The Ring and the Crown

Gr 9 Up—Princess Marie-Victoria, heir to the powerful Franco-British Empire, is supposed to marry Prince Leopold of Prussia in this alternate history of the early 20th century. The marriage will unite the two kingdoms and end a long, arduous war, but Marie seems to be the only one immune to the Prince's charms. Wishing instead to marry her guardsman, Marie seeks the help of her best friend and mage Aelwyn. Meanwhile, Leopold's younger brother Wolf, Ronan Astor of New York, and Isabelle of Orleans are all traveling to London as the much-awaited season of parties and dances commences. Each seeks to find love but as their paths intertwine, they find that they may have to choose between duty and happiness. After the extensive cast of characters is introduced, the story quickly gains momentum. De la Cruz does not shy away from themes of rape and sexuality, and Isabelle's story especially is driven by these themes. Jennifer Ikeda enhances the text with her skillful narration, providing each character with a distinctive voice and personality. Fans of Kiera Cass's "The Selection" series and other romantic fantasies will enjoy this story.—Amanda Spino, Ocean County Library, NJ