Rating: 
Summary: Neat book!
Review: This book is split in two halves, Part One and Part Two. Part One starts with the Countess Meliara Astiar of Tlanth. She and her brother Bran promise their dying father that they will revolt against the king, whose taxes are destroying the kingdom. Meliara and Bran raise a tiny, unskilled army against the king, and have a few successful battles. But then the King replaces his army's commander, Baron Debegri, with the Marquis of Shevraeth. Suddenly, Meliara's army isn't doing so well. Then, to make things worse, Meliara is captured by the Marquis! The rest of the first book is about how Meliara tries to escape and make her way back to the army. Part Two takes place after the war (No, I'm not saying who wins). Meliara is done fighting battles in the field, now she is fighting trickier battles in Court. She and Bran are invited to stay at Court and to meet the other nobles, and something is amiss. The Marquise of Merindar (different than the Marquis of Shevraeth) is trying to work her way to the throne, and she wants Meliara to help her. The only problem is, the Marquise of Merindar is sister to the king who Meliara was revolting against. Court is more dangerous than the battlefield, because nothing is straightforward, it is all hidden. . . This book was awesome! I loved how well written it was. It was a fairly challenging book for me, which is saying something since I read well, but it wasn't extrordinarily impossible. When you read Crown Duel, your whole mind has to be in it, but it is worth it. I loved both halves, and even though Mel is prickly, she is really a funny, loveable character. This book has some humor in it, but it is mostly serious. Ages 13-17 will really like Crown Duel.
Rating:
Summary: Crown Duel: An Excellent Read
Review: This is a thrilling book with a fiesty heroine. Plucky Mel with her quick tongue will appeal to those who loved Tamora Pierce's Alanna. Crown Duel is very exciting and a real page turner. Part II is a little predictable but a great read, especially for those who love romance. The short story "Vidanric's Birthday Surprise" was very predictable and Mel seems out of character. I highly recommend this to fantasy readers, historical novel readers and romance readers.
Rating:
Summary: Crown Duel Duology . . .
Review: Buy it, read it, now. That's all I can say for this book. It's what you dream about when you think of living at Court--all the intrigue and dangerous plots, complicated by fan language, an enigmatic Marquis who is by turns ally and foe, and verbal fencing that is downright enjoyable. I just loaned this book to my cousin, and I'm thinking she'd better read it quick because I want it back :)
Rating:
Summary: Simply Amazing!
Review: This is the most amazing book that I have ever read, and as a result, it is now my new favorite book. I don't want to say too much about the plot because that will give it away to those of you who haven't read "Crown Duel" yet (what are you waiting for?!). I will tell you this: If you love fantasy, action, adventure, and romance, then this book is definitely for you. I couldn't put it down fo a second, and ended up finishing it in two days! After I finished it, I was so upset that it was over, that I picked it right back up and read it again! That's how excellent this book is. The characters are simply amazing and believable. My two favorites are Mel and the Marquis of Shevraeth (how can you not like him?). So, I am telling you as a 14-year-old fantasy/romance fan, that you should definitely get this book right away. Trsut me, you won't regret it.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Wonderful!!!!!
Review: I'd give this book 10 stars if I could! I absolutely loved it. I think I read the entire thing in a day and a half. The plot is complicated and has many twists and turns which I don't want to give away to all of you out there that have yet to read it. Mel is such a charismatic character, and keeps you completely hooked the entire time. And the Marquis, so calm, so collected -god am I jealous of Mel... (hahaha)
I think this may well be nearly my favorite book, right up with the Song of the Lioness Quartet and The Protector of the Small. (and that's saying alot!) An absolute MUST!
Rating:
Summary: REALLY GREAT MUST READ!!
Review: This book has got to be on my top ten list. You might have heard this before, but Sherwood Smith's writing somewhat reminds me of Tamora Pierce's writing. I don't want to give the plot away like other reviewers, I just want to erge you to read this book. It may be alittle long but it's definetly worth the time you'll spend reading it! I guarentee that!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: This book is so fabulous! I enjoyed getting to know Mel, the heroine, but even more than Mel, I enjoyed getting to know the Marquis. There is only way to describe him: sexy, so sexy! The tension between these two characters was simply remarkable, especially brought out in the scene where Mel throws a candlestick at his head, and he catches it deftly, which makes her even more furious. He seems to have a knack for doing this throughout the entire book. Suave, debonair, enigmatic... perfect. Sigh. Anyways, Mel and her brother Bran make a promise to their dying father that they will free Remalna from the oppression of King Galdran's rule and make sure that the Covenant is not broken. They form a rag-tag army that succeeds at making the king angry at the pranks they pull on his general, but that's probably all that they succeed at. Mel is taken hostage again and again, then reluctantly decides to ally herself with the Marquis, who has saved her life several times, though she hates him no less. She and her brother finally succeed in restoring peace to Remalna. This book really deserves only four stars, because to be frank, it was a bit boring in some parts. Most of it was wonderful, but some parts that could have been trimmed to one page took up five. But the Marquis was so utterly fabulous, he well made up for it. Kudos to Sherwood Smith!
Rating:
Summary: Crown and Court Duel: Crown and Court Rule!
Review: This timeless story of action, adventure, and the screwups of eternity are a definate read. I was up late in the night reading these marvelous tales.
Meliara is a naive girl who blooms into an intelligent woman. With action adventure and a twist of romance here and there makes this book something you will think of always.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Read for Anyone!
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Book!
Review: This is a very enchanting story of a girl, finding out about what she wants in the world. I recommend this to anyone who wants a light hearted story filled with battle, capture, love and many more elements. Read this book! You won't be disappointed with it.
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