Plot summary Heir Apparent (novel)

1 plot summary

1.1 beginning
1.2 game
1.3 conclusion

plot summary
beginning

giannine receives gift certificate rasmussem gaming center birthday present father. when arrives @ local center, crowd cpoc, citizens protect our children, has come demonstration against such games. enters arcade , gets hooked heir apparent, single-player rpg. giannine s character, janine de st. jehan, illegitimate child of deceased king cynric, pronounced heir throne, passing on 3 legitimate sons. task survive 3 days (which last thirty minutes in real world) before coronation. anytime character dies, sent beginning of game.

the game

janine finds herself on sheep farm, meets foster mother , sir deming, delivers news of ascendancy throne. ignoring foster mother s advice goodbye foster father, janine heads off castle. there meets queen andreanna , 3 sons, abas, wulfgar, , kenric. outside throne room, guards bring before janine boy caught poaching deer. expect order boy s execution, instead lets boy go.

nigel rasmussem briefly enters game inform cpoc broke arcade , damaged equipment. cannot exit game prematurely without risking brain damage, cannot stay in game long without risking death in real world. therefore must win game can. tells her, , next time, don t forget ring. shortly after vanishes, guards assassinate janine, upset lenient ruling.

as goes through game again, on constant lookout ring. varies decisions keeps getting killed various characters. on farm rushes @ sir deming in frustration , tries bite ring off finger, takes out knife , stabs her. last thing hears foster mother explaining ring seeks left foster father. in next life, janine realizes must no longer skip step of saying goodbye foster father. ends before statue of saint bruce warrior poet, ring resides.

at castle, barbarian invaders led king grimbold kidnap janine, hoping ransom crown claim cynric stole them. own kingdom doesn t value enough provide ransom, , ring fails save her. in next life, thwarts raid, , in ensuing battle abas beheads king grimbold.

she learns cynric gave stolen crown (which grants wearer temporary midas touch) dragon terrorized land many years earlier. next day, meeting magicians interrupted attack grimbold s people, send message won t stop until janine dead. kenric , orielle poison janine, once again sending beginning of game.

she uses past mistakes plan decisions better , gain more allies, no longer experimenting ring. next time deals boy poacher, gets kenric accompany her. unlike previous times, listens evidence open mind, makes kenric feel s taking part in decision, , sentences boy month of hard labor rather killing him or freeing him.

she once again thwarts raid on castle, because warlike abas isn t present, king grimbold isn t killed. invites grimbold castle, discuss grievances in civilized manner. agrees cease attack 2 days, while retrieves crown dragon.

when magicians arrive next day, determine through scrying glass dragon week s journey away, give several magical artifacts reach dragon , survive confrontation. retrieves crown , returns castle, dragon follows her. clutches in talons , devour her, dons crown , turns dragon gold.

she gives crown grimbold, making peace between 2 kingdoms , gaining respect of compatriots. @ kenric s suggestion uses ring make andreanna treat , not incite princes against her.

conclusion

giannine awakens in arms of nigel rasmussem, turns out sixteen. book ends giannine s father coming take home.