The Opal Crown Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for The Opal Crown! I'll be sharing my review of the book today - and don't forget to enter the giveaway! To follow the rest of the tour, click on the banner above.

The Opal Crown (The Opal Mask #2)

Author: Jenny Lundquist

Genre: YA Fantasy

Release Date: October 28, 2014

Publisher: Running Press Kids

Formats: Paperback, ebook

Pages: 368

Description:

In the year since she was betrothed to the crown prince of Kyrenica, no one has suspected that the Masked Princess has been a decoy. That Elara, the secret twin sister, has been pretending to be Princess Wilha all along. The royal family has kept Elara’s identity hidden from the world, and for the girls, swapping lives has not been easy. Galandra is quickly declining, and the sisters continue to be a pawn in the Guardian’s ever-changing endgames.

But the stakes rise when Elara and Wilha’s younger brother, Andrei, takes the Galandrian throne after their father's death, and he reveals the girls' deception to Kyrenica’s royal family. Viewed as traitors, Elara and Wilha realize they are now fighting for their lives—and for their country. However, with only one crown and one throne to overthrow, Elara and Wilha must decide who will become queen. Or rather, the next savior for their people.

The sequel to the Princess in the Opal Mask. 

The Opal Crown is a mesmerizing second book in young adult fantasy series that continues to follow the fate of two twin sisters - Elara and Wilha - as their younger brother takes the thrown of Galandra and exposes the girls' deception. Elara and Wilha have been branded as traitors and are on the run - to save their lives and their country. They must figure out which of them will make the best queen - and essentially the savior - for their country after they overthrow their brother and take the crown. Which girl will be the one to wear the crown and bring peace back to Galandra?
 
I was a bit nervous before starting this book due to the fact that it's the second in a series and it had a lot to live up to after the spectacular beginning to the series. I had nothing to worry about because this book was just as fantastic as the first and far exceeded my hopes and expectations for it. The story was told in alternating first person point-of-views - those of Elara and Wilha. I usually love this type of story telling because it 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 more about each girl and their relationship with each others as well as the other characters in the book. I also enjoyed watching each girl grow and mature throughout the book. Both girls continued to be realistic and I immediately identified with each of them early in the book. The setting took us back to the land of Galandria - and the description of the land and its various details made the story seem like a fairy tale to me. I continued to love reading all about the realm of kingdoms, soldiers, wars between other parts of the kingdom. All of these various concepts brought the story into a new light and an intriguing landscape for it all to take place. The plot was enchanting, and less predictable than the first book. I enjoyed watching the plot unfold and to see how each girl would handle the situations that occur and how they would overcome the obstacles in their paths. The writing was beautifully done with detailed descriptions and vivid imagery that had me easily immersed in the world that the author created. This is by far one of the best YA fantasy books I've read this year and I'm already dying for more. I can't wait to see what will happen next with Elara and Wilha along with the kingdom of Galandria. Very highly recommended for fans of YA fantasy and fairy tales!

Jenny Lundquist grew up in Huntington Beach, California, wearing glasses and wishing they had magic powers. They didn't, but they did help her earn a degree in intercultural studies at Biola University. Jenny has painted an orphanage in Mexico, taught English at a university in Russia, and hopes one day to write a book at a café in Paris. Jenny and her husband live in northern California with their two sons and Rambo, the world's whiniest cat. 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads 

Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

 Giveaway:

(1) Winner will receive a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift card and a set of THE PRINCESS IN THE OPAL MASK and THE OPAL CROWN. US Only.

(4) Winners will receive a set of THE PRINCESS IN THE OPAL MASK and THE OPAL CROWN. US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

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! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway