The Iron King, by Julie Kagawa (The Iron Fey #1)

When Meghan's little brother is kidnapped and replaced with an evil fairy child thingy, Meghan sets off to fairyland, called NeverNever, to rescue him. Upon arrival Meghan discovers that she is the long lost child of one of the rulers, and that finding her brother will be a lot more complicated than she expected. With the help of the mischievous Puck and the handsome prince Ash, Meghan faces an enemy unlike one that anyone in NeverNever had ever heard of before.

For some reason, I don't find YA fantasy about fairies nearly as satisfying as any about other sorts of fantastical creatures. This book didn't defy that expectation, but it was one of the better fairy books that I've read. It did have all the same annoying markings-a half mortal/half fairy main character, dark brooding handsome prince love interest, her long-lost father is king, rescuing a mortal loved one-but it didn't feel as overdone as most other fairy novels. Perhaps because in this book the fairy world had rules that made sense and were easy to follow, as opposed to the ones where random things happen and are explained afterwards.

Was it just me, or did the Ash romance happen too fast? One second they're mortal enemies, and the next they're true love. It happened so quickly that my initial thought was that he was pranking her or part of some elaborate scheme on his mother's part. He may very well might be though, because there are still more books left to the series.

4.0 stars

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined.

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

The Elite, by Kiera Cass (The Selection #2)

 America is faced with a choice. She can accept her prince's proposal and end the Selection, becoming princess of the realm, or she can run off with her first love Aspen and live the rest of her life away from all the political drama. As America is pulled in both directions, the Selection continues and Prince Maxon starts getting close to another one of his chosen few. When rebels attack repeatedly, America must look inside herself and determine what she really wants-why is she still here, and what is her destiny?

This book only took me 2 hours to read. I don't know if it was an easy read, or if I was so desperate to know what will happen next that I half-skimmed it, but I was done in 2 hours. I enjoyed learning the history of how the castes were formed and why they still exist because it gave the series more depth and explained some things I'd been wondering about, namely why there are castes at all. I have just realized the obvious redundancy in the previous sentence, but I refuse to change it, so I am very sorry if it bothers you.


SPOILERS AHEAD

I am 100% Team Maxon, and I was thrilled when America made her choice. I figured she would choose Maxon in the end, just because she didn't run off with Aspen as soon as he asked her to, but it was still nice to have confirmation. Not only do we know now who America will end up with (because there's going to be a happy ending after the third book, no doubt about it), we also know who the real villains are, which is a relief. The first book was wishy-washy about the rebels and who they are and what they want, but finally the truth has been revealed, that the antagonist of the novels are not the rebels, but the king himself. I should have predicted it, but his lack of presence in the first book just made me think that he would be killed off soon. Oh, well. I was wrong. Now we can move on to the third book with all the facts laid out-we know who America will end up with, and who they will have to defeat.
  
Also, I compared this book to The Hunger Games, and like Katniss, America chose her Peeta.

4.8 stars.

 
Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

Princess of the Silver Woods, by Jessica Day George (Princess #3)

In the final book about the Twelve Dancing Princesses, the main character is the youngest sister, Petunia. Petunia is on her way to visit an old duchess from Russaka (Russia's equivalent in the alternate universe) when her carriage is overtaken by the Wolves of the Westfalin Woods (or something alliterative like that). When Petunia turns out not to be as docile as expected, Oliver, the leader of the wolves, unintentionally kidnaps her. Feeling bad for what he's done, Oliver brings Petunia to her destination, and while there, he discovers that Petunia is in danger. The new King Under Stone is determined to have his twelve brides, and will do anything to get them in his clutches once and for all. Will the sisters' fight against the evil king finally end, almost fifteen years after it started?

