The Healer's Apprentice

The Healer's Apprentice
By Melanie Dickerson
Zondervan, 2010, 261 p., Religious Fiction

Frau Geruscha, the town healer, has favored Rose since Rose was a little girl. Now Rose is her apprentice and she is determined to succeed - but sometimes she wonders why Frau Geruscha chose her and whether she can over come her squeamishness towards blood and sickness. Her mother pesters Rose to marry a wealthy old merchant, but Rose can't stand him. Lord Hamlin, the Duke's son and heir, has spent years trying to track down the sorcerer who wants to harm his mysterious betrothed who is in hiding. Rose and Lord Hamlin become close after Rose helps heal Lord Hamlin wounds from a wild boar, but they can never be together and Lord Hamlin has to find the sorcerer before his wedding. Rose starts to court his brother Lord Rupert instead, but can she trust him?

This is the first book in Melanie Dickerson's Hagenhiem series. Each book in the series is a retelling of classic fairy tale, but Dickerson has set each story against the backdrop of Europe in the Middle Ages. Readers may debate whether or not the books have to be read in order. The truth is everyone has their own opinion. Each book is its' own story, so reader do not have to read the first in order to understand the second. However, all of the stories center around member of one noble family and characters from previous novels often are mentioned or appear in later stories. As such, some may enjoy having prior knowledge of other character's backstories. It's entirely up to the reader to decide. These romances are well written and clean, but still fun and exciting. Anyone looking for adventure and romance or a fan of history or fairy tales will enjoy The Healer's Apprentice and other Dickerson Hagenhiem books.