The Book Of Ivy

Amy Engel

Rating

4.5 stars

Date Read

8/7/16 - 8/7/16

Age Group

14+

General Thoughts

A mix of Divergent, Matched and Cruel Beauty, and still a gorgeous book all on its own this dytopian is a must read for fans of post apocalyptic YA. 

I didn't expect to like this so much that I couldn't put it down but like it I did. It's the kind of book you read in one sitting and marvel about afterwards. I don't know what made it so good. It is dystopian but can't really be called dystopian at it's best (although i wouldn't mind calling it so). The premise is good but not reallly original and the heroine is, at times, too opinionated.

Coming to think of it, it was probably Bishop and his relationship with Ivy that I fell hopelessly in love with. Like, best book boyfriend ever. Scratch that, book husband ever.

Let me explain.


The year is 2075.

The nuclear war, followed by radiation, disease and famine has killed of most of earths population (much like the 5th wave, minus the aliens). In the middle of nowhere, deep in the heart of what used to be the US, a city has been founded by the family of the Westfalls, by a man who spoke of democacy and equal rights.

Then came the Latimers and through the clash for power two sides emerged. The winners and the losers.

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. People are living under the rule of president Latimer in what can only be called monarchy. Those who dont abide to law are banished outside the fence.

Even if the lost side had wanted to rebel once, it's a different matter entirely when the man you're killing happens to look like your daughter and be your own blood. The arranged marriages make sure insurgence is quelled

That's where she comes in. Ivy. The initial founder's granddaughter.

"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."

Which would have been a lot simpler if the man they're marrying to was the cruel, heartless person he was supposed to be.

Ivy 

Ivy is hot-headed, fierce, wild and impulsive. She's very opinionated and makes a habit of speaking before considering the consequnces. She's also smart, loyal and strong, even if she doesn't realise it. It's only a matter of deciding who is worth her loyalty.

And what purpose is worth sacrificing herself for.

Bishop 

Strong and mature and cool headed. Caring thoughtful and sensitive but good at hiding it, he only letting a chosen few into his inner world. A nature-lover, a good listener an attentive boyfriend husband.

Perfect perfect perfect.

As I said, it would have been a lot easier for Ivy if they had married her off to some cruel brute. This is far more than she bargained for. Can she really take the life of the one peson who understands her, someone she finds herslef falling for, even if it's in the name of democracy? In order to give the next generation of 16 year old girls the chance to choose if they want to be married this young and to choose to whom?

Is the greater good worth an innocent person's life?

Relationship <3

No dreaded insta-love, no silly, unrealistic conversations. Getting married to a stranger at sixteen is a difficult situation to portray and Amy Engel handles it like a pro. The awkwardness and silences were there, and so are arguments on politics and long conversations of the couple getting to know each other, Bishop actually making an effort to make the relationship work. Slowly they open up to each other, realising they understand each other better than their own families.

And all this just in time for Ivy's three-month-deadline to be up. And it's time to kill the man she loves.

Ending 

Not cliffhanger exactly. Kind of perfect. The story has come to an end, first book is officially finished, it doesn't exactly leave you hanging. But Ivy's story is  still far from the and this is one series to follow through to the end. Especially since it's a duology.

All in all 

Nice, good, perfect YA dystopian romance!

Also, I read it in Greek and I haven't read a romance book in Greek since Fallen at the age of  12 (Uberto Echo doesn't really count as romance). I was surprised by how nice it was, reading post pocalyptic romance in my own language, provided the translation was good. And this one was.

PS Meghan Trainor - Kindly calm me down

XOXO

Aggie Pearson