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Corean Chronicles #7
The Lord-Protector's Daughter
L. E. Modesitt, Jr., author of the bestselling Saga of Recluce fantasy series, opens the door into a marvelous new world.
Millennia ago, a magical disaster caused the fall of a great worldwide civilization, the end of a golden age. New civilizations have fought their way up from the ancient destruction and chaos, knowing little of the lost world that preceded them or the details of its fall. Corus today is a world of contending countries, of humans, but also of strange animals and supernatural creatures. It is a place of magical powers, and of a few people who are talented enough to use them.
Mykella, the eldest daughter of the Lord-Protector of Lanachrona, discovers that someone is diverting significant sums of money from her father's treasury. While investigating, she uncovers more than she bargained for, and is sent by an ancient soarer to find her Talent in order to save her land--and her world.
The Corean Chronicles
Legacies
Darknesses
Scepters
Alector's Choice
Cadmian's Choice
Soarer's Choice
The Lord-Protector's Daughter
Lady-Protector
Other series by this author:
The Saga of Recluce
Imager Portfolio
The Spellsong Cycle
The Ghost Books
The Ecolitan Matter
Millennia ago, a magical disaster caused the fall of a great worldwide civilization, the end of a golden age. New civilizations have fought their way up from the ancient destruction and chaos, knowing little of the lost world that preceded them or the details of its fall. Corus today is a world of contending countries, of humans, but also of strange animals and supernatural creatures. It is a place of magical powers, and of a few people who are talented enough to use them.
Mykella, the eldest daughter of the Lord-Protector of Lanachrona, discovers that someone is diverting significant sums of money from her father's treasury. While investigating, she uncovers more than she bargained for, and is sent by an ancient soarer to find her Talent in order to save her land--and her world.
The Corean Chronicles
Legacies
Darknesses
Scepters
Alector's Choice
Cadmian's Choice
Soarer's Choice
The Lord-Protector's Daughter
Lady-Protector
Other series by this author:
The Saga of Recluce
Imager Portfolio
The Spellsong Cycle
The Ghost Books
The Ecolitan Matter
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 11, 2008
28 people are currently reading
721 people want to read
About the author
L.E. Modesitt Jr.
191 books2,591 followersL. E. (Leland Exton) Modesitt, Jr. is an author of science fiction and fantasy novels. He is best known for the fantasy series The Saga of Recluce. He graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts, lived in Washington, D.C. for 20 years, then moved to New Hampshire in 1989 where he met his wife. They relocated to Cedar City, Utah in 1993.
He has worked as a Navy pilot, lifeguard, delivery boy, unpaid radio disc jockey, real estate agent, market research analyst, director of research for a political campaign, legislative assistant for a Congressman, Director of Legislation and Congressional Relations for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a consultant on environmental, regulatory, and communications issues, and a college lecturer and writer in residence.
In addition to his novels, Mr. Modesitt has published technical studies and articles, columns, poetry, and a number of science fiction stories. His first short story, "The Great American Economy", was published in 1973 in Analog Science Fiction and Science Fact.
-Wikipedia
He has worked as a Navy pilot, lifeguard, delivery boy, unpaid radio disc jockey, real estate agent, market research analyst, director of research for a political campaign, legislative assistant for a Congressman, Director of Legislation and Congressional Relations for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a consultant on environmental, regulatory, and communications issues, and a college lecturer and writer in residence.
In addition to his novels, Mr. Modesitt has published technical studies and articles, columns, poetry, and a number of science fiction stories. His first short story, "The Great American Economy", was published in 1973 in Analog Science Fiction and Science Fact.
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
November 25, 2017
Set between the first & second trilogies chronologically, this book features a woman as the main character. Mykella's story is pretty grim in many ways since she's merely a woman & thus sidelined even though she's born to a privileged position. She's chattel to be married off for political advantage & her attempts to make a difference through reason are conspicuously ignored. How she manages to deal with it is the story & a good one.
