Book Review: The Rose Throne

Book: The Rose Throne
Author: Mette Ivie Harrison
Publisher: Egmont Usa
Publication Date: May 14th 2013
Source: Netgalley

Ailsbet loves nothing more than music; tall and red-haired, she's impatient with the artifice and ceremony of her father's court. Marissa adores the world of her island home and feels she has much to offer when she finally inherits the throne from her wise, good-tempered father. The trouble is that neither princess has the power--or the magic--to rule alone, and if the kingdoms can be united, which princess will end up ruling the joint land? For both, the only goal would seem to be a strategic marriage to a man who can bring his own brand of power to the throne. But will either girl be able to marry for love? And can either of these two princesses, rivals though they have never met, afford to let the other live?

[Goodreads]

Review:

The Rose Throne tells us the story of two very different kingdoms and the two very different princesses who inhabit them.  Ailsbet is the princess of Rurik and Marlissa (Issa) is the princess of Weirland. Rurik values the magic of Taweyr the man’s magic of power and death. Weirland is more concentrated on neweyr the magic of growing and life. Both these princesses believe they are meant to help fulfill a prophecy that will unite their lands and magic as one.

The Rose Throne was an enjoyable book and I liked many aspects of it. The princess though very different where strong in their own ways and they both wanted what was best for their kingdoms. Ailsbet was especially strong and unique. She at times can be unlikable and does not make friends easily but you can tell she does care, especially for her brother and the kingdom. She is not a unkind person but she has to keep a strong shield of indifference surrounding her, for reasons I will not give away. Issa was the complete opposite of Ailsbet, but was strong in her own ways. Her magic of newyr is one the most powerful in the lands. She is also has a strength in her because she is willing to put aside her own feelings and needs for those of her country and the future of all her subjects.

Ailsbet’s father the King was a maniac and would go to any length to get what he wanted.  But he is one of the parts that made The Rose Throne interesting. He was a great antagonist for all the main characters in this book. I did hate his many of the actions he took in this book but they made the story more interesting and I had fear that the main characters might not have a happy ending because of him. Not being able to guess the ending and what would happen to these characters was a definite plus. 

There was no insta-love in this book but I still could not enjoy the romances at all. Issa’s romance seems to be random and as if the author had no one else to pair her with so she choose a character. I also did not like Issa’s love interest at all and felt as if he didn’t truly care about her, just the kingdom of Ruirk. Ailsbet’s romance is not as central to the novel as Issa’s but that made me glad because I felt that she didn’t really care for her love interest and that he just annoyed her more than anything.

The beginning I found to be a little slow as I had a hard time getting the names of the magic and the kingdoms straight. All the names where unusual but I didn’t find they made the story better, just confusing.   There were also some slow parts throughout the book and I would have enjoyed there to be more action.  Then the ending really bothered me because it seemed to be cut off. I expected there to be just a little more to explain what happened to a certain character at the end but was left with nothing. But even with the abrupt ending what happened to some of the characters at the end was different than I expected which made the book overall more interesting. 
  

I think this book is worth a read but maybe borrow it from your library if unsure.  With an unexpected but lacking ending, I do think it will hold many readers interest.

What I Rate it: 3/5 Stars