At the Queen's Command

Crown Colonies #1

by Michael A. Stackpole

1763: The Crown Colonies of Mystria are in turmoil, trapped between warring empires and facing insurrection from natives and colonists alike...

Captain Owen Strake, a wounded and battle-weary Redcoat of the Queen's Own Wurms, has come to this untamed land. At the Queen's command, Owen's mission is to survey this vast, uncharted territory, performing reconnaissance of rival Tharyngians and the savage Twilight People of the wilderness.

Prince Vladimir is a Norillian noble, nephew to the Queen. Though he has little real political power, he struggles to ensure the colonists' interests are represented back in Norisle. The one thing he does have is a wurm... one of the few existing dragons from a clutch of eggs discovered in the old world, hundreds of years ago.

As Mystria swirls into chaos, Owen becomes prisoner of a Tharyngian necromancer. Meanwhile, Vlad is to be married off to an old world princess, an alliance supposed to help supply money and mercenaries to put down the various insurrections. But, nobody suspects that Vlad's wurm is about to undergo a change that will impact the world's delicate political balance...

From New York Times-bestselling author Michael A. Stackpole (Rogue Squadron, I, Jedi) comes At the Queen's Command, the first book of The Crown Colonies, a new fantasy series re-imagining the events of the American Revolutionary War.

Genres: Fantasy, Alternate History, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Steampunk, Historical Fantasy, Historical

431 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Stefan · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s 1763, and the Crown Colonies of Mystria are in turmoil. Unwillingly, they are becoming the new battleground in the ongoing war between their colonial master Norisle and their rivals, the Tharyngians, after the ongoing conflict on the continent of Auropa. Simultaneously, some Mystrians are beginning to feel that the young colonies don’t owe allegiance to the distant Norillian queen anymore, with underground texts that advocate independence growing in popularity.

If all of this doesn’t sound familiar yet, just change Norisle to England, Tharyngia to France, Auropa to Europe and Mystria to America, because At the Queen’s Command is essentially a fantasy twist on the colonial side of the Seven Years’ War and the first stirrings of the Revolutionary War, with future books in the CROWN COLONIES series probably focusing more on the American Revolution. (Cleverly, the cover illustration by Ryan Pancoast also puts a fantasy spin on something you may be familiar with: the famous painting “Death Of General Mercer at the Battle of Princeton” by John Trumbull (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tru...).)

As At the Queen’s Command starts, the Norillian Captain Owen Strake of the Queen’s Own Wurms arrives in Mystria to survey the land — still mostly uncharted at this point — in preparation for possible warfare against the Tharyngians and the indigenous Twilight People (read: Native Americans). While the local military brass isn’t particularly helpful in arranging his mission, he does get assistance from Prince Vladimir, a Norillian noble (and a relative of the Queen) who is fascinated with the local fauna and flora — especially his “wurm” Mugwump. Eventually, Owen sets off on his mission, helped by a Mystrian woodsman and one of the Twilight People, but none of them are prepared for what they are about to find in the wilderness...

The first half of At the Queen’s Command is a pleasure to read. Owen is an intriguing character, and following how he gradually loses some of his Norillian stuffiness and adjusts to the independent, irreverent Mystrian spirit makes for an entertaining read. Likewise, the surprisingly down-to-earth Vladimir and the rough-but-honest woodsman Nathaniel are interesting characters. The descriptions of the colonial cities, still rough around the edges but acquiring their own identity, are spot-on. Michael A. Stackpole does a great job in slowly revealing that the magic used by the Norillians to fire their guns is very basic compared to that of the Twilight People. If we could rate parts of novels, the first half of this one would get four stars.

Unfortunately, At the Queen’s Command takes a turn for the worse in its second half. The Tharyngian villain is so over-the-top evil that it’s hard to take him seriously. A Norillian military leader who arrives late in the novel is such a bumbling, foppish caricature that it’s difficult to enjoy the story after he appears. Earlier, the way Owen subverts one of his captor’s servants is so ridiculously easy that it borders on silly. The contrast between Owen’s Mystrian friend Bethany and his Norillian wife Catherine is horribly overplayed, with Catherine gradually turning into a caricature too. It’s really a shame that this novel, which starts out so strongly, more or less falls apart towards the end.

Another issue with At the Queen’s Command, which probably can’t be blamed on the author, is the back cover summary: it gives away a huge plot development that occurs over 200 pages into the novel, and delivers a strong hint of something that occurs on the very last page. It’s almost like one of those trailers that give away the entire movie. If you’re interested in reading this novel, avoid looking at the back cover until after you’re done.

Still, despite some issues, At the Queen’s Command is an entertaining novel. Even though my opinion of the book dropped considerably as it progressed, I am still interested in finding out how the story continues in Of Limited Loyalty, the second book in the CROWN COLONIES series, which will pick up about three years after the end of At the Queen’s Command. (Depending on your perspective, you may be either excited or worried to find out that Michael A. Stackpole is currently writing the new novel in one month during Nanowrimo.) Regardless, if you enjoy historical fantasy in the vein of Naomi Novik and are willing to forgive the usage of some stock characters, definitely give At the Queen’s Command a chance.

(This review was also published on 11/10/2010 at www.fantasyliterature.com)

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

“There has to be a logical explanation.” “That would be a comfort.” Nathaniel spat. “On account of the fanciful ones ain’t bringing me no peace of mind at all.”

A fun, if illogical, romp in an alternate universe that looks so much like eighteenth century North America that one wonders why Stackpole bothered with all the differing names. Not sure it’s good enough to merit reading subsequent volumes.

“Du Malphias is someone I’d just as soon have back in Tharyngia.” “I get a clean shot, I’ll be happy to send him to Hell. That’s fair close to Tharyngia, ain’t it?” “I expect it is.”

Too easy. Despite the best efforts of several seemingly superhuman baddies, good prevails. Glad to see heroes occasionally get hit, but over all their luck is so amazing it distracts.

“It is that friction, between what you want to think you are and your true nature, which will be the source of your misery. You torture yourselves so well.”

