Sequel to Westmark, this chronicles the two main characters as their country undergoes some significant upheaval. (Giving more detail would be a bit of a spoiler.) I found it a bit darker and heavier on the social commentary than the first, but still enjoyable. ( )

War comes to Westmark just as King Augustine dies.

This was another excellent entry in the trilogy. Alexander has crafted a shocking, brutal and utterly real depiction of war and its effects on men and women. His imagery is never very graphic - this is, after all, a novel for younger readers - but it conveys a great deal nonetheless.

The "glory of war" has no place in this story. Characters who expect to discover it are quickly disillusioned. People suffer and starve and die as the war carves its way through their lives. Characters move in different directions as the war affects them. They are forced to reevaluate all their previous views even as their place in the world shifts and changes. It can be dense stuff; I sometimes found it difficult to read. It's worth sticking with, though. This is a powerful story about a subject that most children are either shelted from or exposed to in comic fashion. While Alexander does include a fair measure of humor in the form of the two water rats, their comedic views only serve to highlight the horror around them. It's nicely done, and keeps the book from becoming overwhelming.

Highly recommended. While it's probably best that you read Westmark first, I don't think it's absolutely essential. ( )

This is the second in a series of stories, which I didn't know when I began. It was still perfectly understandable. A kingdom is in peril, a queen who has just ascended the throne is thrown into war due to treacherous leaders. She must also decide how to deal with a revolutionary group within the country who wants to eliminate the monarchy. All of this while she is wondering what has become of her fiancee.
For me, the story was readable, not memorable. Some of the motivations and actions did not seem to be carefully developed. Still, it was O.K. ( )

Theo is older, more experienced, and perhaps more jaded. The playing field has also grown beyond the characters to include civil war. For many years I did not realise there was a third book in this series. ( )

ALA notable young adult author, books @ 200+ pages. Sequel to Westmark.