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Rule

(Rule #1)

Ellen Goodlett (Goodreads Author)

3.70 · Rating details · 2,552 ratings · 647 reviews

Three girls with three deadly secrets. Only one can wear the crown.

The king is dying, his heir has just been murdered, and rebellion brews in the east. But the kingdom of Kolonya and the outer Reaches has one last option before it descends into leaderless chaos.

Or rather, three unexpected options.

Zofi has spent her entire life trekking through the outer Reaches with her ba ...more

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Hardcover, 376 pages

Published September 11th 2018 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

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· 2,552 ratings · 647 reviews

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Aug 12, 2018 destiny ♡⚔♡ [howling libraries] rated it did not like it

Shelves: review-copies, owned-e

I feel like I say this all the time, but sometimes you find a story that is so hyped, and has this gorgeous cover, and loads of marketing coverage, and between all of that, people start thinking, It’s got to be good, right? And then, the reviews start rolling in, and the responses are less excitable than we all hoped they would be, and I find myself wondering how many stories were given no marketing at all—better stories, stories that deserved the hype—to make room for one that didn’t.

“There

...more

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Jun 26, 2018 Melanie rated it it was ok

Shelves: buddy-reads, young-adult, lgbtqiap, arc, fantasy, read-in-2018

ARC provided by Little, Brown in exchange for an honest review.

“Three girls. Three deadly secrets. Only one can wear the crown.”

Whoever said this was Three Dark Crowns meets Pretty Little Liars was 100% correct. Except, I quickly learned and remembered that Three Dark Crowns is done much better, and Pretty Little Liars is one of the most annoying shows to have ever aired on this planet we call Earth.

Rule is a story about three girls, who have all been raised in different part ...more

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Sep 11, 2017 Laura rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, read-in-2018

Three girls. Three deadly secrets. Only one can wear the crown.

Three very different girls are called to the capital of Kolonya to find out they are the three illegitimate daughters of King Andros. They lived their whole lives ignorant to who their father was living lives that would be considered lesser than to the citizens of Kolonya and the outer Reaches. Now, King Andros is dying. He recently lost his heir and is in need of choosing a successor to the throne. The plan is to have the girls serv Three girls. Three deadly secrets. Only one can wear the crown.

Three very different girls are called to the capital of Kolonya to find out they are the three illegitimate daughters of King Andros. They lived their whole lives ignorant to who their father was living lives that would be considered lesser than to the citizens of Kolonya and the outer Reaches. Now, King Andros is dying. He recently lost his heir and is in need of choosing a successor to the throne. The plan is to have the girls serve in court with their father and eventually King Andros will select who he thinks will best rule Kolonya.

Zofi is a traveler with no set home besides being with her band of travelers. They move throughout the outer Reaches setting up camp, never staying in one place for more than a few weeks. They are somewhat gypsy-like, treated unfairly, and looked down upon by all other people. Zofi hopes to be named heir so that she can change things for travelers.

Akeylah lives in the eastern Reach with her abusive father and not so supportive siblings (they stand by while Akeylah gets beat). There are talks of a growing rebellion in the east. And Akeylah is just desperate to get out from under her father. So desperate, she does something she can never take back. It will change everything.

Ren, short for Florencia, lived her life as a lady's maid in the city of Kolonya. She is constantly looking for ways to move up in life, saving up any information and secrets she stumbles upon by watching nobility from the sidelines. However she reveals the wrong thing to the wrong person leading to a catastrophe that will have consequences for Kolonya.

Each girl has a secret that will threaten her very place in Kolonya as a possible heir. It doesn't take long for a mysterious blackmailer to show up and begin threatening to reveal their secrets. Will the girls find out who is doing the blackmailing and put an end to it? Which girl will be the next ruler of Kolonya? If the blackmailer has a say, it will be none of the three.

On top of all these plot details, there is also some background to Kolonya that sets up more political intrigue. The Reaches won independence from Genal 400 years ago, though they've been at war ever since. Kolonya was set up as the capital in the center of the Reaches. This leaves the Reaches doing the fighting and taking any assault from Genal while Kolonya sits safely, unharmed in the center. Thus the internal political issues arise. And this explains the rebellion in the east. The only happy citizens are the nobility in the city who are ignorant to the goings-ons of the Reaches. Oh, and the king is currently married to a Genalese princess (making her queen) in an attempt to seal the current peace treaty between Genal and Kolonya.

AND there's the magical system - a refreshing addition to this world that sets up some interesting plot lines. It's called the Blood Arts and to access them, one must tithe. Only those born in the Reaches can tap into them. Tithing gives extra boosts like speed, strength, armor, etc. There is a darker side to the Arts called Vulgar Arts that is considered worst than any physical crime.

I was worried this would feel too similar to Three Dark Crowns, but it doesn't at all. And let me just clarify that I really enjoyed Three Dark Crowns....a lot, actually. Rule feels very much like it's own story. The world building sets up an entirely different kind of story - the main similarity being that both are YA fantasies and both have a set up where there are three girls and only one will be queen. Besides that, completely different.

I really enjoyed each of the girls secrets, the blackmailer mystery, the Blood Arts magical system and it's darker side, the set up political/court intrigue, the very complicated relationships, and so very much more. The Diversity in this book is outstanding with the majority of the characters being POC and there's a fantastic f/f romance. There were a great deal of twists throughout helping to keep me on the edge of my seat. And the cliffhanger at the end! Agh, I'm dying to read the sequel and final book of this duology. ...more

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Jan 31, 2018 Wren (fablesandwren) marked it as to-read

Three Dark Crowns meets Pretty Little Liars... okay okay okay you got me interested...

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May 01, 2018 Natalie Monroe marked it as to-read

This sounds like Three Dark Crowns. Please be better than Three Dark Crowns.

...more

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Sep 07, 2018 Stacee rated it it was ok

Shelves: skimmidy-skim-skim-skim, theyre-tattoos-not-ink-or-tats, netgalley, dnf, read-in-2018

DNF at 39%

I was intrigued by this story, but only picked it up because it came in an email as a “read it now” on NG. I was hoping the tag line of “Three Dark Crowns meets Pretty Little Liars” would pay off.

Right from the start, I was trepidatious from the three POVs. The three girls all sounded the same, even with entirely different backgrounds. With each girl, there’s a different set of characters and for me, it was overwhelming to keep track of who the people were. Annnnnd it only got worse w ...more

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May 25, 2018 Amy Risner rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2018-books, 2018-arcs

ARC provided by Little, Brown in exchange for an honest review

My heart is still racing after finishing Rule just moments ago. When Little, Brown said this book is “Three Dark Crowns meets Pretty Little Liars with a dash of King Lear ” — they are NOT kidding. That was one wild ride!

Usually when the synopsis on the back of a book says the characters hold some deadly secrets, I just shrug that off and don’t think too deeply into it. But, this? Wow. I was blown away by how legitimately chilling thes ...more

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Jul 31, 2018 Lilly (Lair Of Books) rated it liked it

Shelves: arc, ya-fantasy, buddy-read

Many thanks to the Publisher for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review

Buddy Reading With: Melanie from Meltotheany
Julie from Pages and Pens

PLOT

” Family is the bond that holds the Reaches together. but to be a part of my family is as much a curse as it is a blessing”

Early reviewers have pegged RULE as a blend of Three Dark Crowns meets Pretty Little Liars, I can only speak on the latter to say that it absolutely has the PLL feel. RULE tells the story of a dying King who has just los ...more

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May 30, 2018 Ashlee » libraryinthecountry rated it really liked it

View review on my blog, Library in the Country

Review copy generously provided by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and theNOVL.

Rule is a case of whodunit reminiscent of Agatha Christie, with a dash of the fantastical, that will have you guessing up to the very end. If you are looking for a new fantasy series to obsess over, Rule has all of the key ingredients.

Goodlett was born to write and this is a fantasy debut you need to add to your shelves! With her enchantingly descriptive writing, Goo View review on my blog, Library in the Country

Review copy generously provided by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and theNOVL.

Rule is a case of whodunit reminiscent of Agatha Christie, with a dash of the fantastical, that will have you guessing up to the very end. If you are looking for a new fantasy series to obsess over, Rule has all of the key ingredients.

Goodlett was born to write and this is a fantasy debut you need to add to your shelves! With her enchantingly descriptive writing, Goodlett has created a richly colorful fantasy world, with nods toward Oceanic cultures. Within that fantasy world are Zofi, Akeylah and Florencia – three girls who have only just discovered they are half sisters and the only remaining heirs to a dying king.

Thrust into a world of court politics, each girl hides a secret that holds her life in the balance, should it be discovered. Bound by their shared blood but clearly dissimilar from each other and the picturesque heir, their differences to not go unnoticed. As each sister fights to prove herself a worthy heir to the throne, it is a struggle to keep their secrets close amongst the vipers at court and somebody has discovered what they hide.

From there the story keeps the reader guessing at every page turn. Who can be trusted? Who is the blackmailer? What secrets are the other courtiers hiding? Rule has an intriguing cast of supporting characters, including a fine dash of romance and the moment you begin to root for someone is also the moment you begin to question their motives.

In addition to the mystery at hand, Rule’s tithing based magic system was refreshing and meticulously fleshed out – with a fine balance between the positive and negative impacts of using such magic.

Additionally, Rule has a strong representation of cultural diversity with a cast made wholly of POC characters, plus some LGBT romance. There are themes of bigotry and oppression present, something each of the girls has tasted firsthand.

Overall, this is a new fantasy series I am pumped to continue! It has been compared to Three Dark Crowns and Pretty Little Liars, with a dash of King Lear and boy does that hit the nail on the head! If you’re looking for something exciting and twisty for your next read, this is it! ...more

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Oct 04, 2018 Juli rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-review-copies-2018

The King is dying. His heir has been murdered. Three girls find themselves in the middle of political intrigue and danger when it is revealed that they are the king's illegitimate daughters. Someone doesn't want them to rule. Someone knows the terrible secrets each one hides and wants to destroy them. One of the girls will be the king's new heir...if any of them survive.

I enjoyed this book. Lots of action, political intrigue, treachery, manipulation....the basic plot built up a lot of suspense. ...more

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Aug 14, 2018 Scrill marked it as dnf

Shelves: arc

ARC from publisher for a fair review.

Despite not finishing this book, I have posted review for the 50% that can be found here.

Blog | Bookstagram | Instagram | Twitter ...more

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Apr 17, 2018 Nadhira Satria marked it as to-read

UMMMMM THREE DARK CROWNS? SIGN ME UP

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Apr 18, 2018 Kelechi marked it as to-read

Shelves: ya, princesses, family

I'm so intrigued by the premise of this book. I love a good royal court drama! ...more

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Oct 04, 2018 Aneta Bak rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc

Rule is an absolute wonder! I fell in love with this book right from the beginning. Its perfect for fans of Pretty Little Liars and Three Dark Crowns.

Three girls that have never met, and have nothing in common are brought before the King. The rest of the kingdom doesn't know this yet, but the King is slowly dying and since his son was murdered, he must call on his bastard daughters and train them so that one of them could be his successor. Zofi, Ren and Akeylah are complete opposites, not only i Rule is an absolute wonder! I fell in love with this book right from the beginning. Its perfect for fans of Pretty Little Liars and Three Dark Crowns.

Three girls that have never met, and have nothing in common are brought before the King. The rest of the kingdom doesn't know this yet, but the King is slowly dying and since his son was murdered, he must call on his bastard daughters and train them so that one of them could be his successor. Zofi, Ren and Akeylah are complete opposites, not only in their looks but also in their background and personalities. But when all three girls start receiving threats, and are told to leave the kingdom unless they want their darkest secrets revealed, the sisters decide to stick together and track down the person that wants to get rid of them for good.

This book had such amazing and diverse characters. I absolutely loved them all. The sisters were all is different, yet I truly loved all of them equally. Zofi is definitely the badass warrior, that has a hidden softer side. Akeylah is a shy and kind girl, but throughout the novel she definitely opens up and explores her more passionate side. Ren is a great leader, she's cunning and is able to make amazing connections with people. All three sisters have their strengths and weaknesses, but it honestly made them even more likeable. I absolutely loved the part of the story when all three of them started working together.

The world that Ellen created is absolutely fantastic. The world is really creative and there are so many details that Ellen put into the story about the setting and each part of the kingdom, I am truly amazed at how well this world came together. Having said that, I was slightly confused about the layout of the land, so I think if a map of the world was included in the beginning of the novel then it would have just made the experience even better.

The plot was also very well written. There is action right from the beginning as the sisters are taken in to the palace, and it continues throughout the whole novel. The climax was also very well written and very engaging. The only comment I would make is that this story was slightly predictable, you could tell right away that the three sisters will most likely end up working together, and the person they suspect to be blackmailing them isn't who they think it is, and a bunch of other little things like that. There was only one part of the story that really took me by surprised, and that was right at the end so I wont be telling you guys what it was.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story and all the characters in it. I think that if there were some minor changes in this book, it could have been absolutely perfect. I can't wait for the next book in the series to come out, because I can't wait to read what happens next. Ellen Goodlett is definitely going on my automatic read authors list.

Happy Reading,
Aneta ...more

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Aug 13, 2018 Kal ★ Reader Voracious rated it it was ok

Shelves: e-arc, lgbtqiap, young-adult, buddy-reads, disappointments

cw: self-mutilation (the magic system is essentially cutting onseself and it is described in detail), abusive family

Three girls with three deadly secrets. Only one can wear the crown.

Reading this book brought back memories of watching Pretty Little Liars; if you enjoyed the tv show I would recommend this to you! This is a book full of deadly secrets, political intrigue, and a fantasy world where the ruling class is out of touch with the people over whom they rule. While these are ing ...more

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Nov 02, 2018 Josh Hyung (조슈아) rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, hachette-book-group, physically-owned

Whoever their blackmailer was, they were still out there.

I haven't felt this frustrated in quite a while. It's not necessarily a bad thing since cliffhangers are meant to make people feel this way: annoyed yet excited to read the sequel. Nonetheless, gleaning from the novel's blurb, I thought that I could attain closure (learn the identity of the blackmailer) this early. Ugh. Apparently not. 370 pages weren't enough to drag the suspense.

In Rule, three illegitimate princesses "compete" to be the Whoever their blackmailer was, they were still out there.

I haven't felt this frustrated in quite a while. It's not necessarily a bad thing since cliffhangers are meant to make people feel this way: annoyed yet excited to read the sequel. Nonetheless, gleaning from the novel's blurb, I thought that I could attain closure (learn the identity of the blackmailer) this early. Ugh. Apparently not. 370 pages weren't enough to drag the suspense.

In Rule, three illegitimate princesses "compete" to be the rightful heir to the throne of Kolonya, a kingdom surrounded by four colonies a.k.a. Reaches. Zofi, Akeylah, and Ren want the crown for various reasons. However, they have a common enemy. Someone knows their dirty-and-not-so-little secrets and wants them to leave court. As the half-sisters strive to catch the culprit, the king draws closer to death, putting the stability of the kingdom at risk.

If the premise sounds exciting to you, go ahead and read this book. But be warned that I found it very character-driven, if not uneventful. Throughout the novel, the mysterious villain, whom I hoped would hasten the plot, was more tell than show. He/she threatened the girls through ominous paintings, letters, and even hallucinations. This made the plot a bit repetitive. The heroines would receive a message from the blackmailer, feel scared, and then conduct research (through spying, gossip, and manipulation). If my memory serves me right, there were three messages all in all, which means that the latter cycle happened three times.

At first, I was excited and created a list of possible culprits. My primary suspect was Rozalind, the king's wife who also happened to be from an enemy nation. Her behavior toward Akeylah was particularly fishy, so I had a hunch that she had malicious intentions. Sadly, I was wrong, and the narrative presented more suspects. It even came to the point that the sisters doubted each other. And of course, I was annoyed as much as them. In my mind, I was screaming "Can we stop going in circles?" I just couldn't wait for the big reveal!

So when the ending came...all hell broke loose. Just kidding! Because guess what? It was ANOTHER FREAKIN' VISION. Of death, this time. The girls' realized that they had caught the wrong mouse, signalling the start of another FBI investigation. Hurrah!!!! What fun!!! Give me a break, ladies! Or at least some definitive answers.

