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Reviewed by:
  • Dividing Eden by Joelle Charbonneau
  • April Spisak
Charbonneau, Joelle Dividing Eden. HarperTeen/HarperCollins, 2017 [336p]
Trade ed. ISBN 978-0-06-245384-6 $17.99
E-book ed. ISBN 978-0-06-245386-0 $9.99
Reviewed from galleys         Ad Gr. 8-10

Andreus and Carys are twins, the son and daughter of the reigning monarch, and they've grown up amid danger in their father's authoritarian regime. When their father and their older brother, the heir, are killed, they must compete against each other to determine who will be the next ruler. Suddenly all of those shared secrets between the two are weapons, tools that can be used against each other, and they become susceptible to the evil machinations of those around them who see the twins as pawns for their own quests for power. The siblings are complex characters, weighted down by their respective heartaches and issues, and their skeptical views on the world, built from being worn down by royal life, feel realistic. Unfortunately, there's simply too much going on with the plot, and the twins themselves get lost in all of the power struggles, ominous visions from seers, the competition itself, and petty disputes. In addition, the shift from closer-than-close comrades to bitter rivals rings hollow, and their bond, the dissolution of it, and the hinted-at reconnection that may come in a sequel all feel plot driven rather than authentic. Even with the concerns, however, there's a lot to like about this messed up, lush, and dark world, and fantasy buffs who enjoy political intrigue may find enough to appreciate. [End Page 404]

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