**This is a Books for Christian Girls content review for girls ages 9-19. The Spiritual, Negative, & Sexual Content from this book are honestly listed below. Keep in mind, when reading a BFCG review, ignore the things that don't bother you, but take notice of the things that do.**
About this book:
âEvangeline longs to be free, to live in the world outside the castle walls. But freedom comes at a cost.
Evangeline is the ward and cousin of King Richard II, and yet she dreams of a life outside of Berkhamsted Castle, where she might be free to marry for love and not politics. But the young king betroths her to his closest advisor, Lord Shiveley, a man twice as old as Evangeline. Desperate to escape a life married to a man she finds revolting, Evangeline runs away from the king and joins a small band of servants on their way back to their home village.
To keep her identity a secret, Evangeline pretends to be mute. Evangeline soon regrets the charade as she gets to know Wesley, the handsome young leader of the servants, whom she later discovers is the son of a wealthy lord. But she cannot reveal her true identity for fear she will be forced to return to King Richard and her arranged marriage.
Wesley le Wyse is intrigued by the beautiful new servant girl. When he learns that she lost her voice from a beating by a cruel former master, he is outraged. But his anger is soon redirected when he learns she has been lying to him. Not only is she not mute, but she isn't even a servant.
Weighed down by remorse for deceiving Wesley, Evangeline fears no one will ever love her. But her future is not the only thing at stake, as she finds herself embroiled in a tangled web that threatens England's monarchy. Should she give herself up to save the only person who cares about her? If she does, who will save the king from a plot to steal his throne?â
Series: Book #7 in the âHagenheimâ series. {Reviews of #1 Here, #2 Here, #3 Here, #4 Here, #5 Here! and #6 Here!} {You do not have to read this series in order to understand it, but I highly recommend that you do read them in order.}
Spiritual Content- Many Prayers; Scriptures are mentioned, quoted, read & remembered; Bible reading; Church going & sermons; Many talks about God, His plan, servants of God, & Bibles; Talks about & Mentions of those in the Bible; âH's are capital when referring to God; Evangeline imagines God as the father she never knew; Many mentions of God, Jesus & peace; Many mentions of Bibles, Bible reading, & books of the Bible; Many mentions of churches, chapels, priests, confessions, sins & miracles; Mentions of prayers; Mentions of thanking & praising God; Mentions of forgiving; Mentions of others not liking talks about God; A few mentions of blessings; A few mentions of Christians;
*Note: Someone accuses another of being the devil's servant, trying to poison them with Satan's cap mushrooms; A mention of satanic dreams; Mentions of evil & the devil.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a âstupid', two âdumb's, & two forms of âshut up'; a couple mentions of curses (said, not written); A bit of Sarcasm; Pain & Blood (up to semi-detailed); Fighting, being held at knife point, being slapped, shooting arrows at others & where they land (up to semi-detailed); A mob, injuries/wounds & bruises (up to semi-detailed); A couple threats of suicide & dying; A few mean, jealous girls & their unkindness; Many mentions of deaths, killing, murders, almost killing/murders, fighting & knives (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of beatings & men beating their wives (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of lies, lying & deception; Mentions of pain, injuries/wounds, blades & blood (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of being hit & almost drowning (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of plagues/illness & deaths; Mentions of threats of harm, killing & breaking a neck; Mentions of torture, abuse, bruises & pain; Mentions of punishments, pillories, thievery, flogging & mobs; Mentions of hunting & meat (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of drunks, drinking, the devil drink & strong ale; Mentions of hating & hatred; Mentions of treachery; Mentions of gossip; A few mentions of kidnapping & ransom; A couple mentions of slitting throats; A couple mentions of hangings & robbing; A couple mentions of throwing up; A mention of a massacre; A mention of beheading.
