When I was in Iceland earlier this year I read Verboten by Amelia Carter. Amelia is 16 and has accomplished so much! She is such a nice girl and an amazing writer! Congratulations are in order because Waterstones have just started selling her book. It's about time, because this book is really good and needs much more recognition. And even more exciting is that it is about to be re-released with a new vamped cover! So make sure you definitely look out for it hitting shelves in October.

Once I started this book, I could not stop, although I had to restrain myself so I had something to entertain me on the plane home. This book is so unique and extraordinary. When I picked it up I was not expecting what happened. There was so much world building and so many character arcs and it was all written amazingly! I really felt a part of the story, like I was with Katalina the whole time, experiencing what she was experiencing.

There was a great balance between action and calm in the story although you were constantly anticipating what comes next! There were even a few plot twists thrown in which I never would have guessed but it really brought the story together. I am definitely a big fan of Carter's writing, she balances the description with the dialogue perfectly for the story. After that epilogue I really cannot wait until the second book. Exoneration is out later this year. I really need to know what happens!

I definitely, thoroughly and whole-heartedly recommend this book to all YA readers, and to all book fans around the world. One thing I would say is that it could be much longer with more building, development and a larger story arc but for her first novel and a fantasy one at that this story is incredible and I know that so many of you out there will love it!

Overall I rate this book a 85%

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