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For Queen or Country Book Summary and Study Guide

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of For Queen or Country


Marcus, a teenager, has spent most of his life training with Sir Alexander Kenthal, who has become a father figure to him. He hopes that he can become a knight one day and be something more than what he has been. The book opens with Queen Constance commissioning Sir Kenthal to defeat a sorcerer who has in the recent past, wiped out an entire region of people, but has not been seen or heard of in years. Casting magic, though not magical items, in the realm of Coranthia is a crime punishable by death. Despite the risks of the mission and potential unanswered questions, Sir Kenthal, the ever-loyal knight that he is, obeys.   
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Before their quest can begin, Sir Kenthal seeks advice from an old witch. As the woman is a witch Sir Kenthal could labeled as a traitor by contacting her, however, years ago, the witch granted Sir Kenthal a magical sword that helped him become the legendary champion that he is. In this visit, the witch warns Sir Kenthal that this mission will be the end of him and proceeds to show an increasing interest in Marcus. Stubborn and loyal, Sir Kenthal brushes off the advice and is determined to complete the mission his Queen has granted him. The witch then insists on sending her apprentice Shyla, a young and very beautiful but mysterious girl. Though she is a few years older, Marcus is instantly intrigued with her.

Sir Kenthal, Marcus, Shyla and a group of mercenaries set out to find the sorcerer. Gerald, a loyal, virtuous and veteran solider, who had seen the damage the type of damage the sorcerer can cause first hand, is the most sceptical of the mission and does attempt to talk to Sir Kenthal about the dangers of the quest a few days into their journey only to be ignored and reprimanded by Sir Kenthal.

On their journey Marcus and Shyla become quick friends. Out of all the men in the group, Marcus is the only one that trusts Shyla. He is kind to her and with her nativity about the regular outside world. She tells him that magic can be taught to most individuals but some have better capabilities than others do. Years ago, the old witch brought Shyla to the sorcerer as a potential apprentice but he turned her away as he was not impressed with her abilities. Even with all of her years of study, she is nowhere near the skill level of the old witch or the sorcerer. The other men of the group, while enchanted with her beauty, know that she was a witch and were weary and suspicious of her.

As they neared the location of the sorcerer, one of the men betrays Sir Kenthal in his group in a vicious attack. With the assistance of Shyla, Marcus kills the perpetrator but not without losing a few of their men. Shyla, uses and enchantment to help with Marcus' strength and he kills his first man. After the battle, the men stop to regroup and consider the attack. Gerald, skeptical from the beginning begins to piece the puzzle together. Gerald figures out that Sir Kenthal and the Queen are lovers and that the Queen, in search for an heir, needed to get rid of her lover and champion so that she can marry. Gerald tries to explain that the Queen sent Sir Kenthal on suicide mission and that the man that betrayed them was sent to kill him before they reached the sorcerer. Sir Kenthal is outraged and calls Gerald treasonous. Gerald is sent back to the castle with some other mercenaries to be accountable for his alleged crime.

After Gerald is sent back, Sir Kenthal cools off and begins to consider what Gerald had said along with the witches warning of the quest. He begins to realize that Gerald may have been right. Heartbroken, he still decides to proceed with the quest, unable to face his Queen again. He calls Marcus in and tells him that he is the closest thing that he has ever had to a son and that he wanted him to have all of his land and property when he was gone.

The group make it to the area where the Shyla says the sorcerer is located. She warns that the sorcerer will play tricks with their minds and not believe what they see if anything appears out of sorts. Shortly after this warning on of the mercenaries falls to his death off a cliff after attempting to fight a perceived foe.

Making their way into a cave, they identify a man sitting idly in a chair as the sorcerer. After Sir Kenthal attempts to arrest him, they soon come to realize that this is another one of the sorcerer's tricks. The idle man dissolves and appears as a dragon. Shyla again, warns that they are not to believe what they see but the men begin to attack anyway. Marcus runs to help his master as the apparition tears Sir Kenthals shield in half. He screams to him that the dragon isn't real but Sir Kenthal is crazed. Shyla attempts to help the men by trying to track down the sorcerer only to be faced with more illusions. She is able to identify the real sorcerer and shouts for the men to attack. Sir Kenthal, badly wounded, is still trying to fight the perceived dragon and Marcus is trying to help him. Flinging himself in to the mouth of the dragon, Sir Kenthal collapses. The remaining men struggle with the sorcerer and after one of them dies to sorcerer is quick to take over his body to ravage the others. Marcus is tending to Sir Kenthal but the man, barely alive, is not himself anymore being under the influence of the sorcerer. He miraculously stands and Shyla can see into his thoughts that he is envisioning his hate for the Queen and his plans to head back to the castle. Sir Kenthal leaves the cave and Marcus attempts to follow him.

