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The Heirs of Willow North #1
Ally of the Crown
Fiona, cursed with the power to ignite fire in a country where magic is illegal, wants to start a new life for herself, far from the mistakes of her past.
A case of mistaken identity tangles her fortunes with those of the mysterious Sebastian, who intends to stop a blackmailer from destroying his family. Asked to help Sebastian infiltrate a sacred temple to find the damning evidence, Fiona soon goes from reluctant companion to trusted ally.
But Sebastian’s secrets go deeper than Fiona realizes. What began as a simple heist becomes a web of intrigue entangling the governments of two countries. As Fiona’s deceptions grow deeper, she must find a way to redeem her honor—and embrace a future she believes impossible.
A case of mistaken identity tangles her fortunes with those of the mysterious Sebastian, who intends to stop a blackmailer from destroying his family. Asked to help Sebastian infiltrate a sacred temple to find the damning evidence, Fiona soon goes from reluctant companion to trusted ally.
But Sebastian’s secrets go deeper than Fiona realizes. What began as a simple heist becomes a web of intrigue entangling the governments of two countries. As Fiona’s deceptions grow deeper, she must find a way to redeem her honor—and embrace a future she believes impossible.
394 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 17, 2020
30 people are currently reading
196 people want to read
About the author
Melissa McShane
94 books860 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 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 8, 2020
It's a new time period, a new country (Veribold), and a new set of characters to meet in Ally of the Crown, set in between Melissa McShane's other Crown of Tremontane books. It's a fun mix of fantasy adventure and romance: Fiona has firestarter type of magical powers that can be more trouble than use; starting fires while dreaming is the worst danger, but there's also the problem that magical powers are viewed with so much suspicion because of abuses by mages in the past, that many people will kill magic-wielding people on sight, even hunting them down.
Fiona is recently divorced and at loose ends, so when she's sort of accidentally kidnapped by a mysterious man named Sebastian and his manservant, she decides to help them recover some documents from a blackmailer. Unfortunately the blackmailer lives in the country of Veribold, where foreigners are kept under a close eye, and the blackmailer is a powerful politician. So Sebastian has concocted a rather complicated and unlikely plan to access the blackmailer's office, and Fiona is the linchpin of that plan.
I wasn't entirely convinced with the speed and intensity of the romance, but the main characters are likeable (especially Sebastian, though he gets off on the wrong foot with Fiona). Sebastian's powerful mother and the woman who's the blackmailer were interesting characters in their own right, but we didn't really get to see enough of them.
3.75 stars. Full review to come. I received a review copy of this book from the author. Thank you!
Fiona is recently divorced and at loose ends, so when she's sort of accidentally kidnapped by a mysterious man named Sebastian and his manservant, she decides to help them recover some documents from a blackmailer. Unfortunately the blackmailer lives in the country of Veribold, where foreigners are kept under a close eye, and the blackmailer is a powerful politician. So Sebastian has concocted a rather complicated and unlikely plan to access the blackmailer's office, and Fiona is the linchpin of that plan.
I wasn't entirely convinced with the speed and intensity of the romance, but the main characters are likeable (especially Sebastian, though he gets off on the wrong foot with Fiona). Sebastian's powerful mother and the woman who's the blackmailer were interesting characters in their own right, but we didn't really get to see enough of them.
3.75 stars. Full review to come. I received a review copy of this book from the author. Thank you!
Read
August 4, 2025Re-read 10/23/22: So, having read the Willow North books to see if they could bear the weight of being the entry point to the series (as well as trying to stay sane on a 17-hour flight from India), I decided, sure, why not keep going? And then I looked at my reading history for this book. This is the FIFTH TIME I have read this book. I think I may have a problem.
The thing is, I really like this one and I don't know why. Possibly because it marks the beginning of my exploration of religious faith, a topic that fascinates me, and possibly because I have a soft spot for pyrokineticists of all types. It works fine as a next step in the Tremontane series, too. I'd like to reissue all of these renumbered so readers get them in true chronological order, and re-reading the whole series seems like a good way to make sure that's possible.
Read Jan. 27, 2020 (my birthday!): So this book had an unusual genesis. (This is a long story. Bear with me.) I was writing Voyager of the Crown and I got stuck. Like, really, seriously stuck. To the point that I wondered if I'd chosen the wrong story for Zara North. I decided to try again, starting over with nothing but Zara and Ransom as characters. The new story would be set mostly in the country of Veribold, a place I hadn't explored before, and would be in every way different from the jungle adventure of the first attempt.
What I discovered immediately was that all the characters were different. Zara was less certain of herself. Ransom became less irascible and more friendly. There was a religious community that wasn't what I'd expected. I would say the book went off the rails, except it was more like it was unfolding in front of me and turning into something interesting.
It took about 60,000 words for me to realize I wasn't writing Zara's book. This was something completely different.
So I had a bit of a meltdown because I now had two incomplete, unfinishable books, neither of which seemed to have an ending. I had started version two because I couldn't complete version one; I'd started version one because Guardian of the Crown wasn't going well, and basically I hadn't managed to complete anything for what felt like forever. Ultimately, I found a way through Guardian, and after that I began writing The Last Oracle, and I set both unfinished books aside for about a year and a half.
Having cleared my head by writing what according to my records is eight other books, I finally returned to Voyager and found an ending for it. And then I started looking at this other Tremontane novel. I really liked it. I liked the characters, who were definitely not Ransom and Zara. It had potential. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized I was looking at the beginning of a new series.
So I did a little more planning. Changing the character names was simple. Giving the former Ransom (now Sebastian) a different role in the story helped bring it all together. And finding a link to the North family turned out to be obvious. And suddenly, instead of 60K words of failure, I had a solid two-thirds of a new novel.
Ally of the Crown is set in the time following Willow North's rule, about eighty years after Pretender to the Crown. It is a time when magic is feared and hated, and anyone suspected of being an Ascendant or even a potential Ascendant might be the victim of vigilante justice. The main character, Fiona, has the inherent magic of fire-starting, and between this and her recent divorce, she's at loose ends for being able to settle down. Meeting the mysterious Sebastian offers her a chance at adventure. And I finally got to explore Veribold, which I'd known bits and pieces about, as well as addressing more directly the Tremontanan attitudes toward religion.
So there I was, merrily writing away...and I got stuck again. Just as hard as the first time with Voyager. It was the most deeply frustrating experience of my writing life, worse than getting halfway into Abounding Might and realizing it was the wrong story.
So I did what I always do when I get stuck. I wrote another series. All of Company of Strangers was written while I let the unfinished book stew in the back of my head.
Finally, out of distractions and unwilling to start another new project, I made myself focus. And the book came together. It turned out I was closer to the end than I'd expected, and it didn't take long to complete. And I loved it. It was a satisfying story with a satisfying romance, and I liked how Fiona's character turned out.
So that's the tale of how Ally of the Crown came to be. It has always bothered me that there's a 200-year gap between the Willow North Saga and the "main" Crown of Tremontane series, especially since I have the entire North family tree mapped out and there are all these people who I know have interesting stories who fit into that gap. Ally is part of filling that gap. Later this year, I'll release the sequel, Stranger to the Crown, which I love even more than Ally and which also has an interesting genesis story--but that's something for later. I hope readers enjoy this book.
The thing is, I really like this one and I don't know why. Possibly because it marks the beginning of my exploration of religious faith, a topic that fascinates me, and possibly because I have a soft spot for pyrokineticists of all types. It works fine as a next step in the Tremontane series, too. I'd like to reissue all of these renumbered so readers get them in true chronological order, and re-reading the whole series seems like a good way to make sure that's possible.
Read Jan. 27, 2020 (my birthday!): So this book had an unusual genesis. (This is a long story. Bear with me.) I was writing Voyager of the Crown and I got stuck. Like, really, seriously stuck. To the point that I wondered if I'd chosen the wrong story for Zara North. I decided to try again, starting over with nothing but Zara and Ransom as characters. The new story would be set mostly in the country of Veribold, a place I hadn't explored before, and would be in every way different from the jungle adventure of the first attempt.
What I discovered immediately was that all the characters were different. Zara was less certain of herself. Ransom became less irascible and more friendly. There was a religious community that wasn't what I'd expected. I would say the book went off the rails, except it was more like it was unfolding in front of me and turning into something interesting.
It took about 60,000 words for me to realize I wasn't writing Zara's book. This was something completely different.
So I had a bit of a meltdown because I now had two incomplete, unfinishable books, neither of which seemed to have an ending. I had started version two because I couldn't complete version one; I'd started version one because Guardian of the Crown wasn't going well, and basically I hadn't managed to complete anything for what felt like forever. Ultimately, I found a way through Guardian, and after that I began writing The Last Oracle, and I set both unfinished books aside for about a year and a half.
Having cleared my head by writing what according to my records is eight other books, I finally returned to Voyager and found an ending for it. And then I started looking at this other Tremontane novel. I really liked it. I liked the characters, who were definitely not Ransom and Zara. It had potential. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized I was looking at the beginning of a new series.
So I did a little more planning. Changing the character names was simple. Giving the former Ransom (now Sebastian) a different role in the story helped bring it all together. And finding a link to the North family turned out to be obvious. And suddenly, instead of 60K words of failure, I had a solid two-thirds of a new novel.
Ally of the Crown is set in the time following Willow North's rule, about eighty years after Pretender to the Crown. It is a time when magic is feared and hated, and anyone suspected of being an Ascendant or even a potential Ascendant might be the victim of vigilante justice. The main character, Fiona, has the inherent magic of fire-starting, and between this and her recent divorce, she's at loose ends for being able to settle down. Meeting the mysterious Sebastian offers her a chance at adventure. And I finally got to explore Veribold, which I'd known bits and pieces about, as well as addressing more directly the Tremontanan attitudes toward religion.
So there I was, merrily writing away...and I got stuck again. Just as hard as the first time with Voyager. It was the most deeply frustrating experience of my writing life, worse than getting halfway into Abounding Might and realizing it was the wrong story.
So I did what I always do when I get stuck. I wrote another series. All of Company of Strangers was written while I let the unfinished book stew in the back of my head.
Finally, out of distractions and unwilling to start another new project, I made myself focus. And the book came together. It turned out I was closer to the end than I'd expected, and it didn't take long to complete. And I loved it. It was a satisfying story with a satisfying romance, and I liked how Fiona's character turned out.
So that's the tale of how Ally of the Crown came to be. It has always bothered me that there's a 200-year gap between the Willow North Saga and the "main" Crown of Tremontane series, especially since I have the entire North family tree mapped out and there are all these people who I know have interesting stories who fit into that gap. Ally is part of filling that gap. Later this year, I'll release the sequel, Stranger to the Crown, which I love even more than Ally and which also has an interesting genesis story--but that's something for later. I hope readers enjoy this book.
March 19, 2020
My still-non-standard disclaimer applies. Melissa is very dear to me as an author, friend, and spouse. I strive for honesty but there's no doubt that my objectivity is in question.
I really love Melissa's strong female leads and Fiona is an excellent example. She's strong and determined and capable, though not without her flaws and weaknesses. I love that she doesn't give herself the luxury of comfortable lies. But what I like most about her character in this story is seeing her embark on a spiritual journey she never knew she wanted or needed. Yes, that is in the background and it's easy to get caught up in the action plot, but that spiritual awakening is evident as it moves forward and things she wouldn't have hesitated in doing at the start of our story become very uncomfortable later on (like lying to Hien, the head priestess at the temple).
And Sebastian is just lovely. He, too, is doing his best and I love that he keeps trying even after setbacks make things seem impossible. And I particularly like how Fiona's uncomfortable strengths are the very things that draw him in so strongly. His respect and care for her is a highlight of the story, I think.
