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God Princes of Tigron #3
Knight's Fork
When the Queen Consort of the Volnoth asks him to father her child, not realizing that he is the son of her greatest enemy and that he has taken a vow of chastity, the Saurian Knight is torn between his father and a married Princess who will stop at nothing to make him bend to her will. Original.
340 pages, Paperback
First published September 30, 2008
1 person is currently reading
173 people want to read
About the author
Rowena Cherry
3 books106 followers(also writes as Rowena Beaumont Cherry for the ebooks MATING NET (published by NCP, and FORCED MATE originally published by NBI and subsequently by Rowena Cherry)
Q&A Group
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/2...
Winner, of the EPIC "Friend of ePublishing" Award for the "Crazy Tuesday" internet radio show.
My "god-Princes of Tigron" series began with Forced Mate a spoof of historical abduction romances (nothing gets ripped) where the abductor is a morally questionable alien.
He has Machiavellian tendencies, and after he finds his perfect "mate" (lots of chess terminology), he decides that the best way to neuter his most dangerous political rivals who are now his in-laws is to entrap them into politically disastrous marriages to liability wives (who happen to be his own scandalous sisters).
Insufficient Mating Material is the first such exercise. A rival chooses a new face and identity and a "fate worse than death" over execution. A shotgun royal wedding is arranged, but to everyone's astonishment, the bride-to-be balks at the sight of her groom and hurls him, telekinetically without touching him, onto his scrawny rump.
The principal villain decides to shoot the unhappy couple down and maroon them on an alien subtropical island until the bride learns to appreciate her destiny. Another villain fears that the bride's newly revealed telekinetic powers might bring to light an old crime he thought he'd gotten away with.
It's "Survivorman" with sex, "magic" and murder.
Knight's Fork is funnier, snarkier and less sexy. It's Helen of Troy in deep space, where all the Helen wanted from the Paris character was a sperm donation, but the intergalactic equivalent of the paparazzi caught her leaving his bedroom in tears and all the world leaders (including her husband and her brother) assumed the worst.
All my titles are chess puns. "Forced Mate" is from Pandolfini's term for a race between the two Kings to make a pawn his Queen. In chess terminology "Insufficient Mating Material" is when the players realize that no matter how badly or well they play, no one will checkmate the other. A "Knight's fork" is when two or more pieces are threatened simultaneously, and only one can be saved.
Rowena Cherry
SPACE SNARK™
Heroines get more hero than they bargain for....
Rowena Cherry has played chess with a Grand Master and former President of the World Chess Federation (hence the chess-pun titles of her alien romances).
She has spent folly filled summers in a Spanish castle; dined on a sheikh's yacht with royalty; been seranaded (on a birthday) by a rockstar and an English nobleman; ridden in a pace car at the 1993 Indy 500; received the gold level of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award; and generally lived on the edge of the sort of life that inspires her romances about high-living alien gods.
Q&A Group
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/2...
Winner, of the EPIC "Friend of ePublishing" Award for the "Crazy Tuesday" internet radio show.
My "god-Princes of Tigron" series began with Forced Mate a spoof of historical abduction romances (nothing gets ripped) where the abductor is a morally questionable alien.
He has Machiavellian tendencies, and after he finds his perfect "mate" (lots of chess terminology), he decides that the best way to neuter his most dangerous political rivals who are now his in-laws is to entrap them into politically disastrous marriages to liability wives (who happen to be his own scandalous sisters).
Insufficient Mating Material is the first such exercise. A rival chooses a new face and identity and a "fate worse than death" over execution. A shotgun royal wedding is arranged, but to everyone's astonishment, the bride-to-be balks at the sight of her groom and hurls him, telekinetically without touching him, onto his scrawny rump.
The principal villain decides to shoot the unhappy couple down and maroon them on an alien subtropical island until the bride learns to appreciate her destiny. Another villain fears that the bride's newly revealed telekinetic powers might bring to light an old crime he thought he'd gotten away with.
It's "Survivorman" with sex, "magic" and murder.
Knight's Fork is funnier, snarkier and less sexy. It's Helen of Troy in deep space, where all the Helen wanted from the Paris character was a sperm donation, but the intergalactic equivalent of the paparazzi caught her leaving his bedroom in tears and all the world leaders (including her husband and her brother) assumed the worst.
All my titles are chess puns. "Forced Mate" is from Pandolfini's term for a race between the two Kings to make a pawn his Queen. In chess terminology "Insufficient Mating Material" is when the players realize that no matter how badly or well they play, no one will checkmate the other. A "Knight's fork" is when two or more pieces are threatened simultaneously, and only one can be saved.
Rowena Cherry
SPACE SNARK™
Heroines get more hero than they bargain for....
Rowena Cherry has played chess with a Grand Master and former President of the World Chess Federation (hence the chess-pun titles of her alien romances).
She has spent folly filled summers in a Spanish castle; dined on a sheikh's yacht with royalty; been seranaded (on a birthday) by a rockstar and an English nobleman; ridden in a pace car at the 1993 Indy 500; received the gold level of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award; and generally lived on the edge of the sort of life that inspires her romances about high-living alien gods.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 12, 2008
Reviewed for queuemyreview.com; book release Nov08
How do I describe “Knight’s Fork” by Rowena Cherry? This book is a conglomeration of science fiction, romance, comedy (I think), and action/suspense? To be quite frank, most of it didn’t really make sense to me. I felt like I had been dropped into the middle of a story without any cliff notes or background! I read the first book in this series but not the second and maybe that’s why I had such a hard time. In any event, I don’t think I could recommend this one as a stand-alone read.
Electra is a Djinn female, an Imperial Princess, and a barbarian Queen. She was mated to a prince of Volnoth as a living peace treaty. Now her husband is the King of Volnoth but he apparently cannot impregnate a Djinni. Since Electra cares for her husband, she is desperate to find a way to give him a male heir before he loses the throne. When she spots a Djinn with the correct colored eyes, she decides to ask him for some sperm. Havoc and mayhem ensue as Electra and her intended donor Djinn, ‘Rhett, become the targets of political maneuvering by three different royal houses!
‘Rhett is a Djinn, a Saurian Knight, and the son of the most powerful ruler of the free worlds. He’s also apparently made a vow to save his virginity for his mate. He spent a good amount of time on Earth and trained as a lawyer and LIVES for rules and order. So when Electra, a mated Queen, appears to be asking him to sleep with her, he’s far from flattered, even if she is gorgeous. By trickery and deceit on the part of I lost count of how many players, Electra is smuggled onto ‘Rhett’s ship which is on its way to Earth. By the time he finds her, it’s too late to send her back in time for her to make her Royal Mating ceremony. At first, ‘Rhett is suspicious of Electra but soon they become friends. It will take all ‘Rhett’s abilities as a lawyer and a knight to save Electra and have a happily ever after.
With a hero who seemed to love playing the passive aggressive jerk and a heroine who (?unintentionally?) spent her time being a prick tease, I ended up not particularly liking either of them. Even giving ‘Rhett points for his determination not to sleep with a mated Queen and giving Electra points for wanting to help her husband via a spermcicle (no, really. You’d have to read it to believe it.), it seemed these two were happiest being miserable. Add in the myriad subplots on the part of just about everyone else in the book and it was exhausting.
For the most part, I felt a lot like Electra…lost in a new culture and misunderstanding everything around her. her world as I was in this book, “Knight’s Fork” was an effort to finish. Every time I thought I had at least gotten a glimmer of the plot of “Knight’s Fork”, either a new character or a new twist came in to blow my understanding to smithereens! And at 340 pages, that’s a long time to spend being confused. So if you have read Rowena Cherry’s previous books in this series and liked them, you will probably like this one too. It just wasn’t for me.
How do I describe “Knight’s Fork” by Rowena Cherry? This book is a conglomeration of science fiction, romance, comedy (I think), and action/suspense? To be quite frank, most of it didn’t really make sense to me. I felt like I had been dropped into the middle of a story without any cliff notes or background! I read the first book in this series but not the second and maybe that’s why I had such a hard time. In any event, I don’t think I could recommend this one as a stand-alone read.
