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pussreboots's review
challenging
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
lisagoe's review against another edition
2.0
Really struggled to like this but the stream of consciousness style and the jumpiness of the plotting kept bothering me. I think it has a market, but it's not me.
theloveofinches's review against another edition
4.0
I was astonished by the absolute sap in this considering how dark it mostly is. a great time.
DO NOT DISCOUNT THIS BOOK BASED ON UNINFORMED REVIEWERS. anyone who makes it halfway through (possibly even less) knows that the commentary from the "author" about how terrible the book is and what needs to be changed "for the next draft" is not actually from Moskowitz. I understand DNFing a book because it's not your style, but don't accuse an author of something totally false just because you're too lazy to find out this is actually a unique, heartbreaking, lovely story. sometimes books are meant to be enjoyed in their entirety, and revealing all the twists in the first 10 pages is, idk, a bad thing? maybe Moskowitz wanted to do something new and unexpected and interesting instead of rehashing all the same romance tropes like some of YA culture's fave authors get praised for. no one will read this. but I feel better having said it. don't assume! it doesn't make anyone happy! the end the end the end the end the end
DO NOT DISCOUNT THIS BOOK BASED ON UNINFORMED REVIEWERS. anyone who makes it halfway through (possibly even less) knows that the commentary from the "author" about how terrible the book is and what needs to be changed "for the next draft" is not actually from Moskowitz. I understand DNFing a book because it's not your style, but don't accuse an author of something totally false just because you're too lazy to find out this is actually a unique, heartbreaking, lovely story. sometimes books are meant to be enjoyed in their entirety, and revealing all the twists in the first 10 pages is, idk, a bad thing? maybe Moskowitz wanted to do something new and unexpected and interesting instead of rehashing all the same romance tropes like some of YA culture's fave authors get praised for. no one will read this. but I feel better having said it. don't assume! it doesn't make anyone happy! the end the end the end the end the end
linkwithlinda's review against another edition
2.0
Meh. I get the experimentation with an unreliable narrator who breaks (the fourth wall?), but it just wasn't a good story.
ciaralo's review
4.0
GUYS. GUYS. THIS BOOK THOUGH. I know a lot of bloggers dnfed it but honestly, this book was messed up and weird and incredible. I wish I read this for an English class cause I want to write an essay on it. Full review to come but ugh love.
FULL REVIEW:
I went into this book a bit apprehensively. The concept sounded imaginative, but I saw lots of people dnf-ing and got a little concerned. I try not to let others influence how I read, but I can't deny those dnfs made me nervous. I really didn't need to though because A History of Glitter and Blood completely enthralled me. From the start, I was engaged, in love, and enchanted. This book was unlike anything I've ever read before and, even months later, I'm still fascinated by it.
Although I personally loved this book, I can see where people might not. It's weird. The writing style is jumpy at points, the concept slightly disturbing and not easy to read. The beginning is tough to get into, the structure takes some mental adjusting, but it is so worth it. There was just so much going on in this book, in the very best way. I was trying to describe this book and all it's complexities and it's just so hard. Themes of racism, sexism, class structure, and more were expertly woven into the fabric of this story. It wasn't like being hit over the head with a Message, but rather being brought along, being completely immersed in it and suddenly realizing just what it all meant.
I really enjoyed how this book was structured. The story went back and forth in time, but the flashbacks just created a fuller picture of the characters and plot. There were pictures and excerpts which gave it a kind of history book feel, and made everything seem more real. I didn't feel like I was reading a novel, but rather an account of a very real war featuring very real characters.
And those characters! Scrap stole my heart and pissed me off all at the same time. I adored watching Beckan transform throughout this novel and Josha coming into his own. Even Tier who I was not really a fan of at first really won me over. This book was gritty and raw and the characters didn't come out of this war unscathed. They were each impacted in their own way by what they went through. They didn't always know how to help each other, but they tried. There was this bond between them that was so incredible to read about. These characters honestly felt so real. They may have been fairies and gnomes and tightropers but they were realistic and moving and powerful. I really can't express how much I loved them.
I feel like there's so many different avenues to view this book from, so many positive aspects. I've heard lots of talk about the sex positive plot, its discussion of war, and so forth. But the thing I loved most about this book was the exploration of how history is written and how stories are told. The narrator (who I'm not going to reveal even though it is pretty obvious) struggles with how to write the story. There's commentary throughout the book as they grapple with how to tell what has happened to them. This idea of the perspective of history, how skewered it can be, isn't a new one. But it was fascinating. How was this story being told? How can we really tell what is the truth? Although the narrator tries, there's no way for them to completely detach themselves from this recounting of their story. History is full of emotion because it's about people; they just take that part out of textbooks. This book was like a diary, a scrapbook, a glimpse into the life of these beautiful people and the horrors of war they had to face.
