About the Book

In this Ugly Duckling retelling, New York Times bestselling author Melanie Dickerson brilliantly crafts a high-stakes, encouraging tale about the power of love.

Ever since she was a child, Audrey wanted her life to be extraordinary. But as the daughter of a viscount born in late fourteenth-century England, the only thing expected of her was to marry—until an act of malice by her sister, Maris, four years ago damaged her face and her prospects. Though Maris was sent away, twenty-year-old Audrey is still suffering the scars of her sister’s cruelty. When her father announces his plans to marry off his damaged daughter and bring Maris home, Audrey decides to flee in search of her true destiny.

However, life outside her home is dangerous, and she soon finds herself attacked, sick, and in desperate need of help. She is taken in at Dericott Castle to be nursed back to health. While there, she decides to keep her identity a secret and work as a servant in the castle. But she doesn’t count on falling in love with the young and handsome Lord Dericott, who lost his arm several months earlier and bears scars of his own.

Meanwhile, Edwin—Lord Dericott—is curious about the new, well-educated servant’s identity. All he knows is that he’s quickly becoming smitten with her. When the man Audrey’s father wanted her to marry comes looking for her, she and Edwin must make life-changing decisions about what to believe and whether or not love is truly worth trusting.

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Other Books in the Series

In My Opinion

Melanie Dickerson returns with another fairytale retelling. This time she takes on The Ugly Duckling.

The daughter of a nobleman, Audrey’s future is wrapped up in marriage but an attack that leaves her scarred (both externally and internally). She seeks refuge at Dericott Castle and meets kind and generous Edwin (Lord Dericott who we met in book one of the series).

While the message of the book is written well, the character development wasn’t what I’d hoped for. Both Audrey and Edwin had horrible things done to them and that’s what’s driven them to be the people they are at the beginning of the book but there’s little growth from there. Also, the villain came across as cliché (but maybe that’s just me).

That said, once I got past the first couple of chapters, the pacing of the book is excellent and kept me interested in what would happen to Audrey. Dickerson delivers another happy ending with justice served, and her readers, especially ones of the YA variety, will enjoy this story of love that looks beneath the surface.

Disclosure statement:                                          
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.