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Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “This is my favorite book ever! Only book I've read more than once. I just love it so much.” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“This book is so exciting and thrilling, but a little confusing”
eleah t wrote this review Friday, November 13 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Very, very good. Great characters, good pacing.”
Kristy Z wrote this review Monday, November 2 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“recommended by a friend. we have the same taste in books so if she says its good i believe her hands down. this book was one of those (another is actually my favorite book of all time). there are interesting parallels between the battle field and politics/society.”
Chelsea wrote this review Wednesday, October 28 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Sherwood Smith is one of my new favorite authors. I loved this book! It's a must read! Meliara and her brother are Count and Countess of a little mountain kingdom, but they are in a hopeless battle to protect their land...then Meliara gets captured, and is dragged all over the country, running, hiding, and trying to figure out who is friend and who is enemy.”
Rebecca P wrote this review Monday, October 12 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This was originally two books, and has now been combined into one. I really enjoyed this one the first time I read it and every time since then. The political nuances I find interesting and there's one scene that makes me cry with embarrassment everytime. Different and enjoyable.”
Sarah F wrote this review Tuesday, August 25 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“beginning was slow but overall, it was good!”
add-ii-ct wrote this review Wednesday, July 29 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This is a great book about a heroine rescuing her kingdom.”
Laura L wrote this review Wednesday, May 13 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“These two magnificent stories combined adventrue, action, intrigue and finess into one pretty incredible story. I declare it a must read!! ”
SCattered wrote this review Sunday, December 7 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“fyi: This book comes in two formats - either in two different books called, respectively, Crown Duel and Court Duel OR as one book just called Crown Duel (there's an amazon link for ya). Although I read the two separate books that my library had, I am reviewing it as one :)
sheelysmom wrote this review Sunday, October 5 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Meliara was not raised to be the courtier she could be. Living in a ramshackle castle with her only brother Bran as a companion, she grew up free and wild. Chaos ensues when Meliara and Bran decide to revolt against the nasty king in order to protect their people from unreasonable taxes and to show support for the magical hill folk that live in the mountain.
Her peaceful life in the hills is then traded for a meager military existance fleeing enemies both known and mysterious. Her road is a long one, fraught with political and courtly intrigue. Meliara is an interesting and conflicted character. Her lack of education leads to mistakes with far reaching consequences - yet she is eager to learn and fiercely proud. My only complaint - and it didn't spoil the story - was that Melaria was sometimes stubborn to the point that I wanted to shake her a bit and tell her to chill out. I think, though, that this quality could also be seen as an asset because of all that she ends up being required to do.
This story, told in two parts, is really like a tactical game of cat and mouse. I was worried I would get bored as skirmish after skirmish took her further from her goal - but the characters and surprises get me engaged throughout. During the aftermath of the war (essentially the entire second half of the book), I didn't want to let this book out of my hands - a delightful thread of romance was the perfect addition to the antics of courtiers and politicians. The fantasy world and culture that Smith created was a joy to spend my time in.”
“sherwood smith has a very fine talent of beeing able to relate the characters to ones self. crown duel is my absolute favorit book in the hole world. and is also the only book i have ever wanted to read over and over agien.”
meliara wrote this review Tuesday, July 15 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
