She Serves the Realm
Lee Swanson
Medieval Historical
The epic saga of Christina Kohl continues in the fourth novel in the No Man is Her Master series, She Serves the Realm.
At the conclusion of Her Dangerous Journey Home, Christina Kohl learns of the death of Sir Edgar Baldewyne, the boorish and abusive husband of her beloved Lady Cecily. At last free to marry, Christina and Cecily lack only the permission of the king to fulfill their heart’s fondest desire. This seems only a modest hurdle, as they both enjoy his favor. But in the turbulent times of Edward II’s reign, he is much more concerned with making use of Christina’s considerable talents than in bringing happiness to her life.
In She Serves the Realm, Christina is torn from her merchant trade and the woman she loves to become an officer of the king. She is placed in ever-growing danger as civil war seems all but inevitable; the Lords Ordainers demanding the banishment of the Earl of Cornwall, King Edward just as adamant to retain Gaveston by his side. Complicating matters further is the always present peril of her disguise being discovered, revealing her not to be Sir Frederick Kohl, but in actuality a woman.
With her mentor and friend Herr Ziesolf no longer by her side, Christina finds herself devoid of her staunchest ally. But she is not left to fight alone; the irreverent Reiniken, erstwhile Jost, and noble Sir Giles join her on her adventures, as well as others both old and new to the readers of the series.
Can Christina succeed in the tasks King Edward sets before her, winning the right to claim Lady Cecily as her bride? And what of Piers Gaveston; can Christina somehow save him from his enemies, and even himself? Rein your palfrey beside Christina’s Pearl and join her as She Serves the Realm.
Uncaged Review: Secretly, Christina Kohl hides who she really is. On the outside, everyone knows her as Sir Frederick, a trader, merchant, and sometimes a knight when she is called or needed to be. Christina just wanted to be free of her stifling obligations to serve and marry her true love, Cecily. The king, though, always seems to have ulterior motives and agendas for his purpose, thereby keeping Christina from what she truly desires, to be with Cecily. Christina must do all of these tasks without complaint to finally get everything she wants. Yet there are many more, from a queen to even a nation, that stand in the way of this and could bring about Christina’s downfall and expose her true nature. Yet even though Christina had lost her faithful servant, many came to her aid, including Cecily.
What an amazing historical novel with some romance thrown in! That is just a fantastic read! The story follows a brilliant protagonist who is on her own odyssey of sorts because of a power-driven king. The tale is masterfully told and very intelligently written, with beautifully drawn-out characters that become a part of you too. So, it makes for such easy, quick reading that it is hard to even put the book down! The only sad part was that it had to end and be the final in the series, and I am not ready for it to end because I am curious to find out what will happen to everyone. The ending does seem a bit abrupt, but at least it ended happily despite the sorrowful feelings that it had to be over. Christina, or rather, Frederick, is extraordinary! Yes, she has to undergo feats that no man can handle. However, a woman who must keep her identity hidden manages to show her true strength and courage, which makes her not only relatable but extremely likable. Even Lady Cecily doesn’t take a back seat to Christina but is able to stand on her own. Mr. Lee Swanson has written another phenomenal book that is not only well worth reading but leaves me eager for more stories, no matter what they may be! Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst
4.5 Stars
