Fray

The Unraveled Kingdom #2

by Rowenna Miller

"A gorgeous weave of romantic fantasy and urgent politics." —Anna Smith Spark, author of The Court of Broken Knives

In an enchanting world of sartorial sorcery, court intrigue, and revolutionary royals, a charm caster must navigate a royal court and foreign alliances fraught with danger to protect her future in the aftermath of rebellion in the sequel to Torn , a French Revolution-inspired historical fantasy debut. 

Open revolt has been thwarted—for now—but unrest still simmers in the kingdom of Galitha. Despite having built a thriving business on her skill at both dressmaking and magic, Sophie has not escaped unscathed from her misadventures in the workers' rebellion. Her dangerous foray into curse casting has rendered her powers unpredictable, and her increasingly visible romantic entanglement with the Crown Prince makes her a convenient target for threatened nobles and malcontented commoners alike.

With domestic political reform and international alliances—and her own life—at stake, Sophie must discern friend from foe... before her magic grows too dark for her to wield.

Praise for The Unraveled

“Miller places immigrant ambition and women’s lives at the heart of her magical tale of politics and revolution. I was utterly enchanted by this unique, clever, and subtly fierce fantasy. —Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne

“Strong research, moral ambiguities, and an innovative magic system....A well-executed historical fantasy debut whose author has a sharp eye for detail.” — Kirkus

“Miller weaves a fresh, richly textured world full of magic-stitched ball gowns and revolutionary pamphlets. The vivid, complex setting and deeply human characters make for an absorbing read!” —Melissa Caruso, author of The Obsidian Tower

The Unraveled Kingdom
Torn
Rule
Fray
 

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Romance, Adult, Speculative Fiction, Historical Fiction, Young Adult

496 pages, Paperback

First published June 4, 2019

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review from Tenacious Reader: http://www.tenaciousreader.com/2019/0...

Fray is another enjoyable book in the Unraveled Kingdom. Political unrest and revolution have created an uncertain path and future for the empire, and Sophie finds herself at the center of the conflicts. Engaged to the Crown-prince, but also rooted in the community that is looking for change, she has loved ones and friends on both sides of the conflict. She’s a strong protagonist who fights her battles using intelligence and using her relationships. It also helps she can use a bit of magic here and there through the use of her charms.

I did really enjoy this one, however I also think it suffers a bit from second book syndrome. I think for me, this just seemed to be a slower book and much of what I found myself excited about in the first book has all been established I know Torn wasn’t particularly fast paced, but whenever you are meeting new characters I think it feels like more is happening. Everything and everyone was new and exciting.

The first book had us learning about Sophie’s magic, watching her build her business and relationships with the higher class clientele, and then there was Sophie’s developing relationship with the Crown Prince. Not to mention the entire Red Cap uprising, and her own brother’s role in that.

There is plenty going on in this book as well, there is major unrest in the city and Sophie is suddenly struggling to control and use her magic, adding extra pressure and stress as she relies on her magic both as part of her business, but also as way to lend protection or luck to those people and causes that she cares about. Her shop is doing very well, but with her upcoming marriage, thanks to the sexist laws that claim married women can’t be business owners, she has to face passing it on. On top of this, there is some serious scheming and betrayal going on. So obviously, I don’t want to imply that nothing happens, Fray just seemed to have a slower pace than Torn and I suspect some of that is since this is not an action oriented series, the fresh introduction of everything in the first book helped give it an edge.

There is nothing wrong with that, and I certainly don’t mean that there wasn’t anything exciting in this book. It just was probably more focused on the politics, that may have been quite important in the first book as well, but they were not the only component of the book that drew me in during the first book, but I think with so many of the other elements established, this one focused more heavily on it. But I did enjoy it and I am really curious to find out what is in store for us readers with the next book.

If you enjoyed Torn, I absolutely recommend reading Fray as well, and I am looking forward to the next installment.

