I liked this story! The characters, especially the grandmother, were interesting, and I enjoyed the journey. I also enjoyed the faith content throughout this book and how the characters sought to live with integrity and dependence on God. I enjoyed the fairy tale retelling.

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Cloak of Scarlet
by Melanie Dickerson
Pub Date 15 Aug 2023
Thomas Nelson--FICTION,Thomas Nelson
Christian| Historical Fiction| Teens & YA


Thomas Nelson-Fiction and Netgalley sent me a copy of The Cloak of Scarlet for review:


It was never Violet Lambton's intention to be anything but average. With her faith, her books, and her baking . . . and the vivid red cloak her grandmother gave her, she lives a comfortable life in her small medieval village. There is only one thing she dreams of: finding a love that is pure and true. The villainous Baron Dunham then robs her grandmother. As Violet finds herself in the middle of the action, she is determined to stop the evil baron from mistreating the hardworking people.



Baron Dunham's knight Sir Merek has dedicated his life to fighting injustice and defending the weak. After meeting Violet and discovering the depths of the baron's treachery, he realizes that serving his employer does not mean serving the kingdom—so he sets out on a daring journey to expose the baron's deceitfulness to the king behind the baron's back.


Violet is captured and brought directly to Dunham-where she discovers a secret that shocks her entire world . . . and her dreams for the future. Having been thrown together in the baron's quarters, Violet and Merek must learn to trust each other in order to expose Dunham's treachery to the king, all while succumbing to their growing feelings for one another. Is there a chance for the two to find their happily ever after despite all odds, or will the wolves drive them apart?



Melanie Dickerson presents a thrilling retelling of "Little Red Riding Hood" where two hearts must learn to trust each other in order to save their kingdom.


I am reviewing a copy of Cloak of Secrets five out of five stars!

I very much enjoy Melanie's books! They all have an aspect of faith which I think isn't talked about enough and so I really appreciate that. This story is once again cute! I loved the slight little red ridinghood references. My one hang up was this felt very similar to the other books in this series. Yes this brother is a bit different from the rest, but it still seems like a very similar story being retold with different characters. I haven't felt that way in her other series and so I'm not sure what exactly is causing this. I appreciated the cooperation that occured in this book and everything didn't fall completely onto the shoulders of our hero and heroine. The triangle of responsibility felt quite balanced and worked super well!

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

Cloak of Scarlet - Melanie Dickerson - 3.5 rounded up to 4 Stars - Little Red Riding Hood Retelling (Book #5 in The Dericott Tales but can be read as a Standalone.)

I always enjoy my time reading these YA medieval fairytale retellings in this series. This one was a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. They have enough of the basics of the retelling to be a retelling but also enough of a twist to be their own stories - I always like that. They are always lighthearted and just what I need for the time.

Set in the late 1300s in England, we follow Violet, who was adopted and loves to visit her grandmother in her red cloak. Violet's grandmother is robbed by the villain, Baron Dunham. Violet finds herself in the middle of an action packed story and will do anything to stop the Baron from mistreating her people and stealing from them. We see Sir Merek come in, who is a knight of the Baron, but when he meets Violet, he discovers what the Baron has been doing and just how evil he really is. Sir Merek and Violet work together to stop him, while getting to know one another along the way.

This was a lot of fun and I really liked our characters and the faith content sprinkled throughout was really nice to see. I don't think I truly connected with Violet and Sir Merek like I have some of the other characters throughout this series, but I thought they were good in this story. The family drama in this one was a nice twist.

Excited to see what comes next in this series! Thank you to the publisher for sending a complimentary copy to honestly read and review. All opinions are my own.

A sweet and fresh twist on Red Riding Hood, A Cloak of Scarlet reimagines a classic.

I enjoyed the depth of the characters and plot. A few twists kept the story's momentum going and even surprised me. I found the romance in the story to be cute, and my favorite aspect of the book.

However, while I enjoyed this read, I found it difficult to be invested in the story and could not immersive myself in the reading. I had to put it down too many times, which disappointed me. I do believe that while this particular book did not work for me, it had more to do with my personal preference rather than the quality of writing.

I do believe that the right reader will love this story.

I love anything Melanie Dickerson writes and this book does not disappoint.
Cloak of Scarlet is the fifth book in the Derricott series and is a Little Red Riding Hood retelling.
I love fairytale retellings and this one was captivating from the start.
This book is full of action, interesting, well-developed characters, a sweet romance and an exciting plot.
Overall, I really enjoyed this retelling and will continue to read anything Melanie Dickerson writes.
Highly recommend.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC copy.

Cloak of Scarlet is another fun, adventurous installment in Melanie Dickerson’s Dericott Tale series. There’s intrigue, imprisonment, escape from imprisonment, thievery, shocking secrets, and romance. What more could a book ask for? While these books can be read alone, I’m definitely invested in this series and the siblings it follows. There’s enough background provided to not feel lost with the other books, but I enjoy getting to see characters from previous books make appearances in each new book.

