Review Wednesday: The Princess Trials by Cordelia Castel

Title: The Princess Trials (The Princess Trials #1)

Author: Cordelia Castel
1st Date of Publication: May 2, 2020

ISBN:  9798642502532
# of Pages: 202

Genre: Young Adult Dystopian Society

Age Rating: 13+

Buy it on Amazon

Book Description:
Thirty young women. A handsome prince. A battle to the death.

Water is scarce. Deserts have taken over the land. Nuclear war has devastated humanity. Humans live in walled super cities to keep out the irradiated. The land that was formerly known as America is divided into kingdoms ruled by royal elites.

Born into the lowest Echelon of the Kingdom of Phangloria, sixteen-year-old Zea Calico faces a life of hunger, thirst, and toil. The only way out of this drudgery is revolution, and Zea is desperate to help the cause.

When the palace calls for candidates to compete to marry Prince Kevon, Zea joins the Princess Trials to search the palace for weaknesses.

The trials should be a fairytale of sumptuous meals, ballgowns, and romance, but one misplaced word causes Zea to attract the Prince's attention. When Zea uncovers the man beneath Prince Kevon's public facade, she is at risk of falling in love and losing sight of her mission.

But the televised beauty pageant turns deadly, and Zea must fight for survival.

Setting: Phangloria
Point of View: 1st person- Zea Calico

Goodreads Rating: 3.43

My Rating: 3.25

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: This must be America still because she has red hair, but she's beautiful.
View on Title: After the trilogy has ended, it makes sense that the novellas that could follow would show how happy the start of America and Maxon's lives are together.

Pros:

• The concept of the novel/series is really interesting. It is basically a twist of The Selection and The Hunger Games. I thought the execution of this was done well enough.
• The characters in the novel were an interesting mix and was a perfect mix of The Hunger Games and The Selection
• Zea Calico reminds me more of a Katniss Everdeen as she is a rebel heart but her motivations are similar to America Singer. Zea is a bit on the naive side and is fueled by both anger and a desire for change.
• Ryce Wintergreen reminds me very much of Gale Hawthorne. He's a born leader and encourages Zea to fight for what she believes in. He does come off to be a little manipulative, and I wish there was more characterization on him.
• Prince Kevon doesn't remind me too much of the characters from The Hunger Games and The Selection. The closest association would be Prince Maxon simply because he seems to be taking this whole Princess Trials thing seriously as he tries to find his wife and future queen. I am looking forward to more of his characterization in the upcoming books.
• The cliff hanger makes me want to keep reading on despite some of the struggles of staying with the book in the middle of it.

Cons:

• This book felt a little bit difficult to stay focused on. It got lost mid-way through and struggled to get back into the story.
• Some of the plot was a little bit all over the place so it was sometimes hard to keep track of what is going on.

Critics' Reviews:

“This book was fast paced and I couldn’t put it down. I loved the story. I think the characters are well written and there is a good balance to the writing. I was really looking forward to reading the book and it did not disappoint." —Amazon Review

Cordelia K. Castel's Website:

http://www.cordeliakcastel.com

 

Other Recommendations:
The Jewel by Amy Ewing

The Selection by Kiera Cass
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Review Wednesday: Happily Ever After by Kiera Cass

*DO NOT READ THIS REVIEW UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THE SELECTION TRILOGY. THERE MAY BE SOME SPOILER. If you want to read this series, read my review about The Selection by clicking on the link: Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

Title: Happily Ever After (The Selection #0.4, 0.5, 2.5, 3.1, 3.5, 5.1)

Author: Kiera Cass
1st Date of Publication: October 13, 2015

ISBN:  9780062414083
# of Pages: 387

Genre: Young Adult Dystopian Society

Age Rating: 13

Buy it on Amazon

Book Description:
Meet Prince Maxon before he fell in love with America, and a girl named Amberly before she became queen. See the Selection through the eyes of a guard who watched his first love drift away and a girl who fell for a boy who wasn't the prince.

