Two Minute Review: The White Rose by Amy Ewing

Title: The White Rose
Author: Amy Ewing
Genre: fantasy, dystopia, young adult 
Series: The Lone City #2
Pages: 320
Published: expected October 6 2015
Source: publishers via edelweiss
Rating: 2/5

Violet is on the run. After the Duchess of the Lake catches Violet with Ash, the hired companion at the Palace of the Lake, Violet has no choice but to escape the Jewel or face certain death. So along with Ash and her best friend, Raven, Violet runs away from her unbearable life of servitude.

But no one said leaving the Jewel would be easy. As they make their way through the circles of the Lone City, Regimentals track their every move, and the trio barely manages to make it out unscathed and into the safe haven they were promised—a mysterious house in the Farm.

But there’s a rebellion brewing, and Violet has found herself in the middle of it. Alongside a new ally, Violet discovers her Auguries are much more powerful than she ever imagined. But is she strong enough to rise up against the Jewel and everything she has ever known?

The White Rose is a raw, captivating sequel to The Jewel that fans won’t be able to put down until the final shocking moments

Violet has escaped and is on the run from evil people who want to impregnate her and then murder her once she gives birth. This should be a harrowing, terrifying, exciting read about danger and covert maneuvering and women's rights... it's just... not that. It's not half of what it could be -- there are some topical issues at play that could be explored meaningfully and carefully. But they're largely ignored for the same old angst and romantic interplay. It's the 19037845720 verse, same as the first.

Admittedly, I like some of the ideas here (especially how dark Ewing is willing to get [ I mean, most YA books don't even address pregnancy much less forced surrogacy and then murder, etc. ]), but the execution  of those ideas leaves a lot to be desired. The whole world is shallow and so are the characters within that world. It's too flimsy so I shouldn't be surprised that the women's rights issues are not addressed in favor of a much less substantial plot. I was bored by what The White Rose chose to do and by its characters lack of dimension (exception: Raven who is a large part of my rating) or originality. Given two books and 650+ pages there should be more depth to the series.

I think I am getting off the The Lone City train at the second stop. This had potential, but like the cover of the second book --- the closer you look, the less it appeals.