Tough Traveling: Missing Heirs
The Thursday feature “Tough Traveling” is the brainchild of Nathan ofReview Barn, who has come up with the excellent idea of making a new list each week based on the most common tropes in fantasy, as seen in The Tough Guide to Fantasyland by Diana Wynn Jones. Nathan has invited anyone who is interested to come play along, so be sure to check out the first link for more information.
This week’s tour topic is: Missing Heirs
MISSING HEIRS occur with great frequency. At any given time, half the countries in Fantasyland will have mislaid their crown princess/prince.
Mogsy’s Picks:
The challenge this week wasn’t so much about coming up with an actual list, but it was with writing up my descriptions for some of these books without revealing any spoilers.
The Falcon Throne by Karen Miller
I’m okay to reveal this, since it’s part of the main set up for the story. In the kingdom of Clemen, tyrannical Duke Harald is brought down by his traitorous bastard-born cousin. Believed to be among the casualties is Harald’s infant son and heir Liam, but in fact the baby was whisked away to safety by his nursemaid, who intends to raise the boy in secret until he is old enough to take back his stolen throne.
Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
Going to be hard to talk about this book without getting into spoiler territory over here. Suffice to say, if you’ve read this far (its book three of the series) you would have discovered that a lost princess is finally found and revealed.
The Midnight Queen by Sylvia Izzo Hunter
At the heart of this book is a romance, so I can’t say it has the most original story line. You can sort of see it coming a mile away, but the gist of it is this: a lost princess, a prophecy foretelling the return of “The Royal One”, and the pivotal role this lost heir will play in the fate of a kingdom.
Traitor’s Blade by Sebastien de Castell
Another one I can’t say much about without revealing key plot points in the story, but all I’ll say is this is an awesome book about a man in a Greatcoat embroiled in a royal conspiracy who goes above and beyond his duties to fulfill a promise to his murdered king.
Heir of Novron by Michael J. Sullivan
My lips are going to remain sealed on the actual details, but the title says it all. In the last book of this series, a missing heir is revealed. Let’s just say there’s a good reason why these books are called the Riyria Revelations. The final installment blew my mind, with all the clues planted like seeds all over the previous books finally all coming into full bloom.
A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin
Okay, I’m running out of ways to be subtle and vague. A lost heir long thought to be gone is revealed in this, that’s all I’ll say! The question I’m pondering is whether or not he or she is truly who they claim to be. I share doubts with a certain character, but my gut feeling is that it’s legit. But then, we all know GRRM and his ways…
The BiblioSanctum 
I don’t think that R+L=J is in any way, shape, or form a spoiler for ASOIAF at this point. That theory has been discussed to absolute death.
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LOL, I wasn’t talking about that one! For the purpose of this list I was actually thinking of a particular blue-haired someone, if you’ve read ADwD.
But yes, GRRM himself has right out 90% confirmed R+L=J.
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I thought Maas was too easy to figure out in the book
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Yeah, it was pretty obvious. Not surprising, for YA.
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I haven’t read any but I have the Maas books, I really need to get into them!
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This week’s topic is tricky, not in finding titles that fit, but in describing the characters involved in non-spoilery ways. I only have one: Lissa Dragomir, princess of the Moroi, from Vampire Academy. I haven’t read the books, and probably never will, but I did watch the movie just to see what all of the fuss was about.
Carmel @ Rabid Reads
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Tell me about it! The hard part was trying not to give away too many details 🙂
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Great list. I immediately picked up on Martin as well, but completely missed de Castell. Also, in my defense, I’m a bit behind with Sullivan’s saga, so maybe next time. 🙂
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Martin’s latest was probably the first one that came to mind for me 🙂
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Wonderful list as always. Makes me wish I was a missing heir so someone would come try to rescue me. ; )
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You wouldn’t need anyone to rescue you, you’ll be doing the rescuing 😉
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All of these are on my wishlist but I’ve only read Song of Ice and Fire. I think she/he’s legit, but like most characters in these books, doomed.
Good job not giving away spoilers. This was a hard topic not to.
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Oh, I’m with you 100% there. They’re all doomed!
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I’ve only read the first Martin book so I’m lost with all these discussions – I need to pick the series back up. Still haven’t read Castell or Sullivan – how bad is that – I’ve owned those books for ages. I’m hoping that I’ll catch up over Christmas. Just chill and read.
I totally wimped out and didn’t give any descriptions – much better that you actually did so but I would undoubtedly have given away spoilers!
Lynn 😀
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Eep, put de Castell on your priority list, stat! 😀
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Oooh I didn’t realize The Midnight Queen also had a lost heir element (the title probably should’ve clued me in)! It looks like a sweet read, nothing earth shattering but cute nonetheless. Also good call on ASOIAF…there are a surprising number of lost heirs in that series.
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