Miri Flowers in Spring ~ Palace of Stone (Princess Academy #2)

Palace of Stone (Princess Academy #2)
By Shannon Hale

Rating: 4.8


“No small thing, a bee's sting
When it enters the heart
Not so benign, the growing vine
When it tears stone apart”


Conflicting loyalties. Uncertain love. And the power of words. 

I loved this book.

In fact, I loved Miri! I like how Shannon Hale has managed to create such a fantastic heroine, who lives, loves and acts in ways that move you and make you want to be a better person. 

That may sound cheesy, but there's no way around it - this book shows us the flaws we have as human beings: vanity, resentment, jealousy...our daily inner struggles. 

The power of words is the main theme of this book, for me. Palace of Stone shows how, regardless of whether you're in the middle of a revolution, at home, walking along the street, or conversing with an acquaintance or a friend, words can affect people. 

Words can start change. Words can send people to their deaths. Words can give food to the hungry and put shoes on the feet of those who work hard for a better future. 

Miri discovers that words can be weapons...as well as being healing, loving and capable of repairing the damage they can so easily inflict. 

Of course, this wouldn't be a Mount Eskel book without the linder and the quarry speech! 

The whole concept is fantastic and I applaud Shannon Hale for her creation of the idea and allowing it to flourish throughout the two books. The idea that our feelings can be shared and can link to personal memories, is a wonderful one - one that lifts the spiritual and emotional connection of the book to a whole new level.

And there was Peder.

Peder annoyed me a little. I mean - hello! You like the girl. She likes you! Get betrothed already!! 

I understand, however, that it just isn't Peder. And you know what? That's an important lesson for all of us. 

Many of us - mainly girls - expect certain standards. Like how I instantly expected that Peder Liking Miri + New Book = Peter + Miri Kiss and Marry During First Chapter. 

But life isn't like that. We have to accept people for who they are - I mean, kissing her outright or professing his love to the stars isn't Peder. Miri realises this too. And she wouldn't have it any other way, because that kind of Peder is not the one she loves. 

We have to accept that everyone approaches love differently and some people are better at expressing themselves than others.

Overall, I pray that this is not the last book in the series - I've grown far too attached to Miri, the Mount Eskel girls, Steffan, and Peder to let them all go just yet! 

I feel connected to Miri especially...a fair few years have passed since I read the first book, and now - reading the second - I feel as if I am revisiting an old friend. Miri has grown up and so have I. 

And I am happy to be able to say that I've accompanied her on her journey, and have enjoyed every second of it.