You can take the girl off the mountain...
Author: Shannon Hale
Release Date: August 21, 2012
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.
Ever wonder what happened to Miri after Britta was chosen to be Princess and the girls went back home? Palace of Stone picks up right where Princess Academy left off. As Ladies of the Princess, all 20 academy girls are invited down the mountain to stay at court and aid in wedding preparation. Miri even gets a special invitation to attend school while she is in Asland. While attending the Queen's Castle, Miri makes some new friends who claim to want changes like the ones she brought to the mountain. Swept into a whirlwind of intrigue and betrayal, Miri begins to fight for what is right. The only problem is, the line has gotten a little blurry. Can she brings changes to a crumbling kingdom AND be best friend to the Princess, or will she risk it all to stand beside the shoeless and fight?
I actually enjoyed this sequel more than the original Princess Academy. The book was fascinating, and I LOVE that the book can stand alone. I am not biting my nails for another sequel because Shannon Hale left me room to create my own ending, though I would not be proposed to seeing the rest of Miri's story play out. This story was woven together wonderfully, all of the pieces seem to fit. When Miri meets the rebels and joins their cause, she is pulled in, everything around her is so vibrant and alluring. There is actually a noble fighting for change alongside the commoners and Miri is sold. My favorite part is when Miri goes to Sisi's house during the day (she never has before) and sees how everything she once thought was so beautiful is actually falling apart around her. You can't trust the moonlight, she's a tricky mistress, all it takes is a little music and a touch of decoration, and person could be blind to the truth.
Although this book is for middle grades, I feel that there are elements in it for everyone. There is something about Miri that captivates her audience. She is growing up, and we get to watch it. We see her learn EVERYTHING and genuinely apply it to whichever situations she finds herself in. Miri is a pure heart, she wants to help bring equality to all around her, not just line her pockets or further her own selfish causes. Just following that is a rare and beautiful thing.
Now for the important stuff, what happened with Peder? I can't tell you, but I WILL say that there is a new interest in Miri's life who seems to have so much more in common with her than Peder does. If you want to know where their story goes, you'll have to grab the book and read it. Palace of Stone hits the shelves August 21, reserve your copy today, so you can be a part of Miri's adventures in the Lowlands!
No comments:
Post a Comment