The Wells Bequest, by Polly Shulman (The Grimm Legacy #2)

Leo gets the shock of his life when a miniature version of himself arrives in his room on a time machine with a gorgeous girl. Future Leo instructs present Leo to read H. G. Wells' The Time Machine. After reading the book, Leo searches for how and why future him appeared, and he finds his answer at the New York Circulatory Materials Repository (or something like that). There are a few special collections in the Repository, The Grimm Collection (or something like that), which was the subject of The Grimm Legacy, as well as several others including The Wells Bequest. The Wells Bequest contains objects from science fiction tales of the past (not new cyborgy type stuff-that's a different collection), including the time machine from The Time Machine. In the Repository, Leo meets Jaya (Anjali's little sister from The Grimm Legacy), and when an angry boy with a crush on Jaya threatens to use a nuclear weapon and destroy New York, the pair must set out on a trip through time to stop him.

This was a fantastic book, and in my opinion was even better than The Grimm Legacy, which is quite impressive coming for me because I'm a sucker for fairy tales and would usually choose them over science fiction. This was what I consider a semi-sequel because it takes place in the same universe after the events of the previous book and has several overlapping characters but is still able to stand on it's own. Of course it's better appreciated if you remember Jaya and all her adorableness from The Grimm Legacy, but even if you don't you can still enjoy this book and not feel too confused.

As soon as I found out about the other two special collections, I started salivating for semi-sequels involving them as well. I don't know if it's a bit too much to ask for, but I think that if Polly Shulman does write them, the four books together would make an awesome series collectively. I do feel like there's hope for it because I think that she mentioned them to hint at the possibility.

This book, compared to the Grimm Legacy, had a lot more action and a lot less sitting around and talking, which definitely added to the excitement. However, this difference can be explained by considering the personalities of the different narrators. Elizabeth was a lot more wary and was seen as the voice of reason by her friends, while Leo is a bit more impulsive and relies on his gut a lot more than Elizabeth did.

Every novel involving time travel has to deal with all the paradoxical elements involved with it, and this one did so with aplomb by not doing it. Shulman explained that each time machine had rules applying to the novel it came from and since H. G. Wells did not give any rules to his time machine, the characters could do anything with no explanation necessary. Usually I spend ages trying to determine what the rules of a book's universe are but the explanation here managed to explain it by not explaining it and strangely enough it was satisfying.

5 stars

 
Leo never imagined that time travel might really be possible, or that the objects in H. G. Wells’ science fiction novels might actually exist. And when a miniature time machine appears in Leo’s bedroom, he has no idea who the tiny, beautiful girl is riding it. But in the few moments before it vanishes, returning to wherever—and whenever—it came from, he recognizes the other tiny rider: himself!

His search for the time machine, the girl, and his fate leads him to the New-York Circulating Material Repository, a magical library that lends out objects instead of books. Hidden away in the Repository basement is the Wells Bequest, a secret collection of powerful objects straight out of classic science fiction novels: robots, rockets, submarines, a shrink ray—and one very famous time machine. And when Leo’s adventure of a lifetime suddenly turns deadly, he must attempt a journey to 1895 to warn real-life scientist Nikola Tesla about a dangerous invention. A race for time is on!

In this grand time-travel adventure full of paradoxes and humor, Polly Shulman gives readers a taste of how fascinating science can be, deftly blending classic science fiction elements with the contemporary fantasy world readers fell in love with in The Grimm Legacy.

The Grimm Legacy, by Polly Shulman

Elizabeth was just getting accustomed to her new school where she had no friends when one of her teachers offers her a job as a page in a repository that lends out objects like a library lends out books. Hidden in the basement of the repository is the Grimm Collection, where the objects in question are the magical ones from fairy tales like seven league boots, Snow White's stepmother's mirror, and a mermaid comb that makes your hair look awesome. Some of these precious magical items have been disappearing from the Grimm Collection, and when Elizabeth and her fellow pages get mixed up in the danger, it's up to them to find the items and return them safely to the repository.

I absolutely adored this book. It was a completely refreshing take on the fairy tales of old but had a plot that was completely its own and not a retelling of one we know well. Don't get me wrong, I have a very soft spot for fairy-tale retellings, but the originality in this novel was off the charts. The references to various fairy tales and mythologies were incredibly diverse and incorporated into the story very well, and the fantasy and reality parts of the novel meshed comfortably, if you know what I mean. If you don't then think about it and get back to me.

The situations that Shulman put her characters into were utterly hysterical. At some point while reading I looked up and said out loud what was going on and realized exactly how crazy I sounded, but that only made me love it more. The whole idea that this book is based on is so different and unique that the characters never end up in cliche predictable situations. One more thing that I enjoyed was how Elizabeth was no one special. It sounds weird to say that, but having an ordinary girl as the main character was truly refreshing in a world where every teen novel has a hero/heroine who is special because of who or what they are. Elizabeth is a normal girl who finds herself in extraordinary situations and manages to keep her head on straight, and I commend her for that.

5 stars

Elizabeth has a new job at an unusual library - a lending library of objects, not books. In a secret room in the basement lies the Grimm Collection. That's where the librarians lock away powerful items straight out of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales; seven-league boots, a table that produces a feast at the blink of an eye, Snow White's stepmother's sinister mirror that talks in riddles.

When the magical objects start to disappear, Elizabeth embarks on a dangerous quest to catch the thief before she can be accused of the crime or captured by the thief.

Polly Shulman has created a contemporary fantasy with a fascinating setting and premise, starring an ordinary girl whose after-school job is far from ordinary and leads to a world of excitement, romance and magical intrigue.

For Darkness Shows the Stars, by Diana Peterfreund

In this sci-fi adaptation of Jane Austen's Persuasion, the human race is still reeling from scientific experiments gone wrong and is now being led by the Luddite nobility. Years before the events of this novel, some ambitious scientists found a way to manipulate DNA to make better humans. However, when the offspring of these people were all born with severe mental retardation, called the Reduction, it appeared to be the end of the human race until the Luddites, a strict religious minority who had been in hiding, came out and became the new majority. Elliot, our protagonist, has been managing her Luddite family's estate since the death of her mother four years prior, while her father and sister spend the family's money with no qualms about their impending poverty. When Elliot is approached by a post-reductionist fleet, the mentally capable children of the reduced, about renting property from her to build a boat, she grabs at the opportunity to make a little more money to help her family and those living on their property survive, not knowing that part of this fleet is Captain Malakai Wentforth, the boy who she refused to run away with after her mother's death.

