On Fortune's Wheel
There are some who say that the Lady Fortune\ has a wheel, and all men are fixed upon it.\ The wheel turns, and the men rise, or fall,\ with the turning of the wheel.\ Birle has agreed to be wed to the huntsman Muir as an escape from the drudgery of life at her father's inn — but the moment she looks into the bellflower blue eyes of the man she comes upon stealing one of her father's boats, Birle knows she cannot marry Muir. Even after she discovers the mysterious stranger is Orien, a Lord...
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There are some who say that the Lady Fortune has a wheel, and all men are fixed upon it. The wheel turns, and the men rise, or fall, with the turning of the wheel. Birle has agreed to be wed to the huntsman Muir as an escape from the drudgery of life at her father's inn -- but the moment she looks into the bellflower blue eyes of the man she comes upon stealing one of her father's boats, Birle knows she cannot marry Muir. Even after she discovers the mysterious stranger is Orien, a Lord and as unreachable to an innkeeper's daughter as a star, Birle is determined to travel with him as far as he will allow. Their travels take Birle to a world far from home, a world where Lords may become slaves, where Princes rule by fear, and where Fortune's Wheel turns more swiftly and dangerously than Birle could have imagined. Newberry Medalist Cynthia Voigt's second novel of the Kingdom, set two generations later than Jackaroo, is a memorable combination of thrilling adventure and heart-stopping romance.Publishers WeeklyThe fourth and final title in Voigt's Kingdom cycle (begun with Jackaroo) is thrilling, from its dramatic opener to its stunning climax. Newcomers to the Kingdom books can read it with as much pleasure as fans of the entire series (and without ruining for themselves the surprises of those previous works). Set in an imaginary continent that resembles medieval Europe, the story begins in the brutal realm of the Wolfers, a ruthless people among whom 12-year-old Elske has been raised and, horrifyingly, chosen for a sacrificial death. How Elske escapes this fate is the first of many ingeniously plotted turns, reversals that depend on the heroine's intelligence and determination rather than coincidence or authorial sleight-of-hand. There is much to marvel at. Voigt demonstrates a remarkable breadth of imagination in dreaming up the customs of the various lands Elske moves through; e.g., a Scandinavian-type city builds a thriving economy by hosting biannual "courting winters" for young marriageable, wealthy foreigners. The cast also includes a princess wrongfully deprived of a throne (and willing to go to war to claim it) and a man worthy of Elske but chosen for one of the princess's sisters. The characterizations are as sharp and uncompromising as Voigt's readers have come to expect, and the narration never tips the author's hand. This spellbinding work continually challenges readers to keep up with its far-seeing, swift-thinking protagonist. Ages 12-up. (Oct.) FYI: The Vermeer masterpiece that appears on the jacket, Head of a Girl (a painting that also appears this season on the cover of the adult novel Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier), links Elske with the simultaneously reissued paperback of another novel in the Kingdom cycle, On Fortune's Wheel (S&S/ Aladdin, $5.50 -82957-4), the jacket of which features Vermeer's Woman Reading a Letter. Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.
