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Undercover Princess (Rosewood Chronicles)

Undercover Princess. By Connie Glynn
Got an early read. Published Date 02 Nov 2017

Review: The title caught me straight away and wanted to read then and there. The blurb was interesting and kept me intrigued.
And average girl with the drive to succeed gets into one of the most prestigious school in England which is known to cater to big names and high end children with designer labels and money to burn, heirs and royal.
Lottie Pumpkin ends up rooming with the princess of Maradova who has come to Rosewood discretely. A misunderstanding of where she's from has most 9f the students believing she is the secret Princess of Mavardova.

Alot happens in the book. A lot of guessing games and clues on who or why someone is sending threatening notes to Lottie and Ellie (the true princess of Maradova). Everytime you think you've nailed the culprit down, theirs something there that eliminates them. Halfway through I did realise who it was and I liked the intrigue of how it still made me doubt myself.
There was an element of magic to the book which at times made it seem like there's hidden magic about and Lottie just needs to find it or unlock it. Cause things seemed easy to surreal at times for it just to be a hunch and she would instantly know with conviction that this is right or this is what the clue is or so on and not just her gut feeling telling her.

The friendship between Lottie and Ellie started of rocky and they they clicked instantly. I think they need more of a build up to just be friends instantly and there were times when they fought or snapped at eachother which made them seem much more alive and as teenagers. It was quite amusing to see Lottie jealous when her closest friend was hanging out more with someone one else.

Apart from Lottie, Ellie and Jamie who appears a quarter aways into the book, there really wasn't much character development with the other students/friends. Lottie had met a few students on her first day at Rosewood and the group of students did pop about quite a bit in the book but they literally felt like background character. Apart from Binah and Anatascia, the latter quite standoffish at times and the former a smart little owl like girl who popped about whenever she felt like it.

Lotties father was never mentioned so it feels like they'll be an important revelation about him in the coming book  and with how everyone kept pointing out her likeness to the queen with the same hair and features they might be a long lost connection or maybe I'm just reaching. But the fact that Lotties mother mentioned her ancestors studying there a hundred years ago and the tiara of hers being a family heirloom there seems to be connections, not sure if it's with Ellie side or the founders of the school and houses. Most likely a connections probably to Tufty. Can't wait to find out which way it goes. As it's mentioned that she was meant to be at Rosewood.

There is alot left to be discovered yet, more secret passageways, more secret paintings and riddle's and more on the secret renegade group and it's hidden agenda. I also believe Uncle Claude will make and appearance sometime and I'm hoping to find out more about Jamie's mysterious past.

At times Lottie seemed to irritate me. She was very quite calm and held her feelings in as seem with when she interacted with her step mom but then as soon as she got to school she seemed in to minds with her personality. Quite at times when she shouldn't be and snapping at times she should be the opposite. I understand she's finding herself with all the new experience and friends and environment but I'm glad she finally settled down near the end of the book.
There was one instant I really didn't like her, it was when she bragged at being the princess to Jamie when she was portrayed as a sweet girl who would keep what's told in confidence and she didn't seem like a bragget to me, so I thought it was out of character.

All in all. It was a good book. With princess and princes and alot of mystery. I think the subtle magic needs to be cleared up cause all I kept thinking is that there's a lot hidden about and no one's touching on it an the authors making us guess on how we should interpret it.

Currently reading Naruto fanfiction.

Their are some amazing fanfics written on fanfiction.net. The style, story and depth always feels so professional.

Am currently reading a Naruto fanfiction. Dancing with Demons by Daystar Clarion.

Here's the link : http://m.fanfiction.net/s/3227295/1/  

Check it out. Even if you haven't seen the anime or read the Naruto manga. It's still a great story as the characters have their own appeal.

Warning (if you do check it out): May contain scenes of guts, gore and cannibalistic nature.

Enjoy.

Traitor Queen (Traitor Spy Trilogy)By Trudi Canavan

Follow up to the Black Magician trilogy. I loved the fact that the most dominant character's from the Magicians trilogy appeared in this. Obviously they would as the Traitor Spy Trilogy took place twenty years later and it was good to see our favorites Sonea and Cery pop back up even some of our less liked one's such as Regin, though he redeemed himself at the end of the Magicians trilogy, even if Sonea still held a grudge.

The Traitor Spy Trilogy revolved around Lorkin, Sonea and Lorlen (deceased) son aswell as Cery and his thieves roads. The series was very gripping. Enjoyed reading the after reactions to how people responded to Sonea and her black magic. Which was awe and fear whilst the magicians guild had her movements restricted yet she raised her son singled handled quite fast. Throughout the twenty year's she never entered another relationship as people either feared her or wanted her popularity.

Though this book does not mainly focus on Sonea, only a quarter of it does, the rest is all Lorkin, Cery and Dannyl. But for me I focused on mainly Sonea as I was so use to reading her story.

I can honestly say, I found the ending lacking for various reason. 1. The Sachkan Traitor war ending quite fast and somewhat less happening from the Magician trilogy. 2. I was rooting for Regin and Sonea once I started the Traitor Spy series and was ecstatic it happened. I also found their relationship lacking, it wasn't very in depth nor did they push for one another. Yes, Regin finally made a move and convinced her but after that it just ended. I would have like to see some more. Their were a few other things that were also less defined and not fully divulged into.

All in all the last book felt rushed, as if the author lost her interest or maybe had enough. I'm not faulting Trudi Canavan as I've tried my hand in writing and I have to say it is bloody hard. Maybe she got writers block or lost her muse and pushed out what she could to make it fit.

It's a great series but to me the last one felt less. Maybe cause I didn't want it to end.

Definitely a good read. Enjoy.