Anyway, I'll leave it at that. This plot moves very quickly and the rising action is very gripping. Indeed, I found that I had to pace myself while reading it this time, but that's mostly an artifact of having read it a couple of times while it was being written. So I took a pause just before I knew a flight scene was coming up, for example, and that delayed me getting this review closer to the release date this time around. Well, that and work getting a bit weird what with my entire team trying to coordinate working remotely.
A note about internal timeline: For those interested, this book is about 80 years post-Willow North. We meet one of Willow's sons during the story and he is very old. At this point, you can kind of see the memory of her starting to accrete legendary status with lots of people thinking they know what she would have done or wanted. Sometimes they're probably right. But other times, it's mostly a projection of their own values.
A note about Chaste: Fiona starts this story a couple months after her divorce so she is no fainting miss. By the end,
I really love Melissa's strong female leads and Fiona is an excellent example. She's strong and determined and capable, though not without her flaws and weaknesses. I love that she doesn't give herself the luxury of comfortable lies. But what I like most about her character in this story is seeing her embark on a spiritual journey she never knew she wanted or needed. Yes, that is in the background and it's easy to get caught up in the action plot, but that spiritual awakening is evident as it moves forward and things she wouldn't have hesitated in doing at the start of our story become very uncomfortable later on (like lying to Hien, the head priestess at the temple).
And Sebastian is just lovely. He, too, is doing his best and I love that he keeps trying even after setbacks make things seem impossible. And I particularly like how Fiona's uncomfortable strengths are the very things that draw him in so strongly. His respect and care for her is a highlight of the story, I think.
Anyway, I'll leave it at that. This plot moves very quickly and the rising action is very gripping. Indeed, I found that I had to pace myself while reading it this time, but that's mostly an artifact of having read it a couple of times while it was being written. So I took a pause just before I knew a flight scene was coming up, for example, and that delayed me getting this review closer to the release date this time around. Well, that and work getting a bit weird what with my entire team trying to coordinate working remotely.
A note about internal timeline: For those interested, this book is about 80 years post-Willow North. We meet one of Willow's sons during the story and he is very old. At this point, you can kind of see the memory of her starting to accrete legendary status with lots of people thinking they know what she would have done or wanted. Sometimes they're probably right. But other times, it's mostly a projection of their own values.
A note about Chaste: Fiona starts this story a couple months after her divorce so she is no fainting miss. By the end,
Read
March 11, 2020This is the start of a new saga in the Tremontane universe. Because it begins a new arc, some generations after the Willow North saga, new readers could begin here, but to get all the references, I'd recommend beginning with the first book.
I zoomed through this one. I loved Fiona, the POV character, whose inherent magic keeps her on the run. Until she is kidnapped by Sebastian and Holt, who desperately need a female to get them into a female-exclusive religious ceremony.
The pacing keeps building from there, the ever-changing plot and the emotional development beautifully matching pace, right to the end. Sebastian was a terrific character. So glad to see a prince and a hero who isn't an alpha hole; his appreciation for Sebastian, his watching out for family and friends, and his general competence had me won nearly from his first page.
Fiona is a terrific character--knows what she wants, and what she can't have, or thinks she can't have; practical, but open to the possibility of the numinous. I loved the priestesses, and found the spiky, complicated queen of Tremontane fascinating. And dangerous.
We are introduced to a new country, Veribold, in this story. The culture and setting is sketched in broad strokes as there is so much plot and character development going on. I would be interested to see if there is a return to Veribold. Or where the next volume will take us. For sure I want to be there.
Copy provided by author.
I zoomed through this one. I loved Fiona, the POV character, whose inherent magic keeps her on the run. Until she is kidnapped by Sebastian and Holt, who desperately need a female to get them into a female-exclusive religious ceremony.
