Avenged: Ruined, Book 2
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Avenged, by Amy Tintera (Reboot ), is the second of a planned trilogy that began with Ruined. The action picks up immediately after where the first book left off. It's not necessary to read the first one in order to follow along, but it will add to your understanding of the characters and their motives if you do. Battles and small skirmishes have fantasy violence with one tribe's magical abilities to physically manipulate bodies, which is used a lot to snap people's necks and sometimes to pull out their hearts. There's large-scale destruction, massive casualties including non-soldier bystanders. Blood spurts and sprays, but isn't described in any more detail. Occasional kissing, cuddling, and light making out among opposite-sex couples described very briefly; a couple in bed together undressing and embracing while nude; and matter-of-fact attitudes toward same-sex couples.
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What's the Story?
Olivia will be AVENGED at all costs for the destruction and near-extermination of her people at the hands of the neighboring kingdom of Lera. Even with her sister Em's help, uniting the few remaining Ruined and rebuilding their lives won't be easy. It quickly becomes clear to both sisters that they have very different ideas about how to go about it. Em still has feelings for Cas, now the king of Lera, and is sure the two kingdoms can be at peace under his rule. But Olivia will never place her trust in a Leran again. Em's got to try to turn Olivia from her blind need for revenge. If she can't, the kingdom of the Ruined may be destroyed once and for all.
Is It Any Good?
Without missing a beat, this second installment of a fantasy trilogy keeps the action, drama, and romance going at the same fast pace as the first book in the series. In Avenged, author Amy Tintera continues to easily balance political intrigue, gripping action, and romance so that the pages keep turning. Teens will enjoy rooting for the young protagonists as they try to forge their lives and take on big responsibilities in the aftermath of tragedy. And fantasy fans who like swords, castles, kingdoms, and a hefty dose of powerful magic will eagerly await the next installment after the huge cliffhanger ending.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in fantasy novels like Avenged, and in video games and movies. Does the fantasy element make a difference in how we react to the violence? Why or why not?
Did you read the first book in the series? How does this compare? If you didn't, do you think you'd like to go back and read it now?
Em says the only thing that made her life better was forgiving Cas. Is it realistic that she could forgive the person who killed her mother? Why or why not?
Book Details
- Author: Amy Tintera
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Brothers and Sisters, Great Girl Role Models
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: HarperTeen
- Publication date: May 2, 2017
- Number of pages: 416
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: June 23, 2017
Our Editors Recommend
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Ruined
Action, romance, and fantasy in strong series kickoff.
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Red Queen: Book 1
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Hefty, exciting, violent fantasy of human and animal allies.
For kids who love fantasy and romance
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