[Jordan (Forever Lost in Literature) · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are also so underrated! People that love political intrigue/revolutions/etc., will love this series. Full review:

Find this review at Forever Lost in Literature!

When I read Torn, the first book in the Unraveled Kingdom trilogy, I was excited by how much I fell in love with the world, magic system, and main character Sophie Balstrade. I'd been anticipating picking up Fray ever since, and it managed to up the intensity and plot to even further than I expected.

This series has always had politics at its core, but Fray took this trilogy to even higher political heights than in Torn. There is so much plotting and planning and political maneuvering that I almost started feeling dizzy at times--and it was brilliant. Miller does a wonderful job of creating a historical-inspired setting with strong political and social world-building, as well as developing a feel for the natural environments of the different locations that exist within it.

Sophie remains a truly charming character. What I love so much about her is that she is far from perfect and comes into this story with her own preconceptions and ideas about social classes, how to make improvements, and many other world views. It is through her experiences, the experiences of others, and her dealings with others that she continues to expand her viewpoint on the world and become a better person everyday. What really stands out about her is that she is not afraid to admit if she is ignorant in regards to a specific topic and will not attempt to force out an uninformed opinion, a trait that I find rather mature and impressive. Her strength really shines in how tough she has to be when dealing with an extensive amount of people who have developed their own hatred for her for how she is helping the lower classes. There were a few things I didn't love about what she chose to do at various crossroads and that felt slightly out of character, especially in regards to her prized clothing store, but I also see this as a turning point for Sophie as she embarks upon a new phase of her life. Plus, I have no idea what could still happen in the next book.

Theodor is another character that comes into the story from a very specific background with fairly specific viewpoints, but he grows as a person in the first book and also in this book. He is another great example of how well Miller can develop multi-dimensional character with real human growth and struggles. Nobody's perfect in this book--the "good" guys sometimes need to learn things, the "bad" characters can sometimes make sense, and in a sense many of the people who aren't outwardly bad do many things that are seen as welcome and positive by some, whereas others would see those actions as wholly negative and unhelpful.

I really loved how Miller handled the issue of a revolution from lower classes of citizens against the elite. Sophie is used as a sort of middle man, since she is now engaged to Theodor and can actively try to influence the elite. In doing this, Miller touches on the difficulties of Sophie struggling to make everybody happy. The lower class want a lot all at once, but they have to start off by taking only a little, which they say as being counterproductive when in reality it is the best way for them to get what they want. It was exciting to see how she worked all of this out and showcased it in the ways that she did. The violence that erupts as a result of misunderstood actions or overly passionate feelings coming to a boil place an enormous role in this story as well, and I appreciated how she incorporated all components into a cohesive and thought-provoking novel.

And of course one of the things I love most about this trilogy--the magic! I loved getting to explore more about the depths of this magic, including the darker side of it and how it can be manipulated for bad intentions as well as good, which Sophie usually does.

Overall, I've given Fray 4.75 stars! I cannot wait for the finale!

[Marguerite Nguyen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Revolutionary Fail

Rowenna Miller's debut with "Torn" was fabulous. It was a fun book and the take on someone being caught in the middle of the two sides of a brewing revolution and in between loyalties between family and new found friends was exciting. I was very excitedly waiting for the sequel and couldn't wait to read it. Sadly, when I started to read my excitement ended.

While the first book was a fresh take, this one seemed to take every expected troupe and was neither fresh or exciting. Sophie, who was a great heroine now became a poster child for the revolution undermining her original role that made her so interesting in the first book. The protagonist in the book seemed no longer the characters but the revolution ideal which meant a lot of boring bits that felt like a dull polysci class. It fell into the traditional troupe of nobles bad, non-nobles good, with the one or two exceptions. Even the romance was dull and uninteresting.