Electra is a Djinn female, an Imperial Princess, and a barbarian Queen. She was mated to a prince of Volnoth as a living peace treaty. Now her husband is the King of Volnoth but he apparently cannot impregnate a Djinni. Since Electra cares for her husband, she is desperate to find a way to give him a male heir before he loses the throne. When she spots a Djinn with the correct colored eyes, she decides to ask him for some sperm. Havoc and mayhem ensue as Electra and her intended donor Djinn, ‘Rhett, become the targets of political maneuvering by three different royal houses!
‘Rhett is a Djinn, a Saurian Knight, and the son of the most powerful ruler of the free worlds. He’s also apparently made a vow to save his virginity for his mate. He spent a good amount of time on Earth and trained as a lawyer and LIVES for rules and order. So when Electra, a mated Queen, appears to be asking him to sleep with her, he’s far from flattered, even if she is gorgeous. By trickery and deceit on the part of I lost count of how many players, Electra is smuggled onto ‘Rhett’s ship which is on its way to Earth. By the time he finds her, it’s too late to send her back in time for her to make her Royal Mating ceremony. At first, ‘Rhett is suspicious of Electra but soon they become friends. It will take all ‘Rhett’s abilities as a lawyer and a knight to save Electra and have a happily ever after.
With a hero who seemed to love playing the passive aggressive jerk and a heroine who (?unintentionally?) spent her time being a prick tease, I ended up not particularly liking either of them. Even giving ‘Rhett points for his determination not to sleep with a mated Queen and giving Electra points for wanting to help her husband via a spermcicle (no, really. You’d have to read it to believe it.), it seemed these two were happiest being miserable. Add in the myriad subplots on the part of just about everyone else in the book and it was exhausting.
For the most part, I felt a lot like Electra…lost in a new culture and misunderstanding everything around her. her world as I was in this book, “Knight’s Fork” was an effort to finish. Every time I thought I had at least gotten a glimmer of the plot of “Knight’s Fork”, either a new character or a new twist came in to blow my understanding to smithereens! And at 340 pages, that’s a long time to spend being confused. So if you have read Rowena Cherry’s previous books in this series and liked them, you will probably like this one too. It just wasn’t for me.
November 11, 2022
This book made me laugh out loud quite a few times!
"Knights's Fork" is a futuristic Romance and part of a series of books written by Rowena Cherry. Even though this was not the first in the series it is able to stand alone and I did not feel like I was missing out by not having read the previous books.
It took me a little while to follow the very complex family tree but I eventually figured it all out. The characters are very likable and I have to say Rowena really has a great imagination. The story was exciting and very fast paced, could not put it down.
"Knights's Fork" is a futuristic Romance and part of a series of books written by Rowena Cherry. Even though this was not the first in the series it is able to stand alone and I did not feel like I was missing out by not having read the previous books.
It took me a little while to follow the very complex family tree but I eventually figured it all out. The characters are very likable and I have to say Rowena really has a great imagination. The story was exciting and very fast paced, could not put it down.
February 15, 2010
This has got to be the worst futuristic romance I have ever read. I could only stomach 3 chapters before I left this book for dead. The author is clearly delusion and needs to take basic english classes again.
July 21, 2008
Wow, I've been waiting for 'Rhett's book for some time, and Rowena Cherry has not disappointed. KNIGHT'S FORK is amazing. Spend a moment or two and learn the chess meaning of the term and you'll laugh even harder at Ms. Cherry's antics. Every character but her leads are out for their own gain. If I were 'Rhett, I too would be bashing my head on the wall in frustration. Luckily Electra is more than capable of successfully "pinch-hitting"...in more ways than one. Hilarious and spellbinding, KNIGHT'S FORK kept me hooked to the pages from the moment I opened the book.
