A World Without Princes (The School for Good and Evil #2)

Author: Soman Chainani
Goodreads rating: 4.14
Pages: 433
Format: Final Copy from BEA14

In the epic sequel to the New York Times bestselling novel, The School for Good and Evil, Sophie and Agatha are home, living out their Ever After. But life isn’t quite the fairy tale they expected.

When Agatha secretly wishes she’d chosen a different happy ending, she reopens the gates to the School for Good and Evil. But the world she and Sophie once knew has changed.

Witches and princesses, warlocks and princes are no longer enemies. New bonds are forming; old bonds are being shattered. But underneath this uneasy arrangement, a war is brewing and a dangerous enemy rises. As Agatha and Sophie battle to restore peace, an unexpected threat could destroy everything, and everyone, they love—and this time, it comes from within.

Soman Chainani has created a spectacular world that Newbery Medal-winning author Ann M. Martin calls, “a fairy tale like no other, complete with romance, magic, and humor that will keep you turning pages until the end.”

 I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!

*****Please proceed with caution since this review might contain spoilers from the first book and trace hints about this book*******

"Every fairy tale could be twisted to serve a purpose. Good could turn Evil, Evil could turn Good..."

THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING!!! ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!!! (Sorry, the only way I can really express my feelings about this book is through capitals and lots of exclamation points). But on a serious note, this book was really, truly fantastic! I loved the first book and this book is continuing our relationship :)

This book did have a more darker side than the first, bringing a bit more violence into the mix but this was still an amazing read, the kind that made me want to stay up all night to keep reading. We get to see the consequences that the actions from the last book had on the Ever After world and the school that Agatha and Sophie escaped from. They get brought back into the fray to witness and try to set things right, while also trying to rebuild their own relationship and get back home.

There are a lot more mysteries and twists (as well as some deception that will keep you on your toes) that you can expect from this book that will keep you wanting more. If that doesn't, then the drama between Sophie, Agatha, and Tedros certainly will! I have really grown attached to all three characters and loved seeing how they have grown and changed (or are still trying to change) and am rooting for all their happy endings to come true :)

I do feel a kind of Goldilocks effect occurring, not so much in the too hot, too cold, just right fashion, but in the swinging between two extremes; your best friend and your love. In the first book, we saw the "yay best friends forever" extreme. In this book we see the "love in the traditional sense conquers all" extreme. I'm hoping in the next book we see the "just right" where everyone, best friends and true loves can all live happily together. Even with the rest of the school, we see one extreme in the first book (girls are helpless and need to be rescued by princes) to the other extreme (where girls don't need their princes at all and are working to dominate them). Again, hoping to see the "just right" happen in the 3rd book :)

This book to me is building up to this message. So many people, especially young people, ditch their friends to give all their attention to their "true love", or are often afraid to lose their friends so will avoid relationships. Hopefully we will see a balance emerge in the last book :)

I would caution giving this to a middle grade child and would reserve it for maybe late middle school to early high school.

This is truly an amazing book/series and I do applaud Chainani for his work! A well deserved 5/5 from me!

The Court's Decision: