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Dobrenica #1
Coronets and Steel
Aurelia Kim Murray is a California girl who wishes there were more to life. And there is. For Kim is part of a royal family from a tiny eastern European country, and soon finds herself swept up in the romance and mystery she always wanted-and more, because there's something very different about her bloodline and the magical nature of her ancestral country.
440 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 19, 2010
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1585 people want to read
About the author
Sherwood Smith
168 books37.5k followersI am a writer,( Patreon here) but I'm on Goodreads to talk about books, as I've been a passionate reader as long as I've been a writer--since early childhood.
I'm not going to rate books--there are too many variables. I'd rather talk about the reading experience. My 'reviews' of my books are confined to the writing process.
I'm not going to rate books--there are too many variables. I'd rather talk about the reading experience. My 'reviews' of my books are confined to the writing process.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 228 reviews
February 22, 2017
It's kind of a cheesy cover but I don't care--I still love this fantasy adventure with a nice side of romance. It hit all the right buttons for me.
Coronets and Steel is Sherwood Smith's swashbuckling homage to The Prisoner of Zenda with a female lead character. Kim is a California girl with a talent for fencing, a fearless attitude, and a startling resemblance to a missing young woman from a (fictional) Eastern European country called Dobrenica. The missing woman is engaged to the prince of that country, Alex.
Kim travels to Vienna, trying to find out more about her ancestry, and is spotted by Alex's servants, who think she's the missing fiancée and call Alex. Alex meets up with Kim and is convinced that she's his fiancée and that she's pretending not to know him for some underhanded reason. So he flirts with her, they have a few drinks, and he slips her a roofie so he can abduct her and take her "home." Kim, not being the shrinking violet type, escapes by jumping out of a train window (you go, girl!) and takes off cross-country on foot. Alex and hishenchmen servants give chase.
Coronets was an incredibly fun read because it's such an action-packed book--reading it was kind of like watching a great action film. I never got bored. There's a little magic, a few ghosts and vampires, and a handsome prince . . . who unfortunately is engaged tothe wrong *coughs* another girl. Lots of chasing around, attempted abductions, hair-raising escapes, sword-fighting (Kim was a competitive fencer in college) and general kickassery. Good times!
You do need to read the sequel, Blood Spirits, to get resolution of the whole story; Coronets ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. So plan accordingly, but it's worth it.
Reading Coronets was so enjoyable that when I finished it I immediately went back to the first chapter and start reading it again. That's my highest praise.
Coronets and Steel is Sherwood Smith's swashbuckling homage to The Prisoner of Zenda with a female lead character. Kim is a California girl with a talent for fencing, a fearless attitude, and a startling resemblance to a missing young woman from a (fictional) Eastern European country called Dobrenica. The missing woman is engaged to the prince of that country, Alex.
Kim travels to Vienna, trying to find out more about her ancestry, and is spotted by Alex's servants, who think she's the missing fiancée and call Alex. Alex meets up with Kim and is convinced that she's his fiancée and that she's pretending not to know him for some underhanded reason. So he flirts with her, they have a few drinks, and he slips her a roofie so he can abduct her and take her "home." Kim, not being the shrinking violet type, escapes by jumping out of a train window (you go, girl!) and takes off cross-country on foot. Alex and his
Coronets was an incredibly fun read because it's such an action-packed book--reading it was kind of like watching a great action film. I never got bored. There's a little magic, a few ghosts and vampires, and a handsome prince . . . who unfortunately is engaged to
You do need to read the sequel, Blood Spirits, to get resolution of the whole story; Coronets ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. So plan accordingly, but it's worth it.
Reading Coronets was so enjoyable that when I finished it I immediately went back to the first chapter and start reading it again. That's my highest praise.
Read
September 28, 2010Kim's a grad student in L.A. Her passions are ballet, fencing, Jane Austen, and swashbuckling, romantic old movies. When her grandmother begs her to go east and see if "they" are safe, then slips into an uncommunicative silence, Kim goes to Vienna in search of her family, armed with only two clues. She's having no luck when she first runs into a ghost, and then meets a guy she mentally dubs Mr. Darcy. Only this Mr. Darcy acts like he knows her. When she goes out for a drink and wakes up on a train, the adventure takes off.
This story began as an homage to Prisoner of Zenda, only with a female having to prove her courage, dash . . . and honor. Add in magic. mythology and history, and I hope it will be a different kind of urban fantasy; the first kind of has to end with the heroic sacrifice, a la Rudolph Rassendael.
But I like happy endings, and I also wanted to depict a married couple having adventures, so where my story sharply turns is away from Prisoner of Zenda's sequel, Rupert of Hentzau, in which everyone dies, either pointlessly or somewhat heroically. The second one is thus free to get more heavily into magic, and relationships--and how heroism looks from differing points of view.
This story began as an homage to Prisoner of Zenda, only with a female having to prove her courage, dash . . . and honor. Add in magic. mythology and history, and I hope it will be a different kind of urban fantasy; the first kind of has to end with the heroic sacrifice, a la Rudolph Rassendael.
But I like happy endings, and I also wanted to depict a married couple having adventures, so where my story sharply turns is away from Prisoner of Zenda's sequel, Rupert of Hentzau, in which everyone dies, either pointlessly or somewhat heroically. The second one is thus free to get more heavily into magic, and relationships--and how heroism looks from differing points of view.
October 29, 2014
This was INTERMINABLE. It was like having a joke explained to you for over 400 pages - the idea was fun, but the telling was so laborious. Scenes like "I walked around the town all day. I saw nothing but I felt like I was being watched" took 5 or 6 pages each. There was no chemistry between Kim and the romantic lead (or Kim and the back-up romantic lead, which I didn't even realize was meant to be one until Smith drew a giant flashing arrow towards him, and even then I thought "Are you SURE?"). I assumed this book was published around the mid-nineties, so I was startled whenever someone mentioned a cell phone; but then I checked the publication date and Kim is actually supposed to be my age or slightly younger! She does a LOT of finger guns and telling people to mellow out for someone who's supposed to be my age or slightly younger. And a lot of being flawlessly skilled at dancing, foreign languages, and esoteric literary and musical knowledge for someone who's supposed to be my age or slightly younger. Or lots younger. Or lots older. Or any age. She's also strangely very invested in the legitimacy of her grandmother's marriage. The basic plots points should have been fun (jumping from trains, impersonating princesses!) but oof. What a slog.
January 17, 2020
I feel so torn about this book. I 5-star LOVED certain parts of it. It blends history and fantasy, magic and politics, mythology and modernity. The author calls it a homage to Prisoner of Zenda which tells you something about the quirky classic literary references populating the pages. And some of the not-so-quirky ones. The characters all come across genuinely knowledgeable. They jump from history to languages to classical music almost constantly. But not in a way that makes the reader feel ignorant. (At least, I didn't feel it. Except for a chapter that began by referencing a character in Prisoner of Zenda which had me flipping around in this book trying to figure out who the person was and how I missed his earlier entrance.) Running jokes include Jane Austen's Mr. Darcy and P.G. Wodehouse's Jeeves. Such fun.
I liked the writing. I didn't mind the length or the detailed history/mythology/political structure. I ate it all up. I felt the influence of some of my favorite authors: definitely Mary Stewart, Jane Austen, maybe Georgette Heyer. And when a book casually nods to other books, and books I particularly love, well, it is on the fast-track to join them on my favorites list.
Except...Coronets and Steel doesn't quite make it there.
First, the timeline. I don't mean the pacing of the book. I agree with other reviewers that it is slow initially but if you stick with it you'll be rewarded. No, I mean the date of when this book was supposed to take place. It was published in 2010. I sometimes got '90s vibes. But then, the heroine references teenagers glued to cellphones and her favorite childhood series--Harry Potter. Suddenly 2010 makes sense. Yet she does not act like it is modern day and there is little evidence she communicates with her family back in the States through more than the occasional postcard. (My family would FREAK OUT if I tried anything like that while traveling abroad.) And if we are in the twenty-first century, I'm further baffled by the ages of everyone. There is Grandma who escaped around the time the Nazis invaded, the love interest who fought off Soviets, and the main character who is in college. (Or is she a grad student? I cannot remember. Still weirdly young to be dating someone whose Father fought Nazis and romanced her Grandma.) As a result of these confusing generational gaps, I spent most of the book feeling vaguely puzzled and uncomfortable with the various ages and romances.
Second, the romance! I actually really liked it at first. It was slow-burn but occasionally the attraction flares. The heroine acts mildly flirty and clearly is aware its there. Until out of nowhere things become SUPER INTENSE (was that a fade to black scene? I can't decide--or perhaps just don't want to) and the love interest becomes pretty dang angsty. Which I get. Political machinations, safety of the country, and all that. But 'brooding' only takes a fellow so far. He bored me by the end.
Then there is a LOVE TRIANGLE. A love triangle almost as out of nowhere as the one from The Princess of Cortova (I haven't forgiven you yet for that, Diane Stanley!) But weirdly enough...I didn't actually mind the love triangle here. I mean, it did throw me for a major loop and I maintain a healthy skepticism with the whole thing, but I actually am more of a fan of the secondary love interest. At least once I realized he was a secondary love interest.
The PROBLEM with this is that it made me feel even more apathetic about the main romantic lead and his brooding angst. So while the heroine starts going on about how she'll never love another...I kind of wanted to be like * nudge, nudge * forget him, you've got another great candidate lined up... (And I am not the type of girl who normally falls for the bad boy so you know our squeaky clean male lead is a bore.)
Third, the villain is soooooooo obviously villainous that I kept waiting for either the heroine to catch on or a truly stellar plot twist.
Neither happens.
The otherwise clever and gutsy heroine is a complete moron where the villain is concerned. And I don't understand why. Girl grew up in L.A. How is she so lacking in street smarts? Or a B.S. meter? If she's so naive, why did her parents think sending her to Europe alone was such a great idea? To credit the plot, her naivety is a pretty well established part of her character, but it still didn't make much sense.
Maybe she should have watched more horror movies as a kid.
And, of course, the story ends on a cliff hanger which, gah. But it probably needed to end by that point. Don't know when but I will try and get the sequel.
So...I'm rounding to 4 stars. I don't know if I'm rounding up or down. It probably deserves less. It could deserve more. There is so much I loved about this book and so much that distracted. It certainly takes commitment to get through the first section before the action starts. But once it does, I found it hard to put down.
It is a creative story built around a clear worldview and full of developed, interesting characters. But it also relies on some weak plot points and truly dumb behavior on the part of the main character. The romance detracts as much as it adds.
What a mixed bag.
I can only hope later books in the series win me over.
I liked the writing. I didn't mind the length or the detailed history/mythology/political structure. I ate it all up. I felt the influence of some of my favorite authors: definitely Mary Stewart, Jane Austen, maybe Georgette Heyer. And when a book casually nods to other books, and books I particularly love, well, it is on the fast-track to join them on my favorites list.
Except...Coronets and Steel doesn't quite make it there.
First, the timeline. I don't mean the pacing of the book. I agree with other reviewers that it is slow initially but if you stick with it you'll be rewarded. No, I mean the date of when this book was supposed to take place. It was published in 2010. I sometimes got '90s vibes. But then, the heroine references teenagers glued to cellphones and her favorite childhood series--Harry Potter. Suddenly 2010 makes sense. Yet she does not act like it is modern day and there is little evidence she communicates with her family back in the States through more than the occasional postcard. (My family would FREAK OUT if I tried anything like that while traveling abroad.) And if we are in the twenty-first century, I'm further baffled by the ages of everyone. There is Grandma who escaped around the time the Nazis invaded, the love interest who fought off Soviets, and the main character who is in college. (Or is she a grad student? I cannot remember. Still weirdly young to be dating someone whose Father fought Nazis and romanced her Grandma.) As a result of these confusing generational gaps, I spent most of the book feeling vaguely puzzled and uncomfortable with the various ages and romances.
Second, the romance! I actually really liked it at first. It was slow-burn but occasionally the attraction flares. The heroine acts mildly flirty and clearly is aware its there. Until out of nowhere things become SUPER INTENSE (was that a fade to black scene? I can't decide--or perhaps just don't want to) and the love interest becomes pretty dang angsty. Which I get. Political machinations, safety of the country, and all that. But 'brooding' only takes a fellow so far. He bored me by the end.
Then there is a LOVE TRIANGLE. A love triangle almost as out of nowhere as the one from The Princess of Cortova (I haven't forgiven you yet for that, Diane Stanley!) But weirdly enough...I didn't actually mind the love triangle here. I mean, it did throw me for a major loop and I maintain a healthy skepticism with the whole thing, but I actually am more of a fan of the secondary love interest. At least once I realized he was a secondary love interest.
The PROBLEM with this is that it made me feel even more apathetic about the main romantic lead and his brooding angst. So while the heroine starts going on about how she'll never love another...I kind of wanted to be like * nudge, nudge * forget him, you've got another great candidate lined up... (And I am not the type of girl who normally falls for the bad boy so you know our squeaky clean male lead is a bore.)
Third, the villain is soooooooo obviously villainous that I kept waiting for either the heroine to catch on or a truly stellar plot twist.
Neither happens.
The otherwise clever and gutsy heroine is a complete moron where the villain is concerned. And I don't understand why. Girl grew up in L.A. How is she so lacking in street smarts? Or a B.S. meter? If she's so naive, why did her parents think sending her to Europe alone was such a great idea? To credit the plot, her naivety is a pretty well established part of her character, but it still didn't make much sense.
Maybe she should have watched more horror movies as a kid.
And, of course, the story ends on a cliff hanger which, gah. But it probably needed to end by that point. Don't know when but I will try and get the sequel.
So...I'm rounding to 4 stars. I don't know if I'm rounding up or down. It probably deserves less. It could deserve more. There is so much I loved about this book and so much that distracted. It certainly takes commitment to get through the first section before the action starts. But once it does, I found it hard to put down.
It is a creative story built around a clear worldview and full of developed, interesting characters. But it also relies on some weak plot points and truly dumb behavior on the part of the main character. The romance detracts as much as it adds.
What a mixed bag.
I can only hope later books in the series win me over.
June 15, 2015
This came SO close to being something I loved which made the ultimate disconnect all the more disappointing. I think the biggest problem is I just didn't feel the romantic relationship enough. Again, it came close, but JUST missed it for me. But that would've made me forgive a lot.
I didn't really understand most of the politics and backstory, which I think affected my reaction to the romantic relationship because it's so interconnected. I didn't really get some of the arguments and decisions that were made because of the politics. It all felt a bit obscure for me.
The other big thing is I thought Kim was too naive, particularly about . I don't like being that far ahead of the characters.
I did like the modern day fantasy feel a lot, though.
I didn't really understand most of the politics and backstory, which I think affected my reaction to the romantic relationship because it's so interconnected. I didn't really get some of the arguments and decisions that were made because of the politics. It all felt a bit obscure for me.
The other big thing is I thought Kim was too naive, particularly about . I don't like being that far ahead of the characters.
I did like the modern day fantasy feel a lot, though.
May 13, 2013
Aurelia Kim Murray hunts for her grandmother's past, hoping to find some clue to breaking her grandmother's depression. While searching Europe for clues, she feels like she's being watched. A strange encounter at the ballet proves to her that in fact, she is. And thus Kim gets swept up into an adventure of mistaken identity, supernatural happenings, and all the balls and swashbuckling her romantic heart could desire.
Although I liked the twists on the Ruritania tale, this story didn't do it for me. First off, it was hard to shake the feeling that Kim was constantly missing or forgetting to follow up on obvious clues. Secondly, Kim's romantic life frustrated me. I have no idea why Alex OR Tony is attractive to her, since neither of them tell her anything personal about themselves, and they She is otherwise a fairly sensible girl, so in addition to being annoyingly silly her stubborn attraction to these two secretive men just seemed weird. And third of all, Dobrenica seems like a weirdly unproblematized version of Ruritania. The lower classes worship and respect the worthies in the upper classes, have all sorts of superstitions, basic technology doesn't work there, etc. I expected more from an author who usually deconstructs so many fantasy tropes.
Although I liked the twists on the Ruritania tale, this story didn't do it for me. First off, it was hard to shake the feeling that Kim was constantly missing or forgetting to follow up on obvious clues. Secondly, Kim's romantic life frustrated me. I have no idea why Alex OR Tony is attractive to her, since neither of them tell her anything personal about themselves, and they She is otherwise a fairly sensible girl, so in addition to being annoyingly silly her stubborn attraction to these two secretive men just seemed weird. And third of all, Dobrenica seems like a weirdly unproblematized version of Ruritania. The lower classes worship and respect the worthies in the upper classes, have all sorts of superstitions, basic technology doesn't work there, etc. I expected more from an author who usually deconstructs so many fantasy tropes.
March 21, 2012
Kim gave up an Olympic berth on the U.S. fencing team in order to research her own family history. To find out why she was raised on folk tales that don’t seem to be published in any library books. And why her grandfather disappeared in World War II. And, most important, why her grandmother has suddenly closed herself off from the world.
What Kim finds is Alec.
Or rather, he finds her.
And twenty-four hours later she wakes up, abducted, and trapped in the car of a speeding train. With a choice to make. Stick around and find out why she has been kidnapped by a brilliant, witty guy who looks like Mr. Darcy. Or jump.
The only question here is whether I will manage to stave off reading the sequel until the paperback comes out in September. Or whether I shall have to splurge and buy it now. I suspect the latter.
What Kim finds is Alec.
Or rather, he finds her.
And twenty-four hours later she wakes up, abducted, and trapped in the car of a speeding train. With a choice to make. Stick around and find out why she has been kidnapped by a brilliant, witty guy who looks like Mr. Darcy. Or jump.
The only question here is whether I will manage to stave off reading the sequel until the paperback comes out in September. Or whether I shall have to splurge and buy it now. I suspect the latter.
September 12, 2010
I picked up Coronets and Steel, by Sherwood Smith, at Barnes and Noble the other day, since I had a B&N gift card I'd been saving, and a desperate urge for a new book.
I finished it last night at 1 am, and the only reason I didn't finish it the night before (really, earlier that day) at 5 am was that I had had a really long day and my eyes were fuzzing out on me. As I paged toward the end I glared in horror at the meager five pages awaiting my greedy eyes. What do you mean there were only a few pages left? The story couldn't be over, could it? Luckily, there will be a sequel, which I am eagerly awaiting.
Coronets and Steel begins with a Kim, a new college graduate, searching through Europe for traces of her family history*. A vague memory of her mother's and a couple theater tickets have brought her to Vienna, where she resumes her quest in a genealogy office. Leaving the office, she sees her first ghost, though she doesn't know it at the time, who leads her into an encounter with a man who swears he knows her. But she's never met him in her life.
