The Silent Songbird is a story about a heroine that wants to something all people want. It takes place in either 1700 or 1800 England. It mostly about the King’s warden. Will she find what wants in life? She knows her duty, but she does not want to marry someone she does not love.

Evangeline knows her cousin goes to set up a marriage to an Earl? She tries to tell her cousin she doesn't want to marry this man. She is forced to run away. This is where all twists and turns and surprises start to occur. She meets a man and asks to go along with him and his men. She also has her friend with her as well. I believe this is where she starts to learn about herself and learns about the world around her.

The author does a good job showing us what it likes for women in that era. We learn of what Lord Shivery is like and how he is. You will be surprised at how and what this man did to his first wife. The author does wonders with her characters. You can see how deep she makes them. You are pulled into the era of that time and you feel like you are a part of that world.

Evangeline is gifted with a heavenly voice, but she is trapped in a sinister betrothal until she embarks on a daring escape and meets brave Westley le Wyse. Can he help her discover the freedom to sing again?

Desperate to flee a political marriage to her cousin King Richard II’s closest advisor, Lord Shiveley—a man twice her age with shadowy motives—Evangeline runs away and joins a small band of servants journeying back to Glynval, their home village.

Pretending to be mute, she gets to know Westley le Wyse, their handsome young leader, who is intrigued by the beautiful servant girl. But when the truth comes out, it may shatter any hope that love could grow between them.

More than Evangeline’s future is at stake as she finds herself entangled in a web of intrigue that threatens England’s monarchy.Should she give herself up to protect the only person who cares about her? If she does, who will save the king from a plot to steal his throne?

• The Silent Songbird by Melanie Dickerson 

This is my first Melanie Dickerson book and I really want to read more by her. I don't read a lot of historical fiction but this in all honesty felt more like a romance that happened to take place years ago. I really enjoyed the characters and the plot. Not once was I bored and it took me about three hours to read. 

Evangaline has been set to marry a cruel man thanks to King Richard. Instead of doing what he wants she decides to run away. When she's successful she ends in a village with a boy named Westley le Wyse. Problem is, she's pretending to be someone else and a mute. They have no idea just how important of a person she really is. 

So I do feel a bit bad because I didn't even realize this was a retelling of the little mermaid until reading other reviews (oops) but that didn't deter me from liking the book. I guess I just didn't spot the similarities and without knowing ahead of reading had no idea to look out for them. Other than that its a fun read!