Allegiance
Author: Cayla Kluver
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: February 28, 2012
Pages: 490
Series: Legacy, book two
Source: e-galley from Netgalley for review
Warning! Spoilers for book one ahead!
About the Book: Only I saw Narian for who he truly was: a young man with courage and an independent mind, and made to pay for what was outside his control. He couldn’t help his past any more than he could help the way those intense, deep-blue eyes pierced me and held me captive.
An eighteen-year-old queen in love with the enemy as their countries pass the point of no return…
Bound to a man she cannot love, Queen Alera of Hytanica must forget Narian, the young man who holds her heart. For Narian is destined to conquer Hytanica at the behest of his master, the powerful magic-user known as the Overlord. Alera doesn’t truly believe Narian will fight against Hytanica-until Cokyrian troops attack with Narian commanding the charge.
Faced with the greatest betrayal a heart can know, Alera must set aside personal feelings and lead her kingdom through its darkest time. And when all hope, will and courage seem lost, she must find strength and remember that even the blackest night must have a dawn….
My Thoughts: Allegiance is a book I have been waiting a long time to read. I first read Legacy back in early 2010. When I finished the book I wanted more immediately. Two years later I finally got to see what happened next! And oh my! Now I need Sacrifice!
As we begin the prologue of Allegaince Narian (***dreamy sigh***) is back in The Overlord’s hands. The Overlord (Boo! Hiss!) has in his possession something to blackmail Narian in to doing his bidding. (Cue dramatic music!) And that is all we see of Narian until his story meets up with Alera’s again.
Chapter one begins with the pomp and circumstance of Steldor’s (another ***dreamy sigh***) coronation. Since Steldor and Alera are now married this is also Alera’s ascent to queen. I really enjoyed all of the descriptions this entailed. As a reader you really get a feel for the importance of the occasion. It also paints a detailed picture for the reader. Having this happen right away made it easier for me to picture later events without needing as much description. I found it very helpful.
As you can imagine (if you’ve read Legacy. If you haven’t I would just like to point out that I did warn you about spoilers!) Alera and Steldor’s marriage is not off to a fabulous start. Alera is still in love with Narian and so not in love with Steldor. Steldor is losing patience with her. Now they have the added stress of running the kingdom. This is not a recipe for success.
At the beginning of the book I was a bit frustrated with Alera. I understand that she did not want anything to do with Steldor and she didn’t feel ready to wed, much less be queen. Still, I really felt that she saw fault in everyone else but herself. She didn’t seem to think about her actions or take responsibility for them. As the book progresses Alera really grows and I came to like her a lot more. I was really glad to see this change. Alera is eighteen. So much has been thrown at her in such a short amount of time. To top it all off she is heartbroken. I can forgive her for being a bit self indulgent at the start!
I think London is still my favorite character. I really just love him. I was thrilled that we got to learn more about his past in Allegiance. He is such an interesting character.
Overall I really enjoyed Allegiance. I love the world that Cayla Kluver has created for us. The action and the heartbreak are both stepped up from Legacy. I honestly could not put the book down! I need you all to read it so I can discuss more without spoiling events in Allegiance!
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