He's handsome though, and polite, so she gets a drink with him...and ends up waking up on a train. And promptly escapes out the window.
A zigzag chase ensues with the handsome Alec finally apologizing and explaining his mistake. Turns out she looks just like someone named Ruli, who also happens to be Kim's cousin. A bit of Kim's family history is explained and she ends up traveling to Dobrenica, a small country in the Carpathian Mountains, where her grandmother was born. Where her grandmother was a princess.
I admit to being pleasantly surprised with much of this plotline. You're not going to get Princess Diaries here. There were one or two turns that felt predictable, but some of that predictability, I think, comes from reading similar stories by Sherwood Smith. There are echoes of Once a Princess and Twice a Prince in the plotline, as well as Crown Duel, but Kim is a different character than either of those two heroines. She's more serious than Sasha and more experienced and laid back than Mel. Echoes of Sasha resounded in her speaking style, at least at first, but both of the characters are from LA, so I was able to write it off as nothing more than dialect; as the story progresses and you learn more about Kim, the echoes of Sasha disappear.
I was frustrated at a few points with Kim's apparent denseness with the situation. She often assumes the best of people, which gets her into trouble in a few situations, but her escapes from those situations are clever and exciting to read. Also, her saving grace, Kim admits to her denseness when shown the real motivations behind such situations. That helps make Kim's denseness a character trait, not a plot device.
At one point I remember thinking "if she gets kidnapped here I will be disappointed, because I can so see it coming" and she did get kidnapped. Almost. My irritation with being right was swept away by her ingenious escape and the resulting piece of good luck it brings.
At no point was the story so predicable that I could see the ending. A few scenes were expected, but once the story got into full flow I couldn't figure out any of the turns. The few guesses I had turned out to be wrong.
I like Kim. She's practical, funny, serious, and learns how to think on her feet.
The ending leaves quite a few hanging threads and questions to be answered. Not to mention my panicked reading of the last chapter while thinking "there'sgottabemorethere'sgottabemore" and the shriek of "Nooooooooo!" when I got to the last page. But did I mention there's going to be a sequel? I can't wait.
*If you're wondering, this is not a Sartorias-deles story. I wouldn't quite place it in Urban Fantasy either, though technically it fits the qualifications. Magic isn't so in-your-face as most UF I know. I'd put it in Modern Fantasy, with a subplot of romance. On her website Sherwood calls it a Ruritarian romantic adventure.
I finished it last night at 1 am, and the only reason I didn't finish it the night before (really, earlier that day) at 5 am was that I had had a really long day and my eyes were fuzzing out on me. As I paged toward the end I glared in horror at the meager five pages awaiting my greedy eyes. What do you mean there were only a few pages left? The story couldn't be over, could it? Luckily, there will be a sequel, which I am eagerly awaiting.
Coronets and Steel begins with a Kim, a new college graduate, searching through Europe for traces of her family history*. A vague memory of her mother's and a couple theater tickets have brought her to Vienna, where she resumes her quest in a genealogy office. Leaving the office, she sees her first ghost, though she doesn't know it at the time, who leads her into an encounter with a man who swears he knows her. But she's never met him in her life.
He's handsome though, and polite, so she gets a drink with him...and ends up waking up on a train. And promptly escapes out the window.
A zigzag chase ensues with the handsome Alec finally apologizing and explaining his mistake. Turns out she looks just like someone named Ruli, who also happens to be Kim's cousin. A bit of Kim's family history is explained and she ends up traveling to Dobrenica, a small country in the Carpathian Mountains, where her grandmother was born. Where her grandmother was a princess.
I admit to being pleasantly surprised with much of this plotline. You're not going to get Princess Diaries here. There were one or two turns that felt predictable, but some of that predictability, I think, comes from reading similar stories by Sherwood Smith. There are echoes of Once a Princess and Twice a Prince in the plotline, as well as Crown Duel, but Kim is a different character than either of those two heroines. She's more serious than Sasha and more experienced and laid back than Mel. Echoes of Sasha resounded in her speaking style, at least at first, but both of the characters are from LA, so I was able to write it off as nothing more than dialect; as the story progresses and you learn more about Kim, the echoes of Sasha disappear.
I was frustrated at a few points with Kim's apparent denseness with the situation. She often assumes the best of people, which gets her into trouble in a few situations, but her escapes from those situations are clever and exciting to read. Also, her saving grace, Kim admits to her denseness when shown the real motivations behind such situations. That helps make Kim's denseness a character trait, not a plot device.
At one point I remember thinking "if she gets kidnapped here I will be disappointed, because I can so see it coming" and she did get kidnapped. Almost. My irritation with being right was swept away by her ingenious escape and the resulting piece of good luck it brings.
At no point was the story so predicable that I could see the ending. A few scenes were expected, but once the story got into full flow I couldn't figure out any of the turns. The few guesses I had turned out to be wrong.
I like Kim. She's practical, funny, serious, and learns how to think on her feet.
The ending leaves quite a few hanging threads and questions to be answered. Not to mention my panicked reading of the last chapter while thinking "there'sgottabemorethere'sgottabemore" and the shriek of "Nooooooooo!" when I got to the last page. But did I mention there's going to be a sequel? I can't wait.
*If you're wondering, this is not a Sartorias-deles story. I wouldn't quite place it in Urban Fantasy either, though technically it fits the qualifications. Magic isn't so in-your-face as most UF I know. I'd put it in Modern Fantasy, with a subplot of romance. On her website Sherwood calls it a Ruritarian romantic adventure.
February 16, 2012
First read 10/14/10: My first book by Sherwood Smith but probably not my last!
I'm categorizing this as fantasy, because that's the way the Library had labelled it. I will say that most fantastical elements were kept in the background and very wispy. Maybe that will change as the series continues? I'd say that it's more of a swashbuckling type of modern Gothic Romance reminiscent of some of Joan Aiken's books or maybe Mary Stewart's brought into modern times, with fantasy elements. Also maybe a bit like C.A. Belmond's books, although hers don't have any fantasy elements of course.
I see that Sherwood Smith's review below refers to this as a Ruritanian-Romance and gives a few hints for the next in the series, so you may want to check that if you're interested.
Overall, I very much enjoyed it! I'm hoping there will be more to this series as this book ends quite unsatisfactorily, I felt. There is a very slight romance element. I found the heroine to be very likeable and capable--I liked her brains, wit, and athletic abilities--although I question whether someone with her background and of her age would be 'quite' so knowledgeable and self-assured. But again, not my expertise, so I am probably wrong. The slang seemed a little dated, maybe more appropriate for the 80's/90's but I'm not exactly up on the modern idiom so I may be wrong.
The cover art is almost perfect and gives a good reflection of the plot. I'll give it an B+. I'd up that grade, except the Paris Hilton resemblance is offensive (to the heroine!) who is not at all PH-like, and she should have been wearing sandals since that was very integral to the plot and mentioned quite a few times within the book.
This book was different. I couldn't guess what would happen. I enjoyed that. And I liked the traveling around Europe, meeting a fascinating stranger, what if you were a 'fairy princess', espionage-y elements and etc.
2nd read: 2/15/12 to prepare for sequel. (And to read an intelligent heroine after the stupidity of the one from the last book I read.)
I'm categorizing this as fantasy, because that's the way the Library had labelled it. I will say that most fantastical elements were kept in the background and very wispy. Maybe that will change as the series continues? I'd say that it's more of a swashbuckling type of modern Gothic Romance reminiscent of some of Joan Aiken's books or maybe Mary Stewart's brought into modern times, with fantasy elements. Also maybe a bit like C.A. Belmond's books, although hers don't have any fantasy elements of course.
I see that Sherwood Smith's review below refers to this as a Ruritanian-Romance and gives a few hints for the next in the series, so you may want to check that if you're interested.
Overall, I very much enjoyed it! I'm hoping there will be more to this series as this book ends quite unsatisfactorily, I felt. There is a very slight romance element. I found the heroine to be very likeable and capable--I liked her brains, wit, and athletic abilities--although I question whether someone with her background and of her age would be 'quite' so knowledgeable and self-assured. But again, not my expertise, so I am probably wrong. The slang seemed a little dated, maybe more appropriate for the 80's/90's but I'm not exactly up on the modern idiom so I may be wrong.
The cover art is almost perfect and gives a good reflection of the plot. I'll give it an B+. I'd up that grade, except the Paris Hilton resemblance is offensive (to the heroine!) who is not at all PH-like, and she should have been wearing sandals since that was very integral to the plot and mentioned quite a few times within the book.
This book was different. I couldn't guess what would happen. I enjoyed that. And I liked the traveling around Europe, meeting a fascinating stranger, what if you were a 'fairy princess', espionage-y elements and etc.
2nd read: 2/15/12 to prepare for sequel. (And to read an intelligent heroine after the stupidity of the one from the last book I read.)
September 15, 2012
The main character (Kim) is a ballet dancer and a fencer. That should ring true in this house, right?
Beyond that, it's very much a long-lost twin type story, although she's just a look-alike cousin rather than a twin.
There's a slight love triangle, but she's obviously drawn to the "good" one, who, it turns out, can't marry her.
