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The Saga of Willow North #2
Guardian of the Crown
When Serjian Kerish showed up on her doorstep with the heir to the Crown of Tremontane in tow, Willow North thought her involvement would begin and end with getting him out of the capital and away from his murderous uncle. But bringing the boy-king Felix to the safety of Eskandel was only the beginning of the journey.Now, as the King's guardian, she must navigate the murky waters of Eskandelic politics, trying to build support that will allow him to take back his kingdom. Amid the challenges of assassination attempts, cultural misunderstandings, and her growing attraction to her former fiancé Kerish, Willow must discover who she really a sneak thief, or the guardian of the Crown.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 14, 2017
46 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Melissa McShane
94 books861 followersMelissa grew up a nomad, following her family all over the United States, and ended up living in the shadow of the Wasatch Mountains with her husband, four kids, and three very needy cats. Her love of reading was always a constant during those uncertain years, and her love of writing grew out of that. She wrote reviews and critical essays for many years before turning to fiction, and was surprised at how much she liked it. She loves the fantasy genre and how it stretches the imagination.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
March 27, 2018
3.25 stars for this second book in this romantic fantasy series. Final review first posted on Fantasy Literature:
Guardian of the Crown, the second book in Melissa McShane’s SAGA OF WILLOW NORTH fantasy trilogy, picks up where the first book, Pretender to the Crown, left off. (It’s necessary to read that book first, and this review will contain some unavoidable spoilers for Pretender.) Willow North has left her homeland of Tremontane in company with her ex-fiancé, Kerish, and the rightful king of Tremontane, Felix Valent. Felix, who is only eight years old, is an orphan after his father was murdered by his brother Terence, who usurped the throne. Now Willow and Felix are in a neighboring land, Kerish’s home country of Eskandel, living with Kerish’s noble family and trying to leverage their political clout to help Felix pursue his rightful claim to the throne of Tremontane.
This middle entry in the series primarily focuses on the political maneuvering by Willow and by Kerish’s female relatives. The upper levels of Eskandel society are dominated by a harem system, where multiple wives are married to a single husband. The twist is that it is the strong-willed wives who clearly wield almost all of the power in their country; the men are not entirely figureheads, but close. Willow finds that she needs to develop her powers of persuasion to make the case for Eskandel to support Felix’s claim to Tremontane’s throne.
The storyline is spiced up with a romance subplot (will Willow and Kerish be able to overcome the deep differences that have divided them for years?), assassination plots ― it appears that Terence is more than a little worried about having Felix disrupt his new rule ― and a little freelance burglary. Willow finds that her long-honed skills as a thief, enhanced by her magical ability to see metal even in total darkness or on the other side of walls, still have some use in her new life as a more or less law-abiding person who wields political power.
Guardian of the Crown tries, but doesn’t entirely avoid middle book syndrome. It’s slower-paced than Pretender to the Crown and bogs down a bit with the complex political machinations. I had a fair amount of trouble keeping the various Eskandelic power players and their families and affiliations straight. McShane does provide a list of characters at the beginning of the novel, and even helpfully divides the harems in that list into those aligned with Kerish’s family, the Serjian Principality; those who are opposed; and those who are, at least initially, neutral. But the reader still needs to keep mental track of these various factions and the individuals who wield power in each harem, and the unusual Eskandelic names make the task more difficult. The burglary and other non-political episodes were a distinct breath of fresh air.
McShane also takes on a bit of tricky writing in navigating Willow’s time in Eskandel, because she doesn’t even speak their language. This necessitates the Eskandelic characters communicating with Willow in her language, typically in somewhat broken speech. Most Eskandelics put the verb at the end of the sentence, which added to the sense of reality but did get a little tiresome reading after a while.
Guardian of the Crown does move the overall story in this series forward in a couple of key ways. I did had some hefty doubts about one of those key plot developments, close to the end of the book. Still, it certainly was a game-changer, and it left me anxiously looking forward to reading Champion of the Crown, the third book in this trilogy.
I received a free copy of this ebook from the author for review. Many thanks!!
Guardian of the Crown, the second book in Melissa McShane’s SAGA OF WILLOW NORTH fantasy trilogy, picks up where the first book, Pretender to the Crown, left off. (It’s necessary to read that book first, and this review will contain some unavoidable spoilers for Pretender.) Willow North has left her homeland of Tremontane in company with her ex-fiancé, Kerish, and the rightful king of Tremontane, Felix Valent. Felix, who is only eight years old, is an orphan after his father was murdered by his brother Terence, who usurped the throne. Now Willow and Felix are in a neighboring land, Kerish’s home country of Eskandel, living with Kerish’s noble family and trying to leverage their political clout to help Felix pursue his rightful claim to the throne of Tremontane.
This middle entry in the series primarily focuses on the political maneuvering by Willow and by Kerish’s female relatives. The upper levels of Eskandel society are dominated by a harem system, where multiple wives are married to a single husband. The twist is that it is the strong-willed wives who clearly wield almost all of the power in their country; the men are not entirely figureheads, but close. Willow finds that she needs to develop her powers of persuasion to make the case for Eskandel to support Felix’s claim to Tremontane’s throne.
The storyline is spiced up with a romance subplot (will Willow and Kerish be able to overcome the deep differences that have divided them for years?), assassination plots ― it appears that Terence is more than a little worried about having Felix disrupt his new rule ― and a little freelance burglary. Willow finds that her long-honed skills as a thief, enhanced by her magical ability to see metal even in total darkness or on the other side of walls, still have some use in her new life as a more or less law-abiding person who wields political power.
Guardian of the Crown tries, but doesn’t entirely avoid middle book syndrome. It’s slower-paced than Pretender to the Crown and bogs down a bit with the complex political machinations. I had a fair amount of trouble keeping the various Eskandelic power players and their families and affiliations straight. McShane does provide a list of characters at the beginning of the novel, and even helpfully divides the harems in that list into those aligned with Kerish’s family, the Serjian Principality; those who are opposed; and those who are, at least initially, neutral. But the reader still needs to keep mental track of these various factions and the individuals who wield power in each harem, and the unusual Eskandelic names make the task more difficult. The burglary and other non-political episodes were a distinct breath of fresh air.
