Amy Engel (2014)
Genre
Fantasy / Science Fiction / Young Adult / Romance
Reading Time
282 min
Key Themes
See below
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In a post-apocalyptic world rebuilt on forced alliances, a young woman named Ivy is tasked with assassinating her arranged husband, the president's son, only to discover he might be the key to a future beyond her family's vengeful legacy.
In the walled city of North America, fifty years after a nuclear war, Ivy Westfall, a sixteen-year-old from the losing Westfall family, is chosen to marry Bishop Lattimer, the son of President Lattimer. This annual tradition aims to unite rival families and maintain peace. However, Ivy's family, especially her father and sister Callie, have given her a clear mission: kill Bishop and restore the Westfalls to power. Ivy has trained her entire life for this, learning self-defense, poisons, and her family's supposed rightful claim to leadership. As she prepares for the wedding, she feels immense pressure and the moral weight of the task, knowing failure means death for her and her family.
After the wedding, Ivy moves into the Lattimer compound, a contrast to her family's modest dwelling. Her room is next to Bishop's, and their interactions begin immediately. Ivy expects a cruel, arrogant boy, a product of the ruling family, but Bishop is surprisingly gentle, quiet, and observant. He seems genuinely curious about her and treats her with unexpected kindness, offering her food and making small talk. Ivy struggles to reconcile this image with the monster her family described, making her mission more complicated. She constantly reminds herself of her family's suffering and the need for revenge to strengthen her resolve.
As days turn into weeks, Ivy and Bishop spend more time together. They share meals, walk the compound grounds, and slowly begin to talk about their lives and the city. Bishop reveals a deeper understanding of the city's struggles and a desire for genuine change, not just maintaining the status quo. He shows her parts of the city she'd never seen, including the neglected agricultural sectors and less privileged areas. Ivy finds herself drawn to his sincerity and quiet strength. The more she learns about him, the more she doubts her family's narrative, making it harder to view him as a target. Her internal conflict grows, torn between family loyalty and a growing connection with Bishop.
Bishop, sensing Ivy's curiosity about the world beyond the city, takes her on a secret excursion outside the protective walls. They travel through the desolate, radiation-scarred landscape, a reminder of the war that nearly destroyed humanity. Ivy sees firsthand the barrenness and danger, understanding why the city was built and why its survival is so important. During this trip, Bishop opens up about his own fears and his father's vision for a better future, further eroding Ivy's belief that the Lattimers are tyrannical oppressors. The experience strengthens their bond, as they share vulnerability and a deeper understanding of their shared reality.
Under pressure from her family via coded messages, Ivy finally tries to poison Bishop. She prepares a meal, carefully lacing it with a slow-acting toxin. However, as Bishop eats, her guilt and the genuine affection she has developed for him overwhelm her. She stops him before he consumes a fatal dose, unable to complete the act. Bishop, though confused, quickly realizes her intent. The Lattimers' security, already suspicious of Ivy, confirms her actions. She is arrested and interrogated, facing the ruling family's full wrath. This act of mercy, however, proves to Bishop that Ivy is not entirely a threat, but a victim of circumstance.
Despite Ivy's attempt on his life, Bishop intervenes for her, arguing against her execution or severe punishment. He convinces his father, President Lattimer, that Ivy was manipulated and that her actions were a desperate plea for her family. During this tense period, Bishop reveals to Ivy that he, too, has been burdened by his family's expectations and political schemes. He confesses his love for her, expressing a desire for a future where they can be together without the weight of their families' past. This revelation deeply impacts Ivy, solidifying her feelings for him and making her realize the depth of the Lattimers' capacity for mercy, directly contradicting her family's teachings.
Unaware of Bishop's intervention and Ivy's changed allegiances, the Westfall family, led by Ivy's father, interprets Ivy's lack of communication and the growing rumors as a failed mission. They launch a desperate, ill-planned rebellion, attempting to storm the Lattimer compound and seize power. The uprising is chaotic and quickly suppressed by the Lattimers' well-trained security forces. Ivy is caught in the middle, torn between her family and her new loyalty to Bishop. She witnesses the brutal reality of their conflict, seeing her own family suffer the consequences of their rash actions, further cementing her understanding of the cycle of violence.
After the rebellion, Ivy confronts her father and sister, Callie, who are among the captured Westfalls. She demands answers about the true history of the founding families and the reasons for their hatred of the Lattimers. Her father finally admits that the Westfalls' claim to leadership was not as clear-cut as he had always presented, and that much of their animosity stemmed from pride and a desire for power rather than genuine injustice. Callie, still loyal to their father, denounces Ivy as a traitor. This confrontation shatters Ivy's last illusions about her family's righteousness and forces her to fully embrace her own path, separate from their legacy.
With the rebellion quelled and the truth revealed, Ivy and Bishop begin the difficult task of healing the fractured city. They publicly address the citizens, acknowledging past grievances and advocating for unity and cooperation. Bishop, with Ivy by his side, proposes reforms aimed at greater equality and transparency, seeking to dismantle the oppressive structures that have fueled resentment for generations. Ivy, now committed to Bishop and his vision, uses her position to bridge the gap between the former rival factions, becoming a symbol of hope for a future free from the cycles of hatred and violence that defined their parents' generation.
As the city stabilizes, Ivy and Bishop, driven by shared curiosity and the need for new resources, explore the possibility of life beyond the walls. They initiate small, carefully planned expeditions into the wasteland, seeking sustainable food sources and habitable areas. This endeavor symbolizes their commitment not just to their city, but to humanity's broader future. They understand that true peace and prosperity might lie in expanding their horizons and finding new ways to coexist with the remnants of the old world, rather than remaining isolated within their fortified community. Their journey together is just beginning, filled with both hope and uncertainty.
The Protagonist
Ivy transforms from a dutiful assassin-in-training to a compassionate leader who chooses love and unity over vengeance, forging her own path.
The Love Interest / Deuteragonist
Bishop develops from a somewhat isolated leader's son to a proactive force for change, openly challenging the old ways and embracing a future of collaboration.
The Antagonist / Supporting
He remains largely static, clinging to his beliefs until his rebellion is crushed, forcing him to face the consequences of his actions.
The Supporting
Callie remains largely static in her loyalty to her father and the Westfall cause, becoming a symbol of the enduring division.
The Supporting
He shows a degree of flexibility, allowing Bishop to influence his decisions and moving towards a more inclusive vision for the city.
The Supporting
Her arc is subtle, showing quiet acceptance and support as Bishop and Ivy forge a new path.
The Supporting
Her arc is minor, primarily serving to show a less radical side of the Westfall family.
The novel's central conflict involves choosing between continuing a generations-long feud fueled by revenge or breaking the cycle through forgiveness and understanding. Ivy is raised with a mission of vengeance, taught to believe the Lattimers are evil. However, her personal connection with Bishop challenges this ingrained hatred, forcing her to confront the futility of an eye-for-an-eye mentality. The Westfall rebellion, driven by revenge, fails and causes more suffering, showing the devastating consequences of clinging to past grievances. The eventual alliance between Ivy and Bishop signifies a move towards healing and a rejection of past bitterness.
““They told me he was a monster. They told me he was the enemy. But what if the real monster is the hatred we carry inside ourselves?””
Ivy's journey is one of self-discovery, as she struggles to define herself outside the role her family assigned her. From birth, her identity has been tied to her mission to kill Bishop. As she spends time with Bishop and learns the truth about the city's history, she questions who she truly is beneath the layers of training and indoctrination. This theme is clear in her internal monologues, where she grapples with her loyalty to her family versus her growing feelings and moral compass. Her ultimate decision to protect Bishop and work for a unified city marks her rejection of a predetermined identity and the assertion of her own values and desires.
““I was a weapon, forged for one purpose. But what happens when the weapon decides it doesn’t want to be used?””
The narrative shows how historical accounts can be manipulated to control populations and prolong conflict. Ivy's understanding of her world is based on a fabricated history of the founding families, designed by her father to justify their claim to power and fuel her hatred. Bishop, in contrast, offers a more nuanced and truthful account of the past, revealing that both families contributed to the initial conflict. The Lattimer compound, initially seen as a prison, gives Ivy access to information that shatters her preconceived notions. Uncovering these deceptions is crucial for Ivy's growth and for the city's ability to move forward, emphasizing the importance of seeking truth beyond partisan narratives.
““The truth is a dangerous thing in this city. It can tear down everything you thought you knew.””
Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the novel explores how far humanity will go to survive, and what aspects of humanity are preserved or lost. The walled city itself is a symbol of survival, but the rigid social structure and ongoing family feud reveal the cost. The characters constantly face choices that pit personal desires against the perceived needs of the community or family. Bishop's desire to expand beyond the walls and find new ways to sustain life, coupled with his compassion for Ivy, suggests that true survival involves not just physical existence, but the preservation of empathy, cooperation, and hope for a better future, rather than succumbing to fear and hatred.
““We survived the end of the world, only to build another one just like it inside these walls. What’s the point of surviving if we just keep fighting each other?””
A political tool meant to enforce peace, but becomes a catalyst for change.
The annual arranged marriage between a Westfall daughter and a Lattimer son is presented as a ritual designed to maintain peace between the rival families. However, it serves as a crucial plot device, forcing Ivy directly into the heart of the 'enemy' camp. This proximity is essential for her to observe Bishop, question her conditioning, and ultimately fall in love. Without the marriage, Ivy would never have the opportunity to see beyond her family's narrative, making it the primary catalyst for the entire story's events and her personal transformation.
Ivy's hidden agenda to assassinate Bishop, driving internal and external conflict.
Ivy's secret mission to kill Bishop is the core of the novel's initial tension and internal conflict. It creates immediate stakes and foreshadows the moral dilemma Ivy will face. This device not only drives her actions (her training, her observations of Bishop) but also creates suspense as the reader wonders if and when she will execute the plan, and what the consequences will be. It highlights the manipulative nature of her family and sets up the dramatic turning point when she chooses not to fulfill it, ultimately leading to her exposure and the subsequent Westfall rebellion.
A physical and metaphorical barrier representing isolation and control.
The walled city serves as both the literal setting and a powerful metaphor. Physically, it protects the survivors from the irradiated wasteland, but it also traps them in a cycle of political strife and limited resources. Metaphorically, the walls represent the mental and emotional barriers built by generations of hatred and misinformation. Ivy's initial worldview is confined by these walls, and her journey involves both physically and metaphorically breaking free from them. The eventual exploration beyond the walls by Ivy and Bishop symbolizes a new era of openness and hope.
A means of communication and control for the Westfall family.
The coded messages Ivy receives from her family, often hidden in seemingly innocuous items, are a key plot device for maintaining her connection to her mission while she is within the Lattimer compound. These messages serve to remind her of her duty, pressure her to act, and provide updates on her family's expectations. They heighten the tension, as Ivy must secretly interpret and respond to them without being discovered by the Lattimers. Ultimately, the lack of a final, successful message from Ivy signals to her family that her mission has failed, directly triggering their desperate rebellion.
“Survival is a fight. A fight against your own weakness, against the elements, against your enemies. But the biggest fight is against yourself. Against the part of you that wants to give up.”
— Early in Ivy's training, reflecting on the harsh realities of their world.
“Love isn't a choice. It's a feeling. If we could choose who we love, it would be a lot easier.”
— Ivy grappling with her developing feelings for Bishop despite her mission.
“Sometimes the things we think are true are just the stories we tell ourselves to make sense of the world.”
— Ivy beginning to question the foundational beliefs of her society.
“Fear can be a powerful motivator. But it can also blind you.”
— Ivy observing the actions driven by fear within both factions.
“You can't save someone who doesn't want to be saved.”
— Ivy's internal monologue about trying to change deeply ingrained beliefs.
“The hardest part isn't doing what's right. It's knowing what's right.”
— Ivy struggling with moral ambiguity and conflicting loyalties.
“We're all just trying to survive, aren't we? In our own ways.”
— A moment of shared understanding between characters from different sides.
“Secrets have a way of poisoning everything.”
— Ivy reflecting on the destructive nature of the hidden truths in her society.
“Sometimes you have to break things to fix them.”
— Ivy contemplating the necessity of radical change.
“Trust is a fragile thing. Once broken, it's almost impossible to put back together.”
— Ivy reflecting on the betrayal she has experienced and witnessed.
“The past isn't just something that happened. It's something that shapes who we are, whether we like it or not.”
— Ivy realizing the pervasive influence of historical events on their current society.
“Even in the darkest places, there can be light.”
— Ivy finding hope and connection amidst despair.
“It’s easy to hate an enemy when you don’t know them. It’s much harder when you do.”
— Ivy's evolving perspective on the 'enemy' faction as she learns more about them.
“Freedom isn't given. It's taken.”
— Ivy considering the revolutionary actions needed to escape oppression.
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