I have always enjoyed Melanie Dickerson's novels and this one did not disappoint. It was excitement, intrigue, and a sweet love story all wrapped in one. Audrey is a sweet happy girl who has a mad sister named Maris and an inattentive viscount father. Maris is jealous of Audrey because everyone always loves her. She causes Audrey to get burned and with that her chance of a happily ever after.
Edwin has just became Earl of Dericott and recently lost his arm saving his family. He feels useless as a former knight that can hardly ride his horse or use a sword. Together can they make each other whole while Maris tries to pull them apart?

I received a free ebook thanks to net galley in exchange for an unbiased review.
#netgalley #castleofrefuge

Castle of Refuge, by Melanie Dickerson, tells the tale of two young adults who have both suffered grave losses in life. Audrey was pushed into a fire by her sister and is unfortunately left with a scarred face. While defending his youngest brother from a violent attack, Edwin, the Earl Of Dericott, actually losses one of his arms!

When Audrey finds herself in need of a place of safety, she finds refuge in Edwin’s castle. You will soon see a friendship growing between these two. It is interesting to see how Edwin and Audrey reach out to each other, as well as seek God, when their days yet again begin to fill up with danger!

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

I have read many of Melanie Dickerson's books in the past. They are geared more for teen girls, but I enjoyed them anyway. They are clean and positive stories with a twist on fairy tales.

Castle of Refuge was a quick read. It centers around a pretty girl named Audrey. Her father is determined to use her beauty to marry her off to the richest or most important man he can find. Audrey's sister Maris, is not right in the head. In a fit of jealousy, Maris causes a terrible accident that ruins Audrey's looks forever. When her father choose a man old enough to be her father for her husband, Audrey decides to change her fate, and run away.

In a neighboring kingdom, Edwin is the Lord of the Manor. He is determined to rule differently than his father and treat the people under him fairly. He saved his little brother's life a few years before and lost his arm. He feels that no woman will ever love him without both arms. He takes in a bedraggled girl found on his doorstep and allows her to stay and be his servant. But he struggles to understand why he is drawn to a scarred, gentle nobody.

The theme of this novel is definitely inward beauty. Both main characters have a handicap that affects their daily life and self worth. Both know what it is to be stared at or offered pity. But in the end, they realize that every person is uniquely made and indispensable. I think this book is suitable for teens ages 14-17.

This was fun, although a fairly predictable story. I was glad I had read the first book in this new series, Court of Swans, because there were plenty of references to characters and experiences from that tale in this. This book was better because it was a tighter story and more representative of Melanie Dickerson's previous works, but not quite up there with some of her others like Beautiful Pretender or Healer's Apprentice (and the others in those series.) Maybe Melanie Dickerson needs to take a vacation, perhaps even to Germany or England, or somewhere from her books so that she can get more objectivity and inspiration. There were still a few too many loose ends and the plot depended on a few rather unbelievable angles, but overall, it was better.

I love reading stories involving the British Nobility and this story made me fall in love with knights and chivalry all over again. Edwin, Earl of Dericott is my new Knight in shining armor who, despite losing a limb embodies all the attributes of chivalry I've grown to love and then some. Short a limb this ties in with the fairy tale The Ugly Duckling. We meet Audry with the beautiful soul tormented by a jealous sister who intentionally disfigures her. Will these two Ugly Ducklings be able to rise above their disfigurements and find the love only found in fairy tales? I really enjoyed reading this story to find out. Thank you to Melanie and NetGalley for the ARC Copy.

I really enjoyed reading a story about two main characters who each have their own pasts to move on from so they can each grow into their best self. I enjoyed reading about a romance between two people who have disfigurement. Edwin lost an arm in battle and Audrey has scarring and burns on her face. During an era when people were much less inclusive and welcoming to people with differences, these two find a way to overcome their individual struggles in order to make a brighter future for themselves.

The villain in this story was complex and I wasn't entirely sure how to feel about throughout the story. She has some mental health struggles and Audrey is very compassionate, empathetic and understanding of this character's motivations, despite the harm caused throughout the story. Not only was this conflict dark at times but it was also sad to read about this villain.

I enjoyed the romance, enjoyed the two main characters and felt a bit conflicted about the way the villain was portrayed in the story. Thanks to netgalley for an arc of this story, all thoughts are my own.

Very different story. I really despise one of the characters! It was a sort of rough story, dealing with madness/darkness. Audrey is very sweet, and I really like Edwin, but some of the story is a bit hard to read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance e-book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

I love this time period and the story itself is well written. This book is 2nd in a series and can be read as a stand-alone novel, which I appreciate. I feel like this is book is written for younger YA readers with the repetition of thoughts and/or descriptions, however the content itself made me think it was more for slightly older readers with the kissing so many times. I felt like a message was unintentionally sent that "love" meant being kissed. I would like to see "love" by these young characters realized with being listened to, made to feel valued, appreciated for their uniqueness. While they each say things like "you are good," "you are beautiful," "you are kind," there could have been more development of these character's emotions that might help younger readers develop in and of themselves.

