“The longing to belong had haunted Sophie all her life.”
—The Fairest Beauty
Can you relate? Has there ever been a time in your life where you felt the need to just be a part of something? For Sophie, this is her whole life. Under the tyranny of the evil Duchess Ermengard, Sophie performs her duties as the castle scullery maid without a hitch. She does her best to play the obedient servant, but above all she is committed to honoring God. When this means disobeying the Duchess by bringing prisoners food or by saving a sack full of puppies from drowning, Sophie is punished severely and often sent to the dungeon without food or water. Can Gabe, the mysterious boy who claims to be the brother of her betrothed, really help Sophie find the place she truly belongs?
The Fairest Beauty by Melanie Dickerson is a charming retelling of the classic tale of Snow White. Written from a Christian perspective, this novel veers away from the magical elements that are splashed throughout the young adult genre these days, and focuses more on the underlying themes of acceptance, forgiveness, and unconditional love.
What I liked…
I enjoyed Melanie’s take on this classic for its simplicity. It is just a good clean book. It is suitable for middle graders while still maintaining the” love story” element for older readers. The development of Sophie and Gabe’s relationship remains realistic even though it blossoms in just a short period of time. I applaud authors who are able to do this seamlessly, which Melanie does this as she takes Sophie and Gabe from simply allies to something so much more.
I also liked how Melanie created something more out of the seven dwarf characters. Rather than staying with the typical “seven little men” that everyone expects, she took the characters and molded them into a band of seven misfits, reminding the reader that there’s nothing wrong with being different.
What I didn’t like…
I like books with lots of plot twists and “aha!” moments and The Fairest Beauty didn’t really have any. The story was a little too predictable and didn’t have much mystery left to be discovered. I felt like there should have been more of a struggle for Sophie and Gabe to accomplish their desires. It seemed like they won too easily and I would’ve preferred for them to be presented with more of a challenge.
Recommendation…
I recommend this book to younger readers who like to read many versions of the same fairytale. It’s fun to see what an author will do with a story that’s been told more often than not. If you enjoy classic books told from a Christian perspective, you will enjoy The Fairest Beauty.
About the Author…
Melanie Dickerson is an award winning author who lives with her family in Huntsville, Alabama. Other titles by Melanie include The Merchant’s Daughter and The Healer’s Apprentice. You can learn more about her by visiting her website or by connecting with her on Facebook and Twitter.
I leave this book for the girls. 🙂
I love you 😉