Tag: twins

REVIEW: Twinchantment by Elise Allen

REVIEW: Twinchantment by Elise Allen

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

In the kingdom of Kaloon, magic was outlawed during the reign of King Lamar. Only the Keepers of the Light could use magic in the kingdom. Anyone – or anything – considered magic was banished to the Twists, a magical prison. This included people who did magic, black cats, anyone who was left-handed and twins.

This was all thanks to a dark magician Maldevon who betrayed King Lamar and killed the entire royal family except for the king and his son, Prince Alistair. The king was rescued by a mage named Grosselor who became the leader of the Keepers of the Light. Grosselor and the Keepers kept the kingdom safe for years.

King Edwin, Lamar’s great-great-grandson was the next king who had to deal with an attack. Queen Latonya was pregnant with their first child, and the court jester Gilward attacked her with a green mist. But the queen – and Princess Flissara – were thankfully fine.

Only four people know the truth. The queen delivered twin girls that night, Flissa and Sara. No one was certain what the Keepers would do about a royal set of twins. So the two girls take turns being Princess Flissara, working hard to deal with the strengths and weaknesses of one another.

When the queen is attacked a second time, just before the girls’ twelfth birthday and Ascension Day, the girls believe Gilward has escaped the Twists to curse the queen again and must be hiding back in the Twists, biding his time until the queen is dead. With time running out to save their mother, Flissa and Sara will take on the dangers of the Twists with Gilward’s own son helping to track the mage/jester down. Gilward is their only hope to save the queen.

Review

This was fun! Be sure to look closely at that cover – isn’t it gorgeous?!! It’s a terrific representation of this fun tale. I enjoyed Sara and Flissa and the rest of their traveling companions. The split perspective storytelling was perfect for showing how the girls were wrestling with their identity on an adventure when they didn’t have to hide and pretend to be one person.

The magical world was interesting, too. The girls question everything they have been taught about their kingdom once they are actually out of the castle and seeing the reality of things. They have to face the contradicting stories of their history – something that will continue to be addressed in future books.

I wish this book had existed when I was teaching. I had several students who wanted “brown kid books,” but so many of their choices were what I would call issue books. If there were Black characters, the book was often about racial issues. Those books are usually excellent, and serve a purpose. But sometimes a kid just wants to read a friendship story or an adventure that stars a kid who looks like them. While this book stars two Black girls, their race has nothing to do with the story. It’s just an element in their character description. Not only is it a fun fantasy story, but it adds this diversity piece that is so needed. Be sure to add this one to your home or classroom library!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Portrait of a Sister by Laura Bradford

REVIEW: Portrait of a Sister by Laura Bradford

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Kensington in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Even though they were identical twins, Katie always felt like an afterthought where Hannah was concerned. Hannah was the outgoing, energetic, fearless one. Katie was quiet and cautious. The differences between them became even more pronounced when Hannah decided not to be baptized and to leave their Amish community. Katie, the rule follower, stayed. Of course she stayed. This was her home, her family, and her community.

When Katie’s mom got sick, her commitment to home and family was even stronger. Her mother and family needed her. And after her mother’s death, Katie kept the family going. She picked up her mother’s responsibilities in the home and cared for her younger siblings as if they were her own.

When Hannah comes home for the funeral, she discovers Katie’s secret. She’s an artist. She draws in a secret sketch pad. And she’s extremely talented. But the Amish believe that photos or art of people are making “graven images.” A sin. Since Katie was baptized into the faith, she would be shunned if anyone ever found out. And if she chose her art over her community, she would never be able to contact her father or siblings again.

Drawing is the only time when Katie feels like herself, though. It’s the only thing that makes her smile. And it’s been months since her family has seen her smile. So her father sends her off for a week to visit her sister Hannah in New York City. It will be an opportunity to just be herself with no family responsibilities. She can see what life might be like if she chose her art over her faith. Would it be worth all she would lose?

Review

This was lovely! I don’t usually read Amish fiction, but after enjoying Belle and Ella so much earlier this year, I was interested in trying some more. This author’s Amish mystery series is on my TBR shelves, but I haven’t tried them yet.

I didn’t sense the same  level of faith in this story as I did in Belle and Ella. Katie’s commitments felt more like a commitment to tradition and expectation than a strong sense of faith. Katie has a lot of questions about the Amish assertion that her mother’s death was “God’s will” and something to just accept. But that was really the only place where faith was really explored. I completely identified with Katie’s need to do the “right” thing and put others before herself. Her struggles to choose her own path apart from her sister and her wrestling with where art could fit into her life, if it could at all, really clicked for me.

I did not care for Hannah for most of the book. She is bossy and brash and self-centered. She takes Katie’s art and does what she wants with it without respect for Katie’s perspective. Hannah knows the rules it violates but maybe since she doesn’t personally follow those rules anymore, she doesn’t even think about what the violation means for Katie. It’s almost as if she wants Katie on the “outside” with her – like she misses the family connections she once had. If Katie leaves, too, she can have it all, family and freedom. And she’ll risk Katie’s shunning and the fall out to do what she chooses. It was frustrating, but it made me appreciate Katie that much more.

There’s a slight love triangle in this – the Amish man Katie has been promised to and the man in New York who listens and understands her because she is free to tell him everything. I was thrilled with how that all worked out in the end.

This was a terrific story and I highly recommend it to fans of Amish fiction as well as those who enjoy stories about characters looking for – and finding – their identity.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Dividing Eden by Joelle Charbonneau

REVIEW: Dividing Eden by Joelle Charbonneau

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

The kingdom of Eden is in the middle of a war. The king and crown prince are checking on the fighting before the prince’s wedding to the kingdom’s seer. The winter season will be starting soon which means the savage Xhelozi will be hunting the borders. It’s vital that Eden stay strong and keep the windmills collecting power for the kingdom.

But that strength is in danger when the king and crown prince are killed under mysterious circumstances. In the power vacuum, the Council of Elders starts maneuvering for power. Caught in the middle are the king and queen’s twins, Andreus and Carys. They have protected eachother’s secrets – and very lives – since they were born.  But now only one of them can rule. And only by winning a contest against the other.

Secrets and lies abound as the twins and other forces battle for control of Eden.

Review

Wow! This was great! This is a hard book to summarize. So many things are going on right from the outset. And the reader knows early on that most of the characters are hiding things and scheming for their own goals.

The twins at the center of the story are fascinating. On the surface, they are completely committed to one another. Carys sacrifices often to protect her brother’s big secret. And Andreus has her back when it comes to Carys’ secret too. But with the kingdom at stake and other voices whispering in their ears, their bond starts to fracture.

The scheming in this book is tremendous. Even at the end, I am not sure who is completely trustworthy. Secrets have secrets, and I’m confident I still only know maybe 40% of what’s truly going on. I was amazed to realize that while I was totally engrossed from start to finish, I had so many questions! That takes masterful plotting. Charbonneau has done a great job of crafting a page-turning story while still maintaining lots of mystery for the future.

I am looking forward to book 2!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