I thought the setup took a while. The whole thing about leaving her college team before the NCAAs was weird. NCAAs in fencing are in March. Now, UCLA is on a quarter calendar. Maybe the quarter ended before the NCAAs and she took spring quarter off? I don't know. Didn't add anything to the story.
Seems a little dated -- why did she need to go to Europe -- why not contact the genealogists via e-mail. Plus, she was snail mailing her family instead of texting and/or calling. They did say cells didn't work well in Dobrenica, but it was surprising they weren't used more in Vienna.
Not sure if the ghosts will turn into anything in the next couple of books. They didn't add much to this one.
Thought it was kind of weird that Alec had Kim (current interest) living in Nat's place, when Nat was former girlfriend. Didn't seem to affect Nat & Kim's relationship.
Lots of action (escape by jumping out a train window, escape by jumping off a bridge into a river) and a plot like a Harlequin romance, but it didn't feel like a fast-paced thriller or a romance.
At the end, it seemed obvious to me that speaking to Gran in her native language might reach her.
Beyond that, it's very much a long-lost twin type story, although she's just a look-alike cousin rather than a twin.
There's a slight love triangle, but she's obviously drawn to the "good" one, who, it turns out, can't marry her.
I thought the setup took a while. The whole thing about leaving her college team before the NCAAs was weird. NCAAs in fencing are in March. Now, UCLA is on a quarter calendar. Maybe the quarter ended before the NCAAs and she took spring quarter off? I don't know. Didn't add anything to the story.
Seems a little dated -- why did she need to go to Europe -- why not contact the genealogists via e-mail. Plus, she was snail mailing her family instead of texting and/or calling. They did say cells didn't work well in Dobrenica, but it was surprising they weren't used more in Vienna.
Not sure if the ghosts will turn into anything in the next couple of books. They didn't add much to this one.
Thought it was kind of weird that Alec had Kim (current interest) living in Nat's place, when Nat was former girlfriend. Didn't seem to affect Nat & Kim's relationship.
Lots of action (escape by jumping out a train window, escape by jumping off a bridge into a river) and a plot like a Harlequin romance, but it didn't feel like a fast-paced thriller or a romance.
At the end, it seemed obvious to me that speaking to Gran in her native language might reach her.
September 19, 2010
I almost marked this review as containing spoilers but didn't, though it does probably contain minor spoilers, though I think they're things important to helping people decide if they want to read the book or no.
I liked this book quite a bit, though I wish I'd known the story didn't quite end but continues in the next book. Aside from that, I'm still also a bit hesitant to call this a fantasy series. It's set in contemporary times, and it has some "other" elements but it strikes me as more paranormal than fantasy. If you've been not sure about picking it up because of the fantasy label, but you like contemporary books with hints of paranormal, you may like this.
The pacing is good, the story details really interesting and well-revealed. I had a few moments of impatience with the heroine being overly naive and trustworthy (especially for someone from LA) but otherwise enjoyed how the story and plot were revealed. I could have lived without the obligatory "two guys to be hot for" that we get so often these days, but I didn't get the sense the author really meant to drag that out.
Overall, I recommend this book with a reservation about the ending since the book ends on a cliffhanger (which I'm not a fan of) and the story is clearly meant for at least a second book. I'm not sure when the next book will be released!
I liked this book quite a bit, though I wish I'd known the story didn't quite end but continues in the next book. Aside from that, I'm still also a bit hesitant to call this a fantasy series. It's set in contemporary times, and it has some "other" elements but it strikes me as more paranormal than fantasy. If you've been not sure about picking it up because of the fantasy label, but you like contemporary books with hints of paranormal, you may like this.
The pacing is good, the story details really interesting and well-revealed. I had a few moments of impatience with the heroine being overly naive and trustworthy (especially for someone from LA) but otherwise enjoyed how the story and plot were revealed. I could have lived without the obligatory "two guys to be hot for" that we get so often these days, but I didn't get the sense the author really meant to drag that out.
Overall, I recommend this book with a reservation about the ending since the book ends on a cliffhanger (which I'm not a fan of) and the story is clearly meant for at least a second book. I'm not sure when the next book will be released!
February 23, 2011
I forget what exactly prompted this train of thought, but I was thinking the other day that some books are books for the heart, or the soul, or the brain: books that touch you and stay with you forever. And some books are only books. And which books are which will of course vary wildly from person to person.
Well, for me this is only a book. (Or maybe occupying some middle ground between "only a book" and "book I want to have forever.") I don't regret having spent the time reading it, and I think that the author spent time and craft on it. It interests me enough to have re-read it, and to want to read the sequel, Blood Spirits. But the main characters didn't really capture my attention. And the heroine is so genre savvy that there was a certain surprise, well, I wondered why she didn't see it coming the way I did.
I think that part of the reason I had difficulties fully relating to this is that while there are some interesting layers here, they won't be (more) fully explained until later books.
Well, for me this is only a book. (Or maybe occupying some middle ground between "only a book" and "book I want to have forever.") I don't regret having spent the time reading it, and I think that the author spent time and craft on it. It interests me enough to have re-read it, and to want to read the sequel, Blood Spirits. But the main characters didn't really capture my attention. And the heroine is so genre savvy that there was a certain surprise, well, I wondered why she didn't see it coming the way I did.
I think that part of the reason I had difficulties fully relating to this is that while there are some interesting layers here, they won't be (more) fully explained until later books.
January 1, 2012
2.5 stars
I would love to give this more stars. I honestly would. I started it and was bored and bored and bored and was going to give up and then actually found myself interested. I liked Dobrenica and the idea of this magical little country. And the characters were not half bad. But it is ridiculously long and frankly difficult to follow. At least for me. And it is not over by a long shot. Which given the ending is good. But I just don't see this ending well.
I would love to give this more stars. I honestly would. I started it and was bored and bored and bored and was going to give up and then actually found myself interested. I liked Dobrenica and the idea of this magical little country. And the characters were not half bad. But it is ridiculously long and frankly difficult to follow. At least for me. And it is not over by a long shot. Which given the ending is good. But I just don't see this ending well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2010
Well, this will be a tough one to review, because I so much wanted to deeply love this book, as I love most books by Sherwood Smith.
Maybe if I hadn't read her Sasharia en Garde before (which has a girl of similar age with well explained personal paranoia of being hunted not trusting the hero who isn't honest with her at the start), or maybe if the heroine, Kim, hadn't pressed some of my personal buttons, I would have loved this more. I will definitely read the next book in this series and not just because I try anything by Sherwood Smith, but I really want to know what will happen next to Dobrenica and its inhabitants.
Don't get me wrong, I really like the setting and most of the characters. Smith has a skill of making even the shortest appearance of a person memorable, and I liked Theresa and her friends, Emilio, Kilber (who was mostly described by others), Kim's grandmere and her mum, Salfmatta Mina, Natalie Miller, the monks at the monastery, what little we saw of Alec's father and Alec himself (Apart from the story hook - his successful drugging of Kim whom he takes to be his fugitive bride-to-be - which to me didn't read at all typical for his behaviour in the rest of the book).
I didn't like the character of Tony (which is one reason why I couldn't understand Kim having any sort of sizzle with him), his mother and her side of the family, but this was mostly intended (although Tony is supposed to be a charming bounder, but not hopeless: to me he came across as an impulsive egoist) - as is explained in the last 30 pages of the book. When Ruli, the girl Kim sort of looks like, shows up and acts herself I mostly felt pity, although she is described by others as very selfish before.
I loved the country of Dobrenica, and although I was on holiday in Eastern Europe only twice (to Yugoslavia - at the time - and to Hungary) it read very believable, except for the special differences necessary to make it the liminal focus point described. I loved the legend of St. Xanpia and the different impressions of it that we got from the different storytellers, tied into how much the person speaking believed in the magic of Dobrenica in the first place.
Now for some of the buttons this pushed for me. Kim reads to me in the biggest part of the book like early Meliara of Crown Duel, totally bent on seeing life the way she wants to and ignoring anything that doesn't fit into that (the repeated avoidance of talking about politics in Dobrenica - after she was abducted and after she has been followed, so she ought to be aware there must be some danger).
I think that's a stupid outlook at an age of 23 or 24 (Meliara is 16 or thereabouts), and especially if you go on a long journey without anybody else in a country you have never been to before (she does that from Vienna to wherever else she goes). I can understand her changing majors, even people in their 20s don't necessarily find what they want to do with their life in the long run right away, but going with a guy into a wine cellar and drinking lots of alcohol, just because he's cute looking and after you already had been propositioned by some creep earlier - that's just too stupid.
Then she gets drugged and abducted and does some really courageous escaping (I enjoyed this!) but has to rejoin her captor Alec, who realizes his mistake and explains what he'd like her to do and she agrees. Fair enough, but she still doesn't truly know him from Adam and he already abducted her and SHE CAN'T BE BOTHERED TO PHONE OR WRITE HER PARENTS EVEN ONCE!! I'm talking about her jet-setting in Split, etc. not Dobrenica where electricity doesn't always work in the first place. All this while her parents don't know what is wrong with the grandmother.
I can again totally understand when she decides to find out about her true heritage because Alec implies that her grandmother's marriage didn't happen. But again she doesn't bother to let anyone know of her change in plans, although Alec has already told her that the situation in Dobrenica is problematic, that Ruli hasn't shown up yet - so it might be wise to not vanish from the face of the earth for her family.
