Genre: YA RomancePages: 462
Copyright: 2008
Rating: 3.5 Crowns
Series: The Legacy Series
The Crown Princess of Hytanica, Alera, is expected to choose a husband within the next year. She hates her fathers first choice, Lord Steldor, and finds herself in love with another man. In the midst of all kinds of turmoil, and on the brink of war, Alera must decide if she'll follow her heart or her duty to Hytanica.
Alera is both a fascinating and frustrating character to read. I found myself seeing the choices she was making and willing her to make different ones in a lot of cases, hoping she'd make the choices I would make were I in her position. The majority of the story centers around her - whether it's time she spends with Steldor, stubbornly disobeying the adults in her life, or visiting with the mysterious and newly arrived Narian. It's a good story, and an interesting perspective on palace life in a fantasy world.
The author of Legacy is sixteen-year-old Cayla Kluver, I was a little wary about this book given that she is so young. There's no doubt in my mind that a young author can be a good one, but I wondered, will she write something that an adult would also like. The answer is a resounding yes!
I found myself sucked into this story, worrying about all the characters and wondering what was going to happen next. I genuinely feared for some of them during the dangerous parts of the book; hated Steldor's actions and personality; loved the mystery that accompanied Narian. And the Glamour reader in me loved the descriptions of the clothes!
Though the book is over 450 pages, it was one of the fastest reads I've ever experienced. The writing was easy to read and the story so engaging that I was just turning page after page. Each chapter also begins with an intricate drawing around the first letter, which I really loved and found both endearing and fitting with the story. The pictures actually match pretty closely with what happens in the chapter, so I found it quite fun to go back and look at them after reading part of or the whole chapter.
I was especially anxious toward the end of the book, as more and more things start coming together and you really wonder how on earth can everything be resolved! I had no idea, up until the end of the book, that there are at least two more books in the works after this. And as a what happens next kind of person, I am thrilled to see that I'll have more of Alera and her story in the future.
Thanks to Crystal from I'm Totally Paused for this wonderful guest blogger review!
7 comments:
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I am totally in love the Legacy and cannot wait for the second installment! To hear such a voice from a sixteen year old was unbelievable. And told with such clarity and detail. I'm definitely a Kluver convert.
By the end of the story, I was routing for Narian. Steldor was an insufferable bore, but he was the King's only choice, maybe he should marry him? Excellent review!
Dottie :)
I was sucked into the book as well. While none of the characters were amazing to me I still really enjoyed all of them. There is so much potential for this series that I hope Cayla continuous with it full steam ahead. I'm definitely excited about Allegiance, I hope there will be a date announced soon =)
A big book indeed, but great review!
I tried this book and couldn't do it. Although not my thing, I do agree Culver has a lot of talent for her age. I'm sure she will continue to do great things.
Great review, I've had my eye on this one for a little while, but I'm still undecided. Maybe a good library borrow?
Loved your review.
I have been reading about this book for a tiny bit now. I think I am going to purchase it as I am intrigued that a 16year old wrote the story. I think that is absolutely cool. Besides, the story seems to be getting good reviews (over all).
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