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The Decoy Princess (Princess #1)

3.71 of 5 stars 3.71 · rating details · 2,163 ratings · 137 reviews

Princess Contessa of Costenopolie knows everything a royal should about diplomacy, self-defense, politics... and shopping. She ought to. She had every reason to believe that she was groomed to rule. But her next lesson is in betrayal...

The sudden arrival of her betrothed, a prince from the kingdom of Misdev, has forced Tess's parents to come clean: She's no princess. Their...more

Paperback, 356 pages

Published November 29th 2005 by Ace

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Mar 08, 2008 Elizabeth (Liz) rated it 5 of 5 stars

This girl totally rocks. She was trained to be a princess but while she was being trained to be that, she was being trained for something better. I love the strategies and how complicated, how human the characters are.

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Apr 01, 2013 Monica! marked it as to-read

Oh, crap, wait, WHAT??

What?!? What is this!?!?

The sudden arrival of her betrothed, a prince from the kingdom of Misdev, has forced Tess's parents to come clean: She's no princess. Their real daughter was raised in a nunnery for fear of assassins. Tess is nothing but a beggar's child bought off the streets as an infant and reared as a decoy.

So what's a royal highness to do when she discovers she's a royal target? Ditch the Misdev soldiers occupying the palace, use magical abilities she didn't eve...more

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Nov 05, 2007 Aiyaruk rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fantasy lovers

Shelves: read-fiction

I'm frustrated about writing this review. I ADORED this book. I really did. In fact, I was thoroughly excited about the sequel, and ate up the sequel as soon as it hit the bookshelf (in fact, I preordered it!). What a shame, though.. I was so disappointed by the sequel that I tossed both books away and haven't looked at them since. Perhaps I was just angry because she didn't wind up with the guy I wanted her to (don't worry, I won't say who), but I think it was more than that. I'm not sure. My s...more

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Jan 16, 2011 Gina Mora rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-2011

I love Kim Harrison, and this book shows some of her best skills: a new, complete, believable world; a spunky heroine; and cool heroes. However, I had some issues with it as a whole: (1) for a spunky princess with kick-butt skills-she gets caught A LOT and (2) it seems to be luck most of the time and not her own skills. Tess is amazingly self-absorbed for most of the book and Duncan seems like a doormat to her sometimes. Other than that, the plot is fun and I have a feeling that the second in th...more

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Feb 04, 2013 Erin Eymard rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 5-star, bookworm-s-fancy

I must admit that when I first picked up this book, I was expecting your typical romance fantasy faire. I was pleasantly surprised. The Decoy Princess departs from the predictable premises and gives the reader an intriguing story. The book follows the adventures of Tess, whose world is turned upside down upon learning that she is not really royalty but only a pawn used to protect the real princess.

The story starts with a decidedly spoiled Princess Contessa (Tess) dragging her steward/body guard...more

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Sep 10, 2012 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. The plot and setting/world were pretty unique, enjoyable, and well fleshed out. It was nice to see the main character struggle and grow though out the book and you got to learn right along with her. The ending definitely sets up for a sequel, but it's not a cliff hanger and this book can be read as a stand alone if you wish. Though the characters are cool enough that you'll probably want to continue their story.

I did appreciate that there was no "sleeping around" by t...more

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Sep 08, 2012 Franzi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Cover:
Das Cover des Buches gefällt mir ganz gut. Es sieht interessant aus. Eine Frau in einem schwarzen Reiseumhang im Vordergrund und im Hintergrund dann ein Schloss und vielleicht auch eine ganze Stadt. Es lässt sich sehr schön ansehen und ist auch ganz einfach gehalten.

Charaktere:
Tess find ich vom Charakter her eher schwach. Sie ist eine typische Prinzessin, denkt nur an Einkaufen, Geld ausgeben und Männer aber es man merkt auch schnell das Sie eigensinnig und stur ist aber dennoch vornehm u...more Cover: 
Das Cover des Buches gefällt mir ganz gut. Es sieht interessant aus. Eine Frau in einem schwarzen Reiseumhang im Vordergrund und im Hintergrund dann ein Schloss und vielleicht auch eine ganze Stadt. Es lässt sich sehr schön ansehen und ist auch ganz einfach gehalten.

