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Eligia Shala #1
Shadows
Imperial Princess Jenevra Couressime is an unwelcome reminder to her family of an incident they would all rather forget-the murder of her parents. Often ignored, fourteen-year-old Jenevra is not surprised when she is sent from court to a rigidly disciplined life in exile. Hopeful that she will never have to see any of her family again, Jenevra soon finds a cold satisfaction in the harsh discipline of a Temple Order.
Jenevra becomes an assassin of chilling efficiency-perfectly equipped to serve as protector to her cousin, who happens to be the new Emperor. But after her return to court thrusts her unwillingly back into palace life and intense military challenges, Jenevra must face emotional upheaval and confrontation as she attempts to reconcile with her family. As Jenevra contends with senior officers in the imperial army, she learns the truth about why she was chosen to bear a talisman that seems intent on pulling her into the darkest shadows of her mind.
Unexpected twists and turns soon surround a young princess constantly challenged to prove herself-and who will soon discover that her carefully constructed defenses are not quite as impenetrable as she once thought.
560 pages, Paperback
First published February 25, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 14, 2016
Deal's heart was in the right place, but the writing skill just isn't there. There is a TON of story smashed into this. And up until about 75% it reads fairly "clean" and simplistic as though it's intended for a young audience, and then we hit sexual assault and torture. So I have no idea who this is meant for.
The Plot
Princess Jenevera was sent away to a secretive warrior training island (for only 5 years but of course she was the best and learned faster than anyone ever had, and was the second female EVER allowed in). She gets sent home to protect her cousin who is now becoming the Emperor, but her first loyalty is always with The Order, second is to the crown.
She becomes the emperor's personal bodyguard (because he doesn't have one...) and creates a squad, or flight in this book, of guards to work for her. She and her squad have to prove themselves a bunch of times. She hates being a girly princess. She butts heads with another womanizing squad commander...who of course falls in love with her.
She takes the lead in stopping some political assassinations and coups, finds out who killed her parents (although we don't get a great reason WHY), deals with a love-hate relationship, has inner conflict about her loyalty to The Order and wanting to have a life, deals with friends wanting ~more, trusted people becoming enemies, people she loves and values dying, avenging their deaths, asserting herself to her squad of men, proving she can fight, proving she can lead, gets kidnapped, kills people, fights, survives things no one else can, travels here, then there, then over there, and down there, then up there, then back here, then over there to get this to bring there, but first stops here to get that for there etc., etc.
Oh and there is some poorly explained magic talisman that she and two other wear. It of course harms her and also saves the day...but we have no idea why. It seems to be the only magical thing in this world.
I suppose there was an intention of this becoming a series, but it doesn't look like Deal has written any more. This can read just fine as a stand alone and there is enough closure at the end to not leave you shaking your fists.
Thoughts
There was way too much crammed in here, so nothing is really given a good amount of time to be fleshed out. The romance is very cardboard, the friendships are just thrown at you out of the blue, the villains are very one dimensional and not very well explained.
Jenevra is supposed to be this crazy amazing assassin type young woman, yet she is oblivious to her surroundings, lets her emotion take over, and just generally does not have a strong character. She's more of a broody petulant girl than a strong warrior. I think she literally stands guard over the emperor ONCE in the whole book.
There is so much more to be said, but I can't muster up the desire to keep going. Again, Deal's heart is in the right place with this story but the talent to world build, flesh out characters, and drive a plot is lacking.
The Plot
Princess Jenevera was sent away to a secretive warrior training island (for only 5 years but of course she was the best and learned faster than anyone ever had, and was the second female EVER allowed in). She gets sent home to protect her cousin who is now becoming the Emperor, but her first loyalty is always with The Order, second is to the crown.
She becomes the emperor's personal bodyguard (because he doesn't have one...) and creates a squad, or flight in this book, of guards to work for her. She and her squad have to prove themselves a bunch of times. She hates being a girly princess. She butts heads with another womanizing squad commander...who of course falls in love with her.
She takes the lead in stopping some political assassinations and coups, finds out who killed her parents (although we don't get a great reason WHY), deals with a love-hate relationship, has inner conflict about her loyalty to The Order and wanting to have a life, deals with friends wanting ~more, trusted people becoming enemies, people she loves and values dying, avenging their deaths, asserting herself to her squad of men, proving she can fight, proving she can lead, gets kidnapped, kills people, fights, survives things no one else can, travels here, then there, then over there, and down there, then up there, then back here, then over there to get this to bring there, but first stops here to get that for there etc., etc.
Oh and there is some poorly explained magic talisman that she and two other wear. It of course harms her and also saves the day...but we have no idea why. It seems to be the only magical thing in this world.
I suppose there was an intention of this becoming a series, but it doesn't look like Deal has written any more. This can read just fine as a stand alone and there is enough closure at the end to not leave you shaking your fists.
Thoughts
There was way too much crammed in here, so nothing is really given a good amount of time to be fleshed out. The romance is very cardboard, the friendships are just thrown at you out of the blue, the villains are very one dimensional and not very well explained.
Jenevra is supposed to be this crazy amazing assassin type young woman, yet she is oblivious to her surroundings, lets her emotion take over, and just generally does not have a strong character. She's more of a broody petulant girl than a strong warrior. I think she literally stands guard over the emperor ONCE in the whole book.
There is so much more to be said, but I can't muster up the desire to keep going. Again, Deal's heart is in the right place with this story but the talent to world build, flesh out characters, and drive a plot is lacking.
October 16, 2011
Good fast moving mystery in a fantasy realm.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews