Saturday, July 5, 2014

The Captive Maiden by Melanie Dickerson

~Saturday Stories~


Typical Gisela: Gisela rode Kaeleb over the hilly meadows near her home, letting the horse run as fast as he liked. The morning air clung to her eyelashes, as a fog had created a misty canopy over the green, rolling hills... If her stepmother found out she’d been riding one of the horses without permission, as Gisela often did, she would find some way to punish her. But Gisela didn’t care.

Typical Valten: Everyone had somewhere to go, a purpose. What was his purpose? A restlessness possessed him , the same restlessness that had haunted his wandering all over the Continent. Entering all the grandest tournaments for two years had not eased that restless feeling. He’d succeeded at winning all of them in at least one category— jousting, sword fighting, hand-to-hand combat — but often in all categories. He still wasn’t a champion at archery, which rankled. But he couldn’t be perfect at everything.


Ever since her father died, Gisela's stepmother and stepsisters have mistreated her, making her tend to the horses, cook for them, clean up. But when they go off to the Tournament and tell her to stay, will she be able to slip by them? Will she see Valten, the duke's son and if she will, will he remember her? 

The Captive Maiden is a retelling of the Cinderella story. Melanie Dickerson does a good job of making it unique, though still recognizable. The story is told from two points-of-view, Gisela's and Valten's. Both of them learn lessons about God as they realize that however bad it gets, God is still in control. 

For more on Melanie Dickerson visit her website and Facebook page

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