Charaktere: 
Tess find ich vom Charakter her eher schwach. Sie ist eine typische Prinzessin, denkt nur an Einkaufen, Geld ausgeben und Männer aber es man merkt auch schnell das Sie eigensinnig und stur ist aber dennoch vornehm und auch geschickt im Verhandeln. Ihr Charakter schlägt aber ziemlich schnell um und man spürt ihren Kämpfergeist. Das Sie nicht gleich die perfekte Kämpferin ist finde ich sehr gut, sonst wäre es langweilig. Sie ist nicht perfekt und strengt eher ihren Kopf an als mit bloßer Gewalt vorzugehen, wozu sie auch nicht in der Lage wäre. Was mir auch sehr gut gefällt ist, dass man an ihr auch immer wieder ein paar Schwächen sieht.

Hauptmann Jeck mag ich gleich zu Beginn. Obwohl er ja eigentlich zu den "Bösen" gehört aber ich muss zugeben, dass er mir gefällt. :) Wie er und Tess sich immer gegenseitig sticheln und bekämpfen. Schön zu lesen. Jeck ist auch eher der Geheimnisvolle. Er ist zwar Hauptmann und dem Prinzen unterstellt aber er wünscht sich eigentlich nichts sehnlicher als ihn endlich zum Schweigen zu bringen, da er ihn nervt. Man fragt sich immer wieder, auf welcher Seite Jeck steht und was hinter all dem steckt.

Duncan ist ein Falschspieler. Ich weiß nicht, ganz was ich von ihm halten soll. Manchmal mag ich ihn, manchmal nicht. Nachdem Tess ihm beim Karten spielen erpresst hat. Seit dem reisen die beiden zusammen durch die Gegend auf der Suche nach Karnelow. Ich würde auch sagen, dass Tess ohne Duncan gar nicht so weit gekommen wäre. Er hat ihr auf dem ersten Teil der Reise sehr geholfen. Später war er eigentlich nur noch bei ihr, weil er sie wirklich mag und das merkt man. Ich finde es besonders niedlich, wie er nach dem Kuss reagiert.

Contessa ist die rechtmäßige Kronprinzessin und ich fand sie anfangs typisch blond. Zickig und eingebildet aber so ist dem nicht. Sie ist eigentlich schlau aber ziemlich unsicher. Mit der Hilfe von Karnelow und Tess wird sie eine gute Königin werden.

Karnelow oder der Kanzler ist auch ziemlich geheimnisvoll doch ich mag ihn. Anfangs als Tess ihre Zweifel an ihm hatte, ging es mir genauso doch er behandelt sie mit so viel Liebe. Ich hoffe nur, dass es auch so bleibt und es sich nicht dann herausstellt das Er sie nur ausnutz oder sonst irgendetwas das wäre wirklich schade.

Garett ist eine Lachnummer. Er ist genauso viel Prinz wie Duncan. Von seinem Verhalten her bis hin zu seinem Charakter ist er eigentlich nur ein feiger und nichtsnutziger Junge. So verhält er sich zumindest. Dass man ihn als verrückt darstellt, kann ich sehr gut nachvollziehen. Ich bin gespannt, was im zweiten Teil noch mit ihm passiert.

Geschichte:
Die Geschichte einer Kronprinzessin, die eigentlich ein Wechselbag ist und nur dazu da die wirkliche Prinzessin vor Angriffen zu schützen fängt schon einmal interessant an. Es kommt aber immer auf den Aufbau an. Der Anfang zieht sich ein bisschen und ich fand es recht uninteressant aber das hielt zum Glück nicht lange an so da sich dann neugierig war und wissen wollte, wie es weiter geht. Es wird auf jeden Fall spannend und man reimt sich so nach und nach alles zusammen. Ich konnte es ohne Unterbrechungen lesen und es gab sehr wenige Stellen, an denen ich es ein klein wenig langweilig fand. Sonst alles bestens.

Fazit:
Empfehlen kann ich das Buch auf jeden Fall den Fans von Dawn Cook. Wer auch schon "Die Erste Wahrheit" gelesen hat, kann dieses Buch auch gleich noch lesen. Denn es ist genauso gut. Es ist eher ein Buch für Abenteuerer, als für Romantiker da die Liebe kaum eine Rolle spielt, jedenfalls im Erstem band nicht. Ich bin schon sehr gespannt, wie es weitergeht. :)(less)

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Aug 17, 2012 Aeslis rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, strong-female-leads, thieves

Tess is a fabulous character that goes through a good deal of character development in a short time. In the beginning she's reactionary to what's going on--an assassination and hostile takeover--but she has been trained well enough by her mentor that she may as well be called a ninja. She just didn't realize that during all throughout her childhood, the games her mentor played with her were for sharpening her skills. Once she starts putting things together, she makes good use of all her talents,...more

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May 08, 2012 Bea rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, z__eng, z__r

I'm not sure how to rate this book, so I will finish my review at first.

- The story line is surprisingly good. It's fast paced, funny and has some unexpected turns. Thinking back, I cannot say the same for characters. They are good and, but they also feel a little inconsistent (well, not all of them).

- If you expecting, thanks to cover, romantic book, you are going to be disappointed. The romantic part is just sideline, and it's one I don't really get. Tess, raised as a princess having feeling...more

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Oct 30, 2011 Elf M. rated it 3 of 5 stars

I really didn't want to like The Decoy Princess, by Dawn Cook. After all, it follows in the same vein as too many of my own fantasy stories: young woman from a commoner's background thrust into intrigue. Now, my stories frequently involve inappropriate pairings of woman and dragon, and nothing like that happens in this book.

When I read the first three chapters, I was disappointed. We, the readers, already know the big revelation coming up: Tess is going to be told that her whole life is a lie, t...more I really didn't want to like The Decoy Princess, by Dawn Cook. After all, it follows in the same vein as too many of my own fantasy stories: young woman from a commoner's background thrust into intrigue. Now, my stories frequently involve inappropriate pairings of woman and dragon, and nothing like that happens in this book.

When I read the first three chapters, I was disappointed. We, the readers, already know the big revelation coming up: Tess is going to be told that her whole life is a lie, that she's not really the princess, that she's been used her whole childhood as a target for assassins while the real princess grew up elsewhere. There are some oddities of Tess's daily routine, such as why, if she's being trained to be a perfect princess, has her mentor instructed in her in such nasty things as knifeplay, bullwhips, and blow darts?

But that's not the point of the story. No, that revelation just happens on the same day that the proverbial chu hits the fan, and Tess must somehow rescue her kingdom of Costenopolie from a terrible fate.

In some respects, this isn't a great book. Cook has some native religion that might be Christianity (the real princess has been raised by nuns, and one of the characters shouts, "I don't care if it's the Second Coming!") but it's just window dressing. Nobody really cares that much for churchly things. She tries hard with the accents on some characters but overdoes it, telling instead of showing. Oh, and everyone has exactly one expletive, chu, which is a euphemism for "shit." (It was also a disconcerting euphemism for me, since chu is also the Japanese onomotopoeia for "two people cuddling." And yes, there's an onomotopoeia for that.)

But when Tess finds herself trapped in the castle, her escape is one of those heart-pounding, breathtaking adventure scenes that few writers really get right. And Cook got it right. Many of the later scenes are as tightly written as the first, and the whole of the story hangs together. The book has the important parts: a little magic, a little suggestion, a lot of adventure, a plucky young girl in trouble who can save the day.

Now I have to go find the sequel, Princess At Sea. Which is what drew me to the series in the first place. Yeah, there's a pretty girl on the cover, and the tagline, "Rough Seas. Royal Pain." That's a well-done cover. It didn't sell itself, it sold its predecessor.(less)

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Oct 01, 2011 Margaret Mcgaffey rated it 4 of 5 stars

I picked up this book because of a recommendation, but still had some difficulty getting into it at first. However, once I connected to the story, I couldn’t put it down. I realized the problem came because of the title, not because of the story, so I’m going to “spoil” the book for you despite my normal efforts not to. The spoilage is this: the knowledge that she is a decoy, despite being something Tess is unaware of for the first 31 pages, is only the tip of the iceberg where the book is conce...more I picked up this book because of a recommendation, but still had some difficulty getting into it at first. However, once I connected to the story, I couldn’t put it down. I realized the problem came because of the title, not because of the story, so I’m going to “spoil” the book for you despite my normal efforts not to. The spoilage is this: the knowledge that she is a decoy, despite being something Tess is unaware of for the first 31 pages, is only the tip of the iceberg where the book is concerned.

