Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A masterpiece, and a must-read, July 22, 2006
This review is from: Crown Duel (Crown Duel / Court Duel) (Paperback)
This is easily my favorite book. I first read it in early high school and now, at the end of college, get just as much if not more out of it with every re-read. It combines a vivid, original fantasy world with realistic sociological and political portrayals and analyses, absolutely fascinating to any sociology or political science major. Neither the magic nor the romance overpower this book; the romance is fulfilling even while the book focuses on more important themes.
The most fascinating part of this book, however, and what brings me back to read it over and over again, is the heroine, Mel. She makes real mistakes, misinterprets practically everything, and is driven further into trouble by the very ignorance she strives to rid herself of. Mel is as real to any young adult (or anyone who remembers that age) as any heroine ever written. I can't count how many times I've read of her mistakes and winced myself in sympathy, knowing I've made the same mishaps and showed identical character faults. Anyone who enjoys realistic fantasy with a dash of romance and sci-fi will adore this book.
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Read for Anyone!, January 7, 2005
This review is from: Crown Duel (Crown Duel / Court Duel) (Paperback)
Wow. I got this book for Christmas and I could not put it down! From the very beginning Smith hooked me with the way Mel was a Countess in a crumble-down castle, and she was fighting the good fight with no other noble to help her. Mel's brother is nice, but he doesn't understand her. The one person who understands her is her so-called "enemy," Shevraeth. He was sent by the king to put down her uprising.
I'm not going to give the whole book away, so let me just say that this has something for everyone. Girl tries to kick butt, but finds it is harder than it looks. Then she's a captive, and running from the bad guys. Later, she is playing a game of deception and secrets when she goes to court. And, last, but definitely not least, she falls in love.
I love the way Sherwood Smith's characters are all well-developed, no matter the role they play in the book. I am amazed and gratified at the incredible job she did.
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25 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
OH MY GOSH!!!!!, May 8, 2005
This review is from: Crown Duel (Crown Duel / Court Duel) (Paperback)
I'm not going to write a summary of this book, because plenty of other reviewers have. All I want to say that this is now my absolute favorite book! I finished reading it three hours ago, and I still can't stop thinking of it or get rid of my excitement over it. This book has everything--from an evil king, a rebellion led by a poor teenaged countess, and several captures and escapes of that same countess, who leads soldiers across the country playing tricks on them along the way; to the confusion and deception of court life, and a romance with the mysterious Marquis of Shevreath. Well...I guess that was somewhat of a summary, haha, oh well! All I can say is that I'm pretty certain that ANY girl would absolutely love this book, and I recommend it more than any book I've read before.
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