The Decoy Princess

This is one of those books that gets better with every turn of the page. Although enjoyable to begin with, The Decoy Princess steadily became more intriguing the farther on I read. I was so wrapped up in the story that I simultaneously didn't want it to end, but couldn't wait to see how it concluded such that I had to force myself not to skip ahead. The Decoy Princess is about Tess, the unwitting apprentice to a man who rules the kingdom so adeptly that not even the King and Queen realize they are merely pawns in his game. Although she is raised believing she is the Crown Princess, Tess must quickly adjust to her new circumstances when a neigboring Prince, her betrothed, betrays them all and attemps to take over her kingdom. Tess spends the book on the run to save her own life, the real Princess's life and the lives of all the people in her Kingdom. Dawn Cook does an amazing job developing Tess from self absorbed girl to a strong and resilient player in a very large game of chess. The Decoy Princess is a continually surprising book and a thoroughly satisfying read. I definitely recommend it.

I didn't like this book at first. I've read all of the Truth books, and really enjoyed them. Just like "First Truth," "The Decoy Princess" is sort of a slow start. "The Decoy Princess" is a pretty easy read, and at first the storyline seems really simple and straightforward. If that was all there was to this book - beggar girl saving the kingdom - I would have listed it for sale shortly after finishing it. But then I got to around the middle of the book, where the author hits you with her surprise twist. And then I couldn't put the book down! Somewhere in the midst of the "I've heard this before" story the author comes up with this fascinating reason for why the main character is the way she is and was put in the situation she faces. It's great world-within-a-world building and was just one of the most creative elements I've read in awhile (and I read a lot!) I can't spoil it, as much as I'd like to, but for that element alone, I found "The Decoy Princess" worth reading and keeping. Plus, it will make the rest of the series really interesting. I can't wait for the sequel.

Well when i first started this book i was pretty skeptical.. but i kept reading. I was like what the heck how typical..Then i got further in it and i was like whoa this is so crazy!! This was one of those books that you start and you just can't put down!! I am so excited that the sequel is coming out so soon! This book is about a princes who thinks she will be getting married soon, however she is just a decoy for the real princes. She does learn however that she is an apprentice to her body guard for the "players" who really control the kingdoms. She plays cards, cheats, learns some of her talents with her apprenticeship, and is chased by scary guys who want to kill her. She meets the real princess her sister and helps install her as queen, this book is too awesome you should read it!!!

This is the first of Dawn Cook's books that I have read, and I was kind of cautious going into it. I was afraid it would be like all of the other "blah..." Fantasy books that are unoriginal and don't give the reader anything worth reading. No! This was nothing like that! The Decoy Princess was amazingly well-developed, and the plot kept me turning the pages! It was so hard to put down to go to sleep that I decided I needed to finish it before I turned the light out! Princess Contessa is a princess under a prophecy. This brought her into danger at an early age, and the Chancellor Kavenlow made sure that she would not fall prey to any assassin that would come her way. I really don't want to ruin the experience for any future readers, and that is what I would do if I told any more of the storyline. Of course, Contessa is actually a decoy princess (hence the title of the book), and she goes on a journey to "reclaim" her kingdom. It was a real find, and it will be one of the books that I keep in my library for a long time.

She grew up believing she was Princess Contessa of Costenopolie, but when her betrothed Prince Garrett, second son of the King of Misdev, arrives unannounced, her "parents" tell her the truth that she is not a royal only a foundling. They admit that their real daughter is safe in a monastery while Tess has grown up as the target of assassins. Garrett, coveting his own kingdom, kills Tess' parents and sends his men to assassinate the real princess and Chancellor Kavenlow, who has helped keep Tess safe all these years. Tess escapes to a tavern where she wins a stake at cards that she hopes to use towards warning Kavenlow whom she loves like a father and the real princess about the danger Garrett poses. One of the card players, Duncan is a cheat, but with no options, Tess teams up with him until Garrett's man Captain Jeck captures her with instructions to bring her back to the castle. She escapes and meets up with Duncan again. Together they warn Kavenlow; who confesses that he and Jeck are the real powers behind the thrones and that he raised Tess to be his apprencice. However before she can make any plans for the future, she and her allies must dispose preferably without killing Garrett. Dawn Cook is one of the brightest new stars in the fantasy genre. Her characters are believable which insures her otherworldly settings feel real too. There is plenty of action once Garrett sets in motion his devious plot, a touch of romance, and a ton of intrigue throughout the delightful THE DECOY PRINCESS. The feisty protagonist is determined to make her own decisions while doing what she believes is right for the people of Costenopolie. Readers will respect this fine woman while also anxiously waiting what happens next to the unroyal target. Harriet Klausner