Book Review: The Black Key
Book: The Black Key
Author: Amy Ewing
Genre: Young Adult/Fiction/Fantasy/Dystopian/Romance
Summary: For too long, Violet and the people of the outer circles of the Lone City have lived a life of servitude, controlled and manipulated by the royalty of the Jewel. But now, the secret society known as the Black Key is preparing to seize power and knock down the walls dividing each circle. And while Violet knows she is at the center of this rebellion, she has a more personal stake in it - for her sister, Hazel, has been taken by the Duchess of the Lake. Now, after fighting so hard to escape the Jewel, Violet must do everything in her power to return, to save not only Hazel, but the future of the Lone City. In this thrilling conclusion to Amy Ewing's epic trilogy, Violet's loyalty to her family is pitted against her dedication to overthrowing a destructive and terrifying regime. This is an explosively compelling story that readers won't be able to put down. -HarperTeen, 2016.
I probably shouldn't have started this so soon after finishing another Young Adult trilogy. All the same, if I didn't read it now, I have a feeling I never would have read it, simply because of exhaustion with the material. I need a long, long break from world-overthrowing, dystopian trilogies. It actually makes me wonder if teens at the time of publishing felt burned out. I certainly do.
Violet is finishing her preparations for the rebellion of the surrogates. As she introduced more girls to her cause, she grows increasingly worried about her sister who is now a captive of the Duchess of the Lake. Unable to hold herself back, Violet throws herself into danger so she can save her sister, but will she endanger the rebellion in the process?
Unlike the previous trilogy, The Black Key is very deliberately paced. While it's not rushed, it doesn't drag too much either. The pacing isn't the issue so much as the characters. Violet isn't a Mary Sue by any means, but I can see Ewing struggling to balance her between the super strong, wild warrior and the princess-esque, open-to-vulnerability, willing-to-rely-on-others female character. The end result is fine - Violet is wild when she needs to be. She's certainly reckless and there's more than one occasion where she has to rely on the generosity of others in order to stay alive. But she's also very vulnerable at times and relies on others in order to stay strong. I think Ewing did a good job and I'm glad she aimed for a balance.
Also unlike the previous trilogy, Ewing doesn't shy away from describing the aftereffects of violence. She got rather graphic from time to time. I'm glad she didn't try to sugarcoat anything.
The only point I had some frustration with was the treatment of Ash, Violet's love interest. He's left out of the planning process and it becomes a point of contention between him and Violet. It frustrated me because you can sense how helpless he feels and you just want him to be able to do his part. This point is resolved somewhat quickly and behind the scenes. I'm not really a fan of this method because I think it takes away from Ash, but since the action follows Violet, this wasn't going to be possible.
Overall, it's a good ending to another unique trilogy. If you've read the other two books, it's certainly worth reading the finale.
I give The Black Key an A.
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