With all that said, I still didn't give this book a lower rating because it did have some good parts. The magic system of "tithing" was pretty unique. By sacrificing some blood, the characters could temporarily gain powers, like super speed, strength, and more. Er, but to be honest, the act of bloodletting was triggering. I bet this aspect of the book would trigger readers with self-harm issues.

The real virtue was the bond between the three protagonists. I liked how they gradually overcame their prejudices and learned to rely on each other. Their different statuses as Traveler, Easterner, and Kolonyan became insignificant in light of their newfound sisterhood. Also, it was nice that although they were in a competition, they didn't sabotage each other to win the crown. I'm sure that haters of that phenomenon called Girl Hate will agree with me.

Ultimately, Rule was predominantly frustrating because of its circular plot. Did the author delay the big reveal just to warrant a sequel? You tell me. Knowing me, I'm still gonna read the next book just because the cover's beautiful. LOL. Nah, I shall keep my hopes up and wait for legit answers. ...more

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Feb 26, 2019 Stacy rated it liked it

Shelves: bookseriesrecaps-com, reviewed

No spoilers in this rapid review of Rule. I liked it and give it 3.5 stars. Rule’s average Goodreads rating is on the lower side of the books I usually read. YA readers tend to rate good books over 4 stars and great above 4.3 stars. So I was worried about a rating of 3.63 stars. But the story sounded fascinating to me, and I wanted to give it a chance. I ended up pleasantly surprised overall!

In Rule, three girls discover they’re the long-lost daughters of the Kolonyan king. When the heir Nicolen No spoilers in this rapid review of Rule. I liked it and give it 3.5 stars. Rule’s average Goodreads rating is on the lower side of the books I usually read. YA readers tend to rate good books over 4 stars and great above 4.3 stars. So I was worried about a rating of 3.63 stars. But the story sounded fascinating to me, and I wanted to give it a chance. I ended up pleasantly surprised overall!

In Rule, three girls discover they’re the long-lost daughters of the Kolonyan king. When the heir Nicolen is killed, the king brings these half sisters to Koloyna City to vie for the throne. The girls have been raised in vastly different environments. Nevertheless, they settle in (at least somewhat) to their new surroundings as the king begins to teach them what it takes to rule Koloyna. But the sisters each have a dark secret from their past, and these secrets begin to haunt them.

This sounds like a great set-up, right? It was! Goodlett threw in a little romance here and there, but for the most part, the story centered on the sisters competing for the throne, learning to navigate high society, and trying to keep their dark secrets hidden. Each sister had a unique voice and a unique skill set, and I enjoyed getting to know them. Additionally, Goodlett created an interesting magical system centered on the Blood Arts.

A mystery runs the full course of the story, and this intrigue pulled me along quickly as I tried to figure out who was behind the strange incidents. But I think Goodlett should’ve dropped a few more hints before she wrapped up book one. I have a guess or two about what’s going on, but too much was left open to interpretation. Even though another book is on its way, I wish a little more was revealed before the end of Rule.

Also, the description of the setting was lacking. I couldn’t see Kolonya City or the castle—the two places where we spend the majority of the book—very well in my mind. And even though I liked what I learned, I wish the Blood Arts system would’ve been explored a little more. I feel like Goodlett only scratched the surface of how it works. Hopefully both of these aspects of world building will be explored further in the next installment.

My biggest complaint, however, is that one love stories rubbed me the wrong way. It’s an affair in which stepfamily members were involved. In my opinion, the story would be better without this aspect, which felt a bit icky to me.

The story’s theme was similar to that of the Three Dark Crowns series, but I liked Rule better. I thought both the storytelling and prose were superior. So if you like that series, I suggest giving Rule a try! I will definitely be picking up a copy of Rise when it comes out. I want to see if my theories are correct and find out what’s next for these sisters.

