The Healer's Apprentice

Title: Dickerson, Melanie.  The Healer's Apprentice.  Michigan: Zondervan, 2010.  Print.

Overview:  To escape the constant barrage of wealthy aging men her mother constantly tries to convince her to marry, Rose becomes the apprentice of the healer of Hagenheim castle.  Healers don't marry and as long as Rose can learn to stomach the blood and illness seen daily she thinks she's found the perfect place for herself.  That is until Lord Wilhelm, the Duke's son, is injured while the healer is away.  Forced to care for his wound herself she attracts not only his attention but the attention of his brother, Lord Rupert.  Lord Wilhelm is kind and chivalrous, but has been betrothed since birth to a woman he's never met.  Lord Rupert is flirtatious and has a reputation with women.  Being apprentice to the healer won't solve her problems the way she had hoped.

Critical Analysis:  This book attracted me because of the time period.  It's set in 1386 in a time of castles and knights.  It has a great cast of characters including minor characters with their own plots of which I was eager to see the outcome.  Historical romances have always gotten my attention and I really enjoyed this one.  Rose's feelings for each brother and her confusion over her own heart is told in a way that's both beautiful and relatable.  It's a romance with just a touch of mystery and an evil conjurer thrown in for good measure.  I have a hard time sitting still doing one thing for very long, even to read, but I found myself reading this entire book in one sitting without being able to stop.

Book Recommendations With Similar Themes:

1. Matilda Bone by Karen Cushman.  Matilda is a young orphan who is sent to work under Red Peg, the bonesetter, in the 14th century.  Used to a quiet life filled with cleanliness and prayer Matilda isn't ready for the dirty, bloody life she's been thrown into mending bones and bandaging wounds.  But she will learn.

2. Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix.  In a retelling of Cinderella, Ella goes to the prince's ball and wins over the prince.  It seems amazing and romantic until she's taken into the palace in preparation of the wedding and realizes just what a princess has to do - daily lessons, needlepoint, proper etiquette.  Not only that, but the handsome prince doesn't seem to have a brain in his beautiful head.  Suddenly being a princess doesn't sound like quite so much fun.  Actually, it's downright boring and Ella isn't sure she wants to go through with the marriage.  The only problem is that getting out of the politically arranged marriage is not as easy as she thinks it will be.