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Elan Intrigues #1
The Seeds of Power
Her unique skills keep her safe. Until her greatest strength becomes her fatal weakness.
Princess Christal of Larrochar learned long ago that to marry was to risk her life. At twenty-eight she’s resolutely unwed, trusted assistant to the King’s Cultivator and an expert in rare plants.
Then, to her horror, she receives a marriage proposal she can’t refuse. All Prince Daire of Caldermor cares about is elan—the mysterious golden beans that bring his family untold wealth and power. If Daire wants Christal, elan must be at the root of his interest.
Christal’s father would sacrifice her to discover elan’s secrets. The Calderrans would kill to keep them secure. To save herself Christal will need every kernel of knowledge she’s ever gleaned. And the support of Kiran Randsen, elite soldier turned Calderran bodyguard, who may be something even rarer than elan—a man she’d trust with her life.
The Seeds of Power is the first book in the Elan Intrigues fantasy romance series. If you like strong heroines, chivalrous heroes, natural magic, and life-or-death stakes, then you’ll love this powerful historical fantasy by award-winning author Jilly Wood.
Dig in to The Seeds of Power and share Christal’s adventure today!
Princess Christal of Larrochar learned long ago that to marry was to risk her life. At twenty-eight she’s resolutely unwed, trusted assistant to the King’s Cultivator and an expert in rare plants.
Then, to her horror, she receives a marriage proposal she can’t refuse. All Prince Daire of Caldermor cares about is elan—the mysterious golden beans that bring his family untold wealth and power. If Daire wants Christal, elan must be at the root of his interest.
Christal’s father would sacrifice her to discover elan’s secrets. The Calderrans would kill to keep them secure. To save herself Christal will need every kernel of knowledge she’s ever gleaned. And the support of Kiran Randsen, elite soldier turned Calderran bodyguard, who may be something even rarer than elan—a man she’d trust with her life.
The Seeds of Power is the first book in the Elan Intrigues fantasy romance series. If you like strong heroines, chivalrous heroes, natural magic, and life-or-death stakes, then you’ll love this powerful historical fantasy by award-winning author Jilly Wood.
Dig in to The Seeds of Power and share Christal’s adventure today!
- GenresFantasyRomanceHistorical
270 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 14, 2019
48 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Jilly Wood
4 books63 followersJilly Wood was born and raised in Derbyshire, England, a county that’s best known for Mr. Darcy but is also home to ancient castles, deep caverns veined with rare gemstones, wild moors studded with otherworldly rock formations, and a whole host of supernatural legends. All these elements are to be found in Jilly’s fantastic adventure stories of chivalry, rivalry, power, and love.
Jilly now lives quietly with her husband of many years in a leafy corner of historic North London. She writes epic fantasy romance from the comfort of her sofa, aided by her trusty laptop, a vivid imagination, and a steady supply of coffee and wine.
Jilly now lives quietly with her husband of many years in a leafy corner of historic North London. She writes epic fantasy romance from the comfort of her sofa, aided by her trusty laptop, a vivid imagination, and a steady supply of coffee and wine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
December 18, 2019
Engrossing yet light enough to be good for a long plane ride. I liked how the heroines are basically horticultural scientists, and the fact that the lead heroine is 28 instead of 18.
That said, it feels a lot like there’s a bunch of “you’re great because you’re different from other girls” going on here. (Which is sexist, because it implies there’s something wrong with other girls or that intelligent, level headed women are massively rare.)
I also didn’t like the fact that the only politically powerful woman in this world - a queen of another region - is such an ice cold raging bitch who cares only about wealth, and kills people. That’s not ok, particularly when you consider how our own culture actively punished women seeking high political office. Why do you need to include a bitch queen in your fiction?
I also guess the sexism of the world this story is set in got to me. Why are so many fantasy novels set in worlds where women are treated like chattel? I mean there are probably 100 of those for every fantasy in which women are genuinely equal. Why is deeeeeeep sexism something we want our heroines to contend with...but only by being different from other women?
Also, there are no overtly queer characters in this world.
Lastly, I didn’t understand why the heroine’s HEA had to include being a wife. It was quite rushed. There are no negotiations around having children, how both partners’ quite disparate careers would work together vis a vis a household together or financial negotiations (the bride being *far* wealthier than the groom). The class issues were not discussed either. There was no reason I could tell for a wedding to be proposed at the time of the book’s end, aside from plot closure. If people like each other they must then quickly marry is something I take issue with in a book that’s not romance genre.
That said, it feels a lot like there’s a bunch of “you’re great because you’re different from other girls” going on here. (Which is sexist, because it implies there’s something wrong with other girls or that intelligent, level headed women are massively rare.)
I also didn’t like the fact that the only politically powerful woman in this world - a queen of another region - is such an ice cold raging bitch who cares only about wealth, and kills people. That’s not ok, particularly when you consider how our own culture actively punished women seeking high political office. Why do you need to include a bitch queen in your fiction?
I also guess the sexism of the world this story is set in got to me. Why are so many fantasy novels set in worlds where women are treated like chattel? I mean there are probably 100 of those for every fantasy in which women are genuinely equal. Why is deeeeeeep sexism something we want our heroines to contend with...but only by being different from other women?
Also, there are no overtly queer characters in this world.
Lastly, I didn’t understand why the heroine’s HEA had to include being a wife. It was quite rushed. There are no negotiations around having children, how both partners’ quite disparate careers would work together vis a vis a household together or financial negotiations (the bride being *far* wealthier than the groom). The class issues were not discussed either. There was no reason I could tell for a wedding to be proposed at the time of the book’s end, aside from plot closure. If people like each other they must then quickly marry is something I take issue with in a book that’s not romance genre.
March 16, 2020
https://onebookmore.com/2020/03/16/re...
The Seeds of Power is the first book in the Elan Intrigues series. A romantic fantasy, the story centers around Christal, a twenty-eight-year-old princess who balks at the idea of marriage. Seeing is as a death sentence, she is shocked when her father promises her to a vain and vacuous prince.
Prince Daire is young, impetuous, and vapid – the exact opposite of Christal. In fact, she has more in common with Kiran, a farmer-turned-knight. He is loyal, smart, and true. However, there is a reason Prince Daire, or rather his mother, wants to marry Christal. Christal suspects they need her horticulture skills as there are rumors of trouble in the kingdom. Christal does not want to be a pawn in another power-hungry game. She must decide if she should give in to an unwanted, loveless marriage in order to avoid the wrath of her parents and her future evil mother-in-law. She must also face the fact that she doesn’t have any other alternatives, despite what her heart says. Or does she?
One of the strengths of the novel is the engrossing writing style. Wood has a way of describing people and events that easily immerses you in the story. Her description of Daire, for example, is biting and beautiful:
“Daire Edevald put Christal in mind of a linden sapling: handsome and limber but requiring the richest soil to feed its vigorous growth while offering nothing in return but pleasant shade and fragrant blossoms.“
Her richly poetic way of describing people paints a vivid picture of the character. My favorite character is Christal. She is atypical of royalty and more interested in botany than royal court. She is thoughtful, sincere, and strong-willed. She loves deeply and has strong relationships with her people.
It’s shocking how humble and kind Christal is considering her parents are terrible, power-hungry leaders. Her mother is shrewd and manipulative, willing to sacrifice two daughters to a terrible fate for her own selfish gain. Look at what her mother says when trying to convince Cristal to enter into marriage: “You already cost me a daughter. Will you do your duty this time, or will you send your dead sister’s child in your stead?" Nothing like using shame, guilt, and manipulation to get what you want, mom. Christal’s father sees her as nothing more than a pawn and political ploy as well. These were characters that I loved to hate throughout the book! (Believe me, they made it easy!)
And in the midst of being pressured into an unwanted marriage, and of being treated shabbily by her heartless parents, Christal still thinks of helping and protecting others. She looks for ways to end blight issues with local farmers, and she makes arrangements to ensure her niece’s safety. It’s as if her parents’ selfishness and greed influenced her kindness and selflessness.
Of course, I have to talk about the slow-burning romance between Christal and Kiran. I love their chemistry from the start, and I think think that the way in which Kiran treats Christal stands in stark contrast to the way other men treat her. He is impressed by her intellect, her skill, and her wisdom. He sees her as an equal, and he treats her as such.
There is so much about Kiran’s character that I like: He is honest, loyal, and smart. He loves his family, and he doesn’t like to see people maltreated. He seeks justice and fairness and is selfless. But my favorite thing about Kiran is how he feels about Christal: “You would be a true partner to a man, not a dependent. A wife for a lifetime. So much more than a body to warm the bed, a mother to a brood, or a rich dowry.” Just so you know, that’s the exact point in the book where I swooned. 😉
Overall, this is a well developed, slow-burning romantic fantasy with excellent character development and a strong and unique protagonist. It is an excellent start to what promises to be a great series!
The Seeds of Power is the first book in the Elan Intrigues series. A romantic fantasy, the story centers around Christal, a twenty-eight-year-old princess who balks at the idea of marriage. Seeing is as a death sentence, she is shocked when her father promises her to a vain and vacuous prince.
Prince Daire is young, impetuous, and vapid – the exact opposite of Christal. In fact, she has more in common with Kiran, a farmer-turned-knight. He is loyal, smart, and true. However, there is a reason Prince Daire, or rather his mother, wants to marry Christal. Christal suspects they need her horticulture skills as there are rumors of trouble in the kingdom. Christal does not want to be a pawn in another power-hungry game. She must decide if she should give in to an unwanted, loveless marriage in order to avoid the wrath of her parents and her future evil mother-in-law. She must also face the fact that she doesn’t have any other alternatives, despite what her heart says. Or does she?
One of the strengths of the novel is the engrossing writing style. Wood has a way of describing people and events that easily immerses you in the story. Her description of Daire, for example, is biting and beautiful:
“Daire Edevald put Christal in mind of a linden sapling: handsome and limber but requiring the richest soil to feed its vigorous growth while offering nothing in return but pleasant shade and fragrant blossoms.“
Her richly poetic way of describing people paints a vivid picture of the character. My favorite character is Christal. She is atypical of royalty and more interested in botany than royal court. She is thoughtful, sincere, and strong-willed. She loves deeply and has strong relationships with her people.
It’s shocking how humble and kind Christal is considering her parents are terrible, power-hungry leaders. Her mother is shrewd and manipulative, willing to sacrifice two daughters to a terrible fate for her own selfish gain. Look at what her mother says when trying to convince Cristal to enter into marriage: “You already cost me a daughter. Will you do your duty this time, or will you send your dead sister’s child in your stead?" Nothing like using shame, guilt, and manipulation to get what you want, mom. Christal’s father sees her as nothing more than a pawn and political ploy as well. These were characters that I loved to hate throughout the book! (Believe me, they made it easy!)
And in the midst of being pressured into an unwanted marriage, and of being treated shabbily by her heartless parents, Christal still thinks of helping and protecting others. She looks for ways to end blight issues with local farmers, and she makes arrangements to ensure her niece’s safety. It’s as if her parents’ selfishness and greed influenced her kindness and selflessness.
Of course, I have to talk about the slow-burning romance between Christal and Kiran. I love their chemistry from the start, and I think think that the way in which Kiran treats Christal stands in stark contrast to the way other men treat her. He is impressed by her intellect, her skill, and her wisdom. He sees her as an equal, and he treats her as such.
There is so much about Kiran’s character that I like: He is honest, loyal, and smart. He loves his family, and he doesn’t like to see people maltreated. He seeks justice and fairness and is selfless. But my favorite thing about Kiran is how he feels about Christal: “You would be a true partner to a man, not a dependent. A wife for a lifetime. So much more than a body to warm the bed, a mother to a brood, or a rich dowry.” Just so you know, that’s the exact point in the book where I swooned. 😉
Overall, this is a well developed, slow-burning romantic fantasy with excellent character development and a strong and unique protagonist. It is an excellent start to what promises to be a great series!
December 15, 2019
The Seeds of Power
Elan Intrigues Series #1
Jilly Brook
https://m.facebook.com/jillywords
Release date 12/14/2019
Blurb :
Her unique skills keep her safe. Until her greatest strength becomes her fatal weakness.
Princess Christal of Larrochar learned long ago that to marry was to risk her life. At twenty-eight she’s resolutely unwed, trusted assistant to the King’s Cultivator and an expert in rare plants.
Then, to her horror, she receives a marriage proposal she can’t refuse. All Prince Daire of Caldermor cares about is elan—the mysterious golden beans that bring his family untold wealth and power. If Daire wants Christal, elan must be at the root of his interest.
Christal’s father would sacrifice her to discover elan’s secrets. The Calderrans would kill to keep them secure. To save herself Christal will need every kernel of knowledge she’s ever gleaned. And the support of Kiran Randsen, elite soldier turned Calderran bodyguard, who may be something even rarer than elan—a man she’d trust with her life.
My review :
When trapped, A princess must decide how far and what is worth to fight for ....
This is not my usual read as it is not a classic historical romance, this debut novel by Mrs Jilly Brook is a fantasy tale with a bit of romance and plenty of intrigue.
It is no love triangle but it turns around three persons, Christal the princess who refuses to wed, Kiran the soldier who becomes her champion and Daire, the prince following his mother’s orders.
This trio will meet their epiphany and make choice that will alter their life and those around them.
It is a play of the political game of power and who hold it and for what purpose, and how far some will go for it.
While Kiran, a farmer’s son turned soldier navigates those murky waters, and must decide where lies his loyalty even if it may cost him everything, Christal and Daire were born in this world. He is pure soul, with a vision, and no greed power person will make him change his course.
Christal is no shrinking violet, she will protect those under her care, but also manage an escape road, and if she must, she goes to battle head held high ready to the worst but never to bend her will. When cornered, she is like an animal, ready to sever a limb if it might free her.
Daire is younger, and still under the yoke IG the tyrant is his mother, but with Kiran and Christal, he will find his inner strength to face his duties and embrace them.
Even without shredding a drop of blood, it is a war story as many wills clash, and alliances are made. But war is nothing without love, why amidst the many intrigues, sweet feelings arise when fairness is tested.
Now I want to learn more about Daire’s kingdom origins of power, the Elan.
5 stars
I was granted an advance copy by the author through Netgalley, I purchased my own too.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
Elan Intrigues Series #1
Jilly Brook
https://m.facebook.com/jillywords
Release date 12/14/2019
Blurb :
Her unique skills keep her safe. Until her greatest strength becomes her fatal weakness.
Princess Christal of Larrochar learned long ago that to marry was to risk her life. At twenty-eight she’s resolutely unwed, trusted assistant to the King’s Cultivator and an expert in rare plants.
Then, to her horror, she receives a marriage proposal she can’t refuse. All Prince Daire of Caldermor cares about is elan—the mysterious golden beans that bring his family untold wealth and power. If Daire wants Christal, elan must be at the root of his interest.
Christal’s father would sacrifice her to discover elan’s secrets. The Calderrans would kill to keep them secure. To save herself Christal will need every kernel of knowledge she’s ever gleaned. And the support of Kiran Randsen, elite soldier turned Calderran bodyguard, who may be something even rarer than elan—a man she’d trust with her life.
My review :
When trapped, A princess must decide how far and what is worth to fight for ....
This is not my usual read as it is not a classic historical romance, this debut novel by Mrs Jilly Brook is a fantasy tale with a bit of romance and plenty of intrigue.
It is no love triangle but it turns around three persons, Christal the princess who refuses to wed, Kiran the soldier who becomes her champion and Daire, the prince following his mother’s orders.
This trio will meet their epiphany and make choice that will alter their life and those around them.
It is a play of the political game of power and who hold it and for what purpose, and how far some will go for it.
While Kiran, a farmer’s son turned soldier navigates those murky waters, and must decide where lies his loyalty even if it may cost him everything, Christal and Daire were born in this world. He is pure soul, with a vision, and no greed power person will make him change his course.
Christal is no shrinking violet, she will protect those under her care, but also manage an escape road, and if she must, she goes to battle head held high ready to the worst but never to bend her will. When cornered, she is like an animal, ready to sever a limb if it might free her.
Daire is younger, and still under the yoke IG the tyrant is his mother, but with Kiran and Christal, he will find his inner strength to face his duties and embrace them.
Even without shredding a drop of blood, it is a war story as many wills clash, and alliances are made. But war is nothing without love, why amidst the many intrigues, sweet feelings arise when fairness is tested.
Now I want to learn more about Daire’s kingdom origins of power, the Elan.
5 stars
I was granted an advance copy by the author through Netgalley, I purchased my own too.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
September 15, 2020
I received an advance review copy for free via Book Sirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It's always such a pleasure to read a fantasy novel with a strong independent leading lady. Princess Christal isn't a green girl looking for love among the jaded court. She is a woman in her late 20s, intelligent and successful as a botanist working with her aunt, the Royal Cultivator . Despite all of her accomplishments, she is not seen as anything more as a brood mare to be married off by her ambitious greedy father in exchange for a secret of elan, a magical plant that heals. Unfortunately, it's expensive and free access to it has blinded him to any pitfalls such possibility might entail.
When she is forced to dance with Prince Daire, as part of the preparation for her upcoming nuptials with a much younger foppish prince she has decided that she is willing to risk anything, but not to suffer the same fate as her sister. The sister that was married off in a political marriage and has paid with her life as a result. An elite soldier turned Prince's bodyguard, Kiran Randsen is tasked to help his employer to marry this stubborn woman. What he finds is someone who has a love for the land and it's people and just as skillful at strategy as he is.