The pacing keeps building from there, the ever-changing plot and the emotional development beautifully matching pace, right to the end. Sebastian was a terrific character. So glad to see a prince and a hero who isn't an alpha hole; his appreciation for Sebastian, his watching out for family and friends, and his general competence had me won nearly from his first page.
Fiona is a terrific character--knows what she wants, and what she can't have, or thinks she can't have; practical, but open to the possibility of the numinous. I loved the priestesses, and found the spiky, complicated queen of Tremontane fascinating. And dangerous.
We are introduced to a new country, Veribold, in this story. The culture and setting is sketched in broad strokes as there is so much plot and character development going on. I would be interested to see if there is a return to Veribold. Or where the next volume will take us. For sure I want to be there.
Copy provided by author.
March 17, 2020
I'm so very very happy to come back to Tremontane! I am a self-proclaimed Tremontane fan girl having fallen in love with the world and its people with Servant of the Crown and I am happy to keep visiting.
In Ally we get to go an spend some time in Veribold which I've been very curious about for years now. I loved getting into that culture and religion and seeing how it worked internally and in relation to the Norths and their rule. It's fun to see how things change over time and that not all of the heirs of Willow North are amazing, even though some of them certainly are.
Fiona and Sebastian are an amazing team, and I love the mysterious Holt as the third leg to their party. There is so much fun here and so many possibilities for where things will go next. Seeing more inherent magics is also fun and I love Fiona's relationship with her power where she understands both the pros and the cons and how that changes her life.
A great read.
In Ally we get to go an spend some time in Veribold which I've been very curious about for years now. I loved getting into that culture and religion and seeing how it worked internally and in relation to the Norths and their rule. It's fun to see how things change over time and that not all of the heirs of Willow North are amazing, even though some of them certainly are.
Fiona and Sebastian are an amazing team, and I love the mysterious Holt as the third leg to their party. There is so much fun here and so many possibilities for where things will go next. Seeing more inherent magics is also fun and I love Fiona's relationship with her power where she understands both the pros and the cons and how that changes her life.
A great read.
March 8, 2020
I love how in each one of those series, we see a different part of this world and this time we get to meet Veribold, a place we had only heard and seen glimpses about before. I also love to see the whole royal family tree from Willow North all the way to 200-ish years later at the end of Agent of the Crown and how those different generations grew and went to change things in their own way. Anyway now back to this book!
I absolutely loved Fiona and Sebastian and everything from their banter to their more ‘quiet’ moments. Also, it was nice to see a little more ~ romance ~ in this book because as much I appreciate all the political intrigue and adventure from the willow north saga and the other Tremontane books (aside from servant of the crown), the girl here is very week for a good fantasy romance, so yes I’m here for it! But just because this one had a good romance, the plot definitely didn’t disappoint! My only complain was that I think the middle stretched out a little too much and then suddenly we were rushing to the end? But it wasn’t that much of a big deal, I hope we see Fiona and Sebastian again in the next book (even if only as side characters).
I absolutely loved Fiona and Sebastian and everything from their banter to their more ‘quiet’ moments. Also, it was nice to see a little more ~ romance ~ in this book because as much I appreciate all the political intrigue and adventure from the willow north saga and the other Tremontane books (aside from servant of the crown), the girl here is very week for a good fantasy romance, so yes I’m here for it! But just because this one had a good romance, the plot definitely didn’t disappoint! My only complain was that I think the middle stretched out a little too much and then suddenly we were rushing to the end? But it wasn’t that much of a big deal, I hope we see Fiona and Sebastian again in the next book (even if only as side characters).
April 1, 2021
This was a fun fantasy adventure. Wish there had been more plot development around the inherent magical abilities, but the story focused on other subplots. I enjoyed it, but I wanted more about the inherent magic, especially since that seemed where the story was going to focus from the first couple of chapters. Still a pleasant read
April 18, 2020
Ally of the Crown is a welcome successor to the Willow North saga, though it is unnecessary to have read that series of books to enjoy this book.
