The White Rose... I love this series!

Contains spoilers for The Jewel. See my review here.

The White Rose The Lone City Book Two
Written by Amy Ewing
Dystopian, Romance, Magic
Published October 1st 2015
368 Pages
Thank you to Walker Books Australia
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★★★★
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?

The White Rose is a raw, captivating sequel to The Jewel that fans won’t be able to put down until the final shocking moments.
Caught in the arms of the lowly companion in Ash, Violet knows the only way to ensure her survival is to escape the clutches of the Duchess of The Lake. Violet left her family behind to become little more than a number. Girls are traded as mere commodities, those able to draw upon the Augury power using the elements are sold into imprisonment, breeding life into the royal bloodlines. Now while Ash is awaiting execution, Violet faces a life of cruelty and solitude while fearing for the life of her best friend Raven, a girl who will surely face death soon enough.

Along with the help of Lucien and an unlikely source in Garnet, Violet, Ash and the delicate and damaged Raven are on the run, but it isn't Violet who adorns the wanted posters. Ash is accused of a crime punishable by death and in order to reach the Farm, the three escapees have no choice but put their trust in a band of revolutionaries simply known as the Society of the Black Key. The Black Key want to live in a world where the royal families no longer rule and poverty no longer exists. To defeat the kingdoms and unite society's rings against the Jewel, first they will need to tear down the walls. United. As one.

Kelly's thoughts

The Lone City series may be the last of the traditional young adult series with instant love, a revolution and fighting against an oppressive regime... And I loved every moment. It's almost a guilty pleasure much in the same way readers enjoyed The Selection, and The White Rose is a fantastic installment in the series. Once again we follow the storyline of Violet on her journey as Surrogate for the Duchess of The Lake, for her Augury ability and her unusual eye colour. She's been separated from her best friend in Raven, who is being tortured for the sake of science and barely coherent. It isn't until Violet and the royal consort in Ash are caught in each others embrace, when they realise how dangerous the situation has become. To survive, they must escape and along with a disillusioned Raven, their only source of safety may be the illusive Farm.

Over the course of The White Rose, the focus moves away from the romance of book one with the storyline following the revelations of The Jewel and Violet, Ash and Raven's escape from the clutches of the royals. The instant love has been replaced with a much more comfortable companionship, as Violet's main focus is to reach the Farm and ensure Raven's safety. I really enjoyed Violet's character so much more in this installment. She didn't hesitate to take charge, putting the lives of both Raven and Ash before her own. By far my favourite character is Garnet. His character undergoes the most development and readers will feel a sense of who he is beyond the wild reputation for partying and bedding women. We see what may be the beginning of a tentative friendship or relationship between two unlikely characters which I hope is explored further.

The final verdict

Although I did really enjoy The White Rose, I don't think an entire book dedicated to their escape to the Farm was necessary. If not for leaving readers on tenterhooks once again and exploring the Augury abilities, this series probably could have been shortened into a duology. Nevertheless, The White Rose sets the scene for an incredible finale, engaging characters, a reliable storyline and what could be the last of the traditional young adult dystopian series.

Kelly is an Aussie who's love of chocolate milk is only surpassed by her love for Alice in Wonderland. She is currently on a semi hiatus.


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21 comments

  1. I wasn't a big fan of the first book because of the insta love, but I did really enjoy the world building that the author had set up. I ended up really liking this second book and I'm glad you did as well. It's definitely a guilty pleasure kind of series. I'm glad that series has moved away from the romance too. It wasn't too heavy which was nice.
    Lovely review, Kelly!

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    1. My thoughts exactly Nick. I liked book one, but enjoyed this one even more so for that exact reason. It reminds me of The Selection in so many ways, a guilty pleasure read that won't be for everyone, but I enjoy how light the series is. So glad you enjoyed it too.

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  2. Oh man, your review actually reminds me a lot about the whole YA trilogy ARC - the first is when there's a massive oppression, the 2nd is when they escape and the 3rd is when they successfully overthrow the government and yay. This one kind of sounds like it stalled a little.

