#Review - The Cursed Sea by Lauren DeStefano #YALIT #Fantasy

Series: Glass Spare # 2
Format: Hardcover, 400 pages
Release Date: December 18, 2018
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

The exciting and gorgeously told sequel to The Glass Spare, about a cursed princess who must return to the home she left behind in order to discover the origin of her curse and end a dangerous war—from the bestselling author of the Chemical Garden series, Lauren DeStefano.

With Loom’s life on the line, Wil, the exiled princess of Northern Arrod, must do what she never thought possible: return home to discover the origins of her own curse.

But home is very different from how she left it—Wil’s unpredictable elder brother Baren is now king, leading a war against the Southern Isles. And with time running out, Wil must navigate the dangerous secrets within her family to find the truth.

Nothing goes as planned, and suddenly Wil and her allies are fighting for their lives as the Southern king is out to ensure neither of his children will survive to take the throne. Traveling across cursed seas and treacherous kingdoms, Wil and Loom must make peace with their pasts if they hope to secure the future of their kingdoms.
But when their plans lead them right back to evil marveler Pahn, and to Baren—who is more dangerous than ever—can Wil and her friends outsmart their enemies, this time for good?

 

The Cursed Sea is the second installment in author Lauren DeStefano's Glass Spare duology. The Glass Spare ended on a surprising cliffhanger, leaving many characters in danger. Now Wilhemina (Wil) Heidle, the exiled princess of Northern Arrod, must return to her homeland—and to the family that thinks she’s dead—and uncover the origins of her curse. But, with her unstable brother Baren, now the King, Wil's attempts at uncovering deep dark family secrets might be even more precarious than previously thought.

Wil is the only daughter of the former king of the world’s wealthiest nation. She grew up in the shadows behind her brothers Owen, Baren, and the marvelous alchemist Gerdie who is perhaps the only one outside of her mother that doesn't want to see her dead. Kept hidden from the world in order to serve as a spy for her father—whose obsession with building his empire caused a war with the Southern Isles. 

Wil wanted nothing more than to explore the world beyond her kingdom, if only her father would have given her the chance. Then an accident shed the light on the fact that she is cursed. Wil's touch can turn people into gemstones. Finding the key to her redemption put her in the path of a cursed prince named Loom who has his own ideas for what to do with her power. Loom demanded Wil's help and in return says he will help her find the man who can answer her questions. 

Unfortunately, Pahn, a marveler, is as dangerous as they come and had conditions that needed to be met before he helped anyone. This is where the story picks up. Wil is now on her way home. The story though, isn't just about Wil. It is also about Loom, the boy she has fallen in love with. The boy who is also cursed from returning to his home and picking up the reigns of the Southern Isles. Then there is Loom's sister Espel, and her marveler bodyguard Masalee who could have been the very essences of villains, but ended up on the same page thanks to actions by her own father in putting all his focus on one girl, Wil. 

The sequel raises the stakes, uncovering even more shocking secrets about the curse that has been laid on the shoulders of the youngest daughter of the House of Heidle. With a blend of updated technology and a medieval feel, the author has created a rare fantasy world that is not only dynamic and exciting, but full of treacherous kings and queens. It is completely and utterly unique and perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Renée Ahdieh.

From Wil’s complicated relationships with her brothers to Loom’s relationship with his dangerous and ruthless sister, Espel, and their terrifying father—the Glass Spare series explores compelling and emotional family dynamics. I loved Zay and her child but felt Zay could have been used more. I loved that Wil is such a curious character who loves to wander and has no desire of becoming Queen of any Kingdom. Her relationship with Gerdie is awesome.

I had some issues with this book. I agree with others that the ending felt like it was rushed. Was there some sort of deadline that was missed that the author felt the need to wrap up the story quickly? I would have loved to learn more about Wil's curse and whether or not it comes back. I want to know what happened to Baren when all is said and done. I don't actually like self loathing characters who blame everything on themselves when fate, not her own actions, were to blame for what happened. 

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Tuesday #Review - The Glass Spare by Lauren DeStefano #YALit #Fantasy

Series: Glass Spare # 1
Format: Hardcover, 416 pages
Release Date: October 24, 2017
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Source: Edelweiss
Genre: Young Adult \ Fantasy

A gorgeously told fantasy tale, the first in a duology, about a princess who discovers she’s cursed to turn any living thing she touches to gemstone—from Lauren DeStefano, bestselling author of the Chemical Garden trilogy.

