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Virginia Kingdom Chronicles #1
The Crown
Set in a fascinating world that’s reemerging from a devastating famine caused by genetically modified seeds, The Virginia Kingdom Chronicles, Book 1: The Crown begins in 1992, when a Dutch accountant flees to the United States after stealing millions from a notorious drug cartel. Adopting a new identity, Espen Koning settles down on a remote Virginia farm.
Two hundred years later, nineteen-year-old Lady Elise Koning’s induction as heir to the prime governorship of Virginia is underway. However, her indolence causes her grandmother, the current ruler, to warn Elise that her succession is not set in stone. She could still name her youngest son, Carl, as the heir instead. But unwilling to give up on Elise just yet, she recruits the former adviser to Elise’s deceased father to groom the young woman for her leadership role.
The rules of the game are changing, as Virginia follows the lead of neighboring Carolina in transforming into a sovereign kingdom. Elise is changing as well—to the chagrin of her longtime companion, Decker Regan.
As Elise prepares herself for the rigors of being a strong ruler, will treachery undo her efforts to rise to the occasion?
Two hundred years later, nineteen-year-old Lady Elise Koning’s induction as heir to the prime governorship of Virginia is underway. However, her indolence causes her grandmother, the current ruler, to warn Elise that her succession is not set in stone. She could still name her youngest son, Carl, as the heir instead. But unwilling to give up on Elise just yet, she recruits the former adviser to Elise’s deceased father to groom the young woman for her leadership role.
The rules of the game are changing, as Virginia follows the lead of neighboring Carolina in transforming into a sovereign kingdom. Elise is changing as well—to the chagrin of her longtime companion, Decker Regan.
As Elise prepares herself for the rigors of being a strong ruler, will treachery undo her efforts to rise to the occasion?
509 pages, Paperback
First published June 23, 2015
299 people want to read
About the author
L.L. Livesey
3 books5 followersFrom Toronto, Ontario, L.L. Livesey currently works in government in a position which allows her to observe firsthand the power struggles for political dominance-when she's not secretly plotting out her own stories. However, the idea for the Virginia Kingdom Chronicles first came after hearing a friend admit he'd lost all interest in reading, and countering back that if she herself wrote a book, then he'd have no choice but to read it. Hence, a simple idea arose on his balcony, soon taking on its own life, and the story simply could not stay contained within one book.
Check out her website at: virginiakingdomchronicles.com.
Check out her website at: virginiakingdomchronicles.com.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 27, 2015
If you have a chance to read this book, be sure you do. I could not put this book down at all. If her first book is any indication of what this series will be like, I can't wait to see what happens next. This book revolves around many people but mostly the Koning family and set in the year 2191, 200 years after an event know as "The Black Harvest". The country is shattered and abandoned by the U.S. Government. And is transforming itself into a sovereign monarchy. During the course of this book, you watch Lady Elise transform from what appears to be a selfish child to a compassionate woman. So please, get this book and help support an author starting out. You won't regret it. Pick up this book and be transported away to another time.
June 4, 2016
And what do we say to sleep? Not today!
This is how you do it. This is how you write and tell a story. A fabulous story.
I enjoyed every page of this book.
Proper attention was given to details from the very start,which ignited my imagination.
L.L.Livesey unfolds with astonishing skill a truly epic story.
"The Virginia Kingdom Chronicles" is one of the best books books I read this year. Can't wait for the next book!!!
This is how you do it. This is how you write and tell a story. A fabulous story.
I enjoyed every page of this book.
Proper attention was given to details from the very start,which ignited my imagination.
L.L.Livesey unfolds with astonishing skill a truly epic story.
"The Virginia Kingdom Chronicles" is one of the best books books I read this year. Can't wait for the next book!!!
November 8, 2015
Overall Rating: 6.6/10 (3.3/5 stars)
Plot: 6/10
Writing: 7.5/10
Characters: 7/10
Originality: 6/10
This book is full of some really high points, and unfortunately many lows. The potential is ever-present though, and most of the kinks work themselves out by the end. It took me a full two months of diligent reading to complete this book, which is somewhat of a problem for a debut novel in what will become a series. The plot development seemed to go on for an eternity, and while all that set-up had to exist to be a solid foundation for a strong climax, I don’t see readers having enough patience to get there. With that being said, a book that starts out somewhat clumsily turns into a heart-pounding drama by the conclusion, with the characters and plot becoming more and more complex. I definitely recommend The Virginia Kingdom Chronicles for those who enjoy the political drama of Game of Thrones, but wish there was more romance in it, and I certainly look forward to reading the sequel.
The main issues with the plot lie in the beginning of the novel. I was confused, both by the bizarre prologue that raises more questions than it answers, and by the introduction of the actual setting. I feel the prologue is unnecessary, because the flashback that shows how America came to be a monarchy is actually in the middle of the novel, and presents a really cool concept. I mean, class systems just based on the people that happened to arrive at Espen’s house first? That’s insane, but an extremely clever world-building element, and I feel it would have been better placed closer to the beginning of the novel.
Unfortunately, The Crown instead began with one of my least favorite types of exposition: an event where just about all the main and secondary characters are introduced at once. The first few chapters are extremely confusing to read, especially when the reader can’t be sure which characters become a main part of the story, and which are simply supporting characters. For the first half of this book, the world-building is a “tell, not show” method, when it should be the other way around. The best way to build a world that differs so strongly from that of today’s is to immerse the reader in it, rather than tell them what happened, what society is like now, etc. I wish The Crown had included some of these elements, and I fear that the drama that does exist in the exposition is not enough to draw readers in for the long haul.
The novel then continues for a very, very long time, and it is always unclear where the plot is heading. For a debut novel, especially a young adult one, this is extremely problematic. I feel that some scenes could have been cut out, and only contribute to this novel’s ultimate identity crisis: it doesn’t seem sure as to whether it is a mature, high-stakes political drama or a young adult romance. While it is nice to have a bit of both, the novel by the end should have a concentrated purpose, with one main plot and smaller sub-plots appearing and being resolved along the way. Many different conflicts in this novel are constantly fighting for center-stage, and though many are interesting, it makes for quite a hefty read. I loved most of the scenes from the past that showed how the country came to be a kingdom, but they are awkwardly placed and too few. I would love to see more of that in future installments of the series.
The last two hundred pages of The Crown are extremely redeeming and refreshing, particularly after a bit of a rocky start. Most of the exposition is proved to be extremely important as everything ties together seamlessly to create an impressive conclusion. I read the last one hundred pages or so in one sitting, which proves that Livesey’s series has potential to put readers on the edge of their seats, provided they have the patience and the motivation to get to the resolution.
The characters of this novel are mostly fascinating and three-dimensional. I was slightly misled by the summary, because while I believed that Elise’s development was going to be a large part of the book, the bulk of it happens in about fifty pages. Though she does develop slightly throughout the novel, I feel that her major personality change is for the most part glossed over. The other problem I had was with Carl. For the longest time in the novel, he’s just power-hungry, which is one of my least favorite type of YA novel villains. I just wished his character was a little more complex; though I learned more about him as the book continued and my wish was somewhat satisfied, he still just seemed like the classic, completely evil guy. No one should be one-hundred percent good or evil in a novel; that’s part of what makes the best YA books so special. I had a similar problem with Isabella, and even partially with Decker, who I feel has quite a bad personality with little to no explanation as to why.
There are some characters that I absolutely love. I really like Joshua’s character development, and the fact that he is flawed. I feel his relationship with Elise grows slowly enough to be realistic, but also strongly enough that their strong affections for each other by the end of the novel are justified. I also love the complexity of Helena, the queen. Additionally, I appreciate Livesey’s effort to include diverse characters without making a big deal of it. They actually serve to move the plot along rather than to just check a box, and that’s a concept that some of the best YA authors still can’t seem to master. I definitely look forward to reading about Livesey’s characters in future installments of The Virginia Kingdom Chronicles.
The writing is mostly beautiful and descriptive. No matter what point of view Livesey writes from, the emotions of the characters transfer to the reader very well. Suspenseful and heart-wrenching moments are executed nicely. Sometimes, however, the dialogue feels a bit unnatural, and there are some issues in sentence structure. The complex writing style also doesn’t help alleviate the confusion in the beginning. The writing, along with all other elements of the novel, greatly increases in strength toward the end of the novel, making me excited for whatever Livesey has in store for readers next.
As far as originality is concerned, this book didn’t captivate me with uniqueness. Maybe it’s just because I’m also reading Game of Thrones right now, but the politics and scheming feels very similar, and the young adult drama becomes tedious after awhile. One thing that I feel is extremely unique to this novel is the way class systems in the future are decided, a question that is asked in almost every dystopia but is rarely answered with originality. Livesey accomplishes this, but only briefly, and I would have loved to have seen more of this idea explored throughout the novel.
Overall: Though The Virginia Kingdom Chronicles: The Crown by L.L. Livesey is a lengthy read with a slow and at times confusing exposition, readers who stick with the novel until the end will be on the edge of their seat through the fast-paced conclusion and will enjoy seeing the loose ends of the story tie together. This first book showcases Livesey’s potential, and I am looking forward to reading future installments in the series.
www.goodbadanduglybooks.net
Plot: 6/10
Writing: 7.5/10
Characters: 7/10
Originality: 6/10
This book is full of some really high points, and unfortunately many lows. The potential is ever-present though, and most of the kinks work themselves out by the end. It took me a full two months of diligent reading to complete this book, which is somewhat of a problem for a debut novel in what will become a series. The plot development seemed to go on for an eternity, and while all that set-up had to exist to be a solid foundation for a strong climax, I don’t see readers having enough patience to get there. With that being said, a book that starts out somewhat clumsily turns into a heart-pounding drama by the conclusion, with the characters and plot becoming more and more complex. I definitely recommend The Virginia Kingdom Chronicles for those who enjoy the political drama of Game of Thrones, but wish there was more romance in it, and I certainly look forward to reading the sequel.
The main issues with the plot lie in the beginning of the novel. I was confused, both by the bizarre prologue that raises more questions than it answers, and by the introduction of the actual setting. I feel the prologue is unnecessary, because the flashback that shows how America came to be a monarchy is actually in the middle of the novel, and presents a really cool concept. I mean, class systems just based on the people that happened to arrive at Espen’s house first? That’s insane, but an extremely clever world-building element, and I feel it would have been better placed closer to the beginning of the novel.
Unfortunately, The Crown instead began with one of my least favorite types of exposition: an event where just about all the main and secondary characters are introduced at once. The first few chapters are extremely confusing to read, especially when the reader can’t be sure which characters become a main part of the story, and which are simply supporting characters. For the first half of this book, the world-building is a “tell, not show” method, when it should be the other way around. The best way to build a world that differs so strongly from that of today’s is to immerse the reader in it, rather than tell them what happened, what society is like now, etc. I wish The Crown had included some of these elements, and I fear that the drama that does exist in the exposition is not enough to draw readers in for the long haul.
The novel then continues for a very, very long time, and it is always unclear where the plot is heading. For a debut novel, especially a young adult one, this is extremely problematic. I feel that some scenes could have been cut out, and only contribute to this novel’s ultimate identity crisis: it doesn’t seem sure as to whether it is a mature, high-stakes political drama or a young adult romance. While it is nice to have a bit of both, the novel by the end should have a concentrated purpose, with one main plot and smaller sub-plots appearing and being resolved along the way. Many different conflicts in this novel are constantly fighting for center-stage, and though many are interesting, it makes for quite a hefty read. I loved most of the scenes from the past that showed how the country came to be a kingdom, but they are awkwardly placed and too few. I would love to see more of that in future installments of the series.
The last two hundred pages of The Crown are extremely redeeming and refreshing, particularly after a bit of a rocky start. Most of the exposition is proved to be extremely important as everything ties together seamlessly to create an impressive conclusion. I read the last one hundred pages or so in one sitting, which proves that Livesey’s series has potential to put readers on the edge of their seats, provided they have the patience and the motivation to get to the resolution.
The characters of this novel are mostly fascinating and three-dimensional. I was slightly misled by the summary, because while I believed that Elise’s development was going to be a large part of the book, the bulk of it happens in about fifty pages. Though she does develop slightly throughout the novel, I feel that her major personality change is for the most part glossed over. The other problem I had was with Carl. For the longest time in the novel, he’s just power-hungry, which is one of my least favorite type of YA novel villains. I just wished his character was a little more complex; though I learned more about him as the book continued and my wish was somewhat satisfied, he still just seemed like the classic, completely evil guy. No one should be one-hundred percent good or evil in a novel; that’s part of what makes the best YA books so special. I had a similar problem with Isabella, and even partially with Decker, who I feel has quite a bad personality with little to no explanation as to why.
There are some characters that I absolutely love. I really like Joshua’s character development, and the fact that he is flawed. I feel his relationship with Elise grows slowly enough to be realistic, but also strongly enough that their strong affections for each other by the end of the novel are justified. I also love the complexity of Helena, the queen. Additionally, I appreciate Livesey’s effort to include diverse characters without making a big deal of it. They actually serve to move the plot along rather than to just check a box, and that’s a concept that some of the best YA authors still can’t seem to master. I definitely look forward to reading about Livesey’s characters in future installments of The Virginia Kingdom Chronicles.
The writing is mostly beautiful and descriptive. No matter what point of view Livesey writes from, the emotions of the characters transfer to the reader very well. Suspenseful and heart-wrenching moments are executed nicely. Sometimes, however, the dialogue feels a bit unnatural, and there are some issues in sentence structure. The complex writing style also doesn’t help alleviate the confusion in the beginning. The writing, along with all other elements of the novel, greatly increases in strength toward the end of the novel, making me excited for whatever Livesey has in store for readers next.
As far as originality is concerned, this book didn’t captivate me with uniqueness. Maybe it’s just because I’m also reading Game of Thrones right now, but the politics and scheming feels very similar, and the young adult drama becomes tedious after awhile. One thing that I feel is extremely unique to this novel is the way class systems in the future are decided, a question that is asked in almost every dystopia but is rarely answered with originality. Livesey accomplishes this, but only briefly, and I would have loved to have seen more of this idea explored throughout the novel.
Overall: Though The Virginia Kingdom Chronicles: The Crown by L.L. Livesey is a lengthy read with a slow and at times confusing exposition, readers who stick with the novel until the end will be on the edge of their seat through the fast-paced conclusion and will enjoy seeing the loose ends of the story tie together. This first book showcases Livesey’s potential, and I am looking forward to reading future installments in the series.
www.goodbadanduglybooks.net
October 4, 2015
This dystopian YA novel is a mixed cup of tea. I really enjoyed the fact that Elise didn't start off as a typical dystopian protagonist (think Katniss or Tris), as she was quite shallow and flighty, but she grew as the story went on and became more mature. I found the world-building a bit too detailed at points, and there were too many plot lines for me to get really gripped.
This novel was featured in my September Wrap Up here.
This novel was featured in my September Wrap Up here.
January 22, 2016
**I won this book as a Goodreads Giveaway**
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from cover to cover. This was fast-paced, with interesting plot-lines, character growth and development.
I'm intrigued to see where the story goes from here. This first book covered so much. I can only hope the story continues to evolve, but doesn't drag on into a long series.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from cover to cover. This was fast-paced, with interesting plot-lines, character growth and development.
I'm intrigued to see where the story goes from here. This first book covered so much. I can only hope the story continues to evolve, but doesn't drag on into a long series.
November 4, 2015
This novel is a court intrigue meets distopian action story. Fans of The Other Boleyn Girl and Hunger Games alike will enjoy it.
Well-written with a good paced plot filled with lots of twists.
Keep an eye on dailygeekette.wordpress.com for my full review.
Well-written with a good paced plot filled with lots of twists.
Keep an eye on dailygeekette.wordpress.com for my full review.
September 27, 2015
Review will be added soon.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews