Trigger Warning: Sexual and Physical Assault, Alcohol

Arden lives a life where she was plucked from her family to be trained to possibly attend a prestigious school for women in the land of Nordania. Not only does she not get trained but she also suffers at the hands of an abuser. She unexpectedly ends up attending the school and has to deal with feelings of inadequacy but also keep her dark secret hidden. Things progress and she becomes a top student but at the same time still has to deal with the heartbreaking reality of her origins. Her feelings are pulled between the prince-like Declan and the pirate Beck as she learns to trust others and heal. Things change in a matter of days when her obsessed abuser does anything in his power to seek revenge. She finds herself on the run, second guessing what she wants and wondering where life will take her.

I enjoyed the story in this book, it was relatively fast paced and kept my interest the whole time. I like stories about women who overcome bad circumstances and find happiness/what they really want in the end. I will probably happily pick up the second book of this series when it comes out just to see what happens (Team Beck). That being said, there wasn't enough development, for me, of the fictional world that was created so I had to shut off the part of my brain that wanted to understand better what kind of world they were living in or what time era they were living in. At one minute they are driving cars and then the next the "pirates" are sailing a wooden ship. In the whole book not a single person spoke with an accent but then at the very end one random lady in a port town yelled at them in a really thick accent. It honestly seemed to jump back and forth between time periods and it was confusing. Also, I like the characters in the book and am hoping to maybe learn more about them in the next one because I feel like this first book barely touched the surface of who they even are. I would have a hard time openly recommending this book because the of main character's history of sexual assault.

There are parts of this book that I really enjoyed and others that really fell flat. In the end, it was a fairly middle of the road read for me.

As others have said, it's a dark version of The Selection. I'd call it a sort of Hunger Games/Selection combo with a snarky pirate who reminded me of Rhett Butler. I liked this book overall but something about it just didn't pull me into the story. Arden, Beck, and Declan were all pretty good characters who were well developed and I liked the way their stories unfolded. But the overall plot was lacking.

I found myself not picking it up regularly and getting distracted. In the beginning, this was just because the plot was way too slow and the world/characters hadn't been developed enough for me to get behind the slow-moving plot. Once things picked up a bit, the story just didn't flow in a way that made me want to keep reading. A lot of the chapters end rather abruptly in a sort of fade to black manner that left gaps in the story and meant I wasn't eager to keep moving to the next chapter.

I really enjoyed the beginnings of Arden and Declan getting to know each other and the last 10% of the book. That last bit really was great and I wish the twist had come sooner to allow that plot to be more fully explored and played out. This one definitely has a bit of an ambiguous ending which is never to my liking unless there's a sequel and I don't see any mentions of that happening. The loose ends just didn't work for me. I needed an epilogue or one more chapter to finish this one satisfied.

The sections of this book that were good were very good but there were just too many slow moving parts and skips in timeline to get me fully invested. That said, if you're good with the trigger warnings, I did enjoy it and don't regret picking it up.

** I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Review was posted on Goodreads on 4/26/21 and can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3943328801?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

This book had a little bit of everything and it was fantastic. I loved the character development and the plot and I did not want to put the book down. The writing was great. Thank you Netgalley and REUTS for the ARC but all of the thoughts were my own.

This book is one of my favourite reads that I received for review via netgalley. It follows the story of Arden, a girl who wins admission to a prestigious Academy offering a future with prominent government positions. Going to the Academy provides Arden a chance to leave a tormentor and a less than luxurious life behind while hoping for a better future. After she meets the other girls selected, Arden has to realize that the academy is not as it was advertised. Instead of working towards a high profile position, the girls are polished to the liking of influential and wealthy men. This includes the son of the Prime Minister, the number one bachelor to be enchanted.

I really loved how fast this story sucked me in. Arden was a very genuine character including her many flaws. I also enjoyed the fact that she was not the perfect student from day one. I know a lot of people think that the catty personas of the girls was undermining female enpowerment, but I think it was a very realistic representation of how things would go down during a competition such as this.
What I missed was more positive characters. Especially male ones. The story is very dark and tells a story of a world where man hold the power over everything including women. To break up this darkness I would have liked to see a few more decent characters.

