Review by Booklist Review
Wren Greenrock's parents were the king and queen of Eana before they were murdered. While infant Wren was spirited away by the very witches who were blamed for that murder, her twin, Rose Valhart, was brought up in the palace without any knowledge of her sister. As Rose's coronation approaches, Wren enacts a plan to kidnap and impersonate her, hoping to be crowned queen in her place and reclaim the kingdom for the witches. As Rose wakes to find herself headed toward the witches she's been taught to fear, Wren navigates palace intrigue, attempting to fool people who have known Rose all her life. But the man who really killed their parents is still pulling the strings, and he isn't going to let Eana slip through his fingers so easily. In alternating perspectives, Doyle and Webber switch between Rose and Wren's stories, keeping the momentum of both stories high. The breezy energy of this light fantasy romp will appeal to fans of My Lady Jane (2016), and the ending leaves plenty of room for future installments.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Doyle (The Storm Keeper trilogy) and Webber (The Revelry) spin a complex tale of royal intrigue, power grabs, and ancient magic in this riveting duology opener. Since her parents' murders 18 years prior, Princess Rose Valheart of the island nation Eana has been cared for by domineering regent Willem Rathborne, who has taught her to hate the witches who used to rule preceding the monarchy. Unknown to Rose, her twin sister, Wren Greenrock, was rescued by witches on the night of their parents' deaths and has been raised to restore the witches to power by impersonating Rose and eventually taking her place as queen. After Wren's roguish best friend, East Asian--cued Shen Lo, kidnaps Rose and transports her to the witch's settlement on the other side of the island's desert, Wren assumes her role in the castle. As Rose uncovers her true heritage and innate healing magic, Wren stumbles upon a fiendish political scheme. The creators use the sisters' alternating perspectives, memorable characters, and dynamic relationships to unspool a leisurely paced and lushly described adventure, which is steeped in absorbing magic and exhilarating romance. Rose and Wren cue as white. Ages 14--up. Agent: Peter Knapp, Park & Fine Literary and Media. (May)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up--A swap between twin princesses leads to the downfall of a corrupt regent. Magic-working Princess Wren of Eana has spent 17 years in hiding, plotting to kill Rathborne, the man who murdered her parents. Rathborne now rules in the name of Wren's twin sister, Rose, and oppresses indigenous witches. Wren steals Rose's place, planning to restore witchcraft to Eana, but she faces an arranged marriage to a foreign prince. Meanwhile, Rose is whisked to a secret colony of witches and grapples with her magical heritage. Familiar tropes abound. An oasis leads to chaste partial nudity; sidekick wolves assess dating compatibility; a sexy bandit discovers a stolen princess is unexpectedly "spirited." Rose is traditionally feminine and Wren is a "tomboy"; both their lovers are warriors. While the novel gains its greatest energy from the romantic plots, deviating from martial masculinity means death for Rose's domestic fiancé. More happily, Eana has a multiracial population where individuals can marry along the gender spectrum. However, some anachronisms disrupt the believability of characters' motivations. Benignly, minstrels play waltzes and characters exclaim "wow" and "sheesh." Inexplicably, northern foreigners swap frock coats and gowns for fur bikinis. Also, should readers believe that Wren can easily erase the legacy of a colonial act occurring a thousand years ago? What is her plan for decolonization, beyond vowing that rivers will "run red with our enemies' blood"? VERDICT This anachronistic romp about self-discovery through sisterhood, sexy men, and magic is weakened by clunky prose and a lack of nuance.--Katherine Magyarody
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
After being separated from her at birth, Wren takes her twin sister's place as heir to the throne. Sheltered Rose grew up pampered in the palace, taught to hate witches by Willem Rathborne, her guardian. Unbeknown to her, Wren, her twin sister, is a witch who grew up learning how to impersonate her sister and who plans to assume the throne and free witches from persecution. With one month left before the coronation ceremony, Wren has Rose kidnapped with the help of her best friend, Shen Lo. Shen swiftly carries Rose away from the palace, across the treacherous desert, to the witches' secret seaside settlement, where she faces ridicule. Meanwhile, Wren discovers that Rose is engaged to cheerful but boring Prince Ansel, brother to a warlord king--and she keeps running into his handsome bodyguard while sneaking out late at night. Wren must outwit everyone and convince them that she's her sister, all while coming up with a plot to murder Rathborne. Short chapters alternating between the sisters' perspectives keep the pace moving swiftly, and with the witty banter and clever magic, there's never a dull moment. An unexpected ending will leave readers ready for the sequel. Main characters are White; Shen reads as East Asian, and some side characters have brown skin. A delightfully magical twist on a classic premise. (Fantasy. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