I became so wrapped up in the fact that she didn’t know what was splayed across the cover that I almost missed out on how astute and inappropriate for her apparent heritage Tess was. It was the last, the strength of characterization, that kept me going despite the title giving away the show, or so I thought.

Tess is so much more than I gave her credit for being. The slightly spoiled but restricted princess of the beginning, the young woman dreaming of true love and happiness, soon shows her resilience and strong core as her world is shaken again and again.

This is where I can’t go into detail. Anything beyond what I’ve said already will be a true spoiler. Just accept the title is only a fraction of the complexity, intrigue, and adventure found in the novel as a whole. And just so you don’t think I’m dismissive of the true love aspect, there are relationships along the way that make Tess examine her assumptions and loyalties, while inspiring the same in others.

This is a fantasy/political intrigue with both strategy and chases. Things are never simple. When Tess thinks she has a grasp on the situation, she often learns the picture she’s laid claim to contains only half of what she needs to know to understand, while she must set aside the palace habits in favor of judging people by different standards and recognizing the motivations that drive them.

It’s fun and an easy read, but at the same time, there’s more than enough going on to keep me committed to the story and curious about where the next volume will take Tess.(less)

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Jan 23, 2010 Plusquamperfekt rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"Die Tochter der Königin" steht dem Wahrheits-Zyklus vom Stil her in nichts nach. Mir persönlich gefiel es, dass das Buch nur aus der Sicht von Tess -der Hauptperson- erzählt wird. Das war eine schöne Abwechslung zu Kryson 01 und hat mir persönlich -Dawn Cook schreibt sogar in der Ich-Perspektive- sehr gefallen.
Die Handlung ist durchgehend in Ordnung, famoses ist nicht dabei, doch das Buch ist gute Unterhaltung für zwischendurch. Die Geschichte ist defintiv spannender als "Die erste Wahrheit" u...more

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Jan 11, 2010 Xenophon Hendrix rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 14, 2009 Julie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Princess Contessa of Constantinopolie has a pretty good life. She's an expert shopper, has parents who love her and are good rulers, and is looking forward to her upcoming engagement to Prince Garett of Misdev. So what if a few pesky assassins try to get in her way? She's been well trained to ward them off, she's not worried.

Oh but she should be. Prince Garett, not taking the advice of his father arrives in Constantinopolie early, almost six full months before the formal engagement is announced....more Princess Contessa of Constantinopolie has a pretty good life. She's an expert shopper, has parents who love her and are good rulers, and is looking forward to her upcoming engagement to Prince Garett of Misdev. So what if a few pesky assassins try to get in her way? She's been well trained to ward them off, she's not worried.

Oh but she should be. Prince Garett, not taking the advice of his father arrives in Constantinopolie early, almost six full months before the formal engagement is announced. His untimely arrival forces Tess's parents to come clean: she's not the true princess, but a child bought from the street to pose as the princess and ward off assassin.

Things can't get worse for Tess. Or so she thinks. After Garett takes the castle by force and murders her parents. Tess is forced to run for her life, something that's hard to do for a girl who's hardly ever stepped foot outside the city. Only by befriending a cheat and finally finding her old tutor does Tess realize that bigger things are at stake than just the kingdom, lives of many hang in the balance, and she's the only one who can stop the events that could lead her and everyone she loves into utter destruction.

I was a little tentative when I first started "The Decoy Princess." The first chapter started out pretty cheesy, the main character being a spoiled brat who ordered her tutor around like he was scum. But slowly Cook drew me in. I soon realized that my first impression of Tess was quite wrong and she blossomed into a likeable and relatable heroine.

While I can't classify "The Decoy Princess" a page-turner, I sincerely enjoyed the characters, the world Cook created, and the excitement she produced in me towards the end when I absolutely had to know what was going to happen. Ok, so I lied, it got pretty page-turning towards the end. Cook has a rare talent in that she can take a mystery and make it non-confusing. The pieces really fell into place quite nicely for "The Decoy Princess," yet were in no way predictable.

Cook has definitely come up with an original plotline here and her characters are ones definitely worth visiting. I can't wait to read the sequel "Princess at Sea." (less)

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Aug 25, 2012 Laura rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-fiction, fantasy

I haven't read any other books by Dawn Cook or Kim Harrison (the same person). Kim Harrison seems to have several books with interesting covers but there are so many that I've been reluctant to even begin reading. I figured I'd give Dawn Cook a try and if I like her books I'd try out the Kim Harrison books.

I didn't like the main character very much in the beginning. The story wasn't very interesting to me, although it should have been. I found myself skipping ahead in the story and then doggedly...more

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Apr 02, 2010 M. B. rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 27, 2013 P. Aaron Potter rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

You ever get the feeling that the author switched horses about halfway through the book? That was the sense I got reading The Decoy Princess. I picked this one up at our favorite local used book store thinking it was a nice crossover for Michele & I: a touch of historic fantasy, a light romance, some action and intrigue...

What I got was an oddity. It feels as though Cook started off writing this as an adventure romance, something occuping the same neighborhood as Laura Kinsale's The Shadow a ...more

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Nov 26, 2008 Elizabeth marked it as to-read

All her life, Princess Contessa of Costenopolie has been raised as a proper princess should, well-versed in fashion, diplomacy, politics, and shopping. However, she's also been trained quite thoroughly in how to protect herself, by Chancellor Kravenlow, who has spent years teaching her how to use various easily-hidden weapons, including venom-laced darts. Tess has never thought much about it, really. Being a princess is a dangerous job, and sometimes a girl has to protect herself. However, every...more All her life, Princess Contessa of Costenopolie has been raised as a proper princess should, well-versed in fashion, diplomacy, politics, and shopping. However, she's also been trained quite thoroughly in how to protect herself, by Chancellor Kravenlow, who has spent years teaching her how to use various easily-hidden weapons, including venom-laced darts. Tess has never thought much about it, really. Being a princess is a dangerous job, and sometimes a girl has to protect herself. However, every skill Tess has learned still won't prepare her for the tasks at hand when her entire world is turned inside out, and her very identity revealed as a lie.

On the eve of an undesired royal betrothal, Tess' parents reveal the truth to her: she's really an orphan, bought off the street as a baby, and raised as a princess in public, all so the real princess could live a life of solitary safety in a far-off nunnery. But now it's time for the real princess to come home and take up her throne, leaving Tess to question her past and future. This, however, is derailed when Prince Garrett of Misdev, her "sister's" betrothed, kills the king and queen of Costenopolie and sends out riders to track down the true princess, thus securing his control of the kingdom.

Now it's up to Tess to escape an occupied castle, travel across country, find her "sister" and save the day. Her unlikely allies will include a peasant sculptor, a princess who has never been out in the real world, a con man/card sharp whose trustworthiness is always in question, and Kravenlow, whose secret agenda has finally come to light. Standing against Tess is Captain Jeck of Misdev, a dangerous man whose allegiances aren't what they seem. And as the unlikely heroine discovers that she has been better trained as an assassin than a princess, she'll learn that there's a dangerous game being played, where kingdoms are used as chessboards, and royalty as game pieces. Does Tess have what it takes to be a player, or will she remain a pawn?
(less)

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May 04, 2009 Emily rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-sf, young-adult, keep

This was startlingly good. I was expecting a YA novel about a downtrodden princess who has to contend with a bratty replacement in her ex-parents' affections, etc. Instead, I got a book about an interesting young woman who has to contend with upheaval in her life (of which not really being in line for a throne is the least of her problems) and tantalizing glimpses of the ideas of politics behind a throne. Are royalty ever actually in charge? Who really manipulates world events? Happily it wasn't...more

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Jul 01, 2008 Banaticus rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 27, 2008 Jenna rated it 5 of 5 stars

I probably shouldn't give this a 5, since I don't actually remember it very well (I read it at a high-stress time, and it didn't get a chance to fully sink in) but I remember I loved it enormously. I mean, a princess who stores darts in her hair and can actually use them? Awesome!

