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ameserole's review against another edition
3.0
Is it weird that the first book was the only out of the three that I didn't like? I mean, it was an okay book but I remember it annoying the hell out of me. Then I dove into the second book and things were looking a bit better. As for this one? Well, it was also okay for me. I don't know - I think it's just the characters themselves that somehow find a way to annoy me.
In this, you will meet Tamsin. Going off the rating I gave the first book, I'm just going to assume I didn't like the girl (lol). Mostly stating this because I never wrote a review for that one. I know that the second one was about Mira, and she was okay in her book too.
I just feel like these books take me on a rollercoaster because the girls go up and down from likable to dislikable. It might just be me though. So to dive into Tamsin, eh, I guess I was okay with it. A lot of things shocked me in this one. She was probably the most sane in this book because everyone was freaking crazy. I'm looking at you Dinah.
In the end, this book did the impossible. Took an annoying character to someone likable. The journey she went on definitely changed my opinion on her for the better. I guess I'm glad that I finally finished the trilogy too because I don't think I could handle another book in the glittering court.
In this, you will meet Tamsin. Going off the rating I gave the first book, I'm just going to assume I didn't like the girl (lol). Mostly stating this because I never wrote a review for that one. I know that the second one was about Mira, and she was okay in her book too.
I just feel like these books take me on a rollercoaster because the girls go up and down from likable to dislikable. It might just be me though. So to dive into Tamsin, eh, I guess I was okay with it. A lot of things shocked me in this one. She was probably the most sane in this book because everyone was freaking crazy. I'm looking at you Dinah.
In the end, this book did the impossible. Took an annoying character to someone likable. The journey she went on definitely changed my opinion on her for the better. I guess I'm glad that I finally finished the trilogy too because I don't think I could handle another book in the glittering court.
kelsey3's review against another edition
3.0
Overall: 3.6
Book Breakdown —
Characters: they were pretty awesome. This book was better than it’s predecessors, as were the characters. A more interesting and varied set of characters. I actually found myself caring for them.
Pacing/ length: it was a little long, just as the others were, and the pacing was certainly off, but it was ok overall. I just wish some of the more important parts were more drawn out, which is more of a pacing issue than length.
Interesting Plot?: yes actually. From the moment I read Glittering Court, I was most excited to read Tamsin’s story. She was the most interesting to me, but after reading Mira’s story I aimed my hopes low because Tamsin irritated me in Midnight Jewel. I was wrong though. It was interesting being in Tamsins head and her story was much more fleshed out, developed, and interesting.
Reading Medium: audiobook, some e-book, and a few pages of the physical book. Though the audiobook helped me get through this final installment in the fraction of time it would’ve taken me to read it physically, I don’t want to say I recommend it. I thought the narrator did a poor job at portraying the story. I think there are better audiobooks out there, but there are worse too. If audio is your thing, it’s still worth a listen.
Detailed Review—
First things first, Tamsins big secret was not surprising at all. I had guessed it when I read the first book and I was right. It was very predictable and ultimately felt a wee hollow in emotion, but I was glad we finally got to see it play out regardless.
Her story was much more interesting than her predecessors. Mostly because majority of her story was away from Cape Triumph. She visited other colonies and met new characters and her overall story fell outside of the norm. I appreciated it greatly.
Because of this, it made not only her, but also her story much more interesting. Made for a faster read as well. I found myself actually wanting to pick it up, unlike the previous installments.
I’m really glad we got to meet so many new characters too. I really enjoyed them, especially the other young women from the other manor house at the glittering court. It made for an interesting addition, as did the other colonies and tribes of people.
The love interests in this installment was also much, much better than the previous books. They were both so sweet. Though it was obvious from the get go who she would choose, it was still nice seeing such good love interests. The only thing that I wish had been more detailed was how old Jago was. When I first pictured him, I thought he was double Tamsins age, but I think in actuality he was only a few years her senior. I wish this had been better described because it took me awhile to change my picture of him. Regardless, the connection between her and Jago was electric and made me ship them so much.
Just like the previous installments you have to suspend reality a bit. You have to make yourself believe that three nations would trust a random 20 year old to help council said nations into peace negotiations. Do I believe that? No. But when you suspend your beliefs it’s easier.
Ultimately, I’m glad this was the final installment. It was the most varied. It was the most interesting. And it was the only installment in which I actually cared about the characters and wanted to keep reading. It was a great way to round out the series and I’m glad I pushed through and finished it.
