From the Back Cover:
Ailsbet loves nothing more than music; tall and red-haired, she's impatient with the artifice and ceremony of her father's court. Marlissa adores the world of her island home and feels she has much to offer when she finally inherits the throne from her wise, good-tempered father. The trouble is that neither princess has the power--or the magic--to rule alone, and if the kingdoms can be united, which princess will end up ruling the joint land? For both, the only goal would seem to be a strategic marriage to a man who can bring his own brand of power to the throne. But will either girl be able to marry for love? And can either of these two princesses, rivals though they have never met, afford to let the other live?
My Two Cents:
This is a deeply imaginative story, of two distinctly different young women, their upbringing, their duty to their countries, and their true loves. Each has her own unique power. The two young women, thrust together by the decisions of their fathers, eventually become friends and confidants. The story touches on various levels of love; love of country and duty, love of power, love of music, and love for one another.
The explanation of the various countries in this world was easy to visualize once the vocabulary became second nature. I could see the land bridge that separated the two kingdoms, and feel the fury of the ocean and how it affected those with powers. I was intrigued by the people without powers, the ‘unweyrs’, and how they were the only ones that easily traversed the lands. So, in the end, even they had powers.
This is a great story for young adults. The romance is sweet, yet powerful. It also shows that sometimes true power lies in not having power at all, and strength lies in knowing when to give power up. I appreciated that Ailsbet’s “true love” was something beyond romance with another – and that it was her deep devotion to music that guided her decisions, and her heart.
I give it
and 
No comments:
Post a Comment