Daughter of the Lion

Chronicles of the Cheysuli #6

by Jennifer Roberson

She is Keely, twin sister to Corin, and daughter to Niall, the ruler of Homana, and she alone has the power to shapechange into any form—a power akin to that of the Firstborn. Like her brothers, Keely has been chosen to play a crucial part in the Firstborn's prophecy. Yet Keely is no weak pawn to be used in men's games of power and diplomacy. Trained alongside her brothers in the art of war, gifted with more of the old magic than most of her close kin, she will not easily give way even to Niall's commands, nor be forced against her will into an arranged marriage.

But others besides Keely's father have plans for her future. Stahan, the most powerful Ihlini sorcerer, is preparing a trap from which even one as magically-gifted as Keely may find no escape. And in the deepwood, another waits to challenge Keely—an outlaw fully as dangerous to her future freedom as Strahan is to her life...

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, High Fantasy, Magic, Epic Fantasy, Shapeshifters

372 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Over a 40-year career (so far), Jennifer Roberson has published four fantasy series, including the Sword-Dancer Saga, Chronicles of the Cheysuli, the Karavans universe, and urban fantasy series Blood & Bone. Other novels include historicals LADY OF THE GLEN, plus two Robin Hood novels, LADY OF THE FOREST, and LADY OF SHERWOOD.

New novels are percolating in her always-active imagination.

Hobbies include showing dogs, and creating mosaic and resin artwork and jewelry.  She lives in Arizona with a collection of cats and Cardigan Welsh Corgis.

Reviews

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not to be left out, Niall’s daughter, Keely, is the focus of this sixth installment in the Chronicles of the Cheysuli series. Keely is a tomboyish and strong heroine and her first-person perspective makes it easy to sympathize with her. This is a very memorable plot and though I have read this book countless times before, it is still a pleasure to re-read. It’s quite fast-paced and has a lot more romance and violence than a lot of the other novels in the series. This is also a more emotional one. This has been such fun to re-read - it reminds me of being younger when these books ranked among my all-time favorites. There are more complex and intricate epic fantasies available, but Roberson excels as creating characters that are worth caring about and set in a land that sparks the imagination. With each book in the series, her writing improves. Though many of them are more akin to coming-of-age novels, it works in the context of the series. This one has a more personal feel to it than some of the others and certainly tackles some bigger issues that do not always appear in fantasy.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is mt absolute favorite of the series

[Richard Houchin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Chronicles of the Cheysuli series is the first fantasy epic I read. In fact, it's one of the few series I read repeatedly, likely due to my young age and limited literary horizons.

Nevertheless, these books shaped my first views on philosophy, religion, sexuality, racism, and sexism. The responsible way Roberson handles these issues is inspiring and commendable.

On returning to read these books in later years, some of the characters and plot devices appear hackneyed and cliched, and some of themes aren't exactly as I remember them. But still, these stories provided the scaffolding on which I built my literary future.

[Leslie Wiederspan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was much better than the last one. We finally get to see the viewpoint of the female and it was much needed. Sure, the princes have plenty of doubts, but the females involved have much to risk as well. It was very emotional for me. It flowed nicely, but I think the battles with Keely went too quickly. Through the whole book, I was waiting for the encounter with Strahan, and when it finally came, it was over too quickly. And seemed too easy. That's all I'm going to say, so that I do not ruin the book for anyone! The previous book had me bored with the series, but with this one, I want to read the last two now.

[Sunsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Der 6. Band hat mir bisher am besten gefallen. Ob es daran liegt, dass die Protagonistin eine eigensinnige junge Frau ist, die ihren Willen durchsetzen will und der Band zudem wieder in der Ich-Form als Keely geschrieben wurde? Möglich ;) - Jedenfalls konnte ich mich recht gut mit ihr identifizieren und wurde mit einer Wendung überrascht, die ich nicht vermutete.

09/10 Punkte - und hier könnt ihr meine Rezension lesen: http://sunsys-blog.blogspot.de/2015/0... .

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally, another Cheysuli book that returns to a woman's perspective! This one also tells one of the more compelling stories of the series, though Keely's adolescent feminist rebellions become a little two-dimensional at the beginning. Fortunately, she grows up, although in a rather harsher manner than we might have hoped for her.

[Danica Midlil · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I read this early on in high school for a book report. I chose it half because of the cover and half because of the title. It was annoying how much it switched perspective on me. The story is told from several different women's perspective and I would just start to get interested in one storyline when it would switch again. I don't ever plan to read any more of the series.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this and the previous book were the highlights of the set in many ways. Keely is a great character too and this really helped things along - the pacing was nice here too. Even the outcome was slightly less predictable: the slight of hand at the end was pretty fun (although a little confusing).

[Knitwit Tarvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was always my favorite book in this series, probably because it is different from the rest of the books in that the protagonist is a female. We really haven't had a main female character since Alix in the first book, and I love Keely. What woman wouldn't? She is headstrong, yet does her duty. And she hides, then owns up to, her deepest fears. We all have those.