This book was absolutely incredible. Whether you're a Jane Austen fan, a sci-fi fan, or neither, you should read this book anyway because it was so amazing (but if you are either or both of those you'll find it all the more entertaining). The science fiction part of the novel was relatively tame but still strong enough to keep the part of me that longs for the extraordinary happy.

Not only was the story and how Jane Austen's tale of long-lost love was adapted fascinating, but the way the story was written and told was exceptional as well. I thought the pace was perfect. Persuasion is not a particularly climactic tale, but Peterfreund managed to space out little tidbits of information to shock the reader just enough so that you absolutely have to continue reading. What I loved most though were the personalities of the characters. Almost every one was round, the heroes, villains, and un-labelable, and acted as a real person would. All in all, this was a phenomenal book and if you haven't read it yet, you're missing out.

5 stars.

 
It's been several generations since a genetic experiment gone wrong caused the Reduction, decimating humanity and giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.

Elliot North has always known her place in this world. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family's estate over love. Since then the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress, and Elliot's estate is foundering, forcing her to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth--an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliot wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she let him go.

But Elliot soon discovers her old friend carries a secret--one that could change their society . . . or bring it to its knees. And again, she's faced with a choice: cling to what she's been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she's ever loved, even if she's lost him forever.

Inspired by Jane Austen's Persuasion, For Darkness Shows the Stars is a breathtaking romance about opening your mind to the future and your heart to the one person you know can break it.

Envy, by Elizabeth Miles (Fury #2)

Skyler McVoy is new to Ascension, and she is determined to start over and forget her dark past. Soon enough, Skyler is friends with the beautiful Meg, as well as popular Gabby. However, Skyler isn't okay with just being friends with Gabby-Skyler wants to replace her as the queen bee, and has the help of Meg. Emily Winters, Gabby's best friend, recognizes the signs of the Furies around Skyler, and is determined to stop them once and for all and reclaim all they took from her.

Like Fury, this book was extremely dark, and also like Fury, was a blend of a teen fantasy novel with a psychological thriller. While I normally don't read those sorts of books, and prefer a little more light-heartedness in my books, I couldn't put Envy down. I thought Fury was amazing, but Envy only built on that. I ended up staying up way too late and almost having nightmares, but it was totally worth it.

The ending was absolutely crazy. It was shocking and I LOVED IT. It was the perfect way to reveal crucial information and leave the most amazing cliff-hanger that is leaving me panting for the third book to come out. There was also a lot of death in this novel, and the reality of people dying because of the Furies grounded the story in a way that most other fantasy novels aren't.

5 stars.

Spring is coming, and the ice is slowly melting in Ascension... revealing the secrets buried beneath.

Emily Winters knows the Furies have roots in Ascension, Maine—but she’s about to discover that they’re deeper than she ever imagined. With the help of her new friend Drea, she vows to dig them out. But it’s hard to focus when she’s desperate to make up with JD, and to figure out why Crow, a mysterious Ascension High dropout, seems to be shadowing her.

Meanwhile, new girl Skylar McVoy is determined to leave her own dark past behind. So she’s thrilled when popular Gabby takes her under her wing, and the stunning and sophisticated Meg offers to give her a major makeover. But everyone knows what happens to the vainest girl of all…

It’s tempting to be naughty. But beware: the Furies are always watching, and their power grows stronger by the day.

Tap and Gown, by Diana Peterfreund (Secret Society Girl #4)

My reviews of the previous books can be found here: Secret Society Girl, Under the Rose, Rites of Spring (Break)

Graduation is approaching and tap time has arrived. Amy and her brothers are searching for suitable Eli-ites to replace them in Rose and Grave and are running into a few more issues than expected. Amy's list of prospective Diggers is growing and shrinking, and while she's doing recon on her candidates she's also trying to finish her thesis and get closer to her new boyfriend. Everything comes to a climax when information is revealed about Amy's first choice that threatens to undo over 50 years of society history.

This book was a great ending to a great series. I was nervous that the last book would totally undo all the awesomeness of the previous books but thankfully it didn't. Funnily enough, all my predictions about this book were wrong. George and Clarissa did not end up together, Matthew did not get a Digger boyfriend, and the Diggers didn't redeem themselves. Though they did seem a lot less pathetic. My only disappointment was that Michelle wasn't in any previous books. She was awesome and had way too few appearances.

5 stars. The best of the series.
 
The countdown to Amy’s graduation has begun, and suddenly the perfect ending to a perfectly iconoclastic college career is slipping from her grasp. Her new boyfriend is considering an offer he can’t refuse, while Amy hasn’t even filed her fellowship applications. And the young woman she’s chosen to take her place in Rose & Grave seems to come complete with a secret life already intact.

Lunging toward real life in the world beyond the hallowed halls of Eli University, Amy finds trouble around every corner, from society intrigues and unlikely stalkers to former flames and mandatory science credits. Surely it couldn’t get worse . . . until Initiation Night explodes into a terrifying scene and into a final test of wits for a young woman just trying to make it out of the Ivy League in one piece.

Romeo Redeemed, by Stacey Jay (Juliet Immortal #2)

Romeo has agreed to change sides in the epic battle of Mercenaries vs. Ambassadors and has been tasked, by Juliet's nurse, to get Ariel Dragland, Juliet's host from the previous novel, to fall in love with him. The reason why, he is told, is because Ariel has the potential for great evil and falling in love will prevent it. What Romeo doesn't count on, is falling in love with Ariel himself. However, everything is turned upside down when Mercenaries start getting into Ariel's head and Romeo can't be sure what side anyone is on. Who is good? Who is evil?

This was a great sequel, but what confused me was how I had assumed Juliet had her happy ending after Juliet Immortal. Wasn't the last chapter about her and Ben meeting again in an alternate universe? I remember complaining about how I thought it was a cop-out. I still think it was, but I like how Stacey Jay incorporated her cop-out into the sequel to make it seem like it was intended the entire time. For all I know it might have been intended from the beginning, but in Juliet Immortal it looked like an easy way out.

Ariel is the most disturbed character I have ever read about. Her anger and insanity is not "cute" or "imbalanced"-it's freaking nuts!!!!!! Sorry Romeo, you may have been on the side of evil for centuries, but you really should run far far away from this nutjob. Her insanities aren't a part of her that you should love, they're a part of her you should be very very scared of. This girl would totally murder you in your sleep if you asked a random girl on the street for the time! While I did like the happy ending, Ariel's insanity was a little too much for me.

5 stars.

 Seductive companion to the popular Juliet Immortal, in which former lovers—Romeo and Juliet—meet, not as true lovers, but truly as enemies.

Cursed to live out eternity in his rotted corpse, Romeo, known for his ruthless, cutthroat ways, is given the chance to redeem himself by traveling back in time to save the life of Ariel Dragland. Unbeknownst to her, Ariel is important to both the evil Mercenaries and the love-promoting Ambassadors and holds the fate of the world in her hands. Romeo must win her heart and make her believe in love, turning her away from her darker potential before his work is discovered by the Mercenaries. While his seduction begins as yet another lie, it soon becomes his only truth. Romeo vows to protect Ariel from harm, and do whatever it takes to win her heart and soul. But when Ariel is led to believe his love is a deception, she becomes vulnerable to Mercenary manipulation, and her own inner darkness may ultimately rip them apart.

Princess of Glass, by Jessica Day George (Princess #2)

Princess Poppy, one of the middle daughters from Princess of the Midnight Ball, has been sent to Briton (I think that's what the country's name was) as part of a princess exchange program. Everything is going great for Poppy-she and her cousin have become very good friends, there's a handsome prince looking her way, and no one is forcing her to dance. However, things start to go awry when a mysterious beauty, who is really the maid Eleanora, shows up to a ball and no one can stop talking about her the next day. All the men are in love with her and all the women either hate her or want to be her. Poppy is one of the only ones who hasn't fallen under her spell, and she is determined to save her friends from the love spell, and Eleanora from her magical benefactress who is not quite as sweet as she claims she is.

This is one of the cutest books I have ever read, yet despite the undeniable adorableness, I didn't get annoyed by the naivete and immaturity. Sometimes in books like this you have evil people who all of a sudden aren't evil and are begging for forgiveness, but it actually made sense in Princess of Glass. What did bug me was the fake Europe, especially because I couldn't figure out what country Westfalin was supposed to represent. Maybe one of the tiny ones that no one cares about?

I definitely recommend this book to any princess-lovers (like me), no matter what age. The cuteness can be a little overdone, but it only makes the book more enjoyable.

5 stars.

Hoping to escape the troubles in her kingdom, Princess Poppy reluctantly agrees to take part in a royal exchange program, whereby young princes and princesses travel to each other's countries in the name of better political alliances--and potential marriages. It's got the makings of a fairy tale--until a hapless servant named Eleanor is tricked by a vengeful fairy godmother into competing with Poppy for the eligible prince. Ballgowns, cinders, and enchanted glass slippers fly in this romantic and action-packed happily-ever-after quest from an author with a flair for embroidering tales in her own delightful way.


Is it just me, or is that dress salivatingly gorgeous?

Boundless, by Cynthia Hand (Unearthly #3)

(Here are links to my reviews of books 1 and 2 in this series if you haven't read them yet: Unearthly and Hallowed)


In the final part of Clara's tale, she finds herself at Stanford with Christian and Angela. She is still heartbroken about leaving behind Tucker, her first love, but knows she has to get over him and move on with her life (which Christian is more than willing to help her with). However, Clara doesn't get much time to be a typical college student, because there is unrest in the battle between good and evil and Clara is right in the center of it. And the fact that a depressed fallen angel in love with her dead mom is following her around is not exactly helpful.



**************SPOILERS AHEAD******************

I liked Christian from the beginning and was really hoping that Clara would choose him in the end. Tucker is great and all and I understand why she chose him, but even in the first book, I liked Christian better. His ending was kind of sad, but it is nice to know that he has a successful career and a family, even if that family is his sister and her kid. It was also sweet that Angela and Christian were related and didn't know it. I had wondered since Unearthly why there were absolutely no sparks between the two, but now it all makes sense. I have to say though, I thought that ending was a cop-out. Tucker becoming a prophet-really? To me it seemed like the author stuck in a new concept last minute just to make a happy ending because she realized Clara couldn't end up with Christian as was originally planned. Nevertheless, this book was a satisfying ending and I recommend this series to anyone who hasn't read it. Even though you know the ending now if you've read this review.

4.6 stars. 


The past few years have held more surprises than part-angel Clara Gardner could ever have anticipated. Yet from the dizzying highs of first love, to the agonizing low of losing someone close to her, the one thing she can no longer deny is that she was never meant to live a normal life.

Since discovering the special role she plays among the other angel-bloods, Clara has been determined to protect Tucker Avery from the evil that follows her . . . even if it means breaking both their hearts. Leaving town seems like the best option, so she’s headed back to California - and so is Christian Prescott, the irresistible boy from the vision that started her on this journey in the first place.

As Clara makes her way in a world that is frighteningly new, she discovers that the fallen angel who attacked her is watching her every move. And he’s not the only one. . . . With the battle against the Black Wings looming, Clara knows she must finally fulfill her destiny. But it won’t come without sacrifices and betrayal.

In the riveting finale of the Unearthly series, Clara must decide her fate once and for all.

The Indigo Spell, by Richelle Mead (Bloodlines #3)

 After the events (specifically one event) at the end of The Golden Lily, Sydney the alchemist is confused more than ever before. However, she has no time to reflect and contemplate what happened because now she is on a search for Marcus Finch, the alchemist who defected and knows deep dark secrets about the organization. And as if that wasn't enough, there's also a serial-killing witch on the loose and there is a very good chance she will set her sights on Sydney.

I was very very very excited to read The Indigo Spell and it did not disappoint. I loved how the ending was so satisfying even though there is obviously going to be another book (or two). Like the others, this book followed the big plot/little plot format. There was the major overarching plot which involved Sydney looking for Marcus, discovering secrets about being an alchemist, and rethinking her once cemented opinions on all vampires. However, there's also a small plot which has a lot of significance in the book as well. I suppose that's necessary in a series as long as this one though because otherwise the entire overarching plot would have been squished into one novel.

5 stars. How can a girl resist Adrian?

Links to my other Bloodlines posts: Bloodlines and The Golden Lily

 
In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, the Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive—this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone’s out for blood.

Shadowspell, by Jenna Black (Faeriewalker #2)

Dana has had nothing but excitement during her time in Avalon, and everything is about to get a little bit crazier. After her aunt's attempted murder on her life, Dana's father locked Dana up in a safe house to protect her from everyone who would like to kill/use Dana's unique fairiewalker talents. Unfortunately, that's a lot of people. When the mysterious Erlking, a fairie hit-man of sorts, comes to Avalon on a mysterious mission, Dana's dad gets extra terrified for Dana's safety. The Erlking and his minions, the Wild Hunt, want something from Dana and he's willing to resort to the most disturbing of tactics to get it from her.

Most of the time I love the first book, hate the second, and am somewhat ambivalent about the third, but Shadowspell and Glimmerglass were exceptions. I only somewhat liked Glimmerglass, but I gave Shadowspell a chance because the ending was cut off in a way that was solid, yet left me desperate for more. I'm surprised I even bothered with Shadowspell, but I'm happy I did. Glimmerglass was more of an introduction, while Shadowspell actually got the story started, and Sirensong will complete it.

I don't have much to say about Shadowspell because anything I had to say I probably said by Glimmerglass's review, but I will acknowledge two things I appreciated. The first is that the novel was filled with twists and turns. There were multiple climaxes and I liked how everything kept moving. The second was how Dana was a real teenager. She was extremely smart and sensible at times, and extremely stupid and self-centered at other times. She managed to keep cool during crises, yet she insisted on leaving her safe house while the Erlking was around. Though the latter made me want to yell at her, I have to admit that it was nice to read about a heroine who seems mildly realistic.

5 stars.

 On top of spending most of her time in a bunkerlike safe house and having her dates hijacked by a formidable Fae bodyguard, Faeriewalker Dana Hathaway is in for some more bad news: the Erlking and his pack of murderous minions known as the Wild Hunt have descended upon Avalon. With his homicidal appetite and immortal powers, the Erlking has long been the nightmare of the Fae realm.

A fragile treaty with the Faerie Queen, sealed with a mysterious spell, is the one thing that keeps him from hunting unchecked in Avalon, the only place on Earth where humans and Fae live together. Which means Dana’s in trouble, since it’s common knowledge that the Faerie Queen wants her – and her rare Faeriewalker powers – dead. The smoldering, sexy Erlking’s got his sights set on Dana, but does he only seek to kill her, or does he have something much darker in mind?

Lola and the Boy Next Door, by Stephanie Perkins

Anna and St. Clair are back!!!!! In Lola and the Boy Next Door, their friend and coworker Lola is a creative dresser (that was an understatement) with great parents and a hot musician boyfriend. But when the Bell twins, including her childhood crush and lifelong nemesis, return to the house next door, and Lola's mother reenters her life, everything is turned upside down. I would elaborate more but I can't really think of anything else to say.

Lola and the BND was very similar to Anna and the French Kiss, except it was the girl with the boyfriend with a guy pining after her instead of the guy with the girlfriend and the girl pining after him. All other differences in the two stories rely on individual details and emotions, but in some way I did feel like this was Anna and the French Kiss just from St. Clair's perspective.

Strangely enough, I would recommend any prospective readers to read Anna and the French Kiss first even though Lola is more parallel to it than a sequel because Anna isn't the main character. However, the relationship between Anna and St. Clair would have been annoying had I not known the story behind it. It was also cool to see Anna from someone else's perspective. From her own personal description and things that others said in Anna and the FK I had a picture of her in my head, but Lola finished that off and made Anna seem like a real person to me. St. Clair still seemed to good to be true.

**********spoilers ahead**************

I was about to post this when I realized that I've only talked about Anna and said barely anything about Lola, Cricket and co. so here goes. I didn't think Max was as bad as he was in the end. I guess that's because the story is told from Lola's point of view which skewed Max's portrayal a bit, but I really didn't see it. I thought it was incredibly sweet that he actually came to brunch once a week with her parents. Yes, he could have been a lot nicer to Lola's friends, but he's way older than Lola so I understand how he found what's-her-name annoying. Also, what was up with the whole waiting around after the break-up thing? They were so desperate to be together and he clearly wouldn't have been a rebound, so why'd she have to keep both their hearts in pieces for weeks and weeks? I thought it was a bit masochistic but since I've never been in that position I probably shouldn't judge.

5 stars.

 Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion...she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit--more sparkly, more fun, more wild--the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket--a gifted inventor--steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

The Goddess Legacy, by Aimee Carter (The Goddess Test #2.5)

Before I begin I am going to advise all potential readers to read The Goddess Test before The Goddess Legacy. I appreciated Legacy so much more because I was able to connect the characters' actions and development to who they are in the later books. The Goddess Legacy tells about the lives of five of the gods and goddesses in The Goddess Test before Kate Winters made her grand entrance.

The first story is Hera's, or Calliope, as she is called in the other novels and later stories. Hera takes us back to the time right after she and her siblings defeated their father, Kronus. Headstrong and loyal, Hera is stuck in a marriage to the unfaithful king of the gods, Zeus, who controls her life, while she pines for someone else. Hera's story nearly left me crying. I was reminded of the Keira Knightley movie "The Duchess" about the Duchess of Devonshire. Both were married to men who treated them horribly, both were forced to take in their husband's daughters, both were in love with other men, both had tragic endings. It was also horrifying to read about how power-hungry Zeus (Walter) was. At first I was shocked that he was so bad, and even when I understood his character better (though only from afar) I still couldn't connect the desperate man who will do anything to stay in charge and get his way with the quiet and stately Walter in the other books.

Instead of the five stories being totally different entities, I was pleasantly surprised to find all five flowing into each other. Although each story had genuine endings, it was interesting to see what happened after the endings and how the events at the end of each story effected all the characters. Ava/Aphrodite had the next tale and hers was the one I was looking forward to the most. In the other books then Ava, the goddess of love, dallied with several of the gods but she also made it clear that she loved her own husband, Hephaestus, the most. I loved reading about how their love played out and it provided insight into what is probably the most open marriage ever. It was also beautiful to read about Ava's love of love, which is her greatest weakness.

