The Ring and the Crown by Melissa de la Cruz Series: The Ring and the Crown #1
Publisher: Disney Hyperion (2014)
Audiobook
{10 hours and 23 minutes} (284 pages)
Via: Library
Rating:
Also by this author: The Isle of the Lost
Reading Challenges: Read 2015
Synopsis
Princess Marie-Victoria, heir to the Lily Throne, and Aelwyn Myrddn, bastard daughter of the Mage of England, grew up together. But who will rule, and who will serve?
Quiet and gentle, Marie has never lived up to the ambitions of her mother, Queen Eleanor the Second, Supreme Ruler of the Franco-British Empire. With the help of her Head Merlin, Emrys, Eleanor has maintained her stranglehold on the world’s only source of magic. She rules the most powerful empire the world has ever seen.
But even with the aid of Emrys’ magic, Eleanor’s extended lifespan is nearing its end. The princess must marry and produce an heir or the Empire will be vulnerable to its greatest enemy, Prussia. The two kingdoms must unite to end the war, and the only solution is a match between Marie and Prince Leopold VII, heir to the Prussian throne. But Marie has always loved Gill, her childhood friend and soldier of the Queen’s Guard.
Together, Marie and Aelwyn, a powerful magician in her own right, come up with a plan. Aelwyn will take on Marie’s face, allowing the princess to escape with Gill and live the quiet life she’s always wanted. And Aelwyn will get what she’s always dreamed of–the chance to rule. But the court intrigue and hunger for power in Lenoran England run deeper than anyone could imagine. In the end, there is only rule that matters in Eleanor’s court: trust no one.
Find the book: Goodreads
My Review
This is an alternate history had magic truly existed and had England won the war against France in the 1400s. Emrys Myrddn is the Head Merlin of the Empire. Eleanor of Aquitaine is the Queen of the Franco-British Empire ruling from her castle in London.
Marie-Victoria is the princess and only heir of the Franco-British Empire. Her childhood best friend, Aelwyn Myrddn, is just returning from years of being away at Avalon. Aelwyn has always wanted the position Marie has. Marie has always wanted the freedom that Aelwyn has. It is a strange friendship they have. One will rule and one will serve.
Prince Leopold of Prussia is to marry Princess Marie-Victoria as part of the treaty that ended the Prussian war against the Franco-British empire. He doesn’t really remember Marie at all even though they had met as children. Before his engagement to Marie, Leo had been engaged to Isabelle of Valois. Isabelle is the daughter of the old French royal family before England won the war, the house of Valois and Orleans. However, she has no real position in the Franco-British court.
Wolf is the younger brother of Leopold and a prince of Prussia. As children, he and Marie were great friends. Wolf likes to do his own thing and has his own agenda. On a boat from New York to London, Wolf meets Ronan Astor. She is a penniless American heiress being sent to London to secure a rich husband to save her family’s fortunes.
Then there is Gill, Marie’s guard and friend. It is he to whom Marie gives her heart. Gill is willing to do anything for Marie.
In all, this novel has a lot of different storylines that all, in one way or another, are connected. This story is very interesting. I kept wanting to know what happened next as I was driving. It was a great audiobook for a long drive across the state.
Which Reading Challenges?
- You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge
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