While I readily dove into this story and wanted to get back to it when I was doing other things, I found it simple and able to go deeper in the author or publisher intended.

This book was an advance copy from Netgally and the opinions here are my own. I was under no obligation to write a review.

This is the story of Audrey who runs away from her father’s castle following an incident involving her sister leaves her with permanent facial scars. Her situation has also been complicated by her father’s recent declaration that she is to be married off. Following her escape, she is taken in by Lord Dericott who does not recognize her from an encounter years prior. Things are going well for Audrey until her betrothed arrives at Lord Dericott’s castle.

The novel is an ugly duckling retelling and set in England in the late 1370s. I was intrigued to pick-up the novel because I thought it would be an empowering story about a girl who discovers it’s what is on the inside that truly matters. It kind of was but by the end none of the characters changed with respect to their beliefs or expectations.

I think stating this story explicitly took place during a certain year and place in history was a mistake. Many aspects of history at that time were ignored, including those regarding education, peasants and women’s rights. I think if the story had explicitly stated when and where this took place it might have been easier to ignore historical inaccuracies or to imagine it was not historical fiction.

I was mildly offended by the inner musings of the main male protagonist when he used the term “good woman” when considering Audrey’s characteristics and whether she was suitable for marriage. I am confused as to why the author chose to ignore or take creative liberty with aspects of history but made the decision to include this antiquated ideology especially after including progressive ideas for the given time period, such as the education of young girls and Audrey resisting an arranged marriage.

All of the characters were one-dimensional and little development takes place throughout the story. The dialogue lacked creativity and characters delivered the exact lines you would expect them to have said in any particular situation.

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

I love this series. This is Edwin Dericott's story. He is the oldest and was wounded in the first book. He is coming to terms with not having an arm. He comes to understand that it isn't the arm or lack thereof that make the man. He is genuinely loving, kind and good. He meets Audrey who is dealing with her own images of self worth. She comes from a harsh and dangerous situation in regards to her sister, Maris. I won't ruin the book. I will say it was a wonderful book and I would highly recommend it.

I really enjoyed this book. It was exciting throughout, and it kept me up until 2:00 AM when I only meant to read for 15 minutes until 11:00 PM :).
The romance was sweet, and the characters were likeable. (and the “villain” was multi-dimensional) I REALLY appreciated how Audrey was simply honest and communicative multiple times instead of lying or manipulating things “for x’s own good.”, This prevented the often frustrating misunderstandings that seem to prolong books and cause a lot of anxiety.
The one thing that I will say is that the dialogue between Audrey and Edwin was quite stilted. This seems to be a common feature in books set during this time period, which is understandable because I guess things were much more formal then. Nevertheless, I find myself preferring regency novels where there is banter and flirting.
Still, this was a sweet, captivating romance that I thoroughly enjoyed.

In my opinion, Melanie Dickerson is one of the absolute best voices in fiction for young adults today. Her stories are always full of action, excitement and heartwarming moments, but most important of all, they never compromise on faith and Christian belief, and that's a rare thing to find in today's publishing world.

Right from the start, I was pulled right into Castle of Refuge, and could barely bring myself to put it down. Edwin and Audrey are both relatable characters who have been through more than anyone their age should have ever had to go through. Circumstances throw them together when Audrey is found sick and almost unconscious outside Edwin's family castle. The two immediately feel a connection, but she's hiding who she truly is, and Edwin is still unable to accept his new life after the loss of his arm and everything that went along with it.

Through finding friendship with each other, and learning to rely solely on our Heavenly Father's provision and guidance, Audrey and Edwin find their way to a new direction full of possibilities, however, Audrey's sister will stop at nothing to keep Audrey from experiencing the happiness she's determined she doesn't deserve, and dark and dastardly events may soon find their way to Dericott Castle.

Castle of Refuge is an exhilarating adventure from start to finish, and showcases the author's extreme talent in writing medieval fiction. She truly has a voice like no other, and I love how she's taken so many beloved fairy tales over the years and turned them into faith based reads that will appeal to a wide variety of readers. This particular story is beautiful, and has me now wanting to go back and read the first book in the series as soon as possible. I adored this one from start to finish. I highly recommend it to anyone who's a fan of fantasy, medieval fiction, and faith based reads. I'll be highly anticipating the release of book three!

Thanks so much to Thomas Nelson for allowing me to advance read and review this!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Thomas Nelson) in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

(3.5 stars, rounded up)

Trigger warnings: emotional abuse, physical abuse, kidnapping, attempted murder

Audrey is the younger daughter of a country viscount with a domineering, abusive older sister. She lives in fear of her sister Maris until Maris is sent to a convent. Before her departure, Maris tripped Audrey and caused her to fall into the fireplace, leaving Audrey's ear and the side of her face badly scarred.

Audrey had once been her father's hope of a great marriage and was in the process of setting her up with a handsome earl before the burn occurred. Now, she finds herself about to marry a poor knight her father's age. When Audrey finds out that Maris is returning to their estate, she panics and runs away from home. She ends up at the estate of none other than the Earl of Dericott and poses as a servant to hide from her father.

