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Sevalian Chronicles #1
To Play the Lady
Most girls in the Kingdom of Sevalia would be thrilled to receive an invitation to become the first Queen’s Lady without noble blood, but for tomboy Jenna Mallory, it was her worst nightmare. She would need to overcome not only her lack of social status, but her mixed heritage. Jenna received the invitation because her father was a wealthy merchant, but since her mother was from the desert across the sea, Jenna had inherited both her mother’s darker coloring and two magical abilities—abilities that would seem odd to Sevalian nobles that all have magic of their own. Any hopes to lead a quiet life at court are dashed after Jenna becomes the subject of palace scandal when her magic is discovered. Worse, Sevalia’s old enemy to the east lays claim to a powerful mage whom Jenna discovers hiding in the eastern mountains—a mage that takes a keen interest in Jenna’s magic. While she had expected being a Lady would be challenging, Jenna learns she will need all her wits and all her magic… just to survive.
476 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 11, 2011
78 people are currently reading
848 people want to read
About the author
Naomi Lane
20 books95 followersWhen not daydreaming about fantasy worlds Naomi works as an energy consultant in downtown Boston. She also lives in Boston with her husband and their two cats.
She's been daydreaming up silly stories for as long as she can remember, and one day, she thought it would be fun to write some of them down. After finishing the first story, she then wanted to be able to share it with her friends and family, and so self-published To Play the Lady.
Email her at toplaythelady@gmail.com.
She's been daydreaming up silly stories for as long as she can remember, and one day, she thought it would be fun to write some of them down. After finishing the first story, she then wanted to be able to share it with her friends and family, and so self-published To Play the Lady.
Email her at toplaythelady@gmail.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
May 4, 2016
There is something about this book that I really love and it's incredibly hard to articulate. It has an innocence about it, not only in the story but in the prose style. Perhaps nostalgia is a better word? It pulls at exactly the same strings in my psyche as Pierce's Alanna books. It has similar flaws, too. (At this point in my writing career, I can recognize that a series I'm incredibly passionate about - like Song of the Lioness - has flaws from an author perspective.) For example, Lane uses a lot of modifiers, both in language tags and in description. (Honestly, I'm not sure if I find modifier use annoying because I have been taught to do so, or if they are actually annoying.) I know, I use them myself, but never doubt me, I always know that I'm doing it. And wonder at myself. And now here I am, entirely hypocritically, wondering at someone else.
This is why I believe most authors make pretty abysmal book critics.
Anyway...
I had a harder time reading this book a second time and forgiving it for small sins. However, I still really enjoyed the story. I like all of the tropes that are being used, from a tomboy trying to become a lady, to a young girl disguising herself as a boy, to high court and magic, to themes of young love, friendship, and isolation that always go hand-in-hand with boarding schools (whether that be a castle in Tortall, or a Herald Collegium, or a school for bards in Pern...).
I like Lane's magical system, although when I first read the book I thought it was going to be more on the warrior end of the Sword and Sorceress spectrum. I do wish the main character were a little less sparkly special. That said, I believe that she is prevented from becoming a Mary Sue, because she is intrinsically quite flawed. She can't keep her mouth shut, plus she is too bold and too aggressive for the nobility and for politics. This makes the romantic connections she forms with the princes in the book ultimately untenable by nature of her own personality. I do wonder where the writer is going with her romantic arcs as a result.
This is why I believe most authors make pretty abysmal book critics.
Anyway...
I had a harder time reading this book a second time and forgiving it for small sins. However, I still really enjoyed the story. I like all of the tropes that are being used, from a tomboy trying to become a lady, to a young girl disguising herself as a boy, to high court and magic, to themes of young love, friendship, and isolation that always go hand-in-hand with boarding schools (whether that be a castle in Tortall, or a Herald Collegium, or a school for bards in Pern...).
I like Lane's magical system, although when I first read the book I thought it was going to be more on the warrior end of the Sword and Sorceress spectrum. I do wish the main character were a little less sparkly special. That said, I believe that she is prevented from becoming a Mary Sue, because she is intrinsically quite flawed. She can't keep her mouth shut, plus she is too bold and too aggressive for the nobility and for politics. This makes the romantic connections she forms with the princes in the book ultimately untenable by nature of her own personality. I do wonder where the writer is going with her romantic arcs as a result.
April 13, 2012
I wanted to like this book, I really did. I mean, who goes into a story thinking it'll be complete waste of time? I don't like writing harsh reviews, but even after taking a lot of time to cool off I just can't find any redeeming merit in this work of fiction.
My first complaint is that Ms. Lane can't seem to decide exactly who she's writing for. The tale reads very much like a young adult novel; it tackles issues relating to growing up, relationships, and finding one's place in the world. There is also romance, which is expected within the genre. What I was not expecting, were quite how sexual the book became.
For example, this excerpt comes from location 5062 in the Kindle edition:
"She stood in the Arcanum, staring at the glowing symbols. She began to see them swirl around her, at first overwhelming, but then Sebastian was there, and she suddenly felt grounded. Without words, he began to kiss her, and she knew instantly she would like this dream.
As his tongue found hers, he clutched her tightly. It was only then that Jenna saw she was naked. His hands on her bare skin felt warm, and her pleasure increased. The violet rota symbol began to throb in her consciousness. As Sebastian's lips found her breasts, she suddenly felt a wave of pleasure more intense than she had ever felt break over her. The rota symbol blazed with fire and then went out."
I read a lot of young adult books, I'm well acquainted with them. I understand that there is an element of sex in many teen books. What I don't understand is why Ms. Lane was inclined to include birth control, make out sessions, erotic dreams/trances featuring the main character with naked men, and sexual immorality in conjunction to the protagonist's magic, when said protagonist is only twelve years old at the start of the book. Yeah, go back and read that excerpt again now. Feeling dirty yet?
The setting is also inconsistent. Ms. Lane seems to be trying to build a 'traditional' fantasy world featuring castles, carriages, mages, magic and swordplay but she isn't quite hitting the mark. There are some interesting foundations, but I found myself to be constantly jolted from the story by things that clashed completely with the scene she was trying to describe. The way in which she named her characters is one example. She's the author, she can do what she wants, but if the names she decides on tear me from the narrative every time they're mentioned she hasn't done her job properly. Authors please note: If I'm reading a book that is marketed as fantasy, I don't want to hear anything about soccer or ice hockey... just a tip.
I also found it very difficult to like Jenna. She's a typical 'Mary Sue.' Everyone loves her, and she knows everything. If there's something she's not familiar with she picks it up instantly. A character needs some flaws to make them interesting, and challenges to prove they're worthy of our affection. Jenna had neither. The villain was cliched and many of the other characters also fell flat. They were there to do their jobs and push the story forward, nothing else. You can't just think up characters to fix some problem or other, they need to have a purpose of their own.
On top of this, the story was incredibly repetitive - I lost count of the amount of times she passed out, and how often she saved the kingdom. I also grew increasingly annoyed every time I read 'Jenna was'. It's like Ms. Lane has never hear the phrase 'show, don't tell.' Show me how happy she is, or how sad... it was frustrating constantly running into the 'Jenna was' phrases. Jenna was shocked, Jenna was horrified, Jenna was startled, Jenna was happy, Jenna was surprised, Jenna was pleased, Jenna was grateful, Jenna was, Jenna was, Jenna was. Ugh!
I had numerous other complaints when reading this book, but I don't feel comfortable going into detail about technical aspects of the prose. Overall I would not recommend this book. It is a very rare thing that I won't finish a series. Even if I don't like a book I'll often continue anyway and I've found some real gems which I would have missed if I'd let the first book put me off. This isn't the case now. I will not be reading the second in this series when it becomes available.
My first complaint is that Ms. Lane can't seem to decide exactly who she's writing for. The tale reads very much like a young adult novel; it tackles issues relating to growing up, relationships, and finding one's place in the world. There is also romance, which is expected within the genre. What I was not expecting, were quite how sexual the book became.
For example, this excerpt comes from location 5062 in the Kindle edition:
"She stood in the Arcanum, staring at the glowing symbols. She began to see them swirl around her, at first overwhelming, but then Sebastian was there, and she suddenly felt grounded. Without words, he began to kiss her, and she knew instantly she would like this dream.
As his tongue found hers, he clutched her tightly. It was only then that Jenna saw she was naked. His hands on her bare skin felt warm, and her pleasure increased. The violet rota symbol began to throb in her consciousness. As Sebastian's lips found her breasts, she suddenly felt a wave of pleasure more intense than she had ever felt break over her. The rota symbol blazed with fire and then went out."
I read a lot of young adult books, I'm well acquainted with them. I understand that there is an element of sex in many teen books. What I don't understand is why Ms. Lane was inclined to include birth control, make out sessions, erotic dreams/trances featuring the main character with naked men, and sexual immorality in conjunction to the protagonist's magic, when said protagonist is only twelve years old at the start of the book. Yeah, go back and read that excerpt again now. Feeling dirty yet?
The setting is also inconsistent. Ms. Lane seems to be trying to build a 'traditional' fantasy world featuring castles, carriages, mages, magic and swordplay but she isn't quite hitting the mark. There are some interesting foundations, but I found myself to be constantly jolted from the story by things that clashed completely with the scene she was trying to describe. The way in which she named her characters is one example. She's the author, she can do what she wants, but if the names she decides on tear me from the narrative every time they're mentioned she hasn't done her job properly. Authors please note: If I'm reading a book that is marketed as fantasy, I don't want to hear anything about soccer or ice hockey... just a tip.
I also found it very difficult to like Jenna. She's a typical 'Mary Sue.' Everyone loves her, and she knows everything. If there's something she's not familiar with she picks it up instantly. A character needs some flaws to make them interesting, and challenges to prove they're worthy of our affection. Jenna had neither. The villain was cliched and many of the other characters also fell flat. They were there to do their jobs and push the story forward, nothing else. You can't just think up characters to fix some problem or other, they need to have a purpose of their own.
On top of this, the story was incredibly repetitive - I lost count of the amount of times she passed out, and how often she saved the kingdom. I also grew increasingly annoyed every time I read 'Jenna was'. It's like Ms. Lane has never hear the phrase 'show, don't tell.' Show me how happy she is, or how sad... it was frustrating constantly running into the 'Jenna was' phrases. Jenna was shocked, Jenna was horrified, Jenna was startled, Jenna was happy, Jenna was surprised, Jenna was pleased, Jenna was grateful, Jenna was, Jenna was, Jenna was. Ugh!
I had numerous other complaints when reading this book, but I don't feel comfortable going into detail about technical aspects of the prose. Overall I would not recommend this book. It is a very rare thing that I won't finish a series. Even if I don't like a book I'll often continue anyway and I've found some real gems which I would have missed if I'd let the first book put me off. This isn't the case now. I will not be reading the second in this series when it becomes available.
February 2, 2013
The premise was so promising, and I really wanted to like this book, but ultimately it fell flat for me.
Jenna Mallory and her brother Peter are sent to the palace, he to train to be a knight, she to be one of the queen's lady in waiting. She has to hide her magic, but does so halfheartedly, using it whenever she wants. Supposedly using magic will get her into trouble, because only those of noble blood are supposed to be able to have magical abilities, but aside from some raised eyebrows, nobody is shocked or aghast that Jenna has magical abilities.
My problems with this book, where do I begin...
1. The writing. Too many colloquial phrases are used, it reads like a contemporary boarding school novel than a book set in an alternate magical universe. The writing is not terrible, but definitely at a grade school reading level, and without a great deal of complexity. It sounds too modern at some parts, and oddly medieval in others, so the writing does not flow as smoothly as it should.
2. The characters. Jenna. I believe the author misspelled her name. It's spelled repeatedly in the book as J-E-N-N-A when it should be M-A-R-Y-S-U-E. She is good at everything. EVERYTHING. Short of the usual girly shit like embroidery and sewing, she fails at nothing at which she endeavors, and with very little explanation. Oh, she has some magical abilities? Oh wait no, she's the equivalent of a master level mage. She wants to ride a horse? Oh, she's gotta bond with the most specialest horse evar!!! She wants to learn to shoot a bow even though she hasn't done so in forever? Bird's eye. Things come too easily for her. Every misstep she makes is covered by a prince, or forgiven by a very indulgent queen. Short of a few spoiled fellow ladies-in-waiting who gives her a hard time, everything seems to be handed to her on a silver platter.
3. The massive cast, all of whom is scarcely built upon. I didn't find myself bonding to any of the supporting characters, they seem to exist merely to smooth out the way for our heroine, and their actions are sometimes idiotic and contrary to their role. For instance, her master level magician tutor repeatedly sends her out to scry for a dark lord, knowing it places them and her especially in danger.