January 8, 2016
it is a good book, a mixture of romance, futuristic, and science fiction, plus a touch of humor which brought the story to life, and made the book interesting and fun to read so you wanted to read it. I really enjoyed reading this book
June 20, 2008
Knight’s Fork, the latest in the saga of the Tiger Princes of Tigron, brings Princess Electra-Djerroldina face to face with some unpleasant realizations. Even though she is happily married, her husband is not compatible, so there can be no children unless Electra takes some drastic measures. Drawing ‘Rhett into her scheme is not prudent as she finds out when she is trapped on a ship with ‘Rhett by her brother, Tarrant Arragon, and then has her husband and ‘Rhett’s father chasing them. Each is trying to manipulate the situation to their own purposes, but as with all great plans, there are many things that can and do go awry. Rowena Cherry has again written a work that is utterly enthralling in its characters and plot. Again and again these pompous and arrogant Djinn are drawn into a world of intrigue as the Royal House of Tigron tries, sometimes successfully, to sort itself out. And of course, one in which Tarrant-Arragon can’t seem to stay out of much to his wife’s chagrin.
Again Rowena Cherry brings us into the turbulent lives of the divided Royal House of Tigron, but there is mischief afoot there. When ‘Rhett leaves Madam Tara’s on Eurydyce, things will never be the same again, thanks to his cousin, Tarrant-Arragon. Electra-Djerroldina, conception depends on secrecy, and the ability for them to remain discrete in her plans and desires. Now with her brother’s interference, will she succeed? The better question will be will she and ‘Rhett survive the machinations of her brother and ‘Rhett’s father. Rowena Cherry struck another excellent note with Djetth and Martia’s story, and now in Knight’s Fork, she does the same thing with ‘Rhett and Electra. There were questions left unanswered again in Insufficient Mating Material, and Rowena has skillfully answered some of then for us, and then turns around and leaves us with a whole new set to ponder. I loved this book. I never laughed so hard in my life at the antics of Tarrant-Arragon and Djarrhett in this book, Knight's Fork. Poor 'Rhett is in a terrible position thanks to Tarrant-Arragon, and it is made even worst by his father's attempts to benefit and manipulate the matter to his own ends. Add to that, misunderstandings and meddlesome women, and Rowena Cherry gives us yet another fantastic read! This is so good, and I know Knight’s Fork is a book you will not want to miss either. This is so good, I have had to read it a third time!
Yours in great reading,
~Rose!~
Again Rowena Cherry brings us into the turbulent lives of the divided Royal House of Tigron, but there is mischief afoot there. When ‘Rhett leaves Madam Tara’s on Eurydyce, things will never be the same again, thanks to his cousin, Tarrant-Arragon. Electra-Djerroldina, conception depends on secrecy, and the ability for them to remain discrete in her plans and desires. Now with her brother’s interference, will she succeed? The better question will be will she and ‘Rhett survive the machinations of her brother and ‘Rhett’s father. Rowena Cherry struck another excellent note with Djetth and Martia’s story, and now in Knight’s Fork, she does the same thing with ‘Rhett and Electra. There were questions left unanswered again in Insufficient Mating Material, and Rowena has skillfully answered some of then for us, and then turns around and leaves us with a whole new set to ponder. I loved this book. I never laughed so hard in my life at the antics of Tarrant-Arragon and Djarrhett in this book, Knight's Fork. Poor 'Rhett is in a terrible position thanks to Tarrant-Arragon, and it is made even worst by his father's attempts to benefit and manipulate the matter to his own ends. Add to that, misunderstandings and meddlesome women, and Rowena Cherry gives us yet another fantastic read! This is so good, and I know Knight’s Fork is a book you will not want to miss either. This is so good, I have had to read it a third time!
Yours in great reading,
~Rose!~
December 27, 2008
In "Forced Mate" and "Insufficient Mating Material", the character that most interested me was Djrhett, the brother of Djinni Vera. Unlike his fellow djinn, this guy is not ruled by his hormones. He's not susceptible to rut-rage. That makes him a much more believable character. In this book, he is paired unwillingly with Tarrant-Aragon's sister, Electra. She was a marvelously complex character who goes through a lot of changes in the course of the story.
Ah, heck, I can't really review this book. Face it, this is mindless entertainment. We all need mindless entertainment sometimes. It's the kind of book that my daughter calls "literary crack". It has absolutely no redeeming values, but you keep coming back for more anyway. It's the kind of book that you keep face down on the nightstand and hope that no one asks what you're reading because it's embarrassing to admit that you're caught up in it. It gets five stars for fun factor, but my conscience will only allow me to give it 3 stars overall.
