Court by Cat Patrick

Standalone? Rock Star Lit PR (Oct. 2014) NetGalley

For more than 400 years, a secret monarchy has survived and thrived within the borders of the US, hiding in plain sight as the state known as Wyoming. But when the king is shot and his seventeen-year-old son, Haakon McHale, is told he will take the throne, becoming the eleventh ruler of the Kingdom of Eurus, the community that's survived for centuries is pushed to the limit. Told through four perspectives, Court transplants us to a world that looks like ours, but isn't. Gwendolyn Rose, daughter of the Duke of Coal, is grudgingly betrothed to Haakon -- and just wants a way out. Alexander Oxendine, son of the Duke of Wind and Haakon's lifelong best friend, already grapples with external struggles when he's assigned to guard Haakon after the king dies. And commoner Mary Doyle finds whispers in the woods that may solve -- or destroy -- everything, depending on your bloodline. 

Money. Love. Power. Community. What's your motivation?

                                         

Okay, this book seriously needs to get more recognition. Why haven't more people read this, I don't know. But they better because I want a sequel and fast. 

Court centers around the idea that Wyoming is actually a secret kingdom in the U.S. and it has been one for hundreds of years. It even has its own king. Now how cool is that? This was such an original setting and concept. It all starts with Prince Haakon, who does not want to be king and then bang! his father gets shot right in front of him which means he'll be king in two months time. Before that can happen though he'll be married off to Gwendolyn at the age of seventeen.

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There are four POV's in this story and it works really well. Haakon, the soon to be king; Gwendolyn or Gwen, the soon to be married off queen; Alexander, the prince's best friend; and Mary, an ordinary citizen of Eurus. Their choices will impact the whole kingdom which has secrets of its own. New information about the kingdom and its people will arise and depending on how our four main characters receive it'll change the course of the kingdom and all the lives it's supposed to protect.

Haakon just does not want to become king especially since the change his father went through when he became king. His father turned into a harsh and distant person -perpetually disappointed in him. He is more of a rich kid who doesn't want any responsibility, but it's thrust upon him anyway and he must figure out what to do with it. Gwendolyn (Gwen) is actually pretty rebellious. She doesn't want to be queen or married off so young to someone she doesn't even know. She's determined to find her way out of it. Alexander is holding on to a secret of his own while also trying to keep his best friend out of trouble. Mary is an ordinary girl with great strength of character. She wears her heart on her sleeve even if her best and only friend Roarke doesn't notice her. All these characters stories come together to make one page turning read.

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From beginning to end, Court had me enamored. And towards the end things get real. I could never have believed the dramatic change in the storyline if I hadn't read it myself. This is my second Cat Patrick book and I'm continually impressed by her writing and imagination. This underappreciated book needs more attention because it has everything to make you keep reading and wanting more.

Thanks to NetGalley and Rock Star Lit PR for letting me read Court in exchange for an honest review!

What would you do if you were suddenly going to become a king or queen?