If one goes into The Healer's Apprentice with an open mind, the story is quite charming. Rose, the daughter of a poor woodcutter, is the 18-year-old apprentice to Frau Geruscha, the ducal healer, but she can't help feeling lost in her chosen path. She grows nauseous at the sight of blood and has very little faith in her healing abilities. When Lord Wilhelm Hamlin, the duke's son, is injured and comes to her for treatment, Rose finds herself strongly attracted to him. Unfortunately (for Rose), Wilhelm is already betrothed to the mysterious "Lady Salomea", whom Wilhelm has never seen, but who he has vowed to save from the murderous vengeance of an evil conjurer. Unfortunately (for Wilhelm), one look at Rose, the poor healer's apprentice, and he's instantly smitten. But what to do?
Warning: this is not another Ella Enchanted (note: I'm talking about the charming YA fairy-tale spin-off of Cinderella, not the horrific watered-down film of the same name). The Healer's Apprentice deals with a number of heavy-handed topics that wouldn't appeal to young readers or their parents, including religion, possession, demonology, prostitution, and open marriage. The religious aspects of the story can get a little heavy-handed at times, and the latter half of the book drags a bit, but I can never knock a good fairy tale, especially one with a little history thrown in! I would recommend it, but I don't know if I'll read it again.
In other news, Richard the Third continues apace...although it's starting to get to the really interesting (re: gory murdering) parts. I should have a wrap-up of that within the next two days. Tomorrow I'm off from work, so here's hoping!
Rating: ***
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