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Jun 18, 2010

Clare rated it:

This review is not for Sherwood fans (who will read and love this book regardless), but for anyone looking for a book which will contribute something to their lives. It will be very hard to write it without sounding over-enthusiastic in my praise. Please remember that whatever else I say, this book is both down to earth and highly entertaining.

Don’t be discouraged if the plot appears narrow at first: in a time that feels medieval a fifteen year old boy attends a foreign military comm More...

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Nov 16, 2011

Eileen rated it:

This book is the prequel to Crown Duel and certainly provides interesting background to the other two stories.
I loved the way Vidanric is painted and develops over the story. Then when you read the next two books so many of his actions have a rich background full of intrigue.

I re-read Crown Duel and Court Duel and loved them even more with this fascinating background in my mind.

YAY!!!!
I have always wondered how Sherwood Smith's various series related to each o More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Dec 20, 2010

Catharine rated it:

OK. So I like Sherwood Smith's stuff, especially Court Duel, which is why I read this, and I liked this book, too, but I don't feel like it's her best work.

To be honest I'm not sure why she's publishing with this publisher. Why?

1. I feel like the editing isn't that great. Basically, it's like what I've heard about cutting gems out of rocks, the gem is hidden and it takes work to reveal it and set it off to its best advantage. I feel like there is a good story in this book, b More...

1 comment like (2 people liked it)

Nov 20, 2009

Debbie rated it:

"Stranger to Command" is the prequel to "Crown Duel" and, in a way, a sequel to "Senrid." You don't need to have read either of these books to understand and enjoy "Stranger to Command" though some of the references will (obviously) have more meaning if you've read these books. Because of this, I'd actually recommend reading "Crown Duel" before "Stranger to Command" even though this is technically the prequel.

The world-build More...

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Oct 03, 2009

Helena rated it:

I was really looking forward to reading this book when I found out about it. I'm a huge Crown Duel (CD) fan; I don't think I have a right to call myself a Sherwood Smith fan, as I haven't read all her books.

When I FINALLY got the book, it took me about 2 days to read it, despite the fact that it's 476 pages and I had to work. Couldn't put it down. Although I'm not sure how much that has to do with the fact that I really loved the Vidanric character from CD. I really enjoyed seeing Vida More...

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Aug 23, 2011

Gwyn rated it:

I was at first unsure how I would like this book. Throughout Crown Duel I (quite naturally) had a crush on Shevraeth, but what I loved most about the books was the interaction between Shevraeth and Meliara. When I picked up A Stranger to Command, I wasn't sure that Shevraeth would be able to carry a book on his own, without Mel to help him.

Well, he can. Basically A Stranger to Command is just a typical kid-goes-off-to-boarding-school-and-has-adventures story, with a lot of heavy-handed More...

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Jun 02, 2011

Donna rated it:

A Stranger to Command by Sherwood Smith is a prequel to Crown Duel about Vindanric’s life as a teenager when he gets sent away to the military land of Marloven Hess when a lot of the heirs start having quite a few riding “accidents.”

My intrest in reading this book though wasn’t really to see Vindanric as a teen (though i would love to read Crown Duel entirely in his point of view!) but to see how much Marloven Hess changed from the Inda Series. And it was pretty cool, you get a more in More...

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May 12, 2010

Sbuchler rated it:

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

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jul 06, 2010

Beth rated it:

A Stranger to Command is a prequel to the Crown/Court duel books. It is the story of Vidanric's teen years while he is away in a foreign country studying at an elite Military Academy. At times it dragged a bit and at times it was a little heavy on strategy and military terms, but I loved reading more about this character; from the time he arrives as a 15 year old stranger in a strange land, as he proves himself to his peers, and developes over 3 1/2 years into the tall, quiet, intense and harden More...

