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A review by hickorynut
A Tale of Two Castles by Gail Carson Levine
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
An interwoven tale about an adolescent girl named Elodie who seeks apprenticeship as an actor (mansioner) but instead finds herself caught in a plot to disrupt the kingdom. She is refused apprenticeship but is offered a personal assistant position to a dragon named Meenore (IT/IT's) who works among the city. IT offers Elodie housing, food, mentorship, and eventually true friendship. They work together to identify the source of thievery and subterfuge within the palace walls, and Elodie is drawn into many side adventures along the way.
Overall it was an enjoyable read but it was a bit chaotic at times. Parts were fairly predictable and a few parts had interesting twists. The world building and political structures were a bit more complicated than some of the other books by this author. I don't typically enjoy books centered primarily around court/royal drama but the endearing relationship between Elodie and IT was enough to keep me going.
Overall it was an enjoyable read but it was a bit chaotic at times. Parts were fairly predictable and a few parts had interesting twists. The world building and political structures were a bit more complicated than some of the other books by this author. I don't typically enjoy books centered primarily around court/royal drama but the endearing relationship between Elodie and IT was enough to keep me going.