Based on The Wild Swans, this retelling centers around Delia, who becomes her brothers’ only hope for freedom when their father dies and their stepmother accuses the brothers of treason, leading to their imprisonment under a young captain of the guard.

“Court of Swans” by Melanie Dickerson is the first installment in her new fairy tale retelling series called “The Dericott Tales.” This book is a retelling of “The Wild Swans.” You do not need to be familiar with the tale to enjoy this sweet story.

This story seems to be aimed mostly for the middle grade and young adult audience, but I also enjoyed it as an adult. It is a plot-driven, quest type tale. Our main character, Delia, must rescue her falsely accused brothers before they are killed. I love the focus on the sibling relationships in this story and how much Delia will do for the love of her brothers. Delia is very brave as she faces many obstacles. She learns to be strong and courageous and to rely on God. In the treacherous palace, she must find out who is her friend and who is her foe. Who can she trust? Both Delia and the other main character, Sir Geoffrey, are brave and put themselves in danger to do what is right and just. They also pray and wrestle with the question of why God allows injustice. I found the pacing of the story to be a little slow at times, but it is still a great read.

I love the lessons that can be taken away from this fun, wholesome read. A big lesson the characters must learn is that sometimes God does not take away trials, but that He does walk with us through them. Delia and Geoffrey learn about not judging others, justice, and that God is the ultimate authority. They must learn that they have a choice as to how they respond to unfair things in life. I love how Ms. Dickerson incorporates faith and lessons into her stories.

Content: I give this book a PG rating. Some examples of the content are: mention of paramours and of a man who violated a woman; some men are drunk; mention of alcohol; a man accosts a woman with the intent of raping her but is not successful and nothing really happens; someone curses, but the words are not actually written.

Rating: I give this book 4 stars.

I want to thank Melanie Dickerson and Thomas Nelson for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255. ( )

3.5 Stars

Melanie Dickerson is well known for her fairy tale retellings, and Court of Swans takes a stab at The Wild Swans by Hans Christian Andersen as well as the first book in a new series.
Delia is a character I both appreciated (especially her determination to save her brother) and disliked (she’s a worrier and doesn’t always make the best choices), but her love for her brothers is obvious throughout the story.

Sir Geoffrey fares better. He’s struggling with his own injustices but does everything he can to help Delia and her family.

I didn’t connect with the characters in this story as much as I have in others, and the climax of the story was a bit of a letdown, but overall, Court of Swans was an entertaining read and a good introduction to the rest of the Dericott family (at least some of whom will get their own stories told).

Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own. ( )

When Delia's father remarries, she instantly knows that something is wrong about her step-mother. Within a year of the step-mother having a son, the father dies in a mysterious accident. Shortly afterwards, Delia's seven brother's are arrested, accused of murder and treason. Delia immediately runs to London and secures a position as a seamstress in the royal household. There, she does everything she can to secure her brothers release.

This book was a bit predictable. The characters were pretty stereotypical and not very well developed. The brother's all blended together, and the romance was a bit obvious. Everything was a bit too easy for Delia, with everything just falling into place. Despite these criticisms, I did enjoy the book. Overall, 3 out of 5 stars. ( )

What I appreciate most about Melanie Dickerson's books is that they immediately draw me into whatever world she is writing about. Melanie also doesn't wait long before the action begins. Court of Swans begins with a wedding, the wedding of Delia's father to a young woman around Delia's age. At least her seven brothers got to come home to attend the wedding. If only their new stepmother wasn't convinced they were all plotting against her. Fast forward several years to the death of Delia's father and the arrest of all seven of her brothers for treason against the king of England. It's up to Delia to find a way to save them.

Delia was a fascinating person. Although all she knew was a life of privilege, she did have seven brothers and could fight for herself. Instead of every male in the book having to rescue her (although several commented that they wished they could have), she repeatedly rescued herself. And although she was passionate about finding justice for her brothers, she deferred to the advice and strategies of others when she saw their wisdom. She also had a good sense of humor which she didn't lose in the midst of danger. She was a little too trusting at first, but she learned and she never gave up. I enjoyed her character and the overall story.

But more than any fairy tale, Court of Swans had the feeling of the book of Esther, in which a powerless girl finds strength from God and family and faces the king. Bravo, Melanie.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and have reviewed it willingly. ( )