Format: Hardcover, 320 pages
Release Date: June 14, 2022
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Adaptations
From New York Times bestselling author Melanie Dickerson comes a reimagining of the beloved "Sleeping Beauty" tale.
She’s hounded from every side by treacherous elements and foes, but her greatest enemy lies within.
In the mountains near France, the medieval Princess Elyce is being forced to marry, thus forming an alliance that will enrich her father but enslave her kingdom. Instead, she chooses to feign her death and flee to Prague to beg King Wenceslaus to help save her people.
In England, the young knight Sir Gerard has a vision from God instructing him to help Elyce on her quest. When he arrives to find she has been near death for days, he manages to revive her. However, thinking the stranger was trying to kiss her, the princess immediately distrusts him. But her desperate situation forces her to accept his aid.
Pursued by her enemy’s guards over mountainous terrain, they must also battle the deadly winter elements. Her greatest challenge may be to overcome the voices of disapproval and accusation from her childhood. Will her emotions lead her into her true identity, or will they undermine her ability to work with Gerard and to save her people, who desperately need her help?
Veil of Winter is the third installment in author Melanie Dickerson's A Dericott Tales series. This is the authors retelling of Sleeping Beauty. While you do not have to have read the previous books, characters often show up in sequels. Case in point is Sir Gerald, who, along with his 7 brothers, was charged with treason by his step-monster and sent to the Tower of London where escape is almost nonexistent in Court of Swans.
Kingdom of Montciel, in the mountains near France late 1382, King Leandre has chosen to make a bad deal with King Claude of Valkenfeld. Leandre will give Claude workers, who are all shepherds and farmers, to work in his mines in exchange for the protection of his army against the Ottoman Empire. In return, Leandre sacrifices his only daughter, Princess Elyce, to Count Rodrigo as a political pawn. With little help of freedom, and without any power of her own, Elyce chooses to purchase a sleeping poison which will put her to sleep for 3 days.
Back in Dericott Castle, Bedfordshire, England, Sir Gerald, a knight in the service of the King, as well as the Duke of Westmoor, and a skilled swordsman, is urged by his only sister Delia, who is now married to Duke of Strachlegh, to find a way to help Princess Elyce of Montciel who she's friends with. Delia has learned that Elyce plans to make everyone believe that she's dead so that she can escape and hopefully find help from King Wenceslaus and free her people from tyranny. After praying for guidance, Gerald see's Elyce in trouble, so he and his friend and mentor Sir Oswalt decide to help.
When he arrives, he manages to revive Elyce from her sleep. However, thinking the stranger was trying to kiss her, the princess immediately distrusts him. But her desperate situation forces her to accept his aid. Pursued by her enemy’s guards over mountainous terrain, Gerald, Elyce, and Oswalt must also battle the deadly winter elements in hopes of gaining an audience with King Wenceslaus in Prague. Along the way, we meet a few others including Prince Bertold of Valkenfeld, Astrid, the woman who allegedly fell to her death, as well as King Wenceslaus, a true life historical figure who was King of Bohemia from 1378 until his death and King of Germany from 1376 until he was deposed in 1400.
Elyce's greatest challenges may be to overcome the voices of disapproval and accusation from her childhood. She's too passionate. She's been told never to allow anyone to see her cry, or any showings of feelings. Elyce thinks that if she does show her emotions, no one will love her and that emotions are disgusting and dangerous. Gerard is a strong and courageous man who defends Elyse on her travels through the countryside. Throughout the story, Gerard finds that Elyce was put in his path for a reason, and he would do almost anything to ensure she doesn't get used by her father or anyone else.
This story is clean. There's a bit of kissing here and there, but no sex scenes. There's some action, and adventure, and this story will most definitely not be enjoyed by anyone who hates the Christians.
No comments:
Post a Comment