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Apr 12, 2021
Palace of Stone
- Grace Donahue
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
SHANNON HALE
Age Range: 11+
Reading Level: Middle School
Series: Princess Academy #2
SUMMARY:
In this second book in New York Times bestselling, Newbery Honor-winning author Shannon Hale's Princess Academy series, Miri embarks on a brand new life in the city.
Coming down from the mountain to a new city life is a thrill to Miri. She and her princess academy friends have come to Asland to help the future princess Britta prepare for her wedding. There, Miri also has a chance to attend school--at the prestigious Queen's Castle.
But as Miri befriends sophisticated and exciting students, she also learns that they have some frightening plans for a revolution. Torn between loyalty to the princess and her new friends' ideas, between an old love and a new crush, and between her small mountain home and the bustling city, Miri looks to find her own way in this new place.
REVIEW:
I was really excited to read Palace of Stone after loving the first Princess Academy book. I did not think this one was quite as good as the first, but I still really enjoyed it! Also, the new cover is just so cute!
This book has a little bit of a different feel from the first one. Miri is older, leaves Mount Eskel, and is introduced to a much bigger world. There is more politics and conflict in this book as she finds herself caught between the royal family and a group that wants to overthrow the king. Even though the story deals with some more serious topics, it was still fun, well written, and easy to read.
I also liked some of the deeper themes in this book, especially the value of human life and Miri learning to choose peace over violence. Miri spends a lot of the story trying to figure out what the right thing to do is. She sees problems in the kingdom, but she also sees the consequences of trying to fix those problems through violence. There is also a little more romance in this book, which I enjoyed! Miri and Peder's relationship is still really sweet, although there is a little bit of a love triangle. The romance is all very innocent and appropriate for middle school readers.
Overall, I think Palace of Stone is a really good continuation of the series. I liked seeing Miri grow up a little and face bigger decisions while still keeping the things I enjoyed about the first book. I would definitely recommend continuing the series!
WHO I'D RECOMMEND TO:
I would recommend Palace of Stone to anyone looking for an easy-to-read, sweet princess series with a little bit of fantasy and a small love triangle. The target audience is around ages 11–14, but I read this at 21 and really enjoyed it, so I definitely think this is a series that can be enjoyed by all ages!
THINGS TO MENTION:
There is no swearing or sexual content. There is some sweet, innocent romance with hand-holding, a few brief kisses, and a small love triangle.
There is some violence, including an attempted shooting and mentions of death and childhood mistreatment, but nothing I found inappropriate for middle school readers.
The fantasy world has a fictional religion, with brief mentions of a “creator god,” prayer, and a chapel.
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The Princess Academy Series:
Hey there! 📚 Have you had the chance to dive into Palace of Stone yet? If so, I'd love to hear your thoughts! And hey, if you have any book recommendations for me to review, please do share. Your visit means a lot to me - thanks for stopping by! 🌟
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