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amberlael_s's review
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
3.5
kerrycat's review
4.0
I am definitely sorry to reach the end of this series - but happy that Dickerson ended this particular installment with a couple of my favorite romantic tropes. This isn't my favorite of this collection, but it's what we've come to expect from Dickerson: a doomed romance full of trials, held together through faith. She definitely has an adept hand with fairy tale retellings with a fresh perspective.
gabsreadingrightnow's review
3.0
Underwhelming.
I was disappointed in how underwhelming the book was. It had so much potential but I felt the story line was weak and uneventful. Plus the love story was unrealistic and shallow. But I did like the characters and the ending was ok. An easy read
I was disappointed in how underwhelming the book was. It had so much potential but I felt the story line was weak and uneventful. Plus the love story was unrealistic and shallow. But I did like the characters and the ending was ok. An easy read
bethjordahl's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A fairy tale reimagined! This book is full of cliches and easy to guess twists. But that does not take away from its charm! It is easy to enjoy and fun to read. Make sure you read the other books in the series first!
christian_faith_and_fiction's review
4.0
Story Enjoyment Rating: 8.5/10 Christian Faith Rating: 2/3
The Peasant’s Dream by Melanie Dickerson is a young adult Christian medieval fiction book. It is the last book in the Hagenheim series and is a reverse Cinderella retelling.
The story follows Adela, the youngest daughter of the Duke. She doesn’t like being cooped up in the castle, so she disguises herself as a peasant and goes out into the market. Whilst there, she meets Frederick, who wants to be a wood carver, except that his abusive father keeps him doing all the work at the family farm.
I enjoyed the action parts of the plot. I felt like it got more interesting in the second half of the book. I liked the main characters, but some of their romance seemed a bit cheesy. I enjoyed the interactions with the side characters and the references to the Cinderella plot.
The faith content was there in the background. I am sad to finish the series, but I feel like I’ve achieved something, given that it was so many books long!
Content — there was some violence. The romance was clean.
The Peasant’s Dream by Melanie Dickerson is a young adult Christian medieval fiction book. It is the last book in the Hagenheim series and is a reverse Cinderella retelling.
The story follows Adela, the youngest daughter of the Duke. She doesn’t like being cooped up in the castle, so she disguises herself as a peasant and goes out into the market. Whilst there, she meets Frederick, who wants to be a wood carver, except that his abusive father keeps him doing all the work at the family farm.
I enjoyed the action parts of the plot. I felt like it got more interesting in the second half of the book. I liked the main characters, but some of their romance seemed a bit cheesy. I enjoyed the interactions with the side characters and the references to the Cinderella plot.
The faith content was there in the background. I am sad to finish the series, but I feel like I’ve achieved something, given that it was so many books long!
Content — there was some violence. The romance was clean.
mjamm's review
5.0
So, so good! Probably one of my favorite Melanie Dickerson books! I enjoyed the sweet friendship between Frederick and Adela. It was a tender, innocent relationship. This author just has such a wonderful way of creating a romantic fairy tale, while keeping it clean and appropriate. And I love the inclusion of prayer, scripture, and morals. Can't wait for the next Melanie Dickerson novel!
english_lady03's review against another edition
2.0
I have never given a book by this author such a low rating before, and there are various reasons for this, and I hope readers will have the patience of allowing me to lay these out.
Story-wise The Peasant's Dream is OK. Just OK. Rather like some of the other books in this series, and there was a lot of repetition. Being told over and over again how the characters felt, should feel or what would happen if they did this that or the other. The characters, I felt were too perfect, and even attempts to make them appear flawed did not work.
There were a few historical inaccuracies. I was prepared to tolerate the anachronistic references to a Ball (which almost certainly weren't a thing until the 17th century) because its a Cinderella retelling, but picnic baskets in the 15th century. When the very word is not recorded until 1690?
The claim that only men could get marriages annulled really riled me though. Nope. Wrong. Women could, and did, initiate annulments in the Medieval period. The most notable example would be Eleanor of Aquitaine who divorced her first husband King Louis of France, to marry Henry Plantagenet, who soon after became Henry II of England, but there were others.
Aside from these though, there were various aspects of this book that I found offensive. Although many don't just apply to this novel, but to others in this long series.
- The negative aspects and characteristics of women are consistently either denied or condoned. Obviously selfish, rude or spoiled females are told they are not selfish or spoiled. In a previous novel by this author the heroine literally stomps her foot when she can't get her way: only to be still told she's not selfish.
Instead, the men are made to apologize for calling out the women's negative behaviour, and they are the ones who have to change. There is no impetus on women to do so. I mean what is even happening there? Women are not perfect. I know that's a shocker for some, but its the truth.
