The Silent Songbird

She herself felt quite content on the soft grass, staring up at the peaceful stars. She could imagine God winking down at her. Was God thinking, 'My beloved child Evangeline has escaped from Berkhamsted Castle'? She imagined God as the father she had never known, a perfect Father. He was proud of her for not staying and marrying someone she could never love. It was also possible that God was angry wit her for not doing as the king had directed her. But she preferred not to believe that.

She closed her eyes, stretching her arms above her head, then pillowed her cheek on her hands. She was free of Berkhamsted Castle and free of her own identity. The day that had begun as the worst of her life had ended as the best.

Book: TheSilent Songbird by Melan

ie Dickerson, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2016

Genre: Fairy Tale

Target Audience: Girls 13+

Subjects: Romance, Love, God's Will, Sacrifice

Summary: Bleeding hands beginning to develop calluses, hours spent peeling potatoes, accusations from jealous servants, lessons in self-defense. None of this sounds like the life of a privileged ward of the king. But it's the life Evangeline has chosen. Fleeing an arranged marriage to a man much older than her who frightens her, she dons the life of a servant. Circumstances throw her together with the son of the lord, and a fascination for the Scriptures begins to bind their hearts together. She is only safe though, as long as her beautiful song voice remains silent. When she is no longer seen as a mute, the king's man will come after her. Keeping up her disguise is the only way to remain safe.

Notes: The Silent Songbird is the seventh of the young Adult Fairy Tales from this author. This one is based off of The Nightingale. A young girl running away from an arranged marriage, wanting the freedom to marry for love takes a job as a servant and falls in love. As it turns out the guy she was to marry is evil, wanting to take over the kingdom and she needs rescuing from the guy she falls in love with. The spiritual element comes in her passion for the Scriptures, Westley questioning his heart - his parents have taught him Jeremiah 17:9 - the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, and her questioning God's view of her and whether or not her deceit and disobedience to the king is acceptable or not.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 4/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Ephesians 5:17 - Do not be foolish but understand what the Lord's will is.

Thank you to the author for providing me with a free review copy of this book! All opinions are my own.