Alec himself we mostly hear about, but there's a part of the book at the beginning of the developments in Dobrenica where he at least shows up in the evening. Kim makes him smile and relax, so I can see the attraction from that side - I never quite understand why Kim develops an attraction towards Alec, though (admiration, yes, that part is well explained).
Since the whole book is written as an account to someone else (a feature Smith likes to use - I expect because you can include unreliable narration but also outside information that the writer/teller had later on) the reader reads as Kim. There is this dichotomy between some of her musings, which make her sound mature or normal for her age and wilful ignorance which makes her childish.
She gives her word under pressure or persuasion but never quite finds herself bound to it, although Alec also doesn't explain enough about the danger she and he are in. At one point she makes a decision to follow her word because she's sure she won't be able to successfully break it. I didn't like that at all.
I do understand her impulsive behaviour to help her aunt Sisi - that a 23 year old might not read under the surface of people's behaviours is not unusual to me, I was the same at that age, so she takes people as they sell themselves and gets taken in an already upset situation (after the disruption of the masquerade) and is persuaded by the scheming duchess to come to Ruli's aid.
The whole escape attempt from the castle was a lovely tour-de-force of derring-do and bits of magic happening and sacrifice. And the aftermath with Alec and Kim at the picnic and finally talking about what is going on and with Kim and Ruli talking about the future (her lack of maturity shows up nicely when she tells Ruli to only be herself and then right after tells her what kinds of changes and things she would do if she were in Ruli's situation) and Kim making a believable sacrifice really saved the book for me.
Smith has said she wanted to write a girl showing courage, dash and honour. Kim always shows courage and dash - but I had hoped for more brains - and she has a large dollop of honour (especially in her end decision of doing what is best for the country - although I really think Alec, whose life is directly impacted by this decision, should have had a chance to hear her choice - I wouldn't be surprised, as he always sets the country first but did go with her on that picnic anyway, if he didn't have a solution for that) with a few let-downs in keeping to her word.
What I want in the follow-up is more Alec and less Tony, more Dobrenica and more development of maturity for Kim. She really can do with some at her age.
Maybe if I hadn't read her Sasharia en Garde before (which has a girl of similar age with well explained personal paranoia of being hunted not trusting the hero who isn't honest with her at the start), or maybe if the heroine, Kim, hadn't pressed some of my personal buttons, I would have loved this more. I will definitely read the next book in this series and not just because I try anything by Sherwood Smith, but I really want to know what will happen next to Dobrenica and its inhabitants.
Don't get me wrong, I really like the setting and most of the characters. Smith has a skill of making even the shortest appearance of a person memorable, and I liked Theresa and her friends, Emilio, Kilber (who was mostly described by others), Kim's grandmere and her mum, Salfmatta Mina, Natalie Miller, the monks at the monastery, what little we saw of Alec's father and Alec himself (Apart from the story hook - his successful drugging of Kim whom he takes to be his fugitive bride-to-be - which to me didn't read at all typical for his behaviour in the rest of the book).
I didn't like the character of Tony (which is one reason why I couldn't understand Kim having any sort of sizzle with him), his mother and her side of the family, but this was mostly intended (although Tony is supposed to be a charming bounder, but not hopeless: to me he came across as an impulsive egoist) - as is explained in the last 30 pages of the book. When Ruli, the girl Kim sort of looks like, shows up and acts herself I mostly felt pity, although she is described by others as very selfish before.
I loved the country of Dobrenica, and although I was on holiday in Eastern Europe only twice (to Yugoslavia - at the time - and to Hungary) it read very believable, except for the special differences necessary to make it the liminal focus point described. I loved the legend of St. Xanpia and the different impressions of it that we got from the different storytellers, tied into how much the person speaking believed in the magic of Dobrenica in the first place.
Now for some of the buttons this pushed for me. Kim reads to me in the biggest part of the book like early Meliara of Crown Duel, totally bent on seeing life the way she wants to and ignoring anything that doesn't fit into that (the repeated avoidance of talking about politics in Dobrenica - after she was abducted and after she has been followed, so she ought to be aware there must be some danger).
I think that's a stupid outlook at an age of 23 or 24 (Meliara is 16 or thereabouts), and especially if you go on a long journey without anybody else in a country you have never been to before (she does that from Vienna to wherever else she goes). I can understand her changing majors, even people in their 20s don't necessarily find what they want to do with their life in the long run right away, but going with a guy into a wine cellar and drinking lots of alcohol, just because he's cute looking and after you already had been propositioned by some creep earlier - that's just too stupid.
Then she gets drugged and abducted and does some really courageous escaping (I enjoyed this!) but has to rejoin her captor Alec, who realizes his mistake and explains what he'd like her to do and she agrees. Fair enough, but she still doesn't truly know him from Adam and he already abducted her and SHE CAN'T BE BOTHERED TO PHONE OR WRITE HER PARENTS EVEN ONCE!! I'm talking about her jet-setting in Split, etc. not Dobrenica where electricity doesn't always work in the first place. All this while her parents don't know what is wrong with the grandmother.
I can again totally understand when she decides to find out about her true heritage because Alec implies that her grandmother's marriage didn't happen. But again she doesn't bother to let anyone know of her change in plans, although Alec has already told her that the situation in Dobrenica is problematic, that Ruli hasn't shown up yet - so it might be wise to not vanish from the face of the earth for her family.
Alec himself we mostly hear about, but there's a part of the book at the beginning of the developments in Dobrenica where he at least shows up in the evening. Kim makes him smile and relax, so I can see the attraction from that side - I never quite understand why Kim develops an attraction towards Alec, though (admiration, yes, that part is well explained).
Since the whole book is written as an account to someone else (a feature Smith likes to use - I expect because you can include unreliable narration but also outside information that the writer/teller had later on) the reader reads as Kim. There is this dichotomy between some of her musings, which make her sound mature or normal for her age and wilful ignorance which makes her childish.
She gives her word under pressure or persuasion but never quite finds herself bound to it, although Alec also doesn't explain enough about the danger she and he are in. At one point she makes a decision to follow her word because she's sure she won't be able to successfully break it. I didn't like that at all.
I do understand her impulsive behaviour to help her aunt Sisi - that a 23 year old might not read under the surface of people's behaviours is not unusual to me, I was the same at that age, so she takes people as they sell themselves and gets taken in an already upset situation (after the disruption of the masquerade) and is persuaded by the scheming duchess to come to Ruli's aid.
The whole escape attempt from the castle was a lovely tour-de-force of derring-do and bits of magic happening and sacrifice. And the aftermath with Alec and Kim at the picnic and finally talking about what is going on and with Kim and Ruli talking about the future (her lack of maturity shows up nicely when she tells Ruli to only be herself and then right after tells her what kinds of changes and things she would do if she were in Ruli's situation) and Kim making a believable sacrifice really saved the book for me.
Smith has said she wanted to write a girl showing courage, dash and honour. Kim always shows courage and dash - but I had hoped for more brains - and she has a large dollop of honour (especially in her end decision of doing what is best for the country - although I really think Alec, whose life is directly impacted by this decision, should have had a chance to hear her choice - I wouldn't be surprised, as he always sets the country first but did go with her on that picnic anyway, if he didn't have a solution for that) with a few let-downs in keeping to her word.
What I want in the follow-up is more Alec and less Tony, more Dobrenica and more development of maturity for Kim. She really can do with some at her age.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2024
Kim is trying to find out more about her family and gets swept into a big mess bigger than she was expecting. Now one thing Kim will do is get herself kidnapped. If you do not like kidnapping plots then stay away from this book. I enjoyed the book for what it was but sometimes it was just too much for me. My friend described it as a “theater kid” book and I can totally see that. I’m intrigued enough to maybe pick up the next book but we shall see. I recommend this book if you like “theater kid” energy and kidnappings.
July 4, 2020
Maybe my favorite Sherwood Smith novel, with its sequel continuing the story. I'm getting ready to read it again. The protagonist goes to a country in Europe which has been magically hidden from trouble for hundreds of years. She has to find her place in it. Good thing she was a fencer in college.
May 19, 2012
Sherwood Smith's books always have wonderful characters who are well rounded and lots of fun and completely distinct from one another. In Coronets and Steel Kim is a sporty, courageous and charmingly down-to-earth heroine, and Alec is a noble, humble yet complex hero. Even all the sub-characters are interesting because they are so creatively diverse: reckless Tony, background Beka, Kim's mum and dad (as little as they feature), and her Gran, and all the other flawed heroes and selfish villains who pop in and out of the story - there are hundreds.
The political and magical worlds of Dobrenica are dense, and it is sometimes hard to be clear about who is who, and who did what to whom and why... all of which is further complicated by layers of history that bears upon the present. It needs to be read slowly and with mental attention to grasp all of the magical logic - portals being opened and who can pass through, and what exactly the vampires can do... as well as the politics and working out who is on whose side. Unfortunately most of this information is given in the form of one character lecturing another, so it's hard to keep the concentration focused.
Dobrenica is described as a 'liminal' location, ie a place where magic is more active than in other parts of the world. This is why no mobile phones or other forms of technology function there, a convenient way to bring good old fashioned fantasy into the modern day without interferences. The references to magic and superstition among the people of Dobrenica are also made compatible with their religious spirit, they say novenas but sleep with a knife under their pillow, and they support customs like a royal marriage between certain families on a certain day in order to gain the Blessing which will ensure peace for their country. Kim herself has the gift of sight, she can see ghosts and sometimes scenes from the past. And the vampires are very real, but not quite as friendly or involved as the Twilight set - thank heavens. Yet all the magic is not sinister and nor does it seem to be there for its own sake. As in other good fantasy it seems to facilitate the visualisation of complex political and personal relationships, and is an effective tool for storytelling.