Character List—
Tamsin- protagonist. A member of the glittering court so she can earn a better life for her, her daughter Mary, and her family. Almost dies in a shipwreck on the way to the new world. Meets Gideon after her shipwreck; he eventually proposes to her but wants her to lie about her daughters parentage. Meets and falls in love with Jago Robinson who accepts her daughter and her and proposes marriage to her. She agrees and pays off her contract so she and her daughter can live in happiness with him.
Orla- an Icori princess who helps Tamsin and Jago.
Jago- a tradesman who loves Tamsin. He wants to breed horses and become successful.
Gideon- a pastor type of person who used to work in Constancy before realizing how awful they are. Decides to make his own religion. Proposed to Tamsin. Wanted her to lie about her daughters parentage, but they ultimately end on a decent note.
Mary- Tamsins daughter with the son of a noble. Her father didn’t care to be involved. Approves of Tamsins fiancé Jago and they live out their days happily.
Memorable Quotes—
If you’re on the path of right, and someone crosses it with wrong, you don’t need to turn. Build a bridge over their path and continue on your way.
Be cautious of those who are too quick to act in your best interests and even quicker to tell you that they are. Too often, your best interests become indistinguishable from theirs.
Summary—
Borrowed from https://alexisthelectorem.wordpress.com/2018/07/27/review-the-emerald-sea/amp/
Tamsin Wright is unstoppable. She must become the Glittering Court’s diamond: the girl with the highest test scores, the most glamorous wardrobe, and the greatest opportunities to match with an elite suitor in the New World. Training alongside other girls in the Glittering Court, Tamsin immerses herself completely in lessons about etiquette, history, and music–everything a high-society wife would need to know. Once she’s married, she’ll be able to afford a better life for her family, so the sacrifice is worth it if she can be the best.
When her friendship with Mira and Adelaide, her roommates at the Glittering Court, threatens her status as the top-ranked prospect, she does the only thing she knows will keep her on track: she cuts them out of her life. But when her voyage across the sea goes off course, Tamsin must use her unrelenting grit and determination to survive the harsh winter far north of her intended destination in hopes of making it back to the Glittering Court in time to secure a proposal–and a comfortable future for her family.
Experiencing new cultures and beliefs for the first time, Tamsin realizes that her careful studies haven’t prepared her for everything, and with new alliances formed with roguish tradesman Jago Robinson and good-natured minister Gideon Stewart, Tamsin’s heart begins to be pulled in different directions. But she can’t let her brewing attraction get in the way of her ultimate goal: protecting the secret she holds closest to her heart, the one that would unravel everything she’s worked for if it’s uncovered.
Spoiler Summary:
After Tamsins ship is shipwrecked, she becomes the defacto leader of the glittering court girls. They are rescued by a group of Icori led by Orla. They take the young women to a town of ex-Osfridians turned religious fanatics, named Constancy. Orla tells her they have a resident and tradesman named Jago Robinson who may be able to help the glittering court ladies make their way back to Cape Triumph.
At Constancy her life is made miserable by her host, Dinah, who is jealous that Gideon has become smitten with Tamsin. She finds Jago and asks for his help. After a while he agrees to help her escape and that they will come back for the others. They bond through her escape and find passage for the other glittering court ladies; she sleeps with him and reveals her secret to him.
Gideon proposes to her as he and the other constancy people escort the girls to cape triumph. Tamsin confides her secret to him so she enters a marriage with him truthfully. He is ok with it but asks that she lie and tell people that Mary — her daughter — is actually her sister. He asks this of her so their reputations aren’t damaged as he tries to build his own church. She is infuriated that he’d want to hide Mary’s parentage and refuses him.
She tries to woo the governors son but when he believes she caught him in a political scandal he orders her killed. She runs to Jago for help and their connection is lit anew. He vows to buy her out of her contract and be with her if she chooses. Tamsin solves the political problems of three nations with the help of Adelaide and Mira’s stories. She secures a job and buys herself out of her contract. Mary arrives in Cape Triumph where Jago and Tamsin welcome her. They live out their days in a nearby city happily ever after.
Book Breakdown —
Characters: they were pretty awesome. This book was better than it’s predecessors, as were the characters. A more interesting and varied set of characters. I actually found myself caring for them.
Pacing/ length: it was a little long, just as the others were, and the pacing was certainly off, but it was ok overall. I just wish some of the more important parts were more drawn out, which is more of a pacing issue than length.
Interesting Plot?: yes actually. From the moment I read Glittering Court, I was most excited to read Tamsin’s story. She was the most interesting to me, but after reading Mira’s story I aimed my hopes low because Tamsin irritated me in Midnight Jewel. I was wrong though. It was interesting being in Tamsins head and her story was much more fleshed out, developed, and interesting.
Reading Medium: audiobook, some e-book, and a few pages of the physical book. Though the audiobook helped me get through this final installment in the fraction of time it would’ve taken me to read it physically, I don’t want to say I recommend it. I thought the narrator did a poor job at portraying the story. I think there are better audiobooks out there, but there are worse too. If audio is your thing, it’s still worth a listen.
Detailed Review—
First things first, Tamsins big secret was not surprising at all. I had guessed it when I read the first book and I was right. It was very predictable and ultimately felt a wee hollow in emotion, but I was glad we finally got to see it play out regardless.
Her story was much more interesting than her predecessors. Mostly because majority of her story was away from Cape Triumph. She visited other colonies and met new characters and her overall story fell outside of the norm. I appreciated it greatly.
Because of this, it made not only her, but also her story much more interesting. Made for a faster read as well. I found myself actually wanting to pick it up, unlike the previous installments.
I’m really glad we got to meet so many new characters too. I really enjoyed them, especially the other young women from the other manor house at the glittering court. It made for an interesting addition, as did the other colonies and tribes of people.
The love interests in this installment was also much, much better than the previous books. They were both so sweet. Though it was obvious from the get go who she would choose, it was still nice seeing such good love interests. The only thing that I wish had been more detailed was how old Jago was. When I first pictured him, I thought he was double Tamsins age, but I think in actuality he was only a few years her senior. I wish this had been better described because it took me awhile to change my picture of him. Regardless, the connection between her and Jago was electric and made me ship them so much.
Just like the previous installments you have to suspend reality a bit. You have to make yourself believe that three nations would trust a random 20 year old to help council said nations into peace negotiations. Do I believe that? No. But when you suspend your beliefs it’s easier.
Ultimately, I’m glad this was the final installment. It was the most varied. It was the most interesting. And it was the only installment in which I actually cared about the characters and wanted to keep reading. It was a great way to round out the series and I’m glad I pushed through and finished it.
Character List—
Tamsin- protagonist. A member of the glittering court so she can earn a better life for her, her daughter Mary, and her family. Almost dies in a shipwreck on the way to the new world. Meets Gideon after her shipwreck; he eventually proposes to her but wants her to lie about her daughters parentage. Meets and falls in love with Jago Robinson who accepts her daughter and her and proposes marriage to her. She agrees and pays off her contract so she and her daughter can live in happiness with him.
Orla- an Icori princess who helps Tamsin and Jago.
Jago- a tradesman who loves Tamsin. He wants to breed horses and become successful.
Gideon- a pastor type of person who used to work in Constancy before realizing how awful they are. Decides to make his own religion. Proposed to Tamsin. Wanted her to lie about her daughters parentage, but they ultimately end on a decent note.
Mary- Tamsins daughter with the son of a noble. Her father didn’t care to be involved. Approves of Tamsins fiancé Jago and they live out their days happily.
Memorable Quotes—
If you’re on the path of right, and someone crosses it with wrong, you don’t need to turn. Build a bridge over their path and continue on your way.
Be cautious of those who are too quick to act in your best interests and even quicker to tell you that they are. Too often, your best interests become indistinguishable from theirs.
Summary—
Borrowed from https://alexisthelectorem.wordpress.com/2018/07/27/review-the-emerald-sea/amp/
Tamsin Wright is unstoppable. She must become the Glittering Court’s diamond: the girl with the highest test scores, the most glamorous wardrobe, and the greatest opportunities to match with an elite suitor in the New World. Training alongside other girls in the Glittering Court, Tamsin immerses herself completely in lessons about etiquette, history, and music–everything a high-society wife would need to know. Once she’s married, she’ll be able to afford a better life for her family, so the sacrifice is worth it if she can be the best.
When her friendship with Mira and Adelaide, her roommates at the Glittering Court, threatens her status as the top-ranked prospect, she does the only thing she knows will keep her on track: she cuts them out of her life. But when her voyage across the sea goes off course, Tamsin must use her unrelenting grit and determination to survive the harsh winter far north of her intended destination in hopes of making it back to the Glittering Court in time to secure a proposal–and a comfortable future for her family.
Experiencing new cultures and beliefs for the first time, Tamsin realizes that her careful studies haven’t prepared her for everything, and with new alliances formed with roguish tradesman Jago Robinson and good-natured minister Gideon Stewart, Tamsin’s heart begins to be pulled in different directions. But she can’t let her brewing attraction get in the way of her ultimate goal: protecting the secret she holds closest to her heart, the one that would unravel everything she’s worked for if it’s uncovered.