I loved the court intrigue, the portrayal of a royal court where its princesses are nothing more than bargaining chips; Christal proves her worth. Her determination to help others, her planning and success aimed at avoiding the impending marriage proposal and her love for her aunt and niece and people of her land. This by no means makes her unskilled in court intrigue and she navigates the consequence of her actions with incredible deftness. The kind of diplomacy and planning that's rare in many novels. By far, the most entertaining scenes were between her and Radsen, trying to outmaneuver each other in pursuit of their goals.
I enjoyed the character growth, not just of Kiran and Christal, but other supporting characters as well and the mystery that's at the heart of the book is not as easily solved as it looks at first. The book has little magic in it, but its presence is felt throughout, often through unusual applications, but don't expect any fireballs being hurled at opposing armies. The magic of Chrstal's world is subtle, but powerful.
I would have liked more world building in the book. It does feel a little rushed towards the end, because of all the additional information that forms part of the plot. Similarly, the romance scenes in the book aren't given that much time either.
All in all, one of the better fantasy novels I read this year with a great protagonist.
P.S. Whilst this is advertised more as a romantic fantasy, I would suggest classifying it as fantasy mystery that has a romance element.
It's always such a pleasure to read a fantasy novel with a strong independent leading lady. Princess Christal isn't a green girl looking for love among the jaded court. She is a woman in her late 20s, intelligent and successful as a botanist working with her aunt, the Royal Cultivator . Despite all of her accomplishments, she is not seen as anything more as a brood mare to be married off by her ambitious greedy father in exchange for a secret of elan, a magical plant that heals. Unfortunately, it's expensive and free access to it has blinded him to any pitfalls such possibility might entail.
When she is forced to dance with Prince Daire, as part of the preparation for her upcoming nuptials with a much younger foppish prince she has decided that she is willing to risk anything, but not to suffer the same fate as her sister. The sister that was married off in a political marriage and has paid with her life as a result. An elite soldier turned Prince's bodyguard, Kiran Randsen is tasked to help his employer to marry this stubborn woman. What he finds is someone who has a love for the land and it's people and just as skillful at strategy as he is.
I loved the court intrigue, the portrayal of a royal court where its princesses are nothing more than bargaining chips; Christal proves her worth. Her determination to help others, her planning and success aimed at avoiding the impending marriage proposal and her love for her aunt and niece and people of her land. This by no means makes her unskilled in court intrigue and she navigates the consequence of her actions with incredible deftness. The kind of diplomacy and planning that's rare in many novels. By far, the most entertaining scenes were between her and Radsen, trying to outmaneuver each other in pursuit of their goals.
I enjoyed the character growth, not just of Kiran and Christal, but other supporting characters as well and the mystery that's at the heart of the book is not as easily solved as it looks at first. The book has little magic in it, but its presence is felt throughout, often through unusual applications, but don't expect any fireballs being hurled at opposing armies. The magic of Chrstal's world is subtle, but powerful.
I would have liked more world building in the book. It does feel a little rushed towards the end, because of all the additional information that forms part of the plot. Similarly, the romance scenes in the book aren't given that much time either.
All in all, one of the better fantasy novels I read this year with a great protagonist.
P.S. Whilst this is advertised more as a romantic fantasy, I would suggest classifying it as fantasy mystery that has a romance element.
May 23, 2020
Disclaimer: I received an advance copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Quite good.
Interesting plot, good world building, and kept my attention throughout.
I would have like to see the romance 'bud' a bit more, it felt plausible, but more foundation to it would have been nice.
I look forward to reading the sequel.
Quite good.
Interesting plot, good world building, and kept my attention throughout.
I would have like to see the romance 'bud' a bit more, it felt plausible, but more foundation to it would have been nice.
I look forward to reading the sequel.
December 18, 2019
Princess Christal of Larrochar is determined to avoid being handed off to wealthy Prince Daire Edevald of nearby Calder like a brood mare. She objects to marriage in general and to the spoiled, theatrical prince in particular.
Desperate to circumvent his proposal, she sabotages the dance that doubles as an engagement announcement, injuring herself in the process. But her father, King Felix, is intent on securing this advantageous match. When he insists that she dance on her possibly broken foot, the only person in the room brave enough to help her is one of Daire’s men, Kiran Ransden. Brave, honest, and perceptive, Kiran is a man Christal can respect, but even if she weren’t dead-set against marriage, he’s in no position to support a wife on a soldier’s pay.
Something more than meets the eye is going on here. Why is the much younger, much wealthier prince so determined to marry Christal, whose only interest is growing better crops in the rocky soil of Larrochar? What role does elan, the mysterious golden bean that cures all ills, and which only the Edevalds are capable of manufacturing, play in this match? And what exactly does Daire’s devious mother, Princess Irmine, have up her embroidered sleeves?
If you like high-fantasy with a touch of romance, I think you’ll love The Seeds of Power.
Desperate to circumvent his proposal, she sabotages the dance that doubles as an engagement announcement, injuring herself in the process. But her father, King Felix, is intent on securing this advantageous match. When he insists that she dance on her possibly broken foot, the only person in the room brave enough to help her is one of Daire’s men, Kiran Ransden. Brave, honest, and perceptive, Kiran is a man Christal can respect, but even if she weren’t dead-set against marriage, he’s in no position to support a wife on a soldier’s pay.
Something more than meets the eye is going on here. Why is the much younger, much wealthier prince so determined to marry Christal, whose only interest is growing better crops in the rocky soil of Larrochar? What role does elan, the mysterious golden bean that cures all ills, and which only the Edevalds are capable of manufacturing, play in this match? And what exactly does Daire’s devious mother, Princess Irmine, have up her embroidered sleeves?
If you like high-fantasy with a touch of romance, I think you’ll love The Seeds of Power.
June 5, 2021
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. **I reserve 5 star ratings to books I’d reread, own, or highly recommend/push onto a friend.
This book was a rollercoaster of ups and downs for me. In the end the book felt lacking and left me wanting more but not enough to continue reading the series.
At first the foreign language of a fictional country put me off but it ended up being minimal and I moved on.
The characters were not very well developed and their descriptions were lacking. Christal was a cold fish with a blue dress and iris blue eyes. Kiran smelled of soap and clove oil and had buzzed hair. Daire was practically flamboyant; I loved his love of life personality and was pleasantly surprised that he was much more than a “pointless princeling”. He was the only one worth note which might make sense as I believe his story is more centric to the rest of the series.
This books was basically a book about the relationship between Christal and Kiran and that was practically nonexistent. Yes you could tell it was there but what would have made it better IMO. Their conversations and encounters were unfitting for the time period but there was no speak of risk, no build up of heat between them; if they had feeling for each other at all neither they nor the reader really could tell as it was all more matter of fact. Their feeling and marriage was rather abrupt and awkward. Either this is an adult book and we get some sexual tension or it a YA book and you leave known but unwritten; this was weirdly both.
This is where the book would be 2 stars for me if it had only been about the introduction of Elan and these twos relationship; however, the book became much more interesting with the discovery of how Elan is made and Daire’s future rule in the making. This happens at about 3/4 way through the book which is a long time to wait.
I need more commitment from the author. Either it is a YA book and you make this more about setting up the next couple of books with more Elan history and less about the relationship OR you make this an adult book, give us more to help the relationship all the while adding the missing background information.
Questions:
Nessa was born blind but can “see plants” and has scarred eyes, is this inherited, gifted, how did this come about and has it happened before/will it happen again?
What the F*** happened to Christal’s sister, making Christal so anti marriage just off of one incident? (as Princess Irmine pointed out her parent’s marriage and her own marriage were fine ((if you can believe that)). And what might have Ys gone through to be so timid?
Why is Elan so important? Is there a lot of disease or sickness, a lot of wars? Not much is said about the countries in general, they have soldiers and need Elan but is there fighting, with whom, when, why? Tell me more about all these Edevauld kings dying young and their wives taking over. Was Princess Irmine the only one power hungry or were that all like that? When and with whom did this son sacrifice start? And is Agriculture the main resource for all these countries and why cultivators so prized and of royal birth?
I won’t be getting the answers to any of these questions as I do not plan to read the rest of the series.
This book was a rollercoaster of ups and downs for me. In the end the book felt lacking and left me wanting more but not enough to continue reading the series.
At first the foreign language of a fictional country put me off but it ended up being minimal and I moved on.
The characters were not very well developed and their descriptions were lacking. Christal was a cold fish with a blue dress and iris blue eyes. Kiran smelled of soap and clove oil and had buzzed hair. Daire was practically flamboyant; I loved his love of life personality and was pleasantly surprised that he was much more than a “pointless princeling”. He was the only one worth note which might make sense as I believe his story is more centric to the rest of the series.
