A review by aeliad
The Trouble with Kings by Sherwood Smith

5.0

Princess Flian is a very austere, civilized princess. She knows the rules of- and her role within- the royal court. She knows that she will someday marry for the good of her country. She also knows that her kingdom’s vast wealth, and her rather large dowry are her most attractive features, as she is otherwise quite ordinary. So when she finds herself being pursued by two kings and a prince, she has no doubt about what they are after– it’s certainly not her heart. However, Flian finds herself embroiled in intrigue, and entangled in so many plots and counter-plots that she can hardly think straight.

This was a surprisingly subtle book in a lot of ways, and I found that I really enjoyed that. Flian grows, her relationships shift and change, and she learns. She goes from an object which is acted upon to a person who makes conscious decisions about what she will do. Flian is not the only character to grow; Jewel makes great progress from beginning to end, and though it is hard to say whether other characters change, or it is just Flian’s understanding of them which develops, there are not many static characters.

It wasn't a breathless, headlong rush, but I did find myself enjoying the read quite a bit. I loved the characters, and the world, and found myself drawn in by the plot. It was a fun read, one I'd suggest to quite a few of my friends.

~ If you'd like to read more of my opinions on this novel, please feel free to visit my blog: AeliaReads.