Title: The White Stag
Author: Linden Flynn
Published: 29th August 2013
By: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Source: A free galley of this book was supplied by the
author
First line: The keep was not
burning down, but men were rushing about as if it were.
Last line: Spoiler! No can do!
Synopsis: Win and become the
King. Lose your armor, lose your life. A kingdom in chaos, and countless men
dead. When Cypress emerges from her village in the forest to seek her fate in
the outside lands, she doesn't bargain on becoming part of the realm's politics
with the Knight's Game. Twelve men were chosen for the Game, each with his own
symbol, and the last one standing becomes the next King. One man wears the
sigil of the white stag, an unearthly being from Cypress' own forest, that
draws her into a world she never dreamed of. But when Cypress comes face to
face with her spitting image, the father she never knew, she joins the Game to
ensure his tyranny will not become law, all while hiding a secret that could
get her killed - that she's a woman.
I love getting my hands on books
written by Indie authors and The White Stag is no exception! From the outset
Flynn begins to create a complex and well detailed world that instantly draws
you in, providing enough detail that you are able to perfectly picture every
scene and character.
It was nice to find a female
protagonist, in this case Cypress, who is truly kick-ass but who still retains
her own morals and opinions irrespective of those around her, particularly so given
that she resides in a male dominated world.
There are various points during the book where Cypress’s perspective in
certain situations begins to rub off on her male counterparts, but it’s
certainly not a one way street, indeed there are times where they in turn
affect the way that she thinks and this makes for an intriguing dynamic.
Interesting too to see how characters react to her differently depending on
whether they know her to be female or not, something which also becomes a
source of frustration for her at time.
It is I think something she handles pretty well and her reaction
certainly strikes a blow for the female protagonist.
As with all YA reads there is a
romance element but it was pleasantly understated and was certainly secondary
to the plotline. There are a range of
characters here that I really enjoyed reading about, particularly and whilst
some remain faithful in their relationships others change allegiances when you
least expect. The switching between
causes makes for a more unpredictable read, taking the plot away from the line
you expect it to take and it was great to find a book that actually kept me on
my toes instead of going through a box-ticking exercise.
The White Stag is the first
instalment of the Knight’s Game series, however, unlike a lot of YA series it
is a complete story within itself. That
said, the way that the book ends means that there are a plethora of stories for
Flynn to tell. I look forward to reading
them!
4/5 If you like the kind of world
that Maria V. Snyder creates then this book should sit very nicely on your
shelf! A fab start to an intriguing new series!