Fiona is another of Melissa McShane's strong female leads. She has inherent magic in a time when such is regarded with fear and loathing by most of the population of Tremontane. Her magic, the control of fire, comes into play a surprisingly small number of times in the story. Mostly Fiona and Sebastian are carried through one harrowing adventure after the other by their daring and bravery - and yes, foolhardiness. At the end, her magic is forced into play in two crucial scenes that make for excitement right up to the conclusion.
It is an exciting read, and an excellent beginning to what I expect will be a bang-up new series!
Fiona is another of Melissa McShane's strong female leads. She has inherent magic in a time when such is regarded with fear and loathing by most of the population of Tremontane. Her magic, the control of fire, comes into play a surprisingly small number of times in the story. Mostly Fiona and Sebastian are carried through one harrowing adventure after the other by their daring and bravery - and yes, foolhardiness. At the end, her magic is forced into play in two crucial scenes that make for excitement right up to the conclusion.
It is an exciting read, and an excellent beginning to what I expect will be a bang-up new series!
March 2, 2021
Very low quality. I couldn't get what the timeline was. There are medieval type of inns, carriages, but then there are heating devices that can be turned on and off, papers, guns, women wearing sweaters and pants. Was it supposed to be steampunk?
Nonsensical plot points. Unbelievable motivation for the main character. The romance is meh.
Nonsensical plot points. Unbelievable motivation for the main character. The romance is meh.
September 14, 2025
(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I want to change my scoring by 0.50 or more of a star. -- I tend not to read reviews until after I read a book, so I go in with an open mind.)
3.5*
First time read the author's work?: No
Will you be reading more?: Yes
Would you recommend?: Yes
------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
3.5*
First time read the author's work?: No
Will you be reading more?: Yes
Would you recommend?: Yes
------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
March 23, 2020
Yay! Another Tramontaine series! This is a completely new set of characters, set in a time when the inherent magic many of the population of Tramontaine are born with is feared, and even reason to kill. Although we know, with a Tramontaine series, that we’ll eventually end up with a denizen of the royal line as a main character, interestingly, in this story, they’re not always very nice (no spoilers!). I loved how this novel started with immediate adventure, how we got to explore yet another of the surrounding countries’ culture, and how we even learned a bit about the religion we’ve seen in bits and pieces before. I feel like every novel set in this world reveals a little more of this fascinating and creative universe, as well as revealing the complexities of the North family line. I’m hooked! And so excited that this is the first in a series...bring on the next book!
I’m lucky enough to be an ARC reader, but of course, all opinions are my own, and reviews are optional.
I’m lucky enough to be an ARC reader, but of course, all opinions are my own, and reviews are optional.
June 17, 2021
Slow Beginning
The overall plot is riddled with fun twists and turns. The problem is that you have to read nearly 40% through the book before the plot picks up the pace. There is too much description of scenery that bogs down the plot. That's mainly why I gave it 3 stars.
The chemistry between the MC and her SO is believable. From the beginning, you understand why the MC is reluctant to have a relationship with the SO.
The frustration I had was more near the ending. I literally wanted to role my eyes at them. Which of course what you should do when you have well developed characters that try to make a bad decision. Lol.
Overall it's not a bad read.
The overall plot is riddled with fun twists and turns. The problem is that you have to read nearly 40% through the book before the plot picks up the pace. There is too much description of scenery that bogs down the plot. That's mainly why I gave it 3 stars.
The chemistry between the MC and her SO is believable. From the beginning, you understand why the MC is reluctant to have a relationship with the SO.
The frustration I had was more near the ending. I literally wanted to role my eyes at them. Which of course what you should do when you have well developed characters that try to make a bad decision. Lol.
Overall it's not a bad read.
February 17, 2020
Amazing, very in tune with the Willow North Saga. While not following directly after Willows' period but a few generations afterwards, we get to see how the North family developed. We see how the attitudes towards inherent magic have changed since the end of the war. And how having inherent magic has always been dangerous for the North family, we also can see many parallels with the Crown of Tremontane series. All in all a captivating and enjoyable read.