The book very much feels like a first in a series. It leaves a lot of lines unfinished and us wondering. The reader can also guess that world is vastly different from how it was represented to our heroine, but we don’t know for sure what the reality is. I read many reviews about the similarities between this book and The selection series, but since I’ve not read the latter I can’t really say how similar the two are.

I am very much looking forward to diving into this world again, mostly because of a very sarcastic captain, who owns a SHIP.

Thank you for Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read this book.

I received this arc in exchange for an honest review, CONTAINS SPOILERS

This book contains talk of sexual assault

This book was a wild ride of emotions.  Arden Thatcher is chosen to enter a prestigious academy that will teach her how to be the perfect lady, and give her a prestigious political placement upon graduating.

Upon arriving, Arden meets the prince, but all intimate interactions are forbidden, and she could be expelled.

*spoilers to follow*

I hated how Declan was so two faced in this book.  He made you like him and then he turned around and did something incredibly selfish each time. Beck seemed like the better choice for me but it was left very open ended so the reader can decide on an appropriate ending of events.
I was disappointed that Arden didn't really get a happy ending, but as the book says, changes happen slowly and she did bring about change within her world. Overall it was a good read

Now finally getting into a review for this book: So a lot of people have been comparing it to The Selection series by Kiara Cass (which I'm not a huge fan of BTW), which is not wrong I guess, as the main setup of the book is quite similar. It's the same bachelor-esque trope where all these girls are competing for prince. I would like to say that it's definitely better than the selection in a lot of ways in my opinion but it also wasn't much better. 😅

When I saw this book on NetGalley, I was so intrigued because the synopsis and the cover kind of give me this cut-throat dark academia vibes, which I clearly misunderstood because it was nothing like I had expected, and not in a good way unfortunately.

I received an ARC in an exchange for an honest review via NetGalley. Thank you so much to Reuts Publication for giving me this opportunity.

TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️- sexual assault, physical abuse, harassment, trauma.

Prepare for a horde of mixed feelings below...

I had very high expectations going into this book. The beginning was quite strong as well, and for the first few chapters at least it's so good. Although the first chapter practically begins with the sexual assault (which makes it a little too on the nose 😕) it's still a strong beginning.

CHARACTERS- While I actually really like the main character Arden, she wasn't really someone I able to connect with. And David and Beck are just stupid.

You have no idea why David even likes Arden so much. It's as if it has been just fed into his system that he loves Arden but he doesn't care why. It was honestly the most prominent part of his personality.

And Beck, although slightly better, is still an idiot who says things like, "you hit like a girl." I just wished that the characters would have been more fleshed out.

THEMES-

One thing that you can really appreciate in this book is the examination of trauma a main character Arden is a victim of rape and sexual assault and the book really focuses on this aspect and allows us to really grow and learn through this ordeal I think this was really well done.

WORLD BUILDING- You are also really not gonna find any magic, or mythological creatures or any fantastical elements other than the fact that it is set in a different place that is not in our world. There really is no magic, so if you are expecting a uniquely different magic system or world building, that's not what this book is about.

Three and a half
Well I needed to think before I reviewed this and if I’m blunt some of it I really liked and huge chunks I absolutely hated. I have seen others compare this to The Selection and as I haven’t read that cannot make a categorical comparison but yes this book does feature a lot of young women angling to marry the Prince. I personally found it much more similar to The Handmaids Tale as the women in this world are subjugated beyond the extreme ! What time period is this ? They have cars and electricity and yet the almost feudal way they live was very confusing.
This book starts with a scene of abuse that admittedly wasn’t overly long but sets the scene for further demeaning acts . Arden is the victim and yet she’s strangely a lot stronger than those around her. Chosen to represent her benefactor ( honestly these people needed locking up ! ) at Court, Arden wants nothing more than to escape and finally make a good life for herself.
Of course there are the prerequisite mean girls who belittle her but Arden just seems to constantly shine so much brighter than anyone else which sadly led to my eyes really wanting to roll ! Declan the apparently gorgeous Prince plays the game flirting with all the girls and yes even turning Ardens head but he’s shallow , blinkered and maybe just naively brain washed ! The high point for this reader is Beck who captains his own ship and is frequently referred to as being a bit of a roguish pirate. He confuses Arden but does try to help her at times and he certainly was a high spot for me.
I won’t rehash everything but will say I’m not sure how Arden will ever escape from this suffocating culture. The end is in many ways a beginning for Arden but with many very unhappy with her actions I do not imagine an easy ride in the next book. Plus there’s a conversation between Beck and Declan that mentions brothers which actually finally started to perhaps explain odd anomalies. If you read my reviews then you know I’m a hopeless romantic so yes I do want happiness for Arden and I think you can probably guess which guy I prefer !
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

I mostly enjoyed this book. It was a quick read.

I knew from the blurb that Arden got to escape her abuser, but I was not really prepared for the rape scene at the very beginning of the book. It's quite dark throughout and there are several scenes of sexual violence.

I liked how hard Arden worked, despite not having the education, to further her knowledge while she was at the institute.

I like the characters, including both love interests, although I have to admit that I'm Team Beck. Beck and Arden are more suited for each other, I feel, inasmuch as they will challenge each other. Arden will challenge Declan, but I'm not sure that he will do the same for her.

I am interested to see where the next book goes in the future.

I was initially very excited to read this, as it included a lot of topics I love reading about - special school! coming of age! - but I just couldn't get past the sexual assault (it's a trigger of mine). I made it as far as the set up of the love triangle and had to stop. The triggers + love triangle just didn't make it a fun read for me, as while I enjoyed the main character (Arden), her love interests weren't very interesting, and I'm not big on love triangles anyway. That said, the writing was really good! The plot itself was just nothing I was interested in. DNF at around 30%.

This gave me the same vibes as the Selection, except this book was WAY better. The main character of this book has substance and doesn't put down other girls for wanting to look nice, and she doesn't wear makeup simply because it's uncomfortable, not because she thinks "girly" things are bad. Her character arc is fantastic, and although the setting and other characters are incredibly similar to that of the Selection, the competition is more education based, with a focus on practical skills, The plot carries important heavy topics and handles them with informative grace, and this book truly has real meaning to it. This is one of my new favorite books, and I cannot wait for the sequel!

Trigger Warnings: rape and sexual assault/abuse, violence (relatively explicit), physical abuse, mentions of suicide and depression/self-harm, PTSD/panic attacks, alcoholism.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an ARC!

I know. Everyone keeps comparing this book to The Selection. And I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to do it too.

However, this book is much better.

The premise of this book definitely screamed “The Selection, but make it edgy”. Twenty-six girls chosen to attend an elite, competitive institute and compete for the hand of the prime minister’s eldest son? Hm, I wonder where that idea came from.

But. The delivery of this book was so much better. When I first started reading it, my thoughts were “so it’s a darker version of The Selection” - and for about 40 percent of the book that’s where I thought it was headed. It definitely had a few strong differences, but even the plot seemed like it was following the same pattern.

And then it didn't.

“But For The Mountains” turned into its own storyline with its own development, and let me just say it was much better than the whitewashed Bachelor. For one thing, there was real diversity.

“A chill runs down my spine as I think of each girl here. Flesh and blood, yet we all belong to someone in some way.”

The characters all had such unique personalities. I can’t say I was attached to any of them, but I had very strong opinions about them, which means that they were good enough.

“I am not who he wants me to be. I am me, and he cannot have me.”

Arden (which is a name I adore, by the way) is our main character and she’s not a special snowflake, which is a trope I adore. We’re going pretty strong here. She’s been abused for basically her whole life, having been raised by her “benefactor”.

Her benefactor’s son had also been r@ping her since she was thirteen. To no consequences whatsoever. Of course, no one knows about this. So when Arden is chosen for the Institute instead of the girl who had been nominated, Arden is not only severely traumatized but she hasn’t been given any of the education required.

Arden wasn’t a very relatable character, but I admired her determination and I could understand her motives. She was strong and had great development - her representation of trauma and abuse really stood out to me.

“The close, hot air in the room stifles, and for a moment, it’s as if I can’t trust my own mind—as if a handful of careless words could make me doubt what actually happened when I struggled to breathe against that workbench, to forget the pain and humiliation of less than an hour ago.”

Zerah was a tough, fiery girl and I loved how she was so quietly bitter. Her backstory and her personality had me shook and she was probably my favorite character in the book, even though she wasn’t that much in the foreground.

“Sleep well?” I ask as I approach, and she [Zerah] starts.
“Yeah, sure . . .” she says, chuckling into her coffee. “You?”
“Like a baby,” I say. She snorts and shakes her head, the loose strands sweeping against her cheeks.
“Babies sleep like crap.”
“I know.”

Declan was the prime minister’s son (AKA the crown prince AKA Maxon frOM The Selection). He frustrated me, but he was definitely the better end of the love triangle in my opinion. He legitimately tried to understand Arden and took the time to realize how privileged and idealistic his world was. Exhibit A:

“Has it ever occurred to you to ask the candidates whether they want their supporters to visit?”
“No. Why should it?”

please let me shove you into a bush. I know you’re trying but also WHY

He was so clueless and frustrating and I honestly wanted to punch him a couple times, but he was actually respectful and tried to empathize with Arden when she opened up to him. He made a lot of mistakes and could definitely be classified as an idiot, but he was kind and actually tried to solve problems hands-on.

“Did you like it?” His question feels heavy, weighted with more than the simplicity of his words.”

Beck was…

*long sigh*

I mean, he didn’t absolutely suck. I just kind of wanted him to die for half the book. I’ve seen reviews and a lot of people love Beck and I’m sorry but also no. Beck is a pirate who literally introduces himself as “a drunken asshole” and for most of the book that’s basically what he is. He drinks only booze, because water is for wusses and girls apparently. He owns a ship (it’s not a boat, it’s a SHIP, and it’s a sexy ship).

He was also very misogynistic at times and I really wished he would shut up. He made so many jokes about how good he was at drinking, teaching, and doing literally anything other than breathing. He made taunts like “you hit like a girl”, and I don’t care that he helped Arden learn to defend herself - Beck met violence with more violence, and that’s not the kind of person that an abuse survivor like Arden should be paired with.

Beck was also downright insensitive half the time. For example, he blamed Arden for panicking when he got too close. I repeat: he blamed Arden, a r@pe survivor who was abused literally every day, for panicking when he got too close. He did not try to understand. He did not try to make sure she was okay. His reaction was, “Did you seriously think I would do that?”

Not to mention that he treated Arden like a child. She might have been abused and traumatized, but after Beck spending so much time trying to convince her to stand up for herself he literally tried to shelter her from everything that moves on the face of the Earth. When he wanted her to run, he decided to “push her buttons” and pretty much sexually threaten her to get her out of the room? She has a brain - she will understand if you just tell her to run.

No thanks, asshole.

“Beck gives a noncommittal grunt. “Secret admirer, then. Probably wasn’t expecting you to clean up quite this good, though. That dress really does make your tits look great.”
“Can we please stop talking about my tits?” I hiss, crossing my arms over my chest. I turn to face the table.
“Fine. Maybe it doesn’t show enough of your ass? That could be why nobody’s calling.”

CJ was the son of Arden’s benefactor, as well has her persistent r@pist and abuser. He was creepy, perverted, and downright disgusting. I hated him with every fiber of my being. I know I always look for developed, strong characters but I was personally glad that CJ got no justification or good traits, because I do not want to sympathize with a piece of trash like that.

“You’re hurting me,” I say quietly, breathing through the pain to keep from drawing attention.
“We both know you like that,” he says with his same, megawatt smile.”

CJ was just a whole compilation of everything wrong with the world. I might have disliked Beck, but compared to CJ he was a whole-ass god of the heavens.

“Remember, Arden—win. You can’t imagine how difficult I can make things if you fail.” He lets go, and his eyes dance down my body in a slow, slithering slide. “And before you let anyone see you, change into something that shows off your tits.”

The misogyny in this book was portrayed so well that I wished it wasn’t. Which is pretty much perfect, I guess. I genuinely hated how women were portrayed as property and how men dominated the system. But it was also extremely relatable, which...sucks.

