Book 2 of The Lost Princess series by Jody Hedlund did not disappoint!
Check out the gorgeous cover and blurb below. That dress, though!!!
A second princess. Another key to the treasure. And a cruel king desperate to squelch the growing rebellion.
Raised in an isolated abbey, Lady Maribel desires nothing more than to become a nun and continue practicing her healing arts. She’s carefree and happy with her life…until a visitor comes to the abbey and reveals her true identity as one of the lost princesses.
When he was a young boy, Edmund Chambers helplessly watched King Ethelwulf murder his family. Edmund escaped and has lived in the abbey ever since, uniquely trained to work with wild animals. Secretly, he loves Maribel and desperately hopes she doesn’t complete her holy order vows.
When King Ethelwulf’s army arrives at the abbey to capture Maribel, she flees with Edmund across the desolate Highlands in an attempt to reach Adelaide’s rebel army. Edmund can no longer hide his love, but can Maribel give up her dreams of becoming a nun to love him in return?
The next “episode” of this exciting quest for the throne of Mercia was a non-stop rollercoaster. From one crisis to the next, Maribel and Edmund fought to reach safety—and their happily ever after. I got a little frustrated with Maribel at times, thinking, “Goodness, girl! Don’t you realize he loves you? And don’t you see you love him too?!” But the moment she finally realizes that she does indeed love him is worth the wait. Ha!
Once again, I was impressed with Jody Hedlund’s world building and plotting skills. She’s really building a fully formed world in these books, complete with history, native wildlife, and a clear geographical layout. This can be difficult to do as a writer when you are building a world from scratch—so props to you, Jody! Mercia and Norland come to life for the reader.
I’m looking forward to the next and final “episode” in this epic tale. Since reading Always and discovering where and with whom Emmaline ended up spending her childhood, I’ve been especially eager to see how her story unfolds. Book 3, Hereafter, will be my next read after I finish my current one, so stay tuned for my review!
If you enjoy YA fiction, medieval fiction with a touch of fantasy, and anything princess related, I highly recommend this fun 5/5 Star book and series!
