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2547104,327 (3.54)12
Leith had been born under a curse, but when he found Valadan, a fabulous black stallion, he thought his luck and his life were about to change. He was only partly right. He wins the hand of a maiden who she doesn't want to be won. The maiden claims her missing mother is a witch and wants to look for her, not marry. And with Leith's help, she can. Perhaps when they finally find her, he can get rid of this curse. . . once and for all!… (more)
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Showing 1-5 of 6 (next | show all)
Reviews on the internet kept mentioning what a good book this was and how funny it was.So when I finally decided to buy from an used book site this was a given.

I was sorely disappointed though.

I am not sure wich humor the reviews were refering to,sure there is a lot of wording that makes you go "that was cleverly put" But still it doesnt make it humorous.

The world building was a bit sparsely described and I didnt connect with the characters.

I could have felt for more for the characters if they were a bit more wellrounded and I could have immersed myself more into the world if I had gotten to see more of it.

It all felt a bit thin.

Its not among the worst books Ive ever read its just that it was all a bit bland.

( )
  Litrvixen | Jun 23, 2022 |
I loved most of this book.

The writing is excellent. The characters, even the hateful Kess, are well-drawn; I couldn't hate Kess with such a passion if she hadn't been given life by the writing. The plot never does just what is expected, which is good, and the story as a whole is lovely, weaving fairy tale elements into a realistic and heart-felt tale. If only the female lead wasn't a sadist.

Longer version on my blog. ( )
  Stewartry | Jan 11, 2013 |
This is book one of the "Warhorse of Esdragon" series, which is a prelude (though written later) to "The Winter King's War", which introduces us to the fabled Valadan - the aforementioned warhorse of the Dukes of Esdragon.

Leith is a Prince of the Isles, but is self-styled Prince of Ill Luck, because disaster seems to continually follow him and afflict those around him. He unintentionally wins the hand of Kessalia - who is the daughter of the Duke of Esdragon, and who does not want to be won - riding Valadan. She would rather search for her father, the duke, and her mother, a witch, so Leith agrees to help her, in the hopes that the witch can lift his curse.

I like the way Susan Dexter writes. She makes you empathise with her heroes and heroines without pitying them, however bad their luck; you really want them to win, and you cheer for them when they do. Her descriptions are lyrical, and her plots do go in some delightfully unforeseen directions. And she does seem to know a lot about horses (as far as I can tell - since I don't) ( )
  humouress | May 5, 2010 |
Still Susan Dexter. If you look at this book and see a quote from Marion Zimmer Bradley saying how this is one of the most delightfully funny books she's ever read, ignore it; with all due respect to MZB, either she was thinking of another book or she had an odd sense of humor. It is funny, in spots; Dexter's writing has a dry tone, and she has a lovely way with words, but this isn't Terry Pratchett.

The Prince of Ill Luck is Leith, and is he ever. Born with mismatched eyes, he was taken as a demon by his father, who dropped him, stomped on him, and stabbed him (see what I mean about not being so funny as all that?). He lived, did Leith, but his life has been clouded by an apparent curse that brings ill luck, some small - like falls, scrapes, bruises for him - and some large - like earthquakes, fires, shipwrecks ... (Rip-snortingly funny!) It's aimed, I think, at young adults, so nothing too graphic happens, but "ill luck" is a bit of an understatement.

He's a good character, and if he's a bit meek and down-trodden, it's no wonder. ( )
  Aerlinn | Feb 2, 2007 |
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This book is for:

Mr. Richard Shaffer - the white knight unawares of my fourth-grade class, who picked up the pieces halfway through 1964.

Veronica Chapman - possibly and angel unawares, certainly an editor of taste and discernment.

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English Breakfast and Apricot teas, without which this book could not have been written.
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Long ago, ere wizards banded together to build their city of Kovelir on the bank of the River Est, ere ever the Maristan Kings landed as conquerors upon Calandra's shore, when what was to become the kingdom of Calandra was yet a quilt of petty kingdoms and threadbare principalities, her neighbor Esdragon was already a land united under hereditary dukes -- albeit a small and relatively poor land, bounded by sea and hills, with much that lay between untamable moorland, naught but bog and heather.
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Leith had been born under a curse, but when he found Valadan, a fabulous black stallion, he thought his luck and his life were about to change. He was only partly right. He wins the hand of a maiden who she doesn't want to be won. The maiden claims her missing mother is a witch and wants to look for her, not marry. And with Leith's help, she can. Perhaps when they finally find her, he can get rid of this curse. . . once and for all!

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