The romance is good overall but not for younger readers, as it is sometimes rather blunt and physical when spelt out in in modern day talk - a couple of tempting situations of physical attraction, explanations given about dancing the Tango and what it means, and the pros and cons of a one-night-stand - but values are essentially in the right place once these situations are overcome. In addition to her love for the main hero, Kim is also attracted to another, but she understands the difference between attraction and real love and lets this guide her actions - something that could help a lot of romantic young adults. Aside from something suggested at the end of book one (only a kiss is described but more could be suggested), the right decisions are made and good reasons given for them.
It isn't quite the brilliantly momentous story I've hoped for from Smith since Crown Duel, but if you have the time and energy to wade through the politics, the characters are usually good company.
Reviewed together with the sequel Blood Spirits. Both books form a kind of modern day, magical The Prisoner of Zenda and Rupert of Hentzau. www.GoodReadingGuide.com
The political and magical worlds of Dobrenica are dense, and it is sometimes hard to be clear about who is who, and who did what to whom and why... all of which is further complicated by layers of history that bears upon the present. It needs to be read slowly and with mental attention to grasp all of the magical logic - portals being opened and who can pass through, and what exactly the vampires can do... as well as the politics and working out who is on whose side. Unfortunately most of this information is given in the form of one character lecturing another, so it's hard to keep the concentration focused.
Dobrenica is described as a 'liminal' location, ie a place where magic is more active than in other parts of the world. This is why no mobile phones or other forms of technology function there, a convenient way to bring good old fashioned fantasy into the modern day without interferences. The references to magic and superstition among the people of Dobrenica are also made compatible with their religious spirit, they say novenas but sleep with a knife under their pillow, and they support customs like a royal marriage between certain families on a certain day in order to gain the Blessing which will ensure peace for their country. Kim herself has the gift of sight, she can see ghosts and sometimes scenes from the past. And the vampires are very real, but not quite as friendly or involved as the Twilight set - thank heavens. Yet all the magic is not sinister and nor does it seem to be there for its own sake. As in other good fantasy it seems to facilitate the visualisation of complex political and personal relationships, and is an effective tool for storytelling.
The romance is good overall but not for younger readers, as it is sometimes rather blunt and physical when spelt out in in modern day talk - a couple of tempting situations of physical attraction, explanations given about dancing the Tango and what it means, and the pros and cons of a one-night-stand - but values are essentially in the right place once these situations are overcome. In addition to her love for the main hero, Kim is also attracted to another, but she understands the difference between attraction and real love and lets this guide her actions - something that could help a lot of romantic young adults. Aside from something suggested at the end of book one (only a kiss is described but more could be suggested), the right decisions are made and good reasons given for them.
It isn't quite the brilliantly momentous story I've hoped for from Smith since Crown Duel, but if you have the time and energy to wade through the politics, the characters are usually good company.
Reviewed together with the sequel Blood Spirits. Both books form a kind of modern day, magical The Prisoner of Zenda and Rupert of Hentzau. www.GoodReadingGuide.com
Read
July 6, 2011Recommended for lovers of “The Prisoner of Zenda” who always wanted a girl to save the day!
Are you ready for a contemporary Ruritarian romantic adventure that will take you to a small middle European country you will swear must exist – but doesn’t? (Don’t recognize the word Ruritarian? Go hit Wikipedia. I’ll wait. Seriously, think “The Prisoner of Zenda” as a feminist tale.) Then you’re ready for Sherwood Smith’s tale of an American girl who finds out that her roots are not what she expected – and that some secrets may be literally deadly.
Aurelia Kim Murray, a 23 year old history and language buff, has abandoned her position on her university’s champion fencing team to go in search of her roots. Her ill grandmother refuses to speak, and the family suspects Gran’s malaise is rooted in Europe, which she fled at the end of WWII, infant daughter in tow. The clues are slim, but Kim makes her way to Vienna and professional genealogy hunters.
Her questions turn out to be less innocent than she thinks, when a casual drink with an attractive native causes her to wake up on a train heading deep into Eastern Europe. Kim’s a fast thinker, and not afraid to toss her suitcase and herself out the window when the train slows near a town. Thus begins her adventures. It turns out that her grandmother was a princess of an obscure little Carpathian Mountain country, Kim is a dead ringer for her missing cousin Ruli, and that Kim apparently can see ghosts. By the time her fling in mythical Dobrenica is through, ghosts will seem almost commonplace compared to some things about this country.
In true Zenda fashion, Kim is talked into masquerading as her cousin Ruli in an attempt to smoke out the missing aristocrat. In the meantime, Prince Alec Ysvorod is dealing with a possible coup attempt, a wedding he and Ruli must perform, because magic, of all things, enters into it (And explains how the country literally appears on some maps of Europe, and is missing from others) and also growing curiosity about Kim.
You will be fascinated and stunned by the detail Smith has put into her tiny country. Kim is the best and worst of an LA just-past-teenager, too trusting for her own good, but not at the mercy of the scheming aristocrats and bureaucrats managing and mis-managing Dobrenica. The magic that is worked by the elders of the country – no matter what their religion, prayer, in any language, has a lot to do with magical power – is fascinating and mostly hinted at. Complexities in language and culture are smoothly handled, giving us a travelogue even as the mystery advances.
Kim’s grandmother gave up her share of the throne because she would marry only for love. But what happened to her? Who is Kim’s grandfather? And will Kim stand by and watch the man she is coming to love marry a woman he does not care for, to cement a peace with a restless faction?
You can write a Ruritarian homage in one novel, but if you want a happy ending, it’s going to take more than one book. Warning! Although many things are resolved, clearly, another book must finish Kim’s story. It only took me about 35 pages or so to forgive Kim’s annoying mannerisms and want to know what happened next. By the end I was rooting for her. Looking forward to the next one!
Are you ready for a contemporary Ruritarian romantic adventure that will take you to a small middle European country you will swear must exist – but doesn’t? (Don’t recognize the word Ruritarian? Go hit Wikipedia. I’ll wait. Seriously, think “The Prisoner of Zenda” as a feminist tale.) Then you’re ready for Sherwood Smith’s tale of an American girl who finds out that her roots are not what she expected – and that some secrets may be literally deadly.
Aurelia Kim Murray, a 23 year old history and language buff, has abandoned her position on her university’s champion fencing team to go in search of her roots. Her ill grandmother refuses to speak, and the family suspects Gran’s malaise is rooted in Europe, which she fled at the end of WWII, infant daughter in tow. The clues are slim, but Kim makes her way to Vienna and professional genealogy hunters.
Her questions turn out to be less innocent than she thinks, when a casual drink with an attractive native causes her to wake up on a train heading deep into Eastern Europe. Kim’s a fast thinker, and not afraid to toss her suitcase and herself out the window when the train slows near a town. Thus begins her adventures. It turns out that her grandmother was a princess of an obscure little Carpathian Mountain country, Kim is a dead ringer for her missing cousin Ruli, and that Kim apparently can see ghosts. By the time her fling in mythical Dobrenica is through, ghosts will seem almost commonplace compared to some things about this country.
In true Zenda fashion, Kim is talked into masquerading as her cousin Ruli in an attempt to smoke out the missing aristocrat. In the meantime, Prince Alec Ysvorod is dealing with a possible coup attempt, a wedding he and Ruli must perform, because magic, of all things, enters into it (And explains how the country literally appears on some maps of Europe, and is missing from others) and also growing curiosity about Kim.
You will be fascinated and stunned by the detail Smith has put into her tiny country. Kim is the best and worst of an LA just-past-teenager, too trusting for her own good, but not at the mercy of the scheming aristocrats and bureaucrats managing and mis-managing Dobrenica. The magic that is worked by the elders of the country – no matter what their religion, prayer, in any language, has a lot to do with magical power – is fascinating and mostly hinted at. Complexities in language and culture are smoothly handled, giving us a travelogue even as the mystery advances.
Kim’s grandmother gave up her share of the throne because she would marry only for love. But what happened to her? Who is Kim’s grandfather? And will Kim stand by and watch the man she is coming to love marry a woman he does not care for, to cement a peace with a restless faction?
You can write a Ruritarian homage in one novel, but if you want a happy ending, it’s going to take more than one book. Warning! Although many things are resolved, clearly, another book must finish Kim’s story. It only took me about 35 pages or so to forgive Kim’s annoying mannerisms and want to know what happened next. By the end I was rooting for her. Looking forward to the next one!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2017
I rather hope this book wasn't a good example of this author's work. I paid a whole dollar for this book, and I do feel like I got that dollar's worth out of it, but if I had paid full price for it, I'd have been really disappointed and rather apprehensive about the other book by this author that I *did* pay full price for.
The writing itself is pretty good. But the story is kind of boring. In fact... This is supposed to be a fantasy? I didn't think DAW put out books that were anything but fantasy or sci-fi, but this book really doesn't fall into either of those genres. There are a couple times when ghosts appear, but nothing ever really comes of that. They seem more like some kind of afterthought than anything else. They don't actually help the plot in any way. Other minor mentions of magic are there, but they amount to pretty much nothing, too. The book is about a girl trying to track down the truth about her family line. There's nothing fantastic or magical about that.