This books was basically a book about the relationship between Christal and Kiran and that was practically nonexistent. Yes you could tell it was there but what would have made it better IMO. Their conversations and encounters were unfitting for the time period but there was no speak of risk, no build up of heat between them; if they had feeling for each other at all neither they nor the reader really could tell as it was all more matter of fact. Their feeling and marriage was rather abrupt and awkward. Either this is an adult book and we get some sexual tension or it a YA book and you leave known but unwritten; this was weirdly both.
This is where the book would be 2 stars for me if it had only been about the introduction of Elan and these twos relationship; however, the book became much more interesting with the discovery of how Elan is made and Daire’s future rule in the making. This happens at about 3/4 way through the book which is a long time to wait.
I need more commitment from the author. Either it is a YA book and you make this more about setting up the next couple of books with more Elan history and less about the relationship OR you make this an adult book, give us more to help the relationship all the while adding the missing background information.
Questions:
Nessa was born blind but can “see plants” and has scarred eyes, is this inherited, gifted, how did this come about and has it happened before/will it happen again?
What the F*** happened to Christal’s sister, making Christal so anti marriage just off of one incident? (as Princess Irmine pointed out her parent’s marriage and her own marriage were fine ((if you can believe that)). And what might have Ys gone through to be so timid?
Why is Elan so important? Is there a lot of disease or sickness, a lot of wars? Not much is said about the countries in general, they have soldiers and need Elan but is there fighting, with whom, when, why? Tell me more about all these Edevauld kings dying young and their wives taking over. Was Princess Irmine the only one power hungry or were that all like that? When and with whom did this son sacrifice start? And is Agriculture the main resource for all these countries and why cultivators so prized and of royal birth?
I won’t be getting the answers to any of these questions as I do not plan to read the rest of the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2023
Seeds of Power is a surprise. I was pleasantly amazed by the clever plot of this story because it shows a collaborative rather than a combative side to the nature of power. The antagonist uses threats and coercion to get people to do what she wants while the main character uses diplomacy and problem solving. Rather than a fantasy story employing the traditional methods of swordplay, magic and violence, this story shows a heroine who uses her intellect and compassion rather than fighting with her fists and weapons. It is mentioned in the story that she can do those things but does not, preferring to use the power of persuasion and discussion to find solutions that help her and others.
The main character is Princess Christal, the King’s Cultivator who has an extensive knowledge of plants and their properties. Her knowledge is highly sought after since the kingdom is agrarian. A rival kingdom controls the production of a special magical seed that can heal illness and prolong life. Princess Christal is forced to marry the rival prince to bring control of the seed to her family. In a culture where the motto is "Country before family before self" Christal knows that her freedom is not considered that important. She does not want to lose it, though, since her sister was married off and not only lost her freedom but died. Yet, through her ingenuity, Christal convinces the people who would attempt to bring her under their control to respect her ideas about the seed and about themselves. Without giving too much away, the story of Christal's adventures resisting the prince and finding the truth about romantic partnerships is delightful. Seeds of Power is a novel that says that one person can change the course of their own life and the life of others for the better if they try to solve problems instead of trying to control people by force.
It was enjoyable to read a story that told a romantic tale with a little magic and a lot of heart. This novel is an excellent choice for lovers of fantasy who prefer to read tales that have intrigue but do not wallow in depictions of violence. There is no graphic violence here, profanity or sexual scenes. I kept thinking that the story shows how a truly powerful person does not need to force others to do their will out of fear but tries to help others using their own inner reservoir of strength and helps others find their own power too. I won’t spill the beans, but Princess Christal ends up finding out that true partnership does not take away from a person’s independence but supplements it.
I was honored to review this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
The main character is Princess Christal, the King’s Cultivator who has an extensive knowledge of plants and their properties. Her knowledge is highly sought after since the kingdom is agrarian. A rival kingdom controls the production of a special magical seed that can heal illness and prolong life. Princess Christal is forced to marry the rival prince to bring control of the seed to her family. In a culture where the motto is "Country before family before self" Christal knows that her freedom is not considered that important. She does not want to lose it, though, since her sister was married off and not only lost her freedom but died. Yet, through her ingenuity, Christal convinces the people who would attempt to bring her under their control to respect her ideas about the seed and about themselves. Without giving too much away, the story of Christal's adventures resisting the prince and finding the truth about romantic partnerships is delightful. Seeds of Power is a novel that says that one person can change the course of their own life and the life of others for the better if they try to solve problems instead of trying to control people by force.
It was enjoyable to read a story that told a romantic tale with a little magic and a lot of heart. This novel is an excellent choice for lovers of fantasy who prefer to read tales that have intrigue but do not wallow in depictions of violence. There is no graphic violence here, profanity or sexual scenes. I kept thinking that the story shows how a truly powerful person does not need to force others to do their will out of fear but tries to help others using their own inner reservoir of strength and helps others find their own power too. I won’t spill the beans, but Princess Christal ends up finding out that true partnership does not take away from a person’s independence but supplements it.
I was honored to review this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 4, 2020
Review excerpted from my blog post over at FanSciHist (https://fanscihist.wordpress.com/2020...)
My Rating: 4 stars
Library recommendation: Recommended for public library paranormal and/or fantasy romance collections.
Warning: Hereafter, you chance spoilers. I will try never to reveal major plot points, but to review any book, you must reveal some parts of the story.
______________
Number of titles I have read by this author: 1
Love story speed: Slow burn
Relationship dynamics: The Princess Pawn (h) / The Captain of the Guard (H)
Sexual content: A smidge; “off-screen”. Kissing “on-screen”, some very mild mentions of nudity.
Triggers: Misogynistic society; PTSD of supporting character; vague recounting of spousal murder witnessed by a child
Grammar/Editing: Aside from a couple of minor typos, this was a clean ARC.
Review: This quick-paced novel is set in a fantasy world with several kingdoms, two of which are featured in this installment, with others being briefly alluded to. There are no sweeping descriptions of the landscape in this book. Things are described as needed, and some locales are better developed than others. This is likely to expand, given that this is book one in the series. The nature of magic is minimally described (natural magic), but this is a major plot arc, so I imagine that more information will be revealed in subsequent installments.
Christal is a fiercely intelligent woman and skilled strategist. She also wants more in life than her society allows. Kiran is her match in both and, more than that, respects Christal for being herself. Their relationship is professional throughout most of the book – in fact, almost all of the romance occurs very late in the novel, and don’t expect the “L” word. That being said, they are still suited to one another and I looked forward to seeing where the next novel takes them. The supporting characters are developed in a “high fantasy lite” manner. That is, much of the development is “in the now” and there isn’t as much backstory as you would be lead to expect from most fantasy. Even so, Daire is an interesting fellow, and his mother, Princess Irmine, is a formidable villain.
Bean version: Its steady growth and guaranteed crop will make this bean a popular variety, even among timid gardeners.
Full disclosure: I received a free advance review copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating: 4 stars
Library recommendation: Recommended for public library paranormal and/or fantasy romance collections.
Warning: Hereafter, you chance spoilers. I will try never to reveal major plot points, but to review any book, you must reveal some parts of the story.
______________
Number of titles I have read by this author: 1
Love story speed: Slow burn
Relationship dynamics: The Princess Pawn (h) / The Captain of the Guard (H)
Sexual content: A smidge; “off-screen”. Kissing “on-screen”, some very mild mentions of nudity.
Triggers: Misogynistic society; PTSD of supporting character; vague recounting of spousal murder witnessed by a child
Grammar/Editing: Aside from a couple of minor typos, this was a clean ARC.
Review: This quick-paced novel is set in a fantasy world with several kingdoms, two of which are featured in this installment, with others being briefly alluded to. There are no sweeping descriptions of the landscape in this book. Things are described as needed, and some locales are better developed than others. This is likely to expand, given that this is book one in the series. The nature of magic is minimally described (natural magic), but this is a major plot arc, so I imagine that more information will be revealed in subsequent installments.
Christal is a fiercely intelligent woman and skilled strategist. She also wants more in life than her society allows. Kiran is her match in both and, more than that, respects Christal for being herself. Their relationship is professional throughout most of the book – in fact, almost all of the romance occurs very late in the novel, and don’t expect the “L” word. That being said, they are still suited to one another and I looked forward to seeing where the next novel takes them. The supporting characters are developed in a “high fantasy lite” manner. That is, much of the development is “in the now” and there isn’t as much backstory as you would be lead to expect from most fantasy. Even so, Daire is an interesting fellow, and his mother, Princess Irmine, is a formidable villain.
Bean version: Its steady growth and guaranteed crop will make this bean a popular variety, even among timid gardeners.
