Avenged

April 1, 2017
Gr 8 Up-While rescuing her sister from imprisonment in Lera, battle-skilled Emelina Flores gained a reputation for revenge. But her ruthlessness pales in comparison to that of Olivia, whose telepathic killing power leaves a trail of dead bodies behind them as the survivors of Ruina return home. The two rule together as queens, and Em hopes that Casimir, now king of Lera after the deaths of his parents, will keep his promise to leave them alone. But his cousin, Jovita, who thinks Cas is weak because of his romantic connection to Em, defies him and attacks Ruina, with disastrous results. Adding to this power struggle is Prince August from Olso, who offers the services of his warriors to protect Ruina if Em agrees to marry him and join their kingdoms. While Em and Cas want only peace, that seems unlikely to happen when hot-headed Olivia, Jovita, and August each vie for dominance. Em again proves to be a strong, conflicted character, but the wry sense of humor she displayed in the first book is sorely lacking here. Cas and some of the supporting cast are sympathetic, and another forbidden romance propels the narrative. However, pure hate and the desire for revenge make other characters seem one-dimensional. Graphic descriptions of exploding heads and other carnage caused by Olivia as she rages out of control become tiresome after a while. Still, there is enough adventure, intrigue, and passion to advance the plot and fuel interest in the next volume. VERDICT Fans of Ruined will want to read this installment.-Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2017
Kingdoms and heirs continue to clash in this political fantasy sequel to Ruined (2016).In the previous volume, Emelina Flores, formerly "useless" princess of Ruina, freed her sister Olivia, toppled a king and queen, and helped the Olso invade Lera, but these victories fade quickly under continuous violence. Sharing regency with Olivia, Em looks for refuge for the surviving Ruined even as magic-wielding, murderous Olivia seeks revenge. Meanwhile, Casimir Gallegos, now an orphan and king of Lera, struggles to preserve his kingdom while fending off his usurping cousin, Jovita. Em and Casimir's marriage was false, but their love remains, and other characters also long for intimacy despite the graphic bloodshed. All characters suffer for the sins of their parents and a legacy of racism--here, due to magic rather than skin color, as Em is olive-skinned, some of the magic-wielding Ruined are dark-skinned, and some Lerans are also olive-skinned brunettes. Constant skirmishes stymie reconciliation. With multiple narrators and abrupt transitions, plot progress is slow and scenes are sometimes related repetitively. Modern colloquialisms and cliches ("smiley face," "holding pattern," "positive spin") clash with the faux-medieval, geographically ambiguous setting. Similarly, the steam-powered machines of the Olso conflict with the otherwise feudal political maneuvering of Lera and Ruina. Treachery and tentative romances but no resolution; best for fervent fans of the first one. (Fantasy. 14-adult)

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April 1, 2017
Grades 9-12 In this eagerly awaited sequel to Ruined (2016), Emelina Flores is running from the treacherous nation of Lera, where her long-lost sister has just killed the queen. Em has wanted all her life to be feared by her enemies, but now that she is, she finds it's not what she'd imagined. Olivia, Em's older sister and the rightful queen of Ruina, must try to rule her people her way, after a year's imprisonment and many failed escape attempts. And Em's love Casimir, now the king of Lera, is left with the aftermath of the Flores sisters' actions: a kingdom filled with death, disaster, and distrust. Each teen has their own troubles, both personal and royal, and the war between them could be the most epic so far. Chapters alternate between Em, Cas, and Olivia, giving a full picture of the chaos that reigns in the four kingdoms. Each character is well developed, and the ending is left open for a planned third book, which readers will surely devour.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)