Wilhelmina Heidle, the fourth child and only daughter of the king of the world’s wealthiest nation, has grown up in the shadows. Kept hidden from the world in order to serve as a spy for her father—whose obsession with building his empire is causing a war—Wil wants nothing more than to explore the world beyond her kingdom, if only her father would give her the chance.

Until one night Wil is attacked, and she discovers a dangerous power. Her touch turns people into gemstone. At first, Wil is horrified by her power—but as she tests its limits, she’s drawn more and more to the strange and volatile ability. When her newfound power leads to tragedy, though, Wil is forced to face the destructive power within her and finally leave her home to seek the truth and a cure.

But finding the key to her redemption puts her in the path of a cursed prince who has his own ideas for what to do with Wil’s power. With a world on the brink of war, and a power of ultimate destruction, can Wil find a way to help the kingdom that’s turned its back on her, or will she betray her past and her family forever?

The Glass Spare, by author Lauren DeStefano, is the first of a two part duology called the Glass Spare. The protagonist of this duology is 16 year old Wilhelmina "Wil" Heidle, the fourth child and only daughter of the king of the world’s wealthiest nation called Arrod. As the third spare of the family, Wil has no hopes of ever becoming Queen of Arrod. 

Which is really fine with Wil. Wil's very existence is that of curiosity and rumors since she's been hidden away most of her life. 

She loves to wander, she loves to explore, and in all fairness, she doesn't at all mind being used as a spy for her father since nobody really knows who she is. After being sent on a mission as a spy by her father, Wil is attacked and discovers that she has the ability to turn things into glass and jewels. 

After her father discovers what she did and to whom, Wil is declared dead to him and the family, and ordered to never return again. On the run, exiled from her home, she meets Prince Loom who has also been exiled from his kingdom. Prince Loom demands Wil's help and in return says he will help her find the man who can answer her questions.

With a blend of modern & a medieval atmosphere, DeStefano has created a fantasy world that is full of treacherous kings and queens. This is a world that is separated by those who have warmed to modern technology like electricity, with those who use magic, and alchemy to survive. The world has a steampunk feel to it as well with dirigibles and data goggles that can tell time and other things. I didn't care for the romance. While it wasn't forced, or insta-love, it really didn't do much for the overall enjoyment of the story. I have no real issues with Wil as a character. She's put in an bad situation, has to find learn how to trust strangers who may not have her best interest at heart, and in doing so, it opens her eyes to the way that others live.

From Wil’s relationship with her brothers—the brave king-to-be Owen, the dangerous and fearful second son Baren, and the brilliant inventor Gerdie—to her changing relationships with her nomadic, passionate mother and her power-hungry father, The Glass Spare is a story deeply tied to compelling and emotional family dynamics. I adored Wil's relationship with both Owen and Gerdie. One could say that Gerdie and Wil were inseparable, but Owen is the one who set Wil up by teaching her how to take care of herself. Gerdie is also the most curious character in the story with his disability and his unimagined intelligence that allows him to build all sorts of curious weapons.

DeStefano is the author of the Chemical Garden trilogy (Wither, Fever, Sever), the Internment Chronicles (Perfect Ruin, Burning Kingdoms, Broken Crowns), and two books for tweens, A Curious Tale of the In-Between and The Peculiar Night of the Blue Heart. 

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#Tuesday Review - Broken Crowns by Lauren DeStefano (YA, Science Fiction)

Series: The Internment Chronicles # 3
Format: E-Galley, 272 pages
Release Date: March 22, 2016
Publisher: Simon & Schuster BYR
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss
Genre: YA, Science Fiction

War rages everywhere and Morgan is caught in the middle in the haunting conclusion of The Internment Chronicles, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Chemical Garden trilogy.

The city is falling out of the sky…

Morgan always thought it was just a saying. A metaphor. The words of the dying. But as they look up at the floating island that was their home, Pen and Morgan make a horrible discovery—Internment is sinking.  And it’s all Morgan’s fault.

Corrupted from the inside by one terrible king and assailed from the outside for precious resources by another, Internment could be destroyed because Morgan couldn’t keep a secret. As two wars become one, Morgan must find a way to bring her two worlds together to stop the kings that wage them…
Or face the furthest fall yet. 

Broken Crowns is the third and final installment in The Internment Chronicles by author Lauren DeStefano. The story picks up right where Burning Kingdoms left off. The trilogy has been told in the first person narrative by Morgan Stockhour, a resident of the floating city of Internment. Morgan has discovered that sometimes, things aren't necessarily greener on the other side. Internment is supposed to be a utopian society free of mundane things but ruled by a King who rules with an iron claw. 

