book_nut's review
I wanted to like this. But halfway through, I bailed. It just wasn't doing it for me.
elmmom02's review
2.0
I really wanted to like this and there were elements I loved. However, there wasn't a lot going on to justify how long the book was.
annaswan's review
4.0
A very good example of its type. If you like stories about young people learning specialized skills, particularly the MilSF sub-genre and related, you’ll like this.
rlou's review
5.0
Sherwood Smith is underrated as an author. This book was a pleasure to read, with or without prior knowledge of Crown Duel. It sets the story, it keeps you wanting more.
More than that, it holds core values and lessons that reverberate through any genre: morality, friendship, hardship, and so much more.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a book to learn from and a series to go back to over and over again.
More than that, it holds core values and lessons that reverberate through any genre: morality, friendship, hardship, and so much more.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a book to learn from and a series to go back to over and over again.
kwugirl's review
3.0
I had low expectations for this, as a prequel to [b:Crown Duel|596307|Crown Duel (Crown & Court, #1)|Sherwood Smith|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328047915s/596307.jpg|28162970], but it was actually quite well done and full of details. If you were ever like, I would happily read good fanfic about [b:North and South|156538|North and South|Elizabeth Gaskell|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1349633381s/156538.jpg|1016482] Mr. Thornton becoming Mr. Thornton, then you'll definitely like this, plus it's canon!
waclements7's review
5.0
I really enjoyed reading about the early life of Vidranic, as he spent time in the academy in Marloven-Hess. I don't want to put in any spoilers, but I really liked the double entendre on the title: he's both a stranger in a foreign land in an academy where the customs and _everything_ are completely strange to him, and he's also completely foreign to the idea of command, which is gradually built up in him as he realizes what might be necessary from him in the future. I love the interactions between him and Senrid. The secondary characters are wonderful, and this book started me thinking about how fantastic Sherwood Smith is at world-building. I just accepted it without really thinking about it in her other books that I've read, because she does it so well that I've just accepted everything effortlessly. But as I've read more, all books set in different parts of the same continent, I've started thinking about it more, and having this book set in Marloven-Hess, for the most part, really made me realize what a master she is at it. It's made me start to re-evaluate the way I approach the concept of world-building in a way I never really have before, even after hearing and reading authors talk about it constantly. Here, just seeing the difference and reading how Vidranic and the Marlovens had so much to overcome and still quite didn't understand each other all the time was really skillfully done, and made me think back to the settings of the other books of hers I've read with a greater appreciated for the differences of the countries they're set in. They're all mentioned in passing, so familiar names come up, but it's taken me this long, and reading a bunch at once, for it to click that they're on the same map. I know that might sound silly, I feel silly it took me so long to notice. I think it's a better lesson than being told how to do something, though; actually reading it being used so proficiently is really helpful.
jeswil62's review against another edition
2.0
This was a reread from years ago. I enjoy Sherwood Smith's world (especially in Inda, Fox, and obvious Crown Duel). However, the reread did not hold up over the years. I found myself bored, skimming, and frustrated with the too long book, boring events, and abrupt character changes. I believe this mostly had to do with the book being geared towards a younger audience.
elisenic's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0