Read all of our reviews here.
Check out our full book recaps here. ...more

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Oct 21, 2020 AziaMinor rated it liked it

Shelves: owned-and-finished, bad-ss-broads

Overall Rating : B-

Who gives authors the right to go and leave cliffhangers like this?!?! And I don't even have the second book to calm myself its so unfair!!😭 ...more

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Jun 08, 2018 Emmi Rose (emmirosereads) rated it really liked it

Shelves: four-stars

Thank you once again to TheNovl for sending an ARC for a review

Okay, I'm just going to start off by saying that this book was freaking amazing, and epic and I cannot wait for the sequel! Especially after that last chapter, and the last page, like WHAT!!?? I don't know how I'll be able to wait when this book isn't technically out until September, haha! If you're looking for an amazing high fantasy with incredible world building, fantastic characters, and a stellar plot, look know further! If you Thank you once again to TheNovl for sending an ARC for a review

Okay, I'm just going to start off by saying that this book was freaking amazing, and epic and I cannot wait for the sequel! Especially after that last chapter, and the last page, like WHAT!!?? I don't know how I'll be able to wait when this book isn't technically out until September, haha! If you're looking for an amazing high fantasy with incredible world building, fantastic characters, and a stellar plot, look know further! If you love mystery and lots of political intrigue, you'll love Rule. Also can we talk about how almost all of these characters are described as people of color and we also have a queer main character!

Okay, like I mentioned above, one of my favorite things about this book is the world building! As a writer myself and knowing how hard it is to create such a vastly different world from my own, I feel it's something I appreciate even more. This was such a refreshingly unique world and I loved learning about it. From the religion, to the politics, to how things are run, etc, etc. I do wish we could have seen a little more of it, more so then just hearing about it, but I completely understand that doing so wouldn't really serve the plot in this book. Nevertheless I do hope, maybe we can see more of it in book two.

Of course the plot and story itself was amazing and truly kept me on the edge of my seat! I was hooked from chapter one and this constantly kept me wondering what was going to happen next. There were a lot of twist and turns that were revealed that just kept adding to my love for this book. I'm going to be honest, as the book kept creeping closer to the end, I thought it was going to disappoint me. I had thought I already guessed who was behind everything, and nothing too crazy was happening and nothing would shock me how I love to be in books. But, I was totally wrong! Those last few chapters completely turned my opinion around and like I said before I just loved that last chapter especially. I just have so many questions now!

I also loved the characters in this book, especially, the three sisters of course! They are all so vastly different from each other which I just loved seeing. I think Ellen Goodlette did a pretty good job on weaving three very different stories together in a way that makes sense and just telling the story of three completely different girls, raised in completely different ways. If I had to pick a favorite character I think I would probably have to choose Akeylah! I think she was the one I related to the most, and the one I would be if I was thrust into this world and situation. I think Zofi is a close second though! I just adore how fierce and strong she is. I also loved Vidal and Rozalind, like a lot! I hope we get to see way more of both of them because both of their stories interest me so much.

I think the only reason I'm knocking of half a star is because sometimes the narratives for each sister could sometimes feel a bit repetitive. This wasn't obviously a huge problem and didn't happen at all that often. I just felt like similar things happened to all three of the girls so it could feel that way in some parts of the book. Also I'm an impatient person sometimes and some chapters would be left on a cliff hanger from one girl's POV and then we would jump into another completely different POV and we would have to wait a few chapters to come back to the other POV. Which of course is important to the story but I just want to know what's happening like instantly, haha! Though these couple of things did bother me a little, it really wasn't like a super huge deal and obviously didn't effect my enjoyment of the book that much at all.

Basically in short, this book was so, so good and I HIGHLY recommend picking it up when it's released in September! And of course I'm way too excited about the sequel because I must know what's going to happen! ...more

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Jun 11, 2018 Nicole (FearYourEx) rated it liked it

Shelves: arcs-read-in-2019

3.5 out of 5.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC!

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. The concept is really cool and I loved the different boosts they got from tithing (the magic in the book) and would love to learn about more of the Vulgar Arts. The characters were interesting, but I had a hard time distinguishing them from each other at times and would have to flip back to check what POV I was on. I loved that we learned each girl's secret early on without being teased with hints the ...more

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Dec 12, 2019 Carrie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy

I stayed up until 3 am to finish this, which I guess isn't saying much since I'm usually awake at that time anyway. But! I don't usually just lie in bed listening to an audiobook, which I did last night because I got home from work and had half an hour of the story left.