- In this novel, it goes further, and the negative actions of female characters are actively blamed on men. So for example, Frederick's mother's premarital liaison is blamed on the man. It is made out that he seduced her and took advantage of her: even though it was previously stated that she wanted it, encouraged his attentions and their relationship was consensual.
Nope. You cannot just change the goalposts halfway through like that and make out that he near enough raped her, when it's obvious from everything she said and what we were told that he did not. That there was no coercion and she was a willing participant.
Women are capable of having consensual premarital sex. Not all girls are good girls. Not all girls are led on by wicked evil men.
Actually, I would say this is quite sexist in itself, because it removes all independent agency from women and girls, suggesting they can only ever be the passive and naive patsies of ill-intentioned males.
What is worse however, is when the abusive actions of Frederick's teenage sisters are blamed on their father.
It is said that the sisters were really good, sweet little things who did not know what they were doing or could not help it because they were scared. Baloney. They are old enough to be held responsible for their actions.
This smacks of the feminist narrative that females cannot ever be abusers. Which is a blatant falsehood, and a pernicious one at that. As any victim of a female abuser (including myself) could tell you. Making excuses for abusers in this way is beyond the pale.
- Leading on from this, I notice that this author has began rewriting certain fairy-tales so they have male antagonists instead of female ones. This is certainly going to be the case with the next one, in which the evil stepmother is removed, and replaced with (yet another) evil and abusive father.
Since The Golden Braid (in fact, perhaps even earlier) there have been no abusive or even moderately unpleasant female characters in Mrs Dickerson's books. Instead the old and tired cliche of the abusive male has been used.
Which is further evidence that she is buying into the narrative that women cannot be abusers, as far as I am concerned.
Perhaps the abuse storyline is intended to make the stories more 'relevant'. It is certainly not the first Christian Fiction novel to include such. Yet it is neither stunning nor brave to make out that only people of one gender can be the perpetrators of this kind of behaviour.
Unless and until we can acknowledge the ignored victims of female abusers, and admit that women can be the perpetrators thereof we cannot truly make a difference for everyone. In fact, I would argue, we are doing harm.
This narrative that only men abuse and women can only be victims is not only wrong, it is grossly offensive to the victims of abusive mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, female caregivers, teachers, siblings and relatives. To the many victims of abusive and controlling women. In fact, its a form of gas-lighting, denying our reality and experiences by suggesting they could not happen.
I did not request this title from any reviewing platform, and purchased the Audible version of my own volition.
Story-wise The Peasant's Dream is OK. Just OK. Rather like some of the other books in this series, and there was a lot of repetition. Being told over and over again how the characters felt, should feel or what would happen if they did this that or the other. The characters, I felt were too perfect, and even attempts to make them appear flawed did not work.
There were a few historical inaccuracies. I was prepared to tolerate the anachronistic references to a Ball (which almost certainly weren't a thing until the 17th century) because its a Cinderella retelling, but picnic baskets in the 15th century. When the very word is not recorded until 1690?
The claim that only men could get marriages annulled really riled me though. Nope. Wrong. Women could, and did, initiate annulments in the Medieval period. The most notable example would be Eleanor of Aquitaine who divorced her first husband King Louis of France, to marry Henry Plantagenet, who soon after became Henry II of England, but there were others.
Aside from these though, there were various aspects of this book that I found offensive. Although many don't just apply to this novel, but to others in this long series.
- The negative aspects and characteristics of women are consistently either denied or condoned. Obviously selfish, rude or spoiled females are told they are not selfish or spoiled. In a previous novel by this author the heroine literally stomps her foot when she can't get her way: only to be still told she's not selfish.
Instead, the men are made to apologize for calling out the women's negative behaviour, and they are the ones who have to change. There is no impetus on women to do so. I mean what is even happening there? Women are not perfect. I know that's a shocker for some, but its the truth.
- In this novel, it goes further, and the negative actions of female characters are actively blamed on men. So for example, Frederick's mother's premarital liaison is blamed on the man. It is made out that he seduced her and took advantage of her: even though it was previously stated that she wanted it, encouraged his attentions and their relationship was consensual.
Nope. You cannot just change the goalposts halfway through like that and make out that he near enough raped her, when it's obvious from everything she said and what we were told that he did not. That there was no coercion and she was a willing participant.
Women are capable of having consensual premarital sex. Not all girls are good girls. Not all girls are led on by wicked evil men.
Actually, I would say this is quite sexist in itself, because it removes all independent agency from women and girls, suggesting they can only ever be the passive and naive patsies of ill-intentioned males.
