Book Review: Legacy by Cayla Kluver

*review copy provided by publicist*

Legacytells the story of Alera, crown princess of Hytanica. Alera, having reached the all-important age of seventeen, must now choose a husband - one who would make a good king. When her father the King all but forces her to choose Steldor, a handsome but terribly arrogant man, Alera balks. But, after a mysterious boy from Cokyri arrives, Alera finds herself strangely attracted to him, adding to her reluctance to marry Steldor. Will she be able to make the right choice for herself or her kingdom?

Things I Liked:
It is really amazing that Kluver, who is only sixteen, was able to produce such a complex book. The setting was detailed and interesting. The characters are fairly real and the story itself is intriguing. I also found the illustrations at the beginnings of each chapter added to the medieval feel of the book.

Things I Didn't Like:
The writing felt a little forced. Kluver is obviously very smart with a huge vocabulary, but it felt like she was trying too hard. Perhaps this is true of many books written today that try to sound authentically old, but it almost seemed pretentious. It was also very long and lots of parts could have been edited out that might have made the story seem tighter. She uses descriptions a little too often, such as in the following passage:

"I stepped through to amble along the garden's paths, letting my mind become still amid the beautiful foliage: the elm, oak, chestnut, and mulberry trees that offered cooling shade; the pear, lime, and orange trees that supplied us with unusual fruit; the abundant lilies, violets, tulips, and roses that plied the air with fragrance; and the herbs that provided seasoning for cooking and for treatment of injuries and illnesses."p 103

It has a little too much description and really doesn't add anything to the story. Kluver shows a lot of potential and I look forward to reading more by her.

Read-alikes:
Crown and Court Duet by Sherwood Smith

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
perhaps a very few

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->
minor fighting

Overall rating: ***

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