Persephone got the third story, which told us from her perspective about her time with Hades and her love for Adonis. I didn't particularly love this story, and it was a little hard to think of her as the same self-absorbed Persephone as in Goddess Interrupted, but it was still good nonetheless. It also finally explained why she and Ava were fighting over James when it was pretty obvious that neither of them were currently in love with him. In Goddess Interrupted I took Ava's side in the fight, but after reading about Persephone and James, I saw that Ava was being her selfish old self and that Persephone is actually in the right. I found it interesting that neither Ava nor Persephone seemed selfish in their own stories, but that both were totally egocentric in the other books, yet only Persephone was extremely disliked and judged for it. And although I understand why-she treated Hades horribly-she was still forced into marriage at 16 to a guy she didn't love.

The fourth story was about James/Hermes. It was good but I didn't think it provided insight like the other stories did. What James' story did provide was an explanation for the name changes. There was also a goddess named Iris in his story who I am extremely curious about. Where did she come from and is she in the other books and I just don't remember? Or was she invented for only this story? (I know she wasn't invented because she's part of Greek mythology, I'm just wondering about her presence in this series.) Henry's story finished up the bunch. His only told of the time leading up to Kate's arrival and didn't tell a story as much as the others did. Henry's tale was more of a tiny introduction to The Goddess Test.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who read The Goddess Test and Goddess Interrupted and enjoyed them. The stories in Legacy are supplementary to the novels and can increase your appreciation for them by showing you how each god and goddess developed into their unique and seemingly random personas in The Goddess Test.

5 stars.

 
For millennia we've caught only glimpses of the lives and loves of the gods and goddesses on Olympus. Now Aimée Carter pulls back the curtain on how they became the powerful, petty, loving and dangerous immortals that Kate Winters knows.

Calliope/Hera represented constancy and yet had a husband who never matched her faithfulness….

Ava/Aphrodite was the goddess of love and yet commitment was a totally different deal….

Persephone was urged to marry one man, yet longed for another….

James/Hermes loved to make trouble for others;but never knew true loss before….

Henry/Hades's solitary existence had grown too wearisome to continue. But meeting Kate Winters gave him a new hope.

Mothership, by Martin Leicht and Isla Neal

I was going to not review this book because I loved it so much, but then I realized that I was giving up a golden opportunity to review a novel about pregnant teenagers in outer space. Let me repeat that in case you didn't get it the first time-this novel is about PREGNANT TEENAGERS IN OUTER SPACE. The last time I got this excited about a plot was the killer unicorns in Rampant and Ascendent by Diana Peterfreund.

Smart and sassy Elvie got herself knocked up by the gorgeous idiotic Cole shortly before he runs away. Since her father has no idea what to do with her, he sends Elvie off to a school based on a spaceship orbiting Earth. The school has classes special for their expectant mothers, like prenatal water yoga (or something weird like that) as well as normal classes like English, and a staff including doctors to deliver the babies on the way. Then one day, while ditching aforementioned yoga class a bunch of space ninjas (her words not mine) burst into the ship and proceed to kill all the teachers and take over. Then they reveal to the girls that the teachers were all aliens, and all the girls were accepted onto the ship for a specific reason. And then one of the space ninjas takes off his helmet and reveals himself to be the long lost Cole. Yes, this story is that good. Though I shouldn't have to tell you that. After all, it's about PREGNANT TEENAGERS IN OUTER SPACE.

I was initially attracted to this book because of the pretty cover (pink and purple!), then I read the summary and made up my mind that I absolutely must read this book, then I read the short excerpt on the back and starting yelping with excitement about how I couldn't wait to start it. And it didn't disappoint in the slightest. This book is as random and obscure as I hoped it would be, in an awesomely put together and not at all messy way.

5 stars.

 
Teen pregnancy is never easy—especially not when extraterrestrials are involved. The first in a new trilogy.

Elvie Nara was doing just fine in the year 2074. She had a great best friend, a dad she adored, and bright future working on the Ares Project on Mars. But then she had to get involved with sweet, gorgeous, dumb-as-a-brick Cole--and now she’s pregnant.

Getting shipped off to the Hanover School for Expecting Teen Mothers was not how Elvie imagined spending her junior year, but she can go with the flow. That is, until a team of hot commandos hijacks the ship--and one of them turns out to be Cole. She hasn’t seen him since she told him she’s pregnant, and now he’s bursting into her new home to tell her that her teachers are aliens and want to use her unborn baby to repopulate their species? Nice try, buddy. You could have just called.

So fine, finding a way off this ship is priority number one, but first Elvie has to figure out how Cole ended up as a commando, work together with her arch-nemesis, and figure out if she even wants to be a mother--assuming they get back to Earth in one piece.

Anna and the French Kiss, by Stephanie Perkins

If you have spoken to me in the past week you will have already heard of Anna and the French Kiss, as it is my new favorite book. I'm pretty loose with giving out 5 stars, and right now I'm upset about that because it makes this 5-star rating more unimpressive.

When Anna's father decides he needs a more cultured family he sends Anna off the School of America in Paris, or SOAP, to clean off all the American dirt with some Parisian suds (sorry, couldn't help it). Upon arrival Anna is lucky enough to be adopted by a clique which happens to include her dream guy, Etienne St. Clair, who also happens to have a girlfriend. There isn't much else to say about the plot because it just follows Anna's year in France and the ups and downs of her relationships and friendships.

At first I thought Anna and the French Kiss was just a fun light romance but once the drama started I redefined it as more of a happy Sarah Dessen type novel. It was fun, but still serious, which made it extremely life-like. Sometimes these sorts of YA novels get too serious and too involved and forget to show the happy parts of life, or at least don't show them well enough to brighten it up significantly, but in Anna and the French Kiss the happy outweighed the sad.

I don't want to say too much about this book because in this case I think less is more, but there were two details I loved that I must share with you. The first was that Etienne is shorter than Anna. I know, it's stupid, but I loved how no one cared. The love interests in these books are usually everything Etienne is plus tall and Etienne set himself apart from all of those losers by actually being unique. The other thing I loved was how the author made fun of Nicholas Sparks by modeling Anna's father after him. The stupid overly-detailed plots involving cancer and an inevitable unhappy ending for somebody were clearly him but what I really liked was how she pointed out how he totally sold out by writing something stupid that sells. My opinion on Nicholas Sparks is that he probably sits there counting his money and laughing at the gullible women who enjoy the emotional trash he writes. It's refreshing to hear that someone else came to the same conclusion I did.

To end on a happy note: READ THIS NOW IF YOU HAVEN'T YET

5 stars

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris--until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend.

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss?

The Runaway Princess, by Hester Browne

Amy is a totally average girl. She's pretty, but not gorgeous, smart, but not a genious, and is also a little shy. After a party-crashing disaster, Amy meets Leo, her prince charming. However, it isn't until after they've gone out once or twice that Amy finds out her prince charming really is a prince, 5th in line to the throne of the tiny island Nirona. Suddenly, Amy is thrust into a world she never dreamed of being part of, full of fancy balls and galas and expensive dresses, but she still holds on to her gardening roots (pun not intended-she really is a gardener). When a series of events forces Leo closer to the throne than anyone expected, Amy is pushed even farther into his world and is faced with the biggest dilemma of her life: be with the man she loves and become a totally new person, or stay true to herself?

Overall thoughts:
Totally adorable!!! Hester Browne always adds something to her novels that make them more than just another stupid romance and this one was no different. The main theme of the Runaway Princess was to be who you are and not to change yourself for someone else, which I thought was very similar to the theme in The Little Lady and the Prince. In both books the main character questions how much of herself she should compromise in a relationship with a man she loves, only to discover or learn later that compromise has to go both ways.

What I expected vs. what I got:
Based on the description, I thought that The Runaway Princess would start with Amy and Leo already engaged, and I was pleasantly surprised to find Amy single at the start of the book. I loved how the novel is set up in a way to take the reader on a journey through Amy and Leo's relationship. It gave the plot a depth that it otherwise wouldn't have had because it made me fall in love with them while they fell for each other. If the story had only started once they were engaged and all the drama started then I wouldn't have been committed to Amy and Leo as a couple and probably would have wanted her to dump him for some sweet normal guy, because I love reading the beginning of the love story.

Characters:
I absolutely adored the cast of characters in The Runaway Princess. Every single one was unique, round, and memorable, with totally different personalities. In particular I loved Jo and she was the perfect "quirky best friend". Jo was supposed to play second-string to Amy, as this was Amy's story, but Jo managed to take over any scene she was in with her big personality. This may sound a little off because she was only supposed to be on the side, but I liked it because I felt like this was how Jo and Amy would be if they were real people, just because of Amy's shyness. Jo also had that perfect best friend quality which can be very hard to find, which is a complete lack of jealousy. In a book about a girl being engaged to a prince you'd think that her best friend would be jealous but Browne managed to create a best friend whose happiness for the future princess was one hundred percent genuine.
I wouldn't be able to write about the characters without mentioning Zoe. She had only two appearances but I loved both of them, especially the second one which was so good I nearly started crying (in a good way!!!). I would say more but this part was so good that my words wouldn't do it justice.

5 stars.

If Amy Wilde’s new boyfriend, Leo, treats her like a queen, that’s because he’s secretly a prince himself: Leopold William Victor Wolfsburg of Nirona, the ninth most eligible royal bachelor in the world. Amy soon discovers that dating an heir to a throne has many charms—intimate alfresco dinners, glittering galas, and, for a girl who lives in jeans and wellies, a dazzling new wardrobe with tiaras to match. But there are also drawbacks: imagine the anxiety of meeting your boyfriend’s parents multiplied by a factor of “riding in a private jet,” “staying in a castle,” and “discussing the line of succession over lunch.” Not to mention the sudden press interest in your very un-royal family. When an unexpected turn of events pushes Leo closer to the throne, the Wolfsburgs decide to step up Amy’s transformation from down-to-earth gardener to perfectly polished princess-in-waiting. Amy would do anything for Leo, but is finding her Prince Charming worth the price of losing herself?

Outside In, by Maria V. Snyder (Insiders, #2)

To read my review on the first Insiders book, Inside Out, click here.

The fight against the Travas is over and the society in the cube flying through space is on their way to democracy. Or at least, that's what Trella thought would happen after the events of Inside Out. However, trying to install a new system of government is a lot harder than it seems (and it seems pretty hard!!) and the citizens of Inside are facing a new unknown danger. Mysterious explosions are occurring on board and everyone is looking at Trella and her Force of Sheep to save the day once again. With the fate of her world on her hands Trella must explore her homeship for new areas and clues as to the mission of the ship is, and find the villain exploding parts of her home and endangering her friends, all while trying to spend time with her new boyfriend. And when Trella discovers that this new threat is from Outside, everything she knows is turned upside down and inside out (sorry, couldn't help myself).

Overall thoughts:
I absolutely loved this book. It took me a while to actually pick it up because when a prequel has a solid ending like Inside Out did, I don't want to mess up the perfect world in my head. However, once I started Outside In I couldn't put it down. I'm not kidding-I read it in one day because I just couldn't go to sleep without finishing it, and that doesn't usually happen to me on a school night. I should probably include though that I did skim parts of the book because of the technical lingo. I knew it wouldn't overwhelm me if I bothered to read it through and understand it, but I just wanted to get to the good stuff and I didn't want to waste time on the boring stuff.

Plot speed:
Very fast. This book doesn't waste time. Once the story started, which took a few pages because we first had to be reminded of what happened in Inside Out and given an update on where things stand at the moment, it went fast. There were very few calm moments, but that didn't bother me because there were still some still moments in the middle of the chaos that allowed Trella (and the reader) time to gather her thoughts.

Characters:
Way too many. I lost track at some point. There were plenty of characters in Inside Out and in Outside In all of those characters return plus some new ones. And it's also important to remember who's good and who's bad, who can be trusted and who can't be and all of that nonsense. I had to reread several parts to keep myself from getting too confused and to remind myself whose on which side and how many sides there were.

My favorite parts:
Anytime sheep were mentioned!!!!! I loved how livestock the characters never saw in real life played such a prominent part in the story and represented a rebellion. Seriously, who would ever consider representing a rebellion with a tame animal like a sheep? Even a goat is less ridiculous! But the sheep (especially Sheepy) were what drew me in and kept me laughing even when I had no right to.

Romance:
This book made my heart squeal. I didn't really like Trella and Riley's relationship in Inside Out because I kind of felt like she was doing all the work and he was just there to be a pretty face, but he did his share of hard work in Outside In to make up for that. Their romance was sweet and innocent in a world where nothing else was.

Sequel possible?
I'm not sure. The ending was very well-rounded and left almost no cracks to slip another novel in, but I would have said the same thing after finishing Inside Out.

5 stars. Despite my complaints, this book was truly awesome. 

 
Me?

A leader?

Okay, I did prove that there's more to Inside than we knew. That a whole world exists beyond this cube we live in. And finding that led to a major rebellion—between worker scrubs like me and the snobby uppers who rule our world. Make that ruled. Because of me, we're free. I thought that meant I was off the hook, and could go off on my own again—while still touching base with Riley, of course. He's the one upper I think I can trust. But then we learned that there's outside and then there is Outside.

And something from Outside wants In.

Cinder, by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles #1)

Picture Cinderella in your head. Now picture Cinderella the cyborg mechanic living in a dystopian future where the people are being plagued by a mysterious disease called letumosis and Earth's citizens are working to prevent war with the moon's citizens. After her beloved step-sister is diagnosed and taken away to die in quarantine, Cinder's step-mother volunteers her step-daughter outcast for research. Cinder is taken away to be a guinea pig and learns new things about herself that she never would have dreamed of (I'm not talking about self-discovery, but actual physical things about herself). Meanwhile, Cinder is also trying to fix a droid that may be an issue of national security for the handsome prince while attempting not to fall for him.

Overall thoughts:
There are some books which have plain and/or cliche plots but are written so well that they seem unique. Other books have such unique stories that even if the prose isn't incredible, it doesn't matter. Cinder is one of the latter. The prose wasn't exactly inspiring, but the plot was so different and far-fetched that i didn't care. I will say that this book is extremely predictable so I wasn't very surprised at any of the "OMG!!" moments.

Characters:
Because of the complexities in the plot I felt there wasn't much room for character development. Therefore, the villains seemed entirely one-sided. I understand that Levana is supposed to be evil incarnated, but Adri is supposed to have a tiny bit of good in her. The only time Adri showed that she was remotely human was when she showed grief at her daughter's sickness, but even then she turned that emotion evil when she sent Cinder away.

Supernatural elements:
This book is definitely more sci-fi than fantasy and the author makes sure to quell any bits of fantasy with scientific explanations by explaining that magic is actually bioelectricity.

Stand alone vs. series:
As much as I do enjoy a good series, I also enjoy when a book in a series can also stand alone just in case someone doesn't get around to the next book. This book didn't leave the reader with much choice, and the ending was one desperate for a sequel.

Romance:
The romance between Cinder and Kai was a sweet one that was based on crushes. It wasn't a squealy romance, rather one that was only there to make this a cinderella story.

5 stars. 


Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

The Betrayal of the Blood Lily, by Lauren Willig (Pink Carnation #6)

Here are links to my reviews of some of the previous books in the Pink Carnation series:
The Secret History of the Pink Carnation (book #1)
The Seduction of the Crimson Rose (book #4)
The Temptation of the Night Jasmine (book #5)

The Betrayal of the Blood Lily is another in the Pink Carnation series, which combines modern romance with historical fiction, 18th century espionage, and good old-fashioned romance. In Blood Lily we are reunited with the impulsive and impossible Penelope who has just arrived in India with her new husband, Lord Frederick Staines. Freddie was sent to investigate a British officer in India, and the new couple undergoes numerous adventures on the way. Traveling as their guide in India is Captain Alex Reid, who is more than surprised to discover Penelope isn't the woman he expected her to be.

Overall Review:
This was the most satisfying of all the Pink Carnation novels. The modern story was good because the slow pace was actually okay for once. Eloise and Colin are finally together so the fact that their story would have lost a race against a snail didn't bother me. It was sweet to see their day to day lives as a couple. The historical romance in Blood Lily was satisfying and a lot edgier than the previous books, which made me enjoy it all the more. The other books were all pretty similar, but this one was jarringly different in a wonderful way.

Reading and Plot Speed:
This book, like all the others, was an easy and fast read. And once you reach the exciting parts, you are forced to finish it in one sitting.

Characters:
All the reviews I read about Blood Lily before reading it claimed that Penelope is the best of the heroines in the Pink Carnation series. I was inclined to disagree at the time because I thought her annoying and selfish in previous books. I remembered her as that girl who was friends with Hen and Charlotte and would constantly be putting them down while waiting for them to help her out of whatever heap of trouble she had just gotten into. However, once I started Blood Lily I grew to love Penelope more than any of the rest because she was the first one with not only brain or guts, but both. Another thing I liked a lot was how Alex was of a lower station than Penelope. In all the previous books the girls would marry up, but here Penelope is willing to let go of her extravagant lifestyle as Lady Staines and live life with the man she loves. Alex was a perfect match for Penelope because he completely balanced out Penelope's extreme personality.

Random Thoughts:
My biggest problem with the previous books was how they made sometimes fatal espionage seem fun and harmless. Blood Lily was a little darker and edgier than the others so it did add a bit more genuine historical flavor, but was still a little too fluffy.

5 stars.

The heroines of Lauren Willig's bestselling Pink Carnation series have engaged in espionage all over nineteenth-century Europe. In the sixth stand-alone volume, our fair English heroine travels to India, where she finds freedom—and risk—more exciting than she ever imagined.

Everyone warned Miss Penelope Deveraux that her unruly behavior would land her in disgrace someday. She never imagined she's be whisked off to India to give the scandal of her hasty marriage time to die down. As Lady Frederick Staines waits, Penelope plunges into the treacherous waters of the court of the Nizam of Hyderabad, where no one is quite what they seem—even her husband. In a strange country, where elaborate court dress masks even more elaborate intrigues and a dangerous spy called the Marigold leaves venomous cobras as his calling card, there is only one person Penelope can trust...

