The Seeds of Power was an interesting one for me. I enjoyed reading a book that has woman in power and the main character is older. The plants were also a nice take in a magic system. I also found that it was paced well.

What I liked in this book is the fact that it had many unexpected turns and twists! That really made this book that much more interesting! I am awaiting for next book by this author.

Elan is a mysterious crop that makes the country of Caldermor wealthy and Princess Christal of Larrochar's father would stop at nothing to learn the secrets of how to cultivate it, including using his own daughter as a bargaining chip. Princess Christal, the assistant to her aunt, the King's Cultivator, is happily unwed and an expert at plants, but even she has yet to crack the secret to cultivating elan.

On a visit to Larrochar, Prince Daire of Caldermor offers Princess Christal a marriage proposal that her family will not let her refuse. Nicknamed the Pointless Princeling, Prince Daire is the last person that Christal would want to marry, unlike Kiran Randsen, the prince's bodyguard, who she trusts.

The Seeds of Power is the first book in the Elan Intrigues fantasy romance series. It's well-written, thoughtfully executed, and perfectly set up. I would have liked more romance, but now that I know it's the first in a series, I cannot wait to read the next installment.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced read copy! #netgalley #theseedsofpower

I loved the twists and turns and the interesting way the author moved things toward a resolution. The book was well-paced, the characters were likable and the story held my interest.

What an enjoyable read! It has magic, suspense, betrayal, greed and the start of a rather beautiful relationship, not forgetting it seriously ticks some major boxes.
I loved the world that Jilly has created and shared. I look forward to more!

Review excerpted from my blog post over at FanSciHist (https://fanscihist.wordpress.com/2020/01/04/the-seeds-of-power-by-jilly-wood/)

My Rating: 4 stars

Library recommendation: Recommended for public library paranormal and/or fantasy romance collections.

Warning: Hereafter, you chance spoilers. I will try never to reveal major plot points, but to review any book, you must reveal some parts of the story.


______________


Number of titles I have read by this author: 1

Love story speed: Slow burn

Relationship dynamics: The Princess Pawn (h) / The Captain of the Guard (H)

Sexual content: A smidge; “off-screen”. Kissing “on-screen”, some very mild mentions of nudity.

Triggers: Misogynistic society; PTSD of supporting character; vague recounting of spousal murder witnessed by a child

Grammar/Editing: Aside from a couple of minor typos, this was a clean ARC.

Review: This quick-paced novel is set in a fantasy world with several kingdoms, two of which are featured in this installment, with others being briefly alluded to. There are no sweeping descriptions of the landscape in this book. Things are described as needed, and some locales are better developed than others. This is likely to expand, given that this is book one in the series. The nature of magic is minimally described (natural magic), but this is a major plot arc, so I imagine that more information will be revealed in subsequent installments.

Christal is a fiercely intelligent woman and skilled strategist. She also wants more in life than her society allows. Kiran is her match in both and, more than that, respects Christal for being herself. Their relationship is professional throughout most of the book – in fact, almost all of the romance occurs very late in the novel, and don’t expect the “L” word. That being said, they are still suited to one another and I looked forward to seeing where the next novel takes them. The supporting characters are developed in a “high fantasy lite” manner. That is, much of the development is “in the now” and there isn’t as much backstory as you would be lead to expect from most fantasy. Even so, Daire is an interesting fellow, and his mother, Princess Irmine, is a formidable villain.

Bean version: Its steady growth and guaranteed crop will make this bean a popular variety, even among timid gardeners.



Full disclosure: I received a free advance review copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Good fantasy book. I liked that the Princess was a strong character and knew what she wanted and that she wasn’t going to be pushed around. I especially liked that she was older. Nowadays you barely find main female characters older than 20!

An interesting read with a strong female lead, nice change from a lot of other ya fantasy around lately. (Shame about end actions of MC but I’ll let it go ) but interesting plot, good characters, great writing, definitely looking forward to more from this author

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

A very well written book filled with intruige and scheming!

The world Jilly Wood builds up is captivating and interesting, we get to explore the customs and way of Life of two different countries, Larrochar and Caldermor. We experience the story from two different points of view, Princess Christal and Captain Randsen. The author manages to let the personalities of both character shine through in the way the story is told between them, and as I read the book I felt both Christal's desperation for freedom and Randsen's sense of honour.

