Using five points of view, this fantasy tells an alternate version of history in which magic exists, shaping London, New York, and all the other parts of the world as we know them. Marie is a princess who never wanted to have the glory, the responsibility, or the complicated life to go with her title. Aelwyn, the princess's best friend, has magical powers that mean her enslavement to the crown instead of her freedom. Isabelle, the orphaned daughter of a French family, is determined to win back her former fiancé, the crown prince of Prussia. Ronan's family is destitute, and they depend on her to make a good match with a rich man -- whether or not she loves him. Finally, Wolf, the younger brother of the Prussian prince, is considered the "spare" and as such has little power to change his destiny or anyone else's, no matter how much he wishes it.
This one had a slow start for me, as the many points of view made it difficult to find my footing in each scene and to get to know each character. Because the characters each only got about 20% of the book, the story necessitated telling about much of the action instead of showing it, as well as giving some clunky info-dumping instead of natural revelations. Still, by the second half I was invested enough to have trouble putting the story down, and by the end I could understand why de la Cruz chose to tell the tale this way. I admit I was a little skeptical about how the book would be wrapped up, and feared it may be a cliffhanger with a year-long wait for the next installment, but I found the conclusion satisfying and interesting, and it kept me thinking for a while afterward. The sexual content definitely straddles the line between PG-13 and R; many acts are strongly implied and are, in fact, central to the plot. None are specifically detailed, however, and such acts are not only not condoned but often have disastrous results. Still, this one may be more suitable for mature readers.
HS -- OPTIONAL. Reviewer: Caryn
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