**** - Really enjoyed seeing Aurelia's touch with the common people - and her intelligence and ability to govern well (if only someone would let her). The sense of isolation, boredom and frustration will appeal greatly to teenagers and had the added bonus of being subtle enough not to be irritating to older readers.Aurelia, the crown princess of Tyralt, has been the unwitting target of several assassination attempts. To keep her safe and unconcerned, her father tries to keep her in the dark as to the danger to her life - and calls her childhood classmate Robert back from his family's self-imposed exile to watch over her. While Robert and Aurelia begin to explore their deepening relationship, they must also act quickly to untangle the web of intrigue and discover who is out to kill Aurelia.
There's a distinct fairy tale feel to Aurelia - the crown princess has to struggle with poisoned goblets, an icy step-mother, and overprotective guards. I enjoyed watching her slip down to the docks to talk with an old sailor, and it was certainly fun to see the masquerades of Carnival. The writing is just sumptuous enough to bring home Aurelia's life of privilege without overburdening the reader - or distracting from the palpable isolation that characterizes Aurelia's protected existence.
Aurelia herself is a treat. She's headstrong (sometimes foolishly so), but intelligent and cares deeply for the people she will one day rule. I enjoyed watching her relationship with Robert reawaken after their separation - the scene on the bridge where they first show their vulnerable sides is a lovely, touching reminder of the beauty and perils of trusting someone else. And Robert is certainly trustworthy - patient, strong, and committed to protecting Aurelia without caging her. What more could a strong-willed girl want?
The charming characters and the fast-paced action plot (especially at the end) make Aurelia a great read, and a gripping one. Personally, I would have enjoyed a bit more flirtatious banter between the leads, but I'd recommend it to those who enjoy Tamora Pierce's works or fairy-tale retellings (even though that's not quite what this is).
Interested in other opinions?
Hi, thanks so much for stopping by my Xanga and linking to my review! I completely agree with you about the fairy tale feel of the story - I'm so hoping for a sequel, too! Great review! (This links to my blogspot BTW.)
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