The book also suffered from second book syndrome and lack of character development. There wasn't a strong overarching plot for this one and seemed to be a thin connection tissue between the first book and the third. There were new characters that could have been very interesting, but lacked development too. Some of the major question the book posed about the dangers of her magic and being chased by an assassin did not feel that threatening and the answer to the first was a bit of a disappointment. The idea of her being caught in the middle again between noble and commoner could have been interesting, but rather than her trying to be the sound voice of reason and a bridge between, she simply falls wholeheartedly to the side of the revolutionaries and waxes on about it ad nauseam. Her brother Kristos is still a jackarse and no empathy for him. He would be just as horrific a noble as he is a revolutionary; he's just a self-righteous jerk. No, we don't really care what happens to him and Sophie is better off without him.

While the first book was an enticing read, this one I had to slog through and was determined to finish because I had enjoyed the first one so much. Sadly, it never did get better. I do hope the last book pulls it together, but I just want to forget this one entirely. I'm still routing for Rowenna Miller who is very talented, but "Fray" did not showcase her skill.

[Mike Chen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how FRAY took the expectations set from TORN and essentially inverted them. It smartly executed what the best second-books do: expand the world, push characters to their limits, and shake up the formula in surprising ways. Really, my only complaint is that it leads right into the final book RULE and I have to wait.

[Genevieve Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm very conflicted on how to rate this.

It's a middle-of-a-series book, so its unsatisfying end almost makes me want to give it fewer stars. I was still riveted the whole time, though, and even now that I'm finished reading it I still find myself thinking over the story and wondering about the third book. So, I'm going to err on the side of a higher rating. The first half was fun and interesting, and while the second half was frustrating, it seemed to be frustrating in a purposeful way.

This book jumps right into Sophie as Princess Consort. She makes her debut into upper-class society, and I was very glad there was no time spent on will-they-won't-they. Sophie and Theodor made their decision in the last book, and they stuck right with it in this installment. I really liked seeing Sophie grappling with her new role and the plans to give the shop over to Alice.

The second part where they travel to an international trade summit wasn't quite as fun, but it delved into the theory of magic more, which I have been dying to do since the first book. I was expecting to love the social and political maneuvering, but there wasn't as much of that as I expected. It was still enjoyable, though. I also liked how the secret behind Sophie's faltering powers wasn't some uncanny, sinister taint, and was just the fact of her grief.

The third part was where everything gets hairy. Kristos is just... the worst. I still can barely stand him. "HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO APOLOGIZE?!?" he yells, when like... by my count he hasn't apologized even ONCE. Like oh, I didn't realize how far it was going to go. Oh, I was taken in by Pyrod's schemes. Oh, I never meant-- like THAT'S NOT AN APOLOGY. He's the worst. Also, he and Theodor in the same room are the worst. Niko is also the worst. I would kill all of them if I got the chance.

However, the setup for a third book has me hooked. It seems like Sophie is finally verging on discovering what her magic can really do, and it's interesting how they've completely flipped sides. In book one, the Kvys and the revolution were cast as the bad guys, and now they're the side everyone is on. I hope all of Theodor's brothers are all right, and I really want to see what kind of eventual confrontation he has to have with his father the king.

[Jessica Strider · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pros: interesting magic, political intrigue

Cons: pacing is a bit uneven

Several months have passed since the attempted revolt at midwinter and the Council of Nobles are preparing to vote on the new Reform Bill that Prince Theodor has advanced. Sophie Balstrade prepares to give up her seamstress business and accompany the prince to a trade conference in West Serafe. But trouble from home follows them there, as the nobles don’t intend to give up their power. Meanwhile Sophie’s casting ability has been faltering and she needs to figure out why, and if it can be recovered.

This is the second book in the Unravelled Kingdom series, and heavily depends on knowing what’s happened in book one. There’s less sewing and more magic and politicking in this book.

I love Sophie and seeing her relationship with Theo deepen is a real pleasure. They sometimes butt heads, being from different social strata, but work out their difficulties.