Audrey's former intended -- Edwin, Earl of Dericott -- suffered misfortunes in the previous novel when he was arrested and lost an arm. Will these two people living with their physical and emotional scars be a good match?

Characters from the first book in the series, Court of Swans, make appearances in the second book. Edwin, Earl of Dericott is the eldest brother of Delia from the novel. All the brothers and their sister make appearances in the novel, but they are not the focus of the story.

While not classified as Christian fiction, I would put the book in that category because the characters often think about God's will and frequently pray for their salvation from danger.

Recommended for fans of medieval historical fiction. Parents or librarians looking for Christian-focused YA books for their teens should recommend this book.

Castle of Refuge was quite exciting. It did take me a little while to get into it but once the action began, it was hard to put down.

It’s a story of two scarred people finding each other and loving each other, scars and all. I find that particular storyline so beautiful!

I immediately felt so much sympathy for Audrey. I can’t imagine being so mistreated by someone who is suppose to be your role model and best friend. Throughout the book we see Audrey deal with the insecurities and scars her sister has caused her. She was such a sweet girl and I wanted only a happy ending for her!
I also felt sympathy for Edwin. We saw him lose his arm in the first book and in this book we watch him deal with the affects of only having one arm. While I felt for him, I also admired him.
Watching these two come together was very sweet. I loved that it was slow-burn and clean.

There were some pretty intense scenes and suspense towards the end that kept me flipping pages.

Overall, I liked this second book in the series! While I’m not loving it as much as I did the Hagenheim series (insert heart eyes!), it’s still good.

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

A re-telling of "The Ugly Duckling". Another wonderful fairy-tale retelling by Melanie Dickerson. Even though it's a young adult story, it's enjoyable for all ages. What I like is that the characters are physically perfect people, the 2 main Edwin & Audrey, have physical flaws that they need to over come to realize their worth in the eyes of God. Then of course there's other obsticals to over come such as an indifferent father and a vengeful, abusive, spiteful sister.

I received an ARC copy and all opinions are my own.

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.

Running away from her abusive and unstable sister, Audrey finds herself at the castle of Lord Edwin Dericott. Thrilled to finally be in a safe place she disguises herself as a servant. When Edwin realizes who she is, he vows to protect her. Both of them need to overcome their physical imperfections to believe they are beautiful enough to love. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for my honest review.

Castle of Refuge is an intense book. A great story, but it begins with Audrey, a young girl that lives with her father and crazy sister, and tries to live a simple, uncomplicated life. Her sister, being crazy, causes bodily harm to Audrey, changing all plans for her future. Four years later, she discovers her father's plan to marry her to a man twice her age, and her sister threatens her again, so she runs away from home. She falls sick on the road near Dericott castle, where Edwin, new Duke of Dericott, lives. The two have met in the past, but at first, only Audrey remembers. As they get to know one another, Edwin remembers her, and refuses to return her to her father, knowing how terrified she is of her sister. The story intensifies when her sister appears unexpectedly, and stirs up chaos. Excellent story that kept me enthralled the entire time! Wonderful ending! I loved it!

This sweet, Christian YA retelling of the story of the Ugly Duckling is the second in Melanie Dickerson's new fairytale retelling series. It focuses on Audrey, whose life was marked by the hostility and cruelty of her mentally ill older sister, Maris, and the neglect of her father. When Maris' hatred finally goes too far, Audrey is faced with a choice--enter a loveless marriage or stay home and risk certain danger. So she flees, only to find herself in an even more perilous situation than before, and unexpectedly finds refuge in the home of Lord Edwin Dericott, who bears scars of his own (we first met him in the first book in this series, Court of Swans). Both find themselves drawn to each other, but are still broken, hurting people who struggle to overcome their own respective scars and the lack of trust.

At the outset, Audrey is presented as a sweet girl who dreams of doing extraordinary things. Faith and trust in God are threads throughout the narrative. I found it interesting that Dickerson promoted the idea of romantic love before marriage to such a degree, given the historical setting of the story--when life was more about survival and less about such things. On the other hand, aren't all modern fairy tales about romance in one way or another? I also was surprised to find that, just when I thought I had entered the story's denouement, another conflict arose and had to be resolved. I enjoyed the read as I have Dickerson's other stories, and I would recommend it to Christian readers of all ages, especially lovers of the Young Adult literature range. If you need a great "Happily Ever After," this book (and this author) are for you!

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. #CastleofRefuge #NetGalley

I love a good fairy tale, and Melanie Dickerson always delivers. In Castle of Refuge, Audrey has a formidable enemy, her own sister. Edwin has an unexpected burden to bear. Brought together by Audrey’s desperation to leave home, the two fight the evil that surrounds them. Castle of Refuge is a beautiful tale of hope. Audrey and Edwin must both confront their self-identity and see themselves as those dear to them see them. This story has so many wonderful characters, even the evil Maris. Dickerson does a wonderful job showing why Maris is the way she is and how Audrey loves her sister despite her nasty ways. If you enjoy fairy tales and Medieval times, or a good romance, you’ll love Castle of Refuge. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.