I received this book from a PR representative of the author in exchange for an honest review.

The Duchess Adlai, Introductions, Inventions, and the Most Awesome Adventures has all of the trappings of a great high fantasy novel – a cute dedication (or non-dedication), a map, some magical advisor-basenji-creatures and a glossary.

However, what was missing from this book was a real plotline. It was designed to be the first installment in a series, but there was no real conflict in this story. In fact, it really went nowhere. I felt that author Tonya Knudsen did way too much telling and not showing. I loved all of the pieces of this story, but I think I would have liked it if we’d seen Adlai learning things, or taking the placement trial, or even going on the adventure she was talking about the whole book.

I felt that it was also unrealistic that the younger sister of a monarch would know nothing about the way her country works. As the book talked about, politics is super important to running a country, and Adlai knew next to nothing about her role in it, which is shown in her promotion of her friend to Master Inventor, and that she knew nothing about many of her fellow leaders.

Now, this isn’t to say that I didn’t enjoy the book. I actually really did enjoy what there was - there just wasn’t anywhere near enough to it! If it had continued and more had happened, it would have gotten a much better rating. The Duchess Adlai, Introductions, Inventions, and the Most Awesome Adventures simply felt entirely cut off to me. For that, I have to rate this book 3 stars.

This review is also posted at my booker blog as of Monday, July 27th.