The daily elements of her day got old. I like some of that, but I wouldn't have missed it if half had been edited out. I can easily ignore that in text, but not in an audio book.
I really liked how she figured out the magic system. It's been described before in the previous trilogies with those characters learning how to use it. Her journey of discovery was somewhat different as were many of her reactions. Interesting.
This is the first book of a duology & they should be read in order. While this book wraps up its story well, there's certainly room for another. I'd hoped it would be a trilogy, but that was not to be, so the next book may well be the last in this series.
The daily elements of her day got old. I like some of that, but I wouldn't have missed it if half had been edited out. I can easily ignore that in text, but not in an audio book.
I really liked how she figured out the magic system. It's been described before in the previous trilogies with those characters learning how to use it. Her journey of discovery was somewhat different as were many of her reactions. Interesting.
This is the first book of a duology & they should be read in order. While this book wraps up its story well, there's certainly room for another. I'd hoped it would be a trilogy, but that was not to be, so the next book may well be the last in this series.
December 28, 2015
A good quick read. I believe this is going to be a trilogy, the third one of the Corean Chronicles, but it takes place between the other two chronologically. It was a good story, with an interesting heroine & came to a good end - no hanging, which I appreciate. There are certainly unanswered questions & plenty of room to continue the story, but this one is complete in itself.
Once again, Modesitt looks at how power works within a society. In this case, our heroine is a woman in a male dominated society. The restrictions on her & the gender bias almost made me want to scream. Her too! She has to solve an ancient puzzle or three & figure out how to leverage her abilities. It's a fun trip.
Once again, Modesitt looks at how power works within a society. In this case, our heroine is a woman in a male dominated society. The restrictions on her & the gender bias almost made me want to scream. Her too! She has to solve an ancient puzzle or three & figure out how to leverage her abilities. It's a fun trip.
November 27, 2017
another very enjoyable first book in a duology from the author; this one combines the usual magically talented heroine (here) against the odds with sf-nal like elements (multiverse, beings from other planets etc); sometimes the mixture doesn't work that smoothly and the book is fairly short with the bulk of the story reserved for the sequel, however the main character is one of the more interesting Modesitt leads (generally speaking the more recent the books the better the Modesitt main leads are as they are much more "human" than the original Recluce leads who are more in the 90's fantasy superhero/heroine vein) so I quite liked the novel
November 17, 2010
This was one of the most boring reads ever I must confess. Don't get me wrong: this book has its merits: It's nicely written and the characters and setting are intriguing. The story itself however drags endlessly, not only because there's too much telling instead of showing, but also too much showing of things that don't matter. Almost every chapter began with telling that Mykella got up, got dressed, washed up and went to breakfast. I don't need to read something like that more than twice at the most unless it's important to the plot. The cool things that do happen are over much too soon after which there's much blah inside Mykella's head again. If not for the pointless hope the story would eventually take off after an event that's named on the backcover (and which happens in one of the last couple of chapters...) I'd have tossed it away long before finishing it.
September 25, 2018
Mykella, the eldest born of the Lord-Protector, chafes at the inactivity forced onto her and her sisters just by being born female. She wants to do more, so she took up working in the financing of their land, while Lanachora, while her youngest sister, Salyna, takes up weaponry and hunting and the middle sister, Rachylana, flirts and entertains desires of marrying their cousin, Berenyt.
Mykella has a surprise visitor - a Soarer, an Ancient being that is thought to have been nothing but a story. The Soarer tells Mykella she needs to harness her Talent and to do so using the Table - because Mykella may be needed to protect her world.
So, Mykella sets out to learn how to use the Table to figure out her powers during the night, when she can move around a little bit easier than during the day with all the eyes upon her. And during the day, she uncovers possible embezzlement of the Lanachora funds. Unfortunately, her uncle, Joramyl, holds the purse strings for Lanachora and Mykella's father will not entertain any suggestions that anyone in his family might be doing something untoward to him, his family, or Lanachora.
