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Princess #2
Princess at Sea
One day Tess was the crown princess of Costenopolie, and the next she discovered she was a beggar's child, reared as a decoy to keep the real princess safe from assassins. But Tess's flair for politics, self-defense, and shopping—and her recently discovered magical powers thwarted the kingdom's enemies and restored the real princess to the throne.
Now, she dons an ambassador's robe to help Costenopolie put its best foot forward—and to keep the newly crowned queen from tripping over her own...
Assigned to chaperone Queen Contessa and her new husband on their honeymoon voyage, Tess spends more time playing referee between the temperamental pair. Before another battle royal can erupt, a storm forces the ship to drop anchor where another vessel is similarly stranded—and Tess finds her heart stranded between a roguish cardsharp and a disturbingly attractive army captain.
But Tess's potential suitors are the least of her worries. The crew of the neighboring anchored ship reveal themselves to be pirates and abduct the royal couple for ransom—unaware that Tess's magic is the real treasure in their midst...
Now, she dons an ambassador's robe to help Costenopolie put its best foot forward—and to keep the newly crowned queen from tripping over her own...
Assigned to chaperone Queen Contessa and her new husband on their honeymoon voyage, Tess spends more time playing referee between the temperamental pair. Before another battle royal can erupt, a storm forces the ship to drop anchor where another vessel is similarly stranded—and Tess finds her heart stranded between a roguish cardsharp and a disturbingly attractive army captain.
But Tess's potential suitors are the least of her worries. The crew of the neighboring anchored ship reveal themselves to be pirates and abduct the royal couple for ransom—unaware that Tess's magic is the real treasure in their midst...
344 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 5, 2006
14 people are currently reading
1171 people want to read
About the author
Dawn Cook
11 books396 followersaka Kim Harrison
Dawn Cook was born on 1966 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. She grew up in the Midwest as the only girl in a family of boys, and is a self-proclaimed "former tomboy". She grew up reading science fiction and fairytales. She discovered her talent for writing at the age of 15, when she began writing down the stories that she conceived. Despite her love of writing, she took an unorthodox approach to writing, and claims to have avoided English courses beyond the basic requirements in high school and college. After she obtained a Degree in Sciences, she moved to she moved to South Carolina during ten years, but now she has moved back to her home state. She married and had two children. She began publishing after the birth of their kids. After the success of her novels, she was able to resign from her day job, devoting herself to writing full time. She continued publising novels as Kim Harrison. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America and Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
Dawn Cook was born on 1966 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. She grew up in the Midwest as the only girl in a family of boys, and is a self-proclaimed "former tomboy". She grew up reading science fiction and fairytales. She discovered her talent for writing at the age of 15, when she began writing down the stories that she conceived. Despite her love of writing, she took an unorthodox approach to writing, and claims to have avoided English courses beyond the basic requirements in high school and college. After she obtained a Degree in Sciences, she moved to she moved to South Carolina during ten years, but now she has moved back to her home state. She married and had two children. She began publishing after the birth of their kids. After the success of her novels, she was able to resign from her day job, devoting herself to writing full time. She continued publising novels as Kim Harrison. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America and Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
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March 5, 2016
Damn it, I think I have to give this book five stars. Not that it was perfect, but it is withstanding the "stick-in-my-head" test -- meaning a few days out I'm still thinking about the characters and reluctant to leave them for the next book.
The Princess at Sea is a follow-up to the Decoy Princess and I liked it even better. This book was a bit darker and more contemplative. In the Decoy Princess, Tess finds out that she is not the real princess (that should not be much of a spoiler given the title) and after escaping a palace take-over, she goes off to find the real princess and help her reclaim the thrown.
Now ***SPOILERS*** if you haven't read the first book. Along the way Tess learns that she is an apprentice to a player -- a master in a secret society of magically enhanced manipulators who are the true rulers (behind the crowns). In the Princess at Sea, Tess goes off on a honeymoon voyage with the princess and her new husband. When theeir ship is boarded and the royals are taken adventure ensues.
What I didn't like about this book is that after setting up a unique and interesting fantasy idea --the players-- they then really have nothing to do with this book at all. Instead Tess and her player friends are duped and manipulated along with everyone else and by actors who have nothing to do with the players. It's hard to see what the point of the system is -- we aren't even told what the 6 rules of the game are. Missed opportunity here...
But (obviously) I did like it a lot. The secondary characters are well-portrayed with agendas and reactions that are explored sympathetically (even though this aspect is somewhat impeded by the first person POV). The plot was tight with the loose ends being tied up satisfactorily. I really like Tess as a character -- she is tough and brave, but she gets scared and sad and feels hopeless and cries when it makes sense. She has her quirks and foibles too. A pet peeve of mine is when the heroine keeps on developing more and more incredible magical powers for no apparent reason other than becoming the badest assiest thing eva (I call this "the Anita Blake syndrome" or "Mary Sue ex machina"). I have to admit that Tess bordered on the edges, but for me it worked here. There was a real, non-forced reason for her magic levels to suddenly change and she had to work to adapt both physically and mentally, especially in terms of what it would imply for her future (very angstily done, I must say).
But why I want to give this book a five star is that in some ways it was an exploration of love (though the romance aspect itself is rather light and certainly not the central driver of the plot). Questions raised: What is love? Does love make you stronger (giving you determination and selflessness) or weaker (areas where you are blind or can be exploited)? We are given examples of both. What is the relationship between duty and love? When should you stay faithful versus let go when circumstances are outside your control? Is there an honor to letting go and can this be an act of love? Can your love be true even if you weren't loved in return? I like how the characters don't shy away from probing their own motivations. For instance . Not all of these questions are answered and wrapped in a neat little package with a shiny bow. Rather they are poked at by the characters trying to make sense of their own situations.
The main thing I really wish is that there was a third book to the series, explaining the game more and letting Tess finally hook up with her guy. (As in a true, honest to goodness, make it past 3rd, all the way home, sex scene. I guess that's the problem with YA-ish books -- you have to keep them PG 13 at least. But I'm not talking throbbing loins here, just a little tasteful sex, that's all. Maybe just the tip. Uhm... Anyway...) In any case, this was a very enjoyable read. I think that it would appeal to fans of Sherwood Smith (Crown Duel), Sharon Shinn (Summers at Castle Auburn) and the Hunger Games (though the setting/plot are completely different, the tone is somehow similar IMO.) Maybe when Dawn Cook gets done being Kim Harrison and writing her witchy urban fantasies, we can hope for return of Tess!
The Princess at Sea is a follow-up to the Decoy Princess and I liked it even better. This book was a bit darker and more contemplative. In the Decoy Princess, Tess finds out that she is not the real princess (that should not be much of a spoiler given the title) and after escaping a palace take-over, she goes off to find the real princess and help her reclaim the thrown.
Now ***SPOILERS*** if you haven't read the first book. Along the way Tess learns that she is an apprentice to a player -- a master in a secret society of magically enhanced manipulators who are the true rulers (behind the crowns). In the Princess at Sea, Tess goes off on a honeymoon voyage with the princess and her new husband. When theeir ship is boarded and the royals are taken adventure ensues.
What I didn't like about this book is that after setting up a unique and interesting fantasy idea --the players-- they then really have nothing to do with this book at all. Instead Tess and her player friends are duped and manipulated along with everyone else and by actors who have nothing to do with the players. It's hard to see what the point of the system is -- we aren't even told what the 6 rules of the game are. Missed opportunity here...
But (obviously) I did like it a lot. The secondary characters are well-portrayed with agendas and reactions that are explored sympathetically (even though this aspect is somewhat impeded by the first person POV). The plot was tight with the loose ends being tied up satisfactorily. I really like Tess as a character -- she is tough and brave, but she gets scared and sad and feels hopeless and cries when it makes sense. She has her quirks and foibles too. A pet peeve of mine is when the heroine keeps on developing more and more incredible magical powers for no apparent reason other than becoming the badest assiest thing eva (I call this "the Anita Blake syndrome" or "Mary Sue ex machina"). I have to admit that Tess bordered on the edges, but for me it worked here. There was a real, non-forced reason for her magic levels to suddenly change and she had to work to adapt both physically and mentally, especially in terms of what it would imply for her future (very angstily done, I must say).
But why I want to give this book a five star is that in some ways it was an exploration of love (though the romance aspect itself is rather light and certainly not the central driver of the plot). Questions raised: What is love? Does love make you stronger (giving you determination and selflessness) or weaker (areas where you are blind or can be exploited)? We are given examples of both. What is the relationship between duty and love? When should you stay faithful versus let go when circumstances are outside your control? Is there an honor to letting go and can this be an act of love? Can your love be true even if you weren't loved in return? I like how the characters don't shy away from probing their own motivations. For instance . Not all of these questions are answered and wrapped in a neat little package with a shiny bow. Rather they are poked at by the characters trying to make sense of their own situations.
The main thing I really wish is that there was a third book to the series, explaining the game more and letting Tess finally hook up with her guy. (As in a true, honest to goodness, make it past 3rd, all the way home, sex scene. I guess that's the problem with YA-ish books -- you have to keep them PG 13 at least. But I'm not talking throbbing loins here, just a little tasteful sex, that's all. Maybe just the tip. Uhm... Anyway...) In any case, this was a very enjoyable read. I think that it would appeal to fans of Sherwood Smith (Crown Duel), Sharon Shinn (Summers at Castle Auburn) and the Hunger Games (though the setting/plot are completely different, the tone is somehow similar IMO.) Maybe when Dawn Cook gets done being Kim Harrison and writing her witchy urban fantasies, we can hope for return of Tess!
June 10, 2009
Spoiler ahead (you know Kristen when I get back you need to show me how to hide my reviews if I have a spoiler - oh wait I think I know how. lets see if this works) I gave it two stars because the first part of the book was entertaining but then the second part hit. Now this book was a jaunt through weird fantasy land where if I hadn't been extremely bored I would have taken the first exit pod and gotten outta there. ok ok it wasn't that bad but the ending where the boy she falls in love with betrays them all now that was unacceptable to me. Of course she had the second to fall back on but that was done so fast that it was just painfully pathetic. bluh I wish I had a library card so I can get another book fast to get that frustration out of my brain.
Side note: I am only in the mood for happy endings right now.
second side note: I bought some books from amazon instead...ah happy early birthday to me
Side note: I am only in the mood for happy endings right now.
second side note: I bought some books from amazon instead...ah happy early birthday to me
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2011
Despite the cover art, this book was not the light fantasy I was expecting. Our heroine is captured, threatened with rape and murder repeatedly, loses control of her abilities and then finally is betrayed by her love interest who turns out to be quite the psychopath (this plot twist has makes the heroine look like a particularly bad judge of character on top of everything). In the last few pages, she has another potential love interest on the horizon but the happy ending felt tacked on after all the calamities. Frankly, I don't think I'll be reading further in this series which is too bad - the initial book was very promising.
August 8, 2014
Basic summary of my problems: Tessa appears off her rocker for most of the book. The end of the book Tessa becomes needy and whiny. Second book completely undoes Tess's strong and independent/resourceful nature that was the reason she was likable in first book. For details, you'll have to be prepared for spoilers.
Warning: this review contains major spoilers. Read at your own risk.
SO, this book frustrated me on multiple levels.
First of all, Tess spends half the book acting completely insane. Some of it is on purpose, and explained away - such as when she is on a raft trying to control the wind and loses it - but a lot of it is left ambiguous. Does the author realize how nuts Tessa sounds at certain points? Was it on purpose? I feel like after she is bitten by the punta, Tess never really regains her full sanity until what is practically the epilogue of the book - after confronting traitorous Duncan.
Which brings me to my second major beef: Duncan. Personally, I never thought Duncan was a good match for Tess. In the first book, I liked his amiable and easy-going personality, but despite liking him, he seemed a horrible choice for a romantic partner for Tess. They just don't fit. Tess is educated, cultured, intelligent, and a natural leader. Duncan hates bathing, is admittedly clever, but can't even read or write, and prefers a life of crime skulking in the shadows. How is this supposed to work? Tess is fundamentally honest. She would never happy in a life spent cheating other people, although she doesn't mind cheating at cards when it's a game to catch each other, and seems willing to overlook it in Duncan (although her repeated "he's not a thief!" would suggest she's not entirely over that, either). Duncan, on the other hand, demonstrates repeatedly that he is unwilling to turn honest and is constantly trying to convince Tess to join him in running away to a life of crime. Even before his major betrayal, it was clear Duncan would never give up looking for the next scam. Also, Tess is ambitious. She has aspirations to control an entire kingdom and pit herself against the sharpest minds in the world. She has an extremely well-developed sense of duty and responsibility - to her people, her sister, Kavenlow etc. Duncan again repeatedly demonstrates his desire to run off and not be beholden to anyone. Not to mention that Tess was raised as a princess, never wanting for anything, and Duncan was on the streets. People say opposites attract - and I believe that - but for a relationship to work you have to have SOME kind of common ground to start from, not to mention a united idea of which direction to go.
Not even getting into the fact that Tess never tells him she is a player.
So, suffice it to say that I was always in favor of Tess/Jeck, who I believe has far more in common with her. I also was not caught off guard by Duncan's betrayal. There were so many intimations of it throughout the book, I was well prepared. What I could not handle, however, was Tess's extremely poor handling of it. It's fine to be heartbroken when your first love breaks your heart. Crawl under the covers, have a good cry. It's not ok to repeat, literally three times a page, "he never loved me!"
Ok. We get it. We kinda got it when he ran off with the ransom and left you to die. STOP REPEATING IT. It got extremely irritating. I think part of the constant repetition was meant to be part of the whole wind-induced insanity thing, but it wasn't clear and there are far better ways to indicate that someone's becoming unhinged. Believe me, by this point I didn't need any convincing that Tess was losing it.
This kinda blends in with my third problem: I think the author is subconsciously sexist. I mean it. Feel totally free to disagree with me, but hear me out: Cook spends a lot of time building Tessa up to be a strong, independent and capable character. The entire first book, in fact. And she repeats several times how lucky Tess is to have the power and influence she does - or at least the opportunity for it. She represents Queens and Kings as equals as well, and Tessa complains about the sexism of sailors and their superstitions about women at sea. Overall, it seems that Cook is trying to come across as very egalitarian. I feel like all of this is undone and then some by this sequel.
