did not even meet my lowest expectations of representation that is inaccurate, but clearly trying. I reacted to this book with anger, because allowing the hurt this novel caused to register would have felt devastating. It brought up unpleasant memories of every time I was made to feel guilty about the ways in which my disability slightly inconvenienced someone else. No one should read this book, but especially those with disabilities. I imagine that, just as it was for me, reading this novel would be extremely triggering for someone with a disability.

I always enjoy Melanie Dickerson’s fairy tale retellings, and this particular revisiting of the classic Ugly Duckling story was no exception. I love how she brings these sometimes goofy little stories to life by weaving them into the fabric of historical fiction, in this case using the thread of Richard II and the Peasant’s Revolt to give authenticity to her tale.

But this story was more than just a lovely work of historical fiction. It was a wonderful reminder that God uses every bit of us, even our scars (whether physical or emotional) to work all things for the good of those who love Him. The song “Beautifully Broken” by Plumb kept playing in my head while I read this story, pointing out that what we see as broken in us, God sees as beautiful when covered by His mercy and grace.

It was a wonderful read, and I recommend you pick up your own copy of Castle of Refuge, book 2 of the Dericott Tales by Melanie Dickerson.

Many thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley for the digital copy of this novel for review purposes. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my very own! 🙂

Audrey longs for a chance to make a shining difference in the world. Just when it appears that might be happening, her cruel sister causes an injury which disfigures Audrey and tears down her hopes and dreams for the future.

Edwin knows a thing or two about disfigurement. In Court of Swans, the first book in this series, he lost his arm trying to save himself and his brothers from execution after being falsely accused of murder. Adjusting to life with one arm, when before he had been an able-bodied knight, has proved a challenge.

When Audrey runs away from home to save herself from an unwanted marriage, she collapses, sick and weary, on Edwin's property. The two of them see a spark of familiar pain in the eyes of the other, and together seek to protect themselves and those they love from the machinations of Audrey's evil sister Maris.

I really enjoyed the first half this book. Audrey was a bright light, even with all that she'd gone through. I noted down a few quotes from the book, including this one from Chapter 8: "God must have a reason for allowing her scars." I think many of us, whether our scars are external or internal, can relate to wondering how God can choose to work through the pain we've gone through and the scars we've collected. In the second half of this book, the emotions got a little overwrought for my taste, with a lot of crying as dangerous events unfolded. Overall, I do think this is a valuable book for a young adult audience, as it teaches that our woundings and limitations do not define who we are, and that God still has a wonderful plan for our lives even when we might think we've lost our chance for it.

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

While fleeing a sister who hates and resents her so much that she has already harmed her once, as well as a marriage to an older knight, Audrey falls ill outside Edwin's castle. He takes her in and nurses her back to health, but fails to recognise her as the girl her father had briefly talked of offering him in marriage several years earlier - the incident which led to her sister attacking her, leaving scars on one side of her face. While Audrey recognises him, she is afraid to tell him who she is lest she be sent back to her father. Can she learn to see past her scars to find happiness? And will the castle be her refuge, or will her sister find her even there and destroy her happiness again, more permanently?

I'm a little conflicted on how to review this. I really enjoyed the story overall, but it was partly spoiled for me by Maris - she's just so pervasively and malevolently evil. There are probably people like that in the world, but I must confess to finding them rather uncomfortable sorts of characters. That aside, the story is clean and well written, somewhat but not overly predictable, and it was good to see more of what happened to Edwin following the loss of his arm in the first book in the series. Note that, while part of a series, this can be read on its own without problems - though I'm interested to hear more of the rest of the family in future books.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

Talk about swoonworthy!! Aaaahhh! This book is absolutely fantastic!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, and my opinion is: This is a 5 star must read!!

After having read Court of Swans by Melanie Dickerson, book 1 in the Dericott Tales series, I was thrilled to read Castle of Refuge. This is an Ugly Duckling retelling, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!! You won't want to delay purchasing it if your heart is already held captive by the Dericott family from book 1.

This book features Edwin, Lord Dericott, who lost his arm in book 1. This handicap totally endears him to the reader and makes him absolutely irresistible...IMO. And Audrey, the poor dear, has suffered much abuse at the hands of her older sister. Man! The struggle, the tension, the realness of Maris's (Audrey's sister) madness made me wonder if the author has had personal experiences; it was incredibly written!! I felt myself getting quite anxious at times!!

This book will put you through the wringer washer! I couldn't read the pages fast enough. I'm not a fingernail biter, but this book certainly could have turned me into one temporarily.

