I loved the first book in this series, A School for Unusual Girls, last year (review here) and have been anticipating this second release. Check out my thoughts and enter the giveaway below..
Exile for Dreamers
(Stranje House#2)
by Kathleen Baldwin
by Kathleen Baldwin
YA Historical
Hardcover & ebook, 384 Pages
May 24th 2016 by Tor Teen
Summary
A School for Unusual Girls is the first captivating installment in the Stranje House series for young adults by award-winning author Kathleen Baldwin. #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot calls this romantic Regency adventure "completely original and totally engrossing."
Tess can't run far enough or fast enough to escape the prophetic dreams that haunt her. Dreams bring nothing but death and grief, and Tess refuses to accept that she may be destined for the same madness that destroyed her mother. Until her disturbing dreams become the only means of saving Lord Ravencross, the man she loves, and her friends at Stranje House from Lady Daneska and her lover, the Ghost-agent of Napoleon, who has escaped from Elba. Can the young ladies of Stranje House prevail once more? Or is England destined to fall into the hands of the power-mad dictator?
"Enticing from the first sentence." -New York Times Book Review
A School for Unusual Girls is a great next read for fans of Gail Carriger's Finishing School series and Robin LaFevers' His Fair Assassin series.
(Affiliate links included.)
My Review
EXILE FOR DREAMERS was a fabulous follow-up to the first book, A SCHOOL FOR UNUSUAL GIRLS. With more danger, deception, humor, and romance set perfectly in Regency England, this was another thrilling and immensely entertaining story. Highly recommended to those who enjoy their espionage set historically with a good mix of humor and romance.
This book did not fall into the same trap that so many second books in series do. There was great character development, more secrets unveiled about the school and various characters. Then there was a plot that never bored but was driven and engaging, especially in the dialogue, in introducing new entertaining characters, and in combating their villainous enemy.
I loved how this focused on a different girl staying at the school, Tess, from the first book, but that the rest of the characters I fell in love with in the first book are also present. I love these characters even more and I am thoroughly enjoying how love interests are forming for the other girls. I also have to say that I think the whole mix of these fierce, training-to-be-highly-skilled-spies girls at a school set historically just really works for me. I love how there is that propriety for the time period mixed with the education these girls are receiving and the things they can and do do, and then the unsuspecting, over-protective men. I can't wait to find out their futures and what will happen next!
More than that, I love the dynamic and chemistry between Tess and Gideon. they are both very different, but so well suited to each other. I love how protective they are and how they shy away from admitting how they feel and what they want because they feel unworthy of each other. Obviously that's a well-used plot point, but I like how well it works here with these characters.
In the end, was it what I wished for? Yes! I love this series and this story and I can't wait for more!! I also would say that for once, a recommendation based on if you like another series, works here. If you have read and enjoyed Carriger's Finishing School series then I would definitely recommend this one.
Content: Some violence and innuendo, but clean.
Source: I received a complimentary ARC from the publisher through the tour host, which did not affect my review in any way.
This book did not fall into the same trap that so many second books in series do. There was great character development, more secrets unveiled about the school and various characters. Then there was a plot that never bored but was driven and engaging, especially in the dialogue, in introducing new entertaining characters, and in combating their villainous enemy.
I loved how this focused on a different girl staying at the school, Tess, from the first book, but that the rest of the characters I fell in love with in the first book are also present. I love these characters even more and I am thoroughly enjoying how love interests are forming for the other girls. I also have to say that I think the whole mix of these fierce, training-to-be-highly-skilled-spies girls at a school set historically just really works for me. I love how there is that propriety for the time period mixed with the education these girls are receiving and the things they can and do do, and then the unsuspecting, over-protective men. I can't wait to find out their futures and what will happen next!
More than that, I love the dynamic and chemistry between Tess and Gideon. they are both very different, but so well suited to each other. I love how protective they are and how they shy away from admitting how they feel and what they want because they feel unworthy of each other. Obviously that's a well-used plot point, but I like how well it works here with these characters.
In the end, was it what I wished for? Yes! I love this series and this story and I can't wait for more!! I also would say that for once, a recommendation based on if you like another series, works here. If you have read and enjoyed Carriger's Finishing School series then I would definitely recommend this one.
Content: Some violence and innuendo, but clean.
Source: I received a complimentary ARC from the publisher through the tour host, which did not affect my review in any way.
Other Books in the Series
by Kathleen Baldwin
YA Historical Romance
Hardcover & ebook, 352 Pages
May 19th 2015 by Tor Teen
Summary
It’s 1814. Napoleon is exiled on Elba. Europe is in shambles. Britain is at war on four fronts. And Stranje House, a School for Unusual Girls, has become one of Regency England’s dark little secrets. The daughters of the beau monde who don't fit high society’s constrictive mold are banished to Stranje House to be reformed into marriageable young ladies. Or so their parents think. In truth, Headmistress Emma Stranje, the original unusual girl, has plans for the young ladies—plans that entangle the girls in the dangerous world of spies, diplomacy, and war.
After accidentally setting her father’s stables on fire while performing a scientific experiment, Miss Georgiana Fitzwilliam is sent to Stranje House. But Georgie has no intention of being turned into a simpering, pudding-headed, marriageable miss. She plans to escape as soon as possible—until she meets Lord Sebastian Wyatt. Thrust together in a desperate mission to invent a new invisible ink for the English war effort, Georgie and Sebastian must find a way to work together without losing their heads—or their hearts...
Check out my review here.
(Affiliate links included.)
About the Author
"I love adventure in books and in real life. I've roamed the Rocky Mountains, wandered the desert, enjoyed way too many classes in college, was stalked by a mountain lion, lost an argument with a rattlesnake, fell in love at least a dozen times, finally met and married my very own hero, and together we've raised four free-spirited children."
Award-winning author - Kensington published four of Kathleen's Regency romantic comedies, including MISTAKEN KISS, a Holt Medallion finalist. DIARY OF A TEENAGE FAIRY GODMOTHER, was a Golden Quill finalist. Her upcoming Historical YA series with TorTeen, A SCHOOL FOR UNUSUAL GIRLS, is a Junior Library Guild Selection and won a Marlene.
News and more at: www.Kathleenbaldwin.com
Tour Schedule
Week One:
5/23/2016- Once Upon A Twilight- Interview
5/24/2016- Stories & Sweeties- Review
5/25/2016- Curling Up With A Good Book- Guest Post
5/26/2016- Lisa Loves Literature- Review
5/27/2016- The Cover Contessa- Interview
Week Two:
5/30/2016- The Best Books Ever- Review
5/31/2016- A Dream Within A Dream- Guest Post
6/1/2016- Wishful Endings- Review
6/2/2016- BookHounds YA- Interview
6/3/2016- Pandora's Books- Review
Tour-Wide Giveaway
3 winners will receive a finished copy of EXILE FOR DREAMERS. US/Canada Only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Did you read the first book in this series? Do you enjoy historical YA?
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