Full disclosure: I received a free advance review copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 4, 2020
The Seeds of Power is a fantastic book that takes royal intrigue to a new level. Two kingdoms attempt a marriage alliance which will benefit both countries because of magical beans. Yes, I did say magical beans. No, this is not Jack and the Beanstalk. But I bet you're interested now, right?
As a botanist, Princess Christal knows a lot about crops and blights and insects. She also cares a great deal about helping her people. But she knows that her marriage is a matter of contracts and bargains and ultimately about the good it will bring for her family and her kingdom. Her sister died shortly after her marriage to a cruel man, and Christal has long assumed it would be her fate as well. Now it appears she can no longer avoid it.
Prince Daire is much younger than Christal and also something of an idiot. But his mother is in charge and she wants him to marry Christal, so he'll do his duty. Christal's skills are necessary for a problem with a top-secret crop that they will do anything to protect. But once she's solved their problems, will there still be a need for her or will she be considered an unnecessary risk to national security?
There are a lot of fun twists. Princess Christal is quite clever and she's not the only one. The story had a lot of unique ideas and interesting ways of connecting all of those ideas. While the end wrapped up neatly, there were a lot of changes, so the next book will tend to look quite different due to changes in the governing structure, the shifting lifestyles of the royals, and even which country the story will take place in.
My only critique is that there were several scenes that didn't fit the style of the book. In general, the author was very descriptive, as well as poetic in her word choices. But there is a scene in which Christal expresses that she doesn't know much about passion in a relationship and a scene with the couple undressing each other the night after their wedding that felt a bit too raw to fit the kind way people were described or spoke to each other previously in the story. The first was necessary to the story, but the writing felt wrong. The second scene didn't feel essential to the story at all - our imaginations could have filled it in for us.
Overall, I loved the book and look forward to reading book two.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
As a botanist, Princess Christal knows a lot about crops and blights and insects. She also cares a great deal about helping her people. But she knows that her marriage is a matter of contracts and bargains and ultimately about the good it will bring for her family and her kingdom. Her sister died shortly after her marriage to a cruel man, and Christal has long assumed it would be her fate as well. Now it appears she can no longer avoid it.
Prince Daire is much younger than Christal and also something of an idiot. But his mother is in charge and she wants him to marry Christal, so he'll do his duty. Christal's skills are necessary for a problem with a top-secret crop that they will do anything to protect. But once she's solved their problems, will there still be a need for her or will she be considered an unnecessary risk to national security?
There are a lot of fun twists. Princess Christal is quite clever and she's not the only one. The story had a lot of unique ideas and interesting ways of connecting all of those ideas. While the end wrapped up neatly, there were a lot of changes, so the next book will tend to look quite different due to changes in the governing structure, the shifting lifestyles of the royals, and even which country the story will take place in.
My only critique is that there were several scenes that didn't fit the style of the book. In general, the author was very descriptive, as well as poetic in her word choices. But there is a scene in which Christal expresses that she doesn't know much about passion in a relationship and a scene with the couple undressing each other the night after their wedding that felt a bit too raw to fit the kind way people were described or spoke to each other previously in the story. The first was necessary to the story, but the writing felt wrong. The second scene didn't feel essential to the story at all - our imaginations could have filled it in for us.
Overall, I loved the book and look forward to reading book two.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 26, 2020
I received an advance review copy for free from Book Sirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Jilly Wood’s The Seeds of Power is an intriguing read with a unique plot concept. After the first few chapters, I was hooked! The setting feels like a blend between fantasy and historical (leaning more heavily toward historical, albeit in a fantasy world). The main source of fantasy comes from the mysterious elan (as mentioned n the back cover), which features prominently throughout the story. There is a lot of political power plays going on, which I thought were great for keeping the pace moving quickly!
I liked that much of the plot centered around Christal’s abilities as a cultivator. Her skills and personality really shine through. She is a strong, clever, and independent character, whose compassion makes her beloved to her people and to the reader! The main characters are really well-developed, with distinct voices. I found Christal in particular to be a really deep character, with an interesting and heart-tugging backstory. I could have used more of Kiran’s backstory, but this may happen in the sequel. We get hints as to his history and what drives him, but I would have liked a little more! I also found myself wanting a little more of some of the sub-characters. I would have especially liked to learn more about Christal’s family. Wood does an excellent job of vividly bringing these characters to life, from Christal to Prince Daire.
The ending came a little too quickly for me! I realize that this is a setup for the sequel, but the final chapter ended up feeling a bit abrupt and left me with too many unanswered questions! I honestly hadn’t realized that I had finished it, since I was expecting more pages! It would have been great to have a little more wrapped up before the end, as some of it seems to happen out of the reader's view.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. The plot was interesting and moved quickly and the characters were well-developed with strong personalities. I look forward to reading the sequel!
Jilly Wood’s The Seeds of Power is an intriguing read with a unique plot concept. After the first few chapters, I was hooked! The setting feels like a blend between fantasy and historical (leaning more heavily toward historical, albeit in a fantasy world). The main source of fantasy comes from the mysterious elan (as mentioned n the back cover), which features prominently throughout the story. There is a lot of political power plays going on, which I thought were great for keeping the pace moving quickly!
I liked that much of the plot centered around Christal’s abilities as a cultivator. Her skills and personality really shine through. She is a strong, clever, and independent character, whose compassion makes her beloved to her people and to the reader! The main characters are really well-developed, with distinct voices. I found Christal in particular to be a really deep character, with an interesting and heart-tugging backstory. I could have used more of Kiran’s backstory, but this may happen in the sequel. We get hints as to his history and what drives him, but I would have liked a little more! I also found myself wanting a little more of some of the sub-characters. I would have especially liked to learn more about Christal’s family. Wood does an excellent job of vividly bringing these characters to life, from Christal to Prince Daire.
The ending came a little too quickly for me! I realize that this is a setup for the sequel, but the final chapter ended up feeling a bit abrupt and left me with too many unanswered questions! I honestly hadn’t realized that I had finished it, since I was expecting more pages! It would have been great to have a little more wrapped up before the end, as some of it seems to happen out of the reader's view.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. The plot was interesting and moved quickly and the characters were well-developed with strong personalities. I look forward to reading the sequel!
June 8, 2020
The writing and editing was super clean in the ARC version of this manuscript, with no typos that I found, and very pretty sentences and paragraphs. The world building was a vibrant character in itself. The characterization was top-notch, with the hero, heroine, and many of the supporting characters being vibrant, complicated individuals. The development of the romantic relationship in this fantasy novel was very well done, with me the reader able to watch these two characters fall deeply in love throughout the length of this novel. There were no on page love scenes, so mileage may vary for different readers. For me, the romance was deeply satisfying to read, even without on page love scenes. The plot and pacing was exciting and masterfully written, with me rapidly turning the pages to find out what was going to happen next. There was fairly low angst and very high stakes in this novel, which tends to be one of my preferred narrative structures for novels. The world building, plot, and pacing all rated five stars. The characterization and development of the romantic relationship also rated five stars. The combined score of this novel is therefore a well earned five stars. This book had a Happy Ever After ending for the hero and heroine instead of ending sadly or on a cliffhanger, so that is a big pus to this novel. I recommend this novel to readers who enjoy fantasy novels with a lot of political maneuvering. This novel would also have strong cross-genre appeal for readers of romance novels. I may buy myself a keeper copy of this novel, and I am certainly interested in reading the next novel in this series, if the author continues it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 6, 2021
The Seeds of Power by Jilly Wood is the first in the Elan Intrigues series. The main character, Christal, is a princess and her father is trying to marry her off. Christal is being forced into marriage with neighboring prince Daire. The reason her father is pushing this? To get the elan, the magical healing item Daire’s kingdom produces. The real question though is why Daire’s mother Is pushing for this marriage. To figure everything out Christal depends on Daire’s guard, Kiran, to help her solve the mystery and get out of the marriage.
This was a fun unique read. I appreciate that Christal’s strongest asset is her brain. Not beauty, not magic, but her intelligence and will. Automatically I rate this book higher because of that. Sometimes when you pick up unknown author its scary. You don’t know if you are getting a well written book, interesting premise, good world building, intriguing characters and so on. An unknown author is scary and as someone who has read some self-published and small publishing companies, I have read some books that need some love. Jilly Wood did an amazing job checking off a lot of those boxes and I will definitely be continuing this series. This was not the best book I have read but it was good and solid start to an interesting world. As of right now I have not attached to a character even though they are well written which is why it’s not a five star. I still recommend this book.
Four stars for an enjoyable read and hooking me into wanting to read the second book. Thank you to BookSirens and Jilly Wood for the free copy. This was an honest review.
