Elske

 

This book had a tag from a local bookstore that closed a few years ago but I don't recall buying it so I may have grabbed it from the free library and forgot. Elske is the fourth book in a series but I would never have known that it read like a stand alone.

Wolfer born all Elske knows is fear and staying in her place but all that changes when her grandmother gives her a chance at a normal life. Fleeing the brutal Wolfters Elske makes her way to a northern town where she is thrust into servitude to survive. For some unknown reason all the men in the town are smitten with her and wish to wed or at least bed her. Not desiring the company of any man Elske holds out and is thus thrust into servitude for a disgruntled princess who claims she is a queen. 

For a young adult book the story started out extremely violent and I almost did not keep reading past chapter one. Sadly after that the story calmed down and was rather boring. No real action, Elske had no personality at all. She was a Mary Jane and did not really seem to care what happened to her just the people around her. I kept waiting for her to have independent thoughts which never really happened. The princess she served had more personality but was also boring. While the story was boring it did flow smoothly and I never got characters confused. I will not be seeking more of The Kingdom series or more work by Cynthia Voigt.