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Jun 13, 2011

Xandinavian rated it:

Lots of errors in this one. Binding and cover art also seemed done by print on demand. I love Sherwood smith but this really didn't feel like one of her best efforts - or maybe she was let down by the publishing house. The shorts from crown duel were so much better. *SPOILER STARTS* because of the strength of Crown Duel's plot and characters, it really makes this fall short. Ie The girl vidanric fell for was stupid and unimportant and ridiculous. And it didn't feel like anything was achieved at More...

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Jun 22, 2010

Hannah rated it:

Vidanric Renselaeus, the fifteen-year-old Marquis of Shevraeth, has been sent to the military academy in Marloven Hess, a kingdom on the other side of the continent to learn. His parents, the prince and princess, sent him away to protect him from the evil King Galdran who (as it seems) is killing off anyone who could possibly have the intelligence to out smart him. In Marloven Hess the other teens mistake his name and start calling him Shevraeth. Shevraeth speaks a different language and acts More...

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Nov 20, 2011

Chachic rated it:

Looks like I forgot to cross-post my review of this. I wrote it in my blog last year:

I love Crown Duel and it's in my list of favorites. Vidanric is also in my list of fictional guy crushes. I loved that Sherwood wrote Crown Duel outtakes, which involved certain scenes told from the point of view of Vidanric (these are included in the e-book version, which can be purchased here). Vidanric was so aloof for the most of Crown Duel so it was refreshing to see his side of the story. A Str More...

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Jul 07, 2010

Miriam rated it:

Despite the veneer of fantasy, this is essentially a school story with a culture-clash twist. The king of Remalna is in the habit of having fatal accidents happen to the heirs of prominent nobles, so young Vidanric's parents send him to a military academy in a far-off land. Vidanric comes from a more courtly and less martial culture, and most of the book is taken up with his efforts to learn new skills and adapt. There are occasional hints of foreign threats ("the EVIL Norsunders!") bu More...

2 comments like (4 people liked it)

Apr 05, 2009

Miss Clark rated it:

Love Senrid and Liere. Cannot wait to read their stories. Love Vidanric's parents madly. They are so amazing. Is there a story somewhere that tells their tale?

I like the promise that Elestra has Vidanric make and then she says that she and Alaric have to practice it as well.

Vidanric is trying to come to an understanding of authority, Civilization. Kingship. Command. Duty. Love. Right and wrong. It really is a growing up/ maturing/ coming-of-age tale for him. (He has a li More...

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Sep 27, 2010

Margaret rated it:

This is a prequel to Crown Duel and is related also to Senrid (which I didn't know before reading it), but I think it stands very well on its own.

Fifteen-year-old Vidanric Renselaeus, Marquis of Shevraeth, has been sent from his home in Remalna to a military academy in Marloven Hess in order to escape political unrest at home, where the king is increasingly out of control. In Marloven Hess, Vidanric must learn and accept many new things: a new name (the Marlovens assume his title, S More...

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Apr 25, 2010

Bronwen rated it:

Sent to train as a Warrior at a school in another country by his parents, Vidanric realizes there is more to his fathers' plan than just protection of his son. All the smart young people of the nobility in his country are systematically being killed. Parents who realize their king is mad, try to protect their children by keeping them away from court or if they have to go to court, training them to be "fools" who think fashion and gossip are more important than anything else.

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May 07, 2011

Beth rated it:

This was enjoyable. If, however, you've ever read "Ender's Game" you will be at a disadvantage, because you the comparisons don't stop: Battle Room, command school, trouble in the barracks, kids' slang, all-knowing teachers...all the main plot points are there, except "my evil older brother wants to be Hegemon." When I finished reading this, I had a rough time deciding whether to spend the next few hours with Ender or with a grown-up Shevraeth in "Court Duel."

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Sep 20, 2010

Ashley rated it:

As a standalone book, this one was a bit slow. But, as a prequel to one of my favorite books of all time (Crown Duel, by Sherwood Smith), I loved the chance to get into the hero's head. After I finished this one, I of course had to go reread Crown Duel. Naturally. And I loved him all the more for knowing his background, seeing how he came to be as he was. So unless you're a Crown Duel junky like me, I guess I wouldn't call this a must-read. Smith's world creation is just about unparalleled, in m More...

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Feb 05, 2012

Evie added it

I was really glad I picked this up. The hero of this book was my favorite thing from Crown/Court Duel. Even better, here he's in the military school that was the setting of Inda. I love Smith's Inda series, and have a strange thing for military school tales, so I was pretty darn happy with this book. It's not perfect--it's long, yet strangely rushed at the end--and the end is right where I'd have liked to seen more meat. Part of the story in Crown/Court Duel is that on the way to the crown, Vida More...

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Jun 02, 2009

Lauren rated it:

Loved it! A prequel to the Crown Duel/Court Duel books, and a sequel to Senrid, and it's a return to Marloven-Hess and the Academy of horse-back fighters. In this story, a foreigner is allowed to attend the academy, and his struggle to fit in & conquer the physical challenges is contrasted with the diferent but equally hazardous challenges his family & friends face at home. And what about the threat of war with Norsunder?

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Jan 27, 2009

Martha rated it:

I love browsing bookstores! I tend to find books I never knew existed, including new books from favorite authors. This one links Senrid (which I didn't particularly like) with Crown/Court Duel (which I loved) & had historical references to the Inda series (also very good). I spent a very enjoyable 2 1/2 hours reading this. I'll also say that Russav was right enough to win the bet!

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Feb 12, 2012

Alex rated it:

This is my first novel by Sherwood and I picked it up due to a military school theme - and I got my fill of what I crave. I especially enjoyed the evolution of the main character's thinking process as he moved from being a beginner to gaining more and more confidence with skills and responsibilities. My favorite scenes/plot lines dealt with conflicts between the students, especially ones involving younger boys challenging authority.

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Jan 24, 2011

Connie rated it:

not as good as Inda and the other books in that series, it's still a very good Sherwood Smith. The thing is, Ms. Smith's books are nearly impossible for me to put down once I start reading, and I have to say my iPad has become my best friend because I can download anything and have it read in a few hours. Read Inda first, and see what you think!

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Jan 27, 2011

Phaedra rated it:

I hated the cover to the book as it was fairly static and boring. However, that was the only bad thing about the book. I was surprised by the length and loved the background that this added to one of my favorite characters. The author has a knack for telling a solid story and then all of a sudden drawing all the threads together so that you clearly see the tapestry that's being woven.

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Jul 27, 2010

Kalinda rated it:

Noble yet believable and human, the 15-year-old Marquis of Shevraeth is sent away from home to learn military command in a foreign country. As he struggles to understand and find a place in the school's community, he finds that he is not only capable, but destined fo greatness.

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Jul 31, 2010

Amanda rated it:

The martial culture is fascinating as is the thought of what to do with a country of warriors. Can you really have a martial culture learn defensive warfare? And if they aren't out conquering everyone else, where else will they turn but on each other? Fascinating book.

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Feb 08, 2010

Britnee rated it:

I loved it! Of the two Crown Duel is still my favorite. I love the history of Vidanric and all the little things that were in this book that show up in the latter book is awesome. I now must go on and read Crown Duel *grins* again while this book is still fresh in my mind. Awesome job Sherwood Smith!

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Feb 20, 2009

Caitlín rated it:

Parts of this were good and others were SO slow. Also, while I haven't read Crown Duel in a while, I had a hard time seeing Vidanric the boy as the adult Vidanric that he becomes later.

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Dec 06, 2010

April rated it:

I was disappointed with this book. It's a prequel to one of my favorite books (Crown Duel) and I was excited to read it. Sadly, the writing is nothing compared to Crown Duel. It's boring, long, uneventful. There were so many named characters that I had a hard time keeping track of them all. All I can say is what a let down!

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Dec 15, 2008

Catherine rated it:

This book surprised me by making me think much more about leadership and discipline than I would have ever expected from a YA fantasy book. Thank you to the author for an enlightening read.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

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