Ah, heck, I can't really review this book. Face it, this is mindless entertainment. We all need mindless entertainment sometimes. It's the kind of book that my daughter calls "literary crack". It has absolutely no redeeming values, but you keep coming back for more anyway. It's the kind of book that you keep face down on the nightstand and hope that no one asks what you're reading because it's embarrassing to admit that you're caught up in it. It gets five stars for fun factor, but my conscience will only allow me to give it 3 stars overall.
October 16, 2008
KNIGHT'S FORK - A FEAST FOR THE SENSES
Rowena Cherry has delivered yet another wonderful story. Her prose is delicious, giving you a visual of every scene just as though you were there. With all senses engaged, the reader finds he or she cannot stop turning pages.
Electra-Djerroldina is delectable, but she's married. Will Djarrhett, the Saurian Knight and presumed heir to the Dragon's throne, realize he loves her in time to save them both from the mechanisms of his father and his cousin, Tarrant-Arragon?
I have thoroughly enjoyed this series so far, and hope Ms. Cherry has more books planned for it. In the tradition of Forced Mate and Insufficient Mating Material, Knight's Fork has the flavor and essence of well-turned phraseology, intriguing plot and vibrant characters. I consider this a must read!
Diane Davis White
Author, Moon of the Falling Leaves
Rowena Cherry has delivered yet another wonderful story. Her prose is delicious, giving you a visual of every scene just as though you were there. With all senses engaged, the reader finds he or she cannot stop turning pages.
Electra-Djerroldina is delectable, but she's married. Will Djarrhett, the Saurian Knight and presumed heir to the Dragon's throne, realize he loves her in time to save them both from the mechanisms of his father and his cousin, Tarrant-Arragon?
I have thoroughly enjoyed this series so far, and hope Ms. Cherry has more books planned for it. In the tradition of Forced Mate and Insufficient Mating Material, Knight's Fork has the flavor and essence of well-turned phraseology, intriguing plot and vibrant characters. I consider this a must read!
Diane Davis White
Author, Moon of the Falling Leaves
December 14, 2008
Rowena’s Cherry’s writing is magical. I just started this but I absolutely love it so far. The characters are u unbelievable. It’s so original and creative. It’s a really good and fun read. Highly recommended.
June 17, 2010
Not much plot to this one and the names of the characters are just too long!!!
August 23, 2008
big two thumbs up on this one!
August 20, 2008
One of the hardest things for a writer to do is develop a “voice”. It’s that unique narrative you ’hear’ when you read an author, very similar to a fingerprint, marking that author has developed their own style. Rowena Cherry has that in spades, and it’s spiced with a very special brand of humor, which sets her apart. She creates a strong world for her series (Mating Net, Forced Mate, and Insufficient Mating Material) for Dorchester’s Love Spell. While you will enjoy reading Knight’s Fork alone, I highly recommend you get all the stories and read them in order, to get the full enjoyment out of Cherry world-building Sci-Fi /Futuristic romances, whose titles are based on Chess moves.
Electra, The Queen Consort of Volnoth, is in need of a baby, an heir to the throne. Her choice is a green-eyed knight, who seems perfect for the ‘job’. Only, she isn’t aware that Rhett, the Royal Surian Djinn, is also the son of her greatest enemy. Ah, conflict abounds! Our sexy Saurian lord is in between a rock and a hard place - caught in the middle of Electra’s urgent claim upon his body and a father who is just barely higher than pond scum.
I won’t go into why Electra needs a ‘donor’ to create an heir, since it’s rather vital to the plot, but will say Cherry pens her third novel with the same flair and intelligent writing that has earned her a strong following. She is not an author to ‘skim’ read, but to savor her savvy turn of a phrase and intricate plotting. Cherry is also very attentive to details, showing she thoroughly researches her books. I highly recommend Knight’s Fork for the reader looking for a book that is fresh, original and provokes a good laugh.
Electra, The Queen Consort of Volnoth, is in need of a baby, an heir to the throne. Her choice is a green-eyed knight, who seems perfect for the ‘job’. Only, she isn’t aware that Rhett, the Royal Surian Djinn, is also the son of her greatest enemy. Ah, conflict abounds! Our sexy Saurian lord is in between a rock and a hard place - caught in the middle of Electra’s urgent claim upon his body and a father who is just barely higher than pond scum.
I won’t go into why Electra needs a ‘donor’ to create an heir, since it’s rather vital to the plot, but will say Cherry pens her third novel with the same flair and intelligent writing that has earned her a strong following. She is not an author to ‘skim’ read, but to savor her savvy turn of a phrase and intricate plotting. Cherry is also very attentive to details, showing she thoroughly researches her books. I highly recommend Knight’s Fork for the reader looking for a book that is fresh, original and provokes a good laugh.
January 3, 2009
‘Rhett is sworn to chastity. Electra needs his sperm. His father, who is still a righteous arrogant bastard with absolutely no problem playing God, sets Rhett and Electra up. One issue here is that Electra is married...
For the entire review please go to the Best Paranormal & Urban Fantasy Review site on the web, Bitten By Books for the review of Knight's Fork in it's entirety. You won't be sorry.
For the entire review please go to the Best Paranormal & Urban Fantasy Review site on the web, Bitten By Books for the review of Knight's Fork in it's entirety. You won't be sorry.
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October 26, 2008I just had a really hard time with this one. Wash just hard for me to read and for me to follow the story line
February 6, 2009
Let me say right away that I am not the right audience for this book. Admittedly, I requested it when the friendly author, Rowena Cherry, wrote here on GoodReads that Reviewer Copies were available; I thought it sounded interesting and I'd like to see what this was all about.
I didn't know well enough what it was I going into.
If I should boil down into one, single concept what this book is, it would be "the Most Bizarre Chic-lit." And, believe it or not, that's a compliment--weird as it sounds;-)
In this novel you will find a mix of romance (with heavy sexual notes), soap sci-fi, fantasy, comedy/satire, and action; all blended into a multi-colored hybrid plot with way too many elements stumbling on each other to get into play for me to follow.
The author obviously knows that it's a huge cast, so she has generously and necessarily provided the reader with a Family Tree/cast of characters list. On one hand that's good--it's a must in this book; on the other it's also illustrates what to me is a fundamental problem: For me to be able to follow the many characters in play (and get an idea of the various sub-plots), I had to constantly check that list. In the process, the essential enjoyment of just reading the story was spoiled for me.
I won't go into details about the plot (I am not sure I understood all of it anyway) besides saying that it's essentially about a Space Princess (called a "Queen Consort" in this story) who is in dire need of a sperm donor--and has her eyes set on a Djinn named 'Rhett who, for a variety of reasons, she cannot have. And then the merry chase goes on for almost 270 pages.
While the story as such didn't really work for me personally, on a more intellectual level I can still appreciate what the author is doing. A mechanism behind everything seems to be the chess concept 'knight's fork.' It's clear that Cherry has a sharp mind with a specific idea behind everything that goes on; so while the plot as such is, unflinchingly, meant solely for light entertainment, she still manages impressively to have mechanisms working behind it all that are more than that.
Likewise--I may not have been able to grasp all that was going on, but I had the distinct impression that there is something specific going on, and that the author herself keeps every chess piece (yes, pun intended) in tight rein for the overall storyline to work as she wants it to. Any good author must be able to do that, one way or the other, and Cherry does so perfectly, in her own way.
Last, but not least, I must warn any potential first reader that this is obviously part of a bigger picture, so I urge you to read the first books in the series. Hopefully that will help you not to get as lost as I was;-)
Because of the positive things I did find, on a more intellectual level, in the book I rate this 4 stars. And I wish the author continual luck with the rest of the series. It is not something for me, but it still has its qualities.
(This is #137 out of 200 ARC. Received from the author through GoodReads.)
I didn't know well enough what it was I going into.
If I should boil down into one, single concept what this book is, it would be "the Most Bizarre Chic-lit." And, believe it or not, that's a compliment--weird as it sounds;-)
In this novel you will find a mix of romance (with heavy sexual notes), soap sci-fi, fantasy, comedy/satire, and action; all blended into a multi-colored hybrid plot with way too many elements stumbling on each other to get into play for me to follow.
The author obviously knows that it's a huge cast, so she has generously and necessarily provided the reader with a Family Tree/cast of characters list. On one hand that's good--it's a must in this book; on the other it's also illustrates what to me is a fundamental problem: For me to be able to follow the many characters in play (and get an idea of the various sub-plots), I had to constantly check that list. In the process, the essential enjoyment of just reading the story was spoiled for me.
I won't go into details about the plot (I am not sure I understood all of it anyway) besides saying that it's essentially about a Space Princess (called a "Queen Consort" in this story) who is in dire need of a sperm donor--and has her eyes set on a Djinn named 'Rhett who, for a variety of reasons, she cannot have. And then the merry chase goes on for almost 270 pages.
While the story as such didn't really work for me personally, on a more intellectual level I can still appreciate what the author is doing. A mechanism behind everything seems to be the chess concept 'knight's fork.' It's clear that Cherry has a sharp mind with a specific idea behind everything that goes on; so while the plot as such is, unflinchingly, meant solely for light entertainment, she still manages impressively to have mechanisms working behind it all that are more than that.
Likewise--I may not have been able to grasp all that was going on, but I had the distinct impression that there is something specific going on, and that the author herself keeps every chess piece (yes, pun intended) in tight rein for the overall storyline to work as she wants it to. Any good author must be able to do that, one way or the other, and Cherry does so perfectly, in her own way.
Last, but not least, I must warn any potential first reader that this is obviously part of a bigger picture, so I urge you to read the first books in the series. Hopefully that will help you not to get as lost as I was;-)
Because of the positive things I did find, on a more intellectual level, in the book I rate this 4 stars. And I wish the author continual luck with the rest of the series. It is not something for me, but it still has its qualities.
(This is #137 out of 200 ARC. Received from the author through GoodReads.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2011
"Caught between a rock and a hard place." Or, in the case of Saurian Knight 'Rhett, caught between one desperate Queen and two ambitious Kings...and a whole host of support personnel, living "pawns" on a allegorial chessboard and sent against one lone Knight. Sure, 'Rhett can jump into action, but all directions available to him are less than friendly. A bit like leaping from the frying pan into the fire, but 'Rhett is no ordinary knight. He's a great Djinn. As is the Queen, who is offering not destruction but an allience. Ok, a very casual alliance, and only long enough for 'Rhett to "deliver" his super-impregnanting sperm. Oh, and the child would be raised as another king's son. On second thought, could that rationally be called an alliance?
Once again, join Rowena Cherry as she delivers a story of high tension, political machinations, and courtly skullduggery. Packed throughout KNIGHT'S FORK are the usual suspects in a Rowena Cherry story, Tarrant-Arragon, Djinni-Vera, J.J., Grandmama Hel, you name them and they're there, causing their usual mischief. Poor 'Rhett barely has a chance to catch his breath as he dances desperately from one disaster to another, each caused by a well-meaning and politically ambitions relative. It's a good thing 'Rhett was raised on Earth, for learning how to tap dance must have been helpful, since Electra and Grevious--marooned wtih him back on Earth--also kept him on his toes.
Laughter and hijinks are woven deliciously throughout KNIGHT'S FORK as only Rowena Cherry can do. I had every confidence in 'Rhett, even though I winced in sympathy on more than one occassion. I rooted for Electra to be successful in her highly questionable quest. Who wouldn't want a God-Djinn as hot as 'Rhett in her bed? But as fabulous as the primary characters were, and the hilarious Grevious was as entertaining as always, one character stood out of the crowd: King Viz-Igerd.
Although viewed by the Great Djinn as a slow-witted pawn to be pushed around for their own gain, in the end he "stood up" and did a very decent thing, showing a depth of character he'd kept hidden. He very clearly loved Electra and he wasn't much happy at being played for a fool. He was, in his own way, heroic.
Rowena Cherry has a way of creating characters that stand out. Her galaxies are filled to the brim with people who hurt, stumble, and hope for better things. I love the stories, KNIGHT'S FORK included. Fans of political machinations and dry english humor should read them all! You won't be disappointed. Well done, Rowena!
Five Mystique Moons. (Outstanding)
Class Two sensuality. (Limited)
Once again, join Rowena Cherry as she delivers a story of high tension, political machinations, and courtly skullduggery. Packed throughout KNIGHT'S FORK are the usual suspects in a Rowena Cherry story, Tarrant-Arragon, Djinni-Vera, J.J., Grandmama Hel, you name them and they're there, causing their usual mischief. Poor 'Rhett barely has a chance to catch his breath as he dances desperately from one disaster to another, each caused by a well-meaning and politically ambitions relative. It's a good thing 'Rhett was raised on Earth, for learning how to tap dance must have been helpful, since Electra and Grevious--marooned wtih him back on Earth--also kept him on his toes.
Laughter and hijinks are woven deliciously throughout KNIGHT'S FORK as only Rowena Cherry can do. I had every confidence in 'Rhett, even though I winced in sympathy on more than one occassion. I rooted for Electra to be successful in her highly questionable quest. Who wouldn't want a God-Djinn as hot as 'Rhett in her bed? But as fabulous as the primary characters were, and the hilarious Grevious was as entertaining as always, one character stood out of the crowd: King Viz-Igerd.
Although viewed by the Great Djinn as a slow-witted pawn to be pushed around for their own gain, in the end he "stood up" and did a very decent thing, showing a depth of character he'd kept hidden. He very clearly loved Electra and he wasn't much happy at being played for a fool. He was, in his own way, heroic.
Rowena Cherry has a way of creating characters that stand out. Her galaxies are filled to the brim with people who hurt, stumble, and hope for better things. I love the stories, KNIGHT'S FORK included. Fans of political machinations and dry english humor should read them all! You won't be disappointed. Well done, Rowena!
Five Mystique Moons. (Outstanding)
Class Two sensuality. (Limited)
November 24, 2011
This is a romance book with a tiny hint of SF/Fantasy. The SF/Fantasy part feels almost contrived at times. Weird terms invented to make it seem like an alien culture. Ok, that makes sense. But then there is this reversal where Earth references, very specific Earth references, are used without any care to the fact that this is supposed to be an alien culture. Very inconsistent.
Add to that, the vibe I get is this is a trashy romance. On the other hand, there are all sorts of literary references to Shakespeare and ancient Greek myths. Again, inconsistent. This isn't a literary novel. There is also a great deal about chess and tarot, neither of which are something I'm knowledgeable about or interested in.
All and all, it feels forced in lots of places. I read the author's page here at GoodReads and she claims they are supposed to be parody. Well, that didn't come across in reading the books. And, this is the third book in the series, so I've given her style a chance.
Basically, it's not for me. Still a three stars in my opinion, but I tend to be overly generous in granting three stars. Falls in the "it was ok" range. Light and mostly readable, but awkward in lots of ways (mentioned above).
Add to that, the vibe I get is this is a trashy romance. On the other hand, there are all sorts of literary references to Shakespeare and ancient Greek myths. Again, inconsistent. This isn't a literary novel. There is also a great deal about chess and tarot, neither of which are something I'm knowledgeable about or interested in.
All and all, it feels forced in lots of places. I read the author's page here at GoodReads and she claims they are supposed to be parody. Well, that didn't come across in reading the books. And, this is the third book in the series, so I've given her style a chance.
Basically, it's not for me. Still a three stars in my opinion, but I tend to be overly generous in granting three stars. Falls in the "it was ok" range. Light and mostly readable, but awkward in lots of ways (mentioned above).
February 19, 2013
This was almost a DNF. I had trouble keeping the characters in order because of the weird names. What was with the silent D in front of all of the names? And I did not have the feelings for any of the characters that I was supposed to have. It was just blah. I will not be reading anything else by this author.
June 10, 2010
This book is a marked improvement over Rowena Cherry's previous novel. The information feed is awkward still, but I think she's learning.
Jacqueline Lichtenberg
http://www.simegen.com/jl/
Jacqueline Lichtenberg
http://www.simegen.com/jl/
March 22, 2011
Not really my cup of tea.
April 3, 2009
Enjoyable!
September 1, 2014
This one is so Wonderful..I love reading it.
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