Crown of Vengeance, Mercedes Lackey, James Mallory

Crown of Vengeance

( Dragon Prophecy #1)

by Mercedes Lackey, James Mallory

fantasy

copyright 2012

started reading in April 2024

rated 6/10: read to pass the time

I've only started reading. I expect that I'll read to the end. But... it seems a good idea to document my strong first impressions:

Is this "high" fantasy? I think that's right.

The story is set in "the favoured lands" or some such. Favoured by one hundred families who are constantly at war against each other. hmmm

Each family has a name that is complex, unpronounceable and instantly forgettable. Ditto the names of individuals.

Fortunately, the heroine seems to be the only person whose name begins with V and the possible hero has a simple, distinct and memorable name. Apart from that, a cast of dozens who are difficult to distinguish.

The plot is driven by a curse on the heroine. At the pace at which secrets are being revealed, I guess that the reader will need to read several books before the curse is revealed.

( Though one major surprise seems to be revealed in the back cover blurb).

The heroine grows up as a well-treated orphan servant. As soon as she discovers her family name, her sense of self-entitlement kicks in; she swears vengeance and a return to personal power. Very much like people in real life.

Then she has a few years being trained as a servant and being told that she can never enter her "rightful" Life as a princess. So, standard fantasy.

I may sound cynical (I am) but the book is still good fun. A complex world, revealed ever so slowly but promising lots of future blood and thunder and magic.

I fully expect to enjoy the rest of the book. Even if I never know who all those people are. Who knows, I may even get to like the power-obsessed heroine.

And now, back to the book....

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