Scan barcode
A review by ria_mhrj
Coronets and Steel by Sherwood Smith
4.0
Sometimes I wonder if Sherwood Smith has just peered into my brain and plucked out all the great stories I would love to be told - this is third of her books I have read and she continues to delight me as a reader who loves fantasy, romance, humour and a feisty heroine who needs to learn a lesson along the way.
The history and the background in place for Dobrenica is masterfully handled and though I found a few of the traditions and customs a little confusing (primarily relating to the fantastical elements, which are mostly hinted at without having a huge bearing on the plot), the depth of world building was still impressive.
Kim definitely continues the fine tradition set by Meliara in Crown Duel as the feisty heroine who's smart but can sometimes miss what's standing right before her. And Alec certainly has a dash of Vdranic, which is always welcome :)
So why not five stars? I suppose the ending, whilst suitably gripping and gut-wrenching, did feel a little too suddenly resolved. I wonder if the book was planned as a duology from the outset, or if the decision came later.
That aside, I thoroughly enjoyed Coronets and Steel and am already planning on visiting the one bookshop in London that I know will stock the sequel Blood Spirits. Great stuff!
The history and the background in place for Dobrenica is masterfully handled and though I found a few of the traditions and customs a little confusing (primarily relating to the fantastical elements, which are mostly hinted at without having a huge bearing on the plot), the depth of world building was still impressive.
Kim definitely continues the fine tradition set by Meliara in Crown Duel as the feisty heroine who's smart but can sometimes miss what's standing right before her. And Alec certainly has a dash of Vdranic, which is always welcome :)
So why not five stars? I suppose the ending, whilst suitably gripping and gut-wrenching, did feel a little too suddenly resolved. I wonder if the book was planned as a duology from the outset, or if the decision came later.
That aside, I thoroughly enjoyed Coronets and Steel and am already planning on visiting the one bookshop in London that I know will stock the sequel Blood Spirits. Great stuff!