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The Royal Green #1
The Royal Green
A thousand years...
…since the Children of Mother left the Garden, the Millennium Kingdom is on the brink of civil war.
Magic is forbidden by the Queen, but that will not stop the Duke Dereth. Records of the Ancients are almost as dangerous as their weapons, and Her Majesty is prepared to use the elite knights of S.W.O.R.D. to intervene.
Prince Jadian does not want his throne, but is even more reluctant to let his mother continue to wield its power. Karathiel, the Duke's daughter, does not want her father's plans for revolution to succeed. Playing the role of spies, an arranged marriage may keep the peace, or only bring their parents closer to the edge.
Arkelius, Captain of S.W.O.R.D., has sworn to protect a throne he has no legitimate claim to, even at the cost of his life. Evra, orphan become pirate, wants only to reclaim her lost treasure: the Prince himself.
All plans are overthrown in the wake of a star falling from the sky, bringing an Ancient with it. The Sorcerer has returned. The Garden awaits. Great Mother watches, and beckons.
There is no more time for role-playing games.
Together or apart, Jadian and Karathiel will become the best hope for, and the closest threat to, the rule of the Royal Green.
…since the Children of Mother left the Garden, the Millennium Kingdom is on the brink of civil war.
Magic is forbidden by the Queen, but that will not stop the Duke Dereth. Records of the Ancients are almost as dangerous as their weapons, and Her Majesty is prepared to use the elite knights of S.W.O.R.D. to intervene.
Prince Jadian does not want his throne, but is even more reluctant to let his mother continue to wield its power. Karathiel, the Duke's daughter, does not want her father's plans for revolution to succeed. Playing the role of spies, an arranged marriage may keep the peace, or only bring their parents closer to the edge.
Arkelius, Captain of S.W.O.R.D., has sworn to protect a throne he has no legitimate claim to, even at the cost of his life. Evra, orphan become pirate, wants only to reclaim her lost treasure: the Prince himself.
All plans are overthrown in the wake of a star falling from the sky, bringing an Ancient with it. The Sorcerer has returned. The Garden awaits. Great Mother watches, and beckons.
There is no more time for role-playing games.
Together or apart, Jadian and Karathiel will become the best hope for, and the closest threat to, the rule of the Royal Green.
440 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 4, 2019
6 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 13, 2021
This story gripped me from the beginning! I loved that there were multiple points of view to read from, giving information to me as the reader that I wish the characters knew; this kept everything fast-paced and exciting to read. The idea of arranged marriages is common in this type of fantasy setting, but I like that there was so much more to the betrothed relationship; it kept me guessing. As the story wrapped up, I knew I would have to dive into book two right away! The ending leads to some mystery and hopeful thinking - let's see what happens in book two, In Silver Throned!
May 29, 2021
The points of view of the four main characters, Prince Jadian, Karathiel, Arkelius, and Evra are woven together in brief segments to tell the story of a land in turmoil awaiting a prophecy about to come to fruition.
Karathiel’s father, the Duke Dereth, has his own plans. He works toward inciting rebellion against Jadian’s mother the Queen and the faith she represents. She has reigned with a heavy hand and the duke seeks to replace the rule of royalty with a republic based on ancient documents he has studied. But full out revolution might be averted if Prince Jadian marries Karathiel and renounces his throne. But though Karathiel and Jadian fall in love, she refuses to marry him and runs away. Meeting Evra, the orphan who had been Jadian’s first love, Karathiel joins with Evra and her band of pirates until Arkelius, Jadian’s half-brother, kidnaps her and returns her to Jadian. They marry, but Karathiel finds she doesn’t love Jadian, she loves Arkelius.
The plots continues with a series of twists and turns in rapid succession as the Star of Prophecy falls, the prophesied Ancient arrives, followed by the Sorcerer, and civil war erupts.
What I liked: Casey knows how to bring a scene alive with mood and well-placed descriptors allowing me to visualize the setting. He moves his plot lines forward at a breakneck pace through an intricate web of action and reaction. Though a long book, the format gives the feel of a quicker read.
What I didn’t like: The very format that allows the book to move forward at a rapid pace also became a hinderance to my developing empathy for the characters. Each time I began to relate, the scene shifted to another POV. Though the characters were developed, I never felt the connection I thought I should be feeling. For example, Karathiel’s depth of “love” seemed random and unbelievable given how easily she shifted her objects of affection and loyalties. My other main complaint is Casey’s misuse of quote format. When a speaker continues speaking through a series of paragraphs, the accepted format is for the second and successive paragraphs to begin with starting quotes to denote the continued speech, though end quotes are not used until the final line of speech. Mr. Casey starts with beginning quotes at the first line but does not use beginning quotes at the start of the following paragraphs. I frequently needed to look back and remind myself, yes, someone is still speaking. It is a minor detail, and a simple one to fix, but one that I found personally annoying.
The combined elements of Sword and Sorcery feel with Science Fiction “magic” (revealed as “scientific inventions” from a long-lost past) were interesting and thought provoking though jarring at points. In all, a worthwhile read. I would recommend it for fans of intricate plots, political manipulation, and science fiction. And, yes, Magical Realism. Don’t let the length deter you, the story moves forward quickly. You will be done before you know it and wondering, what next.
Karathiel’s father, the Duke Dereth, has his own plans. He works toward inciting rebellion against Jadian’s mother the Queen and the faith she represents. She has reigned with a heavy hand and the duke seeks to replace the rule of royalty with a republic based on ancient documents he has studied. But full out revolution might be averted if Prince Jadian marries Karathiel and renounces his throne. But though Karathiel and Jadian fall in love, she refuses to marry him and runs away. Meeting Evra, the orphan who had been Jadian’s first love, Karathiel joins with Evra and her band of pirates until Arkelius, Jadian’s half-brother, kidnaps her and returns her to Jadian. They marry, but Karathiel finds she doesn’t love Jadian, she loves Arkelius.
The plots continues with a series of twists and turns in rapid succession as the Star of Prophecy falls, the prophesied Ancient arrives, followed by the Sorcerer, and civil war erupts.
What I liked: Casey knows how to bring a scene alive with mood and well-placed descriptors allowing me to visualize the setting. He moves his plot lines forward at a breakneck pace through an intricate web of action and reaction. Though a long book, the format gives the feel of a quicker read.
What I didn’t like: The very format that allows the book to move forward at a rapid pace also became a hinderance to my developing empathy for the characters. Each time I began to relate, the scene shifted to another POV. Though the characters were developed, I never felt the connection I thought I should be feeling. For example, Karathiel’s depth of “love” seemed random and unbelievable given how easily she shifted her objects of affection and loyalties. My other main complaint is Casey’s misuse of quote format. When a speaker continues speaking through a series of paragraphs, the accepted format is for the second and successive paragraphs to begin with starting quotes to denote the continued speech, though end quotes are not used until the final line of speech. Mr. Casey starts with beginning quotes at the first line but does not use beginning quotes at the start of the following paragraphs. I frequently needed to look back and remind myself, yes, someone is still speaking. It is a minor detail, and a simple one to fix, but one that I found personally annoying.
The combined elements of Sword and Sorcery feel with Science Fiction “magic” (revealed as “scientific inventions” from a long-lost past) were interesting and thought provoking though jarring at points. In all, a worthwhile read. I would recommend it for fans of intricate plots, political manipulation, and science fiction. And, yes, Magical Realism. Don’t let the length deter you, the story moves forward quickly. You will be done before you know it and wondering, what next.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews