The Cadet of Tildor

December 3, 2012
Lidell quietly emerges on the high fantasy market with her debut, which was a finalist for the 2010 Amazon Break-through Novelist Award. With a new king and an ongoing turf war between two moblike crime families, unrest is sweeping through the kingdom of Tildor. At the nation’s elite academy, 16-year-old cadet Renee de Winter is determined to serve Tildor as a soldier. As the only girl in the Combat Arts track, Renee struggles to meet the demands of her new instructor and idol, Commander Korish Savoy, and prove that she’s as strong as the boys. When Savoy’s younger brother is kidnapped, Renee, her friend Alec, and Savoy set out to rescue him, uncovering secrets both personal and political. Lidell packs a great deal into her story: the romantic tension between Renee and Savoy (which, due to their teacher-student dynamic, wavers between uncomfortable and enticing) vies for space with the impending civil war, powerful magic-wielding mages, a black market drug trade, and more. Although at times slow moving, it’s an intriguing story with a capable heroine. Ages 12–up. Agent: Leigh Feldman, Writers House.

December 15, 2012
A gripping debut embraces the trend toward gritty grimdark fantasy. Lady Renee de Winter has rejected her aristocratic upbringing to train at the elite Academy of Tildor. But Cadet de Winter's schoolwork is slipping, and despite constant practice, she cannot match her male classmates. When rival crime factions entangle her in their schemes, Renee must choose between every claim on her loyalty--family, friends, teachers, crown, even her own life--and the greater needs of Tildor. Workmanlike prose effectively grounds an energetic plot and solid worldbuilding in earthy descriptions and precise details. Every character is complex and multilayered, each with a story beyond just propping up the protagonist. Renee herself is a flawed but sympathetic heroine who capitalizes upon her strengths, learns from her (serious) mistakes and slowly evolves from her rigid judgmental inclination to appreciate ambiguity and nuance while never compromising her essential integrity. Hints of romance, thankfully, take second place to friendship, trust and duty, not to mention looming war and imminent death. No fairy-tale resolution here; rather a warts-and-all portrayal of believable characters struggling with realistic conflicts affecting every level of society. (Fantasy. 12 & up)

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February 1, 2013

Gr 8 Up-Cadet Renee de Winter is determined to become a Servant of the Crown. A student at the Academy of Tildor, she has sacrificed her relationship with her father to become a soldier-a sacrifice that might turn out to be useless unless she can figure out a way to keep up with her male classmates. The kingdom of Tildor needs all the help it can get. With a young king, two rival crime organizations, and a significant increase in kidnappings, Renee wants to complete her training and start active duty. Esteemed Servant Commander Korish Savoy is reassigned to teach at the Academy and takes a special interest in Renee-one that brings difficult but important training. When his younger brother is kidnapped, Savoy is kidnapped himself during his brother's rescue, presumably to be forced to fight in illegal gladiator games, and Renee must get him back-no matter what it takes. Lidell's debut novel gives readers an imperfect but admirably courageous, principled, and evolving heroine. Surrounding Renee are a diverse group of multidimensional supporting characters. The world she struggles through is filled with war, crime, and politics, intertwining to create a complex but intriguing plot. Fans of Tamora Pierce and Kristin Cashore should pick up Cadet-as should anyone looking for a fantasy that is, though sounding like an oxymoron, grounded in reality.Emily Chornomaz, Camden County Library System, NJ

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2013
Grades 7-10 Renee de Winter is fighting the fact that, as a senior cadet at the Academy of Tildor, she has a distinct disadvantage when it comes to combat; she'll never be as strong as the men in her class, and so her opportunity to escape her father's household and make a life as an elite Servant of the Crown is slipping through her fingers. Her best friend, Alec, is concealing a devastating secret that puts Renee in an impossible situation, caught between loyalty to her friend and betrayal of her sworn duty to the Crown. Lidell's debut novel is full of action and intrigue, kidnapping and heroism, spiced with a touch of fantasy and romance. This is a fully realized, highly detailed medieval world with a surprisingly nuanced and balanced cast of characters. Although Renee makes several questionable decisions, and struggles with her conscience and loyalty, she is a strong female character determined to do what's right in a world where no one is completely black or white.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)