Synopsis:
Sixteen year old Jeilin leaves the ordinary behind when she's inducted into the king's service as a horseback riding messenger. She expects a life of adventure and freedom, but those hopes are shattered after being captured by a foreign army.
Given the choice between death and conversion, she swears service to the enemy even though, in her heart, she remains loyal to her kingdom.
As Jeilin's youthful innocence crumbles, she wonders if the prince will still be fond of her; if she can even find a way to help place him back on his rightful throne.
Full of turmoil and sacrifice, The Messenger is a powerful tale of survival, bravery, and loyalty.
Review:
I didn't really know what to expect when I
started The Messenger. All I knew was the synopsis sounded intriguing and I
just had to read it, and I'm so glad I did!
Set in a fantasy world, Jeilin, from a very
young age, always wanted to be a Messenger, and to ride across the country
delivering messages, warrants and orders on behalf of the King. She sees a life
of excitement, challenges and adventures. A life that means an escape from
marriage, cooking and raising kids, as her mother thinks she should do. An
opportunity arises and soon she's competing with 200 other men for a chance to
join the Kings Messengers. After she wins she's paired up with the only other
female messenger and together they start Jeilins on-the-job training. Soon she
presents her first message to a young prince who catches her eye. But he also
sees her as more than just a farm girl. He sees a young woman who's brave,
strong and courageous.
Jeilin’s thoughts of Prince Raihnin are put
aside as another journey means another message has to be delivered. Only this
time it puts her in peril. A war that was not foreseen erupts after twelve
years of peace and Jeilin is in the middle of it and right where the most
danger is.
From the start of the adventure my
excitement grew. I couldn't put this book down. I just had to find out what
happened next. Jeilin's character also grows so much in this story. She's got
guts to start with, she clearly isn't a sissy girl but she's young and you can feel
her intimidation when she's in a group of men who laugh at her, such as the
tavern scene. She knows she's earned her place as a messenger but she's still a
little afraid or even naive about the true dangers of the job.
A character who I loved was Olwen, Jeilin's
older female trainer. She allows Jeilin to come into her own and make her own
decisions. She never offers unnecessary advice when it comes to matters of the
heart, especially when Prince Raihnin is concerned. She's experienced in her
work but knows when to keep quiet. And although initially I thought they
wouldn't get on I'm glad I was proved wrong.
But the real stars of the book are the
horses, especially Fringe. If you're a horsey person you'll love this and it’s
plainly clear that the author has a strong bond with horses. The descriptions
almost ensure you're able to smell the saddles, bridles and feel the horse’s
movements as you ride with Jeilin and Olwen across the plains.
The story sweeps over towns, cities,
kingdoms and near oceans. The harsh life of the Ryelnish soldiers really
affects Jeilin, not to mention the nasty tattoo she soon wears with shame. The
tension towards the end increases as war is at its most aggressive and I almost
held my breath in places such as Olwen and Cai being left behind, and Cai and
Jeilin heading back behind enemy lines for the final assault.
This is a stand alone book and certainly
one of the best I've read this year. And I'm absolutely sure I'll want to read
it again soon!
-CBx
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