McShane also takes on a bit of tricky writing in navigating Willow’s time in Eskandel, because she doesn’t even speak their language. This necessitates the Eskandelic characters communicating with Willow in her language, typically in somewhat broken speech. Most Eskandelics put the verb at the end of the sentence, which added to the sense of reality but did get a little tiresome reading after a while.
Guardian of the Crown does move the overall story in this series forward in a couple of key ways. I did had some hefty doubts about one of those key plot developments, close to the end of the book. Still, it certainly was a game-changer, and it left me anxiously looking forward to reading Champion of the Crown, the third book in this trilogy.
I received a free copy of this ebook from the author for review. Many thanks!!
November 21, 2017
This is second in a trilogy and you definitely want to read them in order. This one picks up pretty much right where the previous left off, so even better if you have them lined up, ready to go.
So my not-yet standard disclaimer applies (as it does for all of Melissa's books). I am unusually close to the author (having married her some years back) so I make no claims of objectivity. As with any review, I strive for an honest representation of my experience and this will be no different.
There's not a ton to say about this one. If you've read the first (which you definitely should) then you know the characters and setting. This story is set entirely in Eskandel and features Willow's struggle to give Felix enough backing to save Tremontane from the tyrant who tried to kill him. There's political intrigue and family drama and my very favorite part is seeing the inter-personal dynamic where Willow, Kerish and Felix develop into a strong and supportive unity that can hope to take on the challenges facing them (and fitting that into the broader Serjian dynastic umbrella). Willow's heartstrings get a real workout as she works to protect Felix and give him a strong foundation to build his eventual life on. The linchpin of this story (and whether it all comes together or not) depends on the characterization of Felix and he captures my heart every time he's on the page.
I'd really like to see how this story plays out for someone who hasn't experienced the other Tremontane books first. I'll spoiler tag this, but only to preserve the chance of that ever happening. So I wonder how well the story tension is maintained for those who don't know that little bit of the future.
This is the middle of the trilogy and while the conclusion is satisfying and there aren't any cliffhangery things lurking, it's highly likely you'll want the rest of the story at the conclusion of this one. We don't have long to wait, a few months really, but it won't hurt having the next lined up if you want to delay the gratification of this one for a while. Personally, I wish it weren't so long a wait because I'm not reading the next (okay, rereading) until it's published... :)
So my not-yet standard disclaimer applies (as it does for all of Melissa's books). I am unusually close to the author (having married her some years back) so I make no claims of objectivity. As with any review, I strive for an honest representation of my experience and this will be no different.
There's not a ton to say about this one. If you've read the first (which you definitely should) then you know the characters and setting. This story is set entirely in Eskandel and features Willow's struggle to give Felix enough backing to save Tremontane from the tyrant who tried to kill him. There's political intrigue and family drama and my very favorite part is seeing the inter-personal dynamic where Willow, Kerish and Felix develop into a strong and supportive unity that can hope to take on the challenges facing them (and fitting that into the broader Serjian dynastic umbrella). Willow's heartstrings get a real workout as she works to protect Felix and give him a strong foundation to build his eventual life on. The linchpin of this story (and whether it all comes together or not) depends on the characterization of Felix and he captures my heart every time he's on the page.
I'd really like to see how this story plays out for someone who hasn't experienced the other Tremontane books first. I'll spoiler tag this, but only to preserve the chance of that ever happening. So I wonder how well the story tension is maintained for those who don't know that little bit of the future.
This is the middle of the trilogy and while the conclusion is satisfying and there aren't any cliffhangery things lurking, it's highly likely you'll want the rest of the story at the conclusion of this one. We don't have long to wait, a few months really, but it won't hurt having the next lined up if you want to delay the gratification of this one for a while. Personally, I wish it weren't so long a wait because I'm not reading the next (okay, rereading) until it's published... :)
Read
November 28, 2017For fans of the Tremontane series by Melissa McShane (differentiated from the TremontaIne series by Ellen Kushner, a fantasy series with a very different feel, that I am also reading) this second entry in the story of Willow North takes place not in Tremontane at all, but in neighboring Eskander, as Willow works to gain allies for eight-year-old Felix, displaced king.
I found this second book difficult to get into at first, as we have a lot of similar-sounding names, and a distracting dialect that wasn't always consistent. But slowly I got drawn into the story as the reader, along with Willow, has not only to learn Eskander language and custom, but also to act as parent to a severely traumatized little boy.
On top of that, she's got her own emotional issues to deal with. Since we know this is the biography of someone who goes from thief to queen, what happens inside Willow carries a great deal of importance, though of course no one knows it yet. There are three major issues: first, her relationship with Kerish, with whom she'd once had a romance, then broke it off, and now is struggling with trust as well as the 'weakness' of caring for another. This comes first because, in spite of a long silence, Kerish comes to her with the little king after a nasty palace coup, thoroughly disrupting Willow's life and drawing her into deep waters she never thought to navigate.
I liked the way McShane dealt with this relationship in spite of , but I found that aspect believable because of Willow's own mindset: thief, with severe trust issues, and no experience in communication.
So here she is, having to learn to deal with people, negotiate with people, trust people. It doesn't come all at once--instead of thinking strategically, she approaches problems as a thief would: anything that needs solving can be done in the deal of night, with a trusty lock pick.
This is, of course, not exactly state thinking. So I'm really curious about the next book in that regard! Meanwhile there are plenty of exciting action scenes in which she gets to demonstrate her mad skills.
The third issue is Willow's relationship with Felix. I loved Felix, and found his emotional range totally convincing. Watching singleton Willow turn into mama-bear was a pleasure to read. I did have trouble with one layer of this relationship but overall I think the end positions us squarely for the next act in the story's arc.
I'm really looking forward to seeing Willow's further changes, and getting back to Tremontane.
Copy provided by author.
I found this second book difficult to get into at first, as we have a lot of similar-sounding names, and a distracting dialect that wasn't always consistent. But slowly I got drawn into the story as the reader, along with Willow, has not only to learn Eskander language and custom, but also to act as parent to a severely traumatized little boy.
