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chicleeblair's review against another edition
5.0
This was a wonderful, intelligent book! I loved it more than the original
mehsi's review against another edition
5.0
I have waited for about 8 years for a sequel, constantly hoping there will be one. When I heard about the sequel last year, I was really fangirling and squealing.
First: Sorry for the chaotic review. :)
I got the book, and I put everything else on hold. I only do that for the special books. :)
And special it was, the book was wonderful. So happy to see everyone again, to read about Mount Eskel, to read about Miri. And ofcourse rooting for Peder and Miri, because they just had to get together. :)
This time the book takes place in Asland, at the palace and the surrounding areas. Britta is about to get married to Steffan, and the Princess Ladies have to be there. So Miri and her friends set of for a few days trip and will be staying at the palace for a year. Miri is doubting if she wants to go, she doesn't want to leave her father and her sister. But in the end she goes, promising she will write them letters and will send them when the spring comes and the traders go to Mount Eskel.
I loved the little letters we got at the end of the chapters. How Miri starts of insecure, worried and afraid, but in the end grows up and is more secure and sure of herself.
I was happy to see Miri got a chance to go to school (Queen's Castle) and study. I loved the descriptions of the clothes, the library, the whole school. I wish I could go to such a school, it sounds really wonderful.
In this book we also got 2 boys, 1 is Peder and 1 is Timon. Miri is floating between them, unsure about her feelings.
Timon, well let say.. I was rooting for him the first part, but quite soon I was hoping he would just disappear. He was annoying and way to opiniated about political stuff.
On that note, I didn't mind the political stuff much, though it got boring sometimes. I wish we more had a story about the romance between Peder and Miri. Miri and her friends and just a fun book. Now it was loaded with political stuff and for some parts I skipped it.
I can understand why it is needed, since we already knew about the problems with the King, and how he keeps overtaxing and getting more and more gifts while the rest of the country starved.
I loved the ending,
Overall a good book. Romance, action, magic all combined in this book. I would recommend it. Though be sure to read the first book. You will be very confused if you enter this book without the knowledge of the first book.
First: Sorry for the chaotic review. :)
I got the book, and I put everything else on hold. I only do that for the special books. :)
And special it was, the book was wonderful. So happy to see everyone again, to read about Mount Eskel, to read about Miri. And ofcourse rooting for Peder and Miri, because they just had to get together. :)
This time the book takes place in Asland, at the palace and the surrounding areas. Britta is about to get married to Steffan, and the Princess Ladies have to be there. So Miri and her friends set of for a few days trip and will be staying at the palace for a year. Miri is doubting if she wants to go, she doesn't want to leave her father and her sister. But in the end she goes, promising she will write them letters and will send them when the spring comes and the traders go to Mount Eskel.
I loved the little letters we got at the end of the chapters. How Miri starts of insecure, worried and afraid, but in the end grows up and is more secure and sure of herself.
I was happy to see Miri got a chance to go to school (Queen's Castle) and study. I loved the descriptions of the clothes, the library, the whole school. I wish I could go to such a school, it sounds really wonderful.
In this book we also got 2 boys, 1 is Peder and 1 is Timon. Miri is floating between them, unsure about her feelings.
Timon, well let say.. I was rooting for him the first part, but quite soon I was hoping he would just disappear. He was annoying and way to opiniated about political stuff.
On that note, I didn't mind the political stuff much, though it got boring sometimes. I wish we more had a story about the romance between Peder and Miri. Miri and her friends and just a fun book. Now it was loaded with political stuff and for some parts I skipped it.
I can understand why it is needed, since we already knew about the problems with the King, and how he keeps overtaxing and getting more and more gifts while the rest of the country starved.
I loved the ending,
Spoiler
Peder and Miri getting engaged/betrothed. Sooooo happy with that. Though Peder is a bit.. well typical guy stuff. :) And I loved the kisses they shared.Overall a good book. Romance, action, magic all combined in this book. I would recommend it. Though be sure to read the first book. You will be very confused if you enter this book without the knowledge of the first book.
the_readergirl's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
hildamarie's review against another edition
4.0
The first Princess Academy was a wonderful surprise! I never expected to enjoy an economic revolution so thoroughly and to see young girls at the helm of the efforts. The sequel steers Miri on a similar course. The power that Hale gives to her female characters is always hard won and thoughtful. I love that these "princesses" learn how to govern and consider their people. As with Princess Academy, girls who might pick this up looking for a frothy read will find a little romance and a lot of substance to think about. That is why I read Shannon Hale's books, and then promptly give them to my daughter! Although, sometimes it is the other way around. :)
sam_k_'s review against another edition
4.0
I was really worried to read the sequel because second books in trilogies are the bridge between the debut and the finale, which means that they often feel meaningless, but I actually really liked this sequel.
This sequel felt like its own story and built on the first book, which to me is what makes a good sequel.
In this one Miri actually gets to go to the palace and experience what it’s like to live somewhere other than Mount Eskel, her home, and we get to see her relationships with other characters develop in a really nice way.
