Crown Duel

This particular edition combines two of Sherwood Smith's books, Crown Duel and Court Duel. It is almost difficult to write a review of both of them as they have completely different plots.

In the first, Meliara and her brother Bran promise their dying father (a count) that they will protect their land, Tlanth, from the greed of King Galdran and this promise sends them into war. Meliara does not know who to trust in the web of informers and courtiers and finds herself at rather infuriating odds with a certain Marquis Vidanric.

In the second after the resolution of the war, Meliara is summoned to court which she finds even more dangerous than battle. Both stories are wonderful and the second one especially appealed to my love of a good love story.