Quibbles: Names: Lord Rivendell, (too Tolkien); Forest and Frost, as brother and sister? “… and released the breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.” My nominee for number one fiction cliché. “… traced a finger along through the numbers and did some figuring. His having committed A Continent’s Calling to memory made swift translation possible.” Wait, he recalled which word was at which page, line and sequence, plus additional adding and subtracting, from memory?!

“This isn’t even a game. It is merely their preparation of the board for the next round.”

[Joseph Mazzola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone heard of one Mr. Stackpole? I hadn't. He's pretty good though, if this is any indication. At The Queen's Command is the first book of The Crown Colonies, a fantasy series that sets up a rough approximation of our own world during the Seven Year's War (known to many of my fellow Americans as the French and Indian War) only dedicated to the principle of "Instant Awesome Just Add Dragons."

That's not wholly true. There are creatures called Wurms, that are large semi-amphibious beasts with draconic characteristics, and function as a land-bound dragon with no fire-breathing ability, which are distinct from the winged variety which are very pointedly gone, as several characters lament. Also added to the mix is magick, which allows people to fire muskets that use brimstone and a "firestone" instead of gunpowder and a striker.

Owen Strake, a half-Norillian (English) half-Mystrian ('Merican) military man has been sent to Mystria to explore the area bordering the colonies of Tharyngia (Fantasy France). Despite the rampant corruption he eventually sets out, with the blessing of the beleaguered Prince Vlad, owner of the Wurm named Mugwump, and the aid of Nathaniel Woods and the mysterious Kamiskwa, a prince of the Twilight people (fantasy Indians).

The book is entertaining, combining elements of historical and fantasy fiction and bringing a genre usually stuck in medieval-like eras to something a bit more familiar without sacrificing the wonderment necessary to tell a good fantasy. The characters are entertaining and distinctive, the description is good, the battles are intense, but there is one fair-sized issue that may or may not be mitigated by later books, in that it is a pretty obvious story. Its not hard to tell that Mugwump, being a "peculiar" Wurm, will be important, or that the gruff Anti-Hero Nathaniel will eventually show he has a heart of gold to go with those nerves of steel. It seems to be the sort of story where you can rest assured that the villains are going to end the series with a musket ball between the eyes and that the heroes will be paired with their love interests. The reason this is a minor issue is that bringing it to colonial times ups the novelty for a fantasy work and sometimes you just like to see an asshole villain take one in the brain.

So while this is not a deeply philosophical work of fantasy, it is very enjoyable.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting Alternate History Reality, with Dragons and Magic thrown in. Action scenes well written,
OK, Here's how I grade my Stars. A star * for each catagory that was interesting, innovative and well written (two out of three at least):
1. Character(s), character interaction(s) and inter-character(s) development: *
2. Scenery, Backgrounds and history of plot/scenarios: *
3. Plot, suspense and how well tied together: *
4. Was it well Written?: * (Includes grammer, punctuation, spacing, slang terms, etc. I can put up with a few of these, but really not more than 1, maybe two per page, and not even that thru the whole book. I won't even write a review.)
5. Was it creative, innovative, inspiring, funny, thoughtful, caught my eye with passion(etc) : *

I give it five * stars.

Book 2 "Of Limited Loyalty" is sitting by my bedside waiting. This a Library Copy, not an owned copy.
Daniel

[Chris King Elfland's 2nd Cousin · Rating 4 out of 5]

NOTE: This review was originally published at The King of Elfland's 2nd Cousin on January 25th, 2011. If you enjoy this review, stop by to read some more!

In At the Queen's Command (the first installment in a new alternate history series designed to span a re-imagined American Revolution) Michael A. Stackpole strikes a careful balance between historical source material and fervent imagination. Stackpole’s book combines engaging characters, a palpable sense of place, and a strong sense of Georgian voice and mores to create a compelling alternate history that draws you in and leaves you eager for more.

One of the great challenges in writing an alternate history is to strike a balance between recognizable history, and the central conceit that sets the story apart from accepted truth. Sometimes, as in Harry Turtledove’s How Few Remain, the conceit is a tiny difference which leads to significant divergence: a message that in reality was intercepted, gets to its intended destination and as a consequence the Confederacy wins the American Civil War. In other alternate histories, like Patricia C. Wrede’s Frontier Magic series, the known world is entirely re-imagined by introducing a pervasive fictional element (like magic). The more foundational the alternate history’s conceit, the harder it becomes to maintain consistency with both the facts and values of acknowledged history. Which is why At the Queen's Command, which adds dragons, magic, and necromancy to a re-imagined Colonial America is so impressive.

At the Queen's Command follows Captain Owen Strake, a soldier in the Queen’s Own Wurm Guard. He has fought against the Tharyngians (read: the French) on the Auropan (read: European) continent, and now has been sent on a reconnaissance mission to the colonies in Mystria. He must win over the colonists, survey the frontier, and return to Norisle (read: England). Of course, the mission does not go as planned and the colonies are drawn into war with the Tharyngians on their frontier.

The publisher makes it very plain on the book’s cover that the series is meant to re-imagine the American revolution, but Stackpole made a brilliant choice to set the first book during his world’s analog to the French and Indian War. First, most readers are not going to be as familiar with that war as they would be with the American Revolution. If Stackpole had jumped right into historical events that most American readers are already acquainted with, he would have had a much harder time getting readers to accept his central conceit. By setting the book several years prior to the American Revolution, Stackpole has the opportunity to take more liberties with acknowledged history, draw the reader into his re-imagined world, and get reader investment in his characters.

The characters are one of the strongest aspects of this book. This time period in real history is fraught with the consequences of history, a burgeoning streak of independence among the colonists, a sense of financial peril amongst the colonizers “back home”. Stackpole manages to capture the complex social, economical, political, military, and philosophical interactions of this time period through his well-realized characters. Whether it is through Owen Strake wrestling with his loyalty to Norisle, Prince Vladimir insisting upon the scientific method, Caleb Frost pushing for self-determination, the frontier trappers bridling at rumored taxes, Stackpole places a filter on Colonial America but still captures its colors. It is through these characters and their values that Stackpole addresses his themes, which are – in effect – the themes of John Locke, Thomas Paine and the other Enlightenment philosophers.

