Rating: 
Summary: A Progression of Events.
Review: Let's say you (or a Young Person of your acquaintance) have finished all the Harry Potter books.After which you read "Half Magic" and its sequels. And then you did all five of Lloyd Alexander's "Prydain" books. And now, though those were very good indeed, you want something aimed at a just slightly older audience, though not necessarily with graphic bloody violence and panting sex scenes. Well, you've come to the right place -- i have just the thing, my friend. Step right up and cast your eyes on this little beauty. While somewhat derivative in detail (but what modern fantasy isn't at least a little derivative somewhere?), the elements are stirred nicely into a fairly original story line that avoids the pitfalls of following your examples too closely with nothing new to say that we see all too often in first novels, while still telling a briskly-moving story that the casual reader will have no trouble following but that will not insult the intelligence of a somewhat more analytical reader. Familiar elements: (1) The elite messenger/diplomatic/spy cadre, the King's Riders, who wear distinctively-coloured outfits (green in this case). (2) The young person of Good Family who has, thru impetuosity and rash disregard of consequence, gotten into some minor scrape that seems to loom huge in her life. (3)The scheming nobleman with the Pretender to the Throne in hand who plots against the Crown. (4) The mysterious grey-cloaked figure who appears to aid the Villains, but actually has Plans Of His Own. And So On. Subversions of Familiar Elements: (1) & (2) The young person of Good Family encounters a dying Rider in the wood; he passes on his horse, sword, Rider brooch and his message to her, makes her swear to carry out the mission, then dies, leaving her stuck. (3) He's not as smart as he thinks. (4) By some clever footwork early in the story (at least, i *hope* it was intentional) the author diverts attention longer than i might have thought possible. Oddly enough, while i certainly caught echoes of Lackey's Heralds in the Green Riders, Tolkien's (and most everyone else's) elves in the Eletians and so on, the author i most found myself thinking of a lot of the time was vintage Andre Norton -- the plucky young (wo)man who suddenly finds herself the focus of Great Events, gradually discovering in himself abilities (s)he never knew (s)he posessed, generally involving some innocent seeming but puissant object or device that comes into her posession apparently innocently... I must say that my favourite part of the book is fairly early on, when Karigan finds herself taken in and succored by the Misses Berry at their family home, Seven Chimneys (which has nine). Misses Bay and Bunch look and sound like slightly dotty old ladies like your favourite old-maid aunt, but i strongly suspect that future volumes (which i hope to see) may well reveal that they're something a bit more. An excellent light fantasy read; i'd give it about a PG rating -- there are two brief sequences in which rape is obviously intended, but both are short and non-specific; and while violence (including some rather nasty but not too detailed magical violence) is an essential part of such a story, it is handled well and is not lovingly dwelt-upon in detail. If you like Tolkien, Lackey, Eddings or Dave Duncan (particularly his "Man of His Word" series; though Karigan is nothing like Rap, there is some of the same sense of see-it-through because it's the Right Thing To Do about her adventures), you need to at least give thei ons a look.
Rating: 
Summary: Get Ready To RIDE!
Review: Karigan G'ladheon is a normal school girl but when she gets in a fight with the lord-govener of Mirwell's heir the school suspends her. Instead of waiting for her father to take her back to her home in Corsa, she runs away. On the road to home she hears a horse's hoofbeats as it rides toward her. The rider is a young man slouched over his horses neck. He is impaled by two black arrows. He tells Karigain he is a legendary messenger for the king-a Green Rider. He begs Karigan to take his message to the king. She hesitently excepts it. Danger awaits her around every corner, but friends are always there to help. Does Karigan make it to the king with the message?
Rating:
Summary: thrilling Ride!
Review: Britain has written a thrilling ride from start to finish pitting a headstrong young heroine who must warn her king against a sinister conspiracy against him by natural and supernatural forces.This novel has memorable characters, chilling scenes of dark magic and nonstop action. I also like that this story is contained in one novel but the author can write other set in the same world.A refreshing change from ongoing series tradition in the fantasy genre.
Rating:
Summary: Great Entertainment in a Classical Style!