On top of that, she's got her own emotional issues to deal with. Since we know this is the biography of someone who goes from thief to queen, what happens inside Willow carries a great deal of importance, though of course no one knows it yet. There are three major issues: first, her relationship with Kerish, with whom she'd once had a romance, then broke it off, and now is struggling with trust as well as the 'weakness' of caring for another. This comes first because, in spite of a long silence, Kerish comes to her with the little king after a nasty palace coup, thoroughly disrupting Willow's life and drawing her into deep waters she never thought to navigate.
I liked the way McShane dealt with this relationship in spite of , but I found that aspect believable because of Willow's own mindset: thief, with severe trust issues, and no experience in communication.
So here she is, having to learn to deal with people, negotiate with people, trust people. It doesn't come all at once--instead of thinking strategically, she approaches problems as a thief would: anything that needs solving can be done in the deal of night, with a trusty lock pick.
This is, of course, not exactly state thinking. So I'm really curious about the next book in that regard! Meanwhile there are plenty of exciting action scenes in which she gets to demonstrate her mad skills.
The third issue is Willow's relationship with Felix. I loved Felix, and found his emotional range totally convincing. Watching singleton Willow turn into mama-bear was a pleasure to read. I did have trouble with one layer of this relationship but overall I think the end positions us squarely for the next act in the story's arc.
I'm really looking forward to seeing Willow's further changes, and getting back to Tremontane.
Copy provided by author.
Read
November 8, 2022Re-read 10/20/22, right after finishing a re-read of Pretender to the Crown, still on the plane and (as I recall) desperate for distraction. The flight was 17 hours long and I barely had room to stretch.
Read Sept. 17, 2017: I think I succeeded, here, in writing a middle volume to a trilogy that doesn't drag or get boring. At least, I find it satisfactory. Willow's journey takes a couple of semi-expected turns: I think she continues to grow toward the person she will ultimately be, and I like her journey.
This book languished at about 30,000 words for a very long time as I fought with myself over the need to write a political story, and the feeling that it was rather dull because Willow is peripheral to the political machinations of the Eskandelic harems. Giving her something to do turned out to be key to making it interesting and keeping her at the center of the action. It made sense that Terence Valant would want Felix dead and that he'd be willing to hire assassins to make that happen, and Willow is far better suited to hunting down an assassin than to making speeches--though she does that, too. Just as important as keeping her at the center of the action was showing .
There are a lot of characters in this one, necessitating the list at the front of the book. I hope they were sufficiently distinguished from each other. Eskandel's political system meant I nearly exhausted my pre-generated list of female character names. I liked the idea of a government full of strong-willed women pretending it was the men who did all the important stuff.
For those keeping track, Serjian is the family Imogen meets in Rider of the Crown, the not-very-bright Prince who is the ambassador to Tremontane, and Takjashi is the harem in Servant of the Crown Anthony has to squire around the palace. Takjashi will make another appearance in Zara's book, Voyager of the Crown.
Read Sept. 17, 2017: I think I succeeded, here, in writing a middle volume to a trilogy that doesn't drag or get boring. At least, I find it satisfactory. Willow's journey takes a couple of semi-expected turns: I think she continues to grow toward the person she will ultimately be, and I like her journey.
This book languished at about 30,000 words for a very long time as I fought with myself over the need to write a political story, and the feeling that it was rather dull because Willow is peripheral to the political machinations of the Eskandelic harems. Giving her something to do turned out to be key to making it interesting and keeping her at the center of the action. It made sense that Terence Valant would want Felix dead and that he'd be willing to hire assassins to make that happen, and Willow is far better suited to hunting down an assassin than to making speeches--though she does that, too. Just as important as keeping her at the center of the action was showing .
There are a lot of characters in this one, necessitating the list at the front of the book. I hope they were sufficiently distinguished from each other. Eskandel's political system meant I nearly exhausted my pre-generated list of female character names. I liked the idea of a government full of strong-willed women pretending it was the men who did all the important stuff.
For those keeping track, Serjian is the family Imogen meets in Rider of the Crown, the not-very-bright Prince who is the ambassador to Tremontane, and Takjashi is the harem in Servant of the Crown Anthony has to squire around the palace. Takjashi will make another appearance in Zara's book, Voyager of the Crown.
September 4, 2019
I got an ARC of this story from the author in exchange for an honest review :) what a fantastic sequel :) it picks up right where we left off at the end of the first novel, and continue on the amazing story that is this fantasy series :) since this is the second book, and all three novels, because it will be a trilogy, follow around the same character, it is necessary to read all of them in order, I will have a spoiler free paragraph about the series in general, and then I will share my thoughts and feelings about this second installment, which will include some spoilers about that first part :) now that we have this explanation out of the way, let me jump into telling you a bit about our main character and the world in general :)
The saga of Willow North follow around our main character... yep, you think correctly, Willow :) at the beginning of that first story we meet her during one of her heists... because what I forgot to mention, is that she's a thief :) so one of her heists goes a little bit differently that she planned, and... well... she meets a guy ;) I am not gonna say anything else about their first encounter, but it was a fantastic scene :) they start a relationship after that and then BAM! we skip ahead a few years :) I was like *whaaaaaa????* when that happened ;) Willow and Kerish are no longer together and we have no idea what happened during the time jump... but you have no time to worry about that, because Kerish appears in Willow's home with the boy king with him... after an assasination attempt and a whole other drama and events, they have to run... and after that the best part of the story starts :) the whole series is set in the fantasy world, with magic and other... interesting abilities, including the one Willow has :) but I will leave that little gem to discover for you when you read the story :) we travel to different places and see different cultures but that is basically everything I can tell you guys without some major spoilers :) all you need to know is that these books are amazing and if you haven't already, definitely give them a try :)
