YA Friday Book Review: A Girl Undone

A Girl Undone
by Catherine Linka
St. Martin's Griffin (June 23, 2015)
Audience: Young Adult
IndieBound | WorldCat

Description from Goodreads:

"On the run with deadly government secrets, Avie must decide if she can live up to her name and truly become fearless for the cause or if it’s better to just give in.

The sequel and explosive conclusion to A Girl Called Fearless.

Having survived a violent confrontation with the US government, Avie is not out of danger. Both she and the young man she loves, Yates, have been declared terrorists, and Yates is hospitalized in critical condition, leaving Avie with the perilous task of carrying information that can bring down the Paternalist party, if she can get it into the right hands.

Forced on the run with handsome, enigmatic woodsman Luke, Avie struggles when every turn becomes a choice between keeping the two of them alive or completing their mission. With her face on every news channel and a quarter million dollar reward from the man who still owns her marriage contract, Avie’s worst fears are about to come true.

Equal parts thrilling and romantic, A Girl Undone is sure to keep your heart racing right until the very end."

Carolyn's thoughts on the book:

A Girl Called Fearless was one of my favorite books of 2014, and the amazing sequel, A Girl Undone, not only defied the terrible sequel stereotype but also was a brilliantly executed and captivating book all on its own. Picking up right after the end of the first book, Avie goes through a journey entirely different than when she fled across the country in A Girl Called Fearless. Separated from Yates, the boy she loves, Avie has abandoned her plan to go to Canada in favor of pursuing higher goals. Accompanied by Luke, she must make her way to Washington, DC to deliver information vital to bringing down the oppressive paternalist party - but when there's a country-wide manhunt for you, that's no easy feat. Soon, everything unravels, but as long as she keeps her wits about her, Avie's journey is far from over. Allies can show up in the unlikeliest of places, and the twists and suspense will keep you turning every page until the end. The character development of Avie is different in the sequel - in the first book, she was forced to suddenly flee for Canada, and such a drastic change of circumstance produced a dramatic development. But the character development is more subtle in A Girl Undone, as Avie must constantly weigh her choices. Does she truly love Yates, or should she pursue her feelings for Luke? Is it better to chance passing along the information rather than crossing the border to assured freedom in Canada? Who can she actually trust? This internal socratic method of sorts leads to Avie's certainty in her mission and her preservation against all odds. The last third of the book was one surprise after another, and definitely an unexpected turn for Avie, but she elegantly and brilliantly accomplishes what she needs to in an excellently executed turn of events. A Girl Undone is a great book for those who enjoy dystopia, thrills, and a feminist bent in their books.

Carolyn is a teen blogger who shares her favorite YA reads and favorite book related finds with readers on Fridays.

YA Friday Book Review: Palace of Lies

Palace of Lies
by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (April 7, 2015)
Audience: Young Adult
IndieBound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads:

"Desmia discovers the reality of royalty is far from a fairy tale in this third adventure set in the Cinderella-esque world of Just Ella and Palace of Mirrors, from New York Times bestselling author Margaret Peterson Haddix.

Desmia and her twelve sister-princesses are ruling Suala together at last, a united front. The kingdom seems to have finally gotten its happily ever after, but Desmia, trained by a lifetime of palace intrigue, is not so sure. She desperately wants to believe all is well, but she can’t help seeing danger around every corner.

And then the unthinkable happens, and Desmia’s worst fears are confirmed. Now, without the support of the sister-princesses she’s grown to rely on or the trappings of royalty that have always convinced people to listen to her, Desmia must find the courage to seek out the truth on her own terms—and to determine the course of two kingdoms."

Carolyn's thoughts on the book:

Warning: There may be spoilers for Palace of Mirrors. You have been duly warned.

As a fan of Margaret Peterson Haddix, I was overjoyed to discover that she would be publishing a third book in the Palace Chronicles. While the first book, Just Ella, is a smart and realistic take on the Cinderella story, the second book also turns a common fantasy trope on its head. Focusing on another country within the same universe, Palace of Mirrors follows Cecelia, who has been taught her entire life to believe that she's the secretly hidden heir to the throne...until she arrives at the palace only to realize that twelve other girls have the exact same story. Better yet, Desmia, the princess who supposedly was a stand-in to protect the real princess from harm, believes that she's the real princess. Filled with political intrigue, Palace of Mirrors ends happily with the thirteen princesses sharing rule in a monarchy/oligarchy arrangement. I knew that the story didn't end there, though. I always thought that Desmia had it the worst - used as a pawn by her royal advisor her entire life and then suddenly discovering twelve other girls have an equal claim to the throne wouldn't exactly be easy - and so her story seemed the most interesting to me, so naturally I was thrilled when I heard the third installment would focus on her story. 

