Princess Academy: Palace of Stone

Princess Academy: Palace of Stone

by Shannon Hale

Princess Academy, book two

 



Coming down from the mountain to a new life in the city is a thrill to Miri. She and her princess academy friends have been brought to Asland to help the future princess Britta prepare for her wedding.There, Miri also has a chance to attend school-at the Queen's Castle. But as Miri befriends students who seem sophisticated and exciting she also learns that they have some frightening plans. Torn between loyalty to the princess and her new friends' ideas, between an old love and a new crush, and between her small mountain home and the bustling city, Miri looks to find her own way in this new place. (description from Amazon.com)

I am so happy that this follow-up to The Princess Academy finally came out. The first book is one of my all time favorites!  Miri is a fabulous character: loyal, smart, ambitious (but in the best way...) and true blue to the end... I was so happy to see her back.

Shannon Hale does a FABULOUS job shifting Miri into life in the royal city.  This book still features friendship, romance, and learning, plus it delves into political intrigue, danger, and above all figuring out exactly who you are as a person and where you want your life to take you. Miri finds herself embroiled in a battle for power with divided loyalties - the worst possible place.  It takes months and real life-threatening danger for her to determine exactly what the truest course is...and of course, for her to lead the charge.

Full of wisdom, wit, and heartwarming relationships, Hale has followed up a beautifully written book with a bang up sequel. I adored every minute of it!

Full disclosure: ARC received at BEA 2012/eARC received from NetGalley

Masque of the Red Death

Masque of the Red Death

by Bethany Griffin

 

Everything is in ruins.

A devastating plague has decimated the population, and those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles around them. So what does Araby Worth have to live for? Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery makeup . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all. But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club, and Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does. And Araby may find not just something to live for, but something to fight for—no matter what it costs her.  (description from Amazon.com)

Holy atmospheric Batman!  Okay. Aside from a *GORGEOUS* cover that I couldn't stop petting staring at, Griffin really has a way with words.  This book oozed creepy, gothic decadence.  There was never any doubt in my mind what this world looked like at all.  I felt as if I was stepping into the Debauchery Club right alongside Araby.  *shivers*

This world sucked me right in and the moment I put the book down, I started hunting online for information about book two (and yes, there is one! It's title is Dance of the Red Death, and it will be coming out in April 2013...). I cannot wait to dive back into this world.  To see the ramifications of Araby's choices.  To see how her friends' actions have affected her relationships with them.  To see if the whole world just implodes...

In a sea of dystopias and paranormal romances, this is a stand-out. 

Full disclosure: Borrowed through interlibrary loan



Den of Thieves

Den of Thieves
by Julia Golding
Cat Royal Adventures, book three

Traitors, Captives, and a People's Revolution.
The third volume of the Cat Royal Adventure series takes readers to Paris on a covert mission.

The Theater Royal is closed for renovations, so Mr. Sheridan commissions Cat to act as his spy in revolutionary Paris. Disguised as a ballerina, Cat joins the revolution, only to find that it is up to her to save her friends when they are captured as traitors. Like the previous two books in the series, The Diamond of Drury Lane and Cat Among Pigeons, Den of Thieves is filled with disguises, danger, drama, and most of all, the impressive Cat Royal.
(description taken from Amazon.com)

This is a great tween-aged adventure series with a strong female character. I love Cat Royal and am impressed with how Julia Golding continues to invent great adventures for her heroine. Cat has passion for life, a great blend of sensitivity and street smarts, great friends, and a habit of falling into trouble.

This book really gave Cat the opportunity to see who she really is as a person, outside of the theater. Cat learned more about why her friends really love her and would do anything to protect her. Pedro, Frank, Lizzie, Johnny, Syd and even the Duke, the Duchess, and Mr. Sheridan all proved again what Cat means to them.

The revolutionary France setting was very interesting, too. Often stories set in this time period focus on the aristocrats, but to see what life would have been like as a regular citizen, even a thief, was very interesting. I'm curious to see what Golding does when she sends Cat to America...