The magic is interesting. I love how Sophie sews charms, and seeing her abilities expand is fun. The musical magic gets examined a bit more and Sophie develops a new form of casting.

There is a lot of political intrigue. I love that there are no easy solutions to how to resolve problems of social and economic change. People in power don’t want to give that up. The book shows very realistic responses to the various solutions proposed. The brutality of people fighting for their future comes across.

I did find that some parts of the book were more interesting than others. The pacing got a bit uneven at times.

I enjoyed the book and can’t wait to read the final volume.

[Linda Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adventure. On the high seas, in foreign countries, at a diplomatic summit, and in Sophie's own backyard. Everyone gets more to do, and learns under pressure. The new characters add a breadth and range tha makes this novel sparkle. I need to know what happens to a couple of them. Soon. This is an excellent 2nd book in this series. Now I wish the 3rd was out and in my hands.

[Michaela Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to really give this series credit for it’s realistic view on staging an actual revolution. This second book is solid. 4.5 stars

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fray picks up as Sophie is now getting married to Theodore but she must begin the preparations of giving her business away and coming to terms with her life no longer being the same as it was before.
There is a case for sophomore slump here as the characters progress very little as the book feels like its building up to a climax which won't reach its climax until the next book as it ends on a cliffhanger. Theodore does very little were it becomes out of his hands and Sophie goes from being someone who looks for a solution to a woman who prays the problem will somehow go away.
Kristos probably has cemented itself as one of the most obnoxious characters to exist in literature where in the first book I tolerate him as an idealist idiot who was in over his head to a pretentious jerk who makes a clear case for why the peasants should not rebel in the first place.
I keep debating whether to give this a three or two star where it would get I believe 2 1/2 if I was being generous as the lands are vivid in the description where I do want to visit this world.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly I was tempted to give this 4 stars because I'm just so cranky that the 3rd book isn't out yet. This book is so good and sets up so many potentially amazing things. But honestly, isn't that a common problem that many 2nd installments have? I love the old characters that continue to develop and I love the new characters who were introduced. I can't wait for the 3rd book.

[The Library Ladies · Rating 2 out of 5]

(originally reviewed at thelibraryladies.com )

I enjoyed the political, magical-sewing, romance story that was “Torn,” so it was a no brainer to request a copy of its sequel. The first book had moved rather slowly, for all that it was introducing new characters and a new world, so I was hopeful that now that that groundwork had been laid, the pace would pick up a bit more here. Unfortunately no.

Sophie’s orderly life of quiet competence as a small business owner is quickly falling apart. Not only does she have a rebel leader for a brother, one whom she was tied closely to in the failed revolt that took place not too long ago, but her growing attachment to the Crown Prince is thrusting her into a completely new part of society, and one that doesn’t look too kindly on the doings of revolutionaries. On top of all this, after she used her magic in new ways in the last book, she has begun to lose control of it. These dueling priorities are often at odds with each other and it’s beginning to look like Sophie is going to have to choose a side eventually.

Many of my opinions from the first book carried over to this one, however, ultimately, I didn’t enjoy it as much. For one thing, the pace of the book is still incredibly slow. I enjoy a political fantasy novel as much as the next person, but much of the slowness here is spent on minute day-to-day details, rather than backroom scheming. Much of what helped the first book manage its slow pace was the fact that it was a first book and was throwing tons of new stuff at the reader simply due to that fact. With a second book, and an established world and main character, the story itself needs to provide the points of interest. Unfortunately, it didn’t really do that and I still feel like the book could have been edited down significantly.

I also still enjoyed the magic system, however. Especially now that it is getting out of Sophie’s control. In the first book, it was made clear that Sophie herself didn’t fully understand her magic, and when she pushed herself into new aspects of charming, she was exploring without much of a guide. Seeing the calm, controlled Sophie that we knew from the first book deal with the unexpectedness that is now her magic was fun to read. It was also interesting having her explore the morality of how she uses her magic and how that ties into the way the magic behaves itself.

