YA Review – Perplexity – young adult fantasy

Book Categories – YA Review – review of books for teens

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About the Book

Book: Perplexity (The Sceptre & the Stylus Book Two)

Author: Chawna Schroeder

Genre: YA Fantasy

Release Date: April 7, 2026

Assemble the clues, dismantle the danger.

Yosarai Patican never wanted to finish her schooling in the Indeli capital, but after several months, she is finally finding her footing . . . until her world is shattered by the unthinkable. Facing loss after loss, she struggles to adjust to a new position and new responsibilities, including repaying a massive debt. A debt more easily managed if she can qualify for the elite politico sphere on the upcoming placement exam. Some, however, would do anything to prevent Yosarai from earning one of the coveted positions.

Meanwhile, in the northern realm of Egdon, Crown Prince Xander faces an increasingly hostile Parliament. Not only are they questioning the necessity of the monarchy, but they are also demanding an accounting of the former king’s mysterious expenditures. Unless Xander can unearth a reasonable explanation, his coronation may be more than postponed. It may be canceled―permanently.

As old rivalries escalate and hidden threats emerge, both Xander and Yosi must choose their paths wisely before evil eliminates everyone in its way.

Click here to get your copy!

My YA Review

Schroeder, Chawna. Perplexity. Carol Stream, IL: Enclave Publishing, 2026.

The Sceptre and the Stylus, Book 2

Chawna Schroeder did an excellent job of continuing the world she built in Illuminary. I just wish there had been a summary of the first book to refresh my memory of the story to date. As it is, it took a little bit to get back into the story. 

Yosi is dealing with the death (possibly murder) of her father, which left her in charge of the family estate. She learns there are debts that must be paid. She is also trying to finish her education in the midst of her grief. When she goes to complete her final exams, her cousin kidnaps her and sells her to pay some debts. 

Yosi is a good friend of Xander, who is also dealing with the death of his father and learning how to run the kingdom his father left to him. There is also someone who is trying to assassinate him. 

Perplexity is full of mystery and intrigue – solving the mystery of Yosi’s father’s murder, solving the mystery of who is trying to assassinate Xander, and trying to find Yosi and her maid, who have been sold as indentured servants. 

Once I was back into the storyline, I enjoyed every word of the book and could not put it down. I look forward to the next book in the series, as Perplexity ends in a cliffhanger. 

Perplexity would be a great addition to the fantasy section of a K-12 Christian school library. It is appropriate for middle school and up. 

I received a complimentary copy of Perplexity. This is my honest review. 

About the Author – Chawna Schroeder

Chawna Schroeder loves exploring the wonder of God through the intersection of imagination and faith. When she isn’t reading or writing, she may be found practicing piano, reading biblical Greek or Hebrew, preparing for the Bible study she teaches, or working on one of her handwork projects while enjoying a movie.

More from Chawna Schroeder

Cracking the Cover Code

“Don’t judge a book by its cover.” We’ve all heard it. We’ve all said it.

We’ve all done it.

We try not to, but the reality is that a book’s cover does influence us. Things pleasing to the eye attract us. Our interest is piqued by the mysterious. Color palettes and designs offer clues about the type of story within. Whether we’re buying online, browsing a bookstore, or selecting our next read from our shelves, the cover often sways our decision.

Thus, covers are designed to draw the interest of those who would most enjoy the story, and Perplexity is no different. So, is this novel for you? Perhaps taking a closer look at the cover’s design will answer the question.

The first thing you might notice about Perplexity’s cover is its colors, especially if you’re familiar with Illuminary, which is book one in this series. Whereas Illuminary was bold and vibrant to reflect its India-inspired culture, Perplexity has a much cooler, muted color palette. This reflects the wintry season of this story, both physically and emotionally. The snowflake motif emphasizes this.

This should tell you immediately that if you’re wishing for an upbeat comedy, this isn’t it. You probably need a very different cover (and book) than this one. But if you’re looking for a thoughtful read that deals with slightly heavier topics, Perplexity might be worth a second look.

Now, alongside the snowflakes, you might notice a bunch of gears. Those reveal that inventions and technology are important to the setting of Perplexity. Gears are also a popular cover motif for books in the steampunk genre. Their subtle use in the design, therefore, implies a light steampunk element—a world with a Victorian vibe and steam-powered technology.

So, are you not a fan of the Victorian era? Do you prefer to read about the real, contemporary world? Perplexity probably shouldn’t be your next read. But if you’re a fan of Jules Verne or fiction that mixes the fantastical with the historical, Perplexity might be your cup of tea.

The third major element of the cover is the odd objects tucked throughout the artwork, like a hidden-object picture: An automobile, a pocket watch, a beaded bracelet, an envelope, a carousel horse, a crow, a key. Seven items, which seem completely random and unrelated. Yet they were carefully selected for the cover from a myriad of objects. What does it all mean? Ah, that is the hint of the puzzles the characters must unravel and the mysteries they must solve.

Not a puzzle fan? Hate trying to solve riddles? Then it’s time for you to search elsewhere for a book. But if you love escape rooms, National Treasure, and Amazing Race, your brain might just love unlocking all Perplexity has to offer.

So there. We’ve cracked the code of Perplexity’s cover, a code that tells us of a thoughtful story with a light Victorian/steampunk vibe and puzzles galore. Now it’s time for you to decide: Does that sound like a story worth cracking into?

Blog Stops

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, April 21

For the Love of Literature, April 22 (Spotlight)

Book Looks by Lisa, April 22

Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 23 (Spotlight)

Simple Harvest Reads, April 24 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 25 (Spotlight)

Artistic Nobody, April 26 (Author Interview)

Blossoms and Blessings, April 27 (Spotlight)

Guild Master, April 28 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, April 29

Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 30

Fiction Book Lover, May 1 (Author Interview)

Wishful Endings, May 1

Stories By Gina, May 2 (Spotlight)

Vicky Sluiter, May 3 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, May 4

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Chawna is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a hardcover copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/zK7oW/perplexity-celebration-tour-giveaway

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