This series companion is a must-have for any Selection fan, and includes:
The Prince
The Guard
The Queen
The Favorite

Setting: Illea (United States) in the future
Point of View: 1st person- America Singer

Goodreads Rating: 4.17

My Rating: 4.25

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: This must be America still because she has red hair, but she's beautiful.
View on Title: After the trilogy has ended, it makes sense that the novellas that could follow would show how happy the start of America and Maxon's lives are together.

Pros:

• There isn't too much to say about this because these are separate novellas from the original series.
• All I have to say is that I love how you can get a view of several characters that we all love dearly. If you're Team Aspen or Team Maxon, this may sway you to be in the middle because I know I was Team Maxon when I read the original trilogy but now I am in the middle because Aspen's motivations are very valid and you can see his change a little more clearly. 

Cons:

• I felt both satisfied and unsatisfied because I definitely wanted to read more about each of these characters.

Critics' Reviews:

“Reality TV meets dystopian fairy tale in Kiera Cass's delightful debut. Charming, captivating, and filled with just the right amount of swoon!" —Kiersten White, Author of Paranormalcy

Kiera Cass's Website:

http://www.kieracass.com/

 

Other Recommendations:
The Jewel by Amy Ewing

Eve by Anna Carey
Matched by Alley Condie

New Release Review: The Betrothed by Kiera Cass

Title: The Betrothed (The Betrothed #1)

Author: Kiera Cass
1st Date of Publication: May 5, 2020

ISBN: 9780062291639
# of Pages: 320

Genre: Young Adult Dystopian Society

Age Rating: 13

Buy it on Amazon

Book Description:
When King Jameson declares his love for Lady Hollis Brite, Hollis is shocked—and thrilled. After all, she’s grown up at Keresken Castle, vying for the king’s attention alongside other daughters of the nobility. Capturing his heart is a dream come true.

But Hollis soon realizes that falling in love with a king and being crowned queen may not be the happily ever after she thought it would be. And when she meets a commoner with the mysterious power to see right into her heart, she finds that the future she really wants is one that she never thought to imagine.

Setting: Kingdom of Coroa (Fictional)
Point of View: 1st person- Lady Hollis Brite

Goodreads Rating: 3.06

My Rating: 4.00

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: The cover is absolutely gorgeous. The young woman is breathtakingly beautiful and seems pretty ladylike.
View on Title: I wonder who is betrothed to the king and what that looks like.

Pros:

• This book hasn't been getting the greatest reviews because people are either not reading the story and saying it's basically The Selection or they are comparing it to The Selection. The Betrothed is an entirely different book in its own right and needs to be judged as such. It is meant to be a tale of what it is like to grow up as a noble in a kingdom rather than a rags-to-riches tale like The Selection.
• The Betrothed is to be a little more suited for an audience slightly younger than The Selection. Personally, I think there is less teenage girl drama than The Selection because Hollis keeps a close circle and she really isn't competing with anyone.
• I like how this is a story about a young lady who is careful and just happens to accidentally catch the attention of the newly crowned King Jameson who has been trying to find a wife to become the new queen.
• I think a lot of young teenagers can relate to Hollis as she just wants to have a good time. She's witty and a great conversationalist, which she uses to her advantage.
• There was a twist in the story I wasn't expecting, but it added some depth to the story.
• I found it interesting how this novel touched on how politics happen between two different countries, especially ones that are somewhat at odds with each other.
• This story is great if you're looking for a short and fun read. I felt like I breezed through this tale.
• I am someone who doesn't like love triangles. This technically contains a love triangle but it didn't feel like it was really one. I think there was a clear indication and not much confusion for Hollis to choose between the two men.

Cons:

• There is not very much character development in most of the supporting characters, except for Delia Grace and Valentina, and you can't really relate or truly like the male characters, such as Jameson and Silas. I think this intentional for Hollis' journey because this is about Hollis learning about who she is and who she wants to be.
• Hollis' character seems fairly flat until you get to the last third to quarter of the book. It really started getting more interesting then and you can really see Hollis grow and have real conviction.

Critics' Reviews:

“Fans of The Selection series will anxiously await the second installment of this duology to learn Hollis’s fate." —School Library Journal
"A headstrong heroine whom Cass’s loyal following will champion." —Publishers Weekly

Kiera Cass's Website:

http://www.kieracass.com/

Other Recommendations:

The Selection by Kiera Cass
Eve by Anna Carey
The Jewel by Amy Ewing

Review Wednesday: The Selection by Kiera Cass

Title: The Selection (The Selection #1)

Author: Kiera Cass
1st Date of Publication: April 24, 2012

ISBN: 9780062059949
# of Pages: 327

Genre: Young Adult Dystopian Society

Age Rating: 13

Buy it on Amazon

Book Description:
For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Setting: Illea (United States) in the future
Point of View: 1st person- America Singer

Goodreads Rating: 4.16

My Rating: 4.25

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: The cover is what truly caught my eye. My favorite color is blue and I just want to be in that dress. Plus, the girl (America) is absolutely gorgeous in front of all the mirrors.
View on Title: The title was intriguing. Who is being selected? Why are they being selected?

Pros:

• First off, this is a response to pop culture, which I think is an excellent way to gain the attention of teenagers. The concept behind the book series is The Bachelor meets royalty. This shows a response to the popularity of the show The Bachelor along with the growing popularity of the marriage between Prince William and Duchess Kate in 2012.
• I love the main female character/protagonist, America. America is a very strong female protagonist with a strong sense of duty and morals while staying true to herself and love for her family. It's clear she isn't perfect, but she doesn't necessarily try to hide it. America's combination of natural beauty, confidence, and sassiness makes this book a fun adventure and a great getaway from everyday life.
• In my eyes, the only main male character is Maxon. He is your dreamy prince that you want to love and want to get to know better.
• This isn't your typical love story. America from the start isn't very nice and is only in the Selection to help her family get money for food. Maxon, though, is compassionate and continues to forgive her for all her mistakes. But, he also has flaws that add to their friendship/relationship with each other. It feels very normal.
• I feel like this book shows the true colors of competition when it comes to females, especially when it comes to a supposedly hot and rich bachelor.
• Many teenage girls and young women can relate to America. If you're an older sister and care for your family, you'll identify with America. If you're unsure about your feelings about the male species, you'll relate to America. If you felt the strains of financial struggle as a kid and a teenager, you will relate to America and her decision to doing something that isn't your cup of tea to ensure her family is taken care of at home.

Cons:

• This has a love triangle and I absolutely hate love triangles. I feel that they are unnecessary and only for plot purposes and to spice things up. I felt that the competition was enough drama to make the book interesting since America went to the palace already heartbroken. In the end, I felt that the love triangle was a little overwhelming if not annoying.
• As I continue to reread this series, I dislike Aspen more and more. I see him as this manipulative character who toys with America and makes her decisions and life so much more difficult.
• Some of the side characters seemed to be underdeveloped, but I feel like this is a specific technique to make you feel like you were in America's place of barely knowing her rivals and how quickly they leave.

Critics' Reviews:

“Cass’s immensely readable debut novel is a less drastic Hunger Games, with elaborate fashion and trappings. The fast-paced action will have readers gasping for the upcoming sequel.”--Booklist
"A cross between The Hunger Games (minus the bloodsport) and The Bachelor (minus the bloodsport), this trilogy launch employs multiple conventions of the dystopian romance genre—strong-willed heroine, heart-wrenching love triangle, far-future setting divided by class. That said, it’s a lot of fun. In a post WWIII U.S. divided by caste, teenage America Singer and her family are Fives, struggling musicians and artists. In love with a Six, America is headed for a life of servitude and hunger, until she is chosen for the Selection—a contest through which Prince Maxon will pick his princess. The Selection brings America instant notoriety and prestige, but also thrusts her into a ring of jealous, desperate girls all trying to win the prince’s heart. Cass (author of the self-published The Siren) deftly builds the chemistry between America and Maxon, while stoking the embers of America’s first, forbidden love. Headstrong and outspoken, America is an easy heroine to root for, and the scenes where she tries to fit in to her new royal life are charming. A TV drama based on the books is in production." --Publishers Weekly

Kiera Cass's Website:

http://www.kieracass.com/

Other Recommendations:

The Last Princess by Galaxy Craze
Eve by Anna Carey
The Jewel by Amy Ewing

Anticipation Friday: The Crown by Kiera Cass

Goodreads Description
Twenty years have passed since the events of The One, and America and Maxon’s daughter is the first princess to hold a Selection of her own. Princess Eadlyn didn’t think she would find a real partner among the Selection’s thirty-five suitors, let alone true love. But sometimes the heart has a way of surprising you... and now Eadlyn must make a choice that feels more difficult—and more important—than she ever expected.

Preorder on Amazon

Other info
Expected Date of Publication: May 3, 2016
Stand-Alone or Series/Companion: Series- The Selection #5
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian Society

Why Am I Anticipating This Book?

First off, the cover (like all the other covers) are beautiful and so aesthetically pleasing. Doesn't this cover make you want to be Eadlyn.

I also have loved the original trilogy about her mother and the first book to Eadlyn's duology so I am excited to see where Eadlyn's love will go. Based on the previous book, this has less of a love triangle than the first set of books.

I also love Eadlyn's character. She is strong, spunky, and stubborn like her mother but she knows the importance of running a country and finding the right man to become king to help her rule like her father.



New Release Review: The White Rose by Amy Ewing

*DO NOT READ THIS REVIEW UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THE JEWEL. THERE MAY BE SOME SPOILER. If you want to read this series, read my review about The Jewel by clicking on the link: Review: The Jewel by Amy Ewing

Title: The White Rose (The Lone City #2)

Author: Amy Ewing

1st Date of Publication: October 6, 2015

ISBN: 9780062235817

# of Pages: 320

Genre: Young Adult Dystopian

Age Rating: 15+ (Language, Violence)

Buy it on Amazon

Book Description: Violet is on the run. After the Duchess of the Lake catches Violet with Ash, the hired companion at the Palace of the Lake, Violet has no choice but to escape the Jewel or face certain death. So along with Ash and her best friend, Raven, Violet runs away from her unbearable life of servitude.

But no one said leaving the Jewel would be easy. As they make their way through the circles of the Lone City, Regimentals track their every move, and the trio barely manages to make it out unscathed and into the safe haven they were promised—a mysterious house in the Farm.

But there’s a rebellion brewing, and Violet has found herself in the middle of it. Alongside a new ally, Violet discovers her Auguries are much more powerful than she ever imagined. But is she strong enough to rise up against the Jewel and everything she has ever known?

The White Rose is a raw, captivating sequel to The Jewel that fans won’t be able to put down until the final shocking moments.

Setting: Various Locations in Lone City (Fictional)

Point of View: 1st Person- Violet Lasting

Goodreads Rating: 4.05

My Rating: 4

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both title and cover

View on the Cover: I love how the cover Violet looks stronger and more stubborn than she did in the first cover. The way her dress is arranged looks like a white rose.

View on the Title: Since the first book ended up being place, I assumed this was the same case but I won’t reveal that information until you read this.

Pros:

• I thought this book was so much better than the first book.
• Violet’s character becomes developed a lot more as she is able to escape the Jewel and finds out what and who she wants to fight for.
• Ash’s character is also developed more and he becomes more lovable.
• There is a huge emphasis on family, which is seen through Ash and Violet. All their actions are based on how their families will be treated.
• I also love Garnet’s character. When he was first introduced in the first novel, I was not a big fan of him since he was disrespectful in all his encounters with the characters. All his disrespectfulness is put into perspective in this one as his character continues to develop.

