Audiobook Review: The Last Princess by Galazy Craze + #JIAM Giveaway

The Last Princess

Author: Galaxy Craze
Reader: Leslie Bellair

Reading Level: YA

Genre: Dystopian

Released: May 1st 2012

Review Source: Book: Poppy - Audio: Hachette Audio

Available: Amazon

Summary: (from goodreads) In the year 2090, after the third world war has left the most developed of nations in ruin, England is a barren land. The last trees live in the courtyard of Buckingham Palace, food is rationed, oil has destroyed the oceans, poverty is at an all-time low and discontent is rising to a fever pitch. Hatred of the royals is strong and revolution lurks just around the corner.

The first strike came when Princess Eliza Windsor was just a little girl and her mother, the queen, fell victim to poison in the hands of a sneering young revolutionary, Cornelius Hollister. After many years of living in fear, Eliza is sixteen when Hollister strikes again, destroying her family even further, killing her father and kidnapping her older sister and younger brother, and forcing her to flee into London's dangerous streets.

With a mind for revenge and the safe recovery of her siblings - including her older sister, Mary, England's future queen - Eliza joins the rebel forces in disguise. Masquerading as a loyal member of the Tudor army, Eliza has her first taste of independence and it is here that she finds love... with the son of the man who would see her dead.

(Plot 3.5/Audio 4)

Audio: I smile very big when I start listening to an audio book and immediately like the reader's voice. I began this audio a few weeks ago and couldn't dedicate the time I wanted to it so I put it to the side in hopes that some free time would come up soon. Well this past weekend I went on a mini weekend trip and it would take 6 hours to get there and back. The Last princess made those 6 hrs go by so fast, even my mom Trudy was listening and was just as engrossed in the story as I was. Leslie does a really great job at reading and capturing the interest of us the listener. Her british accent is what I give probably a 5 rating too, if it wasn't for that the story itself lack a little for me. I probably would have lost interest or given a lower rating to this book if it wasn't for Leslie's fantastic job reading. If this becomes a series, I will be listening to the rest instead of reading the books. 

Book: You read above how I mention the story lack a little for me in the plot and some of the delivery. If those two would have worked, this book probably would have gotten a 5 for me. What saved it from getting a 3 or lower, was the fact that the audio version ROCKS! It was a delight to listen to it. 

The story is told from Princess Eliza view. She is the daughter of the King of England during a poverty stricken time. Everything has been ruin in a matter of 17 days. After those 17 days, food is scares, clean water is hard to come by, the lands are in ruins and the people have become savages. While all this is taking place Eliza father, the King continues to live a lavish life inside the place, and many have taken noticed. That's when the first hard blow to their family takes place. A man named Cornelius Hollister poisons the fruit Eliza's mother ate while pregnant with her little brother. Her brother survived by is a ill child. He has the poison in his blood. Eliza along with her father, older sister and brother must learn to live on and deal with their grief. That is until Eliza is now a 16 year old teenager and during a ball her father is hosting while the people starve outside the place, they are attacked. Once again another major blow by Cornelius Hollister. He kills the King and kidnaps her older sister and younger sick brother. Eliza wished she received the same fate as her father, instead one of Hollister soldiers sees her and doesn't say anything. She is left all alone in the place surround by so many dead bodies and not a single clue as to where they took what's left of her family. Eliza will making some life altering choices that will either ruin her or take her to her family. What is a 16 year old Princess of England too do. 

I am not sure as to the future of this book if it will be a series or not. It does leave off where it can definitely have a sequel. I personally would like to know what happens next. I haven't found anything online suggesting so yet, but never say never. I take my comment back, I just happen to open the back of the hardcover to where it has the author's portrait and small bio, its says she is currently working on the sequel to The Last Princess. So yey, that makes me happy. 

Since June is Audio Book Month, to keep the celebration going. I will be offering my audio book copy and a hardcover copy to two readers. 

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