4 out of 5 stars

Annabel Chapman and her family, though once wealthy, have now neglected their part in harvesting their lord's fields. Fined by the courts to repay their debt, Annabel is forced to leave her family home to attend the new lord's fields. Rumors of this beastly and merciless lord surround the workers, including the rumors about his ghastly appearance. As Annabel gets to know Lord le Wyse, she discovers a gentle soul behind the physical and emotional scars he bares. But she soon finds herself in a situation that could harm Lord le Wyse. Based of the classic tale, "Beauty and the Beast," comes a new young adult novel from Melanie Dickerson. 

The Merchant's Daughter is a captivating tale that I couldn't put down. Melanie Dickerson possesses amazing skill in taking the timeless classic that has captured the hearts of so many and brings the characters to life, giving them depth and passion that is lost inside the original fairy tale.

Not only does she bring forth three-dimensional characters, but she enhances the story by providing readers with realistic events and situations that modern day readers are more apt to identify with. She twists the long-lost message of the same-old tale into a new story that challenges the reader's faith. 

Melanie Dickerson's stories are so unique. I love looking for those subtle similarities to the old fairy tales that she places in the novels. The Merchant's Daughter is filled with these little trinkets from the classics. 

I literally couldn't put this book down. I had to know what would happen, desperate to see where she would take this beloved story.  

While many of the extra characters make some innuendoious remarks, I believe the age group reading this book are more than capable of handling the content. Young adults are bombarded with this content on a daily basis, but never in a God-honoring way. Melanie Dickerson presents protagonists who maintain propriety in the midst of a world that is similar to our own. 

I thoroughly loved this story and highly recommend The Merchant's Daughter. 


I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.