∎ Read Crown Duel Crown Duel / Court Duel Sherwood Smith Books

Crown Duel Crown Duel / Court Duel Sherwood Smith Books

Download As PDF : Crown Duel Crown Duel / Court Duel Sherwood Smith Books

Crown Duel Crown Duel / Court Duel Sherwood Smith Books

I liked the heroine in this story and the odd circumstances she found herself in. She has that talent of being right in the middle of trouble whether she intended it or not. And no matter what she plots and plans, she never gets anywhere. What I found a little silly was how she managed to live through all that danger, usually with someone to save her. We know she's courageous and she has a good deal of pride; she also sees her own shortcomings and tries to better herself to live up to her own expectations. Meliara is also very good person, and the irony isn't lost on her that others see her as some heroine when she knows she's not. But a lot of what happens to her is purely accidental, both defeat and victory, and you get that distinct feeling that she neither deserves the troubles doled out on her, nor does she earn any of the results.

I thought she had a lot more potential than what was actually given her. I thought maybe she wasn't that type of princess, but it would be rather nice to have a girl who knew how to fight and fight well enough to protect herself. It is well and good then that the little countess doesn't get beat up too much. But still, you feel like she could have been so much stronger, less muddle headed. Why was she always one step behind the hero?

We are told the hero is perfect, and he really is. But we never get to see any of his thoughts aside from an expression here and there. Keeps him mysterious but doesn't make us like him as we should. Makes even less sense when the heroine suddenly decided she liked him, and all was forgiven, even though she really hated him a few chapters earlier, and he really did surrender her to the enemy at one time because he didn't think much of her at the time.

Really the only character who was developed for me was the little countess. Everyone else just seemed to revolve in and out of the scene around her.

While I loved the tension between H and h you never really see them develop their affinity towards one another. Though you realize it's a foregone conclusion, all that build up and the reveal was all too quick, all too accepting. Aside from the enmity between them, there's no chemistry when they finally see the light, and there' no toe curling swoon moments and you feel a bit deprived at the end.

Not much of a plot, and the grand finale was sort of thrown in at the end to mix it up for one chapter. Literally the most evil villain has only one chapter to make his grand reveal and exit. Sigh.

The writing style flows really well and so the author makes it hard to put it down. All in all a good read but you feel like it could have been so much more, both in characters and plot could have had much more depth. These are two books put together for the price of one, so that's something.


Tags : Amazon.com: Crown Duel (Crown Duel / Court Duel) (9780142301517): Sherwood Smith: Books,Sherwood Smith,Crown Duel (Crown Duel Court Duel),Firebird,0142301515,FBA-|294389,Fantasy - General,Girls & Women,Fantasy,Fantasy fiction,Fantasy fiction.,Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12),Fantasy & magical realism (Children's Teenage),JUVENILE,Juvenile Fiction,Juvenile Grades 10-12 Ages 15+,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Fantasy General,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Fantasy Historical,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Girls & Women,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Royalty,Young Adult Fiction,science fiction and fantasy;fantasy;fantasy books;tween books for girls ages 11-14;books for 13 year old girls;books for 12 year old girls;princess;prince;teen fiction books;books for teens 12-16 girls;books for 13 year old boys;books for 12 year old boys;teen books for boys;queen;books for 14 year old girls;books for 14 year old boys;fantasy novels;teen books;young adult books;books for teens;teen girl books;ya books;young adult;books for teen girls;teen boy books;teen books for girls,fantasy; young adult; teen books; young adult books; books for teens; fantasy books; ya books; books for teen girls; tween books for girls ages 11-14; teen girl books; teen books for girls; books for teen boys; books for 12 year old girls; teen boy books; books for 12 year old boys; books for 13 year old boys; books for 13 year old girls; teen books for boys; teen fiction books; books for 14 year old boys; books for 14 year old girls; young adult fantasy books; fantasy books for teens; books for teens 12-16 girls,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Royalty,Young Adult Fiction,Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12),Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9),Fantasy & magical realism (Children's Teenage)

Crown Duel Crown Duel / Court Duel Sherwood Smith Books Reviews

Few heroes or heroines aare as utterly fallible and as utterly engaging as MElania. Her journey into adulthood is as painful, as joyful and as complicated as one might expect in such a world, and of such a woman. There are epic tropes enough but there is a great d eat of originality and superb world build8mg. It came highly recommended and deserves its accolades.
Young adult fantasy about a rebellion against a corrupt king, and then the aftermath including the fashioning of a new and better court. There's a bit of magic here, but it's more of a given in the world Smith has created, and not a focal point of the story. A bit of romance as well. Originally published as two separate books in a duology, they are now combined into one volume.

Overall I didn't think this book was anything great, but it was entertaining enough to keep me interested through to the end.

I thought the parts with Meliara on the run in the first book were exciting. In the second book, building the world of the Court of Athanarel and all of the court intrigue was fun.

The ending was actually kind of anticlimactic for me. I mean, the final hurrah seemed to get wrapped up really quick and easy.

As for the romance, I would have liked to have seen the two interact AFTER the big revelation. Everything building up to it was nice though.
This book was recommended to me by an author. This was originally sold as a duology. I had a bit of a problem getting into book one, but stayed with it and ended up enjoying it. I enjoyed book 2 much more.
The background is an untamed countess and her brother trying to save the world. this world does not have clearly defined gender roles. She learns some unappetizing things about herself, but the good guys win in the end. Book 2 was much more interesting to me. The countess, Meliara, worked to overcome her deficiencies by looking them in the eye and saying I have to do this. I respected this fictional character for this. She went to the capitol and dealt with the political players there.
I liked the books. They have a heroine and hero to root for. I loved the short story at the end.
The thing I'm saddest about with this book is that I can't send it back in time to my younger self because I would've gone <I>nuts</I> for this when I was plowing through every single fantasy book I could find - almost none of which were about girls having adventures.

It's a small sadness, because my very much adult self was delighted by the whole story - though particularly the latter half, in which our young hero does a lot of growing up and her perspective shifts in really rewarding ways.

I was also delighted by the surprise of additional vignettes after the story drew to a close. These added fascinating (and deeply poignant) layers to everything that had come before, and I'm really glad that they were included in the volume I bought.
Superb fantasy with a romance lining, historical feel and some great adventure and brilliant court intrigue - this is an 'and, and, and' kind of boook, which is to say there is a lot to it. It's really well written, and the characterization is excellent. The fantasy is mostly in the background (note that 'mostly'!) which gives the story a more historical drama feel, but it's the very best kind of historical drama, with the immediacy and engaging character of books like Moonfleet, Lorna Doone, Tom Sawyer, The Moonstone. The heroine is beautifully portrayed, even if she's a bit thick where it comes to love - but even that fits with the way she was raised. Absolutely loved the court fan language, which I think has some historical basis to it. The adventure passages are nicely realistic, and the development of the romance really well done in a restrained kind of way; once again, fitting the constraints of the situation in the story. The pace might be a bit on the slow side for modern readers, but I felt it apt for the content. Great work by Sherwood Smith.
I liked the heroine in this story and the odd circumstances she found herself in. She has that talent of being right in the middle of trouble whether she intended it or not. And no matter what she plots and plans, she never gets anywhere. What I found a little silly was how she managed to live through all that danger, usually with someone to save her. We know she's courageous and she has a good deal of pride; she also sees her own shortcomings and tries to better herself to live up to her own expectations. Meliara is also very good person, and the irony isn't lost on her that others see her as some heroine when she knows she's not. But a lot of what happens to her is purely accidental, both defeat and victory, and you get that distinct feeling that she neither deserves the troubles doled out on her, nor does she earn any of the results.

I thought she had a lot more potential than what was actually given her. I thought maybe she wasn't that type of princess, but it would be rather nice to have a girl who knew how to fight and fight well enough to protect herself. It is well and good then that the little countess doesn't get beat up too much. But still, you feel like she could have been so much stronger, less muddle headed. Why was she always one step behind the hero?

We are told the hero is perfect, and he really is. But we never get to see any of his thoughts aside from an expression here and there. Keeps him mysterious but doesn't make us like him as we should. Makes even less sense when the heroine suddenly decided she liked him, and all was forgiven, even though she really hated him a few chapters earlier, and he really did surrender her to the enemy at one time because he didn't think much of her at the time.

Really the only character who was developed for me was the little countess. Everyone else just seemed to revolve in and out of the scene around her.

While I loved the tension between H and h you never really see them develop their affinity towards one another. Though you realize it's a foregone conclusion, all that build up and the reveal was all too quick, all too accepting. Aside from the enmity between them, there's no chemistry when they finally see the light, and there' no toe curling swoon moments and you feel a bit deprived at the end.

Not much of a plot, and the grand finale was sort of thrown in at the end to mix it up for one chapter. Literally the most evil villain has only one chapter to make his grand reveal and exit. Sigh.

The writing style flows really well and so the author makes it hard to put it down. All in all a good read but you feel like it could have been so much more, both in characters and plot could have had much more depth. These are two books put together for the price of one, so that's something.