Court of Swans

Court of Swans (Dericott, #1) 

By Melanie Dickerson 

Thomas Nelson, 2020. 328 pages. Young Adult Romance 

England, 1381. Delia's quiet life as the daughter of an earl is shattered when her seven brothers are betrayed by their stepmother and falsely arrested for treason and murder. With the Peasants' Revolt threatening the peace of the kingdom, King Richard II is executing anyone who poses a threat to his throne. Delia infiltrates the palace as a seamstress for the new queen so she can be near her brothers. She discovers Sir Geoffrey, the guard captain who arrested her brothers, has been secretly carrying food to them in the Tower of London. Can the two right this wrong–without losing their heads to this execution-prone king? 

This retelling of the Wild Swans was a sweet and easy read, fitting well within the Christian historical romance genre. Readers who aren’t familiar with the fairy tale may find some elements of the plot unexpected, while those who know it well will be waiting for the moment that those elements are brought into the novel. This start to Dickerson's newest series has me excited for how different side characters will receive their own fairy-tale happily-ever-afters in subsequent novels–2 of which we currently have available for checkout in the library! Readers of Dickerson’s earlier series or Christian romances by other authors will find that this novel has no surprises that could upset a cozy Sunday afternoon reading session. 

If you liked Court of Swans, you might also like:

An Uncertain Choice (An Uncertain Choice, #1)

By Jody Hedlund

Zondervan, 2015. 254 pages. Young Adult Romance

When Lady Rosemarie must find someone to marry before she turns eighteen to avoid becoming a nun, she finds herself torn between three knights who are competing for her hand.

Water Song

By Suzanne Weyn

Simon Pulse, 2006. 194 pages. Young Adult Romance

When Emma Pennington travels with her mother to their family estate in Belgium, they find a war-torn country with enemy troops fighting to take over the estate, and Emma learns many lessons from the war, including that life is unpredictable.

ERB