Tough Traveling: Kings

“Tough Traveling” is a weekly Thursday feature created by Nathan at Review Barn where participants make a new list each week based on The Tough Guide to Fantasyland by Diana Wynne Jones. This hilarious little book cheerfully pokes fun at the most prevalent tropes in fantasy. All are welcome to take part, and there is a link up over at his site. Join in any time!

This week’s trope is KINGS:

KINGS come in four kinds: Puppet Kings, Bad Kings, Good Kings (rare), and Long Lost Kings.

Lookit, a list of entirely Tamora Pierce books! I’ve been waiting for this moment for months now. I tried to get them all in the same duolgoy, but it sadly wasn’t possible. If one of you reads a Tammy book I will consider it a Christmas miracle!

Puppet King: Dunevon – Trickster’s Choice by Tamora Pierce Dunevon comes to the throne of the Copper Isles as a child, and under very tragic circumstances. He is obviously controlled by his regents, Rubinyan and Imajane who are some seriously sinister puppet-masters. While many perceive Rubinyan as the true master (since he’s a man) it is his wife Imajane who is the real threat to both the child king and his subjects.

Bad King: Oron Rittevon – Trickster’s Choice by Tamora PierceThe Rittevon kings are infamous for their madness, and Oron is possibly the maddest to rule yet. His paranoia that other nobles are plotting to oust him from the throne of the Copper Isles (which isn’t exactly unfounded) leads him to execute three of his sisters and one of his sons. He popularized the practice of making “Examples” of people by arresting them for treason and hanging their bodies in the major harbours so that all entering the country could look upon them. Not a nice man.

Good King: Jonathan of Conte – Song of the Lioness Series by Tamora Pierce King Jonathan is firmly in the :good king” category since he cares about the people and makes good political decisions for the good of Tortall rather than personal gain. Some characters in the Tortall universe are critical of Jonathan and say that while he is a good king, in his personal life he can be arrogant and haughty. It’s nice to know that even the good kings aren’t perfect!

Long Lost King [Queen]: She Who Will Not be Spoiled – Trickster’s Queen by Tamora PierceSo I’m not going to give it away for those of you who haven’t read this series (READ IT ALREADY), but one of the main plot arcs in this duology is the return of the long lost or rightful heir to the throne of the Copper Isles, who happens to be a woman. Deal with it!