Definitely worth getting to Chapter 2 (and beyond)!!!
This gripping story defies easy classification. It reads like a historical fantasy, but it is set in a made-up world with no magic. Its heroine Cecily faces danger and intrigue, yet ultimately it is a love story. Though it is in a made-up world of castles and princesses, its characters are written with a depth that makes them extremely realistic. Each action has a reason and each character a believable motivation. The plot is carefully crafted, unfolding piece by piece so that you won't want to tear yourself away from the story. It is a story of a journey both physical and emotional as the heroine, Cecily, learns both how to love and what it truly means to be a good ruler.
The high-spirited Cecily is a tomboy who becomes the heir to the throne after the untimely death of her sister. She quickly learns to fulfill her duties as heir apparent, but her unconventional views make her uneasy in her role and put her at odds with many of the elite. As her father's health declines, her family's enemies plot to usurp the throne. Just as her throne becomes imperiled, Cecily's uncontrolled temper earns her a temporary banishment from the palace by her father, and she sets off on a journey through the kingdom she is to inherit.
This unwelcome journey is a dangerous but eye-opening experience for Cecily. The plot to take the throne has spread far beyond the palace walls. Yet the very existence of the monarchy is on a collision course with the worsening conditions in the countryside, where corruption and border wars make life difficult for the common people. Cecily's efforts to uncover the plot, save her throne, and break down the rigid social order of Darrenby are aided, somewhat reluctantly, by a blacksmith named Phillip, who is more important to Cecily than she first realizes.
It is obvious who Cecily ultimately should end up with, but the process of getting there is a wonderful read. And there are other mysteries, twists and surprises that keep this story from being predictable. The story has it all - gypsies, flights through the mountains, battles, and above all, love which defies convention and rules. Once Cecily leaves the castle walls, you won't want to put it down!
Born into a life of privilege and luxury, Cecily Worrill, heir to the throne of Darren, learns early on that there is much more to life than power and position. When she meets Phillip, a blacksmith with a mysterious past, she is inspired to make life better for all her people, not just the nobility. But in a world of intrigue and conspiracyâ?"a world in which betrayal lurks on every side, and no one is what they seemâ?"can Cecily trust anyone, even the man she loves?
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