Spoiler Summary:
After Tamsins ship is shipwrecked, she becomes the defacto leader of the glittering court girls. They are rescued by a group of Icori led by Orla. They take the young women to a town of ex-Osfridians turned religious fanatics, named Constancy. Orla tells her they have a resident and tradesman named Jago Robinson who may be able to help the glittering court ladies make their way back to Cape Triumph.
At Constancy her life is made miserable by her host, Dinah, who is jealous that Gideon has become smitten with Tamsin. She finds Jago and asks for his help. After a while he agrees to help her escape and that they will come back for the others. They bond through her escape and find passage for the other glittering court ladies; she sleeps with him and reveals her secret to him.
Gideon proposes to her as he and the other constancy people escort the girls to cape triumph. Tamsin confides her secret to him so she enters a marriage with him truthfully. He is ok with it but asks that she lie and tell people that Mary — her daughter — is actually her sister. He asks this of her so their reputations aren’t damaged as he tries to build his own church. She is infuriated that he’d want to hide Mary’s parentage and refuses him.
She tries to woo the governors son but when he believes she caught him in a political scandal he orders her killed. She runs to Jago for help and their connection is lit anew. He vows to buy her out of her contract and be with her if she chooses. Tamsin solves the political problems of three nations with the help of Adelaide and Mira’s stories. She secures a job and buys herself out of her contract. Mary arrives in Cape Triumph where Jago and Tamsin welcome her. They live out their days in a nearby city happily ever after.
jadeynk18's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
alawishess's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
melissasbookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
A pretty good third book in the Glittering Court series. I liked hearing Tamsin's story. She's spunky, strong-willed, and loves her family. I guess I was just sick of the same story told from three different points of view. I knew what was going to happen in the end and so it was somewhat anticlimactic. Warning: there are some love scenes though not explicit so young readers should beware. It took me awhile to get into especially after the shipwreck and the time she spends in Constancy. It was easy to put down, therefore only a 3 star read for me.
laughlinesandliterature's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book!!!! This was definitely my favorite of the series. I really liked Tamsin and her no nonsense attitude. She was definitely a woman after my own heart. She loved her daughter and never forgot about making sure she needed a good life. In fact it's the main reason she and the main interest didn't work out. I also loved that he came out of left field, and he was not the person I was anticipating to be the main love interest. I love that Tamsin made it all happen and that she gets 'everything done'. Beautiful! I only wish there had been more follow up for what happened to the 3 girls after the immediate conclusions. 4.5 out of 5 stars.
xavia's review against another edition
4.0
This book was so much better than the first!
I have not read Mira's book yet. No offense to Mira, but I knew from the moment I met her that Tamsin was my favorite, and this book did not disappoint.
Tamsin embodies one of my favorite character tropes, and that is "the only way out is through". She is feisty and driven and won't let little things like tempests, blizzards, and warring nations stop her. Her motivations make so much more sense here than they did in The Glittering Court and her reason for doing everything feels more legitimate than Adelaide's. From the moment we meet her, there is no doubt in our minds what her goal is, and everything she does is in service of that goal.
While things in her book seemed to happen around Adelaide, it really felt more like Tamsin was happening to the things in her book. She didn't just sit back and move passively through her ordeal like I occasionally felt Adelaide did, she "got things done" and she didn't care who she had to go through to make that happen.
One of the biggest problems I had with The Glittering Court was that the book was riddled with lazy world building and plot holes you could drive freight trains through. In this book, there are really only two instances of that happen. One at the outset of the book, where we essentially gloss over the first hundred pages of The Glittering Court without so much as a "last time on-" and at the very end, where the three stories intersect and there is little done to explain any of the other two plotlines. The author expects you to have read the other books and does nothing to alleviate the situation if you didn't. Beyond that though, Tamsin's story felt so much more COMPLETE than Adelaide's did, and I think a big part of that was tiptoeing around those other plotline that were supposed to hook us, but we couldn't follow.
With Tamsin, just about everything is compact. From the moment she gets on the Grey Gull, she and her survival and her trials are the only thing that matter. And that makes the story feel more like a complete book than The Glittering Court did.
The downside to this, is we don't get to see her interact with Adelaide and Mira hardly at all. She thinks about them, but at no point do we really get to see the three interact the way we did in The Glittering Court, and I found myself really missing that.
