This review is of the second book in a series, and contains spoilers for the first book. Please only read this review if you have read The Book of Ivy by Amy Engel.
The Revolution of Ivy (The Book of Ivy #2) by Amy Engel
Published by Entangled Teen on November 3, 2015
Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Dystopian, Romance
Format: eARC
Pages: 290
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads: ★★★★
Ivy Westfall is beyond the fence and she is alone. Abandoned by her family and separated from Bishop Lattimer, Ivy must find a way to survive on her own in a land filled with countless dangers, both human and natural. She has traded a more civilized type of cruelty — forcedmarriages and murder plots — for the bare-knuckled brutality required to survive outsideWestfall’s borders.
But there is hope beyond the fence, as well. And when Bishop reappears in Ivy’s life, she mustdecide if returning to Westfall to take a final stand for what she believes is right is worth losing everything she’s fought for.
The Revolution of Ivy was one of my most anticipated releases of the year, and I am so excited to be a part of a Blog Tour to celebrate the book’s release. I absolutely loved the first book in this young adult duology, and was anxious to see how Ivy’s story would end. This book begins just where The Book of Ivy ends, with Ivy waking up beyond the fence after being put out of Westfall. I did have some issues remembering the details of the first book, but thankfully was able to jump right back into the story rather quickly. That being said, I definitely see a reread of this series in the future!
As with the first book, The Revolution of Ivy is exceptionally well-written. Ivy is an excellent first-person narrator. She speaks in a dreamlike manner, but she is always easy to follow. I also really liked the addition of new characters Caleb and Ash. They were added to the story seamlessly, and were developed well throughout the book. The pacing of the novel was well done, too – Engel knows when to share details, and when to jump forward.
That being said, I did find the story to be a bit predictable, especially to a reader who is no stranger to the dystopian genre. There were definitely some big plot twists and unexpected scenes, so I deducted a half star from my rating for the touch of predictability. There were also a few moments in the book that I didn’t find fully convincing, so I decided to settle on a solid four star rating for that reason.
Nonetheless, I really enjoyed The Revolution of Ivy. I cannot give much away in this review, as the story is so action-packed even the slightest hint of the plot will give a lot away in advance. The story is very emotional in more ways than one, and I can really connect with Ivy and feel for her in terms of what she experiences. I don’t necessarily agree with all of Ivy’s choices, but I still absolutely loved how this duology concluded.
Overall, I highly recommend picking up The Revolution of Ivy if you read The Book of Ivy. This duology is really incredible, and I am looking forward to the next book Engel writes. I know I will be reading this series again in the future. I’ve fallen in love with these characters, and will need to return to them throughout my reading life!
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GIVEAWAY
Enter to win a signed copy of The Revolution of Ivy and a necklace! This giveaway is open to US residents only, and is hosted by the publisher. Good luck!
This blog post is a stop on a Blog Tour hosted by YA Bound Book Tours. All opinions are my own. Giveaway is hosted by the publisher, Entangled Teen, and I am not responsible for choosing or contacting the winner.