Part 1The Innkeeper's DaughterPart 2The Philosopher's AmanuensisPart 3The Earl's Lady
\ Publishers Weekly\ - Publisher's Weekly\ Late one night 14-year-old Birle, the innkeeper's daughter, dives into the river in rash pursuit of a supposed thief, promptly falls in love with this runaway Lord of the Kingdom and embarks with him on a world-spanning adventure. Birle and her Lord are shipwrecked on a barren coast, rescued by pirates, sold into slavery and, after many other tribulations, narrowly escape and head for home. On Fortune's Wheel , set in the same imaginary world as Jackaroo , is a lush narrative woven from elements of classic fairy tales and legends. Newbery Medalist Voigt has provided enough plot for two or three tales, compelling characterizations, keen psychological insights and a surprising, deeply rewarding ending. This novel truly has something for everyone. Ages 11-up. Mar.\ \ \ \ \ Publishers Weekly\ - Publisher's Weekly\ The fourth and final title in Voigt's Kingdom cycle (begun with Jackaroo) is thrilling, from its dramatic opener to its stunning climax. Newcomers to the Kingdom books can read it with as much pleasure as fans of the entire series (and without ruining for themselves the surprises of those previous works). Set in an imaginary continent that resembles medieval Europe, the story begins in the brutal realm of the Wolfers, a ruthless people among whom 12-year-old Elske has been raised and, horrifyingly, chosen for a sacrificial death. How Elske escapes this fate is the first of many ingeniously plotted turns, reversals that depend on the heroine's intelligence and determination rather than coincidence or authorial sleight-of-hand. There is much to marvel at. Voigt demonstrates a remarkable breadth of imagination in dreaming up the customs of the various lands Elske moves through; e.g., a Scandinavian-type city builds a thriving economy by hosting biannual "courting winters" for young marriageable, wealthy foreigners. The cast also includes a princess wrongfully deprived of a throne (and willing to go to war to claim it) and a man worthy of Elske but chosen for one of the princess's sisters. The characterizations are as sharp and uncompromising as Voigt's readers have come to expect, and the narration never tips the author's hand. This spellbinding work continually challenges readers to keep up with its far-seeing, swift-thinking protagonist. Ages 12-up. (Oct.) FYI: The Vermeer masterpiece that appears on the jacket, Head of a Girl (a painting that also appears this season on the cover of the adult novel Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier), links Elske with the simultaneously reissued paperback of another novel in the Kingdom cycle, On Fortune's Wheel (S&S/ Aladdin, $5.50 -82957-4), the jacket of which features Vermeer's Woman Reading a Letter. Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.\ \ \ Children's Literature\ - Kathleen Karr\ Cynthia Voigt's writing has always been a class act, so it's a pleasure to see this reissue of her second book in "The Kingdom" series. Set in the same nebulous medieval world a generation or two after Jackaroo, the tale follows the adventures of Birle, the Innkeeper's daughter, as she unexpectedly takes flight to larger horizons in the company of a runaway nobleman. It's an adventure, a coming-of-age story, a poignant romance-and a realistic exploration of medieval feminism long before Karen Cushman-all wrapped up in one beautifully written package. May a whole new generation of readers become entranced. 1999 (orig.\ \ \ \ \ School Library JournalGr 6-10-- Two generations after Jackaroo Atheneum, 1985 takes place, another innkeeper's daughter finds herself outside the boundaries of her society. Like Lloyd Alexander, Voigt creates a setting in no known historical past, but with many medieval echoes. Birle, 14, tries to stop a boat thief and instead becomes his passenger as he flees downriver. The thief, however, is no ordinary man but Lord Orien, the next ruler of the Kingdom who is running away because he is convinced that he will be an ineffectual leader. The two become marooned on an island, and are then sold into service. Without Orien, Birle submits to her bad fortune, works hard, and befriends others held in thrall by one master or another. It is only when she acknowledges her desires and begins to work to achieve them that she is able to rescue a nearly dead Orien. Birle is a thoughtful heroine, Orien a worthy hero, and the sudden confusion both feel over the roles assigned to them is nicely resolved. Realizing that free will, at least in part, determines their future, both separately renounce the roles society has made for them to begin a life. Readers may wonder how Orien, Birle, and their baby will manage in the fierce anarchy of the southern cities, but at least they will be making their own way, not following the ways defined by ``fortune's wheel.'' This coming-of-age story at first moves slowly, but that makes the horror of enslavement even more dramatic. Voigt presents the horrors of slavery and despotic rule as seen through Birle's eyes, and readers are left with many powerful images of the consequences of acting dishonorably, weakly, selfishly, or thoughtlessly. --Susan Hepler, Arlington Public Library, VA\ \
