Thursday, January 19, 2017

#Thursday Review - Take the Key and Lock Her Up by Ally Carter #YALit, #Mystery @OfficiallyAlly @Scholastic

Series: Embassy Row # 3
Format: Hardcover, 336 pages
Release Date: December 27, 2016
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult, Mystery


THE PRINCESS IS DEAD. LONG LIVE THE PRINCESS.
Centuries ago, the royal family of Adria was killed . . . or so everyone thought.
Now Grace Blakely knows the truth:
There was one survivor, and that survivor’s blood runs through her veins. This simple fact could cause a revolution — which is why some people will stop at nothing to keep it from coming to light.
There is only one way for Grace to save herself, save her family, and save the boy she loves. She must outmaneuver her foes, cut through the web of lies that has surrounded her for years, and go back to the source of all her troubles, despite the risk.
If she wins, she will inherit a throne.
And if she loses, she will inherit the fate of all the dead princesses who came before her.



Take the Key and Lock Her Up is the third and final installment in author Ally Carter's Embassy Row trilogy. 200 years ago, there was a coup and Adrian King Alexander's family was murdered. But, in the chaos, another baby, Amelia, was smuggled out of the castle, and protected by The Society. The Society is a group of women who have seen regimes come and and dictators fall over their one thousand years of existence.

They hid the baby among their own members, while keeping one of the longest held secrets from being exposed which would have put Amelia's line in jeopardy. Amelia grew up, and her timeline survived. But, then Caroline Blakely picked at a wound that should have been left alone. It upset the apple cart that could bring down the Adrian monarchy, and send shock waves across Europe. Something the Society has tried to avoid at all costs to avoid. 

16-year old Grace Blakely picked up where her mother left off, and has discovered things that have put her life in jeopardy. But, curiosity and getting to the truth is in her blood. Because of her actions, Grace, her brother Jamie, and her friend Alexei, who is also wanted for murder, went on the lam. All because Grace & Jamie are descendants of Amelia. Grace later goes on a solo mission to find answers to what her mother discovered, and a meeting with one of her mother's friends who may have the answers Grace needs to live. This also puts Grace in the most dangerous place possible where trusting anyone will get you killed. Adrian Castle.

This novel is pure craziness. Grace has a martyr complex that actually drove me batty at times. She believed that because some of her actions may have had dire consequences, she needs to do something even more dangerous things. She still doesn't consider herself "healed" after her ordeal 3 years ago. Grace does eventually call on her friends Alexei, Rose, Noah, Megan & Dominic for assistance. Especially Rose and Megan who are more clued in to what is happening around Adria. With a 200 year old mystery hanging over her head, and the royal family of Adrian, most notably Princess Ann seeking to control her future, Grace's actions may be considered a bit overly heroic. But, in the end, her ultimate choice is one I can definitely understand and stand behind.   




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