Review: Exile by Anne Osterlund

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Series: Yes, Aurelia #2
Pages: 295
Copyright: 2001
Publisher: SPEAK
Buy: Amazon

Summary: from Good Reads
Crown princess Aurelia is a survivor. She survived attempted assassination. She survived the king's rejection. She survived her mother's abandonment. And now, in exile, she must survive her kingdom-from hostile crowds to raw frontier to desert sands. But even as unknown assailants track Aurelia and expedition guide Robert, she knows her greatest risk is falling in love...

Feelings: 
Exile by Anne Osterlund is the second novel in the trilogy and it picks up with Aurelia leaving the castle and her sister, who tried to killer her, to see her kingdom. Soon after they leave Aurelia is threatened again. She and Robert set off alone into the woods and the distance between them that was formed from a misunderstanding begins to fade. 

While I enjoyed this novel a lot, I think it was because I wanted to see the relationship between Aurelia and Robert grow and less about the adventure the characters were having. The relationship between the characters does grow but slowly. There wasn't as much time for them to relax with each other because they were being chased. However, there were a few good kisses. Is it bad that I liked this novel because of the kisses? Oh, well. I enjoy a good fantasy romance every once in a while. Maybe I read this novel partially for the adventure, which was fun, but if I'm honest it was mostly for the romance.

I think I preferred the first novel a little over this one but not much. I'm interested to see where the last novel takes Aurelia. She is such a great character. She knows how to  have fun and that makes her extremely likable.

Before Robert had even finished hitching the stallion, Aurelia had been whirled away into the festivities. She was laughing, her head thrown back, excitement rampant on her face. A far cry from the elegant, fuming princess he had witnessed less than three months ago at her sister's coming-out party. p. 147

I look forward to the last novel in the trilogy and recommend this one.