Welcome to my tour stop with Celebrate Lit! Read my review and enter the giveaway below...
Perplexity
(The Sceptre & the Stylus #2)
By Chawna Schroeder
Young Adult Steampunk, Christian Fantasy
Hardcover & eBook, 352 Pages
April 7, 2026 by Enclave Escape
Summary
Assemble the clues, dismantle the danger.
Yosarai Patican never wanted to finish her schooling in the Indeli capital, but after several months, she is finally finding her footing . . . until her world is shattered by the unthinkable. Facing loss after loss, she struggles to adjust to a new position and new responsibilities, including the repayment of a massive debt. A debt more easily managed if she can qualify for the elite politico sphere on the upcoming placement exam. Some, however, would do anything to prevent Yosarai from earning one of the coveted positions.
Meanwhile, in the northern realm of Egdon, Crown Prince Xander faces an increasingly hostile Parliament. Not only are they questioning the necessity of the monarchy, but they are also demanding an accounting of some mysterious expenditures by the former king. Unless Xander can unearth a reasonable explanation, his coronation may be more than postponed. It may be cancelled―permanently.
As old rivalries escalate and hidden threats emerge, both Xander and Yosi must choose their paths wisely, before evil eliminates everyone in its way.
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My Review
PERPLEXITY is the second book in this Christian steampunk series, and takes readers on a journey to other lands in this fantasy world. Equal parts story and character driven, the plot thickens as the heroine and prince continue to be challenged and face danger as they try to figure out who their adversary is. Fans of the genre and series will enjoy finding out what happens next leading up to the final book.
I enjoyed the first book in this series and was curious how the story would continue. I liked both Xander and Yosi. They're very likable and I loved the friendships and family dynamics. There was some humor and a bit of romance as well amidst the danger and a bit of action. I also liked travelling to a couple of other lands and learning more about this fantasy world. I really enjoyed the second half of the story. I felt like things finally started to move. Xander is starting to puzzle some things together. At the same time, Yosi faces some really hard things while she also finds some pieces of the puzzle from her end. They finally figure some things out, but then the book just stops.
I felt like this book fell prey to the second book syndrome or middle book slump. There were things that happened, but nothing that necessarily progressed the story until towards the end. The first half didn't hold my attention and felt a bit like filler. There were also some things that happened that didn't feel realistic to me, such as a prince's personal guard easily being overcome by two men. There were several other things that also didn't work for me. I didn't love the religious passages that disrupted the story and weren't explained in this book (maybe they were in the first, but I can't remember), nor did the heroine have access to her mom's book so I'm not sure where the passages were coming from. A lot of it wasn't necessary to the story, feeling like just a transition from book one to the conclusion in book three. I'm not sure there really is enough left of the story to make a whole other book for book three. I think this series could have been a duology and would be better as such.
In the end, was it what I wished for? Overall, the story progressed, although very slowly. A lot of things didn't work for me or engage me until the second half. I'm hoping book three will have a lot more weight to it and finish this series up nicely.
Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy through Celebrate Lit, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Other Books in the Series
(Linked to my review.)
About the Author
More from the Author: Cracking the Cover Code
“Don’t judge a book by its cover.” We’ve all heard it. We’ve all said it.
We’ve all done it.
We try not to, but the reality is that a book’s cover does influence us. Things pleasing to the eye attract us. Our interest is piqued by the mysterious. Color palettes and designs offer clues about the type of story within. Whether we’re buying online, browsing a bookstore, or selecting our next read from our shelves, the cover often sways our decision.
Thus, covers are designed to draw the interest of those who would most enjoy the story, and Perplexity is no different. So, is this novel for you? Perhaps taking a closer look at cover’s design will answer the question.
The first thing you might notice about Perplexity’s cover is it colors, especially if you’re familiar with Illuminary, which is book one in this series. Whereas Illuminary was bold and vibrant to reflect its India-inspired culture, Perplexity obviously has a much cooler and muted color palette. This reflects the wintry season of this story, both physically and emotionally. The snowflake motif emphasizes this.
This should tell you immediately that if you’re wishing for an upbeat comedy, this isn’t it. You probably need to find a much different cover (and book) than this one. But if you’re looking for a thoughtful read, dealing with slightly heavier topics, Perplexity might be worth a second look.
Now alongside the snowflakes, you might notice a bunch of gears. Those reveal inventions and technology are important to the setting of Perplexity. Gears are also a popular cover motif for books in the steampunk genre. Their subtle use in the design therefore implies a light steampunk element—a world with a Victorian vibe and steam-powered technology.
So are you not a fan of the Victorian era? Do you prefer to read about the real, contemporary world? Perplexity probably shouldn’t be your next read. But if you’re a fan of Jules Verne or fiction that mixes the fantastical with the historical, Perplexity might be your cup of tea.
The third major element of the cover are the odd objects tucked throughout the art work, like a hidden-object picture: An automobile, a pocket watch, a beaded bracelet, an envelope, a carousel horse, a crow, a key. Seven items, which seem completely random and unrelated. Yet they were carefully selected for the cover from a myriad of objects. What does it all mean? Ah, that is the hint of the puzzles the characters must unravel and the mysteries they must solve.
Not a puzzle fan? Hate trying to solve riddles? Then it’s time for you to search elsewhere for a book. But if you love escape rooms, National Treasure, and Amazing Race, your brain might just love unlocking all Perplexity has to offer.
So there. We’ve cracked the code of Perplexity’s cover, a code that tells us of a thoughtful story with a light Victorian/steampunk vibe and puzzles galore. Now it’s time for you decide: Does that sound like a story worth cracking into?
Tour Schedule
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, April 21
For the Love of Literature, April 22 (Spotlight)
Book Looks by Lisa, April 22
The Bookish Ledger, April 23 (Spotlight)
Simple Harvest Reads, April 24 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 25 (Spotlight)
Artistic Nobody, April 26 (Author Interview)
Blossoms and Blessings, April 27 (Spotlight)
Guild Master, April 28 (Author Interview)
Blogging With Carol, April 29
Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 30
Fiction Book Lover, May 1 (Author Interview)
Wishful Endings, May 1
Stories By Gina, May 2 (Spotlight)
Vicky Sluiter, May 3 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, May 4
Tour-Wide Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Chawna is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and hardcover copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
