Exile by Anne Osterlund

Goodreads:
Crown princess Aurelia is a survivor. She survived attempted assassination. She survived the king's rejection. She survived her mother's abandonment. And now, in exile, she must survive her kingdom-from hostile crowds to raw frontier to desert sands. But even as unknown assailants track Aurelia and expedition guide Robert, she knows what her greatest risk is: falling love...

I must confess that although I bought Exile, I wasn't expecting much from it, Aurelia was a good read but I found it somewhat lacking, so I had Exile sitting on my shelf staring at me for quite some time before I picked it up and decided to give it a go.

It was such a pleasant surprise! Anne Osterlund has grown so much as a writer, Aurelia was her debut work and I felt it somewhat lacking, then I read Academy 7 and had witnessed her growth in that book, and enjoyed it immensely, I didn't think that would account for the same in Exile.

Boy was i wrong, and was very happy that I was.

Then I was swept away with Aurelia and Robert as they journeyed throughout the kingdom, with many trials ahead and behind them.

Aurelia grew so much in this novel and so did Robert, they never seem to have any luck with love, and after everything that has happened, who knows what will occur of their relationship, especially with a few new little twists thrown in the mix.

I do know however that I'll be cheering for them in the next book!