4. The discrepancy between age and action. Jenna is supposed to be 12 when the book starts, by the middle of the book, she is barely 13, and yet she speaks like an adult, acts like an adult, makes out with the prince, and is warned about sexual magic by her much older male tutor, and given an anti-pregnancy charm.
Too many things to iron out, too many discrepancies, not a good read.
Jenna Mallory and her brother Peter are sent to the palace, he to train to be a knight, she to be one of the queen's lady in waiting. She has to hide her magic, but does so halfheartedly, using it whenever she wants. Supposedly using magic will get her into trouble, because only those of noble blood are supposed to be able to have magical abilities, but aside from some raised eyebrows, nobody is shocked or aghast that Jenna has magical abilities.
My problems with this book, where do I begin...
1. The writing. Too many colloquial phrases are used, it reads like a contemporary boarding school novel than a book set in an alternate magical universe. The writing is not terrible, but definitely at a grade school reading level, and without a great deal of complexity. It sounds too modern at some parts, and oddly medieval in others, so the writing does not flow as smoothly as it should.
2. The characters. Jenna. I believe the author misspelled her name. It's spelled repeatedly in the book as J-E-N-N-A when it should be M-A-R-Y-S-U-E. She is good at everything. EVERYTHING. Short of the usual girly shit like embroidery and sewing, she fails at nothing at which she endeavors, and with very little explanation. Oh, she has some magical abilities? Oh wait no, she's the equivalent of a master level mage. She wants to ride a horse? Oh, she's gotta bond with the most specialest horse evar!!! She wants to learn to shoot a bow even though she hasn't done so in forever? Bird's eye. Things come too easily for her. Every misstep she makes is covered by a prince, or forgiven by a very indulgent queen. Short of a few spoiled fellow ladies-in-waiting who gives her a hard time, everything seems to be handed to her on a silver platter.
3. The massive cast, all of whom is scarcely built upon. I didn't find myself bonding to any of the supporting characters, they seem to exist merely to smooth out the way for our heroine, and their actions are sometimes idiotic and contrary to their role. For instance, her master level magician tutor repeatedly sends her out to scry for a dark lord, knowing it places them and her especially in danger.
4. The discrepancy between age and action. Jenna is supposed to be 12 when the book starts, by the middle of the book, she is barely 13, and yet she speaks like an adult, acts like an adult, makes out with the prince, and is warned about sexual magic by her much older male tutor, and given an anti-pregnancy charm.
Too many things to iron out, too many discrepancies, not a good read.
May 25, 2013
Two basic problems with this one. The first is the our MC is a Mary Sue. She's only 12, turning 13. But she's a magical prodigy, with not one, but TWO unknown forms of magic. She heals the prince's horse, then saves the king's horse, save the prince, outrides everyone, has magical weapons so she can outshoot everyone and then outfight everyone. EVERYONE loves her, except of course those jealous princesses and the evil bad guys. And she's just so darn swell.
But I really could have put up with that. Sure, it made me roll my eyes a bit, but the plot was exciting and I did want to know what happened next.
But. But. But. But. The level of sensuality in this book was really inappropriate. She's twelve. OK, a little experimentation with her prince boyfriend. But it goes way past that. And she's twelve. The whole thing with the erotic dreams? Really? I'm pretty grossed out, and the more I think about it, the more disturbing it gets. If the evil bad guy is being portrayed as a pedophile, then I get it, but I didn't really feel that was the case.
I realize that in different times, 12 was about right for marriage and mating. But this is now. Exactly who does the writer think will be reading this? If it's more 12 year olds, it is totally inappropriate. If it's adults, it's still inappropriate. Are we supposed to be turned on by the sexual experiences of a child? That's just wrong. If she had made her character 3 or 4 years older, then it wouldn't raise an eyebrow. But this is so disturbing. Absolutely DO NOT recommend this book.
But I really could have put up with that. Sure, it made me roll my eyes a bit, but the plot was exciting and I did want to know what happened next.
But. But. But. But. The level of sensuality in this book was really inappropriate. She's twelve. OK, a little experimentation with her prince boyfriend. But it goes way past that. And she's twelve. The whole thing with the erotic dreams? Really? I'm pretty grossed out, and the more I think about it, the more disturbing it gets. If the evil bad guy is being portrayed as a pedophile, then I get it, but I didn't really feel that was the case.
I realize that in different times, 12 was about right for marriage and mating. But this is now. Exactly who does the writer think will be reading this? If it's more 12 year olds, it is totally inappropriate. If it's adults, it's still inappropriate. Are we supposed to be turned on by the sexual experiences of a child? That's just wrong. If she had made her character 3 or 4 years older, then it wouldn't raise an eyebrow. But this is so disturbing. Absolutely DO NOT recommend this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2013
I was tempted to give it a lower rating, but my conscience got the better of me. To be fair, the book had a good concept, an interesting world setting and, in my honest opinion, a lot of potential. So what was wrong with it?
Some reviewers mentioned that the main character was too young. I TOTALLY agree. The romance is too "heavy" (read: sexual) and unrealistic for an innocent 13 year old.
The deal breaker for me, though, was the irksome, bordering-on-repulsive Mary Sueness of the main character. I usually enjoy Mary Sueness, at least more than most people, but this book really overdid it. She has a good singing voice, she can outride boys on a horse, she's good at swordfighting and archery, AND she's sort of a rare magic prodigy, making everyone else seem incompetent. Kinda makes the whole "child of prophecy" thing not worth mentioning. In short, she's just too awesome to be likable.
Aside from that, I think the author has some pretty cool ideas and I hope her future books will be better.
Some reviewers mentioned that the main character was too young. I TOTALLY agree. The romance is too "heavy" (read: sexual) and unrealistic for an innocent 13 year old.
The deal breaker for me, though, was the irksome, bordering-on-repulsive Mary Sueness of the main character. I usually enjoy Mary Sueness, at least more than most people, but this book really overdid it. She has a good singing voice, she can outride boys on a horse, she's good at swordfighting and archery, AND she's sort of a rare magic prodigy, making everyone else seem incompetent. Kinda makes the whole "child of prophecy" thing not worth mentioning. In short, she's just too awesome to be likable.
