Crown Duel is a very unusual book. Instead of going the short route, Sherwood Smith beats around the bush, making your curiousity increase, trying to find if her "enemy" really is her enemy, and why he keeps on saving her if he is her enemy. The first of the duets is mostly packed with saving Meliara and her conflicts with the enemy, Vidanric, aka the Marquis of Shevraeth. All this leads up to an extensive conclusion in the following book: Court Duel. If you read Crown Duel, you have to buy Court Duel to find out the conclusion to their relationship. Both are v.v. good, both are worth the hardcover edition's price.