With people dying around her, Mykella knows she will have very little time to figure out how to use her Talent - and a way to protect her home and family.
I found this to be a quick read but pretty enjoyable. It missed being four stars from some side trips on external threats that didn't really seem very threatening to me though they did help strengthen Mykella.
Mykella has a surprise visitor - a Soarer, an Ancient being that is thought to have been nothing but a story. The Soarer tells Mykella she needs to harness her Talent and to do so using the Table - because Mykella may be needed to protect her world.
So, Mykella sets out to learn how to use the Table to figure out her powers during the night, when she can move around a little bit easier than during the day with all the eyes upon her. And during the day, she uncovers possible embezzlement of the Lanachora funds. Unfortunately, her uncle, Joramyl, holds the purse strings for Lanachora and Mykella's father will not entertain any suggestions that anyone in his family might be doing something untoward to him, his family, or Lanachora.
With people dying around her, Mykella knows she will have very little time to figure out how to use her Talent - and a way to protect her home and family.
I found this to be a quick read but pretty enjoyable. It missed being four stars from some side trips on external threats that didn't really seem very threatening to me though they did help strengthen Mykella.
September 4, 2020
Quit too soon
Sometime ago I read the Corean Chronicles series up to this book and quit because I thought I wouldn't enjoy reading something about a daughter when prior books had been all manly and this daughter stuff, with balls and formal dresses and giggles and dainty Talent would not replace battles and swords and heroic things men do - which make the series so readable. And then comes the pandemic with all the isolation and distancing - plus so much time for reading. And along comes a day when I re-read the first book in this series, which leads to reading the next five again, which leads to finally deciding to read the 7th book and darned if I didn't get right into it - including liking the young lady who is the main character. A good read as one would expect from Modesitt and a book that picks up the life thread (you have to read the series to know about life thread) of the series.
Sometime ago I read the Corean Chronicles series up to this book and quit because I thought I wouldn't enjoy reading something about a daughter when prior books had been all manly and this daughter stuff, with balls and formal dresses and giggles and dainty Talent would not replace battles and swords and heroic things men do - which make the series so readable. And then comes the pandemic with all the isolation and distancing - plus so much time for reading. And along comes a day when I re-read the first book in this series, which leads to reading the next five again, which leads to finally deciding to read the 7th book and darned if I didn't get right into it - including liking the young lady who is the main character. A good read as one would expect from Modesitt and a book that picks up the life thread (you have to read the series to know about life thread) of the series.
June 25, 2017
This is the seventh and penultimate book in The Corean Chronicles, and the first from the perspective of Mykella, the eponymous lord-protector's daughter. I found Mykella likable, but the plot less absorbing than most of the Modesitt that I've read. I read the second half of the book on a long plane flight, and found it diverting rather than gripping.
May 31, 2020
Finally a Lady comes into her own and takes the reins of power to prevail.. She is determined to be more than just another “useless” female. Working in the Dept. of Finances, she discovers creative accounting practices that cover missing funds to the tune of 2000 Golds.
People begin dying, innocent ones, including family members. A descendent of Mykel, she also has the Talent to keep herself safe from assassin attempts on her own life.
Truly a good book, although the food improves slightly, I would not enjoy eating it.
People begin dying, innocent ones, including family members. A descendent of Mykel, she also has the Talent to keep herself safe from assassin attempts on her own life.
Truly a good book, although the food improves slightly, I would not enjoy eating it.
June 22, 2021
A fun, quick, read, The Lord-Protector's Daughter is set between to other trilogies by the author, but the story stands on it's own and I didn't feel like I missed anything by reading this as a stand alone. The main character, Mykella, is an interesting protagonist and the mix of mystery and fantasy was a new one for me. It's not L.E. Modesitt Jr.'s best work, but neither is it his worst either. If you're a fan of this author, or just looking for a fast read, it is worth picking up.
January 25, 2018
A surprisingly good continuation of the Corean Chronicles and sequel to the Mykel/Dainyl trilogy, despite the 300-year fast-forward. Mykella grabs the reader's attention and sympathy from the start, and the book becomes a compulsive page-turner.
September 28, 2021
another compelling read in the series
This short novel was hard to put down from page one until its final page. It captivates the reader’s interests in the main characters and does not disappoint.
This short novel was hard to put down from page one until its final page. It captivates the reader’s interests in the main characters and does not disappoint.
September 12, 2023
Outstanding read. The LORD-Protector's Daughter is a perfect example on how much a "female leading character" is rich in dialogue, content and story. Love me my Mkyella- 100% recommendation. Did I say, "Love me my Mykella".
December 26, 2017
Really just came across as a bridge to the next book in the series. Should have been combined with #8
February 20, 2019
Mixed feelings on this book, hopefully the next book will clarify things.
February 22, 2019
Wonderful, I read it twice in three weeks!
August 16, 2021
Must try!!!
July 16, 2023
I liked it. There were some disturbing parts. I'm going to pick up the next one later today.
February 1, 2015
I almost stopped reading this book, but I made myself continue. I didn't regret it because the ending was enjoyable, but the rest of it so-so.
The key issue with this book is how extremely mundane and repetitive it gets throughout. At least half the book could have been omitted. The existence of this book is necessary to set the tone and world for the next book, and to give it a fancy smacny title like "The Lady Protector" and in this it has done well through its ending.
In all honesty, you can just about skip 80%-90% of the pages. This is one of those books you can spoil and summarise in 10 sentences. If you'd like to skip reading this book and go straight to the next book (which is much better) read my 10 sentence summary below.
SPOILER AHEAD
(Although actually there is barely anything here that you can't already guess from reading the back of the book.)
_____
Girl finds out money is missing and learns her uncle is plotting something. Father doesn't listen (because women are no better than cows meant for breeding) and gets killed. Multiple attempts to poison her fail and finally she kills an assassin by severing his life thread with magic. She then drags the corpse out of her room and kicks it down the stairs like an unwanted puppy instead of raising the alarm, so that it will be funny for everyone in the morning.
During the ascension ceremony she pretends to oblige and approve the take over until the very end when she summarily executes her uncle and cousin for treason and inserts herself as the first ever Lady Protector. The end.
The key issue with this book is how extremely mundane and repetitive it gets throughout. At least half the book could have been omitted. The existence of this book is necessary to set the tone and world for the next book, and to give it a fancy smacny title like "The Lady Protector" and in this it has done well through its ending.
In all honesty, you can just about skip 80%-90% of the pages. This is one of those books you can spoil and summarise in 10 sentences. If you'd like to skip reading this book and go straight to the next book (which is much better) read my 10 sentence summary below.
SPOILER AHEAD
(Although actually there is barely anything here that you can't already guess from reading the back of the book.)
_____
Girl finds out money is missing and learns her uncle is plotting something. Father doesn't listen (because women are no better than cows meant for breeding) and gets killed. Multiple attempts to poison her fail and finally she kills an assassin by severing his life thread with magic. She then drags the corpse out of her room and kicks it down the stairs like an unwanted puppy instead of raising the alarm, so that it will be funny for everyone in the morning.
During the ascension ceremony she pretends to oblige and approve the take over until the very end when she summarily executes her uncle and cousin for treason and inserts herself as the first ever Lady Protector. The end.
March 12, 2015
The Lord-Protector's Daughter by L.E. Modesitt, jr
This book is set before the first three books in the Corean Chronicles and after the next three. Court intrigue and succession are the major themes in this volume.
Mykel of the last few books is now a historic figure. The land that he undertook to protect has flourished but seems to be in a decline. The current Lord Protector does not seem to measure up to the Talent that Mykel displayed.
Mykella, a female namesake, is the protagonist in this book. She discovers facets of her being that were previously unknown. She also faces the Soarers who have been in every volume of the series.
If you have read any of my reviews, you have seen I am fond of a strong female protagonist. The men in this book seem terrified by competent women and dismayingly enough, I know a few guys who would fit in that category. Kudos to Modesitt for providing strong role models for both young men and women.