Review: Definately recommend this to anyone who enjoys a fun and fast read. Yes, there are quite a few predictable elements, but Britain's style is enjoyable, descriptive, and leads you from one page to the next - no dragger here! It reminds me of some of the best fantasy I've read with a Tolkienesqe quality - plenty of behind the scenes history that could be explored with a heroine of some quality. I hope that Ms. Britain is up to the task of doing it. I look forward to a sequel. The typos complained of in the hard cover I did not notice in the paperback. If you're a critic, you'll probably not like this book - it is somewhat formulaic (ie, good does triumph over the bad, and truly new fantasy character types are hard to come up with), and the descriptive overkill that some critics seem to like is absent. I recommend this to any reader over 13; it has some violence, none of the obligatory sex scenes, some romance, and colorful but tasteful dialogue. This is Entertainment!
Rating:
Summary: Please try this book!
Review: Please try this book. I feel that it is being neglected. I found the cover art appealing and the first page hooked me. The main charater is easy to get attached to and the pace is wonderful. I have already read it twice. I especially enjoy the way that the author blends all the elements of a good fantasy novel, good characters, action, magical objects, crisis and all in a way that I wish that I were there to help her (the main character)out! Apparently there is a sequel in the works. So lets support this author.
Rating:
Summary: The Next Great Author
Review: This book was wonderful. I took a day off so I could read it uninterupted from cover to cover. The characters are interesting, the story is fast paced, and I want to know what happens next incredibly bad. I want to know more about the Berry sisters. I want to know if some of Karigan's other vision from the magical telescope come true. Please write a sequel!
Rating:
Summary: WOW!
Review: I was captured from the moment I started reading. I literally could not put it down. The characters were so well written and the descriptions were extremely realistic. At times, I almost thought I was reading a novel by J.V. Jones or Maggie Furey, two amazing authors. I enjoyed the story all the way to the end, and I will admit to reading the back of the book while I was only half-way through because I wanted to know what happend so badly. I was so hooked on this story that I brought the book to school and read it during class. I highly reccomend this book to anyone and everyone, Ms. Britain is a supremely talented writer and I know she will go far. My ONLY complaint about this story was that she left an opening for a sequal, and I hate to wait for sequals. But if the next book is as good as the first, I will gladly wait.
Rating:
Summary: Recommended - but not great
Review: On the front cover of my edition of this book, there's a quote from Terry Goodkind: "(...) a truly enjoyable read." That sums it up nicely. There's a certain warmth, perhaps almost an engaging simplicity, to this debut. And as far as I'm concerned, it's very welcome. Britain might well tackle the same subjects as just about everyone else in modern day fantasy, but she does so - for the moment at least! - in a refreshingly unpretentious style. And she does it with undeniable charm. The best example of the latter comes early in the book, when the protagonist, Karigan, finds herself in a house inhabited by a couple of sisters, Bayberry and Bunchberry (along with a few servants invisible due to the unfortunate dablings in magic by the sisters' father). This is whimsical stuff, more reminiscent of 19th century pastiche than medieval fantasy. Incongruous, perhaps, when compared to the rest of the story - but very welcome nevertheless. And perhaps Britain will be confident enough in the future to add upon such embelishments. (Frankly, she doesn't seem entirely comfortable within the restrictions medieval fantasy imposes anyway: her castles have glass windows, she has cities with plumbing, and people sometimes wear spectacles...) And with regard to the lack of pretention: Britain shirks the all too common shifting between too many lead characters, the dozens of plots and subplots thrown at you every which way and, in general, the "here's my bigger than big new epic fantasy" approach adopted by a great number of Jordan wannabees. She tells a good (not a very original, as yet, but good) story without clutter. Bottom line: you could far worse than buying this book. And: this is certainly a writer to watch.
Rating:
Summary: Let the ride begin
Review: I was very pleased with this book. The author takes a nice approach with the development and background of the Heroine, and takes the traditional quest to a different level. Yes there is still THE person to beat and THE person to do so, but such has been the case since Sigfreid. At least this character, while unaware of the true nature of the quest thrust upon her, is not a completly and totally helpless innocent that needs his (as in most books) hand held for the first three books. I look forward to more offerings by this author and think a sequel could be new enough to not be a repeat, as in certain writers sequels.
Rating:
Summary: Loved it!
Review: WOW! i absolutly loved this book and can't wait to get the next one! i was entierly captivated and found myself chereing (out loud)for Karigan. this is a well balanced book, not too much myth/magic as to make it creepy and just the right amount of character development whith out getting boring. i absolutly loved it!
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