A Wicked Thing

A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas, 2015 HarperTeen

     Aurora wakes to a stranger leaning over her, kissing her! Stunned by the liberties taken by this young man has taken, it takes a moment for the Princess to register what is happening: Her family is gone, and she has slept through one hundred years of her country's history. Prince Roderick explains what has happened and that the two are now betrothed. Reeling from the shock Aurora allows this strange prince to re-introduce her to Alyssia.
     But no one seems to want to explain what has happened, beyond a fairytale explanation. Nor do they seem to care that the princess is grieving her lost life. The new King John and his queen explain to the young woman that she is in danger and must be kept isolated for her safety until she can show her support for the new dynasty by marrying their son. Aurora struggles with the restrictions and, despite warnings from her new friend and maid Betsey, escapes into the city Petrichor surrounding the castle.
     In the city Aurora meets Tristan, a young bartender who charms her. Contrasting Roderick's awkwardness, Tristan is confident and shares the city with the young princess. He seems not to recognize Aurora, allowing her to forget what awaits in the home which others have taken for their own. But Tristan has his own agenda. When he tries to encourage the princess to join his rebellion Aurora is torn--she cannot destroy the one thing she was raised and groomed to protect, but this new king and his court aren't ruling her country as it should be ruled and the people suffer.
     In the castle is another man to challenge Roderic's suit: Prince Finnegan of Vanhelm came from across the sea to see Prince Roderick's attempt to wake the Sleeping Beauty. While the queen warns her away, Aurora is hesitant to trust the prince who seems to hold her and her kingdom in contempt. But Finnegan professes to want to help Aurora and offers her sanctuary, though he believes she will flee a forced marriage rather than political upheaval.
     The queen plans her wedding as the king plots to control Aurora. When the new dynasty's daughter is killed by a dessert meant for Aurora the family uses it to imprison the rightful heir and twist her to their wishes. Aurora decides she's had enough of their management and asks for Tristan's help in escaping.
     Aurora questions herself and the decisions thrust upon her in light of the new relationships she builds. She questions history as written - she's a relic of it herself and doesn't remember as the books describe it. A Wicked Thing is led by a strong young woman who does not fit the prevailing model. She is reflective and uncertain, but stands in her convictions. When the men in her new life are dishonest or opaque on and in their reasoning she calls them to the carpet. Teen readers will enjoy this retell of Sleeping Beauty in a new light.

Scarlet

Scarlet by A. C. Gaughen, 2012 Walker Publishing Company

     It's just Scarlet, but the people of Nottinghamshire assume the small, nimble member of the Hood's band is a boy, so they call her Will Scarlet. When Robin discovered Scarlet trying to pick his pocket in London the young lord assumed she was a boy too, though he soon figured out the truth. Scarlet joined the charismatic lord as he returned to Nottinghamshire to protect his people from the Sheriff presented with his seat of Huntingdon.
     Robin of Locksley still hides in Sherwood Forest from the Sheriff and tries to help his people by robbing the rich and providing for the poor. When the Sheriff brings in a thief catcher Scarlet only worries that it will be Guy of Gisbourne who could reveal her secret past.
     When the thief catcher arrives the sheriff escalates his action against the townspeople and Rob, Scarlet, Little John and Much ramp up their efforts in response. When the townspeople discover one of their own has betrayed the rightful Earl, only Robin himself can prevent the man's demise. Gisbourne is the thief-catcher, and the force behind the new found depravity in Nottingham and Scarlet fears in saving the townsfolk she will reveal herself to Gisbourne and his tortures.
     Meanwhile, Little John has taken a fancy to his female bandmate. While Scarlet struggles to determine how she feels about John her hidden feelings for Rob become more and more apparent. The jealousy between the two boys makes Scarlet wonder if she wants to stay in Sherwood or try her luck further from Robin, John, and the threat Gisbourne presents. Before she can make a decision the Sheriff arrests more and more townsfolk scheduling their hanging leading Robin and his band to stage one more rescue attempt.
     The attempt goes fatally wrong and Scarlet decides her past, while dangerous to her future in Sherwood and relationship with the band, is not worth the lives of the people she cares for.
     Scarlet is a young woman on the run who found friendship and purpose in an unlikely corner. She fights for the people she cares for, and for their causes. Despite knowing the people of Nottinghamshire disapprove of her thievery, the young woman is pummelled to help Robin's people and to fight the injustices they face. She makes her own way when life refuses to give her a clear path and even her dreams seem to be impossible.
     Readers who enjoy a female protagonist with drive and sarcasm will like Scarlet and her spunk. Gaughen's Scarlet is aimed at younger teens with reference to more mature subject matter and blatant violence.

The Opal Crown

The Opal Crown by Jenny Lundquist, 2014 Running Press Kids

     Elara has been betrothed to the prince of Kyrenica for a whole year; Elara discovers she is the identical twin to Wilha the crown princess of Galandra who has always worn a mask. Wilha is finally experiencing the freedom of wearing her own face. Elara has fallen in love with her sister's betrothed, and the twin princesses struggle to return to life as they once knew it.

    Meanwhile, in Galandra the country is deteriorating and when the king dies mysteriously the prince, their younger brother, reveals the princesses' deception. In a bid for the throne, Prince Andrei reveals both young women as traitors to Kyrencia's royal family, unraveling the lives they've built. Elara and Wilha are on the run for their lives both in Kyrencia and Galandra. 

     The alliances Wilha's marriage would build with their neighboring nation are strained. Galandra and Kyrencia at war would serve Andrei's purposes and solidify his reign, but Elara and Wilha have developed relationships with each other and political powers in both countries. 

     Deciding who will wear the Galandrian crown is not simply a matter of who was born first, but of which twin will choose to be her nation's savior. Secrets of their past come to light while they escape one situation after another. 

     Wilha struggles with confidence and living outside her sheltered and privileged childhood. Elara is challenged by her own fears and uncertainty about her past. Each young woman's history gives her some perspective on how to proceed in rapidly-changing times as civil and international war threaten to break out. 

     Life for the princesses is difficult as they leave the protection of Kyrencia and the royal family. The world has only believed Galandra to have one princess and the appearance of a second, especially one whose face no one outside the royal family has seen adds to the dissent surrounding the king's death and political turmoil. 

     Their story carries little of the princess-perfect "happily ever after" traditionally associated with a transition of royal power - life for Elara and Wilha is messy and complicated just as normal life is messy and complicated. Young adult readers will enjoy the elaborate world-building and political maneuvering which goes into resolving an attempted coup d'etat. The Opal Crown is a continuation of The Opal Mask completing the duology. 

Red Queen

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, 2015 HarperTeen

    For generations, the world has been divided into red and silver blooded -- the red-blooded are commoners and the silver-blooded have inexplicable powers. With those powers, the silvers have placed themselves at the top of Norta's society.
     Mare Barrow is a seventeen-year-old red who is trapped in the Silts, and it doesn't appear anything is going to change. The Stilts are the poorest of the poor and Mare is fortunate to find a job at the Silver Palace to help support her family after her older brothers are drafted into the long-waging war. In the course of her duties, Mare discovers she as an unexpected talent.
     When the silvers discover Mare's ability to control electricity they decide to pass off her ability as the discovery of a long-lost bloodline and missing princess. Mare is elevated and begins training her gift with the other teens while taking history and etiquette classes to keep up the illusion.
     The royal family keeps Mare close as they watch and try to figure out how a red could have powers like any other silver. The girl goes along with their deception, her cooperation ensured by the royal family's talents and threats. Mare's family is kept from the truth, but does reap some benefit: two of her three brothers are returned from the war effort, while the ruling family perpetuates the lie of her position.
      Norta faces war with the Marshlands and continues to draft young reds into the army. Less publicly the silvers are challenged by a rebel group called the Scarlet Guard. As the truth of their world becomes more clear to Mare the Scarlet Guard approaches her. The teen takes the opportunity to expand her background knowledge and possibly to create a plan for her future.
     The two princes, Cal and Maven, vie for the new princess's attention: Maven is, for political reasons, engaged to Mare while his older brother Cal is genuinely intrigued by the young woman despite his family's plans. The queen uses her mind-reading and -control to manipulate the court as she creates the life she wants for herself and her sons. Cal's uncle Julian acts as one of Mare's tutors and reveals to her that she is not the first red to exhibit powers.
     When the ambitious and antagonistic silver court turns topsy-turvy Mare faces the silver's prison and a battle royale where her newfound powers will do nothing to save her.
     What started as a fairytale for Mare Barrow turns into a battle for her life and for her country. Her romance with the young man - not her fiance causes tension as Mare tries to sort out the men in her life and her future. Readers who enjoyed The Hunger Games will find similarities in Red Queen, which is written for a similar, young adult audience.

Son of A Witch

Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire, 2004 Regan Books

     A man is beaten and found by a group traveling the Vinkus mountains. The man is identified at the cloister he's brought to for medical treatment: he is Liir. Liir is the son of Elphaba the wicked, green, Witch of the West. While he doesn't share his mother's coloring, everyone knows who Liir is. The story jumps around in time telling Liir's story after the events of Wicked.
     After Elphaba's death, Liir returns to the Emerald City with Dorothy and her companions. Along the way he helps a princess of the Vinkus tribe, he locates Fiyero's daughter Nor, and gets permission from Glinda to visit the maximum-security prison Southstairs. He joins the Home Guard where he is employed for several years until he's deployed into Quadling Country where events lead to his desertion.
     After the Cloister, Liir and a Quadling girl, Candle, leave together. Liir heals from his wounds and acts the diplomat as Animals across Oz battle the Wizard's anti-Animal laws. The Birds are a threat to the intentional instability of Oz and have the ability to unite the nations so they ask Liir to represent them to the government. A grudging Liir accepts the new task.
     Candle takes the opportunity to reveal she's expecting his child when Liir returns to prepare for the journey to the Emerald City--he refuses to believe her even when she admits he was unconscious during the process. In the Emerald City, Liir finds another relationship with the Emperor's chief dragon master. The two young men destroy the dragons and steal back Elphaba's broom, fleeing again to the Cloister of Saint Glinda where Glinda herself is visiting.
     Liir's life is a series of beginnings and endings of relationships: he is adopted by Elphaba and abandoned when she dies; he is inducted into the Home Guard and deserts when their atrocities offend his sensibilities; he finds romantic love several times and loses it. The titular character is mired in self-doubt and his only real goal is to find his half-sister, Nor. Liir's storyline is in a nation fighting itself to maintain the separation between its people and as the son of the villain, he is uniquely placed to interact with all the factions of Oz. Son of a Witch is not appropriate for young readers with gratuitous violence both physical and sexual; readers who enjoyed Wicked will enjoy this sequel.