Reviews for Once a king

Horn Book
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

After the kingdom of Malam's purge of Channelers (women with magical abilities), Lirra's father disappears on a clandestine mission. As teenage Channeler Lirra tracks him down, she crosses paths with Malam's newly minted king, Aodren, as he struggles to lead Malam to recovery and reparation at an international joust. Highly detailed (and laboriously paced) intrigue and some romance ensue in this fantasy set in the world of Summerill's Clash of Kingdoms series. (c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.


Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Following Ever the Brave (2017), Lirra and Aodren unravel a country-destabilizing conspiracy.Every five years, the All Kingdoms' Summit gathers the various nations' rulers for diplomacy, commerce, a Tournament of Champions, and a Jubilee of Channeler magic. It's come to the kingdom of Shaerdan, and Malam's King Aodren needs a strong showing to prove his kingdom has overcome its trials and is recovering from the damage of Malam's Purge. Lirra has a message from her spymaster father (who's off on a mission; Lirra fears he'll miss her big debut in the Jubilee) for Aodren. The point of view alternates between the two of them (Britta is mentioned but doesn't appear). The action sequences generally cover the various events in the tournament and brawls that are frequently linked to a Channeler oil, Sanguine, a mysterious, popular supplement that some say is dangerous. Aodren, with help from Lirra, must learn the truth about whether the anti-Sanguine sentiment is old Malam anti-Channeler prejudice or if the oil really is dangerous (and will add more fuel to the anti-Channeler fire). While the Sanguine storyline is highly effective as a drug metaphor and the political maneuverings entertain, other story elementssuch as the romantic storyline and the party responsible for the troubleswon't bring any surprises. Characters have a range of skin and eye colors which are free of plot significance.Brain candy for fans of Summerill's worldbuilding. (Fantasy. 12-18) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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