[Gosia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second favourite in the Chronicles of the Cheysuli. Keely is so unbelivably strong, fisty woman, so worth to love that I imediatelly loved her, and even cried when everything bad that happend to her, happened. The real daughter of the lion.

[Boo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was much slower than the rest of the series however it is much needed info.

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 6 of the Cheysuli

[Gail Carriger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the whole series but this one was my favorite. Possibly because it had the strongest heroine.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again, a series I was completely hesitant to take on...specially after having loved the Dragonlance charcters so much...I never thought I would care again...but there you go. Great series.

[Trix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great series. Read it.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good world that Roberson builds here.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daughter of the Lion (Chronicles of the Cheysuli, #6)
Roberson, Jennifer
looking at the youngest child of a shape changing family that has to learn to adapt to leading his people

[Aerinannearthur · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find myself coming back to this one again and again. Keely is a strong willed woman learning how she fits into the expectations of those around her.

[Gregoire · Rating 3 out of 5]

ça commence à s'essouffler un peu ... ou est ce la traduction française ?

[rebecca howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love

We love this entire series. Would love to see it continued. Not a fantasy reader by habit, but read and re read this a few times.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you have not read any of the books from this series, I would not recommend jumping straight into this one as I did. There are too many complicated relationships to keep track of, and so much backstory that the 4-page summary at the beginning is not enough to catch you up. That said, if you can accept that you'll constantly be forgetting who Strahan is and why he is different from Teirnan, then the story is worth a read. Keely's perspective on having babies (or not!) is refreshing, although her propensity for saying "Oh, gods" every other page is less so. There is a surprise near the end, but the biggest surprise is on the last page when—well, I'm not actually sure. I don't even understand. Is it a "To be continued" moment, or just really poorly explained ending? I guess that's one way to get you to buy the next book!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite book of the series!! I read and reread this one so many times that I had to get another copy of the book. I love having it on audio now. I love having a strong female character. I liked that she was a “tom boy” instead of girlie girl and I had related to that when I was younger. Now as I am rereading it as an adult I’m disappointed that her strong views on not wanting children were so easily changed and the reason given was not remotely believable. Keely knew that Gisella’s madness was injury related. It’s ok for a woman to not want children. Also her captivity and rape would not be so easily overcome and change her views so quickly on marriage and children. The end of the book seems a bit rushed. However, I would love another Keely story.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keely is princess of Homana and twin sister to Corin. She's not one for womanly pursuits, however, preferring Cheysuli leathers to skirts. Having the Old Blood, she can speak to all lir and shift into any form.

Destined, and unwilling, to wed Sean of Erinn, she falls for his bastard half-brother Rory. Before that issue can be resolved, she is abducted by Strahan, raped, and made pregnant. Escaping, she falls into a trap set by Teirnan and Rhiannon which compels her to try to kill Brennan, but she doesn't and the stress causes her to miscarry.

Rory turns out to be Sean in disguise, so love and duty may co-exist for her after all.

[Todd R · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, I love Roberson's Cheysuli series. The first four books are grand, and her writing, although great from the get go gets better and better.
This book however was not great plot wise. The writing was stellar, and the characters well placed, positioned, and real - the plot wasn't anything new, original, or even interesting.
I plan to finish the series; hopefully the rest of the books are a touch better.

[Mag · Rating 1 out of 5]

Je m'attendais à un texte féministe mélangé avec de la fantasy. Ben pour le côté femme indépendante on repassera et pour le côté fantasy c'est vraiment pas mis en avant dans la lecture.
Juste une romance cucul lapraline.
TW : viol dans les 200 pages de ce livre 🤷

[Kasey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book as a stand alone, not having read the rest of the series. It was completely confusing and I found the main character over the top in her dislike for anything womanly and she seemed intent to be rude and defiant to everyone. I just didn't liker her as a person. She repeatedly offends nearly every character and it gets old...fast. Not to mention, the book is slow plot wise. Nothing really happens in the first half of the book. Just lots of people getting pregnant, having babies, much talk of the prophecy, talk of having babies, and Keely wandering around offending people.

[Bonnie]

This is the 4th or 5th time I'm reading through this series.

The continuing issue of racially motivated violence winds through the story of how this family of rulers deals with an enemy set on their race's extinction while still dealing with the prejudices that come from ruling over a people of different ethnic background.

I enjoy this story for the richness of cultural development, character development and sound story line.

[Kate Millin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book I have found difficult to put down. This story is focussed on Keely the headstrong daughter if the current ruler of Homana. She has been betrothed since birth to Sean the son of a neighbouring King. She is strong and fights against the expectations of her as a woman and daughter if a King. As usual there are problems caused by the sorcerer Strathan and others who do not wish her to fulfil her destiny.