Books for Christian Girls: "The Noble Servant" by Melanie Dickerson

About this book:

“She lost everything to an evil conspiracy . . . but that loss may just give her all she ever wanted.
Since meeting Steffan, the Duke of Wolfberg, at Thornbeck Castle, Lady Magdalen has not been able to stop thinking about him. She knows—as a penniless lady with little to offer in terms of a dowry—she has no real hope of marrying such a highly titled man, so it comes as a great surprise when she receives a letter from him, asking for her hand in marriage.
But all is not what it seems at Wolfberg Castle. Steffan has been evicted by his scheming uncle, and his cousin has taken over the title of duke. Left for dead, Steffan is able to escape, and disguised as a shepherd, hopes to gain entry to the castle to claim the items that will prove he is the true Duke of Wolfberg.
Journeying to the castle, Magdalen has no idea what awaits her, but she certainly did not expect her loyal maidservant to turn on her. Forcing Magdalen to trade places with her, the servant plans to marry the duke and force Magdalen to tend the geese.

Without their respective titles—and the privileges that came with them—Steffan and Magdalen are reunited in the shepherd’s field. Together they conspire to get back their rightful titles. But they must hurry . . . or else they risk losing it all to the uncle’s evil plan.”

Series: Book #3 in the “Thornbeck” series. Review of #1 Here! and #2 Here!

Spiritual Content- Scriptures are mentioned, quoted, & prayed; Many Prayers & crossing; A confession; Talks about God; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Many mentions of God & Jesus; Many mentions of prayers, praying, & crossing; Mentions of talks about God & faith; Mentions of Bible reading & studying; Mentions of those & events in the Bible; Mentions of churches, cathedrals, convents, nuns, priests, & confessions; Mentions of sins & forgiveness; A few mentions of Heaven & angels; A few mentions of blessings & being blessed; A couple mentions of miracle & passion plays at Easter; A couple mentions of Christians; A couple mentions of saints; A mention of the pope;

*Note: A couple mentions of superstitions; A mention of heathens.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: two ‘stupid’s; Some eye rolling; Quite a lot of fighting, hitting, swords, blood/bleeding, & killing/murdering (self-defense) (up to semi-detailed); Being held at knife point & threaten (up to semi-detailed); Pain, being bit, beatings, blacking out, blood/bleeding, & injuries (up to semi-detailed); Being freaked out in small spaces & imagining the worse (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of fighting, violence, nearly being killed, being struck, beatings, being strangled, knifes/swords, being threaten, pain, blood/bleeding, & injuries (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of assassins, killing/killings, murders, attacking, & blood (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of executions, hangings, & torture; Mentions of deaths, bodies, & those starving to death (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of drinking, wine, poisons & poisoning someone; Mentions of nightmares of animals & a man attacking a girl or her geese (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of hunting animals preying on geese; Mentions of a young child being stuck in a well, screaming & very scared (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of thieves & stealing; Mentions of hatred & threats; Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of gossip; Mentions of jealousy; Mentions of a lady having to use the bathroom outdoors; A few mentions of a father beating his son; A couple mentions of the thought of stabbing/killing someone in their sleep; A couple mentions of boys throwing rocks at a dog; A couple mentions of throwing up.

Sexual Content- an almost kiss, four cheek kisses, two not-detailed kisses, five barely-above-not-detailed kisses, two semi-detailed kisses; Wondering about/Wanting to kissing someone (five times, barely-above-not-detailed); Touches, Holding/Embraces, Smelling, & Flutters (barely-above-not-detailed); Remembering touches (barely-above-not-detailed); Noticing & Staring; Mentions of being tempted to kiss, kissing & kisses; Mentions of seeing & hearing a couple kissing (twice, no details); Mentions of touches; Mentions of having to share a room with the opposite gender (nothing happens); Mentions of falling in love & not marrying for love; A few mentions of men staring at Magdalen & winking; A few mentions of blushes; A couple mentions of a man having “a little fun” with a woman & doing unspeakable things (it doesn’t happen); A couple mentions of an apprentice who has bedded half of the maidservants; A couple mentions of unwanted advances; A couple mentions of flirting; A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of men pursuing women & carousing; A mention of a hand kiss; Love, falling in love & the emotions;

*Note: Mentions of a mother & baby that died in childbirth; A mention of kicking someone in his groin.

-(Lady) Magdalen of Mallin, age 19

-Steffan of Wolfberg, age 21
P.O.V. switches between them & Hazen (4x)

Set in 1365 {Medieval}
313 pages

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My personal Rating-

*sigh* It’s over already? Oh, what a perfect ending.

Being a loose retelling on The Goose Girl (a story I wasn’t familiar with) and The Princess & the Pauper, I could see the elements of both worked into this plot.

This was such another great Melanie Dickerson novel! I feel like I say it again every book she comes out with, but this might be one of my favorites! However, I would say this is probably my favorite of out this trilogy.

Just like all of Miss Melanie’s past books, the main girl is incredible, relatable, loveable, & inspirational for readers on her faith. Magdalen didn’t hate Agnes even after everything that happened, asking God to help her forgive and even mentions that she doesn’t want Agnes killed for she might repent someday. Steffan did kill a few men out of self-defense or protection for Magdalen, but I honestly don’t think it was gruesome or icky in the mentions due to the way it was written.

Even though it had more of a serious undertone, there were many times I giggled out loud at Steffan or comments he made. There also was a part where I literally yelled out, “They’re just like Mandie & Joe!” (pg. 234)

But that ending took the cake and I loved seeing Avelina again! Awww! :)

See y’all on Wednesday with a new review!