Aside from that, I think the author has some pretty cool ideas and I hope her future books will be better.
February 11, 2016
Jenna never wanted to be a queen’s lady at the castle of Sevalia, as she is a tomboy and the first commoner to serve the queen. Jenna is hoping to have a quiet life at court but this is dashed when her two unique magical abilities are discovered. With a powerful dark mage who seems to have a sinister interest in Jenna, she will have to use all of her wits and magic to survive.
To Play the Lady is a likeable YA fantasy novel which has enjoyable story full of plot twists, some I saw coming, interesting magic and court politics. However it is not the fastest paced book. The main problem with this book was that the characters acted older than they were, and while I know that some 13 year olds do act like this, especially in a fantasy world where people are expected to marry young, I felt uncomfortable reading it.
Jenna is a tomboy, who was a bit too good at everything and felt like an outcast as she is different from everyone else in the castle. The secondary characters are a bit forgettable apart the love interest Sebastian, who is friendly and awkward, and I hope in the next book there will more character growth.
I am looking forward to reading the sequel To Serve the King. I would recommend To Play the Lady to fans of Tamora Pierce and similar YA fantasy novels.
This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm
To Play the Lady is a likeable YA fantasy novel which has enjoyable story full of plot twists, some I saw coming, interesting magic and court politics. However it is not the fastest paced book. The main problem with this book was that the characters acted older than they were, and while I know that some 13 year olds do act like this, especially in a fantasy world where people are expected to marry young, I felt uncomfortable reading it.
Jenna is a tomboy, who was a bit too good at everything and felt like an outcast as she is different from everyone else in the castle. The secondary characters are a bit forgettable apart the love interest Sebastian, who is friendly and awkward, and I hope in the next book there will more character growth.
I am looking forward to reading the sequel To Serve the King. I would recommend To Play the Lady to fans of Tamora Pierce and similar YA fantasy novels.
This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm
April 3, 2013
This was weird... But in a good way? See the main character was really young. Like 12 at the beginning. Some of the things she stumbles across at court are definitely not of the tween friendly variety. Which makes sense, because everybody knows royals and their fiends are super weird. Ok. I'm still with the book at this point. Then it was all- whoa- that's nasty. And hey-oh did they just go there? Yes they did. So then we are firmly in the not tween appropriate box. I find myself thinking "where is this novel going with this?" But I'm still in, because hey, she talks to her horse and I'm a sucker like that.
I liked it. I'm not sure why. I think the wierdnesses and the fact that chicka is only 13 and still totally outside of "the loop" when it comes to politicking makes for an entertaining read. And 3 handsome princes is always a good time, talking to horses and being about to throw fire balls and shizzle- it was worth the $2. But not tween friendly for the general audience due to icky stuff. And I don't think a boy would find this fun to read at all. I'm in for a part two for sure.
I liked it. I'm not sure why. I think the wierdnesses and the fact that chicka is only 13 and still totally outside of "the loop" when it comes to politicking makes for an entertaining read. And 3 handsome princes is always a good time, talking to horses and being about to throw fire balls and shizzle- it was worth the $2. But not tween friendly for the general audience due to icky stuff. And I don't think a boy would find this fun to read at all. I'm in for a part two for sure.
November 13, 2012
Secrets, Lies, and Magic. The only thing that could send two kingdoms’ into war and tear the countries apart. Could the only commoner of the Queen’s Lady save the kingdom?
In the Kingdom of Sevalia, tomboy Jenna Mallory wanted to be anywhere but at the castle of Sevalia. One would think that being a Queen’s Lady would be a thrill of a lifetime. For commoner Jenna, life at the castle is anything but ordinary. Not only from her dark skin, but the fact that she has very powerful magical strength. That alone is something that got the attention of the Royal family, especially the youngest prince. Things at the castle seem to be going good, until Jenna’s magic is discovered by one of Sevalia old enemies. The Dark Mage is planning something and it is up to Jenna to stop it, but is Jenna’s magic enough to stop the Dark Mage from destroying the Kingdom of Sevaila? I liked the book because of the different twists in the book and it has a little bit of love.
A romantic tale of twisted lies and magic.
In the Kingdom of Sevalia, tomboy Jenna Mallory wanted to be anywhere but at the castle of Sevalia. One would think that being a Queen’s Lady would be a thrill of a lifetime. For commoner Jenna, life at the castle is anything but ordinary. Not only from her dark skin, but the fact that she has very powerful magical strength. That alone is something that got the attention of the Royal family, especially the youngest prince. Things at the castle seem to be going good, until Jenna’s magic is discovered by one of Sevalia old enemies. The Dark Mage is planning something and it is up to Jenna to stop it, but is Jenna’s magic enough to stop the Dark Mage from destroying the Kingdom of Sevaila? I liked the book because of the different twists in the book and it has a little bit of love.
A romantic tale of twisted lies and magic.
January 23, 2013
I enjoyed reading this book. It's very well written and is say it would be appropriate to any teen over 12-13. It reminded me very much of books I read as a child by Tamora Pierce. If you liked this book, you'll like her series also. The character was believable in her struggle to understand who she is and what magic she possesses. She struggles also with external influences; various people keep telling her what she should or shouldn't say or who she should or shouldn't trust. You wonder at the end "well, wouldn't get journey have been easier if she'd just been completely honest from the beginning?" But then you realize that it wouldn't have been because she would have been judged without reason. The storyline was interesting, and while sometimes it felt a little slow, there was just enough detail for you to understand and not get confused, while not so much that you started to yawn. I hope the author continues the series because I'd love to know what happens with Jenna new that she has more acceptance and a better understanding of her magic.
October 14, 2014
This is a review of my second read through.
As I have read this twice, this should show that I enjoy the book.
To Play the Lady is a fun, light read with most of my favorite elements: kick-ass awesome female lead, magic, fighting, some court drama, and even an evil mage. (The only thing it's missing is a dragon) It strongly reminds me of Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce (Author) (girl with strong magic, magical sword, awesome at fighting, and even a prince romance) mixed with the typical awkward new girl in a princess party books. There's nothing new in To Play the Lady, but I still find it amusing and even endearing. The writing style is easy to read, but engaging, and leaves a feel good feeling. I'm looking forward to the second book. (Also this type of book is my mom's favorite...)
As I have read this twice, this should show that I enjoy the book.