The story isn't all that original, either. The characters are decently constructed, though. I found I did care about them and what might happen to them, but because this book is written in first person, you already know right away that nothing serious is going to happen to the main character, which is one of the reasons I dislike first person narrative. I worried about the other characters, but any questions as to whether the main heroine would make it out alive were already answered long before any action took place.
Speaking of action, this book moves along at a snail's pace. The action doesn't even get started until the last third of the book. I was determined to get through it, though.
I don't think I'm going to bother with moving on with this series. This is more a romance/mystery than it is a fantasy story, so if this is something that this author is thinking of doing more often, I rather think it would be better if she writes this sort of thing under a more proper category.
The writing itself is pretty good. But the story is kind of boring. In fact... This is supposed to be a fantasy? I didn't think DAW put out books that were anything but fantasy or sci-fi, but this book really doesn't fall into either of those genres. There are a couple times when ghosts appear, but nothing ever really comes of that. They seem more like some kind of afterthought than anything else. They don't actually help the plot in any way. Other minor mentions of magic are there, but they amount to pretty much nothing, too. The book is about a girl trying to track down the truth about her family line. There's nothing fantastic or magical about that.
The story isn't all that original, either. The characters are decently constructed, though. I found I did care about them and what might happen to them, but because this book is written in first person, you already know right away that nothing serious is going to happen to the main character, which is one of the reasons I dislike first person narrative. I worried about the other characters, but any questions as to whether the main heroine would make it out alive were already answered long before any action took place.
Speaking of action, this book moves along at a snail's pace. The action doesn't even get started until the last third of the book. I was determined to get through it, though.
I don't think I'm going to bother with moving on with this series. This is more a romance/mystery than it is a fantasy story, so if this is something that this author is thinking of doing more often, I rather think it would be better if she writes this sort of thing under a more proper category.
September 27, 2010
I loved this book. Couldn't put it down, and I was reading it on my computer! I liked the voice from the first sentence. The protagonist, Kim, struck me as very real - smart and well-educated, but immature enough to still make some stupid decisions. I liked her spirit though. Throughout the book, there's a stubborn unwillingness to let others call the shots for her, even though it constantly gets her in trouble.
I liked the subtle approach to the romance, too, even though I'm not usually subtle about romance. It came across as inevitable and sweet, but never overpowered the main plot. Yet, it's because of the romance that I can't wait for the next book. This situation has to be resolved!
There's great world-building, here. Incredible detail in the real cities, and a rich, colorful culture in the fictional land. I loved the mix of old-world magic and semi-modern technology - they have computers, but can't get internet, and cells phones don't work there, either. The explanation works, too.
That said, for some reason, the story is strangely light on the fantasy aspect. It all could have been left out and still been the same story. The ghosts don't add anything to the plot, the vampires are only mentioned, and no one does any magic (or not much), so I'm not sure why it's there, at all.
I did love the Brigadoon aspect of the country, and the magical elements fit in with that. But they never really added anything else.
At the end, I was just as thrilled as Kim, to see the date on the letter, and realize "they're still there." So did Alec and Ruli NOT get married? If I were Kim, I'd be on the next plane to Dobrencia, to find out.
I liked the subtle approach to the romance, too, even though I'm not usually subtle about romance. It came across as inevitable and sweet, but never overpowered the main plot. Yet, it's because of the romance that I can't wait for the next book. This situation has to be resolved!
There's great world-building, here. Incredible detail in the real cities, and a rich, colorful culture in the fictional land. I loved the mix of old-world magic and semi-modern technology - they have computers, but can't get internet, and cells phones don't work there, either. The explanation works, too.
That said, for some reason, the story is strangely light on the fantasy aspect. It all could have been left out and still been the same story. The ghosts don't add anything to the plot, the vampires are only mentioned, and no one does any magic (or not much), so I'm not sure why it's there, at all.
I did love the Brigadoon aspect of the country, and the magical elements fit in with that. But they never really added anything else.
At the end, I was just as thrilled as Kim, to see the date on the letter, and realize "they're still there." So did Alec and Ruli NOT get married? If I were Kim, I'd be on the next plane to Dobrencia, to find out.
May 29, 2011
I liked the premise, even if it isn't exactly original (think Princess Diaries) but the book just didn't appeal to me. Part of the problem is that the book reads like an extended prologue, and nothing really happens here but set up. I also had a hard time warming to the narrator Kim, and never really cared about her issues or danger.
Kim discovers that she is the near doppelganger of aristo/princess Ruli who comes from Dobrenica, an Eastern European country with something mystical about it (we never really get to grips with what is magical about the country although there are lots of hints about vampires and fae, and it being a 'liminal zone' which is why the internet doesn't really work). Dobrenica is also one of those countries where the peasantry are quite happy to be oppressed and have no internet because they know their place and love their ruling family. It then turns out that the resemblance is because Kim's grandmother was a princess who left the country after some marital shenanigans, and is Ruli's great-aunt, although it never seemed clear to me why the grandmother's love interest wouldn't marry her but was quite happy to marry her younger sister. This leads Kim to start delving into her family history and get caught up in the Dobrenican politics, particularly some mystical 'Blessing' which will save Dobrenica by removing it from the world, thus saving them from the evil Russians. The Blessing itself also didn't make sense to me, and quite frankly I don't care enough to read any sequels to find out if they do get saved, Kim gets the prince, and the grandmother turns out to have been denied the crown unfairly leaving Kim as Queen.
Kim discovers that she is the near doppelganger of aristo/princess Ruli who comes from Dobrenica, an Eastern European country with something mystical about it (we never really get to grips with what is magical about the country although there are lots of hints about vampires and fae, and it being a 'liminal zone' which is why the internet doesn't really work). Dobrenica is also one of those countries where the peasantry are quite happy to be oppressed and have no internet because they know their place and love their ruling family. It then turns out that the resemblance is because Kim's grandmother was a princess who left the country after some marital shenanigans, and is Ruli's great-aunt, although it never seemed clear to me why the grandmother's love interest wouldn't marry her but was quite happy to marry her younger sister. This leads Kim to start delving into her family history and get caught up in the Dobrenican politics, particularly some mystical 'Blessing' which will save Dobrenica by removing it from the world, thus saving them from the evil Russians. The Blessing itself also didn't make sense to me, and quite frankly I don't care enough to read any sequels to find out if they do get saved, Kim gets the prince, and the grandmother turns out to have been denied the crown unfairly leaving Kim as Queen.
October 2, 2017
Do not go in expecting alternate-world fantasy or a portal story, but do expect a humanities major's worth of allusions and an almost pathological obsession with the lifestyle of modern royalty, and you'll be good. It's fun as a Romance with a capital 'R,' especially if you don't think too hard about the politics of an Eastern European aristocrat being swapped with a look-alike long-lost relative from California so that a brooding prince can keep his father on the throne.
Kim, our protagonist and that long-lost relative, is designed to be the kind of wisecracking, effortlessly gorgeous, swashbuckling hero that you wish could be, Indiana Jones with waist-length blond hair and a conveniently replenished wardrobe. The plot involves a whole pack of scheming aristocrats, a hidden treasure, a missing princess or two, and a Brigadoon-like miracle that may or may not come to pass. And ghosts. I was continually confused by what year the story was supposed to take place, and underwhelmed by Kim's pseudo-romance with the handsome prince, but the plot clips along at a jaunty pace, the settings are lush and beautiful, and the touches of magic and folklore are spooky and intriguing, so none of those pragmatic concerns bugged me. True, we're asked to believe that the progressive choice for leadership is the guy that's willing to roofie a woman and force her to marry him, and the fictional country of Dobrenica is populated entirely by helpful and content peasants fiercely loyal to their monarchs. It's fun while it lasts. With two sequels!
Kim, our protagonist and that long-lost relative, is designed to be the kind of wisecracking, effortlessly gorgeous, swashbuckling hero that you wish could be, Indiana Jones with waist-length blond hair and a conveniently replenished wardrobe. The plot involves a whole pack of scheming aristocrats, a hidden treasure, a missing princess or two, and a Brigadoon-like miracle that may or may not come to pass. And ghosts. I was continually confused by what year the story was supposed to take place, and underwhelmed by Kim's pseudo-romance with the handsome prince, but the plot clips along at a jaunty pace, the settings are lush and beautiful, and the touches of magic and folklore are spooky and intriguing, so none of those pragmatic concerns bugged me. True, we're asked to believe that the progressive choice for leadership is the guy that's willing to roofie a woman and force her to marry him, and the fictional country of Dobrenica is populated entirely by helpful and content peasants fiercely loyal to their monarchs. It's fun while it lasts. With two sequels!
September 28, 2010
I finished this a while ago, but life was so crazy that I didn't get to write it up. It wasn't lack of enjoyment that stopped me - just lack of quiet time with computer and no crisis.
Right - I'm not impartial about this one, in part because I got to beta read when it was a WIP, but having said that, I'm pretty sure I'd have loved it regardless. I can only imagine how much fun it would add to have read Prisoner of Zenda, though it was plenty fun without. There was a very apt comment from a reader on the Athanarel comm (as part of another rave review) likening Coronets and Steel to some of Mary Stewart's books, and it does have that kind of feel to it. Really likeable characters with emotional depth and credibility, exciting adventure in interesting locations, and an old-fashioned sensibility in the best kind of way. As always with Sherwood Smith, you can count on characters running smack into situations in which their efforts to do the right thing are frustrated by moral issues that are more complex than they imagined at first. (And you won't hold their initial assumptions or mistakes against them, as they admit to them freely. Perhaps after a bit of a row, in the case of the romantic couple!) Some wonderful dialogue too.
Cannot wait for the sequel!
Right - I'm not impartial about this one, in part because I got to beta read when it was a WIP, but having said that, I'm pretty sure I'd have loved it regardless. I can only imagine how much fun it would add to have read Prisoner of Zenda, though it was plenty fun without. There was a very apt comment from a reader on the Athanarel comm (as part of another rave review) likening Coronets and Steel to some of Mary Stewart's books, and it does have that kind of feel to it. Really likeable characters with emotional depth and credibility, exciting adventure in interesting locations, and an old-fashioned sensibility in the best kind of way. As always with Sherwood Smith, you can count on characters running smack into situations in which their efforts to do the right thing are frustrated by moral issues that are more complex than they imagined at first. (And you won't hold their initial assumptions or mistakes against them, as they admit to them freely. Perhaps after a bit of a row, in the case of the romantic couple!) Some wonderful dialogue too.
Cannot wait for the sequel!
October 30, 2010
CORONETS AND STEEL combines some of my favorite story elements. It's romantic without being sappy, features a ferociously competent and intelligent heroine, and guides me from the familiar (Southern California, where I lived for many years -- even recognize some of the places!) to actual-Europe to the borders of a special and magical kingdom. I suppose this has particular appeal since I lived in France for most of a year and loved exploring the narrow cobblestoned streets of Vieux Lyon. As our heroine had similar wanderings, those memories and that longing for wonder and history and romance woke up.
The heroine, Aurelia Kim Murray, makes the story sing. She's smart but not always wise, she's both mentally and physically strong -- yay for ballet and fencing, what a wonderful combination! She's someone I would love to have as a friend, and the narrative -- witty, fast-paced, emotionally pitch-perfect -- often seemed as if we'd sat down for a chat. "What have you been up to, Kim?" "Well, let me tell you what happened next..."
I should add that I didn't get to read this book when it arrived because my husband snatched it away and promptly devoured it.
I can hardly wait for the next volume!
The heroine, Aurelia Kim Murray, makes the story sing. She's smart but not always wise, she's both mentally and physically strong -- yay for ballet and fencing, what a wonderful combination! She's someone I would love to have as a friend, and the narrative -- witty, fast-paced, emotionally pitch-perfect -- often seemed as if we'd sat down for a chat. "What have you been up to, Kim?" "Well, let me tell you what happened next..."
I should add that I didn't get to read this book when it arrived because my husband snatched it away and promptly devoured it.
I can hardly wait for the next volume!
January 27, 2013
This was a little more drama (and a little less swashbuckler) than I expected, but I never can resist a heroine who uncovers a secret aristocratic heritage.
Kim is a fun, determined heroine, if a little too trusting. The one thing about her that kept pulling me out of the story was her incredibly deep range of knowledge on all kinds of subjects. She speaks French like an old-fashioned Parisian, and also knows some German and Russian. She fences competitively at a high level, studied ballet, and excels at ballroom dancing. She knows a lot about music, both classical and more current styles, and can call up both historical and literary references with scarcely a thought. Yes, a lot of folks are well-rounded and have many interests, but whenever Kim would, for example, see an old Beatles poster and note that it was exclusively a record shop promo item, her level of expertise felt like overkill for a college student.
I liked the Prisoner of Zenda elements of the plot, but it got a bit tiring to hear Kim herself keep pointing them out. The ghost elements didn't always seem integrated with everything else, but presumably they'll play more of a role in the rest of the series.
Kim is a fun, determined heroine, if a little too trusting. The one thing about her that kept pulling me out of the story was her incredibly deep range of knowledge on all kinds of subjects. She speaks French like an old-fashioned Parisian, and also knows some German and Russian. She fences competitively at a high level, studied ballet, and excels at ballroom dancing. She knows a lot about music, both classical and more current styles, and can call up both historical and literary references with scarcely a thought. Yes, a lot of folks are well-rounded and have many interests, but whenever Kim would, for example, see an old Beatles poster and note that it was exclusively a record shop promo item, her level of expertise felt like overkill for a college student.
I liked the Prisoner of Zenda elements of the plot, but it got a bit tiring to hear Kim herself keep pointing them out. The ghost elements didn't always seem integrated with everything else, but presumably they'll play more of a role in the rest of the series.
December 30, 2012
Perhaps my biggest problem with Coronets is simply that it wasn’t what I was expecting. It’s more “Princess Diaries” than swashbuckler. The story took an eternity to get properly moving beyond endless scenes of genealogy and shopping, and by the time it did pick up the pace, I was too bored and annoyed with the characters to care.
I should have been warned away right from the beginning, when
Regarding the ending, be warned: there is no ending. It’s a cliffhanger setup for the next book. Though I have no problem with authors setting up things for subsequent books, I wanted a better sense of conclusion from Coronets.
The fantasy element didn’t get as much attention as I was hoping for.
If you’re into the “just discovered I’m descended from royalty in a tiny country I’ve never heard of” genre, give it a try. I’m not, so I don’t think I’ll continue with the series.
I should have been warned away right from the beginning, when
Regarding the ending, be warned: there is no ending. It’s a cliffhanger setup for the next book. Though I have no problem with authors setting up things for subsequent books, I wanted a better sense of conclusion from Coronets.
The fantasy element didn’t get as much attention as I was hoping for.
If you’re into the “just discovered I’m descended from royalty in a tiny country I’ve never heard of” genre, give it a try. I’m not, so I don’t think I’ll continue with the series.
January 2, 2016
I'm not sure what's more baffling to me--the disparity between this book and Sherwood Smith's impeccable Crown Duel, or all the positive reviews for it. This was quite honestly the most disappointing and unsatisfying book I have read in a long time. It is so....incredibly...BORING. Out of the 500 pages in this book, about 50 are actually necessary and interesting. The rest is just a history lesson told in the dryest of terms about a country that doesn't even exist!! The only reason I felt compelled to finish this book (besides my stubborn no-quit policy on books!) is because, after capturing me with Crown Duel, I kept thinking Smith would get out of the book's rut and something would actually HAPPEN at some point. Imagine my surprise and dismay when the book ends with nothing more than a teaser that something will happen in the sequel.
If you want the absolute best of books, read Sherwood Smith's Crown Duel; this one, unfortunately, falls in under the worst of books.
If you want the absolute best of books, read Sherwood Smith's Crown Duel; this one, unfortunately, falls in under the worst of books.
December 20, 2010
This is a modern version of a "Ruritanian Romance" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruritani...) and it's quite fun. Very light touch of fantasy--so light, it almost doesn't qualify as fantasy--and plenty of excitement, adventure, intrigue, and so on.
I liked how different the main character was from her "twin," though the biggest difference between them seemed to be how shallow the "twin" was. The main character didn't have much time to interact with her, so maybe that's to be expected.
I also liked how the "bad guy" was dispatched (a lovely little piece of heroism on the part of his erstwhile compatriot).
I especially liked that the main character got involved in the whole adventure because she was trying to do genealogy research on location in Europe. What if all genealogy research were so exciting?
And I liked the hope at the end.
I liked how different the main character was from her "twin," though the biggest difference between them seemed to be how shallow the "twin" was. The main character didn't have much time to interact with her, so maybe that's to be expected.
I also liked how the "bad guy" was dispatched (a lovely little piece of heroism on the part of his erstwhile compatriot).
I especially liked that the main character got involved in the whole adventure because she was trying to do genealogy research on location in Europe. What if all genealogy research were so exciting?
And I liked the hope at the end.
December 1, 2010
Great book! I truly enjoyed it. This book was very rich in history. I have had a hard time investigating regular fantasy books. One thing that I have loved about Urban Fantasy is placing the fantasy in our world allowing me to get a good picture of places and things in the story. It allows me to picture myself seeing the story unravel in person. One thing about Coronets and Steel that I loved was the feeling of regular fantasy in the middle of an urban fantasy. The story was tightly written with a few occasional editing snafu's. But, they did not take away from the story. The introduction of a different type of supernatural story seems to be on the horizon and I really look forward to the next in the series.
April 9, 2011
In the theme of The Prisoner of Zenda, Kim Murray is in Europe, trying to trace her grandmother's family history when she is mistaken for a rich woman from a tiny country near Russia. Naturally, this drags her into intrigue and swashbuckling (she's a championship fencer, conveniently enough).
Fantasy elements include hints about fae and vampires, and the fact that Kim can see ghosts, but over all, it barely counts as a fantasy novel.
Unfortunately, most of the plot problems can be basically summed up as people not talking when they should, and talking when they shouldn't. Not to mention trusting someone that the story makes quite clear shouldn't be trusted. Foreshadowing is done with a two-by-four at times.
Still, I enjoyed it, and plan to read the sequel when it comes out.
Fantasy elements include hints about fae and vampires, and the fact that Kim can see ghosts, but over all, it barely counts as a fantasy novel.
Unfortunately, most of the plot problems can be basically summed up as people not talking when they should, and talking when they shouldn't. Not to mention trusting someone that the story makes quite clear shouldn't be trusted. Foreshadowing is done with a two-by-four at times.
Still, I enjoyed it, and plan to read the sequel when it comes out.
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