Sunday 18 January 2015

The Princess Spy by Melanie Dickerson

Back Cover: 

Margaretha has always been a romantic, and she hopes her newest suitor, Lord Claybrook, is destined to be her one true love. But then an injured man is brought to Hagenheim Castle, claiming to be an English lord who was attacked by Claybrook and left for dead. And only Margaretha—one of the few who speaks his language—understands the wild story.

Unable to pass his message on to her father, the duke, Margaretha convinces herself “Lord Colin” is just an addled stranger. But when Colin asks her to spy on Claybrook as repayment for retrieving a lost heirloom, Margaretha discovers that she might be very wrong about both Colin and her potential betrothed.
Review: The Princess Spy is about a young girl who is poised to wed. She has a well supplied dowry, thanks to her titled and wealthy family, and is pretty enough to attract the attention of multiple suitors. However, none of the potential husbands-to-be succeed in fulfilling her dream of falling in love and meeting a man that will challenge her, give her an exciting and fulfilling life, and will make her future household one of love. She knows time is running out, and to fulfill her duty to her family, she prepares herself to set her dreams aside and make an advantageous marriage. 
When a villager happens upon a man, nearly beaten to death in their woods, Margaretha is shocked to find that he is a foreigner and that his quest for justice is about to completely unravel her world and rock the foundations of everyone in her family. 
I enjoyed this book. It was simply written and easy to follow and understand. I'd put the ideal reading age at between 12-15 years old. The characters were straightforward and likeable - Margaretha and Colin are both honourable as well as brave. The dialogue between them, as well as with other characters, flowed and worked well - I found this aspect of the book very realistic and believable. While this book has a violent story line, the scenes are tactfully written and the villain is not made out to be that scary. A "Princess Spy" is a sweet romance with some funny moments, a touch of suspense, and an engaging enough plot.
The overall message I took from this book was "vengeance is the Lords". In a story where Colin is set on seeking justice, the lines between justice and revenge begin to blur. As Margaretha eventually points out, this can be a tricky line to walk on. The Lord is the true judge and deliver of justice, not us. I appreciate a book with a strong message like this attached to it.
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