THE POISON THRONE

TITLE: THE POISON THRONE
AUTHOR: CELINE KIERNAN
Pages: 368
Date: 11/09/2008
Grade: 4.5
Details: no. 1 The Moorehawke Trilogy
YA / ARC
Borrowed from author.

Celine Kiernan is a member of my library in Bailieborough and has written a most wonderful novel.
The story is set in a fantasy version of 14th century Europe and centers around 15 year old Wynter Moorehawk, apprentice carpenter and daughter of Lorcan Moorehawk, Lord Protector and close friend of King Jonathan.
When Wynter and her father return to the kingdom and the royal courts they find a changed world to the one they left five years earlier. Gone is the tolerant and multi-cultural society they knew, to be replaced by one ruled by Jonathan, the once tolerant king, through fear and oppression.
The king has exiled the crown prince, Alberon and is forcing Razi, his bastard son into that role, much against the young man's wishes.
With Alberon and Razi both having been friends of Wynter all their lives, the turmoil is very close to her heart.
But with Jonathan becoming ever more paranoid and oppressive, Razi, his mysterious and charming friend Christopher and Wynter are in real danger of becoming pawns in a political game that might easily kill them.
This book was thrilling, full of realistic details and characters.
As Tara (my 14 year old daughter) said, the only problem with reading an ARC this good is that the wait for part two is even longer then usual.