This was a fun unique read. I appreciate that Christal’s strongest asset is her brain. Not beauty, not magic, but her intelligence and will. Automatically I rate this book higher because of that. Sometimes when you pick up unknown author its scary. You don’t know if you are getting a well written book, interesting premise, good world building, intriguing characters and so on. An unknown author is scary and as someone who has read some self-published and small publishing companies, I have read some books that need some love. Jilly Wood did an amazing job checking off a lot of those boxes and I will definitely be continuing this series. This was not the best book I have read but it was good and solid start to an interesting world. As of right now I have not attached to a character even though they are well written which is why it’s not a five star. I still recommend this book.
Four stars for an enjoyable read and hooking me into wanting to read the second book. Thank you to BookSirens and Jilly Wood for the free copy. This was an honest review.
August 4, 2021
There was a lot to like about this book -- especially the heroic trio of characters: prince, princess, guard. The political drama was well-written & the romance believable. I wasn't as much of a fan of the "bad" guys -- the prince's mother & the princess' father came off as rather one-dimensional. I loved the fact that the prince was wearing the midriff-baring outfits instead of the princess. Of all the characters, the elan prince was my favorite. He had a very poignant moment at the beginning of the story when he considers how terrible it would be to marry a woman smarter than him -- so self-aware! It was also a nice change to read a story that envisioned a medieval-eque world where agriculture is as difficult as it actually was & everyone lives on the edge of famine. Most second world fantasy only envision worlds where war is the only risk instead of disease and hunger.
I read the book in one day -- it moved really fast until the last 10%, which was a bit long for a wrap-up (though readers who are in it for the romance will likely find the ending quite satisfying). This courtly fantasy drama is just different enough from the standard fare to be both entertaining & a quick read.
There is no sex or violence, so I recommend for people looking for YA/NA fantasy. If this were a KU read, I'd give it 5+ stars; at a $3.00 price point, it's in the 4.75-5.00 range. While I tend to prefer darker reads, I liked this book enough that I'm adding the author to my "follow" list. Thanks to BookSirens for the ARC. While I received a free copy, these are my honest opinions & I based my rating on the market price.
I read the book in one day -- it moved really fast until the last 10%, which was a bit long for a wrap-up (though readers who are in it for the romance will likely find the ending quite satisfying). This courtly fantasy drama is just different enough from the standard fare to be both entertaining & a quick read.
There is no sex or violence, so I recommend for people looking for YA/NA fantasy. If this were a KU read, I'd give it 5+ stars; at a $3.00 price point, it's in the 4.75-5.00 range. While I tend to prefer darker reads, I liked this book enough that I'm adding the author to my "follow" list. Thanks to BookSirens for the ARC. While I received a free copy, these are my honest opinions & I based my rating on the market price.
May 25, 2020
If you are desiring waif-like damsels in distress in desperate need of rescuing, angst-filled love triangles, and a staid predictable plot - this is NOT the book for you. Seeds of Power is filled with courtly politicking, devious dictators, magical gardening, and disastrous dancing - along with a brilliant princess, a flashy prince, and a steadfast soldier just trying to do what is right.
The language and pacing of the book flowed like a river - sometimes sweet and descriptive, and other times rapid and heart-racing. I was never once bored or tempted to skip ahead. The lead characters were easy to connect with, the created world of the two magical kingdoms were fully fleshed out and simple to invision. I couldn't help but cheer for the Heroes victories and boo at the Villians machinations - like watching a melodrama unfold on stage, but better because there were no cookie-cutter characters or trite lines to mock the reader's intelligence. I was swept up in the story because I could identify with the characters on a real and valued level.
I am genuinely looking forward to the next installment of this series. I want to know what comes next in the lives of Daire, Christal, and Kiren. I recommend this book to those that enjoy the works of Sharon Shinn, Clare Dunkle, and fans of stories with a strong leading lady.
* Special thanks to BookSirens and the publisher for granting me an eARC in return for my honest review. *
The language and pacing of the book flowed like a river - sometimes sweet and descriptive, and other times rapid and heart-racing. I was never once bored or tempted to skip ahead. The lead characters were easy to connect with, the created world of the two magical kingdoms were fully fleshed out and simple to invision. I couldn't help but cheer for the Heroes victories and boo at the Villians machinations - like watching a melodrama unfold on stage, but better because there were no cookie-cutter characters or trite lines to mock the reader's intelligence. I was swept up in the story because I could identify with the characters on a real and valued level.
I am genuinely looking forward to the next installment of this series. I want to know what comes next in the lives of Daire, Christal, and Kiren. I recommend this book to those that enjoy the works of Sharon Shinn, Clare Dunkle, and fans of stories with a strong leading lady.
* Special thanks to BookSirens and the publisher for granting me an eARC in return for my honest review. *
August 31, 2020
Jane Austen and the Magic Beans. That pretty much sums up this book.
A society very familiar to Jane Austen fans is placed in a fantasy setting. Powerful beans produce elan, a substance that cures all wounds and illnesses. It is controlled by one kingdom, but, when there is a problem with the production, they need help from outside. Enter Chrystal, a princess from another kingdom who is also a talented Cultivator, and the plan is for her to marry into the kingdom and save the elan. But she is not into that at all.
Overall, this book was quite well-written and the world-building is well-constructed. Admittedly, I was skeptical, but I ended up surprised at how well it fit together.
I was disappointed with the last third though. I think that the book had so much potential, but I also think that the world was bigger than the author's ambitions. There was so much I wanted to happen, so much excitement, but I felt that the book was oddly constrained by the mores of Austen world. I wanted epic scenes, but felt limited to pursed lips and parlor scenes. I also thought that the book wrapped up too easily, as did the romance that I knew was coming, but still seemed to show up too suddenly.
I realize it's the first of a series, so perhaps the author has more plans for exploration and more ambitious storytelling.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A society very familiar to Jane Austen fans is placed in a fantasy setting. Powerful beans produce elan, a substance that cures all wounds and illnesses. It is controlled by one kingdom, but, when there is a problem with the production, they need help from outside. Enter Chrystal, a princess from another kingdom who is also a talented Cultivator, and the plan is for her to marry into the kingdom and save the elan. But she is not into that at all.
Overall, this book was quite well-written and the world-building is well-constructed. Admittedly, I was skeptical, but I ended up surprised at how well it fit together.
I was disappointed with the last third though. I think that the book had so much potential, but I also think that the world was bigger than the author's ambitions. There was so much I wanted to happen, so much excitement, but I felt that the book was oddly constrained by the mores of Austen world. I wanted epic scenes, but felt limited to pursed lips and parlor scenes. I also thought that the book wrapped up too easily, as did the romance that I knew was coming, but still seemed to show up too suddenly.
I realize it's the first of a series, so perhaps the author has more plans for exploration and more ambitious storytelling.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 30, 2020
I received a free copy of this bookvia booksirens in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this book would be more fantasy based, so if you go into looking for magic, and a book full of fantasy you will be disappointed. But if you looking for a book that a historical feel, that has great characters and lots of court intrique, you will be pleased.
It was an intriquing take on a plot that seems to be quite common these days. A princess who is set to marry off for advantage, yet she doesn't want to. I liked that this did not follow the normal set of rules, although I had worked out early on what was going to happen. It did not stop me enjoying it any though.
Christal was a great main character, she let her past get in her way sometimes but it gave her depth. I want to know more about the Elan plant/ seed, that is the part I was really interested in.I am guessing it will be explained more in the next book, although I do not think I will be reading it. I found that for me ending was good enough.
This book is heavy on romance and lots of love for family. There was a little bit of friendship but Chrital didn't seem to have any friends, which I didn't find odd until now, it wasn't like it was because she was a princess, it was just never mentioned in any context.
Overall a slow paced book full of interesting characters.
4 out of 5 stars
I thought this book would be more fantasy based, so if you go into looking for magic, and a book full of fantasy you will be disappointed. But if you looking for a book that a historical feel, that has great characters and lots of court intrique, you will be pleased.
It was an intriquing take on a plot that seems to be quite common these days. A princess who is set to marry off for advantage, yet she doesn't want to. I liked that this did not follow the normal set of rules, although I had worked out early on what was going to happen. It did not stop me enjoying it any though.
Christal was a great main character, she let her past get in her way sometimes but it gave her depth. I want to know more about the Elan plant/ seed, that is the part I was really interested in.I am guessing it will be explained more in the next book, although I do not think I will be reading it. I found that for me ending was good enough.
This book is heavy on romance and lots of love for family. There was a little bit of friendship but Chrital didn't seem to have any friends, which I didn't find odd until now, it wasn't like it was because she was a princess, it was just never mentioned in any context.
Overall a slow paced book full of interesting characters.
4 out of 5 stars
May 4, 2021
I saw a review on Amazon which described this as 'Gamne of Thrones - with a lot less gore' and that did it for me. Jilly Wood does political intrigue very well indeed, and alongside an independent, feisty heroine and a swoonworthy, well-built hero, she's set off her series with a well-plotted very well written debut novel.
