Publisher's Synopsis
Summary:
Shattered by her father's decision to deny her the throne as the first female heir of Dravidia, Princess Verena makes the worst mistake of her life: She runs away. Her departure, days before her wedding to the heir of the Principality of Aulden, throws her nation into war. In a desperate bid to reverse the consequences of her choice, the princess returns to planet Jorn, anxious to prove herself worthy to rule. But it is too late. The princess finds her kingdom conquered by Prince Amiel ra Aulden. Now, Verena must earn back her birthright as well as the trust of her people.
Fern Brady's United Vidden-the first book in her Thyreins's Galactic Wall series-is a highly creative, compelling Science Fantasy / Space Opera story set in an imagined future of our universe, with a unique romance theme at its core.The story revolves around Princess Verena, daughter of the widowed King Dekkyle, ruler of Dravidia-the northern half of the Vidden continent on planet Jorn, one of fifty-one major populated planets in Thyrien's Galactic Wall (wall, we believe, meaning galaxy). The second major player is Prince Amiel, ruler of the southern half of the Vidden continent-Aulden. Amiel seems set on ruling over the whole continent and winning the heart of the fair and courageous Princess Verena. His motivations, however, are questionable. Across the eastern Black Ocean, or western Green Ocean, the Gortive people of the Parthia continent seem to be preparing for war, so perhaps a United Vidden would be in favour its people, who usurped the aboriginal Gortive from "their" lands eons earlier. More than anything else, United Vidden is a wonderful combination of royal court drama (reminiscent of Elizabethan times) and adventure. The changing allegiances of the aristocracy as the story progresses are captivating and led by the intriguing twists and turns of the masterful plot. The main characters are truly unforgettable and far from static, changing and developing as the gripping story unfolds. Their tempestuous journeys make this a real page-turner. The machinations of the Wall's magical religious sects (Rajin, Nijar, The Elamin Order, and more) overlay the plotting and romances of the book's "ordinary" folk. And on a higher level than this, we get hints at The Wall's interplanetary politics, between members of the Intergalactic Council such as planets Schol, Drulin, Fratern, and Fridgia. The various levels of power and influence give the read a true sense of being a Space Opera, along the lines of Frank Herbert's Dune. This book would make an amazing movie, it very much plays out like a blockbuster in the reader's head. One that would appeal to both Sci-fi and Fantasy fans. Understandably, as this is the first book in a series, many of the plot lines remain open at the climax, but the ending of the novel is very satisfying regardless. Reviewed by Carolina Restrepo for Readers' Favorite
United Vidden by Fern Brady is surprisingly original and innovative, considering that it is an intergalactic world type of story. It is unlike anything I have read before in that genre. I believe Verena to be a very relatable character, especially because of her growth and how she soon discovers what real life is like and how she adapts to continuous changes. This novel never stops surprising the reader. There is a lot of action but also very raw human connections, which make it a little more realistic and harder to lose focus. Overall, United Vidden is an extremely original and creative novel that definitely leaves you wanting more and more out of it. I can't wait for the sequel. United Vidden has a lot of potential in the current commercial world we live in.
