<![CDATA[A Stranger to Command]]>

false <![CDATA[A Stranger to Command]]> http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1256861844m/3876030.jpg 3876030 3 A STRANGER TO COMMAND In this much-anticipated prequel to CROWN DUEL, Vidanric Renselaeus, fifteen-year-old Marquis of Shevraeth, finds himself sent across the continent to a military academy in Marloven Hess, a kingdom known for its violent history. Vidanric is used to civilized life in pleasant Remalna--except that the evidence is increasingly clear that the civilization is only on the surface. Too many young, smart heirs have suffered accidents of late, and the evidence is beginning to point to the king, Galdran, who has grandiose plans for expansion. In Marloven Hess, no one can pronounce his real names, and they assume his title is his name. He becomes Shevraeth--discovering that there are no marquises or dukes or barons in this kingdom, and no one has the slightest interest in Remalna. Or in foreigners. Until very recently, the academy was closed to outsiders. But the king--also fifteen, and recently come to his throne after a nasty civil war--wants him there. Learning about command turns out to be very different than Shevraeth had assumed, and the Marlovens, who are going through political and social change at all levels, are not at all what he expected. He makes friends as well as enemies; experiences terror and laughter as well as challenges on the field and off. He discovers friendship, loyalty--and love. All the while greater events in the world are moving inexorably toward conflagration, drawing the smartest of the young people into key positions--whether they want it or not. They're going to have to be ready. "Involving characters, exquisite world building, politics, intrigue, and choices to be made between love, school and country. A Stranger to Command has everything. Drop what you're doing and read it immediately." --Justine Larbalestier author of HOW TO DITCH YOUR FAIRY "War games. Courtly Vidanric, sent for his own protection to train as a warrior in a foreign land four months' journey from home, considers himself alien, sensitive, weak, and ignorant among his fellow cadets. Remaining a study in courage and integrity, despite the grinding discipline that takes away even his name, Vidanric's soldier's skills grow swordblade sharp even as he also learns lessons of the heart. But capability, responsibility, and all-too-real invasion come together as Vidanric realizes that not only is he being trained for kingship, he's capable of it, too . . . A diamond-bright portrait of a harsh and magical journey to adulthood." --Elizabeth E. Wein, author of THE MARK OF SOLOMON "Sherwood Smith's universe is so detailed at this point that you feel like a traveller in a real foreign land--charmed, sometimes bewildered, and finally at home with no desire to leave. This book deals thoughtfully with the creation of a hero, and also creates an exciting, occasionally-painful, and always absorbing adventure." --Sarah Rees Brennan, author of THE DEMON LEXICON 3921267 book 1 8 2008 A Stranger to Command total:57|5:22|4:23|3:9|2:3|1:0| 57 235 148 14 5 0 false false Thu Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Fri Nov 20 08:07:47 -0800 2009 Fri Nov 20 08:47:44 -0800 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Thu Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Sat Oct 03 11:21:44 -0700 2009 Sat Oct 03 11:22:15 -0700 2009
When I FINALLY got the book, it took me about 2 days to read it, despite the fact t...more...]]> 3 1 false false Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed Sep 24 12:14:13 -0700 2008 Sun Apr 05 16:54:19 -0700 2009 Once
I like the promise that Elestra has Vidanric make and then she says that she and Alaric have to practice it as well.

...more...]]> 5 1 false false Sun May 31 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Tue Jun 02 06:15:57 -0700 2009 Tue Jun 02 06:25:22 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Tue Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Tue Jan 27 15:20:44 -0800 2009 Tue Jan 27 15:23:08 -0800 2009 more...]]> 2 0 false false Thu Feb 19 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Mon Feb 09 13:42:53 -0800 2009 Fri Feb 20 05:15:13 -0800 2009 Crown Duel in a while, I had a hard time seeing Vidanric the boy as the adult Vidanric that he becomes later.]]> 5 1 false false Mon Dec 15 08:49:06 -0800 2008 Mon Dec 15 08:50:39 -0800 2008 3 0 false false Sun Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Sun Feb 08 15:48:20 -0800 2009 Sun Feb 08 15:48:20 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Mon Jun 15 07:23:12 -0700 2009 Mon Jun 15 07:23:12 -0700 2009 4 0 false false Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sun Jun 21 07:45:23 -0700 2009 Sun Jun 21 07:47:31 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Thu Jun 04 00:10:16 -0700 2009 Thu Jun 04 00:10:16 -0700 2009 3 0 false false Fri Nov 06 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Thu Aug 27 15:02:06 -0700 2009 Fri Nov 06 11:32:08 -0800 2009
Otherwise, there are many parts that move fairly slowly for a YA fantasy adventure novel. And I had a hard time viewing the Vidanric in this prequel wit...more...]]> 3 0 false false Mon Sep 15 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Sat Sep 06 13:52:36 -0700 2008 Mon Sep 15 13:56:54 -0700 2008 5 1 false false Sat Sep 06 05:49:59 -0700 2008 Sat Sep 06 05:51:36 -0700 2008 0 0 false false Mon Nov 23 18:05:50 -0800 2009 Mon Nov 23 18:05:50 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Wed Nov 18 01:40:53 -0800 2009 Wed Nov 18 01:40:53 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Mon Nov 16 06:18:24 -0800 2009 Mon Nov 16 06:18:24 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Sun Nov 15 14:33:02 -0800 2009 Sun Nov 15 14:33:02 -0800 2009 4 0 false false Sun Nov 15 05:26:00 -0800 2009 Sun Nov 15 05:26:00 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Fri Nov 13 22:28:26 -0800 2009 Fri Nov 13 22:28:26 -0800 2009 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=3876030