Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sequel balances political intrigue, fast action, romance.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
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 :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : HarperTeen
- Publication date : May 2, 2017
- Number of pages : 416
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate