Review: The Continent by Keira Drake

The Continent

Author: Keira Drake

Release Date: Delayed release ??, 2017

Publisher: Harlequin TEEN

The Continent Book #1

ISBN:   0373212399

ISBN13: 9780373212392

Genre: YA Fantasy

Review Copy Source: Edelweiss

For her sixteenth birthday, Vaela Sun receives the most coveted gift in all the Spire—a trip to the Continent. It seems an unlikely destination for a holiday: a cold, desolate land where two “uncivilized” nations remain perpetually at war. Most citizens tour the Continent to see the spectacle and violence of battle—a thing long vanished in the Spire. For Vaela—a smart and talented apprentice cartographer—it is an opportunity to improve upon the maps she’s drawn of this vast, frozen land.

But an idyllic aerial exploration is not to be had: the realities of war are made clear in a bloody battle seen from the heli-plane during the tour, leaving Vaela forever changed. And when a tragic accident leaves her stranded on the Continent, she has no illusions about the true nature of the danger she faces. Starving, alone, and lost in the middle of a war zone, Vaela must try to find a way home—but first, she must survive.

*There is a lot of controversy about the book that I wasn't aware of until I sat down to write my review and honestly didn't see/put together while I was reading. I have read some of the reviews from people that were offended explaining the issues and I can totally see why they are offended. I truly hope that Keira Drake can revise the book to take care of these very real issues and use it as a lesson for the future. Having said that, I am writing my review on what I felt about the book before I read about the very real issues with it. I have read the author's statement and I would like to give her the benefit of the doubt.*

Vaela has everything she could ever want, until she realizes she doesn't. 

Vaela lost a lot in THE CONTINENT, but she gained a lot too. She grew a lot from front to back of THE CONTINENT and I enjoyed reading about her journey. She was a lot stronger than I would have been in her situation and you can't help but admire that. There is also a lot of lessons to be learned in THE CONTINENT— appreciate what you have, fight for what is right, what matters most are the people in our lives, kindness matter, I could go on.


I found THE CONTINENT very easy to read. The scenes were smooth, the storyline was easy to read and well paced. The characters were well developed and I very much lived quite a few of them. There is a lot of action and just about every aspect of the book was engaging.

The ending was chaotic, but fulfilling. I need to know more about what happens next for Vaela in her new life and I am hoping that book two will continue to have her as the lead character.

I gave it 4/5 stars

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.