The White Rose by Amy Ewing
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: October 6, 2015
Purchase: Amazon
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.
My Thoughts...
The White Rose picks right up where the Jewel left off. After the Duchess (and her horrible niece, Carnelian) caught Ash and Violet together in his room and he was beaten in front of her and then thrown in the dungeon with no one to be sent to save him. Violet knows if he stays in there he will die, Let's just say Violet and Ash are in a world of trouble with the Duchess. She has no mercy and her actions have proved that many times over.
Violet is beside herself and trapped in her bedroom in the palace of the Lake. Garnet, the Duchess of the Lake's own son told her they were going to get her out over the Arcana. And she's overcome with grief as Ash is trapped and bleeding in the dungeons. The Duchess announced she an emergency petition to the Exetor for the companion's execution which would serve as a punishment...to torture Violet in the cruelest way possible.
"I need you to understand," the Duchess says. "You are mine. The doctor will not stop until my baby is growing inside you. I will no longer have any consideration for your pain, or discomfort, or frame of mind. You will be like a piece of furniture to me. Is that clear?"
With the help of a few friends, Violet is able to escape from the Duchess's clutches, but it wasn't easy as many obstacles cross their path. I enjoyed the scenes of their escape and felt the added backstory weaved in gave me a better understanding of Ash's past and the life he lived as well as the other companions.
The White Rose isn't only the title to this story, but it holds a significance. It becomes the heart, a meeting ground for Surrogates whom will join the forces of the rebels to take a stand against the royals, There, they discover their real power and are able to connect with different elements. Their true powers were kept from them, and manipulated to suit the needs of the royals.
Word of an uprising spread, chaos and deceptions ensued among the many Houses, Time was running out before the next auction, Ash, Violet, Sil and the others drew up a plan then an unexpected twist is thrown in and were left hanging.
I feel that there was more potential to add more substance into the story. I really could've passed on the part when each surrogate goes through the process in which they learn of their real powers. I also feel that there could've been more interactions with the rebel group, and while the story itself was satisfying, it also lacked in depth. The first half of the story outshines the second half with the exception of the cliffhanger at the end. I figured out what it was before the reveal pretty easily, and hoped that perhaps another layer of "OMG" would've added to the finale.
Overall this was a good read. I'll certainly pick up the next book and see how this story concludes.
4 snowflakes
