The Beggar Queen -Lloyd Alexander

by Tristi Pinkston | More from this Blogger

16 Jun 2007 06:31 PM

Finishing up the "Westmark" trilogy is "The Beggar Queen." For the last two years, Theo has been acting as Queen Augusta's consul, wishing they could go back to the days when she was just Mickle and they could be together. As her consul, they can't get married until his term of service is over. But things are about to get even more treacherous - Cabbarus is planning his return to power in Westmark, acting in concert with Duke Conrad of Regia. Together the two men have plotted the death of King Constantine, but the young king figured out the plot and took the life of the duke instead.

This wasn't enough to stop Cabbarus. Even more determined than ever to wreak his revenge on Queen Augusta, he rallies his armies and marches into Westmark, taking over the capital city of Marianstat and establishing a directorate. Queen Augusta is placed under arrest, but she manages to escape and flee to the more humble part of town, where she gathers together her supporters. Calling on help from the pickpockets and thieves of the town, she establishes a spy network and starts planning her revenge.

Meanwhile, Justin has rebelled against Florian and is raising an army of his own. When Florian is badly wounded and goes to Regia to take refuge with King Constantine, Justin takes advantage of his absence and comes against Marianstat, determined to pull Cabbarus down himself. Theo finds himself in the middle, loyal to Florian and yet having to placate Justin to keep more harm than good from being done. Friends are being killed, but for what? Will they succeed in bringing Cabbarus down, or will he win in the end? And will Theo and Mickle both survive and be able to get married?

Lloyd Alexander brings this trilogy to a close with a bang. While I didn't enjoy it as much as "The Prydain Chronicles," I did find it entertaining, and I recommend it highly for your young adult reader.

(This book was published in 1984 by Dell.)

Related Blogs:

Westmark

The Kestrel

The Chronicles of Prydain

Learn more about Tristi Pinkston

I've been a blogger for Families.com since August of 2006.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger