In this sequel to the young adult fantasy novel Doon, Mackenna Reed is pursuing her dream of life on Broadway. But even though a year has passed, she can’t forget the prince she abandoned in the magical country of Doon. When he suddenly appears in her dressing room and informs her that she is needed to stop the spread of a terrible evil, she realizes that he is only here because the kingdom needs her.
Meanwhile in Doon, Mackenna’s best friend Veronica is struggling to hold on to her place as queen. With evil crossing the border and her people inclined to treat her with suspicion, she will need the support of both her handsome prince and her best friend to save the day.
Much of the plot revolves around Mackenna realizing that she pushed her one true love away a year ago and that it is most likely impossible for them to ever be together. And in the other POV, Veronica is struggling with her relationship with Prince Jamie. Because of this, the book is heavy on the romance and includes a lot of kissing – more so than I would have expected in a book that is marketed as Christian.
Because the country of Doon is basically a fantasy version of old Scotland, there are some cultural differences and fantasy elements that parents might find disturbing. For example, an eighteen-year-old gets drunk, and the book’s villains practice witchcraft. While there are some “spiritual” themes (a divine protector, spiritual gifts, etc.) they make up only a small portion of the book and are overshadowed by the romantic tensions between the characters.
While I did feel that Destined for Doon fell somewhat short of being described as a Christian novel, there were several elements that I liked. Mackenna is into theater, and I found her frequent references to Broadway shows entertaining. The characters who have come to Doon from the modern world were also diverse and interesting – especially the street-wise London thief.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, but its likely not one that I will read again. If you enjoy young adult romances or fantasy and are a fan of Broadway you might want to give this a try.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” This post contains affiliate links.
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