Title: The White Rose
Author: Amy Ewing
Series: The Jewel #2
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: October 6, 2015
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.
I'll begin by saying it took me two weeks to finish this book. It was a struggle, but I had to finish it because I really, really liked
The Jewel and I refuse to give that up.
Ultimately, this sequel had major second book syndrome and the majority of the story just drug on and on and on and on...
The story begins immediately where we let off from the first book, and the cliffhanger ending that was experienced in book one was really underwhelming once it came to fruition. I found this to be really disappointing, and I just kind of meandered on reading while never really becoming indebted again.
Much of what was told to us in this second book could have been summarized or shortened because it takes so long for us to get anywhere.
The like I had for Violet in book one kind of dissipated due to some of her choices. We got so much of Violet's feelings that I really stopped caring to a degree, but yet I couldn't get my self to DNF it because a part of me still cared.
There are new-ish characters that are suddenly important, and twists and turns that explain some choices, but my emotional pull just wasn't there.
There is far less explanation of what is happening at The Jewel in this novel, and I did enjoy the traveling aspect and the time we were able to spend in the different districts such as the Farm.
I still enjoy the world building and I do want to know what does happen to Violet and her merry gang, though I hope the third installment has more action and less whining.
Ash in this book didn't impress me which I found to be very depressing as I loved him last book. The romance is not as prevalent, but the illusions to it that we do experience didn't feel as genuine or sweet to me. I don't feel that Ash and Violet grow as a couple this book, which left me feeling indifferent about their relationship as a whole.
Raven and Violet's friendship in this one was much different in this one, and I found parts of it odd. I don't see the friendship vibe as much as I felt like Violet was Raven's mother, which I doubt is completely intentional.
If you're going to read The White Rose I definitely recommend at least skimming The Jewel if not rereading it entirely. They point back to things often in detail that i found myself being unable to place. There is very little reminding or explaining being done in this one, so the more information ou know, the more indebted you are sure to be.
I will be reading the next installment, but I will be hoping that we get more story, more relationship building, more self building for Violet, and just more awesome in general.
I am not giving up hope yet.
Go ahead and be like me, give The White Rose a chance - if only so we can finish the trilogy together!