Honestly, I could write an essay on this book. This review doesn't even touch on half the things I want to talk about. I can never cover everything enchanting and powerful about this book. I just urge you to give it a chance. It's an incredible, powerful read that I love with all my heart.
- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)
FULL REVIEW:
I went into this book a bit apprehensively. The concept sounded imaginative, but I saw lots of people dnf-ing and got a little concerned. I try not to let others influence how I read, but I can't deny those dnfs made me nervous. I really didn't need to though because A History of Glitter and Blood completely enthralled me. From the start, I was engaged, in love, and enchanted. This book was unlike anything I've ever read before and, even months later, I'm still fascinated by it.
Although I personally loved this book, I can see where people might not. It's weird. The writing style is jumpy at points, the concept slightly disturbing and not easy to read. The beginning is tough to get into, the structure takes some mental adjusting, but it is so worth it. There was just so much going on in this book, in the very best way. I was trying to describe this book and all it's complexities and it's just so hard. Themes of racism, sexism, class structure, and more were expertly woven into the fabric of this story. It wasn't like being hit over the head with a Message, but rather being brought along, being completely immersed in it and suddenly realizing just what it all meant.
I really enjoyed how this book was structured. The story went back and forth in time, but the flashbacks just created a fuller picture of the characters and plot. There were pictures and excerpts which gave it a kind of history book feel, and made everything seem more real. I didn't feel like I was reading a novel, but rather an account of a very real war featuring very real characters.
And those characters! Scrap stole my heart and pissed me off all at the same time. I adored watching Beckan transform throughout this novel and Josha coming into his own. Even Tier who I was not really a fan of at first really won me over. This book was gritty and raw and the characters didn't come out of this war unscathed. They were each impacted in their own way by what they went through. They didn't always know how to help each other, but they tried. There was this bond between them that was so incredible to read about. These characters honestly felt so real. They may have been fairies and gnomes and tightropers but they were realistic and moving and powerful. I really can't express how much I loved them.
I feel like there's so many different avenues to view this book from, so many positive aspects. I've heard lots of talk about the sex positive plot, its discussion of war, and so forth. But the thing I loved most about this book was the exploration of how history is written and how stories are told. The narrator (who I'm not going to reveal even though it is pretty obvious) struggles with how to write the story. There's commentary throughout the book as they grapple with how to tell what has happened to them. This idea of the perspective of history, how skewered it can be, isn't a new one. But it was fascinating. How was this story being told? How can we really tell what is the truth? Although the narrator tries, there's no way for them to completely detach themselves from this recounting of their story. History is full of emotion because it's about people; they just take that part out of textbooks. This book was like a diary, a scrapbook, a glimpse into the life of these beautiful people and the horrors of war they had to face.
Honestly, I could write an essay on this book. This review doesn't even touch on half the things I want to talk about. I can never cover everything enchanting and powerful about this book. I just urge you to give it a chance. It's an incredible, powerful read that I love with all my heart.
- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)
alienor's review against another edition
I fucking hate when that happens.
I hate not finishing books.
I hate not finishing arcs even more.
I hate not finishing arcs from my favorite authors even more.
BUT.
While I adored Teeth and loved Gone, Gone, Gone, the truth is, I can't do this. I can't deal with my unability to feel connected or interested in this one. Maybe it wasn't for me. I don't really know, but oh, well. I shall try again on vacations, but now? Not happening, sorry.
*arc kindly provided by Chronicle Books through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
I hate not finishing books.
I hate not finishing arcs even more.
I hate not finishing arcs from my favorite authors even more.
BUT.
While I adored Teeth and loved Gone, Gone, Gone, the truth is, I can't do this. I can't deal with my unability to feel connected or interested in this one. Maybe it wasn't for me. I don't really know, but oh, well. I shall try again on vacations, but now? Not happening, sorry.
*arc kindly provided by Chronicle Books through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
ksjohnson's review against another edition
1.0
I made it 20% through the book...
I found myself somewhere after Chapter 5 still wondering what was really going on and still really struggling to follow the plot line...
It may be an amazing book, and I'm sure other readers greatly enjoy it! It just wasn't the book for me.
I found myself somewhere after Chapter 5 still wondering what was really going on and still really struggling to follow the plot line...
It may be an amazing book, and I'm sure other readers greatly enjoy it! It just wasn't the book for me.
thepaperreels's review against another edition
I don't know. I... don't know.
DNF.
I'm a fan of the writing style, actually. But this is too messy, too cluttered for me to handle. I'm in the middle already and I was still lost. I was really excited about this that's why I'm feeling sucky right now.
dragoneyes451's review
3.0
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
First and foremost, thank you to Chronicle Books for this ARC. The synopsis had interested me previously, so when I saw it on display at BEA, I started chatting with some of the publishing staff. After a few minutes trying to hash out the book together (It's about fairies! And gnomes! And the gnomes eat the fairies and there's a war! But then they fall in love?!), they pulled out a galley for me and asked me to figure it out for myself and report back!
