Crown of the Realm is an action-packed epic fantasy with intriguing world mythology, witty dialogue, and likeable main characters in Kelin Miller and Derora Saxen. Derora, or Der, is feisty and has a knack for saying exactly the right thing to land herself in trouble. She also has enough skill and guts to get herself out of trouble, most of the time. Kelin’s wisdom and reserve balances her personality out well. The torture by the chemmen is realistic enough to be horrifying but Dalton avoids being overly graphic. However, although Kelin and Der have help during their initial recovery, I felt that they overcame this traumatic experience a little too easily. Epic battles and an awe-inspiring journey will sweep YA Fantasy readers up into an enthralling adventure in Crown of the Realm.
Reviewed for Reader's Favorite