The kiddie lit quest continues with this delightful book. Countess Maliara and her brother swear to their dying father that they will protect their people against the rising demands of the king. This promise results in an ill-advised war, in which Meliara scampers all over kingdom come evading capture. That’s book one. In book two, the king has finally been overthrown and Meliara must overcome her wild ways and lack of education — and take her battles to court. And she realizes that a certain someone she thought was her enemy is actually her greatest fan. This was fun and entertaining, and if, for any reason at all, you need a present for a girl, this should be on your list.