Paper Castles is the first book in the Paper Castles trilogy, and it does a fantastic job. I’m tired of trilogies at this point, since more and more of them use book 1 for setting the stage and neglect a standalone plot. But Paper Castles does everything a first book in a trilogy should do and more!
Here’s the blurb from Goodreads:
A reluctant heir, a fight for the throne, and a conspiracy that will change everything.
After the queen is assassinated, Alexandria Redmond is named the heir and must prepare for the fight of her life: the Campaign. She can only ascend if she makes it to the throne, all while defending herself against citizens who have been given free rein to kill her on her journey to the palace and take the crown for themselves.
Assigned a Protector with secrets hidden beneath his smile, Alexandria navigates life as a fugitive among her own people. Along the way, she discovers a twisted thread connecting herself, the dead queen, and the war that killed her first love.
Will Alexandria risk her life for the opportunity to save her people, or will the fears of her past keep her in hiding and allow an even bigger threat to emerge in the capital?
Ratings for Paper Castles
Story: 5/5
Worldview: 4/5
I’ve heard this book described as a mix between the Hunger Games and other dystopian novels I’ve never heard of, and it definitely captures the tension and personal stakes. I’m usually not a fan of prologues, but this one was phenomenal. It immediately got me thinking that there was something else going on beneath the surface. When we meet Alexandra Redmond, I immediately like her. She’s got a strong personality, and she values family, loyalty, and honesty. Her Protector, Carter, is as sarcastic as she is, and I really enjoyed seeing their dynamic change and evolve from beginning to end! Queen Evangeline is also a central character, even though we only hear of her after her death, but her previous actions and secrets have huge consequences that propel the novel forward. The last few chapters of the book had so many twists and turns and yet the ending felt inevitable and justified. Loved it!
I wouldn’t consider this novel a Christian novel (and nor was it portrayed as such). There are mentions of God, and Alexandria does mention prayer, but it’s more a world-building aspect than anything else. On another note, this book holds a more Catholic perspective, with mentions of last rites and confession by a priest. That aside, the themes of the novel–standing and fighting for what’s right even at the cost of your own life–are great.
Overall Thoughts
Overall rating: 4.5/5. All in all, I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to checking out the sequel, Burned Queen. I got a free ebook from the author and all opinions expressed are my own.
Book Information
Title: Paper Castles (Paper Castles Trilogy #1)
Author: Ellie Embers
Release date: May 11, 2024
Genres: Fantasy, Dystopian
Age Range: 14+
Content warnings/notes (from the author): This book contains scenes of peril and violence, brief descriptions of familial abuse, alcoholism, and suicidal thoughts, and discussions of death (including familial and child death).