Palace of Lies picks up a month after the end of Palace of Mirrors. While the princesses have settled into the political arrangement, Desmia finds it hard to deal with such a large group of girls, especially as she's the only one who's had to face scheming courtiers and backstabbing advisors before. Her cynicism and suspicion prove to be a barrier to relating to her sisters, as she feels that she's the only one who can see what's actually going on. Desmia's relational problems within the group setting are intensely relatable, as she has to explain that she's the only one who really knows how to handle delicate political situations while deftly avoiding group politics - no easy feat. But when a calculated attack separates Desmia from her sisters and from the palace, she finds herself venturing forth into the world to save herself, her sisters, and her country in a soul-searching and heartfelt journey to to find her allies in a neighboring kingdom. Throughout the novel, Desmia discovers the world outside of palace, as well as a long-lost relative, and finds a sense of courage and determination. Her character development is brilliantly accomplished, taking into consideration Desmia's unique skills and flaws that resulted from her isolated childhood (such as her agoraphobia or her propensity to pick locks). The cast of characters is vast and varied, bringing back many of the characters from the previous two books, as well as adding some fantastic new characters. Desmia's story and her voice as a character shine in Palace of Lies.

Palace of Lies is great for fans of fairy-tales and those who enjoy Haddix's excellent writing. 

Carolyn is a teen blogger who shares her favorite YA reads and favorite book related finds with readers on Fridays.

YA Friday Book Review: Spelled

Spelled
by Betsy Schow
Sourcebooks Fire (June 2, 2015)
Audience: Young Adult
IndieBound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads:

"Fairy Tale Survival Rule #32: If you find yourself at the mercy of a wicked witch, sing a romantic ballad and wait for your Prince Charming to save the day.

Yeah, no thanks. Dorthea is completely princed out. Sure being the crown princess of Emerald has its perks—like Glenda Original ball gowns and Hans Christian Louboutin heels. But a forced marriage to the brooding prince Kato is so not what Dorthea had in mind for her enchanted future.

Talk about unhappily ever after. 

Trying to fix her prince problem by wishing on a (cursed) star royally backfires, leaving the kingdom in chaos and her parents stuck in some place called "Kansas." Now it's up to Dorthea and her pixed off prince to find the mysterious Wizard of Oz and undo the curse...before it releases the wickedest witch of all and spells The End for the world of Story."

Carolyn's thoughts on the book:
Any of you familiar with YA Fridays know that I like fantasy, especially retellings of fairy tales; as putting a spin on a classic tale has become more and more popular, I'm excited to see that some of the less popular bedtime stories are being retold as well. I really like different interpretations of the Wizard of Oz, from the fantastic musical Wicked to the miniseries Tin Man, but I had yet to find a book retelling of the Wizard of Oz that I enjoyed. Spelled is a fun book, set in world of different kingdoms of various fairy tales; Dorothea is the princess of Emerald who has been confined to the palace her entire life by her parents in an attempt to prevent a curse placed on the family from taking effect (because that always works so well - just ask Sleeping Beauty's parents about how that whole burning of spinning wheels went for them). Faced with an impeding forced marriage, and unsympathetic parents, Dot mistakenly trusts a witch and accidentally ruins everything. Her fiancé is turned into a chimera, her parents are sent off to Kansas, and she discovers that there's not just one but two witches that want her dead. Better yet, the magic she accidentally released has screwed up all other magic, and she soon finds that the curse her parents had been trying to prevent has come true in addition to the destruction she has already wrought. Dot, along with a sassy palace servant and her fiancé-turned-chimera set off to undo all the ensuing chaos and anarchy, encountering some pretty colorful characters along the way (literally). Let's just say that Dot isn't exactly a good person - she's selfish, narcissistic, and mean-bordering-on-vindictive - but throughout the story she learns to step outside of herself and become a better person. Ultimately, Spelled is a comedic fairy-tale romp, and is very enjoyable if you go into reading it with that expectation. While the book is technically YA, it would be a good book for older middle grade readers as well as younger YA readers.

