Status
Available
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Series
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Publication
Del Rey (2007), Mass Market Paperback, 336 pages
Description
"Original and vivid. I was captivated."--Nancy Kress, author of Beggars in Spain Born into hardship, Dar learns to rely on herself alone. When her family betrays her, Dar is conscripted into King Kregant's army and its brutal campaign to conquer a neighboring country. Now she is bound as a slave to a dreaded regiment of orcs, creatures legendary for their savagery and battle prowess. Rather than cower, Dar rises to the challenge. She learns the unique culture and language of the orcs, survives treachery from both allies and enemies, and struggles to understand a mystical gift that brings her dark, prophetic visions. As the war escalates--amid nightmarish combat and shattering loss--Dar must seize a single chance at freedom.
User reviews
LibraryThing member jchines
King's Property is the story of Dar, a woman whose family hands her over to the army of King Kregant to serve the human and orc soldiers. Being a rather spirited woman, Dar makes several powerful enemies among the humans. Instead of allowing herself to be used, she turns to the orcs for protection,
Props to Howell for taking an unflinching look at the role of women during wartime. It's not a pretty picture. The work is backbreaking and unforgiving, and the women have to choose between crawling into bed with a "protector" or risking gang rape every time the army makes camp. It's a refreshing change from the way women are typically ignored or glossed over in this sort of book. Howell focuses on Dar and the women, narrating the war from their perspective. We still see the battles and the bloodshed, but it's a very different perspective. Less honor and glory, and more of the day-to-day fear and desperation.
As a result, this was definitely not a light read. The human men started to feel a little cardboard in their nastiness, and there's at least one point where things got dark enough I almost tossed the book aside. I'm glad I didn't.
The book is obviously part 1 of a trilogy, not so much ending as stopping. We see hints of dark powers and foreboding omens, fight a big battle, and leave Dar and the orcs in a very tight spot.
It's a gripping story about issues which have been unforgivably neglected in the genre. And I'm all about books that develop the typical monstrous races. The orcs were interesting, if a little too romantically idealized. (They reminded me a bit of the noble savage stereotype.) Overall, I'm glad I read it, and I'll almost certainly pick up the next ... but I'll keep a lighter book on the bedside table, just in case I need a break.
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a choice which further alienates her from her fellow humans. It's a dark and violent book, often depressing, but Dar's struggle to survive makes for a good story, as does her gradual immersion into orcish culture and beliefs. Props to Howell for taking an unflinching look at the role of women during wartime. It's not a pretty picture. The work is backbreaking and unforgiving, and the women have to choose between crawling into bed with a "protector" or risking gang rape every time the army makes camp. It's a refreshing change from the way women are typically ignored or glossed over in this sort of book. Howell focuses on Dar and the women, narrating the war from their perspective. We still see the battles and the bloodshed, but it's a very different perspective. Less honor and glory, and more of the day-to-day fear and desperation.
As a result, this was definitely not a light read. The human men started to feel a little cardboard in their nastiness, and there's at least one point where things got dark enough I almost tossed the book aside. I'm glad I didn't.
The book is obviously part 1 of a trilogy, not so much ending as stopping. We see hints of dark powers and foreboding omens, fight a big battle, and leave Dar and the orcs in a very tight spot.
It's a gripping story about issues which have been unforgivably neglected in the genre. And I'm all about books that develop the typical monstrous races. The orcs were interesting, if a little too romantically idealized. (They reminded me a bit of the noble savage stereotype.) Overall, I'm glad I read it, and I'll almost certainly pick up the next ... but I'll keep a lighter book on the bedside table, just in case I need a break.
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LibraryThing member Nikkles
King's Property is an interesting story about what "humanity" and "civilized" is. The characters are very interesting and you really start to care what happens to them. The story is very quickly paced and I found I read this book very quickly, which is not always a bad thing.
LibraryThing member maggie1944
I enjoyed this fantasy book although it is transparently based on medieval times: walled towns, peasants, kings and their armies, etc. The main female character is interesting and somewhat unpredictable which increased the book's value to me. The author also populates the story with minor
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characters who actually have some substance, not merely flat characters playing predictable places. If you like fantasy, and can tolerate orcs who are loveable, this might be a book for you. I am on to reading book 2. Show Less
LibraryThing member SunnySD
Dar didn't have much of a life, even before the King's soldiers appeared to conscript her, brand her forehead, and march her barefoot for miles to the Orc encampment. Nevertheless, it's her life, and she's not ready to give up what little choice she has. Initially terrifying, in comparison to the
The rough treatment Dar and the other women receive, including rape, beatings, and the other usual problems that befall camp followers, as well as the allusions to the incest Dar suffers would make this a suitable book for adults or more mature young adults, which is a shame. In spite of the depressing circumstances, Dar is a strong, engaging heroine, and I look forward to seeing how she handles the challenges of upcoming books.
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human dregs the soldiers in service to the Orc encampment show themselves to be, the Orcs are honorable, if difficult to understand. Christened Dargu, or Weasel, but the huge fighters, Dar learns their language and, as the war drags on and the marches continue, finds what safety she can among them.The rough treatment Dar and the other women receive, including rape, beatings, and the other usual problems that befall camp followers, as well as the allusions to the incest Dar suffers would make this a suitable book for adults or more mature young adults, which is a shame. In spite of the depressing circumstances, Dar is a strong, engaging heroine, and I look forward to seeing how she handles the challenges of upcoming books.
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LibraryThing member amf0001
This is not an unfamiliar tale - peasant girl gets into cruel army, finds terrifying orcs more honorable than the soldiers and bands with them. I liked the character of Dar, the fierce weasel. I didn't mind the cliches, they worked well enough. The writing was a bit clunky, but I will read the next
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2. It read a bit like a simple fable than an indepth character development, but it worked well enough B+ Show Less
LibraryThing member SunnySD
Dragged from her home to serve the king, Dar is branded and forced to serve the king's orc allies who insist on having women serve their food. After surviving her first encounter with the orcs, who think all humans stink and throw her in the river to wash, Dar earns the name "Dargu" or weasel in
Not a comfortable book to read, but engrossing. Dar is a strong, savvy heroine.
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orcish, and gradually comes to realize that her hulking new masters may just be more "human" than the men who manage the orcs. Gradually she learns their language and finds solace and protection in their ranks. But can Dar and her orcs survive treachery from within the king's army?Not a comfortable book to read, but engrossing. Dar is a strong, savvy heroine.
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LibraryThing member mauveberry
I enjoyed reading this book. The heroine was smart and likable. There was enough suspense and adventure in the plot. The only part I didn't like was the way humans were portrayed. The book is about a world that is inhabited by humans and orcs. The orcs are simple and honest while the humans are
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greedy, cowardly, and disgusting for the most part. The men are especially bad while the women are enslaved by them and do not fight back. There were several humans besides the heroine that weren't too bad, but I felt that there were too few of them. At times the men were so evil that they seemed a bit two dimensional. Show Less
LibraryThing member pither
Absolutely fantastic, loved this book. I picked it up due to the cover, though the description didn't set me afire. I got totally caught up in it, devouring page after page as I wondered what would happen to Dar. She's an incredible strong character, full of spirit and stubbornness. The author
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beautifully balances Dar's strong inner determination with her realization that the world is an extremely harsh place for a woman in slavery during a military campaign. I can't wait to read the next two in the trilogy. Show Less
Language
Original publication date
2007-07-31
Physical description
336 p.; 6.8 inches
ISBN
0345496507 / 9780345496508