Sexual Content- a hand kiss, three cheek kisses, seven forehead kisses, three not-detailed kisses, two barley-above-not-detailed kisses, and three semi-detailed kisses; Remembering a kiss (barley-above-not-detailed); Wanting to, Longing to be, & thinking about being kiss(ed) (up to semi-detailed); Talks about & mentions of kissing & kisses; Touches, Shivers/Tingles, Embraces, Smelling & Nearness (up to semi-detailed); Noticing; Evangeline was born out of wedlock; Evangeline is supposed to marry a repulsive man who's much older than her; Mentions of men leering at (one stares at her chest) and touching Evangeline without her permission & their lewd comments; Mentions of wondering about kissing & touching, but also not taking advantage of someone else; Mentions of kissing; Mentions of reputations & Ruth laying at Boaz's feet; A few mentions of men expecting a plaything for a wife & planning to make her submit to him; A few mentions of flirting; Mentions of illegitimate children; Mentions of married couple's romantic bond; Mentions of love & falling in love; A few mentions of a girl who went to the woods with a guy alone and ended up with child (no details); A few mentions of attacks; A few mentions of staring at someone's lips; A couple mentions of men's lusts; A couple mentions of what to expect on a wedding night (it's cut off, no hints); A couple mentions of unwanted attention from men; A mention of a man asking Evangeline to go home with him; A mention of a married couple kissing (barley-above-not-detailed); Love, falling in love & the emotions;
*Note: A few mentions of striking an attacker in-between his legs/groin.
-Evangeline, age 17
-Westley le Wyse, age 21
P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 1384 {Medieval}
283 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars (and a half)
{Add half a star for those who have already read the previous books in the series.}
Ahh. That was so worth the wait! âThe Merchant's Daughterâ has always been my favorite in this series because of Ranulf le Wyse and the whole plot. And let me just tell y'all, his son is just as wonderful. Add in another heroine who wants to read the Bible for herself and I'm so happy. *tears up*
Really, though, all fangirl emotions aside, Miss Melanie Dickerson hit it out of the park with âThe Silent Songbirdâ and I truly just adore the le Wyse family. I would love to see a spin-off series featuring all of Westley's siblings. Pleeeeease???
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Thomas Nelson) for this honest review.
About this book:
âEvangeline longs to be free, to live in the world outside the castle walls. But freedom comes at a cost.
Evangeline is the ward and cousin of King Richard II, and yet she dreams of a life outside of Berkhamsted Castle, where she might be free to marry for love and not politics. But the young king betroths her to his closest advisor, Lord Shiveley, a man twice as old as Evangeline. Desperate to escape a life married to a man she finds revolting, Evangeline runs away from the king and joins a small band of servants on their way back to their home village.
To keep her identity a secret, Evangeline pretends to be mute. Evangeline soon regrets the charade as she gets to know Wesley, the handsome young leader of the servants, whom she later discovers is the son of a wealthy lord. But she cannot reveal her true identity for fear she will be forced to return to King Richard and her arranged marriage.
Wesley le Wyse is intrigued by the beautiful new servant girl. When he learns that she lost her voice from a beating by a cruel former master, he is outraged. But his anger is soon redirected when he learns she has been lying to him. Not only is she not mute, but she isn't even a servant.
Weighed down by remorse for deceiving Wesley, Evangeline fears no one will ever love her. But her future is not the only thing at stake, as she finds herself embroiled in a tangled web that threatens England's monarchy. Should she give herself up to save the only person who cares about her? If she does, who will save the king from a plot to steal his throne?â
Series: Book #7 in the âHagenheimâ series. {Reviews of #1 Here, #2 Here, #3 Here, #4 Here, #5 Here! and #6 Here!} {You do not have to read this series in order to understand it, but I highly recommend that you do read them in order.}
Spiritual Content- Many Prayers; Scriptures are mentioned, quoted, read & remembered; Bible reading; Church going & sermons; Many talks about God, His plan, servants of God, & Bibles; Talks about & Mentions of those in the Bible; âH's are capital when referring to God; Evangeline imagines God as the father she never knew; Many mentions of God, Jesus & peace; Many mentions of Bibles, Bible reading, & books of the Bible; Many mentions of churches, chapels, priests, confessions, sins & miracles; Mentions of prayers; Mentions of thanking & praising God; Mentions of forgiving; Mentions of others not liking talks about God; A few mentions of blessings; A few mentions of Christians;
*Note: Someone accuses another of being the devil's servant, trying to poison them with Satan's cap mushrooms; A mention of satanic dreams; Mentions of evil & the devil.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a âstupid', two âdumb's, & two forms of âshut up'; a couple mentions of curses (said, not written); A bit of Sarcasm; Pain & Blood (up to semi-detailed); Fighting, being held at knife point, being slapped, shooting arrows at others & where they land (up to semi-detailed); A mob, injuries/wounds & bruises (up to semi-detailed); A couple threats of suicide & dying; A few mean, jealous girls & their unkindness; Many mentions of deaths, killing, murders, almost killing/murders, fighting & knives (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of beatings & men beating their wives (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of lies, lying & deception; Mentions of pain, injuries/wounds, blades & blood (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of being hit & almost drowning (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of plagues/illness & deaths; Mentions of threats of harm, killing & breaking a neck; Mentions of torture, abuse, bruises & pain; Mentions of punishments, pillories, thievery, flogging & mobs; Mentions of hunting & meat (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of drunks, drinking, the devil drink & strong ale; Mentions of hating & hatred; Mentions of treachery; Mentions of gossip; A few mentions of kidnapping & ransom; A couple mentions of slitting throats; A couple mentions of hangings & robbing; A couple mentions of throwing up; A mention of a massacre; A mention of beheading.