I really, really liked this. I was apprehensive because I guess I'm picky about my fantasy without intending to be. This book, though, had a lot for me to like. What I liked most was that this focuses on three female characters- ...more

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May 29, 2018 Kath (Read Forevermore) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2018-arcs, reviews

An arc of this book was sent to me by The NOVL and Little Brown Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

RULE by Ellen Goodlett is an incredible YA fantasy novel. It follows three young women who are called to the dying king. Each women has a terrible secret, and each are afraid that their summoning was due to their secret being found out. All three of the women were shocked to find out that wasn't the case, and are told that they are the king's illegi ...more

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Apr 17, 2018 Gaby (lookingatbooks) marked it as to-read

Wow... this sounds like a GOOD book! Can’t wait!

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Aug 06, 2018 Erin Arkin rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, read-in-2018, series, galley-arc

Rule is a new fantasy by debut author Ellen Goodlett and when I read the summary of this book I knew I was going to have to read it. It has danger, deception, and an intriguing story that will have you flipping the pages to see what happens next.

The story focuses on three girls whose only connection is that their father happens to be the King and because his only other heir is dead, he has decided to bring them all to Kolonya so they can learn what it takes to rule. It just so happens that none Rule is a new fantasy by debut author Ellen Goodlett and when I read the summary of this book I knew I was going to have to read it. It has danger, deception, and an intriguing story that will have you flipping the pages to see what happens next.

The story focuses on three girls whose only connection is that their father happens to be the King and because his only other heir is dead, he has decided to bring them all to Kolonya so they can learn what it takes to rule. It just so happens that none of these girls knows that he is their father and because they all have a dangerous secret that could lead to their execution, they are all thinking they are in danger when his men come to bring them to the city. As the story unfolds, we learn that there is someone who knows exactly what each girl is hiding, and they begin to threaten them all just to keep them from the throne.

I thought Goodlett did a great job setting up the story for each of the girls. There is just enough backstory on each one to give the reader an idea of what drove them to do what they did and put themselves as risk. I am not going to say anything about their secrets only because the way you are introduced to them in the story helps to lay the groundwork for what happens when they meet the King and have to live at court.

These characters are all very different and have different motives for wanting to succeed. I loved having such different characters with varied motivations as the primary focus of this book as it provided such different perspectives.

Zofi is a part of a Traveler clan and while they are viewed by people in towns across the Reaches as lower class, Zofi loves her family and will do anything for them. As a practitioner of the Arts, she knows how to use her blood to work magic and give her strength and she relies on this to push herself to become valuable so that she can help her people.

Ren has grown up in the court as a ladies’ maid, so she is fully aware of the politics and backstabbing that can occur. When she finds out she has been serving the people of the court that she should actually be ruling, she is pretty upset with her mother. As she comes to understand her mother’s reasoning, she also decides she is going to win the throne.

Akeylah grew up in a family that hated and abused her in the Eastern Reach and when she is summoned, she jumps at the chance to get away even though living at court could put her at bigger risk of her secret getting out. When she gets to Kolonya, she recognizes just how out of place she is but eventually finds a friendship she never hoped for…with someone she never expected.

At first, these three don’t trust each other and as they are each faced with a threat and warning to leave, they all think it is one of the other girls. This definitely created some tension amongst them but they all eventually confront each other and form a bit of a partnership. As they learn more about each other and court, they learn who they can trust…and not.

The secondary characters were well developed too, and I thought they helped to move each of the girls’ stories forward. Some of them were shady and some of them were genuine but all had a role to play and I thought they added to each of the storylines.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and am glad I picked it up. I’ve tried to keep this review spoiler free so don’t hate me for being vague, but you will appreciate it when you pick this one up. If you like a story that has great characters and a page turning story with some twists and turns, consider checking this one out. If anything, the ending will have you on the edge of your seat. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book to see what happens next.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Apr 03, 2018 Jessica rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2018

Being summoned before the Kolonyan throne is never a pleasant experience, especially when you’re hiding treasonous secrets. Zofi, Flo”Ren”cia and Akeyla all fear the worst - only to be confronted with a stranger secret - they are all the daughters of King Andros - and their secrets now have far greater consequences then they realized. Proud Zofi, Cunning Ren and Empathic Akeyla must compete for their father’s throne, but they aren’t the only ones with secrets.

A vibrant world, with a fascinating ...more

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Sep 10, 2018 Jane (It'sJaneLindsey) rated it liked it

Shelves: 2018-read, first-reads-arcs, 2018-releases

This was...fine. That’s honestly all I’ve got right now.

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Sep 04, 2018 Vikki P rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc, 2018-reads, fantasy, young-adult

I received an e-ARC of Rule by Ellen Goodlett from NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Rule is a rare case of a fantasy series that actually got its world building just right. The author managed to get me invested in the story and the world it was set in without unnecessary details or a lack of any useful details thereof. The story had a great mystery element built into the Fantasy which I adored given that those are my two favorite genres. There were a few issues with ...more

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Mar 11, 2019 Tracy Banghart rated it it was amazing

This was such a fast-paced, intriguing book! I loved the three main characters and their BIG secrets (I don't even think I can pick a favorite!). And the world building, including the magic system, was absolutely fascinating. I can't believe the way it ended!! I can't WAIT to read the sequel. I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS.

cw: the magic system does involve self-harm, so just be aware ...more

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Oct 30, 2018 Sara (A Gingerly Review) rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2018, audio-book-2018

I wish I had DNFd like so many other readers. This was a long, boring book about nothing. There were chapters and chapters where nothing happened. I gave up caring early on but toughed it out. I'm a fool for that.

FRTC ...more

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Sep 06, 2018 Jessi (Novel Heartbeat) rated it liked it

Shelves: cover-lust, 3-star

To be honest, I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would! It was one of those books where you enjoy it while reading but it doesn't necessarily stick with you or leave a lasting impression. It's definitely not a memorable book, and sadly it was kind of generic.

I really, really hate switching POVs in pretty much any book. Two is bad enough, but three is even worse!! It makes it so hard to connect to anyone, and usually it's hard to tell the difference between the characters you're reading. There wasn't a clear distinction in each voice, but thankfully I could tell the sisters apart. They all came from very different backgrounds so they had pretty distinct personalities. (Um, I love that they each had their own curse they used! Sun, seas, or sands for different kingdoms!) Especially Zofi, I think she was my favorite! She was fiesty!

I freaking LOVED the idea of the Blood Arts and the Vulgar Arts, it was wicked cool! That was the most unique part of this book, and definitely my favorite part. The concept was awesome - draw blood and use blood magic? Heck yeah! I loved the way Zofi used vials of extra blood to break for a boost. I also really liked how each sister had a dark secret they were keeping! Those two parts of the story were mostly what drew me in.

Sadly, that was the most exciting thing. Like I said, as far as high fantasy goes, this one felt pretty generic. Like any other HF out there. The romance was pretty bland and uninspiring to me. I didn't care about Zofi's love interest, and the romance between Akeylah and Rozalind moved WAY too fast. Kudos for the diversity, but I wish it had been handled better. They had ONE interaction for a whole 5 minutes and Akeylah was suddenly talking about feelings, what??? I never got on board with their romance because it moved too quickly and had zero time to actually develop.

Can I just say - the ending pissed me off like a lot? WHAT the actual crap is that?! (view spoiler)

This review was originally posted on Novel Heartbeat. To see a breakdown of my assessment, please visit the full review here. ...more

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YA Buddy Readers'...: Rule (Rule #1) by Ellen Goodlett - Restarting May 20th 2021	57	95	May 03, 2021 06:56PM
What's the Name o...: SOLVED. YA Fantasy novel, possibly by female author, where three abandoned daughters of a kingdom's king are brought to the palace to become the heirs of the king and queen (read 2018-present). [s]	3	21	Mar 21, 2021 06:39PM

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About Ellen Goodlett

Ellen Goodlett

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Ellen Goodlett writes because otherwise she would spend her days plotting to take over the world. She figures that the former would benefit humanity ever so slightly more than the latter (which would be disastrous and involve a lot of cats in government positions). Her debut novel, RULE, about three girls competing for the throne in a fantasy world, will publish in fall 2018 with Little Brown.

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Rule (2 books)

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Quotes from Rule

“Describing the Arts to someone who had never tithed was as impossible as explaining an extra sense. The Arts tasted green, smelled like adrenaline, sounded cold.” — 3 likes

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