To Play the Lady is a fun, light read with most of my favorite elements: kick-ass awesome female lead, magic, fighting, some court drama, and even an evil mage. (The only thing it's missing is a dragon) It strongly reminds me of Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce (Author) (girl with strong magic, magical sword, awesome at fighting, and even a prince romance) mixed with the typical awkward new girl in a princess party books. There's nothing new in To Play the Lady, but I still find it amusing and even endearing. The writing style is easy to read, but engaging, and leaves a feel good feeling. I'm looking forward to the second book. (Also this type of book is my mom's favorite...)
April 19, 2012
This is my favorite type of book - an action/adventure featuring a young female lead. It is a little reminiscent of Tamora Pierce or Maria Snyder’s Poison Study, though I would say the flow of writing in this novel is superior to either. The plotting does seem a bit choppy in places and I would not say the character develops as much as she could, however I would expect changes over the course of a series not over one novel.
Overall it’s a great first novel (and I have a suspicion it’s self-published as well, which gives me hope that there’s lots of these fun novels that could be self-published out there!). It is an enjoyable ride, especially if you are a fan of action/adventure or Juvi Lit.
Overall it’s a great first novel (and I have a suspicion it’s self-published as well, which gives me hope that there’s lots of these fun novels that could be self-published out there!). It is an enjoyable ride, especially if you are a fan of action/adventure or Juvi Lit.
May 12, 2012
I read this book on someone's recommendation, and to my surprise I couldn't stop reading it. It is self-published and it reads like it needed a good editor and more revisions. However, I liked the heroine, Jenna and her adventures. She may be too much of a Mary Sue figure, but she has a real relationship with her brother, with squabbles and arguments. She trips over her own feet, causes scandals, and is honest about her failings. Her teacher is a powerful mage, but he's kind, makes mistakes, and apologizes to her for them. What I really liked about this book is that the characters feel like human beings, not flat stereotypes. For all its imperfections it's still a page turner, and I want to know what happens next. I will definitely read the sequel when it is published.
October 10, 2011
I am no stranger to girly fantasy, and neither is Naomi Lane. She weaves a web of delightful fantasy in "To Play the Lady" that will leave you yearning for the next installment.
Jenna's adventures in this book had me turning the pages extremely quickly. By the end, everything seems to be set up of an even bigger adventure to come. The characters are left in a place that really will change the layout of the next book. This book definitely seems like the younger sibling; the setup for greater things. All this aside, the story by itself is still intriguing, well written and fun. It is a must read for young-adult fantasy fans especially of the female variety.
Jenna's adventures in this book had me turning the pages extremely quickly. By the end, everything seems to be set up of an even bigger adventure to come. The characters are left in a place that really will change the layout of the next book. This book definitely seems like the younger sibling; the setup for greater things. All this aside, the story by itself is still intriguing, well written and fun. It is a must read for young-adult fantasy fans especially of the female variety.
May 2, 2012
This was incredibly disappointing. A story about a one-dimensional girl who not only gets everything she wants and doesn't learn anything, but has no personality to speak of. The premise - of a commoner lady going to train as a noble lady in the royal court, and learning magic, fighting arts and becoming a woman at the same time - is solid. The prose is well-written. But the story itself falls flat. Every thing is predictable, not one character struggles towards their goals, and I left annoyed at what could have been a better story if the author understood people.
June 14, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. Most independently published books are sub-par. To Play the Lady was well written. I ma glad the author took the time to write it and put in the effort to publish it. The style moves quickly, but with time to enjoy each chapter. I enjoy the personality of the main character, also the story moves along nicely as she discovers her abilities. The book deals with the issue of not fitting in and learning to value yourself for your unique gifts and abilities. Well written with out over dramatizing.
January 31, 2012
This is a rich coming of age fantasy novel. There is plenty of magic but there is a lot of her development that I considered very touching and sweet. Nothing too saccharine sweet though. There’s even a budding romance.
Jenna is an extremely likable character that is well-developed.
...Read more of my review at The Akamai Reader...
Jenna is an extremely likable character that is well-developed.
...Read more of my review at The Akamai Reader...
January 8, 2012
Good fantasy, excellent characters and some fun and interesting magic. Will keep an eye out for the sequel.
March 31, 2013
I got offered a free or 99-cent deal on this as a Kindle download, so I rolled the dice. (In retrospect, I hope it was a free download.) I thought the premise of the book had promise: a young woman is sent to be trained as a lady-in-waiting to the queen, even though she is not of noble birth. She is something of a tomboy, for example, preferring to ride astride rather than sidesaddle and more interested in learning how to use a sword than do needlework. This book is presented as a YA fantasy book.
Perhaps I should have realized that in a vaguely-historical (horse and carriage, no electricity, etc.) fantasy book, the main character shouldn’t be named Jenna. I know, it sounds like a minor quibble, but for me, being able to lose myself in a book is critical to enjoying it. When something sticks out, doesn't seem to fit, feels anachronistic, it interrupts the story and makes me cranky.
The odd selection of names (Jenna, Eamon, Dominic) was only one of many anachronistic details that detracted from the story. References to soccer? (okay, it's been around a while, but wouldn't it have been called something else in a fantastical kingdom full of magic?) A character saying "like" ("Since I was like three")? A building with an elevator when there's no electricity (yeah, yeah, I'm sure it was an magic elevator)?
I could have forgiven some of this if there weren't several other major problems. First was the clunky writing. I really hesitate to mention that this is a self-published book, because I don't believe that self-published necessarily means "bad," but the truth is that the process of having a good outside editor is invaluable for improving one's writing. This book needed a good editor. There were plenty of grammatical errors (PUNCTUATION, PEOPLE!), repetitive phrasing (how many times will she "send an image" to her horse?), awkward dialogue (has anyone ever said “This looks like an appropriate secluded spot?”---ever?); badly-worded passages; too much passive tense; too heavy a reliance on exposition; and a general lack of finesse and flow. Reading this book reminded me how I’ve generally been reading really well-written stuff because now I have no tolerance for sub-par writing.
Another recurring problem was what many other reviewers call "Mary Sue" syndrome: a character who is just too perfect and therefore not believable or likeable. Jenna can speak four languages fluently (enough to interpret at a state dinner), is an excellent rider, can manage a bow and sword, has magical abilities like the power to heal (including the ability to regenerate a tricky severed spinal cord), can mind-meld with horses, engage in witty repartee with diplomats, and oh yeah, save the whole kingdom about five or twelve times. At the age of twelve. There seems to be no end to Jenna's abilities and just mention something--acrobatics, say--and it turns out she's an expert at that, too.
Other beefs:
1. Weird mix of dumbed-down writing (seemed aimed at a younger, less sophisticated level than YA) but PG-rated plot twists, including birth control, homosexuality, erotic dreams, and violence. Makes it hard to know who the book is for.
2. General ickiness: other reviewers have pointed out that the protagonist is supposed to be 12 when the book starts, but features in some heavy petting and a rather erotic dream. I was also troubled by the way the author handles violence against Jenna. A prince hits her across the face so hard that she has a concussion and a black eye, and her response is to cover up for him and say later "Maybe I deserved it." (That is an actual quote.) It's not just this one example, either; in a later scene, her (sort of) love interest reacts to the story of his brother hitting Jenna by laughing. (!) Her teacher very nearly smacks her across the face and yet this isn't presented as a significant problem when he promises he'll try not to do it again. Ick.
3. Multiple logical inconsistencies in the book. The queen tells her 12-yr-old lady-in-waiting about her first period? A 12-yr-old character is this sophisticated and well-spoken? Jenna covers up for a guy who smacks her across the face and gives her a concussion?
4. Fantasy world was promising but needed more thinking about. The whole “Level 6” business of magic sounded like Scientology. I would have liked more interesting and relevant backstory of the history of the kingdoms. Magic involved pedestrian objects like a bowl of water and marbles (meh) and the discussions of magic weren’t very, well, magical: it sounded like a science fiction show, with shields being lowered and links being established.
5. Flat characters without growth. Very few of the characters came to life for me. Jenna herself seemed to lack internal growth, dealing with external threats but pretty much triumphing over everything easily (often due to convenient magical skills).
6. Feminist potential unrealized. I liked the idea of a girl bucking the system and trying to do what she's good at, rather than what notions of gender dictate, but that really wasn't what this book was about. Instead it was one girl's magical powers saving the day and thereby enabling her to do what she wanted, which isn't the same thing at all.
7. Too many blackouts. How can one person who doesn't drink alcohol or have a seizure disorder pass out so many times in less than five hundred pages?
So....I am a little surprised I stuck it out and read this one to the end. It was pretty easy reading, which helps, but I really felt disappointed that this wasn't better.
Perhaps I should have realized that in a vaguely-historical (horse and carriage, no electricity, etc.) fantasy book, the main character shouldn’t be named Jenna. I know, it sounds like a minor quibble, but for me, being able to lose myself in a book is critical to enjoying it. When something sticks out, doesn't seem to fit, feels anachronistic, it interrupts the story and makes me cranky.
The odd selection of names (Jenna, Eamon, Dominic) was only one of many anachronistic details that detracted from the story. References to soccer? (okay, it's been around a while, but wouldn't it have been called something else in a fantastical kingdom full of magic?) A character saying "like" ("Since I was like three")? A building with an elevator when there's no electricity (yeah, yeah, I'm sure it was an magic elevator)?
I could have forgiven some of this if there weren't several other major problems. First was the clunky writing. I really hesitate to mention that this is a self-published book, because I don't believe that self-published necessarily means "bad," but the truth is that the process of having a good outside editor is invaluable for improving one's writing. This book needed a good editor. There were plenty of grammatical errors (PUNCTUATION, PEOPLE!), repetitive phrasing (how many times will she "send an image" to her horse?), awkward dialogue (has anyone ever said “This looks like an appropriate secluded spot?”---ever?); badly-worded passages; too much passive tense; too heavy a reliance on exposition; and a general lack of finesse and flow. Reading this book reminded me how I’ve generally been reading really well-written stuff because now I have no tolerance for sub-par writing.
Another recurring problem was what many other reviewers call "Mary Sue" syndrome: a character who is just too perfect and therefore not believable or likeable. Jenna can speak four languages fluently (enough to interpret at a state dinner), is an excellent rider, can manage a bow and sword, has magical abilities like the power to heal (including the ability to regenerate a tricky severed spinal cord), can mind-meld with horses, engage in witty repartee with diplomats, and oh yeah, save the whole kingdom about five or twelve times. At the age of twelve. There seems to be no end to Jenna's abilities and just mention something--acrobatics, say--and it turns out she's an expert at that, too.
Other beefs:
1. Weird mix of dumbed-down writing (seemed aimed at a younger, less sophisticated level than YA) but PG-rated plot twists, including birth control, homosexuality, erotic dreams, and violence. Makes it hard to know who the book is for.
2. General ickiness: other reviewers have pointed out that the protagonist is supposed to be 12 when the book starts, but features in some heavy petting and a rather erotic dream. I was also troubled by the way the author handles violence against Jenna. A prince hits her across the face so hard that she has a concussion and a black eye, and her response is to cover up for him and say later "Maybe I deserved it." (That is an actual quote.) It's not just this one example, either; in a later scene, her (sort of) love interest reacts to the story of his brother hitting Jenna by laughing. (!) Her teacher very nearly smacks her across the face and yet this isn't presented as a significant problem when he promises he'll try not to do it again. Ick.
3. Multiple logical inconsistencies in the book. The queen tells her 12-yr-old lady-in-waiting about her first period? A 12-yr-old character is this sophisticated and well-spoken? Jenna covers up for a guy who smacks her across the face and gives her a concussion?
4. Fantasy world was promising but needed more thinking about. The whole “Level 6” business of magic sounded like Scientology. I would have liked more interesting and relevant backstory of the history of the kingdoms. Magic involved pedestrian objects like a bowl of water and marbles (meh) and the discussions of magic weren’t very, well, magical: it sounded like a science fiction show, with shields being lowered and links being established.
5. Flat characters without growth. Very few of the characters came to life for me. Jenna herself seemed to lack internal growth, dealing with external threats but pretty much triumphing over everything easily (often due to convenient magical skills).
6. Feminist potential unrealized. I liked the idea of a girl bucking the system and trying to do what she's good at, rather than what notions of gender dictate, but that really wasn't what this book was about. Instead it was one girl's magical powers saving the day and thereby enabling her to do what she wanted, which isn't the same thing at all.
7. Too many blackouts. How can one person who doesn't drink alcohol or have a seizure disorder pass out so many times in less than five hundred pages?
So....I am a little surprised I stuck it out and read this one to the end. It was pretty easy reading, which helps, but I really felt disappointed that this wasn't better.
November 19, 2013
I totally loved this book! I have only read a handful of high fantasy and almost all of them have been in the last year or so. The reason I have not been able to read high fantasy before is that I had an aversion to author-developed worlds, hence my preference for urban fantasy which is also not something I have always read. Previous to my introduction to urban fantasies I was strictly mysteries and thrillers and that period was the longest for me in my reading history. I have to see something in the book synopsis that leads me to believe that a book will draw me into its world. I kept seeing great reviews for To Play the Lady. I eventually downloaded the sample and knew I would enjoy it.
Jenna is a girl that you care about from the moment you see that she and her brother Peter are different from all of the other teenagers coming to court. The other girls studying with the Queen as her ladies are all nobles as are the boys training to be knights like Peter. Peter seems to not have as difficult a time with his peers as Jenna has with some of the older girls. Not only is she not a noble, but, she comes from a wealthy family, is darker skinned and comes from a dessert area. In addition, she continuously stands out for her many talents despite her age and there is nothing meaner than a teenage girl so Jenna has to overcome a lot of petty jealousies as well. She stands out even from her brother who is also very talented.
One of the great things about To Play the Lady is that Jenna is learning about herself at the same time as we are learning about her gifts and about some of her family's history. It serves as a bit of intrigue because as much as she and Peter try to keep their family's secrets the more things happen to expose them. Another great thing about this story is how Jenna's gifts are discovered. She doesn't magically have a bunch of gifts and suddenly knows how to use them. She grows in every way in this book including her magical gifts. She has some talents that she has trained in as a child might when their parents invest in piano lessons or gymnastics lessons or the myriad of other things my parents invested in for me as a child to help me develop as a well-rounded individual. Jenna did not spring up perfect with a ton of friends with no problems. This story shows how kids, even in medieval times, are subjected to prejudices and abuse. It demonstrates how they can persevere when they have the right tools and support. The princes, Sebastian, Eamon and Dominic all have very different personalities but, they have friendship between them just as the love and friendship is very apparent between Jenna and Peter. I think there are several mysteries with other relationships at court waiting to be exposed.
There are twists and turns everywhere you look in this book. There is a bad guy who we can all see and something else in the works on that front along with the many machinations and politics of court life. I was not finished reading the book before I was researching more about the author and hoping that there were more books on the horizon. I cannot compare it to other fantasy books and even if I had read more than a handful I prefer to take it on its own merits and this book is great, with good character development, good world building, and a great story. I look forward to the next installment!
Review can also be seen at http://ladytechiesbookmusings.blogspo...
Jenna is a girl that you care about from the moment you see that she and her brother Peter are different from all of the other teenagers coming to court. The other girls studying with the Queen as her ladies are all nobles as are the boys training to be knights like Peter. Peter seems to not have as difficult a time with his peers as Jenna has with some of the older girls. Not only is she not a noble, but, she comes from a wealthy family, is darker skinned and comes from a dessert area. In addition, she continuously stands out for her many talents despite her age and there is nothing meaner than a teenage girl so Jenna has to overcome a lot of petty jealousies as well. She stands out even from her brother who is also very talented.
One of the great things about To Play the Lady is that Jenna is learning about herself at the same time as we are learning about her gifts and about some of her family's history. It serves as a bit of intrigue because as much as she and Peter try to keep their family's secrets the more things happen to expose them. Another great thing about this story is how Jenna's gifts are discovered. She doesn't magically have a bunch of gifts and suddenly knows how to use them. She grows in every way in this book including her magical gifts. She has some talents that she has trained in as a child might when their parents invest in piano lessons or gymnastics lessons or the myriad of other things my parents invested in for me as a child to help me develop as a well-rounded individual. Jenna did not spring up perfect with a ton of friends with no problems. This story shows how kids, even in medieval times, are subjected to prejudices and abuse. It demonstrates how they can persevere when they have the right tools and support. The princes, Sebastian, Eamon and Dominic all have very different personalities but, they have friendship between them just as the love and friendship is very apparent between Jenna and Peter. I think there are several mysteries with other relationships at court waiting to be exposed.
There are twists and turns everywhere you look in this book. There is a bad guy who we can all see and something else in the works on that front along with the many machinations and politics of court life. I was not finished reading the book before I was researching more about the author and hoping that there were more books on the horizon. I cannot compare it to other fantasy books and even if I had read more than a handful I prefer to take it on its own merits and this book is great, with good character development, good world building, and a great story. I look forward to the next installment!
Review can also be seen at http://ladytechiesbookmusings.blogspo...
June 23, 2015
For the price, I thought the book was wonderful. It's not too dark or overfilled with intrigue. The author manages a balance between the two that is engrossing enough that you breeze through the book.
The main character, Jenna Mallory, lives in a world that is complex yet fits the book perfectly. As Jenna is merely a child, she stays primarily in the area of Sevalia, but there are other lands beyond that which I hope she will explore as she grows in the sequel (please come out soon!).
What I enjoyed the most was the logical system of magic and the rich history associated with Sevalia and the lands surrounding it. In a lot of fantasy books with magic, it's just like boom! everybody has magic and they just live with it. But in this book, you understand what place magic has.
The only thing that I didn't like about this book was the way the author tried to further the story along by having Jenna become unconscious far too often. I know other reviewers have said it, but it's really noticeable in the book, and I wish Naomi Lane in the future will restrict the number of times her main character becomes unconscious to 2.
The main character, Jenna Mallory, lives in a world that is complex yet fits the book perfectly. As Jenna is merely a child, she stays primarily in the area of Sevalia, but there are other lands beyond that which I hope she will explore as she grows in the sequel (please come out soon!).
What I enjoyed the most was the logical system of magic and the rich history associated with Sevalia and the lands surrounding it. In a lot of fantasy books with magic, it's just like boom! everybody has magic and they just live with it. But in this book, you understand what place magic has.
The only thing that I didn't like about this book was the way the author tried to further the story along by having Jenna become unconscious far too often. I know other reviewers have said it, but it's really noticeable in the book, and I wish Naomi Lane in the future will restrict the number of times her main character becomes unconscious to 2.
May 28, 2013
I happened to stumble across this book on Amazon and loved it!!!!!! I could not put it down and stayed up until I had finished the whole thing! Needless to say I was exhausted the next day but it was well worth it :) I am eagerly awaiting the sequel and can't wait to escape back into Jenna's world!!!!
December 12, 2011
This was very enjoyable. Fans of Tamora Pierce and Sherwood Smith will especially like it. A young woman (a "commoner," but from a wealthy family) goes to become a Queen's Lady at court. Stuff happens. (Clearly I need to work on review writing...)
January 1, 2012
Wish fulfillment novel. Thirteen-year-old girl is awesome at everything and everybody loves her.
I understand that people do in fact go on dates and have hot makeout sessions even when they are way underage. But I'd be happier if the book had not contained that particular story-arc.
I understand that people do in fact go on dates and have hot makeout sessions even when they are way underage. But I'd be happier if the book had not contained that particular story-arc.
March 10, 2016
Can't wait to read the next one!
August 19, 2016
My only complaint is that it is a bit too much like Tamora Pierce's Lioness series. So basically the book is amazing and reminds me of one of my favorite series in the genre.
April 27, 2012
This book is really good. You should read it if you like horses, or magic, or magical horses, or breathing.
July 26, 2022
I was on board with the book until it took a hard right into child porn. Yeah, not for me. It was bad enough that the main character was a major Mary Sue. Here is an abbreviated list of things she excels in at the tender age of 12: singing, magic, horses, archery, acrobatics, etc. Oh, and let's not forget that she's fluent in four languages, both speaking and writing. Any one of those would be a bit hard to believe, but she's amazing at everything.
In contrast, the author is not all that good at writing. At best, the writing is choppy and amateurish, but I hung around because of the horses. Unfortunately, this book wanders all over the place, lacking focus and drive.
Along with the other problems, I couldn't stand the way everyone treats this child. Either they're torn up with envy by how amazing she is, or they're catering to her every whim, or they're beating the crap out of her. In the first 50% or so that I read before I quit, she gets lashed for riding a horse, slapped hard enough to get a black and a concussion for riding a horse, and threatened with a beating for not being better at magic.
As for the child porn, what else do you call a book that has a child being molested via her dreams by an adult mind mage? Maybe my tolerance for this stuff is lower than yours, but it grossed me out, and I quit immediately. The book was just a mess and this was the final straw.
In contrast, the author is not all that good at writing. At best, the writing is choppy and amateurish, but I hung around because of the horses. Unfortunately, this book wanders all over the place, lacking focus and drive.
Along with the other problems, I couldn't stand the way everyone treats this child. Either they're torn up with envy by how amazing she is, or they're catering to her every whim, or they're beating the crap out of her. In the first 50% or so that I read before I quit, she gets lashed for riding a horse, slapped hard enough to get a black and a concussion for riding a horse, and threatened with a beating for not being better at magic.
As for the child porn, what else do you call a book that has a child being molested via her dreams by an adult mind mage? Maybe my tolerance for this stuff is lower than yours, but it grossed me out, and I quit immediately. The book was just a mess and this was the final straw.
April 26, 2018
Reread. Actual rating 2.5 stars.
This was a completely different book than I remember, so much so that I wonder if my Kindle updated the edition when I wasn't paying attention. There were quite a few grammatical errors, and the writing and story was rather juvenile.
The story was ok, I guess, but like I said, nothing like I remembered. I was so jarred by that it was hard to get into the story. There was some politicking and intrigue, but it was a bit clumsy. The magic system was weird, and Jenna, the heroine, was a bit of a Chosen One. It all came across as rather heavy-handed.
Back in the day when I first read this story, I thought it was one of the best books ever written, and I pre-ordered the sequel. I thought I should read this again to refresh my memory before starting it, but now I'm not sure I'm really interested. Maybe the writing will improve and the story will gain strength?
This was a completely different book than I remember, so much so that I wonder if my Kindle updated the edition when I wasn't paying attention. There were quite a few grammatical errors, and the writing and story was rather juvenile.
The story was ok, I guess, but like I said, nothing like I remembered. I was so jarred by that it was hard to get into the story. There was some politicking and intrigue, but it was a bit clumsy. The magic system was weird, and Jenna, the heroine, was a bit of a Chosen One. It all came across as rather heavy-handed.
Back in the day when I first read this story, I thought it was one of the best books ever written, and I pre-ordered the sequel. I thought I should read this again to refresh my memory before starting it, but now I'm not sure I'm really interested. Maybe the writing will improve and the story will gain strength?
November 24, 2020
I've never written a review before. I am sorry my first review is for a book I do not recommend reading.
I do not know who the intended audience for this story is; but it is NOT a children's book. The thirteen year old main character has multiple conversations about sexuality and there is more than one scene portraying the character beginning to become sexually aroused. The content definitely is not appropriate for children, and even as an adult I would not consider this a "clean read." I almost stopped reading the book on multiple occasions.
My reasons for actually finishing the book are twofold. One, I wanted to write this review. Two, the author does have an interesting plot even if I think her obsession with including sexuality references does detract from her story. As much as the plot still intrigued me, I will not be reading the sequel.
I do not know who the intended audience for this story is; but it is NOT a children's book. The thirteen year old main character has multiple conversations about sexuality and there is more than one scene portraying the character beginning to become sexually aroused. The content definitely is not appropriate for children, and even as an adult I would not consider this a "clean read." I almost stopped reading the book on multiple occasions.
My reasons for actually finishing the book are twofold. One, I wanted to write this review. Two, the author does have an interesting plot even if I think her obsession with including sexuality references does detract from her story. As much as the plot still intrigued me, I will not be reading the sequel.
December 19, 2023
Mostly solid story! I agree about if you’re a fan of Tamora Pierce’s strong female leads, you’ll enjoy this. I think it is possible she is a little overpowered, too much going on. The magic weapons would honestly have been enough to make an epic story but I’m still loving it and am excited about the next one.
Edit: OK SO I thought this through and although I still would place this story in my “enjoyed” list… the bad comments on this book are not inaccurate either. So while I enjoyed my time with this book (and automatically aged her like 5 years in my head at minimum) I would say you could go into this story with the understanding that it will have some problems but is still enjoyable.
Edit: OK SO I thought this through and although I still would place this story in my “enjoyed” list… the bad comments on this book are not inaccurate either. So while I enjoyed my time with this book (and automatically aged her like 5 years in my head at minimum) I would say you could go into this story with the understanding that it will have some problems but is still enjoyable.
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