Shyla is captured by one of the mercenaries that is still alive because he believes that she cursed Marcus and has been wary of her since the star of the journey. He plans to take her back to the castle to have her executed.

Meanwhile, Sir Kenthal is full of thoughts of his time with the Queen and quickly makes his way back to the castle. He storms through the guards to imprison the Queen. make his way to the Queen.

Shyla is being uncomfortably dragged back to the castle by her captor, thankfully they encounter some Queen's guards along the way who are already aware of what Sir Kenthal has done and are out looking for the men he travelled with. Shyla uses this opportunity to cast a spell and escape.

Marcus, still trying to track down Sir Kenthal, finds his way to the old witch and with him his master's magical sword. Marcus curses the witch, saying that she knew that this was going to happen to Sir Kenthal and yet she did nothing. She explains that she did warn him and that things always come around full circle, as now, Marcus was here for her help. She begins to tell him that there was time when magic was common and that there was a great war between the arcane houses and the wars between these houses made magic practically extinct. In order to prevent their demise the sword was forged. The houses set aside all of their differences to create this weapon so that magic would not be lost and to safeguard their own legacy. The sword is destined and picks only one owner at a time, making the person who carries it ordained. She then explains that the responsibility that Sir Kenthal once had with the magical sword was now Marcus' and that it what has occurred up until this point has been fate and that he is the only one that can stop Sir Kenthal.

Marcus is frustrated; he does not want to be the carrier of the sword and disagrees with the scenarios that are playing out. He wants to prove the witch wrong but he knows that he has to stop Sir Kenthal. When he arrives at the castle he has to convince the guards that he is not traitorous and that he is here to deal with Sir Kenthal who is still keeping the Queen prisoner. Many guards have already died at Sir Kenthal's hand and they are not quick to believe him but eventually let him through.

Marcus eventually gazes on his old master and his zombie like body. He tries to reason with Sir Kenthal at first but the scenario quickly escalades as Sir Kenthal takes off the Queen's head and Marcus drawn into battle. Fighting with the magical sword, Marcus is able to bring Sir Kenthal down. The guards confront Marcus and initially accuse him of killing the Queen. He explains that Sir Kenthal and the Queen were lovers, why they were sent on a quest and what had just occurred. The guards reluctantly let him go and Marcus leaves the castle to head towards the land that Sir Kenthal had left him.

Left with grief and his thoughts, Marcus ponders his new situation and his destiny.
Best part of story, including ending: The story had likable characters. Some parts of the story were a little jumbled though as it looks like the author was trying to prepare for the next book in the series.

Best scene in story: The scene in which Marcus and Sir Kenthal are fighting the phantom dragon in the sorcerer's cave. It was exciting and action packed!

Opinion about the main character: Marcus starts off as a naive teenager and has to deal with a lot during his journey. He has to analyze who he is a grown as a man.

The review of this Book prepared by Danielle Roberts a Level 1 Blue Jay scholar

Chapter Analysis of For Queen or Country

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Plot & Themes

Composition of Book Descript. of chases or violence 30%planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives 30%Feelings, relationships, character bio/development 20%Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places 20% FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?    -   fantasy world/fantasy past Coming of age    -   Yes Youngster becomes    -   great warrior Is this an adult or child's book?    -   Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character

Identity:    -   Male Profession/status:    -   warrior/knight Age:    -   a teen

Setting

Earth setting:    -   during "Tolkien" (fairytime) times Takes place on Earth?    -   Yes

Writing Style

Accounts of torture and death?    -   generic/vague references to death/punishment Sex in book?    -   Yes What kind of sex:    -   vague references only    -   descript of kissing    -   descript of touching personal anatomy How much dialogue?    -   roughly even amounts of descript and dialog

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J.B. Markes Books Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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