Captain Alex Reid has better things to do than play nursemaid to a pair of aristocrats. Or so he thinks—until Lady Frederick Staines out-shoots, out-rides, and out-swims every man in the camp. She also has an uncanny ability to draw out the deadly plans of the Marigold and put herself in harm's way. With danger looming from local warlords, treacherous court officials, and French spies, Alex realizes that an alliance with Lady Staines just might be the only thing standing in the way of a plot designed to rock the very foundations of the British Empire...

The Sleeping Beauty, by Mercedes Lackey (Five Hundred Kingdoms #5)

To read my review of The Snow Queen (Five Hundred Kingdoms #4), click here.

Rosamund is a princess in the center of several fairy tales, and she is determined to make the most of them. She is kidnapped, put in a coma, woken up, and orphaned, and Rosamund is determined to control her own destiny. When Rosamund and her fairy godmother/evil stepmother, Lily, feel the Tradition closing in, this unlikely duo teams up to make sure Rosamund and her kingdom get their happy endings.

Thoughts immediately after reading:
OMG BEST 500 KINGDOMS BOOK EVER!!!!!! After thinking about it for a few minutes, I realized that I had this reaction after reading most of the others, so what I'm telling you is that this book is amazing and didn't ruin the books that came before it.

Reading speed:
Slow. I tend to speed through the books I really enjoy but I couldn't speed through this one. I don't know what it was about this, but the words needed a little more processing time. Despite this, I had a hard time putting this book down, which was why it took me over a week to finish.

Characters:
This is going to sound really petty, but my main comments on the characters in this novel are on their names. Siegfried, Leopold, and Desmond are a little too....I don't know the right word but they aren't names I particularly like. None of those names excite anything but snickers in me for some odd reason. Siegfried and Leopold are very old-fashioned and although the book takes place in a time of knights and princesses, it does have a modern feel to it and those names just didn't belong. I did love the name Sable, but sable is a carnivorous weasel and is supposed to have a negative connotation.

My Favorite Character:
Luna the unicorn! Or as I think of her, the Lunicorn! I love her cuteness and awesomeness and I want a unicorn. I also want to be a godmother. Basically, I want to live in the 500 Kingdoms.

Supernatural elements:
For anyone who hasn't caught on yet, the 500 Kingdoms books take place in a world where fairy tales repeatedly come to life, just not necessarily with happy endings. There are no vampires or werewolves, but there are princesses and unicorns which are way better.

Romance:
The romance in this book was scattered but satisfying. It wasn't the focus of the book but it did add a little flair. What was fun about the romance in this book was the doubt over who Rosamund would end up with. Sorry, that was incorrect-it was completely obvious who she would end up with, but I pretended like I didn't know and enjoyed every second of them falling for each other.

Ending:
Don't worry-no spoilers here. All I'm going to say is that it was a cute and satisfying ending and everyone got their just desserts.

Unsolved mysteries:
What was up with that bird? I was disappointed when no information was given about her except that she's a "wise beast." She played such an important role that a name or an explanation would have been fitting. Since she didn't have either she felt more like a crystal ball than a character.

5 stars

 
Heavy is the head--and the eyelids--of the princess who wears the crown...In Rosamund's realm, happiness hinges on a few simple beliefs:For every princess there's a prince.

The king has ultimate power.

Stepmothers should never be trusted.

And bad things come to those who break with Tradition....

But when Rosa is pursued by a murderous huntsman and then captured by dwarves, her beliefs go up in smoke. Determined to escape and save her kingdom from imminent invasion, she agrees to become the guinea pig in one of her stepmother's risky incantations--thus falling into a deep, deep sleep.

When awakened by a touchy-feely stranger, Rosa must choose between Tradition and her future...between a host of eligible princes and a handsome, fair-haired outsider. And learn the difference between being a princess and ruling as a queen.

The moral of the story? Sometimes a princess has to create her own happy endings....

Palace of Stone, by Shannon Hale (Princess Academy #2)

Coming down from the mountain to a new life in the city seems a thrill beyond imagining. When Miri and her friends from Mount Eskel set off to help the future princess Britta prepare for her royal wedding, she is happy about her chance to attend school in the capital city. There, Miri befriends students who seem so sophisticated and exciting... until she learns that they have some frightening plans. They think that Miri will help them, that she "should "help them. Soon Miri finds herself 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. Picking up where "Princess Academy "left off, this incredible stand-alone story celebrates the joys of friendship, the delight of romance, and the fate of a beloved fairy tale kingdom.

Miri and her gang of would-be princesses, along with her sort-of boyfriend Peder, are going to Asland! More specifically, they're going to the palace to be ladies to the princess, their friend Britta, at her wedding to Prince Steffan. Miri and her crew will be leaving Mount Eskel for the year and are expecting to find a land full of riches and happy people. Miri is thrilled to spend her time in her nation's capital in university and is surprised to learn that there is plenty of unrest in Asland besides for what just happened at Mount Eskel as the "shoeless", the destitute peasants, are banding together to rise up against the king and his family. Miri is torn between the rebellion, complete with her new friend Timon and what seems to be right, and her loyalty to her friend Britta and a future with Peder.

The plot of Palace of Stone sounds a lot more serious than it actually is because the entire book has a cotton-candy coating that makes it kid-friendly and adorable. Miri is a big personality in a tiny cute package and a respectable role model for young girls as she teaches readers to never be afraid to speak up. Her romance with Peder is perfect. Princess Academy left off with potential for Miri and Peder and Palace of Stone continued it perfectly. The romance wasn't at a complete standstill, just moving at the same slow pace it was used to which made it seem more realistic. Princess Academy didn't make any promises, but Palace of Stone delivered anyway.

As sequels go, this is one of the best I've read in a while. I say this because unlike many other sequels, this one has the ability to stand on its own. It doesn't completely rely on its readers knowing everything from the first book but it doesn't either repeat everything that had happened over again in a condensed few pages that seem redundant and annoying to anyone who knows the story. Palace flowed in a totally un-sequelly by introducing a whole new plot while retaining many elements from the first book and by referring to its events several times. All in all, this was a fantastic sequel and I urge anyone who hasn't read it or Princess Academy to do so right away.

5 stars. This is a book that girls of all ages can enjoy and I WANT ME SOME LINDER!!!