I also loved Jago. Cedric was great and interesting and he's a wonderful romantic lead. But Jago is such a perfect compliment to Tamsin's fiery nature that reading him and Tamsin was always a treat. And where I occasionally wished I could be reading about Cedric instead of Adelaide, I never once wished I was reading from some other point of view than Tamsin's. He's just the right amount of interesting and charismatic.
And I think we can all agree, screw the Heirs of Uros.
I have not read Mira's book yet. No offense to Mira, but I knew from the moment I met her that Tamsin was my favorite, and this book did not disappoint.
Tamsin embodies one of my favorite character tropes, and that is "the only way out is through". She is feisty and driven and won't let little things like tempests, blizzards, and warring nations stop her. Her motivations make so much more sense here than they did in The Glittering Court and her reason for doing everything feels more legitimate than Adelaide's. From the moment we meet her, there is no doubt in our minds what her goal is, and everything she does is in service of that goal.
While things in her book seemed to happen around Adelaide, it really felt more like Tamsin was happening to the things in her book. She didn't just sit back and move passively through her ordeal like I occasionally felt Adelaide did, she "got things done" and she didn't care who she had to go through to make that happen.
One of the biggest problems I had with The Glittering Court was that the book was riddled with lazy world building and plot holes you could drive freight trains through. In this book, there are really only two instances of that happen. One at the outset of the book, where we essentially gloss over the first hundred pages of The Glittering Court without so much as a "last time on-" and at the very end, where the three stories intersect and there is little done to explain any of the other two plotlines. The author expects you to have read the other books and does nothing to alleviate the situation if you didn't. Beyond that though, Tamsin's story felt so much more COMPLETE than Adelaide's did, and I think a big part of that was tiptoeing around those other plotline that were supposed to hook us, but we couldn't follow.
With Tamsin, just about everything is compact. From the moment she gets on the Grey Gull, she and her survival and her trials are the only thing that matter. And that makes the story feel more like a complete book than The Glittering Court did.
The downside to this, is we don't get to see her interact with Adelaide and Mira hardly at all. She thinks about them, but at no point do we really get to see the three interact the way we did in The Glittering Court, and I found myself really missing that.
I also loved Jago. Cedric was great and interesting and he's a wonderful romantic lead. But Jago is such a perfect compliment to Tamsin's fiery nature that reading him and Tamsin was always a treat. And where I occasionally wished I could be reading about Cedric instead of Adelaide, I never once wished I was reading from some other point of view than Tamsin's. He's just the right amount of interesting and charismatic.
And I think we can all agree, screw the Heirs of Uros.
char9222's review against another edition
4.0
This book was my favourite one of them all! It didn't have the pirates from the second book, or the same amount of pretty ball gowns from the first book, but it had so much more of Adoria. It was wonderful to get to know Adoria in another way than Adelaide and Mira's stories.
The first love interest, Gideon. He is just so... innocent... And stupid... Like, he says to Tamsin that THEY could do things to fulfil HIS dream - NOO!!!
NO! And also, he won't accept Tamsin being. Why?? How can he not see what's wrong with ???
But then there's Jago. He's a great character, but I don't remember anything specific being told about his appearances (which is a minor inconvenience), except for his hair being light, and him having one green and one brown eye. I don't remember any age being mentioned either, and thus he reminds me an awful lot of Jack Sparrow... Tamsin is 20, and Sparrow is way older, soooo.... But I still love them as a couple :D.
This story is the best one, and I'll definitely recommend it! Tamsin is also my favourite character of the three, and if I'm to read the series once more, I'll definitely jump over the first book 0:).
The first love interest, Gideon. He is just so... innocent... And stupid... Like, he says to Tamsin that THEY could do things to fulfil HIS dream - NOO!!!
You know how to get through to people, and we could do amazing things together to fulfil my dream.
NO! And also, he won't accept Tamsin being
Spoiler
Merry's motherSpoiler
them pretending to be sistersBut then there's Jago. He's a great character, but I don't remember anything specific being told about his appearances (which is a minor inconvenience), except for his hair being light, and him having one green and one brown eye. I don't remember any age being mentioned either, and thus he reminds me an awful lot of Jack Sparrow... Tamsin is 20, and Sparrow is way older, soooo.... But I still love them as a couple :D.
This story is the best one, and I'll definitely recommend it! Tamsin is also my favourite character of the three, and if I'm to read the series once more, I'll definitely jump over the first book 0:).
athenaevarinya's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed how the author tied the major events that happened in all three books together with each girl's story. I wish there was an extra chapter in Tasmin's book to give us a view of the lives of the girls a few months later.