At first, Violet was a tad much to handle. She was so determined to charge forward a bit recklessly and was consistently rude to Merek, who kept insisting he was trying to help her. Though, I guess it is justifiable to feel a little salty when you’re forced to leave your home as you’re being watched over by two knights to be taken to a nobleman who has been acting less than noble. Also in her defense, Merek was also a bit of a hot head. Over time, they were both able to let go of some hostile feelings and learn to trust each other until the hostility was gone, replaced by attraction and love. It’s also great to watch our main antagonist eventually get his comeuppance. Overall this is a fun series that has hints of fairy tale retellings.

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

Melanie Dickerson writes the kind of grown up fairytales that would thrill the wives of the Brothers Grimm. Cloak of Scarlet has a a realism that makes it relatable, even to those of us who didn’t live through the historical time period in which it is set. The hefty helping of intrigue and turmoil of a love that shouldn’t be work together to keep the reader engaged all the way through to the satisfying and happy ending.

Another enjoyable story in Melanie Dickerson’s Derricott Tales! I love fairytale retellings and Cloak of Scarlet is a clever retelling of Little Red Riding Hood; although there were also parts that reminded me a little of Disney’s version of Robin Hood. Set in the late 1300’s in medieval England, this delightful tale has a clean yet passionate romance, chivalrous knights, a dastardly villain, and plenty of action as one brave young woman risks everything to protect her family and village.

Adopted into a loving family, Violet’s content to read her precious books, bake, and visit her grandmother in her beautiful red cloak. She’s a faithful daughter who longs for true love. When her grandmother and others are threatened by the ruthless Baron Dunham, Violet determines to expose his deceitfulness & mistreatment of his people to the king.

Sir Merek is a knight working for the evil baron. When he meets Violet and realizes the man he’s working for is dishonorable, he and Violet play a dangerous game trying to discover evidence of the baron’s corruption. But when Violet learns a shocking secret and is taken to the baron’s castle, Merek tries to do all in his power to find the proof and get it to the king before it’s too late.

Loved the way the author created a unique, romantic retelling with enough nods to the original that the characters were easily identifiable with their fairytale counterparts. I enjoyed Violet & Merek. Violet’s not afraid to stand up for what she believes in and is willing to risk everything to protect those she loves. I loved her spunk and courage. I also thought she was a great role model for young women who think they have to settle when it comes to romance. I loved the wise advice Violet’s grandmother gave her and the way she bolstered her faith.

Merek has a bit of a temper and was in need of humbling. When he meets Violet, he finds a kindred spirit in fighting for justice. He isn’t sure at first if Violet returns his feelings, and I liked watching their relationship progress throughout the story. I loved the disguises he used to be near her.

Baron Durham is one nasty villain easily comparable to the big bad wolf. There’s another morally gray character who is more pompous than villainous. It’ll be interesting to see if he shows up in future stories.

Highly recommend this action-packed, enjoyable YA fairytale retelling! It’s a romantic, faith-filled story perfect for younger teens and up. Though it’s helpful if you’ve read the previous books in the series, it can definitely be read as a standalone. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily given. 4-4 1/2 stars

CW: brief mention of a sexual assault, mild violence, clean romance only kissing.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 out of 5 stars.

Received for review: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley.

My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I have loved Melanie Dickerson's books for a long time, so I went in with high expectations. She always creates characters I can't help but fall in love with against wonderful historical backdrops. She also always weaves in her faith elements so naturally. I particularly love her fairy tale retelling books, so I was super excited to read this one.

This one contained many elements I have come to associate with Dickerson, and this was a creative and unforced spin on Red Riding Hood. I thought Merek and Violet had great potential, but I didn't get swept into their stories or relationship like I normally do. This wasn't Dickerson's best. I'm still glad I read it, and it was enjoyable. Just didn't live up to my expectations for a Dickerson novel. But if you've enjoyed her other books, give this one a go.

Love,

Danica Page

Melanie Dickerson has been a favourite author of mine for years now. It all started with The Captive Maiden, which was soon followed by the rest of the Hagenheim books. The minute I hear about a new book from her, I pre-order it on my kindle, so it's no surprise that when I got accepted for this eARC, I was overjoyed.

Cloak of Scarlet is the latest instalment in the Dericott Tales and definitely lives up to the previous ones. If anything, it may be one of my favourite in the series so far. In this Red Riding Hood retelling, we are introduced to Violet who was orphaned at a young age upon her mother's passing and who was then adopted by a lovely family. Her grandmother may be one of my favourite characters. And of course, in comes Sir Merek, a knight in the king's service who has come to serve under a baron near Violet's village. Now, here's what I love about Dickerson's retellings: they are rarely so close to the original tale that you can't differentiate them. It's like the tale is a starting point and then the story goes wherever it needs to go, no matter how different it is from the original tale, still with some little references to the tale.