Ok, now we are gonna get into my actual review of the second novel, which will definitely include spoilers about the first installment, so all of you who are not caught up, avert your eyes ;) like I mentioned before, there is no time jump between the books, so go back straight into action :) Willow is working with Kerish and his family to gather support of Eskandel for Felix and his rightful claim for the throne of Tremontane :) this story is filled with politics and intrigue and intricate relationships between different families in that country... and I absolutely adored it :) which is surprising, because I am not always the biggest fan of that particular plot in books :) but it was done really well here :) the shifts of power, how every conversation had many meanings... *sighs happily* it was very interesting to read :) not to mention that this particular installment was filled with strong women :) Willow is a phenomenal character... strong, but at the same time flawed, because she's human, and people make mistakes sometime... but I could understood her every action and why she made certain decisions along the way... but there were so many complex characters in this story besides her :) not to mention that this author in general writes adults who act like adults... which means they actually talk to one another and try to understand each others motivations, even though they may not agree with everything :) and that is not as common as one would want in stories :) I had so much fun reading this book... it was once again filled with adventures and surprising twists... and definitely a bit of romance :) with phenomenally entertaining writing style the chapters just flew by :) I already cannot wait to get my hands on the conclusion to the series because the ending... my oh my... the ending to this story will leave you wanting more ASAP :) so if you haven't checked it out, definitely do it now :)
XOXO
A
The saga of Willow North follow around our main character... yep, you think correctly, Willow :) at the beginning of that first story we meet her during one of her heists... because what I forgot to mention, is that she's a thief :) so one of her heists goes a little bit differently that she planned, and... well... she meets a guy ;) I am not gonna say anything else about their first encounter, but it was a fantastic scene :) they start a relationship after that and then BAM! we skip ahead a few years :) I was like *whaaaaaa????* when that happened ;) Willow and Kerish are no longer together and we have no idea what happened during the time jump... but you have no time to worry about that, because Kerish appears in Willow's home with the boy king with him... after an assasination attempt and a whole other drama and events, they have to run... and after that the best part of the story starts :) the whole series is set in the fantasy world, with magic and other... interesting abilities, including the one Willow has :) but I will leave that little gem to discover for you when you read the story :) we travel to different places and see different cultures but that is basically everything I can tell you guys without some major spoilers :) all you need to know is that these books are amazing and if you haven't already, definitely give them a try :)
Ok, now we are gonna get into my actual review of the second novel, which will definitely include spoilers about the first installment, so all of you who are not caught up, avert your eyes ;) like I mentioned before, there is no time jump between the books, so go back straight into action :) Willow is working with Kerish and his family to gather support of Eskandel for Felix and his rightful claim for the throne of Tremontane :) this story is filled with politics and intrigue and intricate relationships between different families in that country... and I absolutely adored it :) which is surprising, because I am not always the biggest fan of that particular plot in books :) but it was done really well here :) the shifts of power, how every conversation had many meanings... *sighs happily* it was very interesting to read :) not to mention that this particular installment was filled with strong women :) Willow is a phenomenal character... strong, but at the same time flawed, because she's human, and people make mistakes sometime... but I could understood her every action and why she made certain decisions along the way... but there were so many complex characters in this story besides her :) not to mention that this author in general writes adults who act like adults... which means they actually talk to one another and try to understand each others motivations, even though they may not agree with everything :) and that is not as common as one would want in stories :) I had so much fun reading this book... it was once again filled with adventures and surprising twists... and definitely a bit of romance :) with phenomenally entertaining writing style the chapters just flew by :) I already cannot wait to get my hands on the conclusion to the series because the ending... my oh my... the ending to this story will leave you wanting more ASAP :) so if you haven't checked it out, definitely do it now :)
XOXO
A
November 15, 2017
So something to understand about me is that I'm a huge Tremontane fan girl. I fell in love with the world and the characters after reading Rider of the Crown. So getting at least a decent review from me isn't that hard. Is it Tremontane? Yes? SQUEEEE. Now, with that said I think Melissa McShane has really hit something amazing in The Saga of Willow North trilogy.
This trilogy is the story of Willow North, a character who is a legend by the time we get to Servant, Rider and Agent of the Crown. I loved the glimpses of Willow that we got in those books, and as I've met her in her own story I love her even more.
Guardian of the Crown picks up right where Pretender to the Crown left off. Willow and company are deep in Eskandel trying to secure support for Felix Valiant, the rightful king of Tremontane. This book focuses on the politics around this decision and the personal costs to Willow, Felix and Kerish that come with pursuing the crown. I love the balance in this book between personal stories, the political battles, and exporing the unique culture of Eskandel. The pacing keeps you reading, and by the end all of the pieces are in place for the end game just as a mid book should.
You do need to read these books in order, but that's really not a problem. Start with Pretender, then right onto Guardian and then come and squee with me!
This trilogy is the story of Willow North, a character who is a legend by the time we get to Servant, Rider and Agent of the Crown. I loved the glimpses of Willow that we got in those books, and as I've met her in her own story I love her even more.
Guardian of the Crown picks up right where Pretender to the Crown left off. Willow and company are deep in Eskandel trying to secure support for Felix Valiant, the rightful king of Tremontane. This book focuses on the politics around this decision and the personal costs to Willow, Felix and Kerish that come with pursuing the crown. I love the balance in this book between personal stories, the political battles, and exporing the unique culture of Eskandel. The pacing keeps you reading, and by the end all of the pieces are in place for the end game just as a mid book should.
You do need to read these books in order, but that's really not a problem. Start with Pretender, then right onto Guardian and then come and squee with me!
February 20, 2018
Great second installment in the trilogy. It has its own arc, and doesn’t sit around biding time for the final book. I like that some changes I expected to stretch out till the end resolved and allow other story elements to gain some gravity that might have otherwise been overshadowed. Greatly looking forward to the last book!!
July 11, 2022
2.5 I might be a little harsh with this rating. I did like some of the book, there are some exciting scenes and some important character development takes place. However, much of the book is rather long and rambling with repetitive scenes and events as the plot inches forward, and even though I was prepared for the unresolved ending (because this trilogy is really just one long book) I still didn't like it.
November 6, 2017
Guardian of the Crown is the second installment from The Saga of Willow North series by Melissa McShane. I enjoyed this book as much as the first installment, Pretender of the Crown, if not more. I loved Willow North from the start. Such a strong character. The story is full of adventure and action.
A great page turner.
5 plus stars.
A great page turner.
5 plus stars.
July 27, 2020
I love when there is a lot of politics in my fantasy, but this time it managed to be a bit boring.
