Welcome to the next stop in the THAT INEVITABLE VICTORIAN THING blog tour, hosted by Penguin. Today's stop features my review, along with a giveaway! Be sure to enter to win the giveaway at the end of the post. First, about the book.
Published by: Dutton
Released on: October 3, 2017
Purchase from: Penguin Random House | Amazon | B&N
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Rating: 3 Stars - It's A Good Read
An arc of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review
Victoria-Margaret is the crown princess of the empire, a direct descendent of Victoria I, the queen who changed the course of history. The imperial tradition of genetically arranged matchmaking will soon guide Margaret into a politically advantageous marriage. But before she does her duty, she'll have one summer of freedom and privacy in a far corner of empire. Posing as a commoner in Toronto, she meets Helena Marcus, daughter of one of the empire's greatest placement geneticists, and August Callaghan, the heir to a powerful shipping firm currently besieged by American pirates. In a summer of high-society debutante balls, politically charged tea parties, and romantic country dances, Margaret, Helena, and August discover they share an extraordinary bond and maybe a one-in-a-million chance to have what they want and to change the world in the process.
Set in a near-future world where the British Empire never fell and the United States never rose, That Inevitable Victorian Thing is a surprising, romantic, and thought-provoking story of love, duty, and the small moments that can change people and the world.
An alluring mix of Victorian romance, and historical references set in an intriguing, futuristic new world order. E.K. Johnston has created a new mix of various YA elements that I love, to write an original story that is unlike anything I've read before.
Imagine there's a new world order. A not so distant, futuristic one where the U.S. is much different than it is today. In-fact nothing is what it is today, because the British Empire never fell. Imagine a world where there's no racism, and diversity is strongly encouraged, and widely accepted. Much of how the world is today, is different, and in many instances more unified. That's the world that makes up Johnston's newest release. It's such a fun, imaginative world that often times had me wondering, "what if", as I read it.
The technology advancement plays well into this futuristic world. It's a mix of traditional and advanced technology. It plays a huge role in this story, especially when it comes to the romance and relationships. This society is all about genetic match making, as much as it is about falling in love with who you choose. At 16 you can have a chip that will find your perfect genetic match. If you don't want a match, than no worries, you're free to choose to fall in love with whomever you'd like. Having this option definitely poses some interesting questions, especially for Helena, and puts a twist in a complex, yet sensible romance. I won't spoil it for you, but what transpires makes sense.
When it comes to the Royal Family, they of course want the best genetic matches for their family. Naturally this not only allows them to continue to grow in political strength and power, it allows for the best in continuing their family lineage. For Margaret, Princess and heir, it means she has some tough choices to make when it comes to following this tradition, or following her heart.
Character wise, I really liked getting to know Helena, August and Margaret, though this story felt like it was much more Helena's story. I loved the relationship between August and Helena, and their rich history together. Their families go way back, and they definitely have plans for their future together.... I loved getting the glimpses of their past history together, as well as what their future could be like, together. I also liked their family ties, and seeing the two of them not only figure things out together, but on their own as well. What transpires between them is natural. I'll admit, I love that they have spent so many summers together on the lake in northern Ontario.
The world building is one of my favorite things about this book. To match it, is a vivid setting in Ontario, Canada. It completely captured my love for the outdoors. I'll be honest, the setting stole my heart. What's not to love about a northern lake setting, or any northern setting for that matter. You don't even need to visit Ontario in person, because Johnston's detailed descriptions will make you feel as though you're there. I absolutely love the way she visually brought this book's setting to life. Now I really do want to go spend a summer there.
The twist in this book is Margaret's role in Helena and August's life. I like that she wanted to break away from the Royal Family life, and just have a chance to be herself. Hence her trip to Ontario for the summer. What transpires between these three is interesting, and made sense. It was a natural progression with how their relationships grew. It was very easy for me to like Margaret as much as I did Helena and August.
While I enjoyed the storytelling, and loved the bits of history that the chapter breaks added to the story, I wasn't a fan of the ending. It felt incomplete, rushed, and wrapped up a bit too smoothly. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for happy endings, but this felt a bit odd. The twist with the genetic matching / following ones heart definitely plays a role in this. While I did like the book, and didn't want to leave this book's setting, the ending left me feeling like there needed to be a bit more before the book just ends. Hopefully this means there will be a sequel.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
E. K. Johnston is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of several YA novels, including the L.A. Time Book Prize finalist The Story of Owen and Star Wars: Ahsoka. Her novel A Thousand Nights was shortlisted for The Governor General's Award. The New York Times called The Story of Owen “a clever first step in the career of a novelist who, like her troubadour heroine, has many more songs to sing" and in its review of Exit, Pursued by a Bear, The Globe & Mail called Johnston "the Meryl Streep of YA," with "limitless range." E. K. Johnston lives in Stratford, Ontario. Follow her on Twitter at @ek_johnston.
Enter for a chance to be one (1) of three (3) winners to receive a hardcover copy of That Inevitable Victorian Thing E.K. Johnston. (ARV: $17.99 each).
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Enter between 12:00 AM Eastern Time on October 2, 2017 and 12:00 AM on October 23, 2017. Open to residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia who are 13 and older. Winners will be selected at random on or about October 25, 2017. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.
FOLLOW THE TOUR
Week One:
October 2 – YA Bibliophile – Author Guest Post
October 3 – Bookiemoji – Review
October 4 – Fiction Fare – Author Q&A
October 5 – Icey Books – Quote Candy
October 6 – BookCrushin – Review
Week Two:
October 9 – Alexa Loves Books – Bookish Style Files
October 10 – Here’s to Happy Endings – Review & Style Board
October 11 – What Sarah Read – Top 10 Most Swoonworthy Royal Couples
October 12 – Arctic Books – Playlist
October 13 – Xpresso Reads – Author Guest Post | Favorite Victorian Women
Week Three:
October 16 – A Page With a View – Author Q&A
October 17 – Tales of the Ravenous Reader – Royal Women Throughout History
October 18 – Mundie Moms – Review
October 19 – The Young Folks – Review
October 20 – Brittany Book Rambles – Author Guest Post | Playlist
October 20 – Brittany Book Rambles – Author Guest Post | Playlist
Posts
I don't like rush ending either but maybe it does mean it will get a sequel. There's a long list of people before me to get their hands on this from the library so I do hope I'll get sooner.
ReplyDeleteThis book does sound so unique. I haven't read a book like it and can't wait to dive into this alternate world.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous review Katie :D Aw, I'm sorry you didn't enjoy this book that much. But yay for liking the beginning of it :) But uuugh, the ending not being good is not a okay thing :\ Don't think the book would be for me either :)
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