 | Name: Elske Appearance: dark hair, grey eyes Talents: clever and a fast thinker, knows two languages Story: When Elske is chosen for a terrible fate, her grandmother takes her place to save her life and sends her away toward the merchant road. There she meets three friendly travelers, a man and his sons, who let her travel with them to their home. Elske get jobs as a servant, and while she works she learns the unfamiliar ways and words of these new people. She begins to learn the meaning of the word 'friend.' The city welcomes Adels and Adelinnes every other winter, rich young men and women in search of wifes and husbands. Eventually, Elske is assigned to be the maidservant of a fiesty Adelinne, a girl who has been very hard to deal with, the very same girl who two years earlier had refused to go belowdecks during a storm, declaring herself a queen and helping the sailors. Though most disagree with this young woman's ways - for who would want to marry such a bold girl? - Elske is a little excited to meet this brave Adelinne. In Beriel, Elske finds her first real friend, a friend with a kingdom to save. After being dissapointed by a handful of books, this story was a breath of fresh air. It is told beautifully, with very believable places and characters and an exciting storyline. Cynthia Voigt has written plenty of other books, including two other Novels of the Kingdom. |
