While it’s good to be returning to the Academy as a second-class Cadet, things are not as they should be. Evie witnesses the vicious attack of an innocent woman—by a trio of princesses. Pennyroyal’s Headmistress General, Princess Beatrice, is dubious about what Evie saw—princesses are enforcers of truth and justice, not thugs. But Evie isn’t so sure. Then, amidst piles of fan mail, she finds a letter with an ominous threat. A secret society has come out of the shadows with a wicked plan, putting the Academy in peril. It’s up to Evie and her friends to unravel the devious plot and save Pennyroyal Academy.

This is book two of the Pennyroyal series.

Evie finds that she doesn’t enjoy her family and decides to leave early for her second year at the Academy. She wants to enjoy her family, but she sees how they are different. She doesn’t enjoy the food anymore and feels that her sister doesn’t agree with her choices, so she writes a note and leaves without saying good-bye. When she leaves the Dragonlands, she discovers that she is famous. People want to give her things for saving the Academy and making life a little safer. It’s when she in a tavern that she witnesses princesses kill a woman. She escapes because they appear to be after her. When she reaches Demetra’s castle, they determine to let the Academy know.

After traveling about and spending time with Demetra, they arrive back at the Academy to find it in chaos. Because of their success, the Academy is bursting at the seams. Everyone wants to be a Princess after Evie saved the Academy. She can’t go anywhere without Cadets noticing her. She, Demetra, Maggie, and Basil are all reunited. Remington has also returned. Their second year is much more difficult than their first and staying at the Academy gets harder and harder. Evie shockingly learns who the people were who killed the inn keeper’s wife. The Academy and Evie are still not safe. The witches are planning another assault, so training is most important.

You’ll have all the characters you liked in the first book and meet new instructors. If you liked the first book, you’ll like this one just as much. Often book two isn’t as interesting, but this one works. I highly recommend the trilogy. I find the books very positive--I mean who shouldn’t want to be a princess (including the boys!)? Afterall, courage, discipline, compassion, and kindness aren’t bad qualities to apire. ( )