The romance was also still fairly bland for my taste. But I did like how the book was tackling the sexist laws of the land that will prevent Sophie from owning her own business once she gets married.

However, the one big strike against this book for me was Sophie herself and the way the brewing revolution seems to be being handled. One of the most compelling aspects of the first book was the honest look at what revolutions look like, the tough places where idealism and practicality meet and explode. The fact that there are good and bad people on both sides. And, even more importantly, there are people in the middle who can understand both sides but just want to get on with life. That was Sophie. Unfortunately, here, in the second novel, much of that nuance and layered exploration is thrown out. Sophie seems almost out of character with how much she sides now with the revolutionaries. And, conveniently, the story itself has molded the two sides to make this choice easier. The common people are fully in the right. The aristocrats are completely evil. It’s a really unfortunate loss, simplifying matters back into the easy good vs. evil conflicts we’ve seen a million times. And with the unoriginal “common folk vs. the evil nobility” theme nonetheless.

In the end, I don’t feel that this book moved the series in the right direction. Some of the flaws from the first one (slow pace, bland romance) carried over to this one. And the interesting additional layers to Sophie’s magic weren’t enough to make up for the fact that the complicated political philosophizing was thrown out the window for a more standard, less interesting, revolution of the good folk against the bad ones. If you enjoyed the romance and the pace of the first book more than me, perhaps this one won’t be as much of a let down. But unfortunately, it was a bit of a dud for me.

Rating 6: Loses its nuance, and with it, its point of interest.

[Realms & Robots]

Fray returns to the world of Galitha, dropping us directly into the brewing conflicts that haven’t left the busy streets. What starts as a hopeful story quickly turns into another devious plot to wrest the kingdom from those who would see change brought to their way of life. Through it all, we see Sophie and her Prince become bastions of the good fight as they put themselves in constant danger to protect the land they love. It’s a strong narrative that deftly continues where we left off.

In keeping with the previous entry in the series, the novel is multilayered in its focus. First, we have the continued political discussions between the commoners and the nobility. Fray focuses primarily on the nobility side of the fight, revealing the deep hatred many have for the proposed reforms. Constant meddling can be heard behind every corner and bush, leading to a steady stream of intrigue and thrills as we dive deeper into the brewing conflicts. There are plenty of characters to hate in this story, and we have yet to see them get what they deserve. The Crown Prince takes a surprising turn by amplifying his voice for the people’s demands. In the first book, he was supportive of Sophie, though remained at a distance from the goings-on of the revolution. In the second, he finds himself firmly in the middle, now considered a prominent voice for the people and their best hope for political reform. We see the possibility for change, and that adds a deep sense of hope to the story.

Second, we get a much deeper understanding of the magic Sophie wields. What seemed to be a simple parlor trick used to sell marked up dresses is actually a more complicated form of magic. She struggles throughout to balance the charm versus curse forces and, as she continues to learn with the help of others, we see just how powerful her skills can be. We get to see a fascinating, albeit villainous, usage of the magic through music, lending further mystery to this ancient practice. The end promises an extremely magical third book.

Overall, Fray has shifted its roots from altered fairy tale to full revolutionary thriller. The story continues to be compelling, and that shift makes for a more serious progression of events. The unrest has been amplified tenfold, giving way to what I’m sure will be an explosive final book in this series.

NOTE: I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

[S.M.M. Lindström · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophie has survived a revolution and is now betrothed to a crown prince. As fairy tale like as it sounds, reality is much harsher. While Prince Theodore struggles to write a reform bill that will please the rightfully upset common people of Galitha but still get approved by the governing body of nobles, Sophies faces equal challenges, if on a smaller scale, in deciding how her life will go. She cannot marry a prince and keep her atelier. She cannot forget how to cast curses. She cannot have her brother back, even though he lives. What will the future hold for her and all her fellow Galithians?

I predicted I would eat my way through this book like a box of chocolates, and I was right! Such a page turner! I love it when stories of revolution and political change have a realistic continuations, and this definitely is that.

While I also love the magical aspect of Sophie's tale, it's the emotional and political parts that had me chomping at the bit waiting for my library to get a copy of the second and third book in this trilogy. I wanted to know if Sophie would reunited with her brother, would get to keep her atelier, would get to marry Theodore and be happy. I wanted to know how the supposed leadership of Galitha would react post-revolution, how the regular people on the street would deal with the aftermath of bloodshed and also with the promise of more access to power. I got all of this is spades, and I very well pleased!

There's only one thing I'm less than happy about, but it's not an actual critique of the book, it's more of a personal "nope", and it's such a brief part of the book it's almost not worth mentioning. I hate it when animals die in stories (and in real life) for whatever reason. Adult humans hurting and killing each other I can deal better with, because humans have slightly more say-so in where they are and understanding of other humans. Animals dying is like small children dying, so Onyx dying from the poison meant for Sophie broke my heart.

Highly recommend this series thus far! Will be moving on to book 3 a-sap!

[Carl Alves · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fray, the second novel in the Unraveled Kingdom Series, fell short of the first novel in the series and my expectations. This novel continues where the other one left off. Now Sophie Balstrade no longer owns her charm/clothing shop and is set to be married to Theodor, the crown prince of the kingdom. They are set to make reforms to their nation’s feudal system of government, but are facing stiff opposition from the nobility who want to maintain the status quo.

Where this novel falls short for me is that it was overly long, and in some cases very dull. Mainly the middle part of the novel where Sophie and Theodor are traveling to Serafin for a meeting for trade among the Equitorial States was dry and often not very interesting. That’s not to say that there weren’t interesting parts in here, but much of that section should have been cut and edited down. I get the impression that the since trilogies are the order of the day in fantasy, the author and publisher wanted to make this a trilogy, but there doesn’t seem to be enough material here to make it a trilogy and keep it entertaining throughout. There also wasn’t much progression in Sophie’s and Theodor’s characters. In fact, Theodor seemed to be less interesting in this novel than he did in the first novel.

The pace of the novel picked up toward the end, and that part was more enjoyable. I’m invested enough to want to keep on reading to complete the trilogy, but with a bit less vigor than before.

Carl Alves - author of The Traveler's Door

[Véronique Rosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first, I was peeved at the story of the main character, the romance and such seemed rather pointless. I still do not find the romance interesting.

However, the character development has gotten more interesting than I expected. Sophie, while still majorly being carried about by events and people knowing more than her about the situation, slowly starts to realize that she has weight to throw about as the prince's consort. While still not a great leader or heroine, she tries to help where she can, tangled in a revolution that she didn't want to engage with at first. I like that she slowly understand that there are no other choices and that she can use her new position to influence people in a way that is still coherent with the values that were presented to us in the beginning.

It is a rare thing to be presented with a female character growth that involves learning new information and admitting you were wrong in an healthy way.

I'm still unsure how I feel about the story in a whole, the revolution being a result of a very obvious failing on the main characters part of living in reality.

[Phreia Von Woolfgaard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book of "The Unraveled Kingdom," by Rowenna Miller. This book picks up perfectly where the last one was tied off. Like a great sequel of a good movie you love. It was fast paced as the story is woven around Sophie Balstrade. A seed of reformation was planted during the Midwinter Revolt of the last book and it is here at an easy beginning that the second book in the series begins. Will the revolt settle into a painful memory or will something of greater good take hold? These are the questions that grip. This is another beautiful piece of work from the author that has elements that can be brought into the rhythm or shadow of our own political issues going on around us as readers. The twists, the turns, the politics, the revolutionary ideas, and friendships shape and move like living things. You will meet new characters and be given even more depth to the ones you thought you knew from the first book. An absolutely beautiful piece of work. I can't wait to read the third book in the series!

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not as good as the first book. It has the dreaded second book syndrome a lot of mental gears turning, not a lot of action happening, the characters for some reason aren't as intelligent as they were previously, and so on and so forth. One of my biggest issues is Theodor, there's no way someone of his rank should/can be that politically stupid. Also considering everything that's going on I have some serious doubts as to his feelings about Sophie. He gets more demonstrative around the end but he keeps protesting far too much about his feeling being true and sure that he wants to marry her for there not to be some serious second thoughts happening somewhere. The book is one giant set up for what's to come for the next book and while I'm okay with that I wish more had happened in this book. I'm curious to see what will happen with the next book but I'm also concerned about what's to come, the series or trilogy or whatever it is could easily bounce back with the next book and be better then the first book but right this second I think its possible that it could be a failure.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved "Torn," the first in "The Unravelled Kingdom" series, and "Fray" is a fantastic follow-up. "Fray" sees the main character, Sophie, travelling to other countries and learning about their cultures and politics. Both the worldview and the understanding of the magic system expands in "Fray," and it's a real treat to experience that.

As with "Torn," Miller's writing is just beautiful. In addition to the descriptions of the magic, we get descriptions of new cities and people. These are rich and satisfying; you can feel yourself there. We also meet new characters who are interesting, dimensional, complex. Miller weaves these characters together in such a believable way.

The pace of "Fray" is a lot different than that of "Torn." It has that feeling of the middle book in a trilogy, in which you have the gathering of people, information, plans. There's a beat to this book, that sense of the elements of a revolution steadily clicking into place. There's less action and more buildup, which really left me ready for the 3rd book!

[Arminzerella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sophie, a commoner, is a talented and successful seamstress and charm caster. She is also Prince Theodor's betrothed, which means significant changes once they announce their intentions. Sophie will have to give up her business/dress shop and spend more time among the nobility, trying to garner support for reforms that will help other commoners. Although the reforms pass, they are very unpopular with many of the nobles, who refuse to enact them. Soon riots are breaking out and civil war is imminent. Unfortunately, both Sophie and Theodor are far from Galitha when news of the unrest reaches them, and those working against them will make it hard, if not impossible, for them to return.

This sequel to "Torn" returns readers to an unrestful Galitha. Sophie struggles with her new role as well as her magic, which has become difficult for her to control. She must master herself in order to help the people and the country she loves. An exciting chapter in Sophie's story, but really leaves you hanging at the end! Fans will need to pick up #3 - "Rule" - if they want a satisfying resolution.

[Blair Hill · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave up on this after about 100 pages. It wasn't awful; there was just nothing about it that was keeping my attention. From the start of the book to where I stopped, very little happened.

Sophie and Theodor's romance was falling entirely flat for me. Couples (at least couples I know) don't go from the honeymoon/courting stage to an established, tired couple in less than six months, which seems to be the approximate amount of time between the first book and this one. Even the proposal scene was wholly lackluster. It's like these two characters have swapped their personalities for the desire to have spats with each other.

The political climate has not changed a ton from the first book. Theodor's trying to get the Reforms passed, and I didn't last long enough to see if he succeeds. I don't care enough to keep reading/find out.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ish. I wasn't as sure of the plotting in this one - certain minor twists (like Merhaven and his wife being traitors) seemed incredibly obvious from the outset, and the story moves from location to location in a way that feels a little unfocused at times. I also struggled to tell some of the new characters apart (why were Dira and Duana's names so similar?!). That being said, I liked seeing more of the world, and Alba was an interesting addition to the cast. The ending leaves a really intriguing setup for the third book, and I actually liked Theodor a bit more in this one. (Just a bit, though.) I'm mostly reading these for the lovely descriptions of historical clothing, and of course on that front, they really deliver.

[Alsuri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magical threads

The tale of Sophie & Theodor continues from Torn Book 1. Love has been declared but reality is setting in how can a relationship between a crown prince and a magic casting witch survive. Theodor is a strong thread but their world continues to fray as politics between nobles and reformists sets their nation towards war. Rowena Miller continues to weave a complex tapestry bringing new characters and the ghosts of the old. She also tackles the way emotions and grief can beset our skills and abilities, what choices are more important our nation, beliefs or our own needs and desires.
A skilful intelligent piece of writing that hits all the right notes.

[Fraser Sherman · Rating 2 out of 5]

A novel setting (modeled on 1700s France) but I couldn't get into it. Partly it's that in the 100 pages I got through, the magic could have been edited out for a straight historical (there's nothing inherently wrong with minimal magic, but it almost never works for me). Partly it's that while there's a lot of tension simmering (protagonist is a commoner marrying into the royal family, the peasants are close to revolution), there's no real tension to the plot. Heck, there's hardly a plot in the sense of anything driving the story (there are hints something's wrong with the protagonist's magic, but just hints). The thought of 300 more pages like that did not spark joy, so I stopped.

[Jeff Clausen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 of this trilogy, where Sophie the protagonist is pulled unwilling into the heart of a rebellious war, her Reformists vs. the Royalists. The setting shifts to a neighboring country instead of her seamstress shop, and the cast of characters is ever-changing also, a fresh breath of folks with some hidden agendas nicely woven in. I enjoyed the journeying that wraps up this volume, a band of fellow travelers reminiscent of other groups moving through unknown lands, a subtle nod to Mr. Tolkien, if only unconsciously. Looking forward to the third in this set and wishing that I could’ve had a cup of tea with Sophie, my new favorite heroine.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the ideas in this series. I love the feminism, the way that complexity is detailed and broken down as opposed to a basic good guy vs bad guy narrative. But the character development really needs some help. Our lead is rather dull and I can’t understand why she’s so important as a person, though as a symbol she’s fleshed out well enough. Her quick and underdeveloped love was the biggest downfall of the last book, but in this one he’s barely around and they have no moments together which actually make their love a deep, living thing. I will read the next one, but if this had been the first in the series I probably wouldn’t have bothered.

[Tonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Torn, the first book in this series, so I was a little disappointed in this book. Other reviewers have done a great job explaining the storyline and discussing the issues with character development and plot lines, so I won’t go there.

What this book does well is set the reader up for the final book, Rule. Fray’s ending transitions well into the final book, which should be a doozy—with all of the intrigue and complex characterizations we loved in Torn. I cannot WAIT to get my hands on Rule!

[Michelle Sonnier · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the start I was disappointed that the main character seemed to regress to weak and mousy behavior after all her growth in the first book. I worried that this would be a weak bridge book between a strong beginning and strong end. But about 2/3 of the way through she found herself again and I found myself gripped by the story again. Then it ended on a cliffhanger.... aaarrgh! Need the next book now!

[Lindsay Bragg · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK, so we're following the usual YA "tear down the world" trope. The cool world and rules in the first book are unfair, so we'll spend the next 2 books in the trilogy tearing it down. But this does a decent job of it.

I liked seeing more of the world--other countries and customs, new characters, more about how magic works and how other people use it. I did think Sophie seemed a little flat in this one, but based on the ending I'm optimistic that will improve in the next one.

[Ngan Vu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I didn’t read the first book, I have to say the way Miller uses her words to craft elegance if the seamstress (main character) is amazing. I’d read the third book just for this!
However, if you are looking for a story about a strong female protagonist and adventure, this isn’t that. This book had political intrigue, and is definitely more realistic than other fantasies in the political sense

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second in a series and I remember the first one very well and definitely enjoyed it. I was glad to be back in this world of magical fashion and social upheaval. I like all the characters, the world was expanded in an interesting way, and the different demands on Sophie's time, loyalties, affections and activism were very well portrayed. A very solid middle instalment of this trilogy.