Princess Christal is determined to stay single, not wanting to be a political pawn. She also has a lot to protect, including her skills in cultivation. When Prince Edevald comes knocking for her hand, she's looking for a way out. This is provided by the Prince's man, Kiren Ramsden, who is drawn to her for all the right reasons - yes, she's gorgeous, but also, as a man of unflinching bravery himself, he sees that reflected in her. The scene is set for a daring escape...
Not that that looks very likely, I have to say. Jilly Wood has created a supporting cast of characters (set for their own books, I hope) who seem determined to trip them up (Daire Edvald seems frankly hilariously vacuous, and his mother, Princess Irmine is brilliantly vile). Can the mix of Christal's ingenuity and Kiren's unwavering strength save her future?
The world building is wonderful and then, like the best of all world building, very lightly laid over an excellent plot. I’m already looking forward to the next in the series.
Princess Christal is determined to stay single, not wanting to be a political pawn. She also has a lot to protect, including her skills in cultivation. When Prince Edevald comes knocking for her hand, she's looking for a way out. This is provided by the Prince's man, Kiren Ramsden, who is drawn to her for all the right reasons - yes, she's gorgeous, but also, as a man of unflinching bravery himself, he sees that reflected in her. The scene is set for a daring escape...
Not that that looks very likely, I have to say. Jilly Wood has created a supporting cast of characters (set for their own books, I hope) who seem determined to trip them up (Daire Edvald seems frankly hilariously vacuous, and his mother, Princess Irmine is brilliantly vile). Can the mix of Christal's ingenuity and Kiren's unwavering strength save her future?
The world building is wonderful and then, like the best of all world building, very lightly laid over an excellent plot. I’m already looking forward to the next in the series.
December 26, 2019
A very well written book filled with intruige and scheming!
The world Jilly Wood builds up is captivating and interesting, we get to explore the customs and way of Life of two different countries, Larrochar and Caldermor. We experience the story from two different points of view, Princess Christal and Captain Randsen. The author manages to let the personalities of both character shine through in the way the story is told between them, and as I read the book I felt both Christal's desperation for freedom and Randsen's sense of honour.
The book is a classic fantasy knight love-story, with a twist. Christal lives on her own terms and is determined not to be bought or sold as chattle. She is opposed any marriage since she lost her sister to domestic abuse. While she's racing against the clock, since her father is determined to marry her to Prince Daire of Caldermore, she tries to uncover the secret of the magic bean called Elan - which happens to be the main export of Caldermore.
Instead of putting love at the centre of the story, Jilly Wood creates a strong willed heroine who is neither afraid of getting her hands dirty or to live out her days without a husband. The book is a fresh breeze, and I cannot wait to read the sequel!
The world Jilly Wood builds up is captivating and interesting, we get to explore the customs and way of Life of two different countries, Larrochar and Caldermor. We experience the story from two different points of view, Princess Christal and Captain Randsen. The author manages to let the personalities of both character shine through in the way the story is told between them, and as I read the book I felt both Christal's desperation for freedom and Randsen's sense of honour.
The book is a classic fantasy knight love-story, with a twist. Christal lives on her own terms and is determined not to be bought or sold as chattle. She is opposed any marriage since she lost her sister to domestic abuse. While she's racing against the clock, since her father is determined to marry her to Prince Daire of Caldermore, she tries to uncover the secret of the magic bean called Elan - which happens to be the main export of Caldermore.
Instead of putting love at the centre of the story, Jilly Wood creates a strong willed heroine who is neither afraid of getting her hands dirty or to live out her days without a husband. The book is a fresh breeze, and I cannot wait to read the sequel!
December 17, 2019
I received this novel from net galley and the publisher. Thank you! all thoughts and opinions are my own.
This novel was an interesting read. The story alternates in third person between Princess Christal of Larrochar and Captain Kiran Randsen. Christal is rather independent for a women, intelligent, and cunning. She uses those to avoid marriage and cultivate plants. She is curious about elan and how it is grown, for all her research has not lead to fruitful results. Kiran is a soldier, whom is loyal and honorable. He is immediately intrigued by Christal, but she is a princess. Kiran serves as a liaison between Christal and Prince Daire of Caldermor, whom she is supposed to become betrothed to so her father can get more elan. Christal will do whatever she can to protect those she loves, even marriage, but Christal is cunning and proposes alternative ideas. Christal's own inquisitiveness will lead her down a dangerous path and create an enemy who desires her knowledge and talent. Christal will have to put her trust in Kiran before she is forced to take drastic measures to secure her own freedom.
This novel was an interesting read. The story alternates in third person between Princess Christal of Larrochar and Captain Kiran Randsen. Christal is rather independent for a women, intelligent, and cunning. She uses those to avoid marriage and cultivate plants. She is curious about elan and how it is grown, for all her research has not lead to fruitful results. Kiran is a soldier, whom is loyal and honorable. He is immediately intrigued by Christal, but she is a princess. Kiran serves as a liaison between Christal and Prince Daire of Caldermor, whom she is supposed to become betrothed to so her father can get more elan. Christal will do whatever she can to protect those she loves, even marriage, but Christal is cunning and proposes alternative ideas. Christal's own inquisitiveness will lead her down a dangerous path and create an enemy who desires her knowledge and talent. Christal will have to put her trust in Kiran before she is forced to take drastic measures to secure her own freedom.
March 14, 2020
My wife was given this book as a present; it's not normally my kind of book (I'd probably have dismissed it as chick-lit) but I'd read everything else on my shelves so I gave it a go... and really enjoyed it.
It's set in a fantasy world (Caldermor) but feels, to me, like middle ages - it's swords and horses not shotguns and cars. The characters are believable despite being set in a fantasy world, with the female lead (Princess Christal) written as a modern woman with a job (as a gardener / chemist) and is happily single. The story is about how she side-steps (almost literally) a politically-expedient, arranged marriage, out-manoeuvres the hag of a mother of the prince she's supposed to marry and in the process helps the prince find a bit of a backbone to stand up to his mother. The seeds of the title are elan - a valuable crop that is threatened with a disease that gardener Christal has the potential to help save, so she is of great value politically herself.
The book doesn't resolve the issues with elan so I expect there will be future books, which I will read. I hope at least a few other men will join me in Caldermor.
It's set in a fantasy world (Caldermor) but feels, to me, like middle ages - it's swords and horses not shotguns and cars. The characters are believable despite being set in a fantasy world, with the female lead (Princess Christal) written as a modern woman with a job (as a gardener / chemist) and is happily single. The story is about how she side-steps (almost literally) a politically-expedient, arranged marriage, out-manoeuvres the hag of a mother of the prince she's supposed to marry and in the process helps the prince find a bit of a backbone to stand up to his mother. The seeds of the title are elan - a valuable crop that is threatened with a disease that gardener Christal has the potential to help save, so she is of great value politically herself.
The book doesn't resolve the issues with elan so I expect there will be future books, which I will read. I hope at least a few other men will join me in Caldermor.
July 5, 2023
I read this book because I have the privilege of being an advanced copy reader of the second book in the series, The Seeds of Destiny. I like to start with the first book in any series so that I fully understand all the settings, characters and writing style.
Jilly Wood is a new author for me but I will be eagerly awaiting subsequent books and delving into her back catalogue for more.
I do not include spoilers in my reviews so you can read on with confidence.
We meet Princes Christal, a cultivator and very independent woman who does not wish to be married to Daire Edevald, who she considers to be a ‘Pointless Prince’ dressed in jewels, gold and finery, and several years her junior. His mother, the Dowerger Princess Irmine, dominates him, rules Caldermor with a rod of iron and expects her every demand to be met immediately.
Princess Irmine has decreed that Daire will marry Christal, she will no accept defeat! Christal will not give in and does not wish to give up her cultivation, to become a man’s chattel and brood mare, under the strong ruling of Irmine. Does she succeed in getting out of this impasse? You will have to read the book to find out but it will not disappoint!
I look forward to reading The Seeds of Destiny.
Jilly Wood is a new author for me but I will be eagerly awaiting subsequent books and delving into her back catalogue for more.
I do not include spoilers in my reviews so you can read on with confidence.
We meet Princes Christal, a cultivator and very independent woman who does not wish to be married to Daire Edevald, who she considers to be a ‘Pointless Prince’ dressed in jewels, gold and finery, and several years her junior. His mother, the Dowerger Princess Irmine, dominates him, rules Caldermor with a rod of iron and expects her every demand to be met immediately.
Princess Irmine has decreed that Daire will marry Christal, she will no accept defeat! Christal will not give in and does not wish to give up her cultivation, to become a man’s chattel and brood mare, under the strong ruling of Irmine. Does she succeed in getting out of this impasse? You will have to read the book to find out but it will not disappoint!
I look forward to reading The Seeds of Destiny.