Yet another of Melanie’s fairytale retellings! This one is a retelling of The Ugly Duckling & I really enjoyed the characterisation of the two scarred MCs. Both carry physical scars - Audrey has burn scars & Edwin has a missing arm (if you want to know how he lost his arm, you’ll have to read the first book in this series - Court of Swans - but otherwise this novel can totally be read as a standalone. However, knowing the background makes the story so much richer), but they both carry deeper psychological scars also.

Maris was a fascinating and unique antagonist & the suspense was full on. This book once again, just like the first in the Dericott series, reminds me of a YA version of an Abigail Wilson book. It has that same perfect mix of historical feel (although this is medieval rather than Regency) and suspense.

I really enjoyed it, and highly recommend this one if you love historical (either medieval or Regency) and/or YA!

And it’s put me in the mood for more historical suspense, so expect another review from that genre soon!

Thanks @tnzfiction and @netgalley for the ARC. I was only required to provide an honest review in return, and here it is!

I really enjoyed this one. This was my first book by this author but will not be my last, in fact I immediately got another of hers upon finishing Castle of Refuge!

Check this one out if you are in the mood for:
❤ Tender, clean romance
📖 Super readable prose
😈 Villainous sister drama
🏰 That special fairytale mood
🗡 Action!

Thank you NetGalley, author Melanie Dickerson, and publisher Thomas Nelson for giving me a free arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
5 stars
Melanie Dickerson returns with yet another fairy tale retelling, this time The Ugly Duckling.
This book follows a nobleman's daughter named Audrey, who has been at the mercy of her evil older sister since the lost of their mother. As Audrey reaches the marriageable age of fifteen, her father has arranged her marriage to a second son of an earl. But due to Audrey's older sister's jealous, she suffered an accident that left her with burn facial scars and a deeper fear of her sister.
Edwin lost an arm while escaping the Tower of London and feels he can no longer be the man he used to be so proud of. Fate will put both of this scarred souls on the same path of healing and faith with the most unlikely circumstances.
The first couple of chapters were slow, but laid great groundwork for a fantastic story overall. I loved how caring both the main characters were despite all they have gone through and had to overcome. The pacing and the writing were beautiful, which made for a very enjoyable read that could be finished in one sitting! Her stories are always heartwarming and tender! Overall, this was another great book and I can't wait for the next book in this series!

I love Melanie Dickerson's writing, but again this new series is falling flat for me. This is about Edwin, who we met in the previous book. He lost his arm and is now trying to move on with his life. The heroine is Audrey who has been severely abused by her sister.

I felt that the characters were very surface, the conversation stilted, the story line not real enough. Perhaps this is being written for a much younger audience.

Castle of Refuge
by Melanie Dickerson
Thomas Nelson--FICTION
You Like Them You Are Auto-Approved
Thomas Nelson
Christian | Teens & YA
Pub Date 01 Jun 2021 | Archive Date 01 Jul 2021

Melanie Dickerson returns with yet another fairy tale retelling, this time The Ugly Duckling. This is a great book for Christian/Teens and YA. I liked Melanie's approach and feel YA will appreciate looking below the surface for beauty. Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for this ARC.

5 star

The Castle of Refuge is the second book in Melanie Dickerson's latest series; The Dericott Tales. This was my first time reading anything by this author, as well as the first time in years that I've read young adult fiction.

The youngest daughter of a viscount, Audrey has always longed for a way to do more with her life than merely to marry and have children. She lives in fear of her older sister, Maris, after a lifetime of cruelty that escalated into Audrey suffering severe burns at the hands of her sister. When she learns that Maris is returning after four years in exile, Audrey knows she has to get away if she is to survive--and avoid marrying a man old enough to be her father. Lord Edward Dericott is struggling to adjust to life without one of his limbs. After all, what good is a knight with only one arm, especially if he can't ride a horse without falling? What will happen when Audrey stumbles across his home while searching for refuge? Can these two scarred people find trust, comfort, and love in each other's company?

I loved the way this story unfolded. Both the heroine and hero worked hard to overcome the challenges life had thrown their ways. The romance side of the tale was enjoyable, and the main characters had great chemistry. . I really appreciated the strong faith aspect. All in all, Castle of Refuge is an incredible and very believable story. You won't regret taking the time to read this one. This may have been my first venture into Dickerson's novels, but it certainly won't be my last!

*I received a complimentary copy of Castle of Refuge through the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. My positive review is not required.