Sexual Content- a hand kiss, three cheek kisses, seven forehead kisses, three not-detailed kisses, two barley-above-not-detailed kisses, and three semi-detailed kisses; Remembering a kiss (barley-above-not-detailed); Wanting to, Longing to be, & thinking about being kiss(ed) (up to semi-detailed); Talks about & mentions of kissing & kisses; Touches, Shivers/Tingles, Embraces, Smelling & Nearness (up to semi-detailed); Noticing; Evangeline was born out of wedlock; Evangeline is supposed to marry a repulsive man who's much older than her; Mentions of men leering at (one stares at her chest) and touching Evangeline without her permission & their lewd comments; Mentions of wondering about kissing & touching, but also not taking advantage of someone else; Mentions of kissing; Mentions of reputations & Ruth laying at Boaz's feet; A few mentions of men expecting a plaything for a wife & planning to make her submit to him; A few mentions of flirting; Mentions of illegitimate children; Mentions of married couple's romantic bond; Mentions of love & falling in love; A few mentions of a girl who went to the woods with a guy alone and ended up with child (no details); A few mentions of attacks; A few mentions of staring at someone's lips; A couple mentions of men's lusts; A couple mentions of what to expect on a wedding night (it's cut off, no hints); A couple mentions of unwanted attention from men; A mention of a man asking Evangeline to go home with him; A mention of a married couple kissing (barley-above-not-detailed); Love, falling in love & the emotions;
*Note: A few mentions of striking an attacker in-between his legs/groin.
-Evangeline, age 17
-Westley le Wyse, age 21
P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 1384 {Medieval}
283 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars (and a half)
{Add half a star for those who have already read the previous books in the series.}
Ahh. That was so worth the wait! âThe Merchant's Daughterâ has always been my favorite in this series because of Ranulf le Wyse and the whole plot. And let me just tell y'all, his son is just as wonderful. Add in another heroine who wants to read the Bible for herself and I'm so happy. *tears up*
Really, though, all fangirl emotions aside, Miss Melanie Dickerson hit it out of the park with âThe Silent Songbirdâ and I truly just adore the le Wyse family. I would love to see a spin-off series featuring all of Westley's siblings. Pleeeeease???
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Thomas Nelson) for this honest review.
This is a reimagined fairy tale, loosely based on The Little Mermaid.
Evangeline is the King's ward and illegitimate cousin and has lived a very sheltered and nonexistent life inside the castle walls. She dreams of being amongst the peasants she watches from her window, longing for the freedom they have to choose. When King Richard tries to force her into a terrible marriage, she runs away and meets up with Westley. Westley is the son and heir of the Lord of Glynval. Evangeline pretends to be mute so no one can her her voice or realize her ignorance. But do you need words to fall in love?
This was a fast and easy read. I liked how it took parts of The Little Mermaid, but didn't try to stick to close to the story. All of the good guys were likable and all of the villains were horrid. The only one I questioned was the king. I wasn't sure on which side of the fence he would fall. Overall, this was a sweet, clean, romantic historical novel. Perfect for an easy reading type of day.
*I voluntarily read an Advance Reader Copy of this book and have given an honest review *
Evangeline is the King's ward and illegitimate cousin and has lived a very sheltered and nonexistent life inside the castle walls. She dreams of being amongst the peasants she watches from her window, longing for the freedom they have to choose. When King Richard tries to force her into a terrible marriage, she runs away and meets up with Westley. Westley is the son and heir of the Lord of Glynval. Evangeline pretends to be mute so no one can her her voice or realize her ignorance. But do you need words to fall in love?
This was a fast and easy read. I liked how it took parts of The Little Mermaid, but didn't try to stick to close to the story. All of the good guys were likable and all of the villains were horrid. The only one I questioned was the king. I wasn't sure on which side of the fence he would fall. Overall, this was a sweet, clean, romantic historical novel. Perfect for an easy reading type of day.
*I voluntarily read an Advance Reader Copy of this book and have given an honest review *