I'm still not sure how to describe A History of Glitter and Blood. It was... Weird. Odd. Bizarre. Dark. Interesting. Strange. Different. THERE'S the word I want, different.
The synopsis does a LOUSY job of summing up this book. A History of Glitter and Blood really is about fairies and gnomes (and tight-walkers), and there really is a war. But the war is more of a supporting subplot and not the main storyline, if that makes sense. The true story here is really about the characters and their interactions and relationships. This book is pretty dark, and involves some elements I wasn't expecting, like prostitution and polygamy. FYI, the storyline does revolve around sexual themes, but again, isn't the main plotline, if that makes any sense at all (probably not, because this book is crazy). The world building is pretty weak, but that's because, like I said, the point of the story is the characters and their relationships, not what's happening around them.
I won't lie, I struggled quite a bit with the way A History of Glitter and Blood is written. It's a total jarring mess at times, to put it frankly. There were a couple of times in the beginning when I seriously considered putting the book down because it was SO DISJOINTED, but then something would happen that would make me want to read just a bit more and figure out where it was headed. 'Cause uh, it's all real confusing at first, and the narrator is ENTIRELY UNRELIABLE. But if you stick with it, you learn why the writing feels so crazy, and then it actually all starts to make sense in a bizarre way. At one point I thought to myself, "Huh, the author was kind of brilliant with how she wrote this book!"
By the end, I was FEELING SO MUCH for the characters, and I think that was the point. I just wanted them to find their happy ending!!! I thought the court scene was genius, and by that time I was doing in-my-head cheering for the characters.
Overall, this definitely ranks up there for oddest/strangest/most different books I've read in a while. It's not going to be popular with a lot of people. You have to be looking for something totally different and be willing to push through the crazy writing and stick with the book. I think most people who DNF this book will do so because they didn't stick with it long enough to get what the author was trying to do. If you think you're wanting something different and don't mind hanging in there, then you might enjoy this one in the end.
This review was originally posted on Books Are My Thing
First and foremost, thank you to Chronicle Books for this ARC. The synopsis had interested me previously, so when I saw it on display at BEA, I started chatting with some of the publishing staff. After a few minutes trying to hash out the book together (It's about fairies! And gnomes! And the gnomes eat the fairies and there's a war! But then they fall in love?!), they pulled out a galley for me and asked me to figure it out for myself and report back!
I'm still not sure how to describe A History of Glitter and Blood. It was... Weird. Odd. Bizarre. Dark. Interesting. Strange. Different. THERE'S the word I want, different.
The synopsis does a LOUSY job of summing up this book. A History of Glitter and Blood really is about fairies and gnomes (and tight-walkers), and there really is a war. But the war is more of a supporting subplot and not the main storyline, if that makes sense. The true story here is really about the characters and their interactions and relationships. This book is pretty dark, and involves some elements I wasn't expecting, like prostitution and polygamy. FYI, the storyline does revolve around sexual themes, but again, isn't the main plotline, if that makes any sense at all (probably not, because this book is crazy). The world building is pretty weak, but that's because, like I said, the point of the story is the characters and their relationships, not what's happening around them.
I won't lie, I struggled quite a bit with the way A History of Glitter and Blood is written. It's a total jarring mess at times, to put it frankly. There were a couple of times in the beginning when I seriously considered putting the book down because it was SO DISJOINTED, but then something would happen that would make me want to read just a bit more and figure out where it was headed. 'Cause uh, it's all real confusing at first, and the narrator is ENTIRELY UNRELIABLE. But if you stick with it, you learn why the writing feels so crazy, and then it actually all starts to make sense in a bizarre way. At one point I thought to myself, "Huh, the author was kind of brilliant with how she wrote this book!"
By the end, I was FEELING SO MUCH for the characters, and I think that was the point. I just wanted them to find their happy ending!!! I thought the court scene was genius, and by that time I was doing in-my-head cheering for the characters.
Overall, this definitely ranks up there for oddest/strangest/most different books I've read in a while. It's not going to be popular with a lot of people. You have to be looking for something totally different and be willing to push through the crazy writing and stick with the book. I think most people who DNF this book will do so because they didn't stick with it long enough to get what the author was trying to do. If you think you're wanting something different and don't mind hanging in there, then you might enjoy this one in the end.
This review was originally posted on Books Are My Thing
lauroberge's review against another edition
3.0
It's definitely a weird book, but I still liked it! It wasn't what I was expecting, but that isn't always bad.
I was confused when I started reading because of the narrator. There are parts like "this sucks, to change in the final draft" that took my interest off, because it was out of place and confusing. I realized later that this book is actually an attempt at a novel from a fictional character - I know, confusing - and that those are the fictional narrator's words. While I didn't get it at first, I came to love this part of the novel, because it makes the narrator unreliable and it had me questionning everything that happened when he wasn't there, since it could be complete bullsh*t.
I had trouble understanding the characters, because there is a lack of background for some of them. Also, since they're young, there's a lot of swearing, which I found weird sometimes. It felt out of place, especially when they were out of Beckan's mouth. I think the characters I liked the most were Rig and Tier, because of their relationship issues and how realistic they are, but, for them as well as for the other characters, I hated the fact that the narrator is unreliable, since it made me wonder which part of what's written is true and which one isn't. It was fun to wonder, but when you're trying to get to know characters and everything you read about them might be completely false, it's confusing and irritating.
One part of this book that I liked was understanding the relationships between fairies, tightropers and gnomes. I liked how interesting fairies are and how rare it is for them to be whole, as weird as it sounds, because I found that to be very peculiar. The way they start to accept each other in Ferrum is amazing and I liked how they used each other's abilities. I wish the ending was better for the population in general though, but I gess you can't always get what you want.
I found it really weird how everyone seems obsessed with the idea of love in this book. I know part of it is because of the unreliable narrator, but I felt like the l-word is pronounced a billion times in this book, in platonic or non-platonic ways, although it's almost never clear. I was always confused by who is in love with who because of that. Also, sex is a big part of this book, since Cricket, Beckan and Scrap are prostitutes, which is something I was really not expecting when I picked this book up. There's a lot of mentions about sex, although they're not really explicit.
The story itself is good, but it's a bit slow. I liked how the war changed aspects of their lives and how the main characters reacted to them, but sometimes Josha and Scrap seemed to react too much. Beckan is strong and she leads her pack very well, which I liked to see. I was suprised by plot twists towards the end of the book, because I was absolutely not expecting them. The story's interesting and it kept me wanting to know what would happen, but I feel like a big part of it is about the past and not much actually happens. I liked the pictures and excerpts included in the pages, but some of them were unnecessary, in my opinion.
I enjoyed reading this book, my only problem with it is that I have a long list of "but" sentences to add to this.
(Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
(You can find this review on my review blog: http://lauromantique.blogspot.ca/2015/08/a-history-of-glitter-and-blood-hannah.html )
I was confused when I started reading because of the narrator. There are parts like "this sucks, to change in the final draft" that took my interest off, because it was out of place and confusing. I realized later that this book is actually an attempt at a novel from a fictional character - I know, confusing - and that those are the fictional narrator's words. While I didn't get it at first, I came to love this part of the novel, because it makes the narrator unreliable and it had me questionning everything that happened when he wasn't there, since it could be complete bullsh*t.
I had trouble understanding the characters, because there is a lack of background for some of them. Also, since they're young, there's a lot of swearing, which I found weird sometimes. It felt out of place, especially when they were out of Beckan's mouth. I think the characters I liked the most were Rig and Tier, because of their relationship issues and how realistic they are, but, for them as well as for the other characters, I hated the fact that the narrator is unreliable, since it made me wonder which part of what's written is true and which one isn't. It was fun to wonder, but when you're trying to get to know characters and everything you read about them might be completely false, it's confusing and irritating.
One part of this book that I liked was understanding the relationships between fairies, tightropers and gnomes. I liked how interesting fairies are and how rare it is for them to be whole, as weird as it sounds, because I found that to be very peculiar. The way they start to accept each other in Ferrum is amazing and I liked how they used each other's abilities. I wish the ending was better for the population in general though, but I gess you can't always get what you want.
I found it really weird how everyone seems obsessed with the idea of love in this book. I know part of it is because of the unreliable narrator, but I felt like the l-word is pronounced a billion times in this book, in platonic or non-platonic ways, although it's almost never clear. I was always confused by who is in love with who because of that. Also, sex is a big part of this book, since Cricket, Beckan and Scrap are prostitutes, which is something I was really not expecting when I picked this book up. There's a lot of mentions about sex, although they're not really explicit.
The story itself is good, but it's a bit slow. I liked how the war changed aspects of their lives and how the main characters reacted to them, but sometimes Josha and Scrap seemed to react too much. Beckan is strong and she leads her pack very well, which I liked to see. I was suprised by plot twists towards the end of the book, because I was absolutely not expecting them. The story's interesting and it kept me wanting to know what would happen, but I feel like a big part of it is about the past and not much actually happens. I liked the pictures and excerpts included in the pages, but some of them were unnecessary, in my opinion.
I enjoyed reading this book, my only problem with it is that I have a long list of "but" sentences to add to this.
(Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
(You can find this review on my review blog: http://lauromantique.blogspot.ca/2015/08/a-history-of-glitter-and-blood-hannah.html )