[ARC Review] Fractured Past by Emily VanderBent

When we last saw Adelaide in Crimson Time, she thought she was closer to unraveling the mysteries of her past. But in Fractured Past, Adelaide learns that her induction into the Red Rose Society was just the beginning, and her past and present are about to collide in ways no one could have guessed. In Fractured Past, Emily VanderBent raises the stakes with beautiful, often lyrical prose as Adelaide and her fellow Red Rose Society members jump into the past and cause even more questions in the present.

I loved Crimson Time, but VanderBent has outdone herself with the latest installment of her YA historical fiction series. Each chapter was beautifully written, and Emily did a wonderful job on expanding Adelaide's world. There was no shortage of details, so whether we were living through a war 150 years ago, seeing high-tech devices in the Red Rose Society's headquarters, or feeling betrayal through a queen's eyes, every scene was vivid and easy to see playing out on the page. VanderBent's writing style is eloquent and far surpasses most of the YA historical fiction I've read recently. 

Fractured Past begins after the harrowing events of Crimson Time, and most of Adelaide's newfound Society companions are back in full force. After being introduced to the Red Rose Society, surviving her initiation, and making friends and enemies alike in the first book, it was great to see Adelaide finding her footing and her place in her new world. I absolutely loved Adelaide's character development and story arc in Fractured Past. VanderBent did a fantastic job interweaving the stories of Adelaide's present and past. 

I loved seeing the return of all the Red Rose Society members we met in the first book, particularly Xander and Teo. Adelaide's relationship with either wasn't great after the events of Crimson Time, and I was really glad to see some friendships start to repair themselves while new ones formed. And there was maybe a little scene between Adelaide and Teo that I think fans of the Crimson Time series will be particularly happy to read (I know I definitely was). 

With strong character stories, vivid details, and a unique plot, Fractured Past pulled me into Adelaide's world and left me only craving more of the Red Rose Society. And after that ending, I can't wait to see what Emily VanderBent writes in the next installment of the Crimson Time series. 

A huge thank you to Emily for allowing me to be on her early reader team in exchange for providing an honest review! 

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Release date: 12/20/21
Format: eARC
eARC provided by: the author