The stirring sequel to Crown Duel finds young Meliara at the center of a deadly court intrigue. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Gr 6-9--In this sequel to Crown Duel (Harcourt, 1997), the teenage Countess Meliara finds herself compelled for political reasons to leave her small castle in county Tlanth to stay at the royal palace Athanarel in the capital city, Remalna. She is completely unprepared for court life, preferring to run barefoot over the hills rather than learning how to hold her fan correctly, but luckily her brother's new fiancee takes Meliara under her wing and teaches her the nuances of court etiquette. Mel soon finds herself swept up in a dizzying whirl of flirtation and political intrigue, and she remains confused about both until a plot to take over the throne brings many secrets to light. Court Duel stands well on its own, although readers will immediately want to go back and read the first book. Mel is a likable heroine who is constantly chastising herself for her ignorance and quick temper, and the other characters are fully realized and fascinating in their own right. There isn't much action until the very end, but readers will enjoy immersing themselves in the subtleties of courtly life and love.Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library Copyright 1998 Cahners Business Information, Inc. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Gr. 5-8. Different in setting, structure, and tone from Crown Duel (1997), the first volume of the Crown & Court Duet, this book begins with Meliara back at the home castle, reading a letter from a powerful courtier and trying to decide if the writer is friend or foe. When she travels to court, Meliara finds herself constantly trying to tell friends from enemies as she endeavors to learn the subtle language of the courtiers, who communicate in a language of gesture and intimation that is quite foreign to her native bluntness. Readers who loved Crown Duel for its strongly realized fantasy world, adventurous characters, and scenes of action may find the sequel disappointing. The character and voice of Meliara are as compelling as ever, and several others are intriguing as well; however, readers will find it difficult to maintain a high level of engagement, given the more static setting, the many details of courtly behavior, and the general lack of something happening. Still, libraries with readers for the first volume should offer the second as well, since Meliara's story is incomplete without it. (Reviewed March 1, 1998)0152016090Carolyn Phelan From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.