What is worse however, is when the abusive actions of Frederick's teenage sisters are blamed on their father.
It is said that the sisters were really good, sweet little things who did not know what they were doing or could not help it because they were scared. Baloney. They are old enough to be held responsible for their actions.
This smacks of the feminist narrative that females cannot ever be abusers. Which is a blatant falsehood, and a pernicious one at that. As any victim of a female abuser (including myself) could tell you. Making excuses for abusers in this way is beyond the pale.
- Leading on from this, I notice that this author has began rewriting certain fairy-tales so they have male antagonists instead of female ones. This is certainly going to be the case with the next one, in which the evil stepmother is removed, and replaced with (yet another) evil and abusive father.
Since The Golden Braid (in fact, perhaps even earlier) there have been no abusive or even moderately unpleasant female characters in Mrs Dickerson's books. Instead the old and tired cliche of the abusive male has been used.
Which is further evidence that she is buying into the narrative that women cannot be abusers, as far as I am concerned.
Perhaps the abuse storyline is intended to make the stories more 'relevant'. It is certainly not the first Christian Fiction novel to include such. Yet it is neither stunning nor brave to make out that only people of one gender can be the perpetrators of this kind of behaviour.
Unless and until we can acknowledge the ignored victims of female abusers, and admit that women can be the perpetrators thereof we cannot truly make a difference for everyone. In fact, I would argue, we are doing harm.
This narrative that only men abuse and women can only be victims is not only wrong, it is grossly offensive to the victims of abusive mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, female caregivers, teachers, siblings and relatives. To the many victims of abusive and controlling women. In fact, its a form of gas-lighting, denying our reality and experiences by suggesting they could not happen.
I did not request this title from any reviewing platform, and purchased the Audible version of my own volition.
kelsiegentry11's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review
4.0
The moment I saw this book on Netgalley I just had to request it even though, according to my own rules, I wasn't allowed to claim another book. But I was also one of the lucky ones who got to read the 10th book in this series and I really enjoyed the mix of a fairytale retelling, original twists and a little bit of faith in God. And since Cinderella is one of my favorite fairytales ever, I had high hopes for this one.
But it took me a little while to get used to the writing style again. The writing is quite simple and in a way I'm not entirely sure if it matches the characters and their age. They sound a little too young. However, the writing style did make this book an easy read and I can say that once I gotten used to it, it bothered me less and less.
Mostly because the plot was really gripping and well done. The elements of the Cinderella story are quite recognizable, but they are also twisted in such a way that they feel fresh and new and original. And that's not just because of the gender swap. It's also because Dickerson really made sure the elements fitted in naturally AND changed a few small things. One of the most satisfying things was that all of her characters, sooner or later and in one way or another, eventually took charge of their own life and happiness.
And that's what I wanted and rooted for. The characters might not be that layered or complicated, but they were endearing and charming. It was easy to care about them and care for them. And that also made it easy to understand what they saw in each other, what they were looking for and finding and what they were fighting for. And the way they express their faith in God and pray also has a lot in common with how I feel about Him. It's a rare thing to encounter in books, but I totally understand not everyone might like and appreciate it as much as I do.
The end result is a story that captures the heart, soul and feel of the original Cinderella story and yet is exciting, fresh and new too. I'm really glad I got the chance to read this book already and I'm surely gonna catch up with the first nine books. The cameo's and mentions in this one really made me long to read all their stories.
But it took me a little while to get used to the writing style again. The writing is quite simple and in a way I'm not entirely sure if it matches the characters and their age. They sound a little too young. However, the writing style did make this book an easy read and I can say that once I gotten used to it, it bothered me less and less.
Mostly because the plot was really gripping and well done. The elements of the Cinderella story are quite recognizable, but they are also twisted in such a way that they feel fresh and new and original. And that's not just because of the gender swap. It's also because Dickerson really made sure the elements fitted in naturally AND changed a few small things. One of the most satisfying things was that all of her characters, sooner or later and in one way or another, eventually took charge of their own life and happiness.
And that's what I wanted and rooted for. The characters might not be that layered or complicated, but they were endearing and charming. It was easy to care about them and care for them. And that also made it easy to understand what they saw in each other, what they were looking for and finding and what they were fighting for. And the way they express their faith in God and pray also has a lot in common with how I feel about Him. It's a rare thing to encounter in books, but I totally understand not everyone might like and appreciate it as much as I do.
The end result is a story that captures the heart, soul and feel of the original Cinderella story and yet is exciting, fresh and new too. I'm really glad I got the chance to read this book already and I'm surely gonna catch up with the first nine books. The cameo's and mentions in this one really made me long to read all their stories.