Crown Duel (Smith, Sherwood. Crown and Court Duet, Bk. 1-2.)

Rating:
Summary: Astonishing Read
Review: This book is amazing. I love it, imagine, I've read it 3 times. From the very beggining your hooked. Imideatly, from the very first chapter, you become entranced by the story of Meliara of Tlanth, and her people. War and mystery, romance and intrigue. The story is impecably written, and will grab hold of your imagination until you feel that you are part of it's very realm. Harry Potter holds nothing to the magic of this book. A guaranteed instant favorite if you enjoy fantasy. I highly recomend it. Suggestion: Begin with a lot of time, because once you begin, you cannot stop.

Rating:
Summary: Best Fantasy Book
Review: How many times have you found yourself halfway through a book and hating the heroine? How many times is the heroine a gorgeous, faultless Barbie clothed in medieval dress? Such heroines you will not find in Crown Duel. Sherwood Smith wisely creates a character chock full of faults and imperfections, while also being inspiring in courage and spirit. Meliara is a great role model for young girls, though this book can certainly be enjoyed by everyone. The book was a wonderful coming-of-age story, but a well-built and surprising romance at the end was just the right touch to make Crown Duel perfect.

Rating:
Summary: one of the best medieval fantasy books of all time
Review: I honestly love this book, and cannot go more than a couple of months without reading it again. The characters Sherwood Smith portrays are excellent and well thought out, and his descriptions of circumstances and history leave little to guessing about the type of lifestyle led by his characters. Truly excellent.

Rating:
Summary: Absorbing, smart, and sexy
Review: I couldn't put this book down! I literally had to force myself to go to sleep each night because the story is just go engaging. Meliara is a saucy heroine that all readers will appreciate. A poor countess after her father died, Meliara and her brother lead a revolt against the unjust King Galdran wholly unaware of the hidden difficulties that awaited them. This novel had plenty of swashblucking action, intrigue, heroes, villains, romance, sparring lovers (the best kind), and magic. The story is fast-paced and moves from battlefield to ballrooms and everywhere in between. Meliara and Vidanric simply sizzle off the pages; their encounters with one another are sexy but definitely appropriate, it's all in the subtlety. I wished the book never ended!

Rating:
Summary: The Greatest Book EVER!!!!!!!
Review: Crown Duel is one of the best books I have ever read. It mixes the elements of magic, adventure, and comedy in the exact right propotions. Mel is a character that you can easily relate to and thinks like a noraml person. The plot of both books are great and they both have a twist that the reader does not expect. Its a book you have to read no matter how old you are.

Rating:
Summary: Crown or Court?
Review: The combined book, titled as 'Crown Duel' is an engaging, quick paced story of the young Countess Meliara.
The story begins with the Count -Mels and Brans father- dying. Before passing away, however, he makes Mel And Bran swear that they will defend the people from the greedy king.
This promise forces them into war. But with no apparent allies, they struggle.
However, things change when Mel is captured and taken to the evil king by the Marquis of Shevraeth.
She runs through the countryside, getting herself into danger, and being saved.
Her story continues in part two of the book, The Court Duel. It gives many intesting points, although all romance is predictable even in the beginning, from the point the two meet.
I thourghly enjoyed the book, and stayed up half the night reading it.
The romance in the ending brought a smile to my face, but the action felt flat and rushed. As for the smaller story, although it was a nice snippet, it made me feel the author was losing sight of the characters personalitys. I didn't feel it was needed and she should have put those pages into a better ending for the book.
All in all, the book is a page-turner, and its wit and style excellant. I would certainly reccomend it to others... great read!

Rating:
Summary: TWO VERY GOOD BOOKS... THE HEIGHT OF MEDIVAL FANTASY
Review: THESE TWO BOOKS ARE MEDIVAL FANTASY AT IT'S HIGH POINT!!! THE FIRST ONE, CROWN DUEL, STARTS OFF WHEN MELIARA AND HER BROTHER MAKE A PROMISE TO HER DYING FATHER TO FIGHT A WAR AGAINST THE KING WHO IS TAXING THE PEOPLE UNFAIRLY. WITH THE HELP OF HER PEOPLE AND SOME UNKNOWN FRIENDS, MEL IS THROWEN HEADFIRST INTO BATTLE.
THE SECOND BOOK, COURT DUEL, IS VERY DIFFRENT THAN THE FIRST. STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF COURT, MEL LEARNS FAN LANGAUGE AND TRIES TO BLEND WITH THE CROWD. BUT IN WAR, ATLEAST SHE KNEW WHO TO TRUST...

Rating:
Summary: the funniest book i have ever read!
Review: I love the crown duel and court duel books even before I finished them. My best friend and I fell in love with them and all the guys in them too. It hits all the high lights of life today and even back then and there is always someway or another that we can all relate to Mel and the stupid thinds she does. And you can't help but laugh at them. My best friend and I still laugh about it now long after we have finished them. And there is always that thought in the back of your mind in how things would be different if you were her. Would you give that wail of sheer rage? I really think we all would! I love these books and strongly wish you to read them! I hope you love them as much as I do. I think you will.

Rating:
Summary: fight to the finish
Review: I read this amazing book on a long trip to the ocean. I often find comfort reading it over and over again, the auther encourages good habits such as educating yourself, clean moral behavior and the way its put into words how this young girl fights in a war on the battle fiel then in a kingdom in a more refined style of fighting drags you in. Its almost like a favorite movie you love to watch over and over again.

Rating:
Summary: Greatest fantasy book thatI've read!!!
Review: Crown Duel is probably one of the best books ever! Mel is such a great character and she seems so real. I think any girl, at least, who enjoys fantasy, should definetly read this book.