Court
Holy moly. My mind is blown. Will post full review after I take some time to recoup and formulate my thoughts on this WONDERFUL read.I have to say, right off the bat, that YA novels are not usually my thing. They have to be of very high caliber for me to enjoy them and give them a good rating. Think Harry Potter. Think Hunger Games. Think Hush Hush.
Court is of very high caliber.
In a nutshell: Wyoming is not Wyoming as we, the rest of the United States (referred to as “the Democracy” in the book) perceive it to be. Wyoming is a kingdom. There is a king. There is a queen. There are class systems. If one wishes to leave the kingdom and enter the Democracy, you must pay a tax in order to do so; and only the most wealthy of families can do this. Five families are considered to be in “control” of the kingdom, each of which powers something that is necessary. Coal. Oil. Natural Gas. Wind. Tourism.
When the king is killed, his 17 year old son Haakon is told that he must become the king, and that he must marry 17 year old Gwen. However, each of them have been living what they think are secret lives and want something different for themselves. The powers that be have their own plans, and manipulate these teenagers, including friends, in order to get what they want.
First, this book is very well written. You immediately feel badly for Haakon. He’s 17. He wants to be a teenager and is not ready to be king. You feel badly for Gwen, who yearns for freedom outside of Wyoming. Not only are these two characters fascinating, you have assorted supporting characters that you grow to like immensely, some that you grow to hate. Some of them make you want to reach through your Kindle and shake the snot out of them because they are just mean and evil.
I was drawn into this book and simply could not put it down. It is so unique, so entertaining…it is simply unlike anything I have read in years. And that is a compliment. I was brought to tears more than once.
If you are a reading fan and enjoy a good story, you MUST read this book. It doesn’t matter if you think you are more of a fan of mystery, more of a fan of romances, more of a paranormal fan. This book is simply a must read, pure and simple, for those who want to be entertained and taken somewhere outside of the norm. The year has been a wonderful year for me in book reading; each time I read a book and think I have found the best book of the year…I read yet another story such as Court and feel I have yet again found the best book of the year.
My hope is that we get a follow up to this story. It ends in a way that a reader can be satisfied with; you still have questions but maybe, you aren’t meant to get the answers. Here is hoping that Cat Patrick continues and feels we are worthy.
5 out of 5 stars. I wish I could give it 10.