Cons:

• I felt that Raven’s character was not developed enough in this book. I understand that most of it she is mentally damaged but once it got to a certain point in the novel Raven’s character.
• The people in charge of getting Violet out agitated me a bit because they try to get her to understand her Auguries while she tries to find her purpose but the continue to treat her as if she is incapable.

Critics' Reviews:

“This fast-paced plot and a surprise twist will make readers anxious for the next series entry. A must-read for fans of the previous title; they will not be disappointed.” -School Library Journal

Amy Ewing's Website:

www.amyewingbooks.com

Other Recommendations:

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Eve by Anna Carey

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Review Wednesday: The Jewel by Amy Ewing

Title: The Jewel (The Lone City #1)
Author: Amy Ewing
1st Date of Publication: September 2, 2014
ISBN: 9780062235794
# of Pages: 358
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Age Rating: 15+ (Language, Violence)

Buy it on Amazon

Book Description: The Jewel means wealth. The Jewel means beauty. The Jewel means royalty. But for girls like Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Not just any kind of servitude. Violet, born and raised in the Marsh, has been trained as a surrogate for the royalty—because in the Jewel the only thing more important than opulence is offspring.

Purchased at the surrogacy auction by the Duchess of the Lake and greeted with a slap to the face, Violet (now known only as #197) quickly learns of the brutal truths that lie beneath the Jewel’s glittering façade: the cruelty, backstabbing, and hidden violence that have become the royal way of life.

Violet must accept the ugly realities of her existence... and try to stay alive. But then a forbidden romance erupts between Violet and a handsome gentleman hired as a companion to the Duchess’s petulant niece. Though his presence makes life in the Jewel a bit brighter, the consequences of their illicit relationship will cost them both more than they bargained for.

Setting: Jewel, Lone City (Fictional)

Point of View: 1st Person- Violet Lasting

Goodreads Rating: 3.81

My Rating: 3.75


Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both title and cover
View on the Cover: The cover is gorgeous. I love the dress since it is very elegant and also cascades into a jewel.
View on the Title: The title is very enticing because it made me question what "The Jewel" was. I thought it would be a person , but it is actually a place.

Pros:

•  I love the strength that Violet has despite everything she's been through before and during the novel. She has her identity and the ability to find love taken away from her and she still finds a way to fight for both.
• I'm glad that the story was not about the best girl in the whole Auction, but she was one of the better ones. She was Lot 197 out of 200, which showed how valuable she is that becomes a bigger part in the trilogy.
• Garnet's (Duchess's son) character was a bit of comic relief simply because he was great at angering his mother, the Duchess.
• Ash's character showed a lot of strength in similar ways that Violet has had, which allows them to understand each other better and empathize together.

Cons:

•  The way that the royalty treats those below them is horrendous. Young girls with Auguries are forced to leave their homes just to become surrogates (hold the royalty's children). But before they even reach homes of the royalty is get auctioned based on how good they are. I guess this could be a wakeup call toward things like the sex trade.
• I also hated that the fact that her identity was completely taken away as soon as she got to Auction. She no longer becomes Violet Lasting but Lot 197. It loses her ability to be a person. 
• The Duchess of the Lake, Violet's owner, bothered me so much. She always teased and used fear with Violet even when Violet caused no problems. She was so self-righteous.
• Not only are the girls treated poorly but their identities are taken away by using a number.

Critics' Reviews:
“With its taut, provocative plot and irresistible characters, THE JEWEL had me tearing through pages right up to the final, startling twist. I need the next book now!” -Andrea Cremer (international (bestselling author of The Nightshade Series)
“Will have fans of Oliver’s Delirium, Cass’ The Selection, and DeStefano’s Wither breathless with anticipation for the sequel.” -Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“Ewing writes a fast-paced story that takes readers into the inner workings of a society that is obsessed with power and perfection.” -School Library Journal
“Excellent world building… skillful descriptions.” -Booklist

Amy Ewing's Website:

www.amyewingbooks.com

Other Recommendations:

The Selection by Kiera Cass
Eve by Anna Carey
Wither by Lauren DeStefano
Delirium by Lauren Oliver