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    1. It does read as very typical young adult dystopian, one of the last series out there that I've found actually. It was nice to read something stripped back, predictable and well written too. It really could have done without this installment though, as much as I enjoyed it. A longer duology probably would have been welcomed in this instance.

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  3. Hiya Kels! Flawless review as always! I love the sound of the characters and the fact that this book is mostly concerned with their escape to a farm, it really compels me to read it BUT, (you knew there was a "BUT" in there, right? The whole thing with the insta-love kinda scares me. I don't like it when the romance isn't developed or believable, NETHERLESS, I believe I still may give this a try because pfft, you liked it and approved therefore I MUST read it. <3

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    1. The instant romance was pretty much contained to book one thankfully, and this one wasn't big on the romance which really was a welcomed relief. I loved the character development, especially that of Violet from a love sick teenager to a girl who wasn't afraid to put herself in harms way to protect those around her. Really looking forward to the finale now.

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  4. Huh, I've not read this series but I have read what seems like a zillion reviews for it (so in reality, maybe 5? :P) and this is the second one for this particular book today - though the other review I read had a different opinion. I love that about blogging, from one extreme to the next!

    Great review Kelly :) I don't think this series is for me, but I enjoyed reading your thoughts nonetheless!

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    1. Thanks Wattle. I love that about reviewing too, you see a book from various points of view and can form a much more sound decision whether to purchase or not. This series is for readers who love their traditional dystopians, like myself. But I think it also appeals to mild fantasy readers and those who love action adventure as well. I've loving it so far. I do hope you do decide to take a chance and give it a read though, it might really surprise you.

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  5. I'll admit that I wasn't planning on reading this series because of the negative reviews I've been hearing about it, but you make me want to reconsider myself and give this a try now Kelly. It sounds like a really fun and light book. Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous review! ♥

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    1. Thanks Zoe and it really is. It's light and full of tropes, but so entertaining and easy to read. It makes such a change from all the heavy and emotional contemporaries that are flooding young adult and the moment and this felt like a breath of fresh air in comparison.

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  6. The not-so-good reviews for the first book scared me away, to be honest. So I never did read it. I doubt if I'll be reading this one as well, but I'm glad you're able to forgive that instant love faux pas.

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    1. I'm pretty easy going with reads Joy, so a little instant love isn't enough to scare me off a series. I need lighter dystopians, as they seem to be far darker these days and it's nice to have that break and just able to enjoy something as pure entertainment without being overly complex.

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  7. One thing is for sure, this cover is way more awesome than the American one with all the cloned faces all around! XD I tried the second book (despite not loving the first) some time ago and had a few problems with it still so I set it aside... but I'm glad to know that you still liked this one a whole lot. I do agree it could work better as a duology, though...

    Faye at The Social Potato

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    1. Oh yes, I couldn't agree more Faye. The Aussie covers are so much nicer and not creepy either. Yeah, I think a duology would have been a better option, as I'm not sure that much time was needed to escape. I still enjoyed in nonetheless and really looking forward to the finale now, can't wait to see what happens!

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  8. I had to double-check on Goodreads ... I though it sounded familiar but wasn't sure. I was thinking of the U.S cover, but I actually like this one better.

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    1. The US cover is a bit weird isn't it, completely agree that our Aussie cover is so much nicer.

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  9. oh no.... thats...unfortunate for the insta love :/ I always have a bad relationship with that, I don't know..who knows...maybe that can change

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    1. I do too usually Lily, but the instant love is contained to book one and was quite engaging so I was able to forgive. I did enjoy book two more so though, as the focus shifts into an escape and finding freedom and I'm always up for a planned revolution.

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  10. I love this series too. I am currently in the middle of the White Rose and enjoying it so far. Great review.

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    1. Thanks Rochelle. It's a nice little read and looking forward to seeing what you think of it poppet.

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  11. I really disliked book one, but hearing that this book moves away from the romance? YESSSS. I totally need to read this, if only because I want to know what happened after that huge cliffhanger. Great review! :)

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