Character Profile
|
|
|
Summary
Historical retellings perfect for the fans of fairy tales! Set in medieval Europe, these stories can be read individually or collectively, many books following the different members of the same family. Each novel gives a head-nod to a familiar fairy-tale: Sleeping Beauty (Healer’s), Beauty & the Beast (Merchant’s), Snow White (Fairest), Cinderella (Captive), Princess and the Frog (Spy), Rapunzel (Braid), the Litter Mermaid (Songbird), Aladdin (Orphan’s), Mulan (Warrior), the Pied Piper (Piper's), and a reversed Cinderella (Peasant's).
Stats
Genre: Teen (13-16 years) historical romance/fairytale retelling
Series length: Eleven books
Violence: Some medieval violence, including kidnappings and sword fights.
Magic/Supernatural: Light supernatural, often with a head nod to the original fairy tale.
Romance: Strong fairytale-styled romance
Christian/spiritual element: Overt Christian content
Recommendation: Excellent girls who fairytale retellings
You might like this book if you liked...
the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Anderson, and Disney retellings of the fairy tales.
Series length: Eleven books
Violence: Some medieval violence, including kidnappings and sword fights.
Magic/Supernatural: Light supernatural, often with a head nod to the original fairy tale.
Romance: Strong fairytale-styled romance
Christian/spiritual element: Overt Christian content
Recommendation: Excellent girls who fairytale retellings
You might like this book if you liked...
the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Anderson, and Disney retellings of the fairy tales.
Opening Lines:
The townspeople of Hagenheim craned their necks as they peered down the cobblestone street, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Duke of Hagenheim's two handsome sons. The top-heavy, half-timbered houses hovered above the crowd as if they too were eager to get a peek at Lord Hamlin and Lord Rupert. Rose shifted her basket from her left hip to her right and wrinkled her nose at the stale smell of sweat from the many bodies pressed close, mingled with the pungent scent of animal dung. Chickens and children skittered about, the clucking and squealing adding to the excited murmurs. |
The Healer's Apprentice (Hagenheim, Book 1)
|
Opening Lines:
Annabel sat in the kitchen shelling peas into a kettle at her feet. A bead of sweat tickled her hairline while only the barest puff of warm air came through the open door. "Annabel!" Her brother called from the main house. As she hurried to finish shelling the pea pod in her hand and see what Edward wanted, the pot over the fire began to boil over. She jumped up, banging her shin on the iron kettle on the floor. |
The Merchant's Daughter (Hagenheim, Book 2)
|
|
|
Opening Lines:
Pinnosa passed through the town square and the cobblestone Marktplatz. Hagenheim Castle loomed straight ahead. Once she passed the guard at the gatehouse, she would need to find her way to the young lord. A chill passed over her thin, old shoulders. This fever, brought on by rain and exhaustion, would probably kill her, but if she could only make it to the castle, could only tell them that Sophie was still alive, Pinnosa's life would have been in vain. Perhaps God would forgive her for helping the duchess perpetuate so many lies. |
The Fairest Beauty (Hagenheim, Book 3)
|
|
|
Opening Lines:
Gisela huddled by the fire in her attic chamber, clutching the miniature portrait that fit in her hand. The artist had painted it the year before, when Gisela was seven. Father had been so handsome. Now that Gisela was eight and Father was gone, life could never be the same. If only she had stayed seven forever. |
The Captive Maiden (Hagenheim, Book 4)
|
|
|
Opening Lines:
Colin touched John's forehead with the back of his hand. "Burning hot." John groaned and looked at him with unfocused, heavy-lidded eyes. The sun was low in the sky and the air was getting colder. Colin swept off his red cape and placed it around John's shoulders while they waited for the horses to finishe drinking. If only he could find someone who knew about healing herbs, a healer who could help bring down John's fever. |
The Princess Spy (Hagenheim, Book 5)
|
|
|
Opening Lines:
"Rapunzel, I wish to marry you." At that moment, Mother revealed herself from behind the well in the center of the village, her lips pressed tightly togehter. The look Mother fixed on Wendel Gotekens was the one that always made Rapunzel's stomach churn. Rapunzel shuffled backward on the rutted dirt road. "I am afraid I cannot marry you." "Why not?" I leaned toward her, his wavy hair unusually tame and looking suspiciously like he rubbed it with grease. "I have as much land as the other villagers. I even have two goats and five chickens. Not many people in Ottelfelt have both goats and chickens." She silently repeated the words an old woman had once told her. The truth is kinder than a lie. "I do not wish to marry you, Wendel." |
The Golden Braid (Hagenheim, Book 6)
|
|
|
Opening Lines:
"Servants may marry whomever they want, but a king's ward has no freedom at all." Evangeline broke off the song she was singing. A lump rose in her throat. Through her open window facing the castle bailey she watched the servants talking and laughing and milling about, finishing their morning chores. A kitchen maid was drawing a bucket of water at the well in the center of the bailey. A young man approached her. Alma gave him the dipper, and he lifted it to his lips. |
The Silent Songbird (Hagenheim, Book 7)
|
|
|
Opening Lines:
Ala ad'din's mother's eyes were closed as she lay on her funeral bier. People whispered and stared, but no one spoke to him. Just a few days ago his mother sat cross-legged on the floor while she sewed. Sometimes she would lay aside her work. He would crawl into her lap and gaze up at her as she sang to him. There was no one to sing to him now. |
The Orphan's Wish (Hagenheim, Book 8)
|
|
|
Opening Lines:
Galloping her horse past the big oak tree, Mulan pulled the bowstring taut. She aimed at the knothole with one eye closed and sent the arrow flying toward the target. it struck the tree but missed the knothole. "Don't shoot behind you!" Andrei flailed his skinny arms. "Keep the target in front of you." Shooting from a moving horse was much more difficult than when standing still, but she was improving. At least she'd escaped, for the moment, the cooking and cleaning chores. And practicing war skills kept her from facing the uncertain future--and her mother's grief. |
The Warrior Maiden (Hagenheim, Book 9)
|
|
|
Opening Lines:
Did Katerina dare to stay out hunting past dark? The sun was going down, casting long shadows as she skirted the forest on her right and an empty meadow on the left. At least the town gate was visible ahead. She checked her crossbow, making sure the arrow was strung and ready. Her unruly brown hair was starting to come free from the leather tie taming it at the nape of her neck. She picked up her pace as she passed a particularly dark section of the forest. She could easily imagine the giant wolf, or whatever the beast was that had killed so many, coming out of those dense trees and leaping at her. Would she have time to aim her crossbow before she fired? She would only get one shot. |
The Piper's Pursuit (Hagenheim, Book 10)
|
|
|
Opening Lines:
Adela stood watching her brother Steffan marry his true love, Katerina of Hamlin, memorizing how the autumn sun bathed everything in warm light and made the stained glass windows of Hamlin Cathedral spark and glow. She would begin to capture this moment with her paints and brushes as soon as she went to her room in her brother and sister-in-law's home. The scene was perfect--a lovely wedding on the steps of the Cathedral. Katerina's violet gown brought out the rich color of her chestnut hair, and even Steffan looked handsome, in spite of the fact that he was her irritating older brother. |
The Peasant's Dream (Hagenheim, Book 11)
|
|
|