The first book in this series, Princess of the Midnight Ball, was about Rose, the oldest of the 12 sisters. The second book, Princess of Glass, was about Poppy, one of the many middle sisters. This is the last book, and it is about Petunia, the youngest of them all. I liked how there was time between the 1st and 2nd, and 2nd and 3rd of the novels because it shows more development in the characters. The 2nd book didn't take place in the Westfalin castle so there was barely any interaction between the sisters, but I liked how in the 3rd book I could compare the sisters as they are now to how they were almost ten years earlier in the 1st book. It was also fun to see a continuation of all the little nuances in each of the sister's characters. Each one had a distinct character trait in the first book (there are too many sisters for each one to have a fully developed character) and they still had in this book, just all grown up. I just realized that what I wrote is a long chain of babbling. I hope it makes sense.

This book got a lot darker than I expected it too, but the ending was adorable. The dark and twisty parts didn't stray too much from the overall cuteness, but it did give the story more validity.

One last thing before I go: I realized while reading this book that the only other books with the names Pansy and Petunia in them are the Harry Potter books. And they weren't exactly pleasant characters there either. Just something to think about :)

4.6 stars.
Before reading the publisher's summary, I want to warn any prospective readers that it contains some information that may be classified as spoilers. (I consider any information not discovered until halfway or through or not blatantly obvious to be a spoiler.)

 
When Petunia, the youngest of King Gregor's twelve dancing daughters, is invited to visit an elderly friend in the neighboring country of Westfalin, she welcomes the change of scenery. But in order to reach Westfalin, Petunia must pass through a forest where strange two-legged wolves are rumored to exist. Wolves intent on redistributing the wealth of the noble citizens who have entered their territory. But the bandit-wolves prove more rakishly handsome than truly dangerous, and it's not until Petunia reaches her destination that she realizes the kindly grandmother she has been summoned to visit is really an enemy bent on restoring an age-old curse. The stories of Red Riding Hood and Robin Hood get a twist as Petunia and her many sisters take on bandits, grannies, and the new King Under Stone to end their family curse once and for all.

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?

Foretold: 14 Tales of Prophecy and Prediction, edited by Carrie Ryan

The ideas connecting all the stories in this book was fascinating. Each author took the topic of prophecy and prediction and interpreted it completely differently. It was cool to read all the different takes and twists on this one topic, especially because none of them were as generic as I expected.

Gentlemen Send Phantoms, by Laini Taylor: I loved this story so much that it inspired me to read Laini Taylor's novels. It was light and sweet with hints of fantasy but with the uncertainty if whether what you're reading is fantasy at all.

Burned Bright, by Diana Peterfreund: Diana Peterfreund is one of my favorite authors and I found out about her when I read her short story in "Zombies and Unicorns". This story was absolutely fascinating. The twist at the end reminded me of the O'Henry stories I had to read in 8th grade, the ones with the shocking endings. After reading the last line of this story my jaw dropped and it took about five minutes for me to get it shut. It was totally unlike the killer unicorn or the Secret Society Girl books, which was quite unexpected and shows great talent on the author's part that she could write in such different styles.

The Angriest Man, by Lisa McMann: This story kind of scared me. I'm not sure how literally I was supposed to take it but I'm not much of a fan of symbolism so if there was any, I didn't get it. This take on prediction was one of self-fulfilled prophecy and for some reason I just thought of the movie "Megamind" in that everyone expects the main character to be bad. Don't be mistaken though-this story is NOTHING like Megamind.

Out of the Blue, by Meg Cabot: Cute, but typical Meg Cabot. One of my favorite stories in the book.

One True Love, by Malinda Lo: The only way I can describe this story is lesbian Oedipus Rex. But I think that was the point of the story.

This is a Mortal Wound, by Michael Grant: Very very interesting but I couldn't figure out how this story connected with prophecy and prediction.

Misery, by Heather Brewer: Fascinating and introspective. I didn't particularly enjoy it, but I did appreciate it.

The Mind is a Powerful Thing, by Matt de la Pena: Another story of self-fulfilled prophecy, just this time with a paranoid girl who thinks the world is out to get her.

The Chosen One, by Saundra Mitchell: Sweet and strong. A more classic take on the whole prophecy idea, but the main character was full of spunk.

Improbable Futures, by Kami Garcia: Not a particularly unique story, but definitely good. I wasn't a huge fan of Beautiful Creatures so I wasn't looking forward to reading this story or the next one, but this story was a lot darker than I realized. This story is about a fake fortune teller who realizes that everything she is predicting starts coming true.

Death for the Deathless, by Margaret Stohl: This story was the first that had a prediction loop which makes you question what comes first. I liked a few of the other stories, but this one was definitely my number one favorite. I was shocked when I looked at the author's name and realized that I thought her other books were stupid.

Fate, by Simone Elkeles: This story had no fantasy involved but was just a short contemporary romance. Another goodie.

The Killing Garden, by Carrie Ryan: This story was nasty. The concept was messed up and made me cringe multiple times. I felt bad for the main character for not realizing the truth behind her father's words until the end, but the end of the story was okay.

Homecoming, by Richelle Mead: To anyone who hasn't read the Vampire Academy books, this story will seem out of place and won't be fully understood. To anyone who has, it's nice to read about Dimitri's reunion with his family.

3.6 stars.

 Have you ever been tempted to look into the future? To challenge predictions? To question fate? It's human nature to wonder about life's twists and turns. But is the future already written—or do you have the power to alter it?

From fantastical prophecies to predictions of how the future will transpire, Foretold is a collection of stories about our universal fascination with life's unknowns and of what is yet to come as interpreted by 14 of young adult fiction's brightest stars.

Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles #2), by Marissa Meyer

Scarlet's grandmother has been missing for over two weeks and she is willing to do anything to bring her back alive. After her alcoholic father gives her a clue to her grandmother's kidnappers that leads to a street fighter named Wolf, Scarlet sets off on a journey to Paris with Wolf as her guide. Scarlet knows Wolf is hiding things from her, and as his secrets start to unfold Scarlet learns that she and her grandmother are in a lot more danger than they ever would have imagined. Meanwhile, in Asia, Cinder is planning her escape from prison and has found a partner in crime who happens to have a ship. Cinder wants to find out what happened to her during the missing years before her adoption and how she got her magnificently wired brain. Her journey takes her to France, where she and Scarlet cross paths on quests with seemingly different yet similar goals.

As is the case with many second books (I think I've used that line before) this book did not live up to the first one. With that said, I will remind you, if you've read my review of Cinder, that the only reason Cinder got a five-star rating was because the plot shone through the mediocre prose. Unfortunately for Scarlet, the plot took a long time to get good and even once it did it was only for a few short pages before the story returned to the unexciting once more. However, I will admit that despite my dislike for Scarlet's point of view, the connection to the first book was very good and it continued the story well while still retaining its independence as its own book and not merely a continuation of the first one.

4.2 stars.

The fates of Cinder and Scarlet collide as a Lunar threat spreads across the Earth...

Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

The Essence, by Kimberly Derting (The Pledge #2)

After the supposed defeat of the evil Queen Sabara, Charlaina is now queen and has installed a New Something-or-other in her that represents freedom in her kingdom. No longer are the classes separated by tongue, school or work-everybody is now equal (except for the fact that there's a queen of course). However, now everybody is happy with this new regime, and some would like to go back to the days of free labor and superiority. While trying to deal with the threat of rebellion, Charlie is also invited to a summit of queens. She must dodge would-be assassins and lovers along the way and must also deal with the secret evil inside her head. No one but her sister knows of the essence lurking in Charlie's body, eager to find a new host, and Charlie must fight not only rebels and assassins, but the woman trying to take her over.

Just like The Pledge, I unintentionally read this book really fast. I didn't mean to, just once I started I felt an urge to finish it. The Essence was a very good sequel and middle book of a trilogy in that it continued the first book with minimal disappointment and it had a good and satisfying ending of its own while still leaving something unsolved so the reader will come back for book #3.

