Alison Quinn, Countess of Waxwold, is content with her bookish life—until she’s summoned to be a lady-in-waiting to the Queen of Tremontane’s mother for six months. Even the prospect of access to the Royal Library doesn’t seem enough to make up for her sacrifice, but Alison is prepared to do her service to the Crown. What she’s not prepared for is Prince Anthony North, Queen Zara’s playboy … brother, who’s accustomed to getting what he wants—including the Countess of Waxwold.
When the fallout from an unfortunate public encounter throws the two of them together, Alison has no interest in becoming the Prince’s next conquest. But as the weeks pass, Alison discovers there’s more to Anthony than she—or he—realized, and their dislike becomes friendship, and then something more—until disaster drives Alison away, swearing never to return.
Then Alison is summoned by the Queen again, this time to serve as Royal Librarian. A threat to Tremontane’s government, with her treasured Library at stake, draws Alison into the conflict…and into contact with Anthony once more. Can they work together to save the Royal Library and Tremontane? And can she open her heart to love again?
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This was such an unexpected treat! At its heart, Servant of the Crown is a historicalish fantasy romance in the vein of Court Duel. Add in old books and a heroine who loves them…and I was entirely hooked.
This entire series is fascinating fantasy – romance set in a world where magic and magicians are regarded with suspicion and fear.
I quite enjoyed reading this book. This book was not really what I expected it to be. There were a lot of things I liked like the romance between Alison and Anthony North, the brother of the Queen. It took me by surprise that this was the driving force of nearly the first half of this book, but I did like these two together. I liked it even more because Alison had a less than desirable first meeting with Anthony that turned her off of him. I thought this book was going to be all about the romance, but then the second half does a complete flip.
I know it feels like there are two separate stories happening in this book and maybe like the author didn’t know if she wanted this to be a romance or something else. I liked the second half a little less because because it is more political and a bit of a suspense. Alison’s character is more closed off, distrusting, and bitter. I didn’t like this about her at all and it made me dislike her. She was so determined to hold onto a grudge against Anthony and had multiple inner pep talks to remind herself to not like Anthony or forgive him. It was too much.
I did like this book for the most part though and enjoyed myself while reading. I just think this book shouldn’t feel like your reading two different books with the same characters. It needed to connect more easily and not feel like a total one eighty is happening. I will say I liked all the characters and Zara is definitely a force to be reckoned with. I might continue with this series.
Part romance, part palace politics, Melissa McShane’s Servant of the Crown (The Crown of Tremontane Book 1) is a fascinating and fun novel. Yes, it’s lead, Alison Quinn, Countess of Waxwold, becomes a lady-in-waiting to Queen Zara (a great character, by the way), and yes there’s a love-hate romance here between Alison and spoiled playboy Prince Anthony, but this novel is so much more as both Alison and Anthony grow over the course of the story in ways both unexpected and yet genuine, and that’s even ignoring there’s a huge plot-line political battle between Alison and a group of radical scholar-bureaucrats. Neat stuff. Neatly told and a total pleasure to read. But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review my husband from my hospital bed I could go on and on with praises – the book definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that the book is most definitely one to read, and it is easy to highly recommend. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.
This could have been an amazing read if it had been more than a romance. In the end, though, the plot and world building are secondary to the romance, and the book suffered as a result.
I enjoyed the twist of her being bookish and how much power is held by those who control literature and education. I liked the female character who although she was bookish had spirit and intelligence and ability to stand for what is right.
Ended up buying the whole series after reading this one!
I love reading well crafted stories of women who are becoming or are their authentic empowered selves.
This book was entertaining. It was not, as advertised, a true fantasy nor a romance but had elements of both. It is a well told story with some interesting characters. I enjoyed the strong female characters. I chose to read the other two books in the series because of interest in story.