May 13, 2021
This is the first volume of a very promising series. It follows the story of a princess who wants to avoid a loveless political marriage to follow her path as a Cultivator. However, there is more to this political alliance that she believes.
I liked this novel because it set the world perfectly for further development. I can honestly say that it worked really well as an appetizer because it left you hungry for more. It introduced the magic and the characters quite well and I will definitely read the next volume to have all the answers to my questions.
There were still a few points that didn't quite convince me. The end of this novel felt a bit rushed and the resolution simplistic. I think it would have profited from a hundred pages more for better development. I felt the same also for the development of the romance (even though I liked the match).
You should definitely read this novel though because it is a good entertainment that was well- written overall.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I liked this novel because it set the world perfectly for further development. I can honestly say that it worked really well as an appetizer because it left you hungry for more. It introduced the magic and the characters quite well and I will definitely read the next volume to have all the answers to my questions.
There were still a few points that didn't quite convince me. The end of this novel felt a bit rushed and the resolution simplistic. I think it would have profited from a hundred pages more for better development. I felt the same also for the development of the romance (even though I liked the match).
You should definitely read this novel though because it is a good entertainment that was well- written overall.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 12, 2020
The Seeds of Power has a unique storyline that moves a little slow but about midway things really pick up. It is a thoughtful story with a strong, positive female as the lead protagonist, sprinkled with a villain or two, and pinch of romance.
The premise of the story is a Princess who wishes not to marry and tries to outwit her future husband and mother-in-law. The marriage would come at a cost, but her father does not think of anyone but himself. He is selfish and makes a match of his daughter with a wealthy kingdom’s princess to secure her own selfish reasons at any cost.
I really enjoyed this book because it was a story that I have never read before since it was really original. It’s nice to read a fresh story in a new world that has not been written about. I look forward to the next book in the series.
This is a delightful story and I rated it with four solid stars, but it is more like 4 1/2 stars for a great storyline, likable characters and uniqueness.
The premise of the story is a Princess who wishes not to marry and tries to outwit her future husband and mother-in-law. The marriage would come at a cost, but her father does not think of anyone but himself. He is selfish and makes a match of his daughter with a wealthy kingdom’s princess to secure her own selfish reasons at any cost.
I really enjoyed this book because it was a story that I have never read before since it was really original. It’s nice to read a fresh story in a new world that has not been written about. I look forward to the next book in the series.
This is a delightful story and I rated it with four solid stars, but it is more like 4 1/2 stars for a great storyline, likable characters and uniqueness.
September 17, 2020
Entertainment as a quick, fun read? 4 stars.
Originality? 1 star.
Hence, 3 stars overall.
This book had two potential paths - to the left lay a unique tale about a female trio consisting of royal cultivator, her assistant (oh, who happens to be princess), and a niece taken under their wing who is learning the craft as well; to the right, an antiquated, improbable love story that ends in a "happily ever after" at any cost.
Much to my dismay, this book took a hard right without even a cursory backwards glance to see anyone's reaction at the decision.
As such, the story line ended up reminding me very much of "The Selection" (minus the horde of other girls). Which is to say, this is a young audience fairytale romance novel that I feel silly (as a supposed grown up) for enjoying... but not enjoying nearly as much as I would have had the story taken the left path instead.
~ This review is my voluntarily given honest opinion of this work after reading a free ARC via BookSirens ~
Originality? 1 star.
Hence, 3 stars overall.
This book had two potential paths - to the left lay a unique tale about a female trio consisting of royal cultivator, her assistant (oh, who happens to be princess), and a niece taken under their wing who is learning the craft as well; to the right, an antiquated, improbable love story that ends in a "happily ever after" at any cost.
Much to my dismay, this book took a hard right without even a cursory backwards glance to see anyone's reaction at the decision.
As such, the story line ended up reminding me very much of "The Selection" (minus the horde of other girls). Which is to say, this is a young audience fairytale romance novel that I feel silly (as a supposed grown up) for enjoying... but not enjoying nearly as much as I would have had the story taken the left path instead.
~ This review is my voluntarily given honest opinion of this work after reading a free ARC via BookSirens ~
December 21, 2019
If you enjoy kick-ass princesses, chivalrous knights, and a prince who understand the value of clever and loyal friends.... this is the book for you.
An utterly enjoyable page-turner of tale of an unwilling princess from a neighbouring kingdom, a chivalrous knight, and a prince caught between his scheming mother (dun dun dunnnn the evil queen!) and doing the right thing. The princess is no damsel in distress; in fact each of the main characters are a delight, and I was cheering for them as they grappled with an increasingly complex tangle of politics and evil schemes.
I cannot wait to read the next book in the Elan Intrigues series.
I should probably also add I nearly missed my stop at London Bridge as I was so engrossed...and then was a Bad Mom and let my kid watch TV all afternoon so I could keep reading!
An utterly enjoyable page-turner of tale of an unwilling princess from a neighbouring kingdom, a chivalrous knight, and a prince caught between his scheming mother (dun dun dunnnn the evil queen!) and doing the right thing. The princess is no damsel in distress; in fact each of the main characters are a delight, and I was cheering for them as they grappled with an increasingly complex tangle of politics and evil schemes.
I cannot wait to read the next book in the Elan Intrigues series.
I should probably also add I nearly missed my stop at London Bridge as I was so engrossed...and then was a Bad Mom and let my kid watch TV all afternoon so I could keep reading!
December 7, 2022
3.5 stars
This book is a light, sweet fantasy with a romantic subplot. It has been sitting in my TBR pile for a while, but I finally read it. I'm glad I did. It is quiet but enjoyable. If I was thinking about a cinematic representation of this story, it wouldn't be a grim series like The Game of Thrones. Instead, it would be a Japanese anime, bubbly with music, color, and magic, like a Miyazaki film.
From the beginning, the tension is thrumming, while the characters are trying to discover their way to the happy conclusion. Although the villain in the story is as cartoonish as they come, the hero and the heroine still have to wade through the labyrinth of problems before they can find their HEA.
A delightful little novel. I will definitely read its sequel. I want to know what happens next.
This book is a light, sweet fantasy with a romantic subplot. It has been sitting in my TBR pile for a while, but I finally read it. I'm glad I did. It is quiet but enjoyable. If I was thinking about a cinematic representation of this story, it wouldn't be a grim series like The Game of Thrones. Instead, it would be a Japanese anime, bubbly with music, color, and magic, like a Miyazaki film.
From the beginning, the tension is thrumming, while the characters are trying to discover their way to the happy conclusion. Although the villain in the story is as cartoonish as they come, the hero and the heroine still have to wade through the labyrinth of problems before they can find their HEA.
A delightful little novel. I will definitely read its sequel. I want to know what happens next.
June 7, 2020
I felt this book started out extremely slow, almost too slow. I really liked the character Christal, she seems independant, strong and smart. Her qualities prevail in certain situations in the book, which is quite nice. Some parts were predictable and I didn't like the vast amount of predictability. I was also under the impression that this was a romance novel, while there was some romance right at the end, it lacked that portion anywhere else in the book. To me that was a major let down when it's listed as a fantasy romance. I probably will not read further into the series, if there is one. It wasn't enough to catch my attention.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 5, 2021
This is my first book from this author and I liked it. The world that is created by Jilly is full of fantasy tropes, but with a little different twist.
It took me a while to get into the book, but about halfway through I was hooked. Some of the writing was a bit wonky and it was a bit slow in the beginning. I felt like I would get forward a few pages and the bot really know what was going on.
BUT, I towards the middle I bought into it and drank the KoolAde. There is power in the earth and Christal is a talented grower. Now, she needs to unlock the ancient secret of elan before she loses her identity as an independent woman. Cool? Right? Throw in a handsome and rugged stranger and you got me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It took me a while to get into the book, but about halfway through I was hooked. Some of the writing was a bit wonky and it was a bit slow in the beginning. I felt like I would get forward a few pages and the bot really know what was going on.
BUT, I towards the middle I bought into it and drank the KoolAde. There is power in the earth and Christal is a talented grower. Now, she needs to unlock the ancient secret of elan before she loses her identity as an independent woman. Cool? Right? Throw in a handsome and rugged stranger and you got me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 15, 2021
I would venture to call this a cosy fantasy romance. The action takes place in and around Larroch Fort and involves a small number of characters negotiating a royal marriage/alliance while figuring out the mystery of elan, a magic bean. There was nothing that I really disliked about the book, it just somehow didn’t work for me as regards either the story or the romance. Scenes that should have been full of drama and suspense fell flat and, despite the threat of Princess Irmine, it never felt to me like there was any real danger. Likewise, I didn’t feel any chemistry between Christal and Kiran. I liked that Christal was an expert cultivator, and as such had skills that allowed her to rescue herself and others, but overall, it just wasn’t a story I was able to get excited about.
I received a copy from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
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