Carolyn is a teen blogger who shares her favorite YA reads and favorite book related finds with readers on Fridays.

YA Friday Book Review: Avalon Rising

Avalon Rising 
by Kathryn Rose
Flux (May 8, 2015)
IndieBound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads:

"In the aftermath of Morgan le Fay’s war on Camelot, the once great kingdom struggles to rebuild. Vivienne, Merlin's former apprentice, toils in secret day and night on orders from the Lady of the Lake to build an aeroship. The Lady has seen the future and promises that the ship will ensure Camelot’s knights triumph over the Black Knight in the quest for Avalon and the Holy Grail.

But when a company of knights goes missing—including Owen, Vivienne’s brother, and Marcus, her beloved—Vivienne changes the plan and commandeers the aeroship for a rescue mission, altering the fates of all involved. Now, the Lady sees danger in Vivienne’s future. And for Marcus: either betrayal or death."

Carolyn's thoughts on the book:
Once again, Vivienne is forced to choose between the life expected of her and the life of adventure she is destined to live.  While the world is Avalon Rising is in many regards similar to the world of Camelot Burning, the effects of Morgan le Fay's attack are far reaching; in addition to the death toll, the once great kingdom of Camelot has been practically emptied. However, while Vivienne's work isn't necessarily respected, she no longer needs to hide her former involvement with Merlin and her work in the mechanical arts. The political situation is vastly different, and seeing how Vivienne clashes with some of the knights now that she doesn't have to hide is fairly entertaining. But Vivienne shines brightest when she finally leaves Camelot to find Marcus, and more importantly, find the Holy Grail. The elaborate steampunk medieval world is as fascinating as ever, and the meticulous details of all the equipment and weapons add a depth to such a fantastic world. Flashbacks add a nice touch, continuing the romance despite Marcus' absence; additionally, the exploration of Marcus' family is one of many interesting facets of the story. While aspects of Arthurian legend are easily more identifiable in the first book, Avalon Rising continues the fantastic story without slowing. Fans of Camelot Burning will not be disappointed with this excellent sequel. I'm already looking forward to the release of the the third book!

Carolyn is a teen blogger who shares her favorite YA reads and favorite book related finds with readers on Fridays.

YA Friday Book Review: Daughter of Deep Silence

Daughter of Deep Silence
by Carrie Ryan
Penguin — Random House (May 26, 2015)
IndieBound | Worldcat

Description from GoodReads:

"I’m the daughter of murdered parents.
I’m the friend of a dead girl.
I’m the lover of my enemy.
And I will have my revenge.
 
In the wake of the devastating destruction of the luxury yacht Persephone, just three souls remain to tell its story—and two of them are lying. Only Frances Mace knows the terrifying truth, and she’ll stop at nothing to avenge the murders of everyone she held dear. Even if it means taking down the boy she loves and possibly losing herself in the process.
 
Sharp and incisive, Daughter of Deep Silence by bestselling author Carrie Ryan is a deliciously smart revenge thriller that examines perceptions of identity, love, and the lengths to which one girl is willing to go when she thinks she has nothing to lose."

Carolyn's thoughts on the book: 

It's no secret that I love mysteries, but I find revenge thrillers to be equally as enthralling. This book is the revenge thriller to end all revenge thrillers, full of unsavory political dealings, international corporate espionage, and one girl's remorseless quest for the truth - and, of course, revenge. The plot is crafted just as meticulously as Frances' plan is; her descent into complete vengeance is believable and even twistedly justifiable. Her brilliant plan and ruthless ambition are terrifyingly awing, and yet I oddly found myself sympathizing with Frances. The Southern setting serves as a perfect backdrop for Frances' mission, and the guise of a sweet Southern belle hides the sharply focused young woman Frances is. Complications abound, between being targeted herself for what she knows to falling in love with the son of the very politician who condemned her family (among thousands of others) to die. Without getting into dangerously spoiler-y territory, the ending of the book is ultimately satisfying, but in an unexpected way.

Daughter of Deep Silence is a great read for those who enjoy smart, engrossing thrillers, and is a fantastic addition to any reader's bookshelf.

Carolyn is a teen blogger who shares her favorite YA reads and favorite book related finds with readers on Fridays.