Title: Rook
Author: Sharon Cameron
Genre: YA post-apocalyptic/dystopian
Published: April 28th, 2015
Source: Book purchased from Scholastic Warehouse sale
My rating: 4 stars
I had been really interested to read this book, and so when I found it for a good price at the Scholastic Warehouse sale, I scooped it up. It was a very interesting story, and nice to have a stand-alone for a change. Instead of giving my summary as usual, I'm going to share the Goodreads' summary, then give my thoughts. So here is the blurb:
History has a way of repeating itself. In the Sunken City that was once Paris, all who oppose the new revolution are being put to the blade. Except for those who disappear from their prison cells, a red-tipped rook feather left in their place. Is the mysterious Red Rook a savior of the innocent or a criminal?
Meanwhile, across the sea in the Commonwealth, Sophia Bellamy’s arranged marriage to the wealthy René Hasard is the last chance to save her family from ruin. But when the search for the Red Rook comes straight to her doorstep, Sophia discovers that her fiancé is not all he seems. Which is only fair, because neither is she.
As the Red Rook grows bolder and the stakes grow higher, Sophia and René find themselves locked in a tantalizing game of cat and mouse.
I really liked how this future world had really gone back to the "old days" before technology, living in houses/manors, kings, and all the other bits. The fact that technology itself was forbidden was a great storyline, because it is so plausible to see how they could think that was the cause of the world going downhill. The picture on the cover is so good to show that. I loved the characters as well, and that is something that really sells a story to me. The main character was Sophia Bellamy, and she is in between dealing with an arranged marriage to the cousin of one of the enemies of the Red Rook, who is out to save those who are being beheaded for many things, most often because the king just wants their property or land. And Sophia is the Red Rook. But it is suspected that it must be her brother, because of course a woman could not possibly do something like that. Sophia will come to learn that her betrothed, Rene, may not be exactly who she thinks he is. And there are others that have always been close to her in her life that also are not exactly who she thinks they are. There is betrayal in this world, and also people that will be help and that she can trust where she least expects it. And the romance, well I liked it. I wanted her to be with who she ended up with, and so did not trust the one that ended up being bad for her. Although in the end, he did come to regret what he'd done, and try to do what he could to make up for it.
A great standalone, although I would definitely enjoy more from this world. This is my first book by this author, and makes me even more intrigued to read The Forgetting as well.