Hannah+L.

Do you like video games? Do you like medieval times? Get the best of both times in Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Velde! You won't be able to put the book down! Plot: Giannine Bellisario never asked for a gift certificate for her birthday but of course happy birthday to her and what did she get but a fifty dollar certificate for the local total emersion video game arcade. She is playing a medieval game and all of the sudden something goes horribly wrong! A voice says not to worry but a group all for keeping children safe had ruined the game systems and if she doesn't win soon her brain will fry, yet if she the arcade managers try to pull her out she could end up in a total vegetative state for the rest of her life. All the advice Giannine gets is don't forget the ring and Sister Mary Ursula and Kendrid don't work well together. Giannine is very upset how can she win if every time she turns someone is trying to stab her in the back. To make matters worse there is a dragon, rebels, other colonies, and traitors threatening her kingdom and her life. Will she make it? Read the book!

Characters: Giannine Bellisario: Giannine is a pretty spunky girl who plays the soon to become king in the game heir apparent when she gets a gift certificate for her birthday. She does not enjoy being underappreciated or underestimated and the book practically centers around her. I have to admit though she was not my favorite. Kendrid: Kendrid is the youngest son of Queen Adreanna he is very wise and isn't to sore about Giannine inheriting the throne although he would still like to eliminate her. Wulfgar: Wulfgar is stubborn, stubborn, stubborn and probably the smartest of all Queen Adreanna's children he has a big personality and I don't think the book would be able to go on without him. Abas: Abas was really full of himself and self-centered although he was strong he was really no the sharpest knife in the drawer. Like Wulfgar he was kind of middle of the road for me, I can't say I disliked him but I can't say he was my absolute favorite either. I got to say though he did teach me to think before I act. Queen Adreanna: Queen Adreanna is definitely stuck up and I didn't really like her but she added humor to the story. In fact the story without her would be like a comic book without the comics, she contributes a lot of trying to kill Giannine. Author Writing Style: If you like a smooth kind of flowing writing style this book is for you. Also don't you just hate the suspense when a book switches personalities; like you start the book off seeing the world through one person's eyes then all the sudden you get to a really good part and the author switches people on you? I know I just can't stand that so I really liked how she stuck with one person and did not switch! She doesn't make you want to put the book down in frustration.

Setting: Imagine yourself in a modern world yet in olden times too. In Heir Apparent you start out in a modern world and play a video game that transports you back to the olden times with kings and horse drawn carriages. (quite a contrast) Now both are not exactly in the era we are in the modern world is a little farther in the future and the olden times are way, way back in time.

Connections:
 * Do you like video games? The whole book is all about a virtual reality video game.
 * Ever wanted to be a king? See how hard being a king really is.

Science Topic:  This book is all about a video game where you can experience through all five senses what the character you are playing in the game is experiencing. If your character is feeling hungry you will experience hunger, the only thing you can't feel is extreme pain or a death stroke. (getting your head cut off, speared through the heart, etc.) I dearly hope this is something that we can invent in the future! Other Books by the Same Author:
 * Mordred
 * Stolen
 * Dragon's Bait
 * Companions of the Night
 * Cloaked in Red
 * Magic can be Murder
 * User Friendly
 * Never Trust a Dead Man
 * Curses, Inc. and other stories
 * Now you See it
 * Being Dead
 * and More

I totally recommend this to anyone who likes fantasy or just plain fiction. It is a great easy read and...  YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN!!!!!!! media type="custom" key="8005356" I liked this book! Will you?