Series: The Beholder #2
Published by HarperTeen on June 9, 2020
Genres: Fantasy, Fairytale Retelling, Young Adult
Pages: 512
Format: eBook, ARC
Source: Publisher
I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
We are the stepdaughters. We are the girls who become wolves because no one will feed us like lambs. We are the girls in the stories, and the world is ours.
At the end of The Beholder (book one), Selah learned about her crew’s secret mission to transport weapons to the rebels fighting against the brutal regime of the tsarytsya. As a result, she was forced to leave behind her true love, Prince Torden of Norway—and she’s angry. She’s angry that the people she trusted lied to her. She’s angry that the people she loves shelter her. She’s angry that the people who fight won’t let her fight. She’s tired of being sheltered, and she’s ready to fight.
I appreciate that this book gives Selah permission to be angry. While her anger sometimes leads her to take reckless actions or spiteful inactions that hurt The Beholder‘s cause, she’s been hurt, and she hasn’t been given time to grieve. As a pivotal player for The Beholder‘s plans, she must set aside her feelings and differences to do her work, and she struggles. And it’s not until late in the book that she understands why she’s especially angry with Lang.
Like book one, the side characters lack a solid presence, in part perhaps because the plot moves so quickly. Also like book one, this book features multiple romantic interests. In my review of book one, I mentioned a possible dark horse for Selah’s affections. While I understand why Selah reached the conclusion that she did about this relationship, it felt like she led this person on, used him, and co-opted his fight. I wondered, if their relationship was going to undergo so much abuse and be given so little page time, was it necessary for Selah’s story? I think the book doesn’t give the romantic interest justice; but as the romantic interest says, and as Selah acknowledges, she never really gave him a chance—and for reasons that negate all the good he’s done. But her actions towards him do provide another reason why their relationship ends the way it doesView Spoiler ».
Selah’s relationships with various men show different kinds of possible relationships. As she meets different men and gets to know them, she grows an understanding of what she desires in a relationship and what she wants to do with her life. This book features motifs of stories and the role we play in our own stories—and Selah finds her own role, and her own goals. But more than romance, she learns, during her time in the Imperiya, about sisterhood. While the men take several steps back, Corben and Anya take a huge step forward in supporting Selah and fighting alongside her on the front lines. I love how, despite the significance of romance to the plot, the women shine brightest, as shield sisters and as individuals with their unique contributions to the fight.
The story is laid out in a straightforward manner. Selah moves from event to event in a linear progression, and despite a few bad predicaments, she overcomes the bad with few repercussions. Events move quickly, as does the final fight. I would not read this book for the politics or the rebellion (though this book features some). Read it for the girl discovering her role in her own story, read it for the sisterhood, read it for the Happily Ever After.
Rating PG-13
View Spoiler »Bias Notes
I read book one and had an interest in completing this duology.
Ethan says
I love that she was able to really express/deal with her emotions in this one!
Crystal (Kester) says
Yes! I had a conversation with some ladies recently about how women aren’t often given permission to be angry or to complain: we’re taught to be relational, to think about others first, to smile and “get over” the bad.