The book is a classic fantasy knight love-story, with a twist. Christal lives on her own terms and is determined not to be bought or sold as chattle. She is opposed any marriage since she lost her sister to domestic abuse. While she's racing against the clock, since her father is determined to marry her to Prince Daire of Caldermore, she tries to uncover the secret of the magic bean called Elan - which is the main export of Caldermore.

Instead of putting love at the centre of the story, Jilly Wood creates a strong willed heroine who is neither afraid of getting her hands dirty or to live out her days without a husband. The book is a fresh breeze, and I cannot wait to read the sequel!

Ok, I was wary when I found out the MC was called Christal and was a princess. Generally that sort of name and status means there’s going to be a lot of unimaginatively delivered fantasy tropes. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that this princess is a horticulturist, an intellectual and twenty-eight years old. It certainly beats the teen princess forced into a marriage thing we see so much of. Christal has a strong sense of duty and even though she’s opposed to marriage, she will marry if it will save her people. However, she is cunning enough to think of alternatives. There’s a lot to like about her. My gripes are minor but I wish there hadn’t been quite so much ‘not like the other girls’ going on. (If you write fantasy with a female lead, make sure there are plenty of other female characters or that the only other character of note is not a cliché cold hearted bitch villain.) I would also have preferred that the MC’s arc didn’t end with marriage, or at least that we were more prepared for it. This is probably more a personal bugbear and admittedly I just keep seeing ‘MC gets married’ by so many authors of late that it’s driving me a bit nuts. Overall this was a great fantasy novel with engaging characters and a strong but light hearted plot.

This novel was an interesting read. The story alternates in third person between Princess Christal of Larrochar and Captain Kiran Randsen. Christal is rather independent for a women, intelligent, and cunning. She uses those to avoid marriage and cultivate plants. She is curious about elan and how it is grown, for all her research has not lead to fruitful results. Kiran is a soldier, whom is loyal and honorable. He is immediately intrigued by Christal, but she is a princess. Kiran serves as a liaison between Christal and Prince Daire of Caldermor, whom she is supposed to become betrothed to so her father can get more elan. Christal will do whatever she can to protect those she loves, even marriage, but Christal is cunning and proposes alternative ideas. Christal's own inquisitiveness will lead her down a dangerous path and create an enemy who desires her knowledge and talent. Christal will have to put her trust in Kiran before she is forced to take drastic measures to secure her own freedom.

Her unique skills keep her safe. Until her greatest strength becomes her fatal weakness.

Princess Christal of Larrochar learned long ago that to marry was to risk her life. At twenty-eight she’s resolutely unwed, trusted assistant to the King’s Cultivator and an expert in rare plants.

Then, to her horror, she receives a marriage proposal she can’t refuse. All Prince Daire of Caldermor cares about is elan—the mysterious golden beans that bring his family untold wealth and power. If Daire wants Christal, elan must be at the root of his interest.

Christal’s father would sacrifice her to discover elan’s secrets. The Calderrans would kill to keep them secure. To save herself Christal will need every kernel of knowledge she’s ever gleaned. And the support of Kiran Randsen, elite soldier turned Calderran bodyguard, who may be something even rarer than elan—a man she’d trust with her life.

My review :

When trapped, A princess must decide how far and what is worth to fight for ....

This is not my usual read as it is not a classic historical romance, this debut novel by Mrs Jilly Brook is a fantasy tale with a bit of romance and plenty of intrigue.
It is no love triangle but it turns around three persons, Christal the princess who refuses to wed, Kiran the soldier who becomes her champion and Daire, the prince following his mother’s orders.
This trio will meet their epiphany and make choice that will alter their life and those around them.
It is a play of the political game of power and who hold it and for what purpose, and how far some will go for it.
While Kiran, a farmer’s son turned soldier navigates those murky waters, and must decide where lies his loyalty even if it may cost him everything, Christal and Daire were born in this world. He is pure soul, with a vision, and no greed power person will make him change his course.
Christal is no shrinking violet, she will protect those under her care, but also manage an escape road, and if she must, she goes to battle head held high ready to the worst but never to bend her will. When cornered, she is like an animal, ready to sever a limb if it might free her.
Daire is younger, and still under the yoke IG the tyrant is his mother, but with Kiran and Christal, he will find his inner strength to face his duties and embrace them.

Even without shredding a drop of blood, it is a war story as many wills clash, and alliances are made. But war is nothing without love, why amidst the many intrigues, sweet feelings arise when fairness is tested.
Now I want to learn more about Daire’s kingdom origins of power, the Elan.

5 stars

I was granted an advance copy by the author through Netgalley, I purchased my own too.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.