In my repetitive closing on Modesitt's books, I am an admitted admirer of Modesitt's style and work. There is a common thread of honor and responsibility through his work. His characters struggle to maintain their core identities and to remain truly humble in spite of increasing power.
I highly recommend.
Site: http://www.lemodesittjr.com/
This book is set before the first three books in the Corean Chronicles and after the next three. Court intrigue and succession are the major themes in this volume.
Mykel of the last few books is now a historic figure. The land that he undertook to protect has flourished but seems to be in a decline. The current Lord Protector does not seem to measure up to the Talent that Mykel displayed.
Mykella, a female namesake, is the protagonist in this book. She discovers facets of her being that were previously unknown. She also faces the Soarers who have been in every volume of the series.
If you have read any of my reviews, you have seen I am fond of a strong female protagonist. The men in this book seem terrified by competent women and dismayingly enough, I know a few guys who would fit in that category. Kudos to Modesitt for providing strong role models for both young men and women.
In my repetitive closing on Modesitt's books, I am an admitted admirer of Modesitt's style and work. There is a common thread of honor and responsibility through his work. His characters struggle to maintain their core identities and to remain truly humble in spite of increasing power.
I highly recommend.
Site: http://www.lemodesittjr.com/
January 14, 2016
According to the publisher’s blurb, The Lord-Protector’s Daughter is a “standalone fantasy.” Um... no. It most certainly is not. It’s book seven in L.E. Modesitt Jr’s COREAN CHRONICLES and while it’s true that it begins a new story that takes place a couple hundred years after the events of book six, it is the first part of a story that will be at least a duology set in Corus. So, you’re not going to get the full story about Mykella, its protagonist, unless you read its sequel, Lady Protector. I don’t know what that Tor publicist was thinking when (s)he wrote “standalone,” but The Lord-Protector’s Daughter doesn’t qualify.
Oh, and this review will spoil a little of the previous “CHOICE” trilogy.
Mykella and her sisters are t... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
Oh, and this review will spoil a little of the previous “CHOICE” trilogy.
Mykella and her sisters are t... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
Read
July 27, 2011Apparently I've read this before, but completely forgot everything about it and nothing seemed familiar about the book. However, I went to write a review here and discovered I'd already written one! Here is my newer review:
This is a newer book in the Corean Chronicles. It takes place several hundred years after Soarer's Choice. I've read the previous 6 books in the Chronicles and loved them, though now I realized I've forgotten quite a bit of them and want to reread them. This book was just okay. The plot was good, as were the characters, however, everything seemed a bit rushed for me and the ending was weird. Mykella seemed to learn how to use her Talent too fast. Overall a good book and I'm already reading the sequel, The Lady-Protector.
This is a newer book in the Corean Chronicles. It takes place several hundred years after Soarer's Choice. I've read the previous 6 books in the Chronicles and loved them, though now I realized I've forgotten quite a bit of them and want to reread them. This book was just okay. The plot was good, as were the characters, however, everything seemed a bit rushed for me and the ending was weird. Mykella seemed to learn how to use her Talent too fast. Overall a good book and I'm already reading the sequel, The Lady-Protector.
August 20, 2013
I am always worried about not stopping with the first book in the series if it was good because I don't want to be disappointed later, but no book in this series disappointed me, and I feel best for having read them all. The story comes full circle and answers any questions and loose ends by the end of the series.
One of my favorite series ever. I loved the main character and seeing how he would outsmart his troubles. I loved a lot if the descriptions about the world, and the magic is genius and fairly original. I don't usually care for political/war issues, but they were do character-centered that I felt it added to the story considerably. The author clearly spent a long time organizing the backstory. I've had a hard time finding books I like this much except with this author.
One of my favorite series ever. I loved the main character and seeing how he would outsmart his troubles. I loved a lot if the descriptions about the world, and the magic is genius and fairly original. I don't usually care for political/war issues, but they were do character-centered that I felt it added to the story considerably. The author clearly spent a long time organizing the backstory. I've had a hard time finding books I like this much except with this author.
February 13, 2015
I made it almost halfway through this before I finally gave up. This was a random grab off of a library shelf, and while some of the story premise was genuinely interesting, there was too much of the mundane going on.
Okay, I understand that Mykella sleeps and is tired. I understand she wears the same black clothes every day. I don't care what her underwear is made of. Her food is always cold. I get it. Doesn't mean I care to keep reading about it.
What I was most fed up with here, aside from the slog of a timeline, was the many little references to everyone sleeping around. Gag me. At least the author didn't go into obscene detail. Mr. Modesitt, for that at least, thank you.
Okay, I understand that Mykella sleeps and is tired. I understand she wears the same black clothes every day. I don't care what her underwear is made of. Her food is always cold. I get it. Doesn't mean I care to keep reading about it.
What I was most fed up with here, aside from the slog of a timeline, was the many little references to everyone sleeping around. Gag me. At least the author didn't go into obscene detail. Mr. Modesitt, for that at least, thank you.
January 3, 2021
About 300 years after the events in "Soarer's Choice", Lanachrona is ruled by the descendants of Mykel and Rachyla. Mykella, eldest daughter of the current lord protector, discovers that significant amounts of taxes are not reaching her father's treasury. Her father downplays her warnings and refuses to consider the most likely suspect. Then Mykella meets a soarer, who tells her she must go to the ancient Table beneath the palace if she wants to save her land and world. She tries, learning as quickly as she can, but a series of fatal and near-fatal incidents among her family and retainers heightens the danger. In the end, perseverance and justice triumph for the moment.
April 26, 2023
While still a fun book, I do find it a bit frustrating compared to the previous books. First, the rate at which Mykella develops her Talent is prodigious compared to the previous books in the series, and that makes it feel somewhat unearned. Second, and this is perhaps intentional, the fact that Mykella is frustrated at every turn also frustrates me as a reader, I'd love it if she had more success at some point, even though I'm not sure how the plot would have worked if that were the case. My memory is I liked the second book in this duology better.
November 1, 2010
The beginning looked very promising. However I was 85 or so pages in and I was finding it difficult to keep reading. It wasn't because it was written poorly, but rather the storyline was going too much into the day to day personal activities of the main characters as opposed to advancing the storyline that had me intrigued in the beginning. After awhile I just put it down and moved on to my next read.
May 16, 2011
When I first began reading, I didn't really enjoy the way it was written. I thought some of the dialogue was stiff and so were the characters. As I continued to read, however, I gradually became sucked into the story and none of that seemed to matter as much. The plot is intriguing and the ancient magic is quite fun, and as soon as I can, I'm going to go back and read the books that I've missed, as this is my entryway into the series. A very cool read.
May 19, 2009
Pretty good. Not one of his stronger works, but Modesitt does a decent job of translating his consistently male character into a female character in the already-plotted venue.
Most frustrating element: Mykella spends most of her time seeing things go entirely pear-shaped, but doing absolutely nothing about it.
Most frustrating element: Mykella spends most of her time seeing things go entirely pear-shaped, but doing absolutely nothing about it.
June 16, 2024
A bit better than 3 stars, but doesn't make 4. A somewhat weaker entry than most of the Corean books.
Re-read, 8/14. Again, not sure what I was thinking - down to 2 stars, just OK.
Re-read, 3/22. The '14 edit was a bit harsh. It's prob better than 2, but will leave it as it would be a borderline 3 for me.
Listened, 6/24. Again, somewhat better than 2, but not quite 3.
Re-read, 8/14. Again, not sure what I was thinking - down to 2 stars, just OK.
Re-read, 3/22. The '14 edit was a bit harsh. It's prob better than 2, but will leave it as it would be a borderline 3 for me.
Listened, 6/24. Again, somewhat better than 2, but not quite 3.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews