Royal Tour

January 1, 2017

Gr 6-8-This sequel to The Potion Diaries finds Samantha Kemi departing on a royal tour with her boyfriend and former rival, Zain, and her friend, Princess Evelyn. Plans change drastically, though, when her grandfather falls deathly ill owing to the return of Sam's evil adversary, Emilia, who takes Sam's grandfather's memories in hope of finding the recipe for the elixir of life. Kidnapping, court intrigue, and mistaken identities finish out this installment. While the plot moves swiftly, the novel does not add new layers to the protagonist, and the newly introduced characters are equally flat. In addition, the blending of the modern and the magical feels forced. Magic seems available only when convenient to the plot, and exclamations of "holy dragons!" and insertions of magical spells are at odds with references to texting and cell phones. It's hard to create a believable mix of contemporary, archaic, and fantastical worlds, and this title, unfortunately, does not succeed in that ambitious goal. VERDICT Purchase only if the first book is popular; otherwise, suggest Kiera Cass's The Selection, Jasper Fforde's The Last Dragonslayer, or Kristin Cashore's Graceling, depending on readers' magic-to-romance needs.-Lisa Ehrle, Falcon Creek Middle School, CO

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2017
After winning the Hunt and saving Princess Evelyn, alchemist Sam prepares to join Evelyn on tour. In addition to protecting her friend, Sam is determined to locate a potion recipe that can save her granddad's mind (and possibly the world). What follows is a fast-paced, lighthearted adventure set in a social mediamad fairy-tale kingdom. Despite the fluffy milieu, Alward's characters are complex and relatable.

(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)