The central conceit of this alternative world is the existence of magic. In Stackpole’s world, this is not a recent discovery but instead dates back to before the Romans. It has affected – to some extent – all technological and societal evolution that precedes the events of this book. For Owen Strake and the the other characters, magic is as much of a fact of life as breathing. While on the one hand this helps to ground the reader in the world, it also leads to one of the few moments that rings off true. Specifically, the magic of the colonies is wilder, less controlled, more free than the magic Owen Strake is familiar with. The narration supporting Strake’s initial explorations, especially the first introduction of the wendigo concept, are clumsy by comparison to the rest of the book’s smooth execution. In the hands of a lesser author, I would still consider them quite well done. However, once past the initial introduction, Stackpole’s seamless narration kicks in again and the book strengthens as it gathers pace.

The book itself is a handsome product released as a trade paperback from Night Shade Books. The book’s cover, with design by Claudia Noble and art by Ryan Pancoast, is beautiful. I was particularly struck by how Pancoast seamlessly introduced a dragon and Native Americans into John Trumbull’s The Death of General Mercer at the Battle of Princeton. Looking at Pancoast’s cover image, it is difficult to imagine that they don’t belong there in reality, which adds to the book’s sense of an alternate history:

To see the image comparison, take a look at the original blog post here.

At the Queen's Command is an excellent new entry in the field of alternate history. Like any good book, it offers no easy solutions at its conclusion. Partially, this is to set up tension for subsequent books in the series, but in a very real sense it is because we still wrestle with the same questions as Stackpole’s fictional Mystria: where does the state’s responsibility end, and where does the citizen’s begin? I am eagerly looking forward to seeing how Mystria and how Stackpole’s characters wrestle with these questions in the books to come.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

“At the Queen’s Command” is a peculiar sort of alternative history. Imagine Colonial America, shortly before the revolution, except America is called Mystria, England is Norisle, France is Tharyngia, and Native Americans are the Twilight People. Oh, and there are magic and wingless dragons. It’s an unusual starting place for a novel, but that’s where we find ourselves as “At the Queen’s Command” gets underway.

Once started, the book focuses on the story of Owen Strake, a captain in the Queen’s Own Wurms, who has been sent to the colonies from Norisle to conduct a survey of the land and report back to the continent on how best to fight the Tharyngians in the New World, should his homeland wish to extend their ongoing battle from the Continent to the Colonies. As he undertakes this mission, he must learn to work with the Mystrians who distrust him as well as overcome his own misconceptions about the land. Gradually, the main plot shifts from Owen’s original “mission” of mapping and reporting to the actual planning and execution of battle, especially after the introduction of the main villain, a Tharyngian madman with a penchant for creating zombies. (Yes, it's not just dragons and magic- the undead are there, too.)

Author Michael Stackpole’s unpretentious writing style keeps the plot moving briskly, which works in the book’s favor. Aside from the occasional distraction of trying to figure out which country/people names correspond to those from our own, more familiar history, the plot does a decent job of drawing the reader in, even if it’s not quite page turning. The characters in general are broadly drawn and lack any particular nuance. They’re not badly written, but they tend to stay firmly (and occasionally irritatingly) within the borders of the expected character types. Heroes are brave, on the side of right, intelligent, stoic and have occasional cutting wit. Antagonists are selfish, close-minded, pig-headed and given to acts of petty and occasional genuine cruelty, with the only real variance being in if they have sufficient intelligence to carry out their sinister plots. This doesn’t necessarily detract from enjoyment of the book, but does guarantee that the characters don’t provoke much in the way of deep thought or analysis.

The only real source of intrigue beyond the basic plot is pondering the political and social mechanics behind the lead up to a revolution. Lurking in the background of the main plot points and character development is the concept that Mystria is beginning to chafe under Norisle’s rule. Stackpole takes the time to explore the seeds of rebellious thoughts, allowing Mystrian characters to explain their beliefs that they deserve at the very least better treatment. However, as Owen Strake is a “red coat,” we also get a decent look at the perspective of one who believes wholly in the royalist viewpoint and can skillfully argue with the colonialists. Additionally, most of the major plot points receive some analysis from the perspective of their impact on Norisle’s control over Mystria. Will undertaking battle in this manner demoralize Mystrians and make them more dependent on Norisle? Will a different battle plan make Mystrians feel more independent, or perhaps resentful? Who benefits the most? Again, these perspectives aren't written with exceptional nuance, but they nonetheless provide an interesting jumping off point for contemplating the political and cultural machinations within the book and, potentially, in our own analogous history.

Overall, “At the Queen’s Command” has quick moving plot, with just enough twists on the genre(s) to keep it interesting and unique enough from other quick-read fantasy or historical fiction to make it worthwhile, if not a must-read. Judging by the number of books to his credit, Michael Stackpole has a knack for creating inoffensive but somewhat intriguing worlds, and filling them with just enough action to keep things interesting.

[Mark Horejsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn't read anything from Michael A. Stackpole in a number of years. I devoured his X-Wing books during the 90's, and I read his A Gathering Evil around the same time, but could never find any of the other books in that series. Recently, I set out to find them via the magic of the internet. That led me to be following him on twitter when he offered At The Queen's Command for free.

Now, I never turn down a free book from an author I like, and it sat on my Kindle for a little while before I got around to it. I knew, when I picked it up, that it was an alternate history tale centred on Britain (Norisle) and Mystria (America). At the Queen's Command is set during the Seven Year's War with (Tharyngia) France, and forms the first of the three book (so far) Crown Colonies series.

Like many other alternate history books, the Crown Colonies series changes some names and adds magic to the setting. Muskets are ignited by use of “firestones” and some soldiers ride wurms (not quite dragons) into battle. And deep within the wilds of Mystria, the Twilight People (Native Americans) are in tune with the magic of nature, and understand the strange beasts and unnatural beings that inhabits these areas.

