The Healer's Apprentice

The Healer's Apprentice

by Melanie Dickerson

Genre: Christian historical fiction

My rating: 5 stars!

Goodreads Summary: "Two Hearts. One Hope. Rose has been appointed as a healer's apprentice at Hagenheim Castle, a rare opportunity for a woodcutter's daughter like her. While she often feels uneasy at the sight of blood, Rose is determined to prove herself capable. Failure will mean returning home to marry the aging bachelor her mother has chosen for her---a bloated, disgusting merchant who makes Rose feel ill.When Lord Hamlin, the future duke, is injured, it is Rose who must tend to him. As she works to heal his wound, she begins to understand emotions she's never felt before and wonders if he feels the same. But falling in love is forbidden, as Lord Hamlin is betrothed to a mysterious young woman in hiding. As Rose's life spins toward confusion, she must take the first steps on a journey to discover her own destiny."

This was a beautiful retelling of Sleeping Beauty with a few new twists and an interesting Christian flare.  Beautiful.  Stunning.  I was so sure it was following the story of Sleeping Beauty and up would pop another subplot or a twist that kept me glued to the pages, determined to see what would happen next to Rose.  Rose was a character that was easy to relate to, and Lord Hamlin a handsome, chivalrous gentleman.  A true love story.

I loved the plot, the Christian ideals sprinkled throughout, the setting (Medieval Germany), the characters (so lovable!  And the villains, so easy to despise!), the writing style (gorgeous!).  Sigh.  My heart is happy having read this. :)


Up next on my reading list is Unearthly, which I've been dying to read for a while, but I'm content to marinate in The Healer's Apprentice for a day or two before beginning another story.  Check back for Unearthly's review on Teen Reads Tuesday!