#Thursday Review - Take the Key and Lock Her Up by Ally Carter #YALit, #Mystery @OfficiallyAlly @Scholastic

Series: Embassy Row # 3
Format: Hardcover, 336 pages
Release Date: December 27, 2016
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult, Mystery

THE PRINCESS IS DEAD. LONG LIVE THE PRINCESS.

Centuries ago, the royal family of Adria was killed . . . or so everyone thought.

Now Grace Blakely knows the truth:
There was one survivor, and that survivor’s blood runs through her veins. This simple fact could cause a revolution — which is why some people will stop at nothing to keep it from coming to light.

There is only one way for Grace to save herself, save her family, and save the boy she loves. She must outmaneuver her foes, cut through the web of lies that has surrounded her for years, and go back to the source of all her troubles, despite the risk.

If she wins, she will inherit a throne.
And if she loses, she will inherit the fate of all the dead princesses who came before her.

Take the Key and Lock Her Up is the third and final installment in author Ally Carter's Embassy Row trilogy. 200 years ago, there was a coup and Adrian King Alexander's family was murdered. But, in the chaos, another baby, Amelia, was smuggled out of the castle, and protected by The Society. The Society is a group of women who have seen regimes come and and dictators fall over their one thousand years of existence.

They hid the baby among their own members, while keeping one of the longest held secrets from being exposed which would have put Amelia's line in jeopardy. Amelia grew up, and her timeline survived. But, then Caroline Blakely picked at a wound that should have been left alone. It upset the apple cart that could bring down the Adrian monarchy, and send shock waves across Europe. Something the Society has tried to avoid at all costs to avoid. 

16-year old Grace Blakely picked up where her mother left off, and has discovered things that have put her life in jeopardy. But, curiosity and getting to the truth is in her blood. Because of her actions, Grace, her brother Jamie, and her friend Alexei, who is also wanted for murder, went on the lam. All because Grace & Jamie are descendants of Amelia. Grace later goes on a solo mission to find answers to what her mother discovered, and a meeting with one of her mother's friends who may have the answers Grace needs to live. This also puts Grace in the most dangerous place possible where trusting anyone will get you killed. Adrian Castle.

This novel is pure craziness. Grace has a martyr complex that actually drove me batty at times. She believed that because some of her actions may have had dire consequences, she needs to do something even more dangerous things. She still doesn't consider herself "healed" after her ordeal 3 years ago. Grace does eventually call on her friends Alexei, Rose, Noah, Megan & Dominic for assistance. Especially Rose and Megan who are more clued in to what is happening around Adria. With a 200 year old mystery hanging over her head, and the royal family of Adrian, most notably Princess Ann seeking to control her future, Grace's actions may be considered a bit overly heroic. But, in the end, her ultimate choice is one I can definitely understand and stand behind.   

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*Book Review* All Fall Down by Ally Carter

Series: Embassy Row # 1
Published: Scholastic Press
Released: January 20, 2015
Source: Edelweiss
Format: E-Book, 320 pages
Genre: Young Adult, Mystery

*Book Blurb*

A new series of global proportions -- from master of intrigue, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Ally Carter. 

This exciting new series from NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Ally Carter focuses on Grace, who can best be described as a daredevil, an Army brat, and a rebel. She is also the only granddaughter of perhaps the most powerful ambassador in the world, and Grace has spent every summer of her childhood running across the roofs of Embassy Row.

Now, at age sixteen, she's come back to stay--in order to solve the mystery of her mother's death. In the process, she uncovers an international conspiracy of unsettling proportions, and must choose her friends and watch her foes carefully if she and the world are to be saved.

I really have so much to talk about, but have to be careful not to spoil anything. All Fall Down is the first book in Ally Carter's Embassy Row series. Carter has written other novels for the Gallagher Girls and Heist Society series. I've read the Gallagher Girls, perhaps one day when my TBR pile isn't as high as the Empire State Building, I will read Heist Society as well.

16-year old Grace Blakely is absolutely certain of three things:

1. She is not crazy.
2. Her mother was murdered.
3. Someday she is going to find the killer and make him pay.

Grace struggles to overcome what happened to her mother 3 years ago. Even though Grace believes what she saw and that her mother was killed by a man she calls Scarred Man, everyone else thinks Grace is the The Girl Who Cried Wolf too many times. After stints in a treatment facility, Grace is sent to live with her Grandfather who just happens to be US Ambassador in Adria, Italy. It is the the place where she and her older brother Jamie spent their summers, and where her mother Caroline grew up.

As certain as Grace is about the facts behind her mother's death, everyone else wants Grace to stop rocking the boat, and move on with her life. A life now filled with Embassy protocol parties, being paraded around by her Grandfather, while trying not to offend any other nation which could lead to war. Grace becomes friendly with Noah Esteban (Israeli/Brazilian), 12-year old Rosie (Germany), Megan (US) who she played with as a little girl. Then there is Alexei Volkov, Russian Ambassadors son, and Jamie's friend who is supposed to keep her out of trouble.

Let's talk about Grace. Grace is a really stubborn and intense character and in a way, she's also deeply damaged from what happened to her mother. She's an Army brat who has lived on 10 different bases over 15 years. Her father is an Army Ranger, her older brother Jamie attends West Point, thus she knows how to handle herself. Grace has vivid flashbacks. Flashbacks that really don't speak to what exactly happened to her mother. Grace is also a daredevil in that she has no regards for her own safety. Hence, it's funny when Rosie appears to be just as reckless and out of control, and they become friends.

The ending of this book had me questioning whether or not certain characters have anything to do with the Gallagher Girls series. I'm mostly talking about Eleanor Chancellor, who reminds me of Cammie Morgan's mother Rachel. But, I also think of Megan who has some creative abilities. I would also hope that Carter reveals more about Caroline, who she barely talks about.

All Fall Down is not a romantic story. It is more of a mystery/thriller that really had me questioning everyone's intentions. While Noah and Alexei are interesting enough, Noah is pretty much just the best friend, while Alexei has his own issues to deal with. I even had a list of those characters I hated, and those I liked. I really didn't much care for Ms Chancellor, her Grandfather, or even Alexei. I liked Noah, Rosie, of course, Megan once Grace got over her silliness and mistrust of her.

In the end, All Fall Down, is a really quick read. I would have been done a whole lot sooner had it not been for a major headache that hit me half way through. I liked the plot, and the mystery. I pretty much guessed what happened, but you will have to read the book in order to find out what I'm talking about. Yes, I will be reading the next sequel (currently untitled) as well.

**I received this book for free from (Scholastic Press) via (Edelweiss ) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review**