Princess Academy: Palace Of Stone (2000) - Plot & Excerpts
I really liked this book. To me, the handling of the political/economic issues in this book was unexpected of a YA book. In a lot of YA books things like poverty, tyranny, and revolution feel very one-note. They exist, but you either only see the side the main character is on – the opposing side being entirely evil/wrong – or the issues only exist on the peripheral as a convenient plot device for drama, but never really expanded on. In this book, the government is burdening its people too much with tributes [taxes], to the point that there are many unhappy and/or starving people. Miri, the main character, arrives in the city to spend time with her friend, the Princess. Through her character, you get to learn about the poverty and angry of the commoners, but still feel sympathy for some of the nobles and royalty like the Princess. You learn how some of the wealthy could seem so ignorant/complacent about the situation, while others take advantage of it. The book shows that neither side’s actions were 100% correct, and there were few characters that didn’t have some redeeming qualities. Another fantastic book from Shannon Hale! I loved revisiting these great characters in the sequel. The new palace setting was excellent too! I especially liked the Queen's Castle school, the scholar's robes, and the old teachers with their quiet wisdom. I could just imagine myself in that great place of learning. It got a bit slow in the middle, but picked right back up pretty quickly. Like the first book, there is action, and mystery, and lots of colorful characters who just won't do what you expect them to.
What do You think about Princess Academy: Palace Of Stone (2000)?
Not as good as "Princess Academy". But, worth reading
—Patedoz