Reading through this series has reminded me how much I love Dickerson's books. They are such lobely and easy reads that will keep you on the edge of your seat and yet also manage to make you sigh because adorable! I loved this book and am very much looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

I enjoyed everything about this story! I think the Grandmother was my favorite side character!

*note - can be read as a stand alone

I received an ARC through Netgalley and all opinions are my own.

Cloak of Scarlet is the fifth book in the Derricott Tales series and the third I’ve read. They don’t need to be read in any particular order; the only “spoiler” you’ll get about the previous books is that the main characters live happily ever after. They’d better! After all, this is a romance series. I loved the two I read before this, and I love this one!

Melanie Dickerson writes in such a way that immerses you right into the story. Once I start reading her tales, I don’t want to stop. Cloak of Scarlet is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, and of the three I’ve read, I think this one was the best retelling!

I loved the characters and their interactions. Violet is very close to her grandmother, and so was I which made it easy for me to relate to her. She’s also headstrong and knows her own mind. Also me. Don’t call it stubborn! Sir Merek is an honorable man who wants to be a champion for the poor and helpless. He strongly believes in doing what is right and hates injustice. Of course, he’s a handsome knight which makes him an even more swoon-worthy hero. The side characters are well-written and add to the story. They’re not just thrown in as filler.

I really enjoyed this exciting, well-written book! If you love Christian romance, I definitely recommend giving Cloak of Scarlet a read!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my word.

Other than the cover being absolutely amazing, this book had me turning pages until the very end with its twists and turns.

As I have established previously, I’m not a huge fan of historical romance but I keep coming back to Melanie Dickerson time and time again and this one is no exception. The storyline is amazing, the setting unreal, and I was very frustrated when my allotted reading time was up.

I have been loving her Derricot Tales series almost as much as her Hagenheim series (and sometimes I wish they would cross over) but Melanie is an absolute master of fairytale retellings. I loved how fast paced and intriguing it is with great characters and a unique retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. 4/5 star would definitely recommend a read.

A fun little twist on Little Red Riding Hood! (There is a red cloak and a grandmother, but a pretty unique story otherwise). There were twists in here I was not expecting and I really enjoyed this story!

I enjoyed reading Cloak of Scarlet. Although it didn't grab my interest immediately, it wasn't far into the story that I was hooked. In fact, I read it without stopping until I reached the end. Both Violet and Merek are incredibly good. About the only thing that Violet did wrong was to disobey her mother in her hopes of righting a wrong. Merek only has one flaw and has already learned to deal with it before the story starts. I prefer characters with more layers, but this is a rewrite of a fairy tale and is for teens, so perhaps almost flawless characters are right for the genre. I like the way that faith is just a natural part of life for these characters.
There is a lot of action and suspense. The plot moves along at a good pace. Author Melanie Dickerson ably sets the scenes without slowing down the story.
I would read more by this author and would feel completely comfortable giving this to young teens.
I received a copy through NetGalley from the publisher and this is my opinion of this well-written book.

This was a fun read. I was interested from the beginning. A kind of fairytale retelling. Compared to other works of this genre this one had some definite flaws it was still worth the read

I have not read the first book in the series, so I feel i cannot give this book a far review. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

Violet's world has never been perfect, but it takes a turn for the worse when a visit to her grandmother discloses that the local baron is stealing from the local villagers to fill his own pockets. She begins writing to the king, to inform him, but the letter is found when their own house is invaded by the baron's men. And when she's dragged before the baron, things get still worse when he takes a most unaccountable interest in her birth mother. Sir Merek, one of the baron's men, proves himself an honest man and eager to help her, but can even he save her, or will he only get himself killed? What does the baron want of her, and can she and Merek bring him to justice to save her family and friends?

I've enjoyed previous books in the series and thought this sounded interesting too - and while not unputdownable, it did hold my interest well enough through most of the book. Unfortunately, as I got to the last few chapters, something changed and I found myself on the outside, watching somewhat detachedly as they got their well-deserved happy ending. So I'm left feeling somewhat ambivalent. I certainly didn't dislike it, but I didn't love it either - and some things about the story didn't feel like they quite held together (for example, it sound like the baron has been stealing for years, and yet Violet somehow only just heard of it? and she seems to have most unrealistic ideas of what a girl in her position could achieve, too). Overall, I'd have to say that it really wasn't quite my cup of tea, but it may well be exactly what others are looking for. May be better for a younger audience?

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

I really tried to give this book my time and effort, but to be fair there were a lot more books that I would rather be reading than this one. The whole premise of a fairytale retelling with Christian aspects intrigued me from the beginning, but the actual execution did not impress me in any way. I think it was partially because the writing was geared toward a younger audience of young adult readers (middle school). I am a college student who enjoys reading young adult fiction but unfortunately, this one did not make the cut for me. With that being said, I think a middle school audience would enjoy this story thoroughly.