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The Swan Riders by Erin Bow is an interesting sequel to The Scorpion Rules.The villain has a bigger part in the story and there are so many Canadian references. Greta is still such an amazing character, even if she is no longer human. Despite all this, I had some problems with the pacing of the book, and didn’t enjoy as much as I could have.
Title: The Swan Riders (Prisoners of Peace #2)Series: Prisoners of Peace #2
Author: Erin Bow
Also by this author: The Scorpion Rules (Prisoners of Peace #1)
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Genres: Dystopian, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: September 20, 2016
Rating:
Series Rating:
Greta Stuart had always known her future: die young. She was her country's crown princess, and also its hostage, destined to be the first casualty in an inevitable war. But when the war came it broke all the rules, and Greta forged a different path.
She is no longer princess. No longer hostage. No longer human. Greta Stuart has become an AI.
If she can survive the transition, Greta will earn a place alongside Talis, the AI who rules the world. Talis is a big believer in peace through superior firepower. But some problems are too personal to obliterate from orbit, and for those there are the Swan Riders: a small band of humans who serve the AIs as part army, part cult.
Now two of the Swan Riders are escorting Talis and Greta across post-apocalyptic Saskatchewan. But Greta’s fate has stirred her nation into open rebellion, and the dry grassland may hide insurgents who want to rescue her – or see her killed. Including Elian, the boy she saved—the boy who wants to change the world, with a knife if necessary. Even the infinitely loyal Swan Riders may not be everything they seem.
Greta’s fate—and the fate of her world—are balanced on the edge of a knife in this smart, sly, electrifying adventure.
❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃
Review: The Swan RIders by Erin Bow
The Swan Riders is so different from the first book, The Scorpion Rules. Talis, who is kind of the villain, has a much bigger role. Throughout the book, the reader really gets to know him and see him in a different way. Greta also isn’t a prisoner anymore and gets to travel to Saskatchewan. I loved how the book is set in a real place, but modified a little bit. There are so many Canadian references (hat tip to Gordon Lightfoot the horse) which I really enjoyed catching as I read.
❀ Greta Has changed
Greta has really changed since The Scorpion Rules. She is still the same clever girl as before, but no longer a human. Greta has become an AI and must lose all her memories as part of the transition. She is so determined to keep her memories, even though it’s dangerous, and I really admired that about her. Greta is also bisexual, which I loved, even though her girlfriend isn’t in the book as much.
❀ Slow-Paced
Although The Swan Riders has so many amazing components, I found the plot to be very slow at times. Certain scenes dragged on, and by the end of the book, I ended up losing interest. On the contrary, other scenes moved too quickly and I ended up really confused. It was hard to enjoy the book when I wasn’t entirely sure what was happening all the time, and I really wish I could have enjoyed it more than I did.
❀ Very Different from the First Book
The Swan Riders by Erin Bow is a sci-fi book that is very different from the first story. I really enjoyed Greta’s character and the concept of the AIs. I loved so much about the book, but the pacing really bothered me. However, I would still recommend this book to those who have read and enjoyed the first book.
Book Quotes: The Swan Riders by Erin Bow
“The Swan Riders were both murderers. But that was nothing to what Talis was.”
About Erin Bow
Erin Bow is the author of The Scorpion Rules, which received three starred reviews and was a Kirkus ReviewsBest Book of the Year and it’s sequel, The Swan Riders, which received two starred reviews. She also wrote the acclaimed Russian-flavored fantasy Plain Kate, which received two starred reviews and was a YALSA Best Book of the Year, and the terrifying YA ghost story Sorrow’s Knot, which received five starred reviews and was a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year.
About The Candid Cover
Olivia ❀ Canadian YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, & professional bibliophile.
I still have to read the first one, but it sounds like an interesting series. Thanks for the review!
I didn’t even know the sequel was so close to release date! I haven’t read the first book yet. Maybe someday I’ll give it a chance. I’m actually intrigued by the villain having a bigger role in this sequel. Great review!
I would love to know what you think! I hope that it is one that you enjoy. 🙂
I am not sure now that I want to read this series… Hmmm! What to do, what to do? Well, while I might not read it, I will happily look at the cover for a little while!
Okay I just finished this one and it took me TWO WEEKS. Why? Because I was just bored. I was bored and confused. I am glad you found a few things to enjoy about this one, but I just couldn’t.
Glad you enjoyed this. I love Sci-Fi and this series looks pretty good!
This sounds like an interesting story.
This sounds like a great story. Nice cover.