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Aug 12, 2011

Katie M. rated it:

Innkeeper's daughter, check. Made-up 16th-century England-ish land, check. Implausible romance, check. Okay, so if you're only going to read one Cynthia Voigt book make it one of the Tillerman novels and not this one. But good LORD I love this story. It's everything a completely-un-thought-provoking Anglocentric young adult historical fantasy should be: slightly dark, exciting, hopelessly romantic, and completely satisfying. As far as tropes go, I could do without the childlike-giant-with-heart- More...

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Jan 05, 2011

Erin rated it:

Far and away one of my favorite series of all time. The kingdom series is brilliant. Not only for the very subtle modern allegories tucked into a generally well written fairytale/fable/medieval-ish story, but this series has two assets that I love:

A: You don't have to read them in order. They are very loosely tied together through tiny hints throughout the books. I had many "ooohhhhhhhhh" moments when you figure out how they relate. I think this might be my favorite part of t More...

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Jul 27, 2009

Snail in Danger (Sid) added it

I made it through about half of this. The author is very good at providing sensory/descriptive detail about setting. However, there just wasn't enough in the way of readerly payoff to keep my interest going. The characters spend most of the time being afraid, but we don't really know why. That's a somewhat unfair oversimplification. However, while the basic premise is interesting, the way it's handled is not. It made me think of Shards of Honor. Except there the characters actually talked More...

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May 11, 2010

Ilana rated it:

I'm actually not sure whether this book was meant for young adults or an older audience, but I think it would be fine for all ages. The characters in this book are amazingly well developed and dynamic and I love almost all of them. This is one of those fantasy books where a lot of time passes throughout the story and I could feel it passing even though it skipped around like crazy when nothing important was going on. It was not boring in the slightest and though the plot was definitely not surpr More...

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Mar 12, 2009

Sarah rated it:

So, I did a book report in the eighth grade on this book and I randomly remembered it the other day. Someone was reading a book by Cynthia Voigt, and I thought "I know that author, where have I seen that author?" So I went and looked at her works and the only one that was familiar was this one. I can't believe that an author's name looked familiar when the last time I saw it was almost a decade ago, but there ya go.
This is definitely a book to read again.
I barely remember More...

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Jun 09, 2009

Destinee rated it:

I just finished reading Tuck Everlasting, which had this recurring wheel imagery and it reminded me of a book I completely loved when I was twelve or so (I was reminded of it just because of the wheel thing--not because they're similar books). So I type in "wheel" and "fortune" and up it popped, this Cynthia Voigt book. It's not the same cover as the one I had, but I know it's the same book because I remember having a pretend boyfriend named Orien. He was dreamy. I think I ca More...

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Oct 14, 2008

Heidi rated it:

I found this book in the young adult section of the library on my way to the children's section. I am a sucker for historical fiction, with a romantic twist. I really liked it.

2 comments like (1 person liked it)

Apr 17, 2010

Margaret rated it:

This was a intriguing novel about a girl named Birle who tries to catch a thief in the night from stealing a boat from her village. She hops in the boat with him and they begin to float down a river in the night. When Birle awakes, she is taken by this man because he is very handsome and learns that he is a Lord from a Kingdom. She doesn’t want to leave him partly because she is escaping her life back home where she is suppose to marry a man she doesn’t love and partly because she starts to h More...

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Mar 23, 2011

Janette rated it:

I gave this a 3 star, but really it's about 2 1/2...I was expecting more from this author and was disappointed. The story is interesting and I wanted to know what would happen next, but it was too slow for me and too much like a lot of other fantasy type books I have read...sort of interchangeable.
Girl follows guy who she doesn't even know, likes his eyes, end up having some major adventures like being captured by slavers and sold as slaves...she saves him, they find their way home, he is More...

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Feb 10, 2009

Eva rated it:

This was a good book. I read Jackaroo when I was a kid and I really like it, so I thought I'd read this too. I was not disappointed. A predictably happy ending (which I always like) and nice, developed, likable characters. I always know it's a good book when I end up with a crush on the male protagonists. Orien was just wonderful. I was surprised about how much I liked Birle. At first, I didn't think I'd like her, but she as she developed she grew on me and I just loved her by the end. More...

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Oct 11, 2011

Kaia rated it:

I'll admit, this book looked intimidating when my best friend handed it to me and told me to read it. It's a thick little book and having just started up school again, I'm crunched for time. But I found this book extremely engaging and an easy read. I liked the detailed world the author Cynthia Voigt had created. It was very interesting. My only complaint is that I felt the relationship between the two main characters was forced, even at the end. I had to suspend my disbelief towards the en More...

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Oct 06, 2010

Susan rated it:

I remember loving Cynthia Voigt as a teen, although her writing was not exactly upbeat and happy. I picked this up in the library while helping Tyra find books, and thought I remembered it being highly recommended. Only when I got home did I realize it was a 2nd of a series. I don't think it affected how I felt about the book. I still do like Voigt's writing, but the heroine was really annoying as she constantly had thoughts that she'd be "happy to die for the man I love who doesn't love me More...

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Jun 19, 2010

Rui rated it:

In terms of the Kingdom series: a relatively moderate to highly enjoyable read.
It's got adventure, they go to different places where they experience different social standings than what they are each used to. In this sense, it's a fruitful story that matches its title. I've reread this one a few times and would jump at any opportunity to do it again, so it's definitely worth trying out for first-timers.

In terms of literature in general, I would say it isn't the best out there More...

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Jan 29, 2012

Paula rated it:

This is the sequel to Jackaroo, set in the same universe but two generations after the previous book; On Fortune's Wheel is again the story of a young girl from that family, another Innkeeper's Daughter like the last. Birle has agreed to marry a huntsman, even though she's only just of marriageable age, but is getting cold feet. When she spots a mysterious stranger stealing her father's boat, Birle intervenes and ends up travelling downriver with him.

The mysterious stranger is, of co More...

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Jul 07, 2008

Carmen rated it:

A beautiful story of love and courage

From the moment she looks into the deep blue eyes of the young lord she found stealing a boat the previous night, Birle knows she’ll love him forever. She’s also painfully aware that her love will never be: he’s a lord, she, an innkeeper's daughter. Not that it matters anyway, as the lord sees in her only a child. Content just to be with him for the time being, Birle convinces the lord to let her come with him.

For days they travel down More...

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Jul 11, 2010

Katie rated it:

A fantasy romance that stole my heart as an eleven year old continues to do so. Not necessarily the best book ever written or even the best book Cynthia Voigt ever wrote (Homecoming probably receives that distinction). But, God, I was in love with the love between Birle and Orien. It was my go-to book when I was sad all throughout middle school.

4 stars. Definitely recommended for the middle schooler who wants to read about love and adventure and be satisfied by a happy ending.

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May 03, 2011

Becky rated it:

I really liked this YA novel. I've always loved Jackaroo and didn't realize there were other novels "of the Kingdom" that sort of loosely follow each other (not sequels). This follows an Innkeeper's daughter as she makes an impulsive decision to stop a thief and ends up being pulled into an adventure that exposes her to all classes of life in her society and tests her limits of endurance and intelligence. It's also a really nice romance, not too heavy-handed but very sweet.

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Jan 26, 2010

Sara rated it:

There were some slower parts in this book that made me think, "Hmmm, I liked Jackaroo better", but now that I've finished it, I know I was wrong! This was a fun read and picks up 2 generations from where Jackaroo left off. I love how she's spaced the series. She manages to remind you of what happened in the previous book without being obnoxious - you know how that happens sometimes in a series. Love Voigt's strong female protagonists. I am really having lots of fun with these book More...

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Oct 22, 2009

Melissa rated it:

Beautifully written. I could read this book over and over again. I completely feel in love with the characters of Orien and Birle the moment they appeared in the book. I love Orien so much i have vowed to name my first son after him. The plot is intriguing and full of twists and turns. You find yourself rooting for Birle throughout the story and wishing you were there with her. I don't want to say anyone except go pick up this book!

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Apr 14, 2011

Becky rated it:

I went through an obsessive Cynthia Voigt phase as a teen, reading everything she ever wrote, but this was my all-time favorite and is still one of my top books. I think this is one of the first books I read that spanned many seasons and felt like you were living adventure-to-adventure with the protagonist, from rags to riches and everything in between. I read this SO many times. Storytelling at its best.

1 comment like

Jul 08, 2011

Ashley rated it:

This is one of the best books I have ever read. It was full of adventure, and a thrill to read. Automatically, from the very beginning, it grips your attention, and doesn't let go until the last page. Birle and Oriens love for each other is wonderful to read about. I recommend anyone who likes romance, adventure, and historical novels to read this book. You won't regret it.

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Nov 05, 2011

Kathleen rated it:

I believe I was soo in love with Jackaroo that it was hard to get into this story. I couldn't connect with the characters but maybe it was becuase I just couldn't relate to them due to my age. I remember reading this when I was in 9th grade and I was sorely disappointed in Birle's behavior. I wonder if reading it again now will give me a different opinion.

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Aug 14, 2009

Julie rated it:

I didn't realize this was a sequel, but apparently you don't have to read the first. I really enjoyed reading this book-- it went by quickly and was a good tale. I couldn't put it down because I really wanted to see what happened to the characters-- it has been a while since I had a book like that. There is nothing especially deep in this, just a good quick read.

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Aug 09, 2010

Chelsea rated it:

I REALLY enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the throw-back to Jackaroo without it being a true sequel. I really loved the characters and loved the love story, so much better than Jackaroo. I hear Book 3 is the best in the series, so I'm excited for that to come. Until then, I'll just love remembering Birle and Orien. :)

1 comment like

Nov 25, 2008

Michelle rated it:

I was looking for something light and fantasy based so I grabbed this at random. I didn't realize it was a sequel to Jackaroo, something I read in Jr. High. Anyway, cute story, not really light hearted but still good for a mental break. The book was well written with lots of detail and solid characters.

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Sep 15, 2009

Jen rated it:

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

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Dec 14, 2008

Liza rated it:

I read this book over and over in my teens and loved it. It's a beautiful love story.

I've never actually read Jackaroo, though I'd like to now, and never knew that it was a "second book" as it really stood solid on it's own.

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Dec 08, 2008

Kirsten rated it:

This was pretty good. Set in the same world as Jackaroo, which is awesome - but I'm not sure that anything could compare to my love for the first book, so there you have it. I did love the character of Birle, who really comes into her own.

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May 02, 2011

Kristy rated it:

I first read this book ten years ago, and have been searching for it ever since... plugging random keywords into search engines, and scanning every section of every library. Now I'm so glad to have found it again. Thank you, Goodreads!

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Feb 26, 2011

Julia rated it:

I really enjoyed this book--the characters were well-written and enjoyable, and the plot was good. At a couple points I felt like the progression of events was somewhat expected, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book.

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