First of all: Tess falling apart over Duncan's betrayal. Sure, Tess deserves a mourning period. She is totally allowed to feel grieved and stupid for falling for him. But completely falling apart? Failing to realize what Duncan was doing when he piled the ransom in a boat and said she'd never find him? I really didn't get how on earth Tess was supposed to miss THAT one - not unless it was part of the insanity kick. Because let's face it: who would think anything else with his monologue? And then getting all weak before Captain Rylan before turning into a downright melodramatic queen when Duncan fails to be her white knight? Where is her determination, resourcefulness, guts, etc that we have been told repeatedly she has? And even if you excuse this initial breakdown because of shock, why on earth doesn't she pull herself together afterwards? The author led me to believe Tess was independent and self-confident. To me, that type of person would be sad, yeah, but they would accept the fact that they'd been duped - that their partner never really cared for them, maybe wasn't capable of it - and then either a) forget about it and move on or b) plot a sneaky revenge. It might take a while to really and truly get over it, but they wouldn't completely fall apart and spend the rest of the book whining "he never loved me!" And I really did cringe at how needy and weak Tess seemed when she faced Duncan. I expected a bit more self-respect (or maybe pride is a better word). Anyways, her behavior over the entire affair meant that when she worried that Jeck and others saw her as a silly women, I felt that they would be entirely justified because that was indeed what she had proven to be. When it came down to the wire, she failed to measure up under pressure. Which was a real contrast from the first book.
Also, the constant comments of "silly women" or - this one really got me - "silly feminine suspicion" really are sexist. They imply that the only reason Tess is not silly or foolish is because she's different from most women - that the default state of being for the feminine gender is silly and foolish and it is something Tessa must rise above. I'm pretty sure the author doesn't realize the underlying assumptions in these statements, but they really do come across in Tessa's attitude to most women besides her mother and sister. And the whole "feminine suspicion" thing? EXCUSE ME? Since when is suspicion a general characteristic of women? Since when is being suspicious feminine?? As if women are naturally prone to being suspicious of their significant others - which implies a deep-seated insecurity about their own worth, implying that all women are insecure. Think about it. It really is offensive.
And thus, my issues are aired.
I will admit that the clever exchanging of Costenopolie and Misdev to resolve the whole Jeck-needs-to-teach-Tessa thing was clever. So I liked the end. And ultimately, I did like Tessa's punishment for Duncan. I felt it very fitting and suitably generous for Tess.
Warning: this review contains major spoilers. Read at your own risk.
SO, this book frustrated me on multiple levels.
First of all, Tess spends half the book acting completely insane. Some of it is on purpose, and explained away - such as when she is on a raft trying to control the wind and loses it - but a lot of it is left ambiguous. Does the author realize how nuts Tessa sounds at certain points? Was it on purpose? I feel like after she is bitten by the punta, Tess never really regains her full sanity until what is practically the epilogue of the book - after confronting traitorous Duncan.
Which brings me to my second major beef: Duncan. Personally, I never thought Duncan was a good match for Tess. In the first book, I liked his amiable and easy-going personality, but despite liking him, he seemed a horrible choice for a romantic partner for Tess. They just don't fit. Tess is educated, cultured, intelligent, and a natural leader. Duncan hates bathing, is admittedly clever, but can't even read or write, and prefers a life of crime skulking in the shadows. How is this supposed to work? Tess is fundamentally honest. She would never happy in a life spent cheating other people, although she doesn't mind cheating at cards when it's a game to catch each other, and seems willing to overlook it in Duncan (although her repeated "he's not a thief!" would suggest she's not entirely over that, either). Duncan, on the other hand, demonstrates repeatedly that he is unwilling to turn honest and is constantly trying to convince Tess to join him in running away to a life of crime. Even before his major betrayal, it was clear Duncan would never give up looking for the next scam. Also, Tess is ambitious. She has aspirations to control an entire kingdom and pit herself against the sharpest minds in the world. She has an extremely well-developed sense of duty and responsibility - to her people, her sister, Kavenlow etc. Duncan again repeatedly demonstrates his desire to run off and not be beholden to anyone. Not to mention that Tess was raised as a princess, never wanting for anything, and Duncan was on the streets. People say opposites attract - and I believe that - but for a relationship to work you have to have SOME kind of common ground to start from, not to mention a united idea of which direction to go.
Not even getting into the fact that Tess never tells him she is a player.
So, suffice it to say that I was always in favor of Tess/Jeck, who I believe has far more in common with her. I also was not caught off guard by Duncan's betrayal. There were so many intimations of it throughout the book, I was well prepared. What I could not handle, however, was Tess's extremely poor handling of it. It's fine to be heartbroken when your first love breaks your heart. Crawl under the covers, have a good cry. It's not ok to repeat, literally three times a page, "he never loved me!"
Ok. We get it. We kinda got it when he ran off with the ransom and left you to die. STOP REPEATING IT. It got extremely irritating. I think part of the constant repetition was meant to be part of the whole wind-induced insanity thing, but it wasn't clear and there are far better ways to indicate that someone's becoming unhinged. Believe me, by this point I didn't need any convincing that Tess was losing it.
This kinda blends in with my third problem: I think the author is subconsciously sexist. I mean it. Feel totally free to disagree with me, but hear me out: Cook spends a lot of time building Tessa up to be a strong, independent and capable character. The entire first book, in fact. And she repeats several times how lucky Tess is to have the power and influence she does - or at least the opportunity for it. She represents Queens and Kings as equals as well, and Tessa complains about the sexism of sailors and their superstitions about women at sea. Overall, it seems that Cook is trying to come across as very egalitarian. I feel like all of this is undone and then some by this sequel.
First of all: Tess falling apart over Duncan's betrayal. Sure, Tess deserves a mourning period. She is totally allowed to feel grieved and stupid for falling for him. But completely falling apart? Failing to realize what Duncan was doing when he piled the ransom in a boat and said she'd never find him? I really didn't get how on earth Tess was supposed to miss THAT one - not unless it was part of the insanity kick. Because let's face it: who would think anything else with his monologue? And then getting all weak before Captain Rylan before turning into a downright melodramatic queen when Duncan fails to be her white knight? Where is her determination, resourcefulness, guts, etc that we have been told repeatedly she has? And even if you excuse this initial breakdown because of shock, why on earth doesn't she pull herself together afterwards? The author led me to believe Tess was independent and self-confident. To me, that type of person would be sad, yeah, but they would accept the fact that they'd been duped - that their partner never really cared for them, maybe wasn't capable of it - and then either a) forget about it and move on or b) plot a sneaky revenge. It might take a while to really and truly get over it, but they wouldn't completely fall apart and spend the rest of the book whining "he never loved me!" And I really did cringe at how needy and weak Tess seemed when she faced Duncan. I expected a bit more self-respect (or maybe pride is a better word). Anyways, her behavior over the entire affair meant that when she worried that Jeck and others saw her as a silly women, I felt that they would be entirely justified because that was indeed what she had proven to be. When it came down to the wire, she failed to measure up under pressure. Which was a real contrast from the first book.