March 27, 2020
Ok
Fiona and Seb are a great couple. I liked their interaction and the basic story. I struggled with the Queen and what has happened to Willow North’s descendants, it felt wrong. So as a consequence it was hard to take the whole thing. I also found it hard to see why Seb wouldn’t leave his family line if he was will to give up a role in the secession? They didn’t see worthy of any loyalty so it made me doubt him.,
Fiona and Seb are a great couple. I liked their interaction and the basic story. I struggled with the Queen and what has happened to Willow North’s descendants, it felt wrong. So as a consequence it was hard to take the whole thing. I also found it hard to see why Seb wouldn’t leave his family line if he was will to give up a role in the secession? They didn’t see worthy of any loyalty so it made me doubt him.,
June 19, 2021
I enjoyed this book. I'm reading the Tremontane books in chronological, not the currently suggested, order, and having this right after the Saga of Willow North was fascinating. You get to see how vastly the world has changed.
Having recently gone through a divorce, that part of the plot tugged at me and made me feel for Fiona. The views of the cultures were interesting and I enjoyed the contrasts, again. Melissa McShane is very skilled at world building!
Having recently gone through a divorce, that part of the plot tugged at me and made me feel for Fiona. The views of the cultures were interesting and I enjoyed the contrasts, again. Melissa McShane is very skilled at world building!
March 27, 2020
I absolutely adored Ally of the Crown, the first installment from The Heirs of Willow North series. I can not wait to read the rest of the series. I highly recommend this one.
Five plus stars.
I received this book from the author, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
Five plus stars.
I received this book from the author, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
December 10, 2020
I loved the earlier books, but I didn't have an emotional connection to this one. It seemed like there were (unintentional?) red herrings in the plot. For instance, Fiona seems like she is going to affect some large change during her stay in the temple, beyond capturing the blackmail material. Yet, I don't think we ever find out what the actual purpose of that festival is.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2021
3.5 rounded up. This was solid and enjoyable, but not my favourite in the Tremontane world. The central relationship moved unbelievably fast, and the plot pacing felt quite up and down. As usual though, loved the strong-but-human female characters, the world building, and the excellent descriptive passages.
June 1, 2021
Wonderful series! I read all 10 books in chronological order.
Saga of Willow North, Heirs of Willow North, Crown of Tremontane with the novella Exile if the Crown.
The whole series covers over 200 years of Tremontane history. Strong, interesting heroines and the men (royal or not) they love. Lots of adventure and romance.
Highly recommend them all!
Saga of Willow North, Heirs of Willow North, Crown of Tremontane with the novella Exile if the Crown.
The whole series covers over 200 years of Tremontane history. Strong, interesting heroines and the men (royal or not) they love. Lots of adventure and romance.
Highly recommend them all!
August 10, 2021
Entertaining adventure story with a delightful clean romance mixed in.
A case of mistaken identity puts the female main character in the wrong place at the right time and sets the story off to an intriguing start. The pace keeps up and the characters persevere through challenges to reach a satisfying happy ending.
Violence. No sex. Mild language.
A case of mistaken identity puts the female main character in the wrong place at the right time and sets the story off to an intriguing start. The pace keeps up and the characters persevere through challenges to reach a satisfying happy ending.
Violence. No sex. Mild language.
March 21, 2020
It ended way too fast...a great story!
It ended way too fast for me, but what a great story! I wonder what Willow North would have thought of Fiona...Thanks for a mesmerizing read.
It ended way too fast for me, but what a great story! I wonder what Willow North would have thought of Fiona...Thanks for a mesmerizing read.
April 23, 2021
I'm writing off McShane. She has some good ideas, but the writing is clunky in this series too. She assumes that you have read her other books, and hence does a terrible job of world building.
October 25, 2021
Great read in the world of Tremontane. I read it before the original Willow North series, but it would make a lot more sense in some parts to have read it after. I look forward to the next books.
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