The Singer's Crown

by Elaine Isaak

Book Overview

What Price to Recapure the Kingdom? When his uncle murders his family to take over the kingdom, Prince Kattanan duRhys is the only survivor . . . at a terrible cost. Mutilated, he can no longer claim... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060782544
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: Harper Voyager
• Length: 512 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 1.0" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

Good World, Fun Read

I really enjoyed the world-building, and I thought this was a nicely done transformation of a weak-willed and passive character to someone who becomes a hero. I'll certainly be picking up the next book - I'm intrigued by the idea at the heart of it, the more so because I hope we get some hint of Kattan's fate, post-Singer's Crown.

Very Satisfying Read after slightly rough start

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters were complex and interesting, although at times a little bewildering. The world-building was good--there was a strong sense of a developed and unique culture and magic system. The prologue is intense and moving--beginning with a mother, a queen, trying to save her last child from the usurper of the throne... and failing. The first part of the tale seems like a second prologue where we see the child grown a bit, but still very much a child, lose yet another bit of stability in his life. It's an important scene in his development, yet it really isn't part of the main story, which truly begins when he meets the princess, Melisande. Both Kattanan/Rhys and Melisande seem very young and immature, even then. It's a little frustrating waiting for them to grow into themselves, but it's worth it. As the characters experience all the tumultuous events (evil and not so evil wizards, plots and machinations, betrayals and loyalty, death and destruction, friendship and love, forgiveness and revenge), I grew to like them more and more--even the "bad guys." I will definitely look forward to the next book.

Can't wait for her next book...

Music plays a major role in this book - the main character is a highly sought-after singer - and I like the way Isaak handles the music. Rather than try to write a collection of songs, I've never seen this done successfully (Writing stories does not make you a song writer), she focuses on the songs story and the emotion it triggers in the singer and his audience. It's as if the music is a living object - excellent. I found this book riveting, with lyrical prose, compelling characters, and a story that made it hard to put down. I can't wait for her next book.

An intriguing world

The author weaves a complex tapestry with this novel. There are depths of this world that make me want to dig deeper. The nature of the magic, and its hold on people ... don't ask! ... it wouldn't be wise. Her characters have a depth of texture. Prince Rhys - not your typical aggressive swash buckling hero - for reasons painful to consider - is drawn inexorably to fight to regain the family crown if not the family jewels. Surrounded by a rich suite of other characters - princesses, dukes, wizards and the lower echelons of society as well - pursuing their own agendas in shades of grey that provides a credibility often lost in fantasy. Not a children's book - a darker story path, with more twists and more reward, for this reader at least. I am looking forward to returning to this world! What's next?

Well done!

Stupendous! Clever, engaging characters made this a difficult book to put down... I was rooting for duRhys from the start!