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Sep 19, 2011 Anne Osterlund rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Tess is not a princess. She was brought up as one, but sadly the secret is out. She is a decoy, raised to die in the real princess’s place.

However, Tess isn’t easily killed, as a variety of assassins have learned over the years. She is, in fact, highly skilled at throwing poison darts.

But it will take more than that to defeat her former intended and his Misdev soldiers suddenly occupying the palace. As well a certain maddeningly unshakable captain bent on hunting her down.

The Decoy Princess is a...more

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Mar 05, 2012 Megan rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: challenge, fantasy

The storyline was great and I loved the fantasy world. The heroine was awesome with her dart-pipe and other special abilities. I found this book recommended under a "Clean Reads" book group that I am a part of and I read a lot of reviews to make sure it was clean. Also, the cover looked very light-hearted and looked like it would be a "fun" read. It's definitely not "light". It is very intense and not much of a romance at all. The main problem I had was the number of times the author used the wo...more

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May 02, 2013 Rach rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was quick and fun read. The protagonist, Tess, is delightful and endearing. The plot moves on at a nice pace and had enough plot twists to keep me guessing. There is light romance which thankfully did not detract from the overall story arc as much as I had feared when I began reading the book.

I definitely recommend this book but offer one warning: you're probably better off avoiding the sequel, Princess at Sea. It is not nearly as strong and went so far as to alter my feelings about the fi...more

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Jan 12, 2012 Miss Clark rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 08, 2012 Tem rated it 4 of 5 stars

Due to the 'Red Moon Prophecy' Princess Contessa of Costenopolie has always been surrounded by guards, and has been closely monitored since the day she was born. Intelligence, feisty, and loved by her Royal parents, including her faithful Chancellor Kavenlow who has guided her since she was an infant, Princess Contessa (TESS) knew what life had mapped out for her.

However, the sudden early arrival of her betrothed, a prince from the kingdom of Misdev drastically changes Tess's life when she is to...more

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Sep 18, 2011 Damali rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: epic-fantasy

I don't have a problem with the story, characters, plotting, or anything like that. My main complaint is that the chapters leading up to and after the big reveal wasn't written as well as it could have been. I actually stopped reading about 50 pages from the end, and that's never a good thing for me. I have other books for the series, but I'm not sure if I'd ever go back to it. I know this author has a successful series that I loved up until the last book, so I may revisit this series again in t...more

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Jan 24, 2010 Dorri rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

At first I was leary about reading this book. I've loved Dawn Cook's alter ego - Kim Harrison - for some time. She writes delicious urban fantasy. As such, the idea of switching gears for a high fantasy novel seemed odd to me. I wasn't ready. I kept putting it off. I was an idiot.

The premise behind The Decoy Princess is the reverse tale of rags to riches. Princess Contessa, Tess to those who know her, is happily living the life of luxury and about to be engaged. It all comes to a screaming halt...more

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Mar 15, 2009 Janice (Janicu) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Both books followed the same pattern where at first I was just reading along but not really sucked in, and then something would happen and I just had to know what happened next. I admit I did skim ahead because I was really really curious, but then made myself come back and read it properly. There were a few surprises, and unexpected angst. I found most of the characters had layers which got slowly peeled back as time went by, and some things get revealed that I sort of expected, yet didn't quit...more

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Jul 26, 2007 Janet rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fluff fantasy fans

It's rare that I will put a book down without finishing it, and I hacked my way through three-quarters of the novel before I dropped this one, but by that point I was only reading to see if she got together with The Guy (I skipped ahead - that storyline gets dropped almost altogether.) The prose is clunky and overblown, with every single hand gesture being described in vivid detail as if we are watching a movie instead of reading a book. Her curls, for example, are described again, and again, an...more

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“See Pitch over there?" he asked, pointing with his chin. "Try to get her to come to you."

Pitch had wandered from the other horses, trying to get at the hay in the wagon’s bed. My eyebrows rose, giving him a pained look. "You mean, here, horsy, horsy, horsy..."

He gave me a severe look, but his eyes were glittering in a repressed amusement.” — 11 people liked it

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