The Princess in the Opal Mask Blog Tour: Tens List, Review + Giveaway

 

Welcome to my stop on The Princess in the Opal Mask blog tour! Today I have a tens list by the author along with my review of the book to share with you and don't forget to scroll to the bottom of the post to enter the giveaway!

The Princess in the Opal Mask (The Princess in the Opal Mask #1)
Author: Jenny Lundquist
Genre: YA FantasyRelease Date: October 22, 2013
Publisher: Running Press Kids





Buy Links:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Book Depository
Indiebound

Description:

Every Fairy-Tale Ending Has a Price. . . .

Orphaned as a child in the crumbling village of Tulan, Elara is determined to learn her true identity, even if it means wielding a dagger. Meanwhile, in Galandria's royal capital, Princess Wilha stands out as someone to either worship or fear. Though no one knows why the king has always made her conceal her face--including Wilha herself.

When an assassination attempt threatens the peace of neighboring kingdoms, Elara and Wilha are brought face to face . . . with a chance at claiming new identities. However, with dark revelations now surfacing, both girls will need to decide if brighter futures are worth the binding risks.

Jenny’s Top Ten Favorite Novels

1. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. 
Okay I know I’m cheating with this one, but as far as I’m concerned HP is just one story broken up into seven volumes. When I read HP, I’m inspired to become a better writer; and it’s due to these books that my son now actually enjoys reading.


2. Empire Falls by Richard Russo.
I love a good literary read, and this is hands down my favorite book for adults. I re-read sections of it every October. It’s one of my fall traditions.


3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. 
Katniss Everdeen is one of my favorite characters ever. I guess I’m Team Peeta; but ultimately, I’m really Team Katniss.


4. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. 
The ending makes me sob no matter how many times I read it.


5. Delirium by Lauren Oliver. 
Love has been declared a disease? Next to The Hunger Games, it’s my favorite premise ever.


6. Pride and Prejudice. 
It is a truth universally acknowledged that this is one of the greatest novels ever written!


7. One for the Murphy’s by Lynda Hunt.
Can’t remember the last time I both laughed and cried so much while reading a novel.


8. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. 
Curl up with it on a crisp October night with a cup of hot cider, you won’t be disappointed!


9. Thirteen by Candice F. Ransom.
This book came along exactly when I needed it during my middle school years.


10. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. 
Yep, I am a definite Lauren Oliver fangirl.

Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your top ten favorite books with us Jenny!

The Princess in the Opal Mask is a beautifully told young adult fantasy novel that follows the fate of two girls - Elara and Wilha - who couldn't be more different from each other. Elara was abandoned as a child and sent to live with a foster family, who treats her like a wretched servant that they get paid to keep. Wilha is the Princess of Galandria, but her existence isn't one of mere pleasure. Wilha has had to keep an opal mask on to obscure her face since she was an infant. Nobody is sure of the reason for this - not even Wilha herself - and the people of the kingdom either fear her or worship her. After the treat of an assassination, Wilha and Elara are forced to meet and their lives are changed forever. What they discover will change not only their own lives, but possibly the lives and destiny of their land and the people who live there.

This was a spectacular YA fantasy that read like a fairy tale. I was hooked from the very beginning of the novel and was determined to find out why Wilha had to hide behind the mask, along with what Wilha and Elara had in common. The story is told from differing viewpoints - those of the girls, Elara and Wilha. I think that this type of story telling gives the reader a much deeper insight into the characters and their personalities along with how each of them live their lives and respond to all the different occurrences in the novel. I liked getting to know each girl - they both had their own strengths and weaknesses. Elara was raised in a hard life, but she's smart, determined, and strong. Wilha was raised as a princess, but is insecure, afraid of her own face, and cowers beneath the looks and words of all those around her who judge her. They were both realistic and I immediately identified with each of them early in the book. The setting was an interesting one  -that of the land of Galandria - and made the story seem all the more like a fairy tale to me. The realm of kingdoms, soldiers, wars between other parts of the kingdom - all of these brought the story into a new light and an interesting landscape for it all to take place. The plot was fascinating, although I guessed from early on what the girls' secret was. I enjoyed watching the plot unfold and to see how each girl would handle the realization and the new lives put into their hands. The writing was fantastic with detailed descriptions and vivid imagery that had me easily immersed in the world that the author created. I can't wait to see what will happen in the next installment of the series! Definitely recommended for fans of YA fantasy and fairy tales!

About Jenny Lundquist: Jenny Lundquist was born and raised in Huntington Beach, CA. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Intercultural Studies with a minor in TESOL at Biola University. Lundquist has published two middle-grade books, Seeing Cinderella
and Plastic Polly. She lives in Rancho Cordova, California with her husband and two sons. Visit her online at jennylundquist.com and Twitter @Jenny_Lundquist.

Social Media Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jenny_Lundquist Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/writerjenny Website/Blog: http://jennylundquist.com/
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/jenlundquist/boards/
Author on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4851121.Jenny_Lundquist

GIVEAWAY: Jenny is giving away 15 copies of THE PRINCESS IN THE OPAL MASK! Enter to win by entering the Rafflecopter below! 

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