Book Review: “The White Rose” (The Lone City #2) by Amy Ewing

“The White Rose” (The Lone City #2) by Amy Ewing (2015)

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Fiction, Dystopian

Page Length: 308 pages (hardcover edition)

Synopsis:

Violet is on the run. After the Duchess of the Lake catches Violet with Ash, the hired companion at the Palace of the Lake, Violet has no choice but to escape the Jewel or face certain death. So along with Ash and her best friend, Raven, Violet runs away from her unbearable life of servitude.

But no one said leaving the Jewel would be easy. As they make their way through the circles of the Lone City, Regimentals track their every move, and the trio barely manages to make it out unscathed and into the safe haven they were promised—a mysterious house in the Farm.

But there’s a rebellion brewing, and Violet has found herself in the middle of it. Alongside a new ally, Violet discovers her Auguries are much more powerful than she ever imagined. But is she strong enough to rise up against the Jewel and everything she has ever known? (description from Goodreads)

Review:

*To see my review of the first novel in the The Lone City series click here.

The second installment in the Lone City trilogy wastes no time jumping back into where the first book left off. Violet, Ash, and Raven are on the run from the wrath of the Duchess to find a safe place to live outside the walls of the Jewel. Though Violet and her friends escape from the terror of the Jewel they are thrown into the throes of a revolution headed by a secret society called the Black Key where Violet is destined to become its new leader.

The book is very action packed from the start and I was immediately reminded of the cool magical/elemental powers Violet has (since it’s been a year or two when I read the first book) and I love how she is developing further control of her powers in this novel. I enjoyed getting to see the characters on a deeper level rather than the surface view that was presented in the first book, and we get to learn more about their pasts.

The thing that strikes me the most about Violet’s character is how loyal and caring she is, because she always makes sure no one gets left behind. She is also headstrong and manages not to break down ever after all of the horrible stuff she has endured. When I think of Violet’s character I am reminded that “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

As for the romance aspect of this series, I appreciated that even though Violet is in love with Ash she hasn’t let herself become completely enamored by him (so far). She lets him know how much she cares for him, and reciprocates her feelings in return, but knows she has to focus on the job at hand because numerous lives are at stake. I also felt that I could connect to Ash a little more in this book since I learned about his back story and his turbulent past. I didn’t feel as sympathetic to his story in the first novel, but now that I know more about him, I really felt for him.

I thought the story would be predictable when I started reading the second installment of the series, but so far it’s proved me wrong. It’s really entertaining to read all of the action and drama in this book. The White Rose is one big power struggle between the Black Key and the Jewel.

Final Verdict:

I’m looking forward to where the story will head in the final book of the trilogy.