Crown Duel By Sherwood Smith Release Date: Avaliable Now Firebird Fantasy Ratings Action Romance Characters Overall Buy at Amazon. Buy at Powell’s. Find independent bookstores near you.

Well-worn. Dog-eared. Falling apart at the binding.  These are all ways to describe my poor copy of Crown Duel. Once published as two books, Crown Duel and Court Duel, Firebird Fantasy reprinted them in 2002 as one, a very wise decision as the two stories are only halves on their own.  Together the two books create a heroic tale of Mel as she leads a rebellion as a bare-foot countess, to her attempts to survive the deceptions of royal court life. I must admit, though, to loving the second book the most, and have often been tempted to just reread Court Duel, but in the end, I always want the full tale, and begin at the beginning, as any great journey should.

The first book chronicles Mel, as she and her brother, ­­­­­Bran, fight off an invading army sent by their greedy king. Leading a group of hastily-trained villagers, Mel employs sneaky tactics (such as harassing all night or flooding the enemy camp) to hold off the invading army. When Mel ends up injured and captured by the enemy, she is taken by the Marquis Shevraeth to the king, and sentenced to die if she doesn’t surrender.  Escaping, she leads them on a cross-country chase, is rescued by the Marquis, and forced to realize that while her ideas might be noble, her methods are less than successful. Feeling defeated, she retreats back home after the king dies, convinced she lost the battle.

Into the second book we go, as Mel is dragged off to court by her brother, still feeling defeated for not keeping her promise of making the kingdom a better place. At court, she finds a new kind of battle, navigating the graces and deceits of those who have been schooled as courtiers all their life. As the former king’s sister and family make trouble and Mel deals with her ‘enemy’ the Marquis being decided as the new king, Mel still manages to save the kingdom and realize love in a place she was afraid to look.

Sherwood Smith has created a world full of tiny details that form a living world. From the unique hour keeping, using colors and candles to keep time, to the detailed language of fans that the courtiers use to display their true words while trapped in the court of a corrupt king, the reader will find themselves in a vivid setting, experiencing Mel’s journey with her.

I’m rather indifferent towards the cover of Crown Duel. In some senses I like it, but I also feel that it isn’t all that interesting. It certainly wasn’t the main element that led me to read the book. 

Here’s a quick lesson in cover design. Look at the books that you own, note how many have people on the cover.  Now note how many of those people are looking straight at the reader.  That’s a way to get an instant connection with the potential book buyer while at the store.  Take a look at the books facing out next time you go. I have also noticed that many YA male/non-gender books feature symbols or abstract covers, while ones aimed at girls more often use a female looking to the reader.

Ratings:

Action: 4 ½ - The first half of the book is packed with action and adventure, as Mel leads a rebellion, is captured by the enemy, and must decide who to trust. The action is well written and the edge-of-the-seat (or wherever you might read a book) kind.

Romance: 4 ½ - The second half delves into life at court, a world of flirts and “twoing,” courtship rituals that frighten Mel. Inadvertently, she begins a written romance with an unknown letter writer, allowing her to find romance in a more comfortable way.  Of course, the reader can most likely guess who her writer is as the story continues.  The main couple is the kind you know will get together, though it might not be obvious until the second part. But they argue, a lot, and everyone knows that when a boy and girl fight, there must be love.  At least in the world of fiction. The romance part of the story wraps up nicely with the inclusion of a short story at the end of the book, which is why readers should read the newer Firebird Fantasy release.

Because the two elements only really take up half the book, I felt I couldn’t quite give them five stars.

Characters: 5 – Everyone from the family that shelters Mel, to the servants, guards, and back to the central players, has personality and depth. No one falls into the cracks in Crown Duel, and it’s obvious that Sherwood Smith knows her characters.

Overall: 4 ½ - If it isn’t already obvious, I love this book.  I’ve given it to friends on loan or bought them copies for Christmas. My own copy is in need of retirement, but I can’t dream of getting a new one. I even found copies of the original two books at a used bookstore, and those sit on my shelves. I do dock it half a point, because I feel that while each of the two books is good, a reader will most likely either really enjoy Crown or Court more than the other.  Personally, I love Court, because of the political and social intrigue, in addition to the romance.  An action and adventure lover will like Crown the most.  Both books make a completed story, but in some ways, they are still separate books.

Extras:

Sherwood Smith is what we call a very accessible author. Her website provides a great deal of extra information about the books and the world where takes place. Beyond that, there is the livejournal community, Athanarel, and the mailing list, Castle Tlanth, both of which she actively posts on.  The mailing list tends to be a bit more intimate, and she is always willing to answer questions or join in discussions about the books and characters.

For another story within the world, read about Mel’s daughter in Beauty, a short story in the Firebirds collection. It’s a great story and I hope that we see her again someday, because the story sets up that there are many more tales to tell.  Also on the livejournal community, Ms. Smith will post other stories of hers, sometimes in that world, sometimes not. These are taken down, though, over time, as she submits or polishes them, so you never know what you might find to read. Currently up is Shevraeth In Marloven Hess

There are also many fan websites out there and the best two I found are Colorwoods and Fellowship of the Tower. Both feature extra information abut the books and fan fun, like fan fiction, quizes, and fan art.

Recently published, Inda is another book set in the same world, though in a different time period. I have not found time to read it yet, but I’ve heard good things on the mailing list and from other readers.

As for inspiration, the author tells of being inspired by living in Europe, experiencing her first real cold January, having grown up in LA. The European inspiration is clear in the books, and there is a definite medieval feel, cultivated by details and descriptions that draw the reader in.  The court scenes are especially vivid, and the reader can imagine themselves there with Mel.

If you liked this book, I would also recommend Sorcery and Cecelia, by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer, another vivid magic book about two young women, one in the countryside of England, the other in London having her first social season. The book takes place in Victorian England, and also creates vivid details for the reader, along with fun action and romance.  This book will be reviewed sometime in the future, but you should read it now.  Two other books exist in that same world, including a new one, set ten years later.

Parents:

Aimed at ages in 13 and up, there is implied sex and threats of torture.  The book deals with civil war, and with that comes violence and death, though there is nothing all that objectionable in the text of the book. An average reader over the age of thirteen should be fine. Readers younger than that may very well understand and enjoy the book, but that’s up to you and your reader to decide.

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