Wren to the Rescue by Sherwood Smith
Growing up in an orphanage, Wren has always loved stories about heroes and quests and curses, and even playacts the roles of heroes in legends, and always has a story ready to be related. So when her best friend, Tess, reveals she’s actually Teressa, the secret daughter of the king and queen who’s been kept a secret for years because of a threat from another ruler, Wren is only too happy to jump at the chance to take Tess up on her offer to go home with her. Soon, however, the old threat is carried out, and Tess is kidnapped, with Wren the only witness.
Not about to wait around for the adults to plan their course of action, Wren sets out to rescue Tess herself, joined by Tyron, and apprentice magician, and later Connor, Tess’s 14-year-old uncle, who’s more than a bit of a later addition to the family, being only two years older than his neice. The basic story is fairly normal, but the characters, both adolescent and adult, are well fleshed out and interesting. It’s not as good or polished as Crown Duel, but is the beginning of a pretty solid followup (this is the first of a trilogy).
There are, however, two things that stand out to me. The first is this speech of Wren’s, when given the standard “you should go back home where it’s safe and let us boys handle things” line:
If there is anything more red-nosed, flap-eared, fungus-grown windbaggish than people who bundle other people out of the way with rotten scrummage about ‘keeping them safe,’ just like flea-bitten hoptoad Keepers, I hope I never see it. I’m leaving. And I hope you’ll be able to keep up, but don’t try because I don’t want to see you.
Now that? That is a magnificent flounce. And something more people in fiction could stand to hear. The thing is, less magnificent flounces along the same line will result in the text paying lip service to the flounce, but not really backing it up. Here, the text is “ok, being a little unreasonable here…” and then Wren is able to prove herself, but also suffers for going into a situation se wasn’t prepared for.
The second thing is that, throughout this, Tess is trying to save herself. Not token little misguided attempts doomed to failure, but genuine bids at freedom. Is she successful? No, but she tries, and she’s also able to participate in her own rescue.
PS-Is anyone else's update page looking weird?
Not about to wait around for the adults to plan their course of action, Wren sets out to rescue Tess herself, joined by Tyron, and apprentice magician, and later Connor, Tess’s 14-year-old uncle, who’s more than a bit of a later addition to the family, being only two years older than his neice. The basic story is fairly normal, but the characters, both adolescent and adult, are well fleshed out and interesting. It’s not as good or polished as Crown Duel, but is the beginning of a pretty solid followup (this is the first of a trilogy).
There are, however, two things that stand out to me. The first is this speech of Wren’s, when given the standard “you should go back home where it’s safe and let us boys handle things” line:
If there is anything more red-nosed, flap-eared, fungus-grown windbaggish than people who bundle other people out of the way with rotten scrummage about ‘keeping them safe,’ just like flea-bitten hoptoad Keepers, I hope I never see it. I’m leaving. And I hope you’ll be able to keep up, but don’t try because I don’t want to see you.
Now that? That is a magnificent flounce. And something more people in fiction could stand to hear. The thing is, less magnificent flounces along the same line will result in the text paying lip service to the flounce, but not really backing it up. Here, the text is “ok, being a little unreasonable here…” and then Wren is able to prove herself, but also suffers for going into a situation se wasn’t prepared for.
The second thing is that, throughout this, Tess is trying to save herself. Not token little misguided attempts doomed to failure, but genuine bids at freedom. Is she successful? No, but she tries, and she’s also able to participate in her own rescue.
PS-Is anyone else's update page looking weird?