I wish I knew to say more about the book, but it's been a month and I'm awful at updating my goodreads, so... :D
I wish I knew to say more about the book, but it's been a month and I'm awful at updating my goodreads, so... :D
October 8, 2019
I feel like I've saved the best for last with the so-far published books about the women of Tremontane. The Saga of Willow North has been my favorite story of the series so far. And since it is one longer story told in three books, readers should start with the first in the trilogy, Pretender to the Crown, which is also a fine place to dive into this romantic fantasy world.
Willow North is a (somewhat former) thief turned protector and guardian to the boy king of Tremontane. She has journeyed with Felix Valant and her once fiancé Kerish to Eskandel, seeking refuge from the young royal's treasonous and murderous uncle amongst Kerish's affluent family. There, Willow and her allies will use their political knowledge to gain support for Felix from the other ruling families of Eskandel. Willow's role in this book is more of a diplomat, but she still has to rely on her less-than-legal skills more than once as she helps Felix reclaim the throne.
I'm fascinated by Eskandelic culture, and I say that as someone who usually balks at the works "political intrigue." The country is ruled by princes who have harems of multiple wives and have split the land into hundreds of principalities. However, the women of the harems have much more power than one would typically expect with that kind of set up. There are a lot of characters in this book and it's sometimes difficult to keep the principalities straight, especially when it comes to remembering their relation to Kerish's family - some are allies, others are neutral, more are passive rivals and the rest are more overt in their enmity. There is a guide at the start of the book, but I still found myself a bit lost as to who was who, especially toward the end of the book when the major decisions are being made.
I continue to enjoy our core trio of main characters: Willow, Felix, and Kerish. Willow's growing mother-son relationship with eight-year-old Felix was endearing, and he is a precocious and lovable child while still having the tantrums and whiny periods that all children have. And I'm glad that Willow spent less time butting heads with Kerish in this book, and that they finally admitted their deeper feelings for each never really went away. In fact, I could have done with a few more romantic scenes between the two of them, which is something I rarely say.
*Spoiler Alert*
*End of Spoilers*
This book sets up everything nicely for what promises to be an action-packed conclusion to Willow's story. I'm looking forward to seeing her face Felix's uncle, the usurper of the crown, who has only been a distant threat so far. As always, I recommend any of Melissa McShane's books to people looking for a fun fantasy adventure with touches of romance.
Disclaimer: I do know the author, if only through Goodreads, and while that is the reason I was aware of and decided to read this book, it has not influenced my rating. She did not contact me to ask me to read or review this book.
Willow North is a (somewhat former) thief turned protector and guardian to the boy king of Tremontane. She has journeyed with Felix Valant and her once fiancé Kerish to Eskandel, seeking refuge from the young royal's treasonous and murderous uncle amongst Kerish's affluent family. There, Willow and her allies will use their political knowledge to gain support for Felix from the other ruling families of Eskandel. Willow's role in this book is more of a diplomat, but she still has to rely on her less-than-legal skills more than once as she helps Felix reclaim the throne.
I'm fascinated by Eskandelic culture, and I say that as someone who usually balks at the works "political intrigue." The country is ruled by princes who have harems of multiple wives and have split the land into hundreds of principalities. However, the women of the harems have much more power than one would typically expect with that kind of set up. There are a lot of characters in this book and it's sometimes difficult to keep the principalities straight, especially when it comes to remembering their relation to Kerish's family - some are allies, others are neutral, more are passive rivals and the rest are more overt in their enmity. There is a guide at the start of the book, but I still found myself a bit lost as to who was who, especially toward the end of the book when the major decisions are being made.
I continue to enjoy our core trio of main characters: Willow, Felix, and Kerish. Willow's growing mother-son relationship with eight-year-old Felix was endearing, and he is a precocious and lovable child while still having the tantrums and whiny periods that all children have. And I'm glad that Willow spent less time butting heads with Kerish in this book, and that they finally admitted their deeper feelings for each never really went away. In fact, I could have done with a few more romantic scenes between the two of them, which is something I rarely say.
*Spoiler Alert*
*End of Spoilers*
This book sets up everything nicely for what promises to be an action-packed conclusion to Willow's story. I'm looking forward to seeing her face Felix's uncle, the usurper of the crown, who has only been a distant threat so far. As always, I recommend any of Melissa McShane's books to people looking for a fun fantasy adventure with touches of romance.
Disclaimer: I do know the author, if only through Goodreads, and while that is the reason I was aware of and decided to read this book, it has not influenced my rating. She did not contact me to ask me to read or review this book.
November 13, 2017
This book was a good follow-up to Pretender to the Crown, the first in McShane’s series featuring the thief Willow North.
In the series opener, Willow and Serjian Kerish fled to Kerish’s homeland with young Prince Felix to escape the prince’s uncle, who had murdered his brother the king and usurped the crown. Willow spends this book trying to consolidate the support of the government of Eskandel behind Felix so that he can attempt to regain his rightful position as king of Tremontane. Her efforts are complicated by political structure of the country, where the ruling families that form the Eskandelian government are bound by shifting alliances as houses rise and fall in prominence. As the negotiations continue, Willow has to contend with hired assassins attempting to kill Felix. She’s also still sorting through her feelings for her ex-lover Kerish, who she has never been able to put out of her heart.
While the previous novel was an extended chase sequence, this book focuses more on political intrigue. That’s not necessarily my favorite thing in a book, and I did have a little trouble following the intricacies of Eskandelian politics and customs in the story. However, the author introduces some action into the plot through the assassination attempts on Felix and an attack on Willow by a personal enemy. Willow also put her talents as a thief to use as she infiltrates the house of a rival family. After being told that she’s a master thief, it was nice to get to see Willow actually use her skills in a meaningful way.
One of the things that was a bit frustrating to me in the previous book was that, while Willow and Kerish obviously still had feelings for each other, neither of them was willing to be honest with the other. Because they aren’t spending as much time together this time around, their unwillingness to talk wasn’t quite as annoying. And, thankfully, they finally open up to each other before the end of the story, so that part of their romantic journey isn’t going to get carried on to the final book.