It was interesting to read about Sabara's history. In The Pledge she came off as as evil as Voldemort, with no redeeming qualities at all leading everyone including her own grandsons to hate her. Her backstory didn't explain where any of that comes from but it did show that she does have a heart. The ancient essence of evil didn't come from nowhere, and it was refreshing and tormenting to read her memories.

4.0 stars

At the luminous conclusion of The Pledge, Charlaina defeated the tyrant Sabara and took her place as Queen of Ludania. But Charlie knows that Sabara has not disappeared: The evil queen’s Essence is fused to Charlie’s psyche, ready to arise at the first sign of weakness.

Charlie is not weak, but she’s being pushed to the brink. In addition to suppressing the ever-present influence of Sabara, she’s busy being queen—and battling a growing resistance determined to return Ludania to its discriminatory caste system. Charlie wants to be the same girl Max loves, who Brook trusts, but she’s Your Majesty now, and she feels torn in two.

As Charlie journeys to an annual summit to meet with leaders of nearby Queendoms—an event where her ability to understand all languages will be the utmost asset—she is faced with the ultimate betrayal. And the only person she can turn to for help is the evil soul residing within.

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?

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!!!

The Pledge, by Kimberly Derting

  In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed.

Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.

In a future where castes are defined by language and queens have magic, Charlie is special-she can understand everyone. Charlie must hide this talent and pretend not to understand when people from classes higher than hers speak. She, and all the others in her caste, the merchant caste, must look at the ground, never in the eyes of a person superior to them, and must be careful not to break even the tiniest law or risk being beheaded. Because of the oppression from the evil, elderly, and increasingly senile queen, a rebellion starts and flows through the underground party world where anyone from any caste can come for relief. In one of these clubs Charlie meets Max and the two have a spark immediately, but Max has a secret (which I predicted before the character's first appearance) which combined with Charlie's talent can change the destiny of the entire country.

One of the most important characters in The Pledge is Charlie's mute little sister, Angelina, who is just as special as Charlie is. However, no matter how unique four-year-old Angelina is, she is just too mature for her age. Angelina's character was the essence of good and she had almost nothing else to her. In complete contrast to Angelina (and Charlie) is the queen. Queen Sabara (or not-read the first chapter and try not to freak out too much) is completely evil without a single redeeming quality, which is good because it makes hating her that much easier. Her actions horrified me, especially because of the way she treated other's lives. It was as if anyone in her way was a bug for her to squish. This is one villain who didn't even act like her actions were for the good of the country but acknowledged that they were just for herself.

One aspect I really liked was that even though Charlie was super special and all that jazz she couldn't have gotten anywhere without her friends and she knows it. She recognizes her own deeds as important but also gives out the proper credit to the ones around her. I also liked the relationship between Charlie and her best friend, Brooklynn. (I am totally Brooklynn-and not because I live there.) It's a friendship where two people who are totally different actually care about each other. I liked how it seemed uneven in certain areas because it showed that their friendship was a valid one and not one based on other things. On the other hand, Charlie and Max's chemistry seemed totally fake to me. There was too much of it and not enough communicating. They trusted each other way too easily for the amount of words shared between them. (Despite my complaints, the chemistry was a lot of fun to read.) Charlie's friends Aron and Sydney were AWOL for most of the book, coming in here and there for scenes that had barely any impact on the events of the book. My only consolation for my unfulfilled desire to see more of these characters who I actually wanted to read about is that they'll probably be featured more in the sequel.

This is one of the only young adult fantasy books I've read in a long time that can actually stand alone. Although there will be a sequel, the ending was satisfying and left me comfortable. Because the book was good, I probably will read the sequel but I don't feel the uncomfortable pressure to finish the story. The Pledge was one of the most predictable books I have ever encountered. The foreshadowing was abundant and not as subtle as I would have liked so I managed to predict multiple different happenings pages before they occurred. It was a little weak because of that, and I didn't like the dread that set in when I realized what was going to happen, but The Pledge was so good that I'll forgive it.

4.8 stars.