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Ally Condie: The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe

This book is relatively new and came highly recommended by all of the reviews I had read of it. I initially bought it for my sister-in-law, then our department book exchange for Christmas last year, but I hadn't read it myself. I decided that I would and purchased it on Audible.

The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe by Allie Condie is about a girl named Poe who is set for revenge against the people that killed her boyfriend while on their first voyage out of the settlement. Poe creates weapons against the savages that inhabit the forests outside of her city, meant to protect the mining ship as it treks up the river harvesting gold. The city is sending out its last ship, and Poe is chosen as captain. She must confront the dangerous reasons why she was sent on this mission, deal with a mutiny on board, and figure out where her loyalties truly lie.

In all, I really enjoyed this book. Ally Condie did a great job keeping readers engaged with giving just enough information to keep you reading without giving you the whole story. I loved the intrigue and the villain was well-written. I loved the beautiful descriptions of the world around Poe. The ending of this book was unexpected, intense, and was truly the best part of the book.

I don't usually like books that are written in the first-person present tense, and this book is no different (I had the same problem with The Hunger Games). The present tense is so limiting and I got tired of Poe's agonizing over Tam. I understand that Tam is Poe's entire motivation for doing what she does, but at some point, that grief needs to rest, long before Poe allows it to.

In all, I rate this book:
  • 4/5 Stars
  • PG for violence

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