Jill's Book Blog

Title: That Inevitable Victorian Thing
Author: E.K. Johnston
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
Source: Purchased
Release Date: October 3, 2017
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Set in a near-future world where the British Empire was preserved, not by the cost of blood and theft but by effort of repatriation and promises kept, That Inevitable Victorian Thing is a novel of love, duty, and the small moments that can change people and the world.

Victoria-Margaret is the crown princess of the empire, a direct descendant of Victoria I, the queen who changed the course of history two centuries earlier. The imperial practice of genetically arranged matchmaking will soon guide Margaret into a politically advantageous marriage like her mother before her, but before she does her duty, she’ll have one summer incognito in a far corner of empire. In Toronto, she meets Helena Marcus, daughter of one of the empire’s greatest placement geneticists, and August Callaghan, the heir apparent to a powerful shipping firm currently besieged by American pirates. In a summer of high-society debutante balls, politically charged tea parties, and romantic country dances, Margaret, Helena, and August discover they share an unusual bond and maybe a one in a million chance to have what they want and to change the world in the process —just like the first Queen Victoria.

Review:

When I read the description of this book, I knew I would love it. I love the Victorian period and the English monarchy, and I’m from Toronto, so it was the best of both worlds!

I loved the Toronto references. They mention that the Don Valley Parkway will be closed for construction, which often happens. There were also popular landmarks mentioned, like Union station and the Royal York hotel, where royals stay in when they visit Toronto, so it was very realistic. 

Since this world is like ours but a little different, there were some changes to history. Queen Victoria’s children married people from different British empires, rather than European royalty. This created a diverse monarchy. One subtle change to history was that Alan Turing was knighted and living in the 60s. Alan Turing invented a computer that ended WWII, but he later had hormone replacement therapy because he was gay and ended up killing himself in 1954. In this different, diverse world, Alan Turing lived. 

There was an omniscient third person narrator, which is not common in modern writing. The narrator knew what everyone was thinking and would switch between different characters’ minds. However, this was a common kind of narrator in Victorian literature, so it read like an authentic Victorian novel. 

Have you read this book? What did you think of it?

Title: I See London, I See France
Author: Sarah Mlynowski
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Purchased
Release Date: July 11, 2017
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

I see London, I see France, I see Sydney’s underpants.

Nineteen-year-old Sydney has the perfect summer mapped out. She’s spending the next four and half weeks traveling through Europe with her childhood best friend, Leela. Their plans include Eiffel-Tower selfies, eating cocco gelato, and making out with très hot strangers. Her plans do not include Leela’s cheating ex-boyfriend showing up on the flight to London, falling for the cheating ex-boyfriend’s très hot friend, monitoring her mother’s spiraling mental health via texts, or feeling like the rope in a friendship tug-of-war.

As Sydney zigzags through Amsterdam, Switzerland, Italy, and France, she must learn when to hold on, when to keep moving, and when to jump into the Riviera…wearing only her polka-dot underpants.

Review:

I really enjoyed this story! It was so much fun!

I loved reading about the places they traveled in Europe. I could picture some places so well from my own vacations, like King’s Cross Station in London or the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Since these places were so well represented, I’m sure the other cities and landmarks were described accurately.

Within the narrative, there were lines from the travel book that Sydney was reading, followed by her comments on them. These lines were so funny. Her take on these cities and the things that really happen, such as having a plate broken over your head in Corfu, were hilarious!

Sydney and Jackson were so cute! I was rooting for them from the beginning! Even though Leela thought he was trouble, I hoped that he would have some redeeming qualities. The dynamic of Sydney, Leela, and Kat was also accurately depicted. Usually, a group of three friends doesn’t work, because someone feels left out. Since Leela and Kat know Sydney from different places and times in her life, I wasn’t surprised that they had a rocky start.

I loved this book! It’s the perfect summer vacation story!

Title: King’s Cage (Red Queen #3)
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Purchased
Release Date: February 7, 2017
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

In this breathless third installment to Victoria Aveyard’s bestselling Red Queen series, allegiances are tested on every side. And when the Lightning Girl’s spark is gone, who will light the way for the rebellion?

Mare Barrow is a prisoner, powerless without her lightning, tormented by her lethal mistakes. She lives at the mercy of a boy she once loved, a boy made of lies and betrayal. Now a king, Maven Calore continues weaving his dead mother’s web in an attempt to maintain control over his country—and his prisoner.

As Mare bears the weight of Silent Stone in the palace, her once-ragtag band of newbloods and Reds continue organizing, training, and expanding. They prepare for war, no longer able to linger in the shadows. And Cal, the exiled prince with his own claim on Mare’s heart, will stop at nothing to bring her back.

When blood turns on blood, and ability on ability, there may be no one left to put out the fire—leaving Norta as Mare knows it to burn all the way down.

Review:

This is a great book!

It has been a couple of years since I read Red Queen and Glass Sword, so it took a while to get back into the story. But once I did, it flew by.

The beginning of the story was a little slow. Mare’s captivity was repetitive, since she couldn’t do much inside her cell other than plot her escape. Maven was annoying, but I also felt sorry for him. I learned more about what he suffered at his mother’s hands in this story, which explains why he behaves the way he does.

The narrative switches between different characters. Since Mare is trapped by Maven, Cameron gives the perspective of the Scarlet Guard. This way, we can see what is happening in Maven’s court as well as how the Scarlet Guard is preparing to attack.

There were also some twists, and some characters made surprising decisions, like switching sides of the battle. Now I just have to read the finale, War Storm!