Set Sail To Battle

I have finished the fifth book in the stravaganza series, City of Ships, by Mary Hoffman.  In this book, the main character, Isabel, is struggling with what she is doing in Talia. She has been thrust into a strange world that she knows nothing about, where she gets kidnapped by pirates. The only reasons she has made it this far, in my opinion, is because of the new friends she has made. In London, she has befriended the former stravaganti, Georgia O’Grady, Nick Duke, Sky Meadows and Matt Wood, her best friend Ayesha’s boyfriend. Even her new Talian friends help her realize what she has to do, and get through it.

                One extremely important thing that is happening in Talia is Doctor Dethridge’s fine work in stravagation. He has discovered a way to stravagate to any city in Talia, and he has decided to use Isabel as a lab rat. The others accompany her to a trip to their home city. First, Isabel decides to go to Remora and visit the stables and Merla. Even though Georgia has promised nick she wouldn’t stravagate again, she goes secretly with Isabel. They have a great time meeting Paolo and the kids and roaming the streets of Remora. But, eventually Nick finds out about their little journey.

                Obviously, Nick is upset and won’t talk to Georgia. In retaliation, he joins Isabel and Sky on a journey to their city, Giglia. She goes to Padavia with Matt afterwards, where she seems to have a better time than the others. The next time, she goes to Classe, and she decides to go pirating with Andrea, who even gives her his crew’s tattoo. They sail to Bellezza where she gets to see Arianna and Fillippo Nucci. Another person who is in Bellezza is Beatrice di Chimici, who is on the run from her controlling brother. The duke was forcing her to marry their cousin, so with the assistance of her brother, Prince Gaetano, and the Duchessa Arianna, she is safe in the city.

                This is good for Bellezza, but it bodes not so well for Classe. The duke was going to attack both the cities, but he won’t attack Bellezza while his darling sister is there, so Bellezza is safe. But now Classe is in the line of fire, and Bellezza is free to help them with all the naval support they can. Andrea is also serving as a double agent, giving the Talian cities info on the coming attack. Isabel is very concerned for her new friend, and doesn’t want him to be in such a dangerous position. Soon, though, she has her own dangerous position to worry about.

                This is an explosive ending. There is so much drama and action and horrifying imagery packed into the end that it blew my mind. The scenes that are depicted during the battle are terrifying and brutal, but what Isabel does is extraordinary. She is so brave throughout the battle and afterwards, it makes you wonder how she changed so much. Not to mention the difference in opinion of her brother Charlie after she saves him from being stuck in Victorian England. This is the best book in the series so far.

RED’S ALL ATAR REVIEW: 4 out of 5, possibly add a ¼ on that is I feel generous. It was a great book with lots of action and crazy suspense. I know I always say the next book is the best, but this one really is. It will be hard to beat.

MASS APPEAL: Same as the other books. Great for almost anyone who likes suspenseful fantasy and teen drama.

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