Hamlin. 1424.
A beast lives in the woods where fear - and the disappearances of the town's children - gives rise to the Beast of Hamlin. Then, when a horde of rats plagues the town there is little hope of peace to be found.
Yet Katerina's spirit refuses to yield to the dark tidings surrounding her town and actively defies her stepfather, the mayor of Hamlin who disguises his sinister intentions with smiles and charades of good will.
During one of her treks through the forest, Katerina unexpectedly finds one of the missing children, a young girl who is harrowed by her experiences. With greater determination, Katerina sets off to locate the rest of the children, vanquish the rats and, defeat the Beast of Hamlin.
When the duke's son, Steffan, unexpectedly visits Hamlin, he finds himself stirred by Katerina's steadfast nature and wishes to help her. Yet experiences have proven to Katerina that the one person she can count on... is herself.
Time ticks onwards as the Beast pads through the town and several events lead Katerina to begin to trust Steffan in her quest to save her people.
The closer they get to uncovering the truth, the more these unlikely allies will realize that the true Beast of Hamlin shadows them with dark eyes.
After reading Melanie Dickerson's The Warrior Maiden, I was absolutely enthralled by her narrative capabilities and worldbuilding. The Piper's Pursuit is a work that contains Dickerson's legacy in the historical fiction genre though her compelling voice that reaches you beyond the pages. Dickerson's latest work centers on one's honor and faith in pursuing the greater good where Steffan's redemption for his past and Katerina's noble nature flourish throughout the story. Overall, The Piper's Pursuit leads readers to a compelling ending that reinstates a joy for historical fiction works.
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ABOUT THE BOOK
The Piper’s Pursuit
by Melanie Dickerson
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release date: December 3, 2019
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Retelling
Synopsis: A plague of rats. A giant beast outside the village walls. A host of missing children. And one young woman determined to save her people.
In 1424 Hamlin, Katerina faces threats from all sides. An outbreak of rats has overtaken the village, a mysterious beast is on a killing rampage of the village’s children, and her evil stepfather is a dark presence inside the walls of her own home. Katerina is determined to hunt and kill the Beast of Hamlin herself before more lives are lost.
When Steffan, the handsome but brash duke’s son, comes to town seeking glory and reward, Katerina decides he might be the ally she’s been looking for—even though the sweet music he plays on his pipe seems the only gentle thing about him. But there’s more to Steffan than she suspects, and she finds drawn to him despite her misgivings.
Can Katerina and Steffan stop the enemy from stealing every child of Hamlin? Or will their interference create a worse fate for them all? Melanie Dickerson delivers another exciting fairy tale journey of intrigue and romance in this reimagining of the classic Pied Piper story.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Melanie Dickerson is the New York Times bestselling author who combines her love for history, adventure, and romance. Her books have won a Christy Award, two Maggie Awards, The National Reader’s Choice Award, the Christian Retailing’s Best Award, the Book Buyer’s Best Award, the Golden Quill, and the Carol Award. She earned her bachelor’s degree in special education from The University of Alabama and has taught children and adults in the U.S., Germany, and Ukraine. Now she spends her time writing stories of love and adventure near Huntsville, Alabama.
Prize: 1 finished copy of
Starts: 11/18/19
Ends: 11/28/19
