The Opal Crown by Jenny Lundquist {review}

The Opal Crown
by Jenny Lundquist
♦publisher: Running Press Kids
♦release date: October 28th, 2014
♦paperback, 368 pages
♦intended audience: Young adult
♦series: The Opal Mask, book 2
                 review of book 1
♦source: from publisher for honest review

In the year since she was betrothed to the crown prince of Kyrenica, no one has suspected that the Masked Princess has been a decoy. That Elara, the secret twin sister, has been pretending to be Princess Wilha all along. The royal family has kept Elara’s identity hidden from the world, and for the girls, swapping lives has not been easy. Galandra is quickly declining, and the sisters continue to be a pawn in the Guardian’s ever-changing endgames.
But the stakes rise when Elara and Wilha’s younger brother, Andrei, takes the Galandrian throne after their father's death, and he reveals the girls' deception to Kyrenica’s royal family. Viewed as traitors, Elara and Wilha realize they are now fighting for their lives—and for their country. However, with only one crown and one throne to overthrow, Elara and Wilha must decide who will become queen. Or rather, the next savior for their people.

 Review:  In The Opal Crown, a conclusive sequel to Princess in the Opal Mask, sisters Wilha and Elara face many challenges and dangers and hard decisions that come with the crown…and from running away from it.  The two of them have successfully switched lives with no one being the wiser. Then their worst fear comes true: their father dies and his last words were to tell their brother of Elara’s existence.  Prince Andrew becomes a cruel king, selfishly disregarding the needs of his people and constantly in fear that one of the sisters will come to take his throne. Fueled by the manipulations and misleading words of the royal guardians, especially the creepy Lord Murcendor, all three siblings have to use their strongest wits to figure out who to trust and exactly where they belong.  

I adored the first book in this series, and this installment had no problem living up to it.  The story is outstanding all the way through.  The writing exudes the feel of a classic fairy tale adventure. Brilliant plotting makes it so that every twist and turn is a complete surprise.  Both sisters, and now Andrei, are all incredibly dimensional characters with a full gamut of reasons and purposes and emotions that drive them and bring them to life.  

 There is a romance and heartbreak that I loved and rooted for to work out despite all the problems and other loyalties and, well, lies. But the main focus stays on the plight of the sisters which felt perfectly right for this story.  I loved all the tension between Elara and Wilha, both strong willed but with very different ideas about what might be best for their kingdom and for themselves. 

It was every bit as full of excitement, adventure, danger, and emotion as its predecessor; a perfect conclusion to this series.  I can’t wait to see what this author does next!

Find Jenny Lundquist online:  Website  •  Twitter  •  Facebook

Purchase the book:    Indiebound  •  BookDepository  •  Amazon

The Opal Crown Blog Tour: Guest Post & Giveaway!

Today, I'm excited to host Jenny Lundquist, author of one of my favorite duologies, Princess in the Opal Mask and The Opal Crown!  She's here to talk about her top ten Fairy Tale movies!

Top Ten Fairy Tale Movies

I have pretty eclectic taste when it comes to fairy tale inspired movies. In no particular order, the following ten are my favorites:

1. Hook- Because I love Robin Williams, and was saddened by his death. Also, I love the premise of this movie.

2. Labyrinth- David Bowie. Need I say more?

3. Cinderella- Magic, Mystery and Midnight! And giant pumpkin carriages!

4. The Princess Bride- As…You…Wish!

5. Tangled- Beautiful Animation. Also, I want these lanterns. 

6. The Matrix- I know, that might sound strange as a fairy tale. But I once read an article that argued that The Matrix is basically a scifi retelling of Alice in Wonderland. After thinking about it, I have to agree. And I dig those fight scenes.

7. Edward Scissorhands- Best ice sculptures ever.

8. The Wizard of Oz- This might be slightly influenced by my deep, DEEP, love for the musical WICKED. Also, is it shallow if I say I really want a pair of these ruby slippers?

9. Disney’s Snow White- The witch still scares me to this day.

And finally…

10. Frozen!

This is hands down one of my favorites. I love how it turns some of the fairy tale tropes on its head (“Who marries someone they just met?!!?”). I love the fact that Elsa is a queen, not just a princess. And I love the point the movie makes that true love can exist between siblings, not just romantic partners. For those of you who have already read The Opal Mask series, I think you can see why that appeals to me. Also, I may or may not have listened to Let It Go a bazillion times while I revised The Opal Crown.

About Jenny:

Jenny Lundquist grew up in Huntington Beach, California, wearing glasses and wishing they had magic powers. They didn't, but they did help her earn a degree in intercultural studies at Biola University. Jenny has painted an orphanage in Mexico, taught English at a university in Russia, and hopes one day to write a book at a café in Paris. Jenny and her husband live in northern California with their two sons and Rambo, the world's whiniest cat.

Website | Twitter | Facebook |Pinterest | Goodreads

 The New Book:

In the year since she was betrothed to the crown prince of Kyrenica, no one has suspected that the Masked Princess has been a decoy. That Elara, the secret twin sister, has been pretending to be Princess Wilha all along. The royal family has kept Elara’s identity hidden from the world, and for the girls, swapping lives has not been easy. Galandra is quickly declining, and the sisters continue to be a pawn in the Guardian’s ever-changing endgames.
But the stakes rise when Elara and Wilha’s younger brother, Andrei, takes the Galandrian throne after their father's death, and he reveals the girls' deception to Kyrenica’s royal family. Viewed as traitors, Elara and Wilha realize they are now fighting for their lives—and for their country. However, with only one crown and one throne to overthrow, Elara and Wilha must decide who will become queen. Or rather, the next savior for their people.

Giveaway!

(1)  Winner will receive a $25 Amazon or Barnes &Noble Gift card and a set of THE PRINCESS IN THE OPAL MASK and THE OPAL CROWN. US Only.

(4) Winners will receive a set of THE PRINCESS IN THE OPAL MASK and THE OPAL CROWN. US Only.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It lets us all gush about what soon-to-be released books we are jumping-up-and-down excited for.

The Opal Crown 
by Jenny Lundquist

hitting shelves October 28th, 2014 from Running Press Kids

description:

In the year since she was betrothed to the crown prince of Kyrenica, no one has suspected that the Masked Princess has been a decoy. That Elara, the secret twin sister, has been pretending to be Princess Wilha all along. The royal family has kept Elara’s identity hidden from the world, and for the girls, swapping lives has not been easy. Galandra is quickly declining, and the sisters continue to be a pawn in the Guardian’s ever-changing endgames.
But the stakes rise when Elara and Wilha’s younger brother, Andrei, takes the Galandrian throne after their father's death, and he reveals the girls' deception to Kyrenica’s royal family. Viewed as traitors, Elara and Wilha realize they are now fighting for their lives—and for their country. However, with only one crown and one throne to overthrow, Elara and Wilha must decide who will become queen. Or rather, the next savior for their people.

My thoughts: Princess in the Opal Mask was absolutely wonderful, one of my faves of last year.  If you haven't read it yet, READ IT!! :D  Love that they kept the same cover style, the watercolor-y close-up image, just looks so ethereal and a perfect fit for this gorgeous original fairy tale!

Becky's View: The Princess in the Opal Mask by Jenny Lundquist + Giveaway!

The Princess in the Opal Mask by Jenny Lundquist
♦publisher: Running Press Kids
♦release date: October 22nd, 2013
♦paperback, 352 pages
♦intended audience: Young adult
♦series: The Opal Mask, book 1
♦source: from publisher for honest review

Every Fairy-Tale Ending Has a Price. . . .

Orphaned as a child in the crumbling village of Tulan, Elara is determined to learn her true identity, even if it means wielding a dagger. Meanwhile, in Galandria's royal capital, Princess Wilha stands out as someone to either worship or fear. Though no one knows why the king has always made her conceal her face--including Wilha herself.

When an assassination attempt threatens the peace of neighboring kingdoms, Elara and Wilha are brought face to face . . . with a chance at claiming new identities. However, with dark revelations now surfacing, both girls will need to decide if brighter futures are worth the binding risks.

Review: Upon turning the last page of The Princess in the Opal Mask, I couldn't help but wish for a copy that was leather-bound, edges tipped in gold, maybe an illustrated copy full of gorgeous hand-drawn pictures to give it the outside that matched the beautiful tale inside.  Not that the cover isn't gorgeous---it definitely is and fits the story so well---but this story feels like one of the fairy tale classics.  Vast kingdoms with deep legends and histories, intrigue and secrets, royalty and their advisors, each with their own hidden agendas.  And in the midst of it all, two girls who are searching for their true selves.  One has been raised to rule, the other seems born to, but both are lost in the chaos of conspirators all around them.  

The story is told in alternating points of view.  Elara is a poor girl living with a cruel adopted family. She has endured solely by her own strength of mind and by putting on a good act, and her treatment has only made her stronger and able to cope with any situation, and also more determined that ever to find out where she came from. She knows how to guard herself and her emotions and do what needs to be done to survive, whether that means manipulating those around her or wielding a dagger.   Wilha is raised as a princess in the opal palace, but also as nearly a prisoner. No one will tell her why she must wear the masks. Rumors fly around the kingdom, even among her own servants, about her hidden ugliness, or her ability to curse or bless anyone who sees her...or the horrible tale that her mother died, cursed just from looking at Wilha's uncovered face.  She is not thick-skinned and the way she is feared hurts her deeply, leaving her feeling completely alone.  When they meet, the truth about who each of them is and why they were raised the way they were will come out and their lives will both change forever. 


The story really kicks off when the two are brought together and both are sent to the kingdom of Kyrenica, a rival kingdom.  I loved seeing how both cities are set against each other based on rumors and prejudices, how both sides have hatred for each other based on nothing but an old legend. With dangerous war-mongering men determined to keep the two kingdoms at each others throats, and loyalties constantly in question, both girls will learn that who you can trust is not always obvious or instinctual.  Elara and Wilha and the paths they take not only break through all of that, but help them find their own places in the world and they both end up thriving in lives that neither could have ever imagined. 

So much love for this book!  It's a fun and fast read, gorgeous world-building of two very different kingdoms, all with the feel of a grand fairy tale adventure. There is more to come from this series, and I can't wait to see where Elara and Wilha's lives will lead them!

Find Jenny Lundquist online:  Website  •  Twitter  •  Facebook

Purchase the book:  Amazon  •  BookDepository  •  Indiebound

This is definitely a book I want to share!!

I have a copy to giveaway to one lucky reader! 

•US mailing addresses only
•Must be 13 or older
•Ends 12/17/13

a Rafflecopter giveaway