Books for Christian Girls: "The Rejected Princess" by Katie Clark

About this book:

“When Princess Roanna Hamilton’s parents arrange a marriage with a prince of Dawson’s Edge—the mysterious and backwards kingdom to the south—Roanna reluctantly agrees. But when Roanna is introduced to Dawson’s royal family, strange mind-bending anomalies are awakened within her, and she discovers the Dawsonian royal family holds secrets of their own. With threats growing daily, Roanna comes to realize the danger she is in. If Roanna is to save herself and her future, she must stall her marriage and squelch the growing rebellion—all while discovering how deeply her power runs.”

Series: (Updated:) Yes.

Spiritual Content- A few Scriptures (called ‘religious quotes’) are read; Prayers; Going to a chapel to pray; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of chapels, going to a chapel, & services; A mention of seeking divine guidance; A mention of someone seeing Roanna praying & wondering if Someone is listening;

*Note: Mentions of Roanna being able to sense people’s presence/aura (powers that hadn’t come from magic); Mentions of magic & a group of people being able to bewitch their subjects; Mentions of curses/conjurers/royal sorcerers; Mentions of a superstitious people; Mentions of statues of gods & strange creatures; A few mentions of calling others evil; A mention of a man saying he doesn’t hold much to religion; A mention of someone acting like another is the devil himself; A mention of a devilish grin.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘blasted’, a ‘what the devil’, and five ‘stupid’s; A few mentions of cursing one’s self and other items/people; A bit of eye rolling & sarcasm; An explosion & injuries (up to semi-detailed); Pain & Passing out (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of war, starting wars, attacks, deaths, seeing dead bodies, & injuries (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of abortions (called ‘Termination’) of fetuses testing positive for anomalies or “those whose quality of life are in question” and older children being Terminated (both Roanna and Ben are against it, both thinking those who have the anomalies are worthy of life; There is a mention that the birth rate of those with anomalies have gone down, since they’ve been bred out, that could be taken as a mention in favor of this idea); Mentions of fighting & wanting to hit someone; Mentions of a kidnapping; Mentions of prisoners, crimes, & stealing; Mentions of threats & threats of killing a loved one; Mentions of jealousy; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of rumors & gossip; A few mentions of a rumor telling about a suicidal girl (while another said about someone telling her to hurt herself); A few mentions of drugging someone; A few mentions of blackmail; A couple mentions of a child’s parents not returning from a trip; A couple mentions of vomiting; A couple mentions of human waste; A mention of a divorce.

Sexual Content- five hand kisses, two cheek kisses, an almost kiss (unpleasant & she shoves him away), an almost kiss (borderline barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed), two barely-above-not-detailed kisses, and a semi-detailed kiss; Wondering about kissing someone (barely-above-not-detailed); Touches, Embraces, Tingles, & Nearness (up to semi-detailed); (Unpleasant) Touches, Shivers, & Nearness (nothing above not-detailed); Blushes; Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Roanna is engaged to a man twice her age that can give off a creepy vibe (not in a harmful sense, but just odd); Mentions of kissing, kisses, & an almost kiss; Mentions of flirting; Mentions of blushes; A few mentions of thinking a wife had an affair (she didn’t); A couple mentions of other affairs (not in a sexual meaning, but holding someone else in your heart); A couple mentions of being sick at the thought of starting a family with someone she doesn’t love; A couple mentions of married couples kissing; A mention of thinking a man had taken advantage of a maid (he didn’t); A mention of a girl throwing herself at a man; Love, being in love, & the emotions;

*Note: A few mentions of a stillborn.

-(Princess) Roanna Hamilton, age 18

-(Prince) Benjamin Bellevue
P.O.V. switches between them
375 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

I went into this book expecting chocolate cupcake.

When I took a bite, I found out it was a lemon cupcake.

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That does not mean it was unpleasant. That’s just a bit of a metaphor. (That happens to connect to the last book this author wrote.)

Based on the title and the cover of this book, I would have said it’s a light, romantic contemporary.

The back-cover, however, gives off a fantasy vibe with mentions of powers.

So, I wasn’t sure what I was fixing to read, but I was curious.

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I think I would put this novel more in the YA Fantasy category. They mention electricity, digital technology, and airships, so it’s NOT a medieval time period…maybe more of future-y/dystopian-ish? There’s some typical standards of those genres, that this book didn’t have, though.

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I do think there are a few important things to note before considering to read this one:

~There is the bit of magical/powers that might consider some families, but I wouldn’t call it true magic per say. (Not the wizard’s kind, anyway.)

~I personally try to stay away from politics on this site, but I will mention that this novel had an important plotline of abortions/those with physical flaws being killed. Not just ones that we hear debates about today in society. It mainly focuses on those with powers in this fictional society.

~ Roanna is being forced to marrying a man who doesn’t share her religion/faith. She understands their opinion, but I personally was disappointed by that. I guess it truly is because the places this book are set in, aren’t religious countries. Plus, you know, the fact she’s being forced to marry someone and doesn’t really have an option.

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Personally, I enjoyed the book, though, I do wish a few things would have be clearer and the last bit to be longer.

It was an interesting concept, and I would be up to reading a sequel story!

See y’all on Wednesday with a new review!