  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 10/01/2017 Gr 3–6—Valor is back and ready to save her people from danger. Picking up a few weeks after the end of the first book, this installment begins with Prince Anatol, friend of Valor and her twin sister Sasha, imprisoned by his mother for treason. Finding themselves summoned by Queen Ana herself, Valor is tasked with finding the truly traitorous Princess Anastasia so that the kingdom and the prince will be safe and free again. Things do not go according to plan, as per usual for Valor and her clever group of unlikely companions including a palace guard, two thieves, and her sister. Just as the kingdom is teetering on destruction from aggressive neighboring kingdoms, Queen Ana is kidnapped by the princess, and the royal niece named regent in her place appears to be a usurper. They have foiled the plans of Princess Anastasia only to play into her plans to spark war with neighboring Pyots'kan. Readers will want to start with the first book to get the full feel of the barren world and icy city of Demidova. Although this plot lacks the emotional urgency of that first adventure, the suspense is held throughout as various plot turns reflect Valor's missteps. Fans of the series will be happy to revisit the characters. With some dangers to the kingdom unresolved, there is promise of more adventures with the sharpshooting archer Valor and her diplomatic sister. VERDICT A solid continuation of an excellent series that will have readers once again wondering what will happen in a land of ice and snow filled with treason and treachery.—Clare A. Dombrowski, Amesbury Public Library, MA - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 03/01/2018 The kingdom of Demidova is in turmoil: the crown prince falsely imprisoned for treason, the princess—heir to the throne—wanted for crimes against innocent people, and the queen newly kidnapped. As if that isn’t enough, the Queen Regent Inessa appears to be in league with enemies of the kingdom. Only young Valor and her commoner cronies can put things right, but can they do it before Demidova falls? This action-packed sequel to Prisoner of Ice and Snow (2017) is nearly frenetic in its energy, with chases, captures, and intrigue at every turn. Readers will want to read these two books in order because the adventure in the second book begins immediately and the brief backstory Lauren includes may be more confusing than helpful. This is for fans of intrepid girl heroes who aren’t perfect; Valor isn’t always patient and tends toward the clumsy, but she definitely gets the job done. Try these two with Gail Carson Levine’s The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre (2017) or Amie Kaufman’s Ice Wolves (2018). - Copyright 2018 Booklist. Loading...
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