How do you keep fighting when you’ve already been claimed?When sixteen-year-old Elise is ripped from her home and taken to the royal palace as a permanent ‘guest’, she thinks her life is over.Little does she know it has only just begun… world she never knew existed—polished, sculpted, and refined until she can hardly recognize her own reflection. She should be happy to have escaped the poverty of her former life. But she knows a dark truth.
The palace is a dream on the surface, but a nightmare underneath.
With a dwindling population, the royals have imprisoned the teenagers to marry and breed. Only seven days remain of freedom before they will be selected by a courtier and forever claimed.
Danger lurks around every corner. The only chance of escape is death.
But when the day of the claiming finally arrives…the world will never be the same.
Royal Factions
The Price for Peace – Book 1
The Cost for Surviving – Book 2
The Punishment for Deception – Book 3
Faking Perfection – Book 4
The Most Cherished – Book 5
The Strength to Endure – Book 6
more
A good read; but it is only an intro to the rest of the series so will leave you hanging! Andy you will have to acquire the remainder in the series. Good space sci-fi interspersed with male/female/male sort of rivalry. the tech/AI was well researched/realistic!
This is a riveting story of a dystopian society, ruled by the royal family, that has become a world divided into utter wealth or abject poverty. In this world, the children of the outlying provinces are taken by soldiers of the Queen’s Guard to be prepared to serve the palace or to be claimed as property of one of the ruling class. Through the years, it became apparent that there was a problem within the realm. There was a steady decline of the numbers of those living in debauchery and getting smaller with the passing of each year. By selecting the best and brightest from each of the outlying villages to come to the palace to be prepared for selection and subsequent claiming, the numbers would grow. It was considered an honor to be taken into wealth, trained and acclimated to your new home and to start a family as soon as possible. The selection process begins with the children being “stolen” from their homes, forced into heavily loaded trucks and trains to travel hours to get to the palace. Once there, the grooming starts and the descriptions of what is done to beautify each of them is both inspiring and disturbing. Elise has a groomer who appears to take great pride in her, but she doesn’t know who to trust and who has an ulterior motive. When the crown prince shows interest in her at the first royal presentation, she is disturbed because of the stories of his depravity and the cold eyes that stared into hers. The friendships that formed along the journey are heartwarming and heartbreaking. This story is so well-written that I felt that I was on that journey with them. I could feel the love among the new friends, as well as the fear of the unknown. They soon find that they are living a nightmare in this supposed place of beauty and power where things are not necessarily what they seem. And the prince! Each interaction with the prince throws Elise a little off kilter and the ending is a great twist! The cliffhanger is perfectly placed and the next book can’t possibly come soon enough!
Graham Mack does a tremendous job with the narration giving the characters their own voice and personality. He has a dynamic voice with just the right amount of inflection and timbre. Well done!
No steamy scenes!!!
Why make this book YA? It’s clear for what purpose those young people are taken to the pakace. Why don’t make them over 18 and our heroine for example 24 or even 26. Her point of view will be exactly the same. And she could be a virgin if the author thinks it is necessary. This book could be very upsetting and unfiting for young adults but is delicious for adults. Why not give us adult readers the steamy scenes that are unspoken in this book but will fit perfectly. It really a pity that all the serie is written so the author can’t redeem herself in some future book. Please somebody tell the author that is time that she start writing adult books with soft steamy scenes. And why the drama? Ok, it is frightening to be claimed by some twisted aristocracy but I will always prefere to be a pampered pet then perish from hard work or famine.
Beautifully written and the main character is endearing. Well made characters, good world building, suspense and mystery.
Would have given this 5 stars if it was 300 pages or more, since May is one of my favorite authors but it lacked being more and I shall wait when this is offered has a book set to read the rest.
These books suck you into the story. Each books ends on a major cliff hanger, though, so be ready to start the next book each time.
the first few pages are interesting but the rest of the chapters just doesn’t bring back the feeling you had before but it Okay
Good book but sometimes slow
Like many of W.J. May’s books, the characters quickly capture your attention and don’t let it go!! While the book does have a Hunger Games feel to it (and despite my constant comparison), the characters quickly build character and evoke feelings from the reader. Can’t wait for the next book!
Being taken to the palace for a specific reason.
This story follows a teenage girl as she’s taken from her home were she’s poor and taken to the palace. There are several teenagers there and they are transformed with new clothes and polished up. They were brought to the palace for a specific reason but will the strong willed girl go along with it? I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
I have to say that The Price for Peace was one of the most emotionally charged, heart-breaking books I’ve read in a long time. The characters are developed in such a way that you walk their story with them. Elise and Will are both amazing–not only having the strength to face each day, but the ability to help others stand strong in these times of uncertainty. The storyline is incredibly unique, filled with kidnapping, danger, intrigue and uncertainty. Each chapter is full of twists and turns guaranteed to keep you guessing. I am definitely looking forward to book 2 to see where this story takes us!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Notes for: The Price For Peace Book 1
This story is very dark and depressing. It is set during a period without hope and with much cruel authority.
Page 24: “tilted our heads to stare at the same time “should be” tilted our heads at the same time to stare”
Page 24: “road” should be “rode”.
I am amazed that there was no conversation during the trip in.
Has no one ever escaped?
Now that they have arrived in the castle, where are all the previous guests? Were they somehow consumed, died, worn out, sold, or otherwise used up and discarded?
There were a lot of unanswered question. They will only be answered with the next books.
Disobeying means death, but might that not be better than what the fates have in store? Elise along with over fifty other young people have been taken from their homes to be claimed by nobles and forced to breed. On her trip to the palace she meets several other young people and be become friends, especially the handsome Will. And once in the palace they are locked away from the outside world. Forced to take baths together, sleep in one huge room together and gets dressed and undressed together. For a week they are groomed to bring the highest money at an auction. And Will being the handsomest, and Elise being the most beautiful could go to the richest highest ranking nobles. But is that the best or worst fate?
Amazing and terrifying all at the same time. Cannot wait for book 2 in the series