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After surviving the harrowing Princess Purge, Princess Briar of Phangloria is determined to wipe out the corrupt President Heath of the Amstraadi Republic. But first, she’s got to work out if she should forgive her husband, the President’s son, for his repeated infidelity. Briar must also come to terms with her ever growing feelings for Colonel Van Mauser (or, Mouse); the steadfast producer-come protector who has not left her side since she became the daughter-in-law of the President.
So, The Princess Strike is the latest in Castle’s ‘Phangloriaverse’ – this being the second of Briar’s stories, which take place a few years before The Princess Trials. This set of stories is set in a post-apocalyptic North America, with the main part of the continent belonging to a monarchy. This is Phangloria; a country shielded by a huge wall and divided into echelons which can never be breached. The highest echelon being the Monarchy, who live in a luxurious Oasis, surrounded by Artisans – who would probably resemble the middle-classes. The working classes are the lower echelons – the harvesters, who toil daily in fields and have rationed water.
Briar’s story begins when her father, the king of Phangloria is gravely ill. He desperately needs surgery from the technologically advance Amstraadi Republic (which is more or less, Alaska) – but they want some guarantees in return. They need the formula the Phanglorian’s have that ensures they can grow food and an alliance to ensure that it’s real. That’s when Briar is traded off to President Heath’s son – Cannon Heath. They’re married in the Oasis’ temple, and Briar swears her vows. It’s a part of her religion to Gaia to always hold true to the vows, and so when she discovers Cannon cheating just hours into their marriage, she has no choice but to let him seemingly walk all over. It doesn’t help that the Amstraadi are obsessed with TV and the concept of celebrity – and every single moment of Briar’s new life is filmed by the handsome Colonel Van Mauser.
As they enter the frozen northern republic, their transport is hi-jacked by a terrorist group known only as The Populace. The ransom of food is set, but neither President Heath nor her own countries ministry approve the payment. In their anger, The Populace force Briar to fight for her life on a televised show which they name The Princess Purge, force Mouse to film it, and force Cannon to commentate.
Even though Briar survives, she’s traumatised and finds out the grim secret that President Heath is hoarding close to his stone cold heart.
Which brings us to The Princess Strike.
By now, Briar is furious. She’s furious with Phangloria for abandoning her. She’s furious with her husband for his numerous betrayals. She’s furious with the President for his duplicity. The only person she’s not furious with is Mouse – him, she’s worried about.
Before she’s fully healed from the events of the Purge, Cannon wakes her from her medically induced coma and forces her to vie against his father for the Presidency. Her exploits in the Purge made her the second most popular citizen in the Amstraadi Republic, with only the President ahead of her. She’s soon thrown into a deadly race to free the citizens who live outside of the mega citadel cities from the deceit and duplicitous President. Can she survive, and do the unthinkable? How will she come to terms with her ever growing feelings for Mouse when her religion insists she keeps her vows sacred?
What I especially enjoyed about The Princess Strike is that we find out so much more about Briar. About why she’s so bitter in the later books, we find out why Mouse is so callous in the later books, and why the Princess Trials become so violent and so disastrous. It makes me want to go back and read the books again, reading from a new perspective, which will make me understand everyone’s motives so much more.
That’s a rare talent; to make me want to re-read books I’d already read from a brand new perspective. And one I will follow up on.
It’s also an interesting commentary on our current use of Social Media. The citizens of the Amstraadi Republic are constantly live streaming, vying for popularity and influence against each other perpetually. It’s a country where ones celebrity status is much more important than politics and ideas. Something which is potentially going to end up happening if we don’t take our eyes away from our phones and screens more often. Nowhere and no-one is off limits, and everyday life is treated like a reality drama show. It’s a terrifying thought.
S.. A.
You can purchase The Princess Strike by clicking on it’s name. But I do have a recommended reading order for you!
The Princess Purge
The Princess Strike
The Princess Trials
The Princess Games
The Princess Crown