Also, the constant comments of "silly women" or - this one really got me - "silly feminine suspicion" really are sexist. They imply that the only reason Tess is not silly or foolish is because she's different from most women - that the default state of being for the feminine gender is silly and foolish and it is something Tessa must rise above. I'm pretty sure the author doesn't realize the underlying assumptions in these statements, but they really do come across in Tessa's attitude to most women besides her mother and sister. And the whole "feminine suspicion" thing? EXCUSE ME? Since when is suspicion a general characteristic of women? Since when is being suspicious feminine?? As if women are naturally prone to being suspicious of their significant others - which implies a deep-seated insecurity about their own worth, implying that all women are insecure. Think about it. It really is offensive.
And thus, my issues are aired.
I will admit that the clever exchanging of Costenopolie and Misdev to resolve the whole Jeck-needs-to-teach-Tessa thing was clever. So I liked the end. And ultimately, I did like Tessa's punishment for Duncan. I felt it very fitting and suitably generous for Tess.
May 9, 2011
Princess at Sea was a strange book, having all the right elements but somehow was less than the sum of its parts. I liked Tess and her relationship with Contessa was a nice and unexpected aspect of the novel that I enjoyed. I loved the initial drama of the kidnapping and the action taking place largely outside the comfort of the palace.
On to the inevitable "but" - Princess at Sea suffered from some very confusing plot twists and contrivances. In the first book, the world of the game and players was set up and it was an intriguing element, but in the sequel, I found some aspects of the game hard to rationalise. Crucially, the love triangle really didn't work for me - I wasn't cheering on either suitor and both men experiencing dramatic changes of heart in the book's closing act jarred. It was also a shame that the ending felt shoe-horned in, an abrupt conclusion to facilitate a "happy-ish" ending.
Princess at Sea kept my attention throughout, but I could not help but feel that the pieces of this puzzle should have added up to an awesome book, instead of a 3-starrer.
On to the inevitable "but" - Princess at Sea suffered from some very confusing plot twists and contrivances. In the first book, the world of the game and players was set up and it was an intriguing element, but in the sequel, I found some aspects of the game hard to rationalise. Crucially, the love triangle really didn't work for me - I wasn't cheering on either suitor and both men experiencing dramatic changes of heart in the book's closing act jarred. It was also a shame that the ending felt shoe-horned in, an abrupt conclusion to facilitate a "happy-ish" ending.
Princess at Sea kept my attention throughout, but I could not help but feel that the pieces of this puzzle should have added up to an awesome book, instead of a 3-starrer.
September 15, 2021
Sometimes sequels just...suck.
The first book in this duology was an imperfect but fun adventure. Tess does plenty of badass things, including sneaking around a castle in a way that deeply pleases my hide-and-seek-player self. Large portions of it were totally the kind of stealthy assassin fantasy that I have recurring dreams about, so it fulfilled at lot requirements for me to be delighted with the whole premise despite it's flaws.
In this book....it started out on the wrong foot for me immediately. It begins with Tess on a ship with her kind-of-sister, Queen C0ntessa, and the queen's new husband Alex, for a honeymoon voyage. The couple don't get along, since it's an arranged marriage, and at one point Contessa throws a temper tantrum and does something rash, which causes Alex to retaliate poorly as well, nearly killing Contessa. After the chaos dies down, Tess orders Contessa to apologize to Alex, saying, "You will tell him that you're a fool, that what you did deserves a flogging, and you will give him the strap to do it." Tess says that Alex won't really beat Contessa if she's truly contrite, and Contessa asks what if he does hit her? Tess: "Then he didn't hear the sincerity in your voice, and you deserved it." I know Tess is just being firm with Contessa because the new queen is a bit of an airhead and has no sense of court politics....but still. Not really a fan of saying "you deserve it" when discussing domestic violence (even in a historical fantasy setting), especially since Contessa almost died already for her actions.
So, that scene left a bad taste in my mouth right out of the gate. Then, when some plot starts to get some action, they're captured by pirates ("Captured by pirates is good!")...and unfortunately Tess then spends about the next 100 pages tied up, threatened with rape and/or death, tossed in a pit, and otherwise imprisoned. It's basically 100 pages of Tess being defeated and kind of useless. Ugh. When THAT part of the plot is over, she spends about the next 100 pages battling her newly-enhanced magical powers that threaten to overwhelm her. Then the last part of the book is her battling her emotions (desire to be loved, betrayal, woe, etc). There were some action bits, but the whole thing felt more like an angst-fest. The attraction-triangle from the first book was still there, though much more focused to one side in this book, but it just made Tess more aggravating as she moaned about whether or not so-and-so loved her or was just using her.
And in the end, there were no sneaky machinations or poisoned-dart shootings that made the first book so fun. This whole book is just a big let-down after the entertaining adventure of the first book. It was mostly boring, really should have been whittled down by at least a hundred pages, and I pretty much skimmed the last hundred pages or so.
Disappointingly, while the first book held up for me with the reread, this one did not. I'm still going to keep it, since I have having incomplete series on my bookshelves, but I'll always feel a bit frustrated with this one.
The first book in this duology was an imperfect but fun adventure. Tess does plenty of badass things, including sneaking around a castle in a way that deeply pleases my hide-and-seek-player self. Large portions of it were totally the kind of stealthy assassin fantasy that I have recurring dreams about, so it fulfilled at lot requirements for me to be delighted with the whole premise despite it's flaws.
In this book....it started out on the wrong foot for me immediately. It begins with Tess on a ship with her kind-of-sister, Queen C0ntessa, and the queen's new husband Alex, for a honeymoon voyage. The couple don't get along, since it's an arranged marriage, and at one point Contessa throws a temper tantrum and does something rash, which causes Alex to retaliate poorly as well, nearly killing Contessa. After the chaos dies down, Tess orders Contessa to apologize to Alex, saying, "You will tell him that you're a fool, that what you did deserves a flogging, and you will give him the strap to do it." Tess says that Alex won't really beat Contessa if she's truly contrite, and Contessa asks what if he does hit her? Tess: "Then he didn't hear the sincerity in your voice, and you deserved it." I know Tess is just being firm with Contessa because the new queen is a bit of an airhead and has no sense of court politics....but still. Not really a fan of saying "you deserve it" when discussing domestic violence (even in a historical fantasy setting), especially since Contessa almost died already for her actions.
So, that scene left a bad taste in my mouth right out of the gate. Then, when some plot starts to get some action, they're captured by pirates ("Captured by pirates is good!")...and unfortunately Tess then spends about the next 100 pages tied up, threatened with rape and/or death, tossed in a pit, and otherwise imprisoned. It's basically 100 pages of Tess being defeated and kind of useless. Ugh. When THAT part of the plot is over, she spends about the next 100 pages battling her newly-enhanced magical powers that threaten to overwhelm her. Then the last part of the book is her battling her emotions (desire to be loved, betrayal, woe, etc). There were some action bits, but the whole thing felt more like an angst-fest. The attraction-triangle from the first book was still there, though much more focused to one side in this book, but it just made Tess more aggravating as she moaned about whether or not so-and-so loved her or was just using her.
And in the end, there were no sneaky machinations or poisoned-dart shootings that made the first book so fun. This whole book is just a big let-down after the entertaining adventure of the first book. It was mostly boring, really should have been whittled down by at least a hundred pages, and I pretty much skimmed the last hundred pages or so.
Disappointingly, while the first book held up for me with the reread, this one did not. I'm still going to keep it, since I have having incomplete series on my bookshelves, but I'll always feel a bit frustrated with this one.
October 16, 2009
Ah, that was good! This was my second try at reading this book. I really enjoyed the first one, but I bounced off of this one on my first try because it takes a really long time to get good. Tess spends the first half of this book being yanked around from one out-of-control situation to the next, plus she really, really is just as appalling a judge of character as Jeck claims! (I don't think that that's much of a spoiler, especially since the claim was in the first book.)
Of course, at just about exactly the point where I stopped reading last time, things start coalescing, and it all comes together in the end. (I'm not sure I entirely accept the change in {spoiler} at the very end, but the explanation with Tess' unconscious {spoilers} at the very very end do make it fit.) I'd give this book four stars for the ending; the three stars is for the extreme slowness in character development at the beginning.
Is there a book three yet? Because I really want it!
Of course, at just about exactly the point where I stopped reading last time, things start coalescing, and it all comes together in the end. (I'm not sure I entirely accept the change in {spoiler} at the very end, but the explanation with Tess' unconscious {spoilers} at the very very end do make it fit.) I'd give this book four stars for the ending; the three stars is for the extreme slowness in character development at the beginning.
Is there a book three yet? Because I really want it!
Want to read
November 27, 2008Once upon a time, Tess was Princess Contessa of Costenopolie. Then she learned she was really just a decoy princess, a target for would-be assassins. Her parents were killed as part of an audacious royal coup masterminded by the prince of a neighboring kingdom, and Tess was instrumental in restoring a semblance of order. That was then. This is now.
Now, her sister, the real Contessa of Costenopolie, sits on the throne, along with her new husband, a prince of Misdev. Tess acts as an advisor, lending the knowledge she picked up in her years as a princess, all the while trying to keep the royal couple from killing one another. What almost no one knows is that Tess has become a player, part of a mysterious game that spans across kingdoms, acting as the true power behind the throne. Now, under the tutelage of her mentor Kravenlow, she's exploring her new role, and learning to use the magical abilities she's gained as a result of exposure to a rare venom.
As the royal couple embark upon a honeymoon voyage meant both to reassure the populace that the throne is in good hands, and to give Queen Contessa time to settle into her new status, Tess goes along as chaperone. With them are Chancellor Kravenlow, the enigmatic Captain Jeck of Misdev (another player in the game), and Duncan, a charming card sharp who stands a very good chance of winning Tess' heart, if not her loyalty. All seems fairly stable (apart from the occasional royal squabble... and the Queen pushing her husband overboard) until they detour on a mission of mercy.
Now, hijacked by pirates, the royal couple held for ransom, and Duncan apparently defected to the enemy, the situation looks grim indeed. Can Tess once again escape captivity, survive the attack of a mythically deadly creature whose very bite is poisonous, outwit a band of cunning pirates, and work with the unlikeliest of allies to save the day? She'll be forced to rely on magical powers which could kill her, place her trust in two men of dubious loyalty and questionable goals, and push herself to the limits. Not for the first time, she'll be tempted to toss it all, however, and walk away. What's a princess-turned-player to do?
Now, her sister, the real Contessa of Costenopolie, sits on the throne, along with her new husband, a prince of Misdev. Tess acts as an advisor, lending the knowledge she picked up in her years as a princess, all the while trying to keep the royal couple from killing one another. What almost no one knows is that Tess has become a player, part of a mysterious game that spans across kingdoms, acting as the true power behind the throne. Now, under the tutelage of her mentor Kravenlow, she's exploring her new role, and learning to use the magical abilities she's gained as a result of exposure to a rare venom.
As the royal couple embark upon a honeymoon voyage meant both to reassure the populace that the throne is in good hands, and to give Queen Contessa time to settle into her new status, Tess goes along as chaperone. With them are Chancellor Kravenlow, the enigmatic Captain Jeck of Misdev (another player in the game), and Duncan, a charming card sharp who stands a very good chance of winning Tess' heart, if not her loyalty. All seems fairly stable (apart from the occasional royal squabble... and the Queen pushing her husband overboard) until they detour on a mission of mercy.
Now, hijacked by pirates, the royal couple held for ransom, and Duncan apparently defected to the enemy, the situation looks grim indeed. Can Tess once again escape captivity, survive the attack of a mythically deadly creature whose very bite is poisonous, outwit a band of cunning pirates, and work with the unlikeliest of allies to save the day? She'll be forced to rely on magical powers which could kill her, place her trust in two men of dubious loyalty and questionable goals, and push herself to the limits. Not for the first time, she'll be tempted to toss it all, however, and walk away. What's a princess-turned-player to do?
August 19, 2012
Compared to Decoy Princess, this book is unfortunately inferior. While in Decoy Tess runs circles around the characters that are trying to best her, in this book she is continually run circles around. She tries to keep her head above water but eventually there isn't even the pretense that she has control of anything.
Her abilities change drastically in this volume, as well. Whereas before she used stealth and weapons, in Sea Tess's abilities with magic grow, but they seem to be to be haphazard at best. Her magic has no rhyme or reason, and she does things no one else can do all the time, because she's just THAT POWERFUL. But of course, she doesn't control her powers, her powers control her. She can now kill with a magic pulse through her hands (though she never does, so what's the point?), control the wind (which is a spontaneous decision at best), and a few other things that are even more arbitrary.
The writing is not on par with Decoy, either. From the beginning the author uses one of my pet peeves: epithets. "The dangerous man" instead of "Jeck," for example. And there is a good deal of the author reminding us that Tess is a player--oh, she's a player, by the way, did you know she's a player? And Jeck is a player too, a skilled player, a more experienced player than Tess, etc. etc. etc. I'm not a great fan of being over-reminded of things, especially when it doesn't seem to be for a particular reason.
For all that, I did appreciate the underlying plot, even if the way Tess moved through the plot frustrated me. I hope that if there's a third book (and the setup of the end of the book does promise many good things) that Tess gets her head on straight again.
Her abilities change drastically in this volume, as well. Whereas before she used stealth and weapons, in Sea Tess's abilities with magic grow, but they seem to be to be haphazard at best. Her magic has no rhyme or reason, and she does things no one else can do all the time, because she's just THAT POWERFUL. But of course, she doesn't control her powers, her powers control her. She can now kill with a magic pulse through her hands (though she never does, so what's the point?), control the wind (which is a spontaneous decision at best), and a few other things that are even more arbitrary.
The writing is not on par with Decoy, either. From the beginning the author uses one of my pet peeves: epithets. "The dangerous man" instead of "Jeck," for example. And there is a good deal of the author reminding us that Tess is a player--oh, she's a player, by the way, did you know she's a player? And Jeck is a player too, a skilled player, a more experienced player than Tess, etc. etc. etc. I'm not a great fan of being over-reminded of things, especially when it doesn't seem to be for a particular reason.
For all that, I did appreciate the underlying plot, even if the way Tess moved through the plot frustrated me. I hope that if there's a third book (and the setup of the end of the book does promise many good things) that Tess gets her head on straight again.
November 28, 2014
So the minute I was done with Princess at Sea, first thing I did was look up the 3rd book so I could start reading that too immediately(Like I did after book 1)and to my chagrin there wasn't a 3rd book in the series. What's happening Dawn Cook? You clearly left breadcrumbs. There must be a Book 3! Am I the only one who feels this way because from her 1st book in the series, Dawn just upped her game and Princess at Sea was a riveting read.
I am not one to talk about the plot in my reviews, rather I write about how I took to the book, the writing style, the pace, stuff like that. What I especially loved about Princess at Sea was that the author did not attempt to create a manly heroine besting everyone to prove a feminist point. Rather she crafted her heroine to be your everyday girl, born to greatness, fallen from it and how she claws her way back up and it was beautiful in its execution. Tess is a very relatable and endearing person and the story is written from her perspective giving it that personal intimacy.
Dawn Cook has mastered suspense, description and pace and along with the progression of her plot, her books are hard to put down. Princess at Sea as opposed to The Decoy Princess veered farther into pure fantasy and I got new respect for Dawn for sustaining the fantasy and bringing it to fever pitch, making it as believable as you will. Impressive stuff.
The entire mystery surrounding puntas and players and Tess has not been milked.
I heard that the author manages her own website, and in the same spirit I hope she reads reviews on goodreads. WE WANT BOOK 3!!!!!
Humble request. We love your work!
I am not one to talk about the plot in my reviews, rather I write about how I took to the book, the writing style, the pace, stuff like that. What I especially loved about Princess at Sea was that the author did not attempt to create a manly heroine besting everyone to prove a feminist point. Rather she crafted her heroine to be your everyday girl, born to greatness, fallen from it and how she claws her way back up and it was beautiful in its execution. Tess is a very relatable and endearing person and the story is written from her perspective giving it that personal intimacy.
Dawn Cook has mastered suspense, description and pace and along with the progression of her plot, her books are hard to put down. Princess at Sea as opposed to The Decoy Princess veered farther into pure fantasy and I got new respect for Dawn for sustaining the fantasy and bringing it to fever pitch, making it as believable as you will. Impressive stuff.
The entire mystery surrounding puntas and players and Tess has not been milked.
I heard that the author manages her own website, and in the same spirit I hope she reads reviews on goodreads. WE WANT BOOK 3!!!!!
Humble request. We love your work!
March 17, 2015
I don't know what is it about this series I like so much.
It feels immature, Tess does like to blame herself for absolutely everything that goes wrong, she is so sure of her own importance and her mission...And yet, she is plucky and stubborn,and comes up with interesting solutions to her problems, but it's like she is not using her brain, she is almost like a savant, intuitively feels it instead of thinking it through.
There is even more adventure and heartbreak in Princess at Sea, than in the first book. Tess, appointed as an ambassador, accompanies her sister and her new husband on their sea voyage, when they are captured by pirates and held for ransom.
However, the pirates don't believe that Tess has any value and aren't interested in keeping her alive. As a revenge for killing some of their comrades in battle Tess is thrown into a pit with an animal which just happens to be a punta - the same animal that gives Players their magical abilities.
She barely survives the encounter, but her body is full of poison which makes her moods and magic highly volatile. Still, Tess is determined to persevere and save everyone, and Jack, whose tasks are the same, becomes her unwilling but formidable partner in this.
The pirates are bloodthirsty, the shipwrecks are fearsome, the sea battles are ferocious, there are powerful storms and unexpected, heart wrenching treachery. This book tests Tess's mettle and I truly felt for her. The ending is surprisingly lovely, and I am totally looking forward to the next book in this series.
Easy listen, YA fantasy full of adventure with an occasionally annoying heroine. Recommended.
It feels immature, Tess does like to blame herself for absolutely everything that goes wrong, she is so sure of her own importance and her mission...And yet, she is plucky and stubborn,and comes up with interesting solutions to her problems, but it's like she is not using her brain, she is almost like a savant, intuitively feels it instead of thinking it through.
There is even more adventure and heartbreak in Princess at Sea, than in the first book. Tess, appointed as an ambassador, accompanies her sister and her new husband on their sea voyage, when they are captured by pirates and held for ransom.
However, the pirates don't believe that Tess has any value and aren't interested in keeping her alive. As a revenge for killing some of their comrades in battle Tess is thrown into a pit with an animal which just happens to be a punta - the same animal that gives Players their magical abilities.
She barely survives the encounter, but her body is full of poison which makes her moods and magic highly volatile. Still, Tess is determined to persevere and save everyone, and Jack, whose tasks are the same, becomes her unwilling but formidable partner in this.
The pirates are bloodthirsty, the shipwrecks are fearsome, the sea battles are ferocious, there are powerful storms and unexpected, heart wrenching treachery. This book tests Tess's mettle and I truly felt for her. The ending is surprisingly lovely, and I am totally looking forward to the next book in this series.
Easy listen, YA fantasy full of adventure with an occasionally annoying heroine. Recommended.
March 15, 2009
Both books followed the same pattern where at first I was just reading along but not really sucked in, and then something would happen and I just had to know what happened next. I admit I did skim ahead because I was really really curious, but then made myself come back and read it properly. There were a few surprises, and unexpected angst. I found most of the characters had layers which got slowly peeled back as time went by, and some things get revealed that I sort of expected, yet didn't quite see it going down that way. Tess is also at turns quite quick thinking, but also blind/dumb when it came to people she really loved. So her weaknesses seem to be linked to naivete, and it's quite painful for her when she realizes them. Once the end of the books came, it felt that the author had planned out the character arcs and plots really well. Both books hint through prophetic dreams at what will happen, but they didn't give me much information and left me only tantalized. I felt rather satisfied by the final result, but I'd like to keep reading about Tess and I'm a bit sad I can't find any information about a third book (I really hope there is one). Dawn Cook's website is very sparse on the details.
http://janicu.livejournal.com/44430.html
http://janicu.livejournal.com/44430.html
May 11, 2010
Just as engrossing as the first book in this series! I truly could not put this book down. We were introduced to Tess in "The Decoy Princess". This book picks up pretty much where the first book leaves off, with Tess chaperoning her sister, the Queen, and her new husband on a journey to Misdev. And from the get go, adventures await. Throughout the book our plucky heroine is captured by pirates, thrown in a pit with a deadly animal while pirates bet on how long she will live, left to die on a burning ship, marooned on a deserted island AND somehow manages to call up a storm that brings her back to her home land... Quite an exciting read!
I couldn't help rooting for Tess in her quest to save the royal couple from pirates intent on using them as ransom. Especially interesting were the storylines regarding love and duty. How does one give up their childhood love for the good of their country and the young queen and her prince are expected to do? How does one make that ultimate decision to cast love out of their lives in order the play the deadly games that Tess is supposed to inherit as a player? Does love make you weaker or stronger? And how does one cope and deal with a broken heart?
What a great adventure this was!
I couldn't help rooting for Tess in her quest to save the royal couple from pirates intent on using them as ransom. Especially interesting were the storylines regarding love and duty. How does one give up their childhood love for the good of their country and the young queen and her prince are expected to do? How does one make that ultimate decision to cast love out of their lives in order the play the deadly games that Tess is supposed to inherit as a player? Does love make you weaker or stronger? And how does one cope and deal with a broken heart?
What a great adventure this was!
December 28, 2013
I will confess that I just finished reading Princess at Sea and its predecessor, Decoy Princess, for something like the 6th time. But I wanted to give the books a shout out on Goodreads because I think they are somewhat crippled by a stupid title and fruity cover art.
These are some of my favorite books of all time. Yes, Tess was raised as a princess and learns very quickly that she was actually a decoy for the original princess, hidden away in infancy due to a multitude of assassination attempts. She also discovers that the game of thrones (if you will) is actually controlled by peripheral characters and the chancellor, her mentor, has actually been subtly training her to take over his game. Part of the training is conditioning to a neurotoxin that gives the player extra powers--control of animals,the ability to sway people to her will and, later on, the wind.
In a clash with a neighboring kingdom, Tess comes in contact with a rival player (yeah, he's hot) who grapples with her for control for of the game. I can't say enough good about these books. I think the writing is wonderful, I regularly underline turns of phrase I want to use in my own writing, and I love the story. So, if the title or picture on the cover turn you off, give it a second look.
These are some of my favorite books of all time. Yes, Tess was raised as a princess and learns very quickly that she was actually a decoy for the original princess, hidden away in infancy due to a multitude of assassination attempts. She also discovers that the game of thrones (if you will) is actually controlled by peripheral characters and the chancellor, her mentor, has actually been subtly training her to take over his game. Part of the training is conditioning to a neurotoxin that gives the player extra powers--control of animals,the ability to sway people to her will and, later on, the wind.
In a clash with a neighboring kingdom, Tess comes in contact with a rival player (yeah, he's hot) who grapples with her for control for of the game. I can't say enough good about these books. I think the writing is wonderful, I regularly underline turns of phrase I want to use in my own writing, and I love the story. So, if the title or picture on the cover turn you off, give it a second look.
November 18, 2008
Some people said that they liked this book but not as much as the first. I'm just the opposite - I liked both of them, but I liked this one even more. Tess's character really becomes even more developed as she learns some hard lessons about life (and the game). The book's ending works as an ending, but it also leaves it open for much more to come - and I hope that there is because I'm not ready to let go of these characters completely. ***SPOILERS*** I was upset that Duncan turned out to be using her, but since Dawn Cook is supposedly Kim Harrison, I guess I shouldn't have been surprised, as Duncan reminds me a lot of Nick, so I should have seen it coming.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2011
I wasn't really a fan of this sequel. To me, it felt a bit disjointed, and didn't have as much of the "charm" as the first book in the series. I know - writing sequels is hard, but some of the characters just did a complete 180. Also, Tess isn't as likable in this book - I couldn't quite place my finger on why that was. Her supposed reaction to her overdose of venom was an interesting twist at first, but... at risk of divulging any spoilers, it just got unbearably dull and/or disjointed. Also, the "resolution" of the romantic love triangle felt contrived and cheapened the ending of the book (especially since there wasn't really a resolution).
June 1, 2010
I wanted to like this as much as the first, but there were too many inconsistencies and sometimes I couldn't keep up with the way the characters interacted with each other. It's supposed to be about "players" who are supposedly the power behind the thrones with no one else knowing, but I didn't see any of that. I can understand that in the first book, but this one should have expanded on that. There should have been more political intrigue. I would still like to see a third book in this series that would develop a certain relationship that I won't name so I don't spoil.
May 18, 2015
This took me a while to get through. It was the type of book I could put down and not think about and pick back up a couple days later and get right back into the story. Unique story line that was not completely predictable. Very little romance but I was happy with the direction things went. Don't regret reading this one but it isn't a favorite. I if you haven't read anything by Dawn Cook recommend you start with her Truth series as I really enjoyed that series.
Source: Audible.com download
Source: Audible.com download
Read
July 28, 2011Yet another fantastic book by Dawn Cook. I find the idea of "players" secretly controlling the sovereigns of all the countries very intriguing, and I love Dawn Cook's characters. I REALLY hope she writes a third book because the ending definitely leaves room for one, and I'll need another book to feel completely satisfied with the storyline.
****Implied Spoiler****
Does anyone else want to kill Duncan?
****Implied Spoiler****
Does anyone else want to kill Duncan?
June 3, 2010
No way! Just realized Dawn Cook is Kim Harrison! No wonder I like this series. :) Despite a little too much rape peril, this was a very good and satisfying book, better than the first in the series. I'm sad this is the last book, but can see why it had to be. Still, I will miss the characters terribly.
April 4, 2012
The two is because of the character suicide with the lovable rogue in book one. Why, why, why did she have to write a sequel? It comes off as lazily written - a fan fiction of the Decoy Princess. The ending was irregularly shaped, but it worked and I liked it. Gah. I should have skipped this one.
June 7, 2012
It was pretty good throughout the story but the twist they chose to add at the end destroyed the entire book for me. I was very disappointed and felt that this book caused problems for the first book as well. I won't be able to enjoy the first again as much.
March 18, 2011
I didn't like how Duncan turned out - not that Jeck isn't. A great character (and obvious better man just still wish he hadn't been a selfish jerk in the ed) :-( still an awesome book and series!
October 24, 2021
Princess at Sea is the second book in the Decoy Princess series. Unfortunately, it appears to be the last, at least for now.
I do really like Tess, the girl who thought she was the Princess of Constenopolie only to discover in the previous book that she had really been chosen by the King and Queen to play the part and protect their daughter, the real princess.
Having survived the attempted takeover of her country and located and brought back the real Princess Contessa, whom she now regards as her sister, Tess is attempting to settle down as an adviser to the crown and apprentice to the Chancellor, Cavinlo, as a player in the magic/political game of power and intrigue.
In this story, Tess and her traveling party, which includes Contessa and her husband, battle a bad storm and are attacked and captured by pirates. In addition, Tess is bitten by a Punta (a poisonous cat whose venom is what players use to produce and/or enhance their magical powers; but too much of it should kill even a powerful player), rescued by Captain Jeck of Misdev, calls up a major windstorm to take her and Jeck back to Constenopolie on the small raft he built them and goes crazy in the process of powering the windstorm with the Punta venom.
This spell of insanity goes on far too long and is too repetitious, causing the story to lose what would otherwise be some of its interest. It also leaves Tess whiny and rather weak-sounding. She spends far too much time after that bemoaning what she sees as the loss of her chance to remain a player in the magic/political game between Constenopolie and Misdev and mourning her betrayal by Duncan, who turns out to have been one of the pirates all along and never to have loved Tess as she thought.
By the time we reach the end, Tess’s fate is not altogether unexpected.
The best thing that comes out of the whole adventure is that Contessa and her new husband manage to overcome their reservations about each other in the face of the hardships they face and appear to be poised to become the rulers Constenopolie will need.
I do really like Tess, the girl who thought she was the Princess of Constenopolie only to discover in the previous book that she had really been chosen by the King and Queen to play the part and protect their daughter, the real princess.
Having survived the attempted takeover of her country and located and brought back the real Princess Contessa, whom she now regards as her sister, Tess is attempting to settle down as an adviser to the crown and apprentice to the Chancellor, Cavinlo, as a player in the magic/political game of power and intrigue.
In this story, Tess and her traveling party, which includes Contessa and her husband, battle a bad storm and are attacked and captured by pirates. In addition, Tess is bitten by a Punta (a poisonous cat whose venom is what players use to produce and/or enhance their magical powers; but too much of it should kill even a powerful player), rescued by Captain Jeck of Misdev, calls up a major windstorm to take her and Jeck back to Constenopolie on the small raft he built them and goes crazy in the process of powering the windstorm with the Punta venom.
This spell of insanity goes on far too long and is too repetitious, causing the story to lose what would otherwise be some of its interest. It also leaves Tess whiny and rather weak-sounding. She spends far too much time after that bemoaning what she sees as the loss of her chance to remain a player in the magic/political game between Constenopolie and Misdev and mourning her betrayal by Duncan, who turns out to have been one of the pirates all along and never to have loved Tess as she thought.
By the time we reach the end, Tess’s fate is not altogether unexpected.
The best thing that comes out of the whole adventure is that Contessa and her new husband manage to overcome their reservations about each other in the face of the hardships they face and appear to be poised to become the rulers Constenopolie will need.
March 22, 2017
Tess is no longer crown princess and instead is acting as ambassador for the kingdom she grew up thinking she'd rule. She's okay with the change, though. As this book opens, Tess, Duncan, Princess Contessa and her new husband Alex, and Jeck are all headed off for the royal couple's honeymoon trip.
48 pages into the book, 4 of the 5 characters listed above are abducted. And I quit. The whole first book was Tess running, trying to escape captors and save her sister. I was not interested in reading that again. Plus a love triangle.
And so I skipped ahead and found confirmation that I made the right choice.
48 pages into the book, 4 of the 5 characters listed above are abducted. And I quit. The whole first book was Tess running, trying to escape captors and save her sister. I was not interested in reading that again. Plus a love triangle.
And so I skipped ahead and found confirmation that I made the right choice.
September 24, 2017
This is the second, and final, book in Cook's Princess series. I ended up enjoying it, although I though things wrapped up much too quickly.
I listened to this on audiobook and the audiobook was well done. I am still not a huge fan of the narrator, I just don’t like the voice she chose for Tess. However, she does a fine job differentiating between character voices and conveying emotion. This is one of those audiobooks I could take or leave; I think it would read the same in paper.
In this book Tess is assigned to take Queen Contessa and Prince Alex on their honeymoon. Along the way they are abducted by pirates. Through a series of events Tess’s involvement as a Player is threatened, once again spiraling her into self-doubt and forcing her to question who she really wants to be at heart.
I love the characters and enjoyed watching Tess struggle to understand who she is and survive her adventures at sea. This book is full of adventure and political intrigue. There is a heavy theme of love helping people to accomplish things that aren’t normally possible.
The end felt very rushed to me and was a bit unsatisfying. I felt like this might have made a better trilogy than a duology. Still, all the major plot points were wrapped up...if quickly.
Overall this was a decent conclusion to the Princess series. This was a fun book full of easy to love characters, adventure, and some light romance. I enjoyed the continuing theme of trying to find one’s place in the world. I thought the ending felt very rushed though. This is one of those fantasy series that was fun to read and I am glad I read it. The story is very engaging and it was hard to stop reading. However, there isn’t anything super unique in here and, despite being well done, it’s fairly forgettable.
I listened to this on audiobook and the audiobook was well done. I am still not a huge fan of the narrator, I just don’t like the voice she chose for Tess. However, she does a fine job differentiating between character voices and conveying emotion. This is one of those audiobooks I could take or leave; I think it would read the same in paper.
In this book Tess is assigned to take Queen Contessa and Prince Alex on their honeymoon. Along the way they are abducted by pirates. Through a series of events Tess’s involvement as a Player is threatened, once again spiraling her into self-doubt and forcing her to question who she really wants to be at heart.
I love the characters and enjoyed watching Tess struggle to understand who she is and survive her adventures at sea. This book is full of adventure and political intrigue. There is a heavy theme of love helping people to accomplish things that aren’t normally possible.
The end felt very rushed to me and was a bit unsatisfying. I felt like this might have made a better trilogy than a duology. Still, all the major plot points were wrapped up...if quickly.
Overall this was a decent conclusion to the Princess series. This was a fun book full of easy to love characters, adventure, and some light romance. I enjoyed the continuing theme of trying to find one’s place in the world. I thought the ending felt very rushed though. This is one of those fantasy series that was fun to read and I am glad I read it. The story is very engaging and it was hard to stop reading. However, there isn’t anything super unique in here and, despite being well done, it’s fairly forgettable.
March 25, 2025
This is a story of magic, espionage, and romance starring a character who spent most of her life believing herself to be the heir to a kingdom, only to find out that she was a decoy used to protect the real heir. (See "Decoy Princess".)
Here, the real heir and her new husband are traveling by sea when ... things happen. And it's up to Tess to solve the problems caused by those things.
The characters are quite good, with believable strengths and weaknesses, and they develop in interesting ways through the course of the story. The world is rather sketched in, though we do see more of the magic used by the "Players", who run the world behind the scenes. And the plot is tightly crafted, with obstacles and successes (which never feel unearned) sprinkled liberally about.
It's been several years since I read the first book in this series, and I don't really know why I waited so long to continue it. Dawn Cook (who also writes very successfully under the name "Kim Harrison") has written an excellent fantasy series. The only thing keeping me from giving this book 5 stars is that I really wanted to wake up the protagonist to what was going on around her. (She's young, it's in character, but it was very frustrating.) That said, I would recommend this book and the series, and if there is ever another book about these characters, I'll buy it.
Here, the real heir and her new husband are traveling by sea when ... things happen. And it's up to Tess to solve the problems caused by those things.
The characters are quite good, with believable strengths and weaknesses, and they develop in interesting ways through the course of the story. The world is rather sketched in, though we do see more of the magic used by the "Players", who run the world behind the scenes. And the plot is tightly crafted, with obstacles and successes (which never feel unearned) sprinkled liberally about.
It's been several years since I read the first book in this series, and I don't really know why I waited so long to continue it. Dawn Cook (who also writes very successfully under the name "Kim Harrison") has written an excellent fantasy series. The only thing keeping me from giving this book 5 stars is that I really wanted to wake up the protagonist to what was going on around her. (She's young, it's in character, but it was very frustrating.) That said, I would recommend this book and the series, and if there is ever another book about these characters, I'll buy it.
March 18, 2019
Schade, dass das Ende der Geschichte nie geschrieben wurde, aber auch so baut die Handlung auf Band eins auf und schafft es immer wieder zu überraschen, auch wenn einige der größten Handlungsstränge naturgemäß vorhersehbar sind.
Man merkt deutlich, dass Band zwei nicht den Abschluss der Handlung darstellt, da viele Punkte ungeklärt bleiben, dennoch gibt es keinen Cliffhanger und man kann eine Lektüre guten Gewissens empfehlen.
Man merkt deutlich, dass Band zwei nicht den Abschluss der Handlung darstellt, da viele Punkte ungeklärt bleiben, dennoch gibt es keinen Cliffhanger und man kann eine Lektüre guten Gewissens empfehlen.
October 23, 2023
I loved the first book in the series. The second book took a darker turn. As such characters grow and change due to circumstances. That being said I felt like Tess's character growth was stunted compared to the first book. The direction of the plot was also quite obvious the last 2/3s of the book. That being said, it was wonderful rereading about the characters from the first book. I just wish there had been more done with them and the world as a whole.
April 20, 2018
Tess is a princess and a player in the Game. She uses venom to increase her magic while protecting her Queen, fighting off pirates and other players in the game. There are two possible candidates for romance, if she will allow it. I missed the first book and I may have appreciated this book more if I had read the first. Read stand alone it was an ok read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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