In short, there was nothing particularly revolutionary about At The Queen's Command (though one presumes there will be of a different sort as the books move closer to the American Revolution). That didn't stop me from enjoying this book immensely.

The action focuses on one Captain Owen Strake, a soldier sent to reconnoitre the Tharyngian colonies as part of the ongoing war. Strake is a veteran of fighting on the continent and a capable and loyal man. He faces the adversity of his family with the love of his wife, Catharine. Once in Mystria, he meets an able cast of characters; frontiersmen, natives, royalty, and his share of villains; local bullies, arrogant noblemen, evil wizards, and so forth.

What I enjoyed the most about Stackpole's novel is the simple fact that the characters felt real. Strake, in particular, faces trials that left me concerned for his well-being, and tragedies that made me truly feel sorry for him. So too did I feel for the rest of the sympathetic cast, they were characters who tackled challenges, but all had wants and needs, and were all transformed through the course of the novel.

That allowed me to put any weakness in the plot behind me, because I felt like the climax was rushed. This was not a short novel, but the final confrontation came on quite swiftly. Stackpole also head-hopped a few times during some chapters, and the changing pov made it difficult to keep track of what was going on. The transition between characters was not marked at all, which may have been an error of the ebook conversion, in which I noticed a few formatting errors.

Finally, the book left me with some questions, namely about Strake's wife. Her actions don't yet make sense to me, and have left me a little confused about the character. Why has she done what she's done? It isn't just a matter of her apparent betrayal. It's why she entered into a marriage with Owen in the first place. We never get inside her head, and have only a few details with which to judge her, but her actions don't yet make sense. Of course, her story is by no means resolved, and I hope more will be revealed, as well as he and Owen's story brought to a more satisfactory conclusion.

These faults aside, I enjoyed At The Queen's Command, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys themes of magic and the frontier, alternate history, and the struggle against all odds. It was a bargain at free, and I have every intention of purchasing the next book, Of Limited Loyalty.

*edit*
Michael Stackpole tweeted a reply to my review. He said the head hopping was a fault of the ebook conversion, and does not appear in the print version.

[Sandie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Put your literary boots on. Michael Stackpole is ready to take readers on an amazing journey. Imagine a retelling of the settling of the North American continent by the British, jerked slightly askew. Yes, there are touchpoints that the reader will recognize from their history classes, but Stackpole's version is infinitely more entertaining.

Captain Owen Strake has come to the Mysterian colony to make his mark. Shunned by Norillian society and his extended family due to a Mysterian birth father, he has little chance to rise in traditional ways. A successful mission will secure enough of a future that he can retire with his wife to the countryside and move away from the artificial society he chafes under. He has been charged with surveying the uncharted lands of the Queen's colony, Mystria, and giving a report of any possible enemies such as rival Tharyngians and the Twilight People who were the original inhabitants of the land.

When he arrives, he realises that this land is nothing like anything he has seen. There are new animals, and magick is not something that is feared and scorned as it is at home. As an individual who has some magick ability, this is a new idea, that his abilities could be honored rather than feared. The people are warmer and more welcoming to strangers, and as he becomes more acclimated, he realises that this land suits him much better; a land where a man is evaluated for his character rather than his wealth or position.

But all is not well. There is an undercurrent of unrest, as the plans of the Tharyngians to attack Mysteria and gain control of all the land become clearer. There are those who wish for Myteria to break free of the Queen's control. As Owen works on the surveying, he discovers that a Tharyngian commander he had faced on the battlefields of Europe has taken command here. He is determined to rule the entire land, by force if he must. He has built a huge fort that is manned by creatures raised from the dead by sorcery, along with an overwhelming force of highly trained soldiers used to winning every battle.

Owen, along with those who love Mysteria, are determined to defeat the Tharyngians for the Queen. There is Nathaniel Woods, a huntsman and guide, highly skilled in the survival skills of this new land. Kamiskwa is one of the Native people, and he and Nathaniel open this society to Owen. There is Prince Vlad, the Queen's nephew. Vlad is a scientist first and foremost, and he loves this new land that he has been given to rule. Together these men create a ragtag army of colonists who will stop at nothing to win their freedom to live as they like.

This book is highly recommended. The minute I finished the last page, I rushed online to buy the second volume. There is humor, magic, strange rituals. The book is a rousing history with battles and the story of a land forming a society, but then thrown in are items such as men raised from the dead, giant wurms (wingless dragons), who fight along with their owners, guns that are fired by men with their fingers serving as the firing power to send bullets on their way. There is intrigue, strategy and military battles. This is a rousing history that is both whimsical and rousing and is recommended for a wide genre of readers. Those who love history will enjoy this twist on reality. Those who like fantasy will also find it an excellent read.

[Roger Alix-Gaudreau · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the final accounting, this book is just okay. The writing is generally stiff and a bit stilted, which may be the author's attempt to set it in the colonial period. But, the perspective character often changes suddenly and without any indication in the text, and the person sometimes shifts from third (the POV of the majority of the book) to first without any good reason that I can see. There is very little in the way of surprises or twists, and the pace of the book is generally pretty slow until the last 50-60 pages or so. The book leaves some story threads unresolved, presumably for the next book, but I don't find the work compelling/interesting enough to read the next one to learn more.

[Tessa in Mid-Michigan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Uneven and at times difficult to follow. Derivative of Naomi Novik’s Temeraire series. Still, interesting and enough likable characters that I finished it. Note that there are anti-Christian themes and ideas.

[Lana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book draws you in with a fantastic promise of adventure and truly intriguing plot lures. Dragons and fantasy mixing with revolutionary America! What more could a reader possibly want? How about realistic characters and character development, mature story telling, and just the smallest amount of faith in the reader to suss out any little thing for themselves.

Stackpole truly did have a fantastic story up his sleeve. if you don’t mind being spoon fed baddies that are just too bad, good guys that put Disney characters to shame, and long winding prose that explain away every single decision and action taken (to spell out to the reader just how smart the characters are), then have I got a book for you

[Natasha Lomonossoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a pretty fun book overall, as a take on the American Revolution within a fantasy setting. I particularly liked how the author incorporated magic alongside the technology of the period, such as guns and other weaponry. That being said, I did find a few aspects of the book to be convoluted. It was fairly obvious which countries were meant to be stand-ins for real world places, with Norisle clearly being Britain and Mystria being America. As well, the romance plots for the two male protagonists were a bit on the nose (particularly the one between Owen and Bethany). I don't know if it was just the edition I had but there were quite a few typos present - not the author's fault but you would think an editor would catch them.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a fun historical fiction novel, similar to the French & Indian War but with Fantasy elements. Too bad only two of three books were printed due to the publisher going out of business. This series made a top 20 list of series that we wish were completed. I’m going to read book 2 and hope #3 eventually gets published. I recommend this novel.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have seen little to no discussion of At the Queen’s Command around the blogging circuit and I’m a little worried it might fly under some people’s radar. If you enjoyed The Last of the Mohicans, perused Orson Scott Card’s Alvin Maker series, or glanced at C. C. Finlay’s The Patriot Witch this is probably a fantasy novel worth a look. It might be 1763 but European history as we know it had been significantly altered as Norillian (English) and Tharygnian (French) forces are still at war in Europe. The Tharygnians have had a revolution applying scientific method to study magic while the Norillians maintain a more religious outlook on arcane power (used to control the more magically powerful commoners). Owen Stake, a solider in the Queen’s Own Wurms, has been sent to Mystria (America), a Norillian Colony, to investigate the Tharygnian presence there.

What unfolds is a predictable yet consistently entertaining novel of frontier fantasy that emulates characters and themes from James Fenimore Cooper’s Leatherstocking Tales particularly via Nathaniel Woods a Mystrian scout who is a skilled sharpshooter and works closely with his native Altashee “brother” Kamiskwa. Stackpole does his best to balance the 18th century notion of the “noble savage” by injecting a bit of cultural relativism via some creative world building. While the Altashee of At the Queen’s Command are painted as being different from the Mystrians or Norillians in terms of how their culture developed they are the only native tribe given such detail and, given how the other native tribe we are introduced sell their services to the necromancer villain of the novel, are clearly thrust into the roll of good guys somewhat negating some of Stackpole’s work.

Like any work of Frontier fiction one of the more fascinating aspects of At the Queen’s Command occurs in the background; namely the conflict of cultures. While Stackpole focuses strongly on the adventurous aspects of the novel there is plenty of dialogue and some introspection which lingers on the various levels of cultural conflict throughout the novel. In terms of Captain Owen Strake that cultural conflict is examined in terms of Norillian versus Mystrian and Norillian versus native culture. For the Mystrian’s the conflict is between their emerging culture and that of old world Norillian culture. Far more interesting is Nathaniel Woods whose acceptance and adopting of native culture is at war with the fact that he is still a Mystrian; leading to some internal conflict. Again, none of this is particularly new but it is a nice change of pace from the traditional pseudo-medieval fantasy novels that are released year after year.

I do find myself curious as to why Stackpole decided to change the names of people’s and nations for the novel. While the conflicts are certainly recognizable I did find myself struggling to place conflicts in the greater context of European and American history. So, if the intent was stop just that sort of confusion the name changes didn’t help at all. With its semi-historical setting At the Queen’s Command makes interesting reading alongside Naomi Novik’s Temeraire series. While Novik’s series features dragons it lacks magic though extrapolates the idea of dragons as air power in a fascinating manner. Similarly, At the Queen’s Command takes the presence of magic and extrapolates potential cultural and social developments as a result accordingly. That what if quality is a strong vein running through both these series and a quality makes historical fiction, and particularly historical fantasy, so interesting.

Certainly not a perfect novel At the Queen’s Command was a book that I often found difficult to put down. As I mentioned the familiarity of the plot and the setting lends itself to some predictability. However, rather then find that annoying I found it served to make some of the more original aspects of the novel all the more enjoyable. Stackpole, does a great job of combining a bit of family drama with political maneuvering and his protagonists are interesting enough that he can be forgiven at least one extremely buffoonish antagonist. If you’re looking for a change of pace from average swords and sorcery tale At the Queen’s Command will let you trade that blade in for a musket. A nice surprise near the end of the year At the Queen’s Command left me looking forward to the next entry in the Crown Colonies series (a focus on the East India Trading Comapny’s conflicts in India might be a interesting change of pace/local).

[Sarah W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take the French and Indian War. Change the names of the people and places. Add in a dose of magick and a dragon (wurm). Mix in a methodical opponent with frightening powers, intrigue that crosses an ocean, a prince more interested in research than expectations, brave young men relearning the world around them, stubborn persistence in the face of peril and the end result is At the Queen's Command.

Michael Stackpole has created a riveting world that parallels our own with the first of his books in Crown Colonies. As a former history major, I enjoyed comparing what I knew of this time period (the 1760s) and the world portrayed in these pages. Change is brewing on many fronts, political and cultural.

Owen Strake arrives in Mystria on assignment to survey the wilderness after weeks of ocean travel. A combat veteran and nephew of a powerful Duke, Owen is used to a life of being slighted by those who look down upon his father's Mystrian heritage. He's not used to being looked down upon for being a soldier of the Crown or for wanting to follow orders. He's horrified to learn that most expect him not to make the survey at all, to hire men to do the work for him and those men not to accomplish the job either. The purpose of the survey is to better know the lands of Mystria in the event of war with Tharyngia (the Crown Colonies version of France).

Owen's persistence to do his job earns him a number of enemies, starting with the Colonel stationed in the town of Temperance. Owen's manner impresses Prince Vlad, nephew of the Queen. He is set out on his mission with the aid of one Nathaniel Woods, an outsider with little use for society. Alongside Nathaniel is Kamiskwa of the Altashee tribe. On the journey, the group discovers a variety of disturbing evidence and comes under attack. When they survey the bodies after the attack, one of the men is someone who died two years earlier. More fearsome yet is a fort being constructed by Du Malphias, a Ryngian commander of ill report from the continent. Owen, injured severely, gives himself up to capture so Nathaniel and Kamiskwa can get news back to Vlad.

After Owen's captivity, other characters start providing point of view chapters. At first, I found this disorienting. It was a good choice for the book in that story widens and one character's viewpoint would not accurately convey the complexity of the conflict. The arrival of additional characters from Norisle adds to the drama, specifically with young Lord Rivendell, a foppish fool incapable of reading the dangers before him and bent on glory. Manipulating Rivendell, Vladimir and Owen is the influential Duke of Deathridge. As a campaign against Du Malphias unfolds, the Mystrians struggle to find any way to survive when the Norillians do not listen, supplies are weeks behind and the enemy has undead servants.

The conclusion moves quickly. From reading other books by Michael Stackpole, I suspect there is a twist of trouble ahead for these characters in future books. I look forward to the release of the second book in October 2011 to see how this tangled web moves forward.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really, really wanted to love this book. Stackpole has written some amazing books in the past and, after a disappointing end to the Cartographer's trilogy, I was hoping he'd come back strong.

I didn't entirely know what I was getting myself into. As a focused alternate-history/historical fantasy novel, this would be have great. It's set in the early 1760's during the French & Indian/Seven Years War and lays the groundwork for continuation into the American Revolution/War of Insurrection. Unfortunately, for large sections, it's mostly a zombie novel. Not being a fan of horror, this really didn't appeal to me.

The highlights:
-Contrary to the blurb, the story is about three characters: Captain Owen Strake, a half-Mystrian officer in the Norisilian army; Prince Vlad, reluctantly third in line to the Norislian throne and keeper of a wurm (dragon) who is acting strangely; and Nathaniel Woods, realist and reluctant hero. Woods is much more interesting than Strake. If you've read Stackpole's other works, you've "heard" Strake before.
-Stackpole's few female characters are, sadly, two-dimensional and either wholly good or evil (Bethany Frost and Catherine Strake, respectively. The "twist" with Capt Strake's wife is obvious.). Working on memory, I am fairly sure this book does not pass the Bechdel test.
-Stackpole's juxtaposition of good and bad uses of science, ala Prince Vlad and du Malphais, is well placed and obvious without beating readers upside the head. There's not a lot of depth but the existence of this conflict is promising and future installments could easily explore how a scientist loses his or her moral code.
-The introduction of magic was subtle at first and later more explicit. I like that Stackpole wrote it as a matter-of-fact part of the culture while still leaving room (and plenty of hints) about future developments.
-Not a problem for me but potential readers should know that this is a gruesome book, much more than any of Stackpole's previous work. The novel vividly describes the horror of 18th century combat and medical practices as well as a couple of torture scenes in detail. In contrast, the one sex scene gets a couple paragraphs of foreplay and a curtain call.
-The Mystrian=good, Norislian=bad short cut really got to me. I'm personally very invested in the American way of life but surely even in the 1760's there were British citizens who were good people and Americans who were bad. No subtlety here, the authorial voice comes down firmly on the side of the Americans... I mean, Mystrians, in the conflict between government and people.

That may sound more negative than positive and it really shouldn't; it was a good read and I'll eventually read the sequel(s). I suppose in the final evaluation that I am personally looking for more depth and complexity in my stories these days. It's why I stopped reading the Star Wars novels that originally introduced me to Stackpole as a writer and why it may be awhile before I pick up the rest of this series.

[Scott Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never been a big fan of alt-history speculative fiction, even as i've always been a fan of Michael Stackpole's fantasy. I was thus pretty sure that i would enjoy "At the Queen's Command," but i was pleasantly surprised by how much i loved it. Stackpole's take on North American colonial history explores the alt-continent of Mystria, colonized by Norisle (the book's monarchist Britain) and Tharyngia (a darkly post-Enlightenment France). A nascent nation of Norillian colonists are caught up in the military and political machinations of both great powers — and find themselves creating their own sense of purpose and destiny.

"Magick" stands at the heart of the story and the struggles of the colonists, and of the Norillians whose contempt the colonies must weather alongside a host of natural threats. Stackpole's alternate New World is a land in which ice-age fauna continue to stalk the wilderness, even as dangerous spirits of the natural world feed on the bodies and souls of unwary mortals. The soldiers of the Old World channel magick in order to fuel the weapons of their endless wars. The native Twilight People of the New World treat magick as a more integral part of their lives, and access its power on a level that the colonial Mystrians are only beginning to understand.

Captain Owen Strake is a Mystrian officer of Norisle who stands at the center of the story. However, he's often overshadowed by Prince Vlad, an eager scientist and colonial governor, and the frontier scout Nathaniel Woods, the deadliest marksman in the New World or the Old. When they discover that Tharyngian general and scientist Guy du Malphais has created a magickal process to raise the dead, the three are thrust into leadership roles they never sought for themselves, facing off against treacherous Tharyngians, armies of unkillable zombie "pas-morts", and a Norillian nobility that treats its colonials with derisive contempt.

"At the Queen's Command" weaves its story with layers of intrigue, human drama, and subtle fantasy, even as Michael Stackpole brings the grandeur of Mystria to life with well-wrought description and a sense of wonder at a world that might have been. At the same time, the relentless and graphic darkness of the battle scenes o which the novel's climax is built starkly lay out the life-and-death stakes for which the colonials and their allies are fighting.

[Jake Scholl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not much of a fan of historical novels that take place in the 1700's , mainly because I have heard the story of what happened before and after the American Revolution plenty of times. There are only so many ways to present what happened.

But, what if an author made his own version of what happened. Say, by adding magic, changing the names of countries, and adding dragons? That is what Michael Stackpole (Yes, that Michael Stackpole.) has done with At The Queen's Command.

The story begins in 1763. Captain Owen Strake of the Queen's Wurmriders, is sent on a mission to survey the Mystrian (American) frontier. What begins as a simple exploratory mission, quickly becomes a quest to stop a madman from taking over the land.

The book is a little slow starting, but the witty banter between characters will keep you reading. Stackpole has a great gift for dialogue. The book really starts to get good at page 100. What starts out very political, quickly turns into a fast and furious adventure novel. Rather than the usual medieval weaponry in most fantasies, the weapons are accurate for the 1700's. Muskets, Revolvers, Cannons, etc.

Magic is very present. Stackpole has created a great magic system, one that fits in well with the time period. It's deeply woven into society like technology is nowadays. He also has made it so the magic effects the user in some way, and no one is an all-powerful invincible magus. He also depicts well on how radical the Church of Norisle, uh, I mean England acted in the 1700's.

The writing style is a lot like a book from the 1700's. The language is easy to understand, but he uses some words that were used back in the day.

Stackpole proves again that he is so much more than a writer of fan-fiction. I'm excited to read the next book!

Overall
I give the book 5 out of 5 stars! Recommended for fans of Naomi Novik and Chris Evans.

This book is available in all popular ebook formats, and in print.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is a hard one for me to review because even after reading it I'm not sure how I felt about it. I liked it...but I didn't.

Let's start with the description on the back. I hate it when they write too much and give away the book. I hate it that by the reviewer quotes - this book gives expectations that don't necessarily come to fruition.

For example, the write-up/quotes on the back basically some up the book as one about the American Revolution but with dragons, magic, and necromancy.

And…it is…but it isn’t. Sure, for anyone who has studied Colonial America, the American Revolution and the events leading up to it – you will recognize all of the key players. France (Tharyngian), Britain (Norisle), Europe (Auropa), the Colonies (Mystria), the Twilight People (Native Americans). There is even a Marques de Lafayette character!!! So why didn’t Stackpole just use the names of the real countries? For me, this would have made this book a whole lot less confusing. I spent most of the book trying to remember who was who, and what country was what. When reading it, this book is obviously about the French and Indian War (with a few changes such as a Tharyngian necromancer stocking his armies with the dead) but still…that’s what drew me into the book.

I liked the characters in this book although was often time frustrated by their naivety. However, maybe that is what Stackpole was going for with some of them. It made me sad to read about the promise of a new nation and what the events in this book are sure to make it become.

That said, this was certainly one of those books that had more promise than it delivered. So will I read the next in the series? Maybe – I’m not compelled to keep on reading.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a huge fan of colonial history, I really enjoyed such works as The Two Georges by Richard Dreyfuss and Harry Turtledove or the Alvin Maker series by Orson Scott Card. So I jumped on this novel as soon as I could find a copy - and I'm a fan of Michael Stackpole anyway.

This was an excellent read and as I read it, I kept seeing Spencer Tracy and Robert Young in the movie "Northwest Passage". This is exactly the way to 'see' this novel - basically a fictional equivalent of the American colonies and the French & Indian Wars with a wurm (fledgling dragon) in addition to a few hundred pasmortes thrown in. Overall, it is about the conflict but includes hints of the conditions that should eventually lead to Mystria's own revolutionary war. If you can find a copy of this and you're a fan of this period of history, I think you'll enjoy this novel. While there is a sequel, The Crown Colonies #2: Of Limited Loyalty, and from the cover blurb looks to be something along the lines of a Lewis and Clark type expedition.

Sadly, Stackpole's series got caught up in the whole Night Shade Books/Skyhorse issue, so the status of The Crown Colonies #3: Ungrateful Rabble" is up in the air. I gather from reading various posts from Stackpole and others that this third novel supposedly take us right up into the Mystrian Revolution against Norisle. With the NSB/Skyhorse incident, I fear that it may never see the light of day - I hope Stackpole and The Crown Colonies will triumph. Nevertheless, what has been published of The Crown Colonies is well worth reading.

[Preston DuBose · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a reader, I have a complicated relationship with Michael Stackpole. I am a fan, and have been a fan for well more than a decade and probably approaching two. I own and have read many, if not most, of his books. With that established, I feel that his previous two series started off strong but ended less d. After feeling let down twice in a row, I wasn't in a great hurry to start yet another series. I've had this book on my "stack" (in the Kindle) for quite a while and made no effort to fast-track it. But here we are.

According to Goodreads, I've read 34 books this year. I liked nearly all of them. A few of them I loved. But reading this book was a like a cool glass of iced water after several hours in the pool. Surrounded by the "water" of so many books, I didn't realize how thirsty I was for truly compelling writing until starting this book.

In many ways the plot starts off training-wheels simple. The setting--while "fantasy"--is the American colonies prior to the revolution but with the serial numbers barely filed off. The protagonist is an English officer (again sans serial numbers) of the Horatio Hornblower mold. But such is Stackpole's skill that within a few chapters I was totally invested in the character. Eventually the plot takes a sharp turn that is decidedly more fantasy-like, and the hero's trials and tribulations ensured I couldn't put the book down. Here's hoping the subsequent books live up to expectations set by this one. If so, it'll be a helluva ride. Hope springs eternal.

[Desmond · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't read any of Michael A. Stackpole's Star Wars or Battletech serial novels so had no real expecations about the first of his Crown Colonies novels which is a good thing I think. I do enjoy alternative history novels when the author does not over-exert in trying to show every little instance of how their alternate history is different from ours. Stackpole succeeds in that regard. Though magic exists and the countries involved are clearly England, France, and the young American colonies the advent of magic and dragons, or wurms, as they are styled is kept to a very everyday tone and the politics are relatable to anyone with a passing knowledge of early American history. Magic is used in place of some technology but the presence is not annoying. The book is very much a historical adventure book and comparison to books such as Last of the Mohicans is understandable. In that regard it's a bit more "boy's adventure" than anything but that is not a bad thing at all. The hero, Owen Strake, is likable and noble without being a caricature and still a bit of a naif about some things. The supporting characters are what you would expect from a pioneer type tale with the uneducated but intelligent Daniel Boone type and the noble Native who calls him brother, to the blowhard clergy characters take delight in bringing down a peg. It is an easy and enjoyable read and I'm likely to hunt up the subsequent two volumes in the future.

[Bob Cantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

North America with magic

I started this book knowing it was a what if kind of tale. The basic premise is that the world has a bit of magic to be found in it. Owen Strake is a man torn by his sense of honor and his love of Mystria where nature is beautiful and dangerous. Sent on a mission to found out what has to be done in the countryside if wars from Norisle spillover to Mystria. But there is more that an expedition into the frontier in Strake's orders there are those that hope he will fail in his mission. The reason for this becomes clearer as the story moves forward. I don't want to give away too much of the story, but will say that the story is one you should enjoy. It has loyalty, betrayal, and a little romance in the mix. I liked the good guys and didn't like the bad guys. One small problem was that some characters in the story seem to be major players but aren't and this to me makes wonder about just why they were in the. One thing that I like to do when I read a story is to try and cast the characters like in a movie so when they speak in the book I hear their voices. When I can do that I know I am reading a book I like. This story was that way for me. I would recommend this book to people, who enjoy historical and the sword and sorcery stories of Robert Howard.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. I'm familiar with Stackpole, having read many of his Star Wars books, and this new series has a strong opening book. This is one of my first experiences with alternate/fantasy history and Stackpole made it seem realistic and engaging. The additions of magic, the undead, and dragons gave the traditional history a new edge and cast events in a new light.

The geographical locations in colonial Mystria and the key players are left similar enough to the historical narrative that an astute reader can figure out where they fit in. I enjoyed seeing the similarities and differences with history. The Old World conflicts were transplanted to the New World, and rivalries and alliances followed historical lines.

Captain Owen Strake of the Queen's Own Wurm Guard is a realistic character with triumphs and failures. Seeing his transformation from loyal Norilian to a lover of Mystria provided insight into how some of the loyal American colonials turned patriot.

Overall a good book with a well paced plot, which combined forest gun fights, Bostonian town life, frontier men and Indians, a little romance, magic, and some strong divergent political currents into one solidly told tale of reinvented history.

[T.L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite getting off to a slow start, I very much liked this AU Colonial Fantasy. The world-building is rich and the political manipulations mind boggling. The main character is definitely a good and honorable man. I usually find Lawful Good characters in novels to be stiff and boring, but Owen has enough moral complexity to make me understand why other people enjoy Lawful Good characters.

Even so, the action scenes didn't impress me and the Evil Villain in his Lair was problematic. Stackpole is much better with the plotters behind the scenes and the intricate little plot turns than with the mechanics of shoot and parry. Despite these reservations I'm looking forward to the next installment. This book had a complete plot arc with enough threads to draw me along into a second volume and didn't resort to an annoying cliffhanger ending.

There's a lot that could be said about the Twilight People (AU version of 1st Nations), but I'm still thinking on that aspect of the story.

[Clay Kallam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Michael Stackpole is a professional writer. He has published more than 40 novels since 1988, and he understands the craft of bookwriting. At the same time, though, cranking out two 100,000-word novels a year is more about production than deep thinking.

Then again, deep thinking can be overrated (see the review of “The Habitation of the Blessed” elsewhere), and there’s no question that “At the Queen’s Command” (Night Shade, $14.99, 430 pages) is a fun ride in an alternate 18th century America. It’s also billed as the First Book of the Crown Colonies, so there’s more to come in this saga of an English officer assigned to find out what the French are up to in 1763.

“At the Queen’s Command” does touch on some historical issues, but mainly it’s about Owen Strake’s adventures in the wilderness, his battles with his English relatives and an evil enemy who dabbles in raising the dead. It won’t surprise you, but it won’t disappoint you either.

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

This fantasy book inspired by the colonial era America is "okay" hence the two stars; I'd probably rank the first half as two stars and the second half at three stars, not because the story got intrinsically better but the negatives stayed the same; while the action, which Stackpole has always excelled at, kicked into high gear.

No colonial era cliche was missed - the protagonist is born of old and new worlds, married to an old world upperclass woman and sent to the new world on a mission for Queen and Country. There he bumps into noble savages with an intrinsically bond to the magic, that is, of course, more powerful in the new world than in the old world. Don't forget the *Evil*, yet urbane, necromancer and the old world nobility which is wholly unredeemable, either being useless popinjays or evil conspiratorial sort.

I don't expect I'll be moving onto the second book unless it magically becomes a kindle sale, but as it is book 2, I don't expect it to happen.

[aoi aka · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Mike Stackpole at his finest. I fell in love with his writing due to his Star Wars books.

This book, though, was a nice surprise. I found it at the library and immediately grabbed it and read it quickly. I couldn't put it down because I wanted to know what would happen next.

The premise seemed interesting. I thought it would be an American colonies fiction novel, but it turned out to be much better than that. There's mentions of dragons and quite possibly magic. Human beings brought back from the dead as zombies played as the disposable troops for the bad guy (who happened to have a French name). Names of nations changed, but still reminded you of their original counterparts.

I was on pins and needles over what would happen to the main character. Would he die out in the wilderness during a snow storm or would the zombies manage to reach him and take him back to the main fortress. I can't wait to get my hands on the next one.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a bit to get into the local for this book. I wasn't sure where it was happening or the background for the world (did I missing an earlier book in a series?). But once I realized/remembered it was a alt-history of the early North American story, mid 1700's, but in a world where there's magic and I was able to mentally map the countries and areas I was able to set that aside and enjoy the story.

I'd call this is a "hero" story, where a number of characters rise above and beyond their nature and circumstances to become more than they ever expected of themselves. Also it's a story of discovery and war and good vs evil.

That said, there's a number of good twists that you might not expect. And here's some that you do expect, yet they still add flavor and depth to the reading.

Once I started this long book I found it hard to put down...

[H.L. Reasby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a fan of Michael Stackpole for some time now and for several reasons, but first and foremost among them is the fact that I know whenever I pick up one of his novels, I'm going to get a great story with interesting characters set in a fascinating and well-thought-out world.

At the Queen's Command certainly lived up to all of my expectations! Within ten minutes of starting to read the book, I was hooked. I wanted to know more about the world that I was being shown and was eager to get to know more about the main character, Owen Strake. Every character has a clear voice and a personality all his or her own.

I'm eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series and my only regret is that I have to wait for Michael to write them!