{Blog Tour} Review+Giveaway: The Book of Ivy

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Title: The Book of Ivy (The Book of Ivy #1) 

Author: Amy Engel 

Release Date: 11/04/14
Publisher: Entangled Teen

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Summary from Goodreads:

After a brutal nuclear war, the United States was left decimated. A small group of survivors eventually banded together, but only after more conflict over which family would govern the new nation. The Westfalls lost. Fifty years later, peace and control are maintained by marrying the daughters of the losing side to the sons of the winning group in a yearly ritual.

This year, it is my turn.
My name is Ivy Westfall, and my mission is simple: to kill the president’s son—my soon-to-be husband—and restore the Westfall family to power.
But Bishop Lattimer is either a very skilled actor or he’s not the cruel, heartless boy my family warned me to expect. He might even be the one person in this world who truly understands me. But there is no escape from my fate. I am the only one who can restore the Westfall legacy.
Because Bishop must die. And I must be the one to kill him...

My Thoughts

I rarely read dystopian books, but this one definitely caught my attention. Why? It's not just about the arranged marriage or killings or whatever a dystopian book normally has, but it has a twist in the synopsis that caught my eye. That one time when all the things you thought you knew were wrong, what then would you do? That is exactly what the predicament Ivy is in, and I was excited to read her story.

I was proven right. Warning to those people who want to try reading this book. You better make sure you have lots of time before starting this because The Book of Ivy just kept me in my toes. There was nothing else that I wanted to do except to read, read, and read. I just couldn't the put the book down! I didn't know why, because the plot isn't really very original. But still, it was beautiful.

I love the characters. I just love them all, especially Ivy. She never hesitates to voice out her opinions. Given her personality, it really felt like her mission was going to be hard for her. She is naive, but at the same time, strong and brave. Not only that, but she has common sense, and can think for her own. She wasn't a pushover, and I admire her for that, especially by the ending of the novel. Reading her story got me teary-eyed, not because I pity her. Ivy is not someone whom you give pity to; instead, she is someone you sympathize with. She fully knows the consequences of her choices and decisions, but remains headstrong in fulfilling them anyway. Reading her story makes me hope that someday, I hope I'll be able to find that strength in myself also, (but I'd rather not be in that same situation as her.)

If I loved Ivy, then I absolutely adored Bishop. He isn't someone who will just follow whatever is said to him. In a way, he is a rebel on his own. It is truly admirable on how he refuses to be bound by familial expectations and principles; instead, he gives his all in order to forge his own personality. With this, Bishop is really Bishop because he controls his own thoughts. Moreover, his approach with Ivy was absolutely splendid. It gave way for the both of them to have a relationship that was built on somewhere. It wasn't just insta-love. Their love for each other grew as they spend more time with each other, and it was genuine that way. It also seems that Bishop understands Ivy, and vice versa, so there are a lot of things that are left unspoken but they just know.

I could go on and on and on, but really. I am completely in love with this book. The way the romance was developed between Ivy and Bishop was beautiful. Although, I really don't think that the reason for Ivy's family to start a rebellion is enough. But, I don't know. I haven't experienced that, so I really cannot say anything about it. Also, I just hate Ivy's family. These characters add fuel to the story, but I just hate them. I could just bang my head on the table whenever they appear. (Yes, exaggeration, but yeah.) Ugh.

Overall, I definitely recommend reading The Book of Ivy because it's really one of the few dystopian books that I love. I love it so much that I just crave for the second book. I was throwing tantrums because I just realized how long I still have to wait for the sequel. The mix of romance and action was just perfect for me, and I absolutely cannot wait for the second book! *insert squeals*

My Rating

 Real Rating: 4.5

About the Author

Website│Goodreads│Twitter

Amy Engel was born in Kansas and after a childhood spent bouncing between countries (Iran, Taiwan) and states (Kansas; California; Missouri; Washington, D.C.), she settled in Kansas City, Missouri, where she lives with her husband and two kids. Before devoting herself full-time to motherhood and writing, she was a criminal defense attorney, which is not quite as exciting as it looks on TV. When she has a free moment, she can usually be found reading, running, or shoe shopping. The Book of Ivy is her debut YA novel. Find her online at http://amyengel.net/ or @aengelwrites.

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