The Captive Maiden (Fairy Tale Romance, #4)

by Melanie Dickerson

[ladygrey]

I don't know what to do with these books. I like the way the stories are all interconnected. There's good story tension. And I like the characters quite a bit. They really draw me into the story well.

Especially Gisela who wasn't nearly as stupid as Sophie. And the moments when she was being dumb she got over it pretty quickly. I liked getting to know Valten better and I actually liked his insecurities because they were reasonable.

I liked the way it moved beyond the Cinderella moments even when it felt like the bad guy line was getting rehashed one or two too many times. The tension didn't let up much even though, because it's a retelling, you pretty much knew what was going to happen. And I liked that they got together - that the forces creating conflict were external and not this long drawn out courtship.

But the writing. The reason there's story tension is because she just writes things out ridiculously. Someone will say something interesting and I'm wondering what they'll say next - what's going to happen? And she takes a moment to describe the flowers on the table before the next line. But it's not only overly descriptive, it's also instructive. Sometimes I'm completely thrown out the story because she takes a moment to explain what the lists are or something. I get that this is historical fiction. But I'll figure it out, whatever arcane item or ritual it is. And if I don't, it's clearly not that important.

But I do like that they're Christian fiction. There's just something nice and relaxing about reading a book with a worldview that matches your own. It's nice to hear characters say that God is good and loves people - even if the interior monologue for their transformation is all very telling and not much showing.

Which is why these books always surprise me. I have such disdain for the writing and think if just a handful of things were fixed they'd be great. But the characters still draw me in and I still kind of like them.