I’m looking forward to the last entry in the trilogy. I hadn’t read any of the previous novels set in Tremontane, so the plot twist regarding Felix’s kingship caught me by surprise. While I have a suspicion as to where the story is headed (no, I’m not going to cheat by reading those other books now), I’m curious as to how McShane will work everything out in the end. Bring on the next book!
An eARC of this novel was provided by the author for review; all opinions expressed are my own.
In the series opener, Willow and Serjian Kerish fled to Kerish’s homeland with young Prince Felix to escape the prince’s uncle, who had murdered his brother the king and usurped the crown. Willow spends this book trying to consolidate the support of the government of Eskandel behind Felix so that he can attempt to regain his rightful position as king of Tremontane. Her efforts are complicated by political structure of the country, where the ruling families that form the Eskandelian government are bound by shifting alliances as houses rise and fall in prominence. As the negotiations continue, Willow has to contend with hired assassins attempting to kill Felix. She’s also still sorting through her feelings for her ex-lover Kerish, who she has never been able to put out of her heart.
While the previous novel was an extended chase sequence, this book focuses more on political intrigue. That’s not necessarily my favorite thing in a book, and I did have a little trouble following the intricacies of Eskandelian politics and customs in the story. However, the author introduces some action into the plot through the assassination attempts on Felix and an attack on Willow by a personal enemy. Willow also put her talents as a thief to use as she infiltrates the house of a rival family. After being told that she’s a master thief, it was nice to get to see Willow actually use her skills in a meaningful way.
One of the things that was a bit frustrating to me in the previous book was that, while Willow and Kerish obviously still had feelings for each other, neither of them was willing to be honest with the other. Because they aren’t spending as much time together this time around, their unwillingness to talk wasn’t quite as annoying. And, thankfully, they finally open up to each other before the end of the story, so that part of their romantic journey isn’t going to get carried on to the final book.
I’m looking forward to the last entry in the trilogy. I hadn’t read any of the previous novels set in Tremontane, so the plot twist regarding Felix’s kingship caught me by surprise. While I have a suspicion as to where the story is headed (no, I’m not going to cheat by reading those other books now), I’m curious as to how McShane will work everything out in the end. Bring on the next book!
An eARC of this novel was provided by the author for review; all opinions expressed are my own.
October 27, 2017
I am always incredibly terrified of sequels, but one thing that I liked right way was how I was able to open the book and feel like I had simply passed a page in the previous one and was right back to the story (I will admit I had to go back and re-read the last chapter of the first one, so I could properly remember what was happening because my memory is just that bad, but it did serve as a quick reminder). I will start by saying how much I love this world, the combination of magic and science is something I will always be a sucker for and I also loved to see how some things that appear quite common on the first books are created on this series (like the creation/use of the first devices) and Kerish’s love for them definitely reminded me of Agent of the Crown and since that one was my favourite book out of the four tremontane books, it’s not a bad thing.
This book has a bit of a different vibe from the first one, while PTTC was more about their escape and then survival on the road, this one, while their lives are still at risk, is more political and it’s interesting to see how Willow, who is basically a street rat, is dragged into this completely new world and has to learn to deal with it. We also get to see more of Eskandel, we did get to see some of it in the previous book, but now the book is set there, so we meet the streets and more about its culture and I definitely loved learning more about this fantastic world that McShane created. Willow and Felix’s relationship is still absolutely adorable, but while in the first book she protected him more out of duty, now you can really see she does it because she learned to care for him just like a mother to a child and I loved seeing this relationship grow. The Romance in this one was a tad better, but it’s still more on the background, I did like seeing the evolution of Kerish and Willow’s relationship and I always love a bit of a slow burn and stubborn people trying to conceal their feelings.
I think this was a fantastic installment on the willow north saga, I definitely enjoyed it more than the first and I absolutely cannot wait for the last one to see the conclusion to this intriguing story.
*I received a copy of this book, but all thoughts and opinions are my own
This book has a bit of a different vibe from the first one, while PTTC was more about their escape and then survival on the road, this one, while their lives are still at risk, is more political and it’s interesting to see how Willow, who is basically a street rat, is dragged into this completely new world and has to learn to deal with it. We also get to see more of Eskandel, we did get to see some of it in the previous book, but now the book is set there, so we meet the streets and more about its culture and I definitely loved learning more about this fantastic world that McShane created. Willow and Felix’s relationship is still absolutely adorable, but while in the first book she protected him more out of duty, now you can really see she does it because she learned to care for him just like a mother to a child and I loved seeing this relationship grow. The Romance in this one was a tad better, but it’s still more on the background, I did like seeing the evolution of Kerish and Willow’s relationship and I always love a bit of a slow burn and stubborn people trying to conceal their feelings.
I think this was a fantastic installment on the willow north saga, I definitely enjoyed it more than the first and I absolutely cannot wait for the last one to see the conclusion to this intriguing story.
*I received a copy of this book, but all thoughts and opinions are my own
June 11, 2021
I was so disappointed in this and it seems like my disappointment doesn't lie where other people's do. I really, really wanted to like this. To begin with, I actually loved how political this was. Exploring a culture through the eyes of a foreigner was interesting and reflective. BUT this book moved so slow for me. It took me a long time to get into the interesting parts and this was because of the family relations in this book. They frustrated me.
It was sooo interesting to develope the relationship of the Serjian Harem sisters and their spouse and one thing this book did wonderfully was develope those relationships and describe a culture completely foreign to a majority of readers. But what bothered me so much, was that you never really understood how Kerish was with them. We got a nice flashback story of him in the last book and a few talks with his Mom that reminded you he was a son but that was almost absent in this book. He seems so removed that it's a bit disconcerting that he can be like "oh hi mom. I haven't written you in a long time but here is a prince should be king and a thief I was engaged to but never wrote home about. Have fun figuring that out." I know that a chunk of this was given over to culture BUT I think we would have benefitted more from the bridging of that gap between Kerish and his family.
Side rant that definitely includes spoilers: Like when they went to the Dog Show. Willow got into an arguement with Adorinda. We got to hear Janida chastise her for that. What was ignored was the fact that Kerish challenged a guy to a flipping dual in public. No one can tell me that didnt have an effect on Harem relations but it wasnt mentioned. Kerish was reduced to such a side character and like he was only there so Willow could be there. It was annoying and I'm rarely annoyed with any romantic subplot.
I enjoy the world, the author, and I'll definitely finish the series, I just hope this was middle book syndrome and keep chugging on.
It was sooo interesting to develope the relationship of the Serjian Harem sisters and their spouse and one thing this book did wonderfully was develope those relationships and describe a culture completely foreign to a majority of readers. But what bothered me so much, was that you never really understood how Kerish was with them. We got a nice flashback story of him in the last book and a few talks with his Mom that reminded you he was a son but that was almost absent in this book. He seems so removed that it's a bit disconcerting that he can be like "oh hi mom. I haven't written you in a long time but here is a prince should be king and a thief I was engaged to but never wrote home about. Have fun figuring that out." I know that a chunk of this was given over to culture BUT I think we would have benefitted more from the bridging of that gap between Kerish and his family.
Side rant that definitely includes spoilers: Like when they went to the Dog Show. Willow got into an arguement with Adorinda. We got to hear Janida chastise her for that. What was ignored was the fact that Kerish challenged a guy to a flipping dual in public. No one can tell me that didnt have an effect on Harem relations but it wasnt mentioned. Kerish was reduced to such a side character and like he was only there so Willow could be there. It was annoying and I'm rarely annoyed with any romantic subplot.
I enjoy the world, the author, and I'll definitely finish the series, I just hope this was middle book syndrome and keep chugging on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2022
I'm considering this part 2 of a 3-part book... as with the first book in the series, this book does not really stand on its own, and I'll be less grumpy about it if I just think of it as a 3-part book.
This one is a bit of a mixed bag for me... I'm enjoying the story. The descriptions and explanations of the Eskandelic culture and system of goverment are fun/interesting to imagine. Meanwhile, the romantic relationship doesn't really work for me at all - Kerish's family is far more interesting than he is, Kerish and Willow's relationship just does not seem to have much spark or chemistry to it, and they spend way to much time assuming and failing to communicate and imagining obstacles that in reality don't really seem to stop anything. Also, although the government & society aspects are interesting, they did seem to get a bit repetitive and drag on through the middle.
Now that I've remembered who Willow North is in relation to the books that come in later series, I'm pretty sure I see where we are going with this. But I'm still interested to see how everything resolves with Willow and child-king Felix in the final installment. I don't really care how Kerish's part of the story wraps up... he just is not an interesting character to me at all. /shrug
(2022 Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book with a quote from your favorite author on the cover or Amazon page. I'm stretching this one a little... there are no quotes on the cover or Amazon page, but Sherwood Smith reviewed it on Goodreads and I'm counting that. This prompt stinks and I'm glad to be done with it.)
This one is a bit of a mixed bag for me... I'm enjoying the story. The descriptions and explanations of the Eskandelic culture and system of goverment are fun/interesting to imagine. Meanwhile, the romantic relationship doesn't really work for me at all - Kerish's family is far more interesting than he is, Kerish and Willow's relationship just does not seem to have much spark or chemistry to it, and they spend way to much time assuming and failing to communicate and imagining obstacles that in reality don't really seem to stop anything. Also, although the government & society aspects are interesting, they did seem to get a bit repetitive and drag on through the middle.
Now that I've remembered who Willow North is in relation to the books that come in later series, I'm pretty sure I see where we are going with this. But I'm still interested to see how everything resolves with Willow and child-king Felix in the final installment. I don't really care how Kerish's part of the story wraps up... he just is not an interesting character to me at all. /shrug
(2022 Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book with a quote from your favorite author on the cover or Amazon page. I'm stretching this one a little... there are no quotes on the cover or Amazon page, but Sherwood Smith reviewed it on Goodreads and I'm counting that. This prompt stinks and I'm glad to be done with it.)
October 31, 2017
Once again I was lucky enough to receive an advanced reader’s copy of this book, although no review was requested and all opinions are my own.
The middle book of any trilogy can be tricky, as the characters are usually trying to resolve the difficulties encountered in the first book, but will not successfully do so until the final book. I find that one of the marks of a good author is a middle book that stays interesting and adds complexity to the story. I think Guardians of the Crown was able to do this; we see Willow North growing and changing, and her relationships evolving, as she successfully maneuvers her way through a foreign culture in her quest to aid her young king. Once again McShane has given us believable and complex characters that pull us into their lives and problems, making us wish the book wouldn’t end. My only complaint was the difficulty of the foreign syntax used to convey the sense of a foreign country; as it’s prevalent throughout this book it is sometimes a challenge to read easily.
Overall I continued to enjoy this trilogy and this world, and will eagerly await the final volume of the trilogy.
The middle book of any trilogy can be tricky, as the characters are usually trying to resolve the difficulties encountered in the first book, but will not successfully do so until the final book. I find that one of the marks of a good author is a middle book that stays interesting and adds complexity to the story. I think Guardians of the Crown was able to do this; we see Willow North growing and changing, and her relationships evolving, as she successfully maneuvers her way through a foreign culture in her quest to aid her young king. Once again McShane has given us believable and complex characters that pull us into their lives and problems, making us wish the book wouldn’t end. My only complaint was the difficulty of the foreign syntax used to convey the sense of a foreign country; as it’s prevalent throughout this book it is sometimes a challenge to read easily.
Overall I continued to enjoy this trilogy and this world, and will eagerly await the final volume of the trilogy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2017
I loved Pretender to the Crown, book 1 in Melissa McShane’s The Saga of Willow North series, so it’s no surprise that I found her eagerly awaited book 2, Guardian of the Crown, to be equally enjoyable. Bringing the boy-king Felix to the safety of Eskandel really was only the beginning of Willow North’s adventures. No longer a mere sneak thief, she is now the King’s Guardian and life is much, much more complex and downright dangerous. Thrills and adventure, twists and turns, and a bit of romantic confusion all ensue in this beautifully written, exciting book.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
April 27, 2021
The adventure continues and the romance begins to grow.
A lot more political maneuvering and a lot less travel than the first book.
A good continuation of the story and need to be read in order.
Still frustrated with the use of dialect in the dialogue. Lots of minor characters to try to keep track of.
The focus of the story twists kind of hard towards the end and I’m reserving judgment on that one.
Frustrating cliffhanger ending similar to the previous book so I’ve got to keep reading.
Violence. No sex. Mild language. Scene of physical abuse and imprisonment.
A lot more political maneuvering and a lot less travel than the first book.
A good continuation of the story and need to be read in order.
Still frustrated with the use of dialect in the dialogue. Lots of minor characters to try to keep track of.
The focus of the story twists kind of hard towards the end and I’m reserving judgment on that one.
Frustrating cliffhanger ending similar to the previous book so I’ve got to keep reading.
Violence. No sex. Mild language. Scene of physical abuse and imprisonment.
May 23, 2021
So I don't like books that revolve around politics. At all. I tend to slog through them if they're in the middle of a series from my favorite author (has happened before, will probably happen again) and then enjoy the rest of the series. This one was different and I loved it! I really enjoyed watching the harems maneuver and teach Willow what everything meant. Her character growth is fascinating to watch. Like the first, there's a bit of language and innuendo, detailed fighting scenes I generally skim, but I found myself sucked into her world and I loved this book!
January 22, 2019
Doesn't disappoint
I am a true fan of Melissa McShane. I have read quite a few and I love them all. She manages to transport you to other worlds within her books. She has the ability to make the normal extraordinary!! The detail in which she describes the villages and the rooftops, I feel like I am right there with the character. Keep writing Melissa!!! Can't wait to read more ..... she didn't pay me to write this review. I just truly enjoy her writing. Hope you will as well.
I am a true fan of Melissa McShane. I have read quite a few and I love them all. She manages to transport you to other worlds within her books. She has the ability to make the normal extraordinary!! The detail in which she describes the villages and the rooftops, I feel like I am right there with the character. Keep writing Melissa!!! Can't wait to read more ..... she didn't pay me to write this review. I just truly enjoy her writing. Hope you will as well.
October 28, 2017
I loved this book, it was wonderful, I could not put it down. The character development was subtle but really changed the tone of the book, it was very different from the last book. I loved how the story continued on from the end of the last book, and the ending was absolutely great, I cannot wait for the next book.
March 16, 2019
The middle book in the trilogy. Excellent in it's own right, but bye its nature, it need the other books.Willow and Keresh continue to be appealing characters. This book is told from Willow's perspective and we get to watch her grow and change to where she is such more than a thief. Set in Eskandel, which is well portrayed. The political machinations are very well done, as is the portrayal of the harems. Plenty of twists and turns.
January 11, 2018
Meh, I tapped out at 68%. I may go back and finish it another time, but I found it super irritating to read. In order to depict a person speaking english as a second language, the author has them speak like yoda. For pages and pages of complicated political maneuverings. It fun not is.
November 20, 2017
I liked this one even more than its predecessor in the series, but I can't justify 5 stars. I look forward to the conclusion.
January 29, 2019
4 stars. Good sequel, somewhat better story and characterization than first book.
November 29, 2017
This book picks up right where Pretender to the Crown left off. Willow is in Eskandel, fighting to gain support for Felix. The culture of Eskandel is so interesting! There are so many nuances to their politics. Sometimes Willow did a great job handling things, sometimes she made major blunders. I felt for her as she tried to navigate a completely new system. But it’s not all politics. There is plenty of action as Willow and Kerish try to protect Felix. All of it kept me turning pages and wondering how things were going to work out. I love these characters, and I love this story. I can’t wait for book three!!
I received a complimentary copy of the book, which I voluntarily reviewed. I have given my honest opinion.
I received a complimentary copy of the book, which I voluntarily reviewed. I have given my honest opinion.
July 26, 2019
This is the middle book of the Willow North series......but unlike a lot of trilogies where the middle book drags this one was actually my favorite of the series!
Willow, Serjian and Felix spend the book not in Tremontane but in Eskandel (a country that has an Indian-esque culture) trying to garner support for Felix to return as King. The Eskandel culture is fascinating as are the characters we get to meet there. Awesome book and could be read on its own!
Willow, Serjian and Felix spend the book not in Tremontane but in Eskandel (a country that has an Indian-esque culture) trying to garner support for Felix to return as King. The Eskandel culture is fascinating as are the characters we get to meet there. Awesome book and could be read on its own!
November 27, 2017
This is such a detailed, nuanced high fantasy series.
Book 2 in the trilogy is fraught with political intrigue from cover to cover.
The scenes are richly detailed and exotic. But the characters are relatable and heroic.
Highly recommended and already eagerly awaiting the next installment.
I did still have a bit of a slow down with some of the dialect used. It adds ambiance, but makes reading comprehension a little slower. The better to savor the story perhaps.
Book 2 in the trilogy is fraught with political intrigue from cover to cover.
The scenes are richly detailed and exotic. But the characters are relatable and heroic.
Highly recommended and already eagerly awaiting the next installment.
I did still have a bit of a slow down with some of the dialect used. It adds ambiance, but makes reading comprehension a little slower. The better to savor the story perhaps.
February 1, 2018
The second in the story of Willow North, Guardian of the Crown follows the subtlety of political maneuvering. Protecting the interest and life of the true king, at the same time falling in love all over again, Willow grows from the simple thief into a bold voice for reason and justice.
While some may not describe it as action packed, I felt that the story lent to curiosity with just the right amount of excitement to effortlessly keep things moving. I would describe it as primarily political or espionage drama, with action interspersed. All this taking place in the vibrant and unique landscape of Eskandel.
As a second novel, it gave insight and growth to the heroine, which feels like important preparation for the culminating novel.
Naturally, if you enjoyed the first book, read on! Guardian of the Crown had natural flew from the first book and leads right into the third, and final, of this prequel series. You won't be disappointed.
While some may not describe it as action packed, I felt that the story lent to curiosity with just the right amount of excitement to effortlessly keep things moving. I would describe it as primarily political or espionage drama, with action interspersed. All this taking place in the vibrant and unique landscape of Eskandel.
As a second novel, it gave insight and growth to the heroine, which feels like important preparation for the culminating novel.
Naturally, if you enjoyed the first book, read on! Guardian of the Crown had natural flew from the first book and leads right into the third, and final, of this prequel series. You won't be disappointed.
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