Over the course of this trilogy, the cover has been blown off what is really happening on Interment and how labeling something a utopian society, isn't factual at all. Morgan has lost more than she has gained, although her friendship with Pen remains strong. Her relationship with her jumper brother remains strained, and hard to believe that anything can fix it. Morgan has seen too much in her six months on the ground. She's seen war, destruction, death, and a maniacal king who would do anything to get a foot hold on a new fuel source that may be the answer to defeating his enemies from Daster. 

But, that soon changes after Pen discovers that Internment is sinking, and Morgan and Basil fly home to hopefully set in motion things that will save the city of Internment before it is too late. Things on Internment are in disarray as Internment's King is now powerless over his own people. Internment is slowly being torn apart at the seem, and the people are being forced into doing another kings bidding. Can Morgan, Basil, Pen, Nimble, and Celeste stop their home from being destroyed?

One could read the synopsis and believe that everything that has happened to this point is entirely on Morgan Stockhour's shoulders. From jumping into a flying machine with her brother, best friend, and betrothed, to landing in the ground kingdom of Havalais, to kissing the wrong boy, to opening up her mouth about a powerful fuel source that is only found on Internment. While she does hold her fair share of responsibility, she's not the only one to have set into motion things that will surely bring a war to the floating city called Internment.

While there were plenty of opportunities for action, the story is more or less slowly churning in the ocean until a major storm gathers enough strength to make things rather interesting. One expects that characters will grow and show adult aspects as we get around to the third installment. One expects that Morgan will stand up and take responsibilities for her actions, and try to make things right so that those she loves do not end up in harms way. Morgan who was once an optimist about almost everything, has now seen the other side of the tracks and it's not all that great. 

I am happy that the author resolved the love triangle aspects that I came to hate in the previous book. I am happy that Morgan and Basil have worked out her mistake and moved on in a positive way. I am satisfied that DeStefano enlightened readers about Pen's father. It really does explain her character very well. I am not at all happy by the ending, but as I said before, it could no doubt have been a whole lot worse than it was.  

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*Book Review* Burning Kingdoms by Lauren DeStefano (YA Dystopian)

Series: Interment Chronicles # 2
Publisher: S&S Books for Young Readers
Released: March 10, 2015
Source: Edelweiss
Format: E-Book, 312 pages
Genre: YA, Science Fiction

After escaping Internment, Morgan and her fellow fugitives land on the ground to finally learn about the world beneath their floating island home.

The ground is a strange place where water falls from the sky as snow, and people watch moving pictures and visit speakeasies. A place where families can have as many children as they want, their dead are buried in vast gardens of bodies, and Internment is the feature of an amusement park.

It is also a land at war.

Everyone who fled Internment had their own reasons to escape their corrupt haven, but now they’re caught under the watchful eye of another king who wants to dominate his world. They may have made it to the ground, but have they dragged Internment with them?

Burning Kingdoms is the sequel to Perfect Ruin. Morgan Stockhour and her band of rebels from Internment have miraculously made it to the ground in their flying monstrosity. They are immediately brought to the home of the King's adviser Jack Piper, and his five children who quickly become part of the story; especially Nimble and Birdie. This is a strange land called Havalais that is surrounded by water. It's a land where you are likely to find a mermaid, step into a silent movie theater, grab a drink from a speakeasy, or take in the view of Internment through telescopes at the amusement park. It is also a land that is deep into war between two kings not like their own king they left behind.

Morgan has always been a dreamer. She's dreamed about what it would like to be on the ground. She has the desire to do good by everyone she meets. She is sometimes curious, sometimes careless. Finally given the chance to see what the ground is really like, she finds that the grass isn't necessarily greener on the other side. What Morgan and crew find alters their opinions about fleeing their home. There are so many differences, including the food, the way people pray and dress, how they marry, and how they have children without anyone telling them how many they can have. When a major secret is let out of the bag, they also become pawns in the war between cities.

I do think this book was much slower than Perfect Ruin. Perhaps it was intentional on DeStefano's part. Perhaps it was her intention to give Morgan new challenges, and see what happens when everyone else around her starts rethinking their decision about leaving Internment. Throw in Pen's moods and strange behavior that frays the relationship between best friends; Morgan's own unresolved anger towards her brother Lex; issues with Judas and Amy, and Princess Celeste's actual reasoning for tagging along with the rebels. This leads to a story that is less action packed, and more of a mind bender.

What's worse is that DeStefano has once again created a situation where Morgan now must make up her mind between being with her betrothed Basil, or someone else entirely. She must find a way to allow Morgan to grow up as a character, while letting the rest of her cast do their own thing. She must work through new alliances that have shifted and twisted, friendships that have been nearly broken, and friendships that have blossomed between Morgan and Celeste and Birdie.

Once again, DeStefano leaves the story in a very strange place. The plot consists mostly of talking and bemoaning the differences between Internment and the ground. Burning Kingdoms falls into the class reviewers call a bridge book. There's plenty of time for contemplation, and some serious revelations that affect key characters, but nothing is resolved. Then, there is the whopping cliffhanger ending that leaves EVERYTHING up in the air.

**I received this book for free from (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers) 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.**

*Book Review* Perfect Ruin by Lauren Destefano (YA Dystopia)

Series: The Interment Chronicles 
Publisher: Simon & Schuster BFYR
Released: October 1, 2013
Source: Library
Format: Hardcover, 356 pages
Genre: YA, Science Fiction

On the floating city of Internment, you can be anything you dream. Unless you approach the edge. Children’s Literature says “shades of Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World and George Orwell’s 1984 inspire DeStefano’s sci-fi/murder mystery page-turner.”

Morgan Stockhour knows getting too close to the edge of Internment, the floating city and her home, can lead to madness. Even though her older brother, Lex, was a Jumper, Morgan vows never to end up like him. There’s too much for her on Internment: her parents, best friend Pen, and her betrothed, Basil. Her life is ordinary and safe, even if she sometimes does wonder about the ground and why it’s forbidden.

Then a murder, the first in a generation, rocks the city. With whispers swirling and fear on the wind, Morgan can no longer stop herself from investigating, especially once she meets Judas. Betrothed to the victim, Judas is being blamed for the murder, but Morgan is convinced of his innocence. Secrets lay at the heart of Internment, but nothing can prepare Morgan for what she will find—or whom she will lose.

Perfect Ruin is the first book in the Internment Chronicles by the author who also wrote the Chemical Garden trilogy. Narrated by 16-year old Morgan Stockhour, the story takes place in a fictional city in the sky called Internment. It is said that Internment was ripped from the Ground by the god of the sky who the residents pray to to keep them safe. It is a Utopian society where there is no crime. It is a place where it is your life to embrace the things you want to do, or squander it like a rich Kardashian who just got their inheritance and immediately went out and blew the entire kit and caboodle because they wanted a body makeover.

There is only one real rule: Don't get too close to the edge. The lure of looking down to the ground can and has invited madness to overcome sanity. Morgan knows this better than most because her brother Lex, is one of those Jumpers who lost his sight in the process. Morgan hasn't exactly had an easy life since then. She's become known as a daydreamer and her parents are distant at times while her mother suffers deep, dark depression. 

She's only got one true friend in Pen, which is a good thing since Pen has been by her side since the beginning and doesn't abandon Morgan but stands by her side. She also has her brothers wife Alice, who is adorable and amazing and strong and everything I believe women should strive to be. Alice is also a victim of the King's rules, which makes her even more likable since she refuses to give up but continues to fight.  

Internment is a society based on the immediate betrothed theory. Right out of the womb, you are mated with your intended who you will spend your entire life with due to the fact that there is no divorce, and the life and death rate is closely monitored. If your mate dies before the maximum age, you end up alone until you're time comes. Morgan's intended is Basil, and I have to say, I adore Basil. I adore the fact that he's not pushy. I love that he's patient, and let's Morgan be who she is. I love that it's Morgan and Basil, and not Morgan, and Basil, and someone else! I'm not into all that book boyfriend craziness, but he definitely makes my list of how I envision men should aim to be like.

Perfect Ruin has an interesting concept with world building that is stellar. Throw in a King who rules all, a murdered girl Morgan's age who questions everything, a rebellion to overthrow the Kings mandates, and people trying to find a way off Internment to the ground, and you have the start of an interesting new series. However, over the first, say 200 pages, Morgan was one of the most boring, cardboard characters you will ever meet. 

Secondary characters like her brother Lex, his wife Alice, and Pen were more interesting. Snore fest though most of the first 100 pages or more. Probably at 200 pages, the story got very interesting, especially with Judas and Amy's participation. The story ended in a weird place. Literally. Then again, considering this is the same author who gave us the the Chemical Gardens trilogy, why would anyone be surprised?

Other Books in Series:

*Note* After Perfect Ruin was released, there was a complete cover redesign!*

    

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