Take The Key and Lock Her Up

Contains spoilers. See my review for All Fall Down and See How They Run

Take the Key and Lock Her Up
Embassy Row Book Three
Written by Ally Carter
Mystery, Contemporary
Published February 2017
336 Pages
Thank you to Scholastic Australia
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★★☆
The princess is dead. Long live the princess.

Centuries ago, the royal family of Adria was killed… Or so everyone thought. Now Grace Blakely knows the truth. There was one survivor, and that survivor’s blood runs through her veins. This simple fact could cause a revolution, which is why some people will stop at nothing to keep it from coming to light.

There is only one way for Grace to save herself, save her family, and save the boy she loves. She must outmaneuver her foes, cut through the web of lies that has surrounded her for years, and go back to the source of all her troubles, despite the risk.

If she wins, she will inherit a throne. And if she loses, she will inherit the fate of all the dead princesses who came before her.
The royal bloodline ended the night the castle was besieged, a family slain and an interim King reigning over the citizens of Adria. Grace's mother believed in children's fairytales, the night the royal family had perished, a samaritan protecting baby princess Amelia from the brutal revolution, the royal bloodline surviving.

My Thoughts

Take The Key and Lock Her Up begins mere moments after the revelations of See How They Run, Jamie is injured, Alexei a fugitive and Grace is determined to carry her mother's legacy, finding evidence of the lost princess.

Grace Blakely is a descendant of baby Amelia, a centuries old mystery that the government and Society of Ardia are determined to protect. Since moving into the embassy to live with her grandfather, Grace has been embroiled in controversy. Grace is relentless in her search to uncover her mother's findings, needing evidence as leverage against Adria and the royal family who occupy the throne. I admire Grace's tenacity as a character and enjoyed her relationship with her brother and love interest Alexei, who are now fleeing Adria with the assistance of Dominic. 

While in previous installments, the murder mystery aspect added drama and intrigue, the focus is now placed upon on Grace, while the narration of friends and embassy residents were left unresolved. Grace is a character who has struggled with her mental health, placed within a health facility leaving her distressed. Her anguish and post traumatic stress disorder is now absent, apart from the occasional inner monologue reminiscing the death of her mother. Unfortunately, the storyline felt entirely repetitive. One aspect I found fascinating about the series were the ancient and secretive society of women, political puppeteers that seemed a convenient device of justification for the lawless Embassy Row, where adults in authoritarian positions maim and murder. Unfortunately it wasn't fully explored.

Suspension of disbelief was virtually impossible. Although entertaining, I wasn't immersed or as engaged as I've been with the previous installments but was surprised by the ending and a little disheartened by the vigilante justice imposed. The Embassy Row series has been wonderfully entertaining, secrecy and intrigue creating a narrative that will enthrall and delight readers but unfortunately the finale left me feeling disappointed.

22 comments

  1. Sigh. I remember being so excited about this series but after the first book, I decided that I couldn't go on. You've got me beat since you've gone as far as I have.

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    1. I really enjoyed the first two books Joy but this one was a lit of a letdown. I'm interested in reading her other series' though as I've heard they're wonderful reads.

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  2. Oh what a shame! I've got a few series that i'm putting off reading the last book as i'm afraid of disappointment /don't want the story to end.
    Even though the ending wasn't satisfying at least it sounds like reading the series wasn't a complete waste of time for you :-).

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    1. Oh it was still an entertaining read, I just expected a little more considering how much I had enjoyed the first two. Still well worth the read Sarah.

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  3. That's a bummer that this wasn't a great installment of the series, Kelly. It always sucks when a finale lets you down. I have been curious about it since it's one of those series that's very popular. I think I'll still give the previous books a try, and skip this one.

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    1. The series overall is really entertaining but the finale just felt... A little rushed? It was mostly characters on the run there were so many other aspects that could have been explored, like the promise of the secret society of woman. They played a part but it wasn't what I had expected and needed more.

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  4. As dang, glad to hear the series overall is pretty enjoyable, but definitely disappointing when the ending isn't satisfying!
    Great review, Kelly!

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    1. I don't seem to have much luck with most series finales actually, I think perhaps I expect a little too much.

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  5. I didn't even know this was the finale???! What a disappointment!
    So sorry this one didn't live up your expectations :\ Sigh, hope this author's next series is a bit better! I haven't read Embassy Row but I DID like her Heist Society books.

    - Aila @ Happy Indulgence

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    1. I want to read those too Aila, I've heard they're wonderful reads. I liked the series but just expected a bit more from the finale.

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  6. I haven't read any of these, but I'm sorry this one just didn't work for you. Repetitive moments in books really does bother me!

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    1. Me too Lauren, especially within a finale when there are other aspects to explore.

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  7. I didn't realise this was part of a series, and yet, there it is, right on the cover *rolls eyes* maybe I need new glasses lol

    It's a pity this one didn't live up to the rest of the series; it sounds fun as a whole (if a wee bit silly) so a final instalment not being awesome must have been disappointing :(

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    1. It was wonderfully silly and entertaining, a great series to sit and binge on a rainy weekend. Although this one didn't live up to my expectations, the series is still well worth the read.

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  8. Doesn't sound like it's for me but I'm sorry this installment didn't work for you.

    Karen @For What It's Worth

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    1. Yeah, me too Karen. It was still entertaining but unfortunately I expected a little more.

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  9. Too bad you were disappointed. It does sound a bit like the Arabian tales to me. The princess might get killed etc etc in the plot

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    1. It's kind of like a junior UN convention but with killer librarians and royal bitches really.

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  10. Well that blows. I read book one and really liked it but kind of forgot about the series, sucks that it went downhill...

    Nereyda│ Nick & Nereyda’s Infinite Booklist

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    1. Even book two was pretty good, although entertaining it was just missing all that snark and adventure that the previous installments had.

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  11. This series isn't my cup of tea, but the title and cover is one of the most ... volatile? pairings I've seen in awhile.

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  12. Sadly, I feel mostly the same way about this book as you do, Kelly. I LOVED the first book, and thoroughly enjoyed the second, but I felt like this one really fell flat. And the ending, whilst it had closure for Grace, left everyone's lives so open. I didn't really like not knowing what was going to happen to the other characters.

    It was such a disappointing close to a series I had really enjoyed :(

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