The Cadet of Tildor
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. Grades 7-10, --Charli Osborne