Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Source: Received to Review for blog Tour
Genre: Fantasy YA/Tween
Release Date: January 10. 2013
Book description: Tamora Pierce meets George R. R. Martin in this smart, political, medieval fantasy-thriller.
There is a new king on the throne of Tildor. Currents of political unrest sweep the country as two warring crime families seek power, angling to exploit the young Crown's inexperience. At the Academy of Tildor, the training ground for elite soldiers, Cadet Renee de Winter struggles to keep up with her male peers. But when her mentor, a notorious commander recalled from active duty to teach at the Academy, is kidnapped to fight in illegal gladiator games, Renee and her best friend Alec find themselves thrust into a world rife with crime, sorting through a maze of political intrigue, and struggling to resolve what they want, what is legal, and what is right.
Alex Lidell (www.alexlidell.com) was a finalist in the 2010 Amazon Breakthrough Novelist Award competition and lives in New Jersey. This is her first novel.
My thoughts: Renee is trying to compete with the boys in the academy. Her future as a servant to the crown is in jeopardy because she is not as physically strong as the boys. She is determined to succeed.
The laws in her kingdom are strict. Mages loose their freedom and basically become as slaves. What do you do when you find out someone that you know is a mage? This is a dilemma that Renee finds herself in. What is her loyalty to the crown? What if the crown is wrong?
This book is written in a style that reminds me of the books that I grew up reading. Epic adventures and fantasy were my go to books. I would have loved this book as a teenager. (I love it now too.)
I had a little confusion at the beginning trying to figure out the societal structure. It didn't take me long to catch on and get up to speed. Once I had it figured out, I found the writing to be smooth and interesting.
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About Alex: Alex Lidell is a YA fantasy writer and author of ABNA Finalist THE CADET OF TILDOR (Penguin, 2013). Although English is Alex’s primary language, it wasn’t her first. Coming from Russia, Alex learned english in elementary school and fell in love with reading when the school librarian put Tamora Pierce’s ALANNA into her hands. Years later, in college, it was another book that re-united Alex with russian, which she had shunned in adolescence. The Three Musketeers.* Alex thanks both books, and the writers who created them.
Beyond writing, Alex is also a photographer, a horseback rider, and a paramedic. The latter two go hand in hand more often than one would like. She is trying to self-teach herself and her horse to sword-fight.
Alex would love to see THE CADET OF TILDOR in the classroom and is working on developing teacher guides for the novel. She enjoys “e-meeting” both students and educators.
Follow the Tour: To see all the wonderful tour information and stops, go to this LINK.
Giveaway: Alex is offering a giveaway along with this blog tour. Here are the prizes!
$20 Amazon Gift Card, PLUS a copy of THE CADET OF TILDOR with swag – US
$20 Book Depository Gift Card – International
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I can't do all the entries cause my ipod is being SILLY! But seriously ... SO want to read this one! I have heard amazing things. and had it compared to Tamora Pierce books and those are FAVORITES of mine :) Can't wait to read! hope your giveaway/tour gets lot's of readers interested!
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