Dividing Eden

Gr 7 Up—As the youngest members of the royal family of Eden, 17-year-old twins Carys and Andreus do not expect that either of them will ever become their kingdom's monarch. However, when tragic events leave Eden without a ruler, the two unprepared siblings are forced to participate in a series of trials to determine who will be the successor to the throne. Carys is sure that nothing could ever break the special bond she has with her brother, but it doesn't take long for secrets, jealousy, and betrayal to come between them. Charbonneau establishes the strong connection between Carys and Andreus early on, leading readers to feel invested in their relationship. While romance plays a role in the plot, familial relations remain the chief focus here. The narrative is split to include each twin's point of view, and individual personalities and motivations are fairly well developed throughout. Toward the end of the story, one sibling's disappointing actions feel out of character, and the conflict is rushed, despite Charbonneau's best efforts to lay groundwork. Weak world-building and limited secondary character development are likely to leave readers with lots of questions, which will hopefully be answered in the next installment.