Scan barcode
A review by sam_k_
Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale
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.