For the young person exploring complex moral choices and finding their voice, this fantasy novel presents a princess fighting for power and justice in a treacherous kingdom.
Parents can reach for this book when their teen is fascinated by questions of power, justice, and how to lead in a complicated world. 'Rule' follows three estranged sisters, each believing she is the rightful heir to the throne, who are summoned by their dying father, the king. He reveals a prophecy: one will rule, one will kill, and one will die. The sisters must navigate a court full of secrets and enemies, forming and breaking alliances while trying to survive. This fantasy novel is perfect for older teens (14-18) ready to explore complex moral choices, loyalty, and what it means to be a good leader versus a strong one. It moves beyond simple good-versus-evil narratives to present flawed, relatable heroines finding their voices in a treacherous political landscape.
A central prophecy involves a main character's death; other characters are killed.
Mature ThemesIntense
Protagonists make ethically complex and sometimes ruthless decisions to survive and win power.
Romantic ContentMild
Includes romantic subplots and some kissing.
ViolenceModerate
Political intrigue leads to assassination attempts, poison, and fighting.
Sensitive Topics
Character death is central to the plot and the prophecy. The approach is direct and a matter of political stakes, not an exploration of grief. Violence includes assassinations, poison, and fighting. The book explores moral ambiguity extensively; characters make difficult, sometimes unethical, choices for what they believe is the greater good. The resolution is a cliffhanger, leaving many moral and plot threads ambiguous and unresolved.
Ideal Reader
A teen, 15-17, who enjoys political fantasy like "Three Dark Crowns" or "The Cruel Prince." This reader is ready for morally complex characters and is not looking for a straightforward hero's journey. They are interested in questions of power, ethics, and strategy, and enjoy a fast-paced, plot-driven story with high stakes.
Parent Prep
Parents should be aware of the political violence, including assassination plots and poison. The central conflict forces sisters against each other, which could be a point of discussion. The book can be read cold, as the world-building is integrated into the narrative. The main element to be aware of is the overall theme of moral compromise. The child expresses frustration with simple "good guy vs. bad guy" stories, or asks something like, "Do you sometimes have to do bad things for a good reason?" This signals an interest in exploring moral complexity.
Age Experience
A younger teen (14) might focus on the suspense, the competition, and the mystery of the prophecy. An older teen (16-18) will likely engage more deeply with the political machinations, the ethical dilemmas each sister faces, and the commentary on leadership, power, and sacrifice. The older reader will better appreciate the nuances of the morally gray choices.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many YA fantasies that focus on a single "chosen one," this book presents three distinct, capable, and flawed female protagonists, each with a legitimate claim and a different philosophy of rule. The core of the story is the complex, evolving dynamic between them, rather than a single hero's journey against an external evil.
Read plot summary
Three illegitimate daughters of the king, Zofi, Akeylah, and Ren, are summoned to the capital as their father dies. He reveals a prophecy that pits them against each other for the throne: one will rule, one will be a killer, and one will die. They must navigate court intrigue, assassination attempts, and their own complicated relationships to uncover the truth and secure their futures. The plot is driven by political maneuvering, mystery, and shifting alliances between the sisters and various court factions.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Zofi, Akeylah, and Ren each have a very different idea of what makes a good ruler. Which sister's philosophy of leadership do you agree with most, and why? Is it better to be just, strong, or strategic?
2
The prophecy hangs over the entire story. Do you think the sisters' actions are driven by their own choices, or are they just fulfilling a predetermined fate? How did the prophecy change their behavior toward each other?
3
Akeylah's relationship with the censor is built on a shared desire for a better Kolonya, but it involves secrets and betrayal. Was she right to trust him and work with him, even against her sisters?
4
At several points, the sisters have the choice to work together or betray one another. Think about a specific moment where one sister chose betrayal. Could she have made a different choice? What might have happened if she had?