“I stare at my reflection a moment longer, and decide that Neve isn’t quite right—it’s not about whether or not I’m pretty. It’s that nobody cares enough to decide whether or not I am.”

Unfortunately, there were two tropes that I hated: girl-on-girl hate and a love triangle. Again, since the basic concept (I repeat: basic concept) was similar to The Selection, there was a lot of girl-on-girl hate, because of course the rich privileged girls were also catty bitches.

It’s not like a rich girl could also be...nice. Imagine the scandal.

“I want to roll my eyes. You wanna be my enemy? Fantastic. Get in line.”

And then of course the love triangle.

Why.

Personally I feel like Arden shouldn’t have even had a love interest if it was literally the week after she’d left her r@pist/abuser and she literally couldn’t stand to be close to a male person, but...wHaT kInD oF YA bOoK dOeSn’T hAvE a LoVe TrIaNgLe?

Easy solution: Arden stays single. There. Solved. She can heal from her trauma on her own and doesn’t have to choose between two idiots.

“I stay where I am, pressed against the tree, and swallow around the sudden thickness in my throat, wondering if I’ll ever be normal—if I’ll always be broken.”

Arden’s trauma representation was amazing, and I loved her development into someone who genuinely wanted to and could make a change. She had her ups and downs, and I think the way her abuse was handled in this book was great.

“I just want to fix my hand, to focus my attention on something so little, so precise—something I can fix.”

Lastly, the world-building. It wasn't incredible or complex, but it didn't suck. The map was original and didn't look like it was based off anywhere, and the cultures and customs were vague but not nonexistent. I didn't understand the governmental system of Nordania, but I don't understand the governmental system of America either, so...

I feel like some of the countries were supposed to be based off countries that we have, but I couldn't really tell? Nordania was either England or America, Sudersberg sounded like Germany I think, and Swendenland was probably Sweden I guess??? I don't know??? We didn't really see a lot of the geographical stuff, so it didn't matter that much.

Overall, this ARC was definitely better than I had been expecting. There were a few grammar errors and stuff, but it didn’t actually affect my reading the way it did with my first ARC. The story developed into its own plot, the characters were actually pretty good, and the themes of it were strong. I can’t get it out of my head that this book was similar to The Selection at first, but once I got past that and started going along with it, it really became its own book. And I enjoyed it.

But for the Mountains is a gripping dystopian tale of one girls survival in a world where women are considered inferior to men. Women are basically treated as servants in poorer areas and all but sold for advantageous marriages in wealthy families. A select few young ladies are entered into a lottery to be chosen to attend a prestigious National Women’s Institute.

The main character Arden lives with a benefactor Conrad. Benefactors take in girls to educate and prepare them to be chosen for the institute. Conrad’s son CJ, who has abused Arden for years, tells Arden last minute that he entered her into the lottery. She is upset but assumes Neve will be chosen, but she ends up being chosen instead! She is glad to get away form her abuser but quickly learns she is ill-prepared for the institute.

The girls are told that despite rumors, they are not there to marry the Prime Minister’s son Declan but it seems so be the opposite as they all vie for his attention. Arden wants to focus on her education and gaining a prestigious position in society, but that quickly changes as she catches Declan’s eye.

Arden starts to realize the institute might not be what she thought it was. She faces threats, lies and maybe even a love triangle!

I really enjoyed this book! It was fast paced and kept my attention from start to finish! I can’t wait to see what happens next for Arden, Declan and Beck!

Thank you Netgalley for providing me this copy in exchange for my honest review!

I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for my review.

I really enjoyed this book! This was like a darker version of The Selection series (but see cw: sexual assault, physical violence). I was pleased with the ending, but a little confused as to the setting (I was picturing some old-timey kingdom, but there was a jazz mention).

For those who watched 'The Bachelor' and thought it was both performative and morally questionable, and for those who read 'The Selection' and thought it lacked the grit required for a dystopian reality, 'But for the Mountains' is the book for you.

Content note: Rape, Sexual Assault, and Physical Violence.
This is, at the heart of it, a story about being a survivor; about going through horrific ordeals, and learning to not only bear them with a smile, but find value in oneself through it. Although there is violence throughout, the themes are handled with tact and grace; the process of healing from abuse is depicted in a realistic and touching way.

Reminiscent of days past, this book shows a reality where women are treated as little more than chattel, and the most valuable thing a woman can do is marry well. 'But for the Mountains' provides commentary on this in a way that is grounded in reality; though Arden is well aware of the problems of her society, she knows that she is not likely able to revolutionise it alone, only impact it. It was incredibly refreshing to read a story where the teenage protagonist did not upheave the society simply through trauma, a love triangle, and sheer determination. That all of these aspects featured, and yet did not result in the traditional outcome, felt incredibly poignant.

This book was well written. The characters had depth and experienced growth - all were well fleshed out. Those simply making the best out of the situation they were in were treated compassionately and with understanding; Arden is not a 'Pick Me' girl; she does not tear down the other women on a personal level simply because they have a desire to conform to what is expected of them, even through her commentary on the flaws in the social norms. That said, those who used the societal structure to their advantage in a way that was morally reprehensible, and those who not only enabled it but failed to stop it, were rightfully treated unsympathetically, and given a simple message: "do better."

Those who are touting this to be a 'Selection" rip off did not read this deeply enough. The two simply do not compare. The messages throughout are profound, and the open ending hammered home the point that the most important thing is, in the end, about taking back the power to choose where you can.
This book has the potential to be part of a series, but the resolution felt complete enough to be a fulfilling stand alone novel - frankly, Arden deserves both break and a hug after this.

Featuring an incredible cast of: one girl who deserves to heal, a single decent man (pirate), a himbo who is still learning but doing his best, an anxious gay with her head screwed on right, the patriarchy™, a terrible man who deserves to die, a man who is complicit to the terrible man and probably deserves to die too, a pick me girl who simply doesn't know any better, a pair of hands that deserve a break, a plethora of men who simply need to pipe down, an array of women who are doing their absolute best, and a two line feature from a guard who says exactly what we are all thinking; "I think you're all crazy, miss"

thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review! all thoughts and opinions are my own.

first of all, the cover is absolutely gorgeous, i love it. so many people compared this book to the selection, so i was super excited heading into it. the premise was exciting, and i definitely wasn't disappointed!

it starts off with the main character, arden, being raped and abused by a boy named cj who thought she'd never be able to escape. when she suddenly gets chosen by mistake, she's eager to leave and face anything just to escape his abuse.

arden hasn't been trained for what she's been chosen for, so she goes in naively. what she believes is an institute for learning is actually something much darker, with politics and secrets that the public never sees. the girls all compete for the attention of the prince, trying to win his heart. she doesn't have any interest in that, as she wants to survive and never go to back home to cj.

the competition is hard, and arden immediately fails the first test about basic knowledge of nordania. she slowly settles into life uneasily, working hard to not fall back. the prince, declan, takes an interest in her but his mother doesn't approve of the two of them. declan was a good person, but slightly bland as a character. a love triangle with beck, a pirate, is introduced, and i really liked him and how he made arden feel protected, especially when he taught her how to fight.

i really like the ending, especially when she got the tattoo to cover up her scar that she's so ashamed of. i loved seeing arden grow throughout the book, and coming to terms with her abuse. she's strong, determined, and will persevere no matter what.

i will definitely be looking forward to reading the sequel, and i really recommend this book!!

I love the way the writer does dialogue in this book, it makes it feel more fun. I felt like the author was trying to display their full vocabulary in this book, like they needed to upstage somebody. I did love their use of description for inanimate objects though, it felt like I could be placed in the story for the amount of description they put in. I didn't like that the map was placed at the end of the book, I find it easier if the map is at the beginning so it's easier to reference.

4 stars - a dark but gripping tale of resilience

This is the (hopefully) first part of Arden's story - a girl who is born poor but given by her parents to a "benefactor": a rich man who takes in girls to sponsor and send them as candidates to the so-called "National Women’s Institute" every year. There they are to perfect their education and then to move into prestigious positions where they use their skill and knowledge to represent their country. At least this is the official story. When Arden hears she is one of the few chosen for the school she finally sees a way out of the grip of her benefactor's son CJ who is abusing his power over her in the worst way possible.
But in this school it seems that it is all about catching the prince. Or if not that, then at least another husband in a position of influence. Arden, who is not well prepared to be a candidate is very much an underdog- but anything would be better than to return to her old home, back to her abuser. All she wants is to be free to make her own decisions ...

Now, this was an absolutely gripping story I could barely put down, but it was darker than my usual fare. There is plenty of mention of abuse of different kinds, mostly rape, which is not easy to stomach. The descriptions were not graphic though, we are rather confronted with the aftermath of the emotional and physical scars abuse leaves and that still, it is possible to refuse to be the victim, to fight back - if one gets the means to do so.

Arden is a great heroine in that regard. Despite all that has happened to her she may be damaged but not broken. She does not put up with being treated poorly, she keeps fighting for what feels like it should not even be a privilge - the simple right to free decisions, particularly when it comes to your own body.

The book is at its strongest when it comes to analysing how power and privilege play out. How helpless those without power are to be moved around like pawns in a game of chess and how easy it is to use them for those who wield that power. It is also great in highlighting how blind privilege can make us to understanding the struggles of those who don't have it. The prince, Conrad, represents that perfectly - he is well meaning but in many ways a pampered boy and rather clueless. And in one case one of the girls in the school has to pay for his well-meaning cluelessness. He of course, doesn't.

Speaking of the prince: of course the story has to have some romance. And there's not only the fair prince, there is also his antithesis, a dark, handsome captain of a boat, no a SHIP, who comes from less privilege and who understands much more.
To be honest, I could really have done without the love triangle and the parts where Arden cannot seem to be able to decide who she actually likes. I felt that her behaviour in some of those scenes did not quite mesh with what we know about her, it seemed to just serve the trope. But maybe I'm just biased because I really didn't care for the fair prince whatsoever ...
Actually, I feel like the story would have been stronger without the romance altogether, if it had focussed more on Arden.

But really, that's my only gripe. At least I like one of the guys so I have someone to root for! In any case, I very much hope that the story will continue, it's one worth following.

I loved this book! I know that reviews don't normally start like this but let me tell you....I LOVEd THIS BOOK!

The story follows Arden who is an orphaned girl in a very male dominated society. You either belong to a rich and successful family or are married to a noble. The only other option remain safe is to be helped by a benefactor who takes you in and cares for you. This means that they take responsibility for you to get you ready for a lottery that will get you into the "Institute". If you are accepted, you will be taught proper etiquette in order to make you presentable for marriage.

Arden is accepted into the Institute and the story follows her journey through the 12 week program. There is intrigue, jealousy and romance. I loved Arden. She is a very tough girl who has been through enormous challenges along her very short life. She is tough but also very vulnerable which make you want her to succeed.

The romance in this book takes place at the school/institute between Beck who is a pirate, and declan who is the schools owner's son. It is not the main focus but I did enjoy it. This book does end with questions but it is not a major cliffhanger.

There are some trigger warnings for this book. If you are sensitive to rape or abuse, you might want to skip this one.

I received a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review
This was pretty good. It was very intense. Escaping from her abuser, Arden gets sent to an odd version of a finishing school but that would just end up with her in another form of a cage. The love triangle between Arden, Beck, and Declan was delicious and the subjects broached in the book were very intense and serious. I enjoyed the book very much overall.

Is this book a bit referential? Yes, but that is just fine. I loved the Selection series, so a new series with a similar theme is fine by me. I really enjoyed this story and had a hard time putting it down.

I found the characters to be interesting and I am curious where the author will take them in the next book. The book does deal with a serious topic--sexual assault. I could see where this book might be incredibly difficult to read for someone who experienced sexual assault. I thought that the author addressed the topic tastefully and gave an enlightening window into the victim's perspective.

I thought that the final 15% or so of the book got a bit long, but that was fine.

Thanks NetGalley and publishers for the free e-ARC. I look forward to seeing where this story goes.