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A review by elna17a9a
City of Savages by Lee Kelly
4.0
A fast-paced, exciting YA book. I'm thrilled this is a standalone rather than part of a series, so I could read through knowing all the plot points would be resolved rather than having to wait (and potentially forget what had even happened in the first book).
It IS a YA novel, so while I could guess almost immediately some of the twists (that Master Wren was leading some kind of cult, that Rolladin had some kind of connection to the girls and their mother), but getting there was exciting and quick, which is what really matters in a book like this.
I definitely thought there was going to be some kind of reveal that Phee and Sky weren't sisters, that Phee was just some orphan that their mom took in, since so much was made of how different the two girls were, emotionally and physically. But I'm glad it didn't happen. They didn't get along, but they were sisters, and they loved each other. The almost love triangle with Ryder was incredibly stupid, but, again, it makes sense that Phee would fall for basically the only new boy she's ever known (though I have a weird feeling that Phee and Sam are better for each other).
I'm not sure how I was supposed to feel about Sarah. She was a good (enough) mom, who took care of her girls and taught them resiliency, but there was absolutely no reason for her not to tell them about her past. I understand wanting to glass over the parts of her relationship with Mary, but to leave them completely in the dark when they were constantly asking?
I wish we had gotten more exploration of Mary/Rolladin. Knowing that she was going to turn into the Warden obviously colored my impressions of her, but the how is always the most fun part. If she had gone to the summit, saw Tom, realized she didn't want to lose Sarah, and THEN faked an attack to tell everyone about, I feel that would have bridged the gap between the Mary that we know and the Rolladin who was willing to lie to everyone that the war was still going. What was the point of that lie? So people would stay in Manhattan? Wouldn't they have anyway once they realized there was nothing out there for them?
I wish a lot more had been fleshed out, but it was already a long book, and honestly enjoyable enough that I'm not too bothered.
It IS a YA novel, so while I could guess almost immediately some of the twists (that Master Wren was leading some kind of cult, that Rolladin had some kind of connection to the girls and their mother), but getting there was exciting and quick, which is what really matters in a book like this.
I definitely thought there was going to be some kind of reveal that Phee and Sky weren't sisters, that Phee was just some orphan that their mom took in, since so much was made of how different the two girls were, emotionally and physically. But I'm glad it didn't happen. They didn't get along, but they were sisters, and they loved each other. The almost love triangle with Ryder was incredibly stupid, but, again, it makes sense that Phee would fall for basically the only new boy she's ever known (though I have a weird feeling that Phee and Sam are better for each other).
I'm not sure how I was supposed to feel about Sarah. She was a good (enough) mom, who took care of her girls and taught them resiliency, but there was absolutely no reason for her not to tell them about her past. I understand wanting to glass over the parts of her relationship with Mary, but to leave them completely in the dark when they were constantly asking?
I wish we had gotten more exploration of Mary/Rolladin. Knowing that she was going to turn into the Warden obviously colored my impressions of her, but the how is always the most fun part. If she had gone to the summit, saw Tom, realized she didn't want to lose Sarah, and THEN faked an attack to tell everyone about, I feel that would have bridged the gap between the Mary that we know and the Rolladin who was willing to lie to everyone that the war was still going. What was the point of that lie? So people would stay in Manhattan? Wouldn't they have anyway once they realized there was nothing out there for them?
I wish a lot more had been fleshed out, but it was already a long book, and honestly enjoyable enough that I'm not too bothered.