This book also has some of the Bert political commentary of any book, middle grade or otherwise. Hale, the author, mentioned being inspired by the French Revolution and you can totally see that here. There’s also elements of feudalism and medieval systems which I also really enjoyed. I thought that the commentary overall was very nuanced and I was very impressed. Especially in fantasy/dystopian books there’s always a good/bad and it’s not as clean cut here, which I really enjoyed. I also enjoy how Hale humanizes all of the characters on all sides, even when they make objectively bad decisions, because it helps build up and add legitimacy to her commentary.
Some other reviewers had argued that this book didn’t have as much heart, and I agree and disagree. There is less of an emphasis on the camaraderie between the girls from Mount Eskel but I don’t think that’s to the book’s detriment. This book is a lot more focused on Miri and her specific coming of age, and I think that the book forsakes elements like that a little bit more to fit more with the central plot.
Also the ending was really endearing and a perfect end to this book, I was near tears. (Not crying but close.)
I’m excited and scared to read the finale because it has the potential to end this series really well or really crash it down.
This sequel felt like its own story and built on the first book, which to me is what makes a good sequel.
In this one Miri actually gets to go to the palace and experience what it’s like to live somewhere other than Mount Eskel, her home, and we get to see her relationships with other characters develop in a really nice way.
This book also has some of the Bert political commentary of any book, middle grade or otherwise. Hale, the author, mentioned being inspired by the French Revolution and you can totally see that here. There’s also elements of feudalism and medieval systems which I also really enjoyed. I thought that the commentary overall was very nuanced and I was very impressed. Especially in fantasy/dystopian books there’s always a good/bad and it’s not as clean cut here, which I really enjoyed. I also enjoy how Hale humanizes all of the characters on all sides, even when they make objectively bad decisions, because it helps build up and add legitimacy to her commentary.
Some other reviewers had argued that this book didn’t have as much heart, and I agree and disagree. There is less of an emphasis on the camaraderie between the girls from Mount Eskel but I don’t think that’s to the book’s detriment. This book is a lot more focused on Miri and her specific coming of age, and I think that the book forsakes elements like that a little bit more to fit more with the central plot.
Also the ending was really endearing and a perfect end to this book, I was near tears. (Not crying but close.)
I’m excited and scared to read the finale because it has the potential to end this series really well or really crash it down.
adareads13's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
x0pherl's review against another edition
2.0
My daughter and I were both pretty disappointed with the follow up to Princess Academy.
The story is too ambitious, and lacks the charm and warmth of the first book. For the first half of the book, little was going on of real interest (this book took us a llllooooonnnng time to get through) and the entirety focuses far too much on politics and the responsibilities of the monarchy to the poor.
By the second half of the book, the plot picked up enough to be interesting again, but the book had already mostly lost us.
I don't strongly recommend this book.
The story is too ambitious, and lacks the charm and warmth of the first book. For the first half of the book, little was going on of real interest (this book took us a llllooooonnnng time to get through) and the entirety focuses far too much on politics and the responsibilities of the monarchy to the poor.
By the second half of the book, the plot picked up enough to be interesting again, but the book had already mostly lost us.
I don't strongly recommend this book.
emblue1's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
the_story_girl389's review against another edition
5.0
Oh. My. Gosh. I liked the first book, I LOVED the second. And thank you Shannon Hale for putting Miri with Peder. That's all.
libby1776's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was my favorite book in 7th grade, this and Enna Buring are the Shannon Hale books that spoke the most to me in middle school. I vididly remember being in a beach in cape cod in 2012 when it first came out and reading it! I was so excited that princess academy had a sequel since Princess Academy was one of the books that made me fall in love with reading.
Another memory I have of this book is one time I found it in Barnes and Noble in the children sections maybe in 2013ish? And I thought this book was so mature since it had guns and kissing that I was just so shooked that someone placed the book in children’s and not the YA section. But I think part of the beauty of Shannon’s writing is that it for all ages (mostly, though there is violence) like how fairytales are for everyone.
One funny reason why I think I loved the book so much was that I was in the middle of Les Miserables phase when I first read it and this book take so much inspiration from that time in history!
Reading this book again after going to college for history was so interesting! I got to reflect on the importance of record and Storting keeping and making sure history is not big man history just having important peoples name in books.
I am so sad that book 3 is not in full cast, but I’m so excited to reread the forgotten sister, since I actually don’t believe I ever have given it a full reread before!
Another memory I have of this book is one time I found it in Barnes and Noble in the children sections maybe in 2013ish? And I thought this book was so mature since it had guns and kissing that I was just so shooked that someone placed the book in children’s and not the YA section. But I think part of the beauty of Shannon’s writing is that it for all ages (mostly, though there is violence) like how fairytales are for everyone.
One funny reason why I think I loved the book so much was that I was in the middle of Les Miserables phase when I first read it and this book take so much inspiration from that time in history!
Reading this book again after going to college for history was so interesting! I got to reflect on the importance of record and Storting keeping and making sure history is not big man history just having important peoples name in books.
I am so sad that book 3 is not in full cast, but I’m so excited to reread the forgotten sister, since I actually don’t believe I ever have given it a full reread before!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, and Classism