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3.34 AVERAGE
3.34 AVERAGE
This book is all over the place and dreadfully slow, but I liked the premise. I also really liked the main character, and most of the side characters, although most felt a little too surface level. It is evident that this is a companion series, and the wholes that leaves can't be ignored. I won't rant about the classification of the book because I can see how it could be marketed as a very,very low fantasy. It's the world building that lacked, with an over reliance on American-British history, but it's not the first time I've read something that's the same way. People write what they know. I miss Mead's kick butt heroines of her past books, and think we saw peeks of that, but again, on a surface level only.
Ik vond dit echt een leuk boek, maar ik vond de liefde niet echt heel passioneel. Ik werd er niet warm of koud van. Daarnaast vond ik het verhaal eigenlijk wel mooi afgesloten en voel ik niet echt de drang om deel 2 te lezen.
Real review coming soon, loved it and need to organize my thoughts lol
First things first, if you plan on reading this book because you are hoping it will be like Mead's VA series and her bloodlines series, don't. The VA series and Glittering court series are very, astronomically different. If you compare the two, you will automatically not like this book. With that being said, it is a good book in its own right.
Things to note before you read:
1. It is very fast paced. I typically like this in books but it even moved a bit quickly for my preference. Specifically the last 50 pages. The fast pace made for a quick, rushed ending. I didn't like that. It wasn't a bad ending, really but it was too fast for my liking.
2. There are many characters, subplots, and historical/ current political insights in the book. I feel much of that wasn't needed. Specifically the historical/ current political insights. Mead name drops many characters and then will bring them up again 70 pages later which leaves you wondering who she's talking about. There are also several different kinds of groups in this book. In addition to many different names of towns that each group belongs to, along with a few different religions. All of the information on religion, groups, and minor characters leads the reader into territory that I don't feel is necessary.
3. The book reads as a historical romance/ historical fiction. Therefore, "controversial" topics are brought up. Historically these issues weren't considered issues but if you associate the book with a modern time mind set, it might offend you. I've read a few reviews from people saying they were offended by the "crass" language used in the book. That doesn't make sense to me considering the feel of the book is set in the 1700's, maybe even earlier. The "slurs" in the book (as one review called them) can't be viewed through the lens of modern times, otherwise it is easier to get offended. So if you tend to get offended by terms such as "savages" or "heretics" and themes of colonization, religious upheaval, religious tension, and civil wars then the book may not be for you. The book also very briefly touches on a lesbian relationship and the narrator finds this peculiar, not necessarily wrong, but odd, which may offend some readers. But if you account for the time period this book is set in it makes sense; same sex relationships were not openly talked about, therefore it makes sense that the narrator would find said relationship to be peculiar. Once again, this shouldn't be seen as offensive writing because it is a book that takes place in a historical setting, NOT a modern one. Historically speaking, these themes are completely normal, and should not be seen as so offensive that it deter you from reading the book.
4. To be honest, this book was rather predictable. I love Mead's work. I've been reading her works for 8 years now. So I'm not sure if I have caught on to her writing style which has made it easier to predict her books or if the writing itself made it easy. But fair warning, I found it predictable the entire way through.
5. In the beginning the relationship between Adelaide and Cedric was strained. However as they got to know each other it became much more smooth and natural. My only complaint in regard to their relationship was the focus on the physical attraction rather than the emotional one. It seemed like majority of the relationship was them feeling a physical attraction towards each other over an emotional attachment.
Things to note before you read:
1. It is very fast paced. I typically like this in books but it even moved a bit quickly for my preference. Specifically the last 50 pages. The fast pace made for a quick, rushed ending. I didn't like that. It wasn't a bad ending, really but it was too fast for my liking.
2. There are many characters, subplots, and historical/ current political insights in the book. I feel much of that wasn't needed. Specifically the historical/ current political insights. Mead name drops many characters and then will bring them up again 70 pages later which leaves you wondering who she's talking about. There are also several different kinds of groups in this book. In addition to many different names of towns that each group belongs to, along with a few different religions. All of the information on religion, groups, and minor characters leads the reader into territory that I don't feel is necessary.
3. The book reads as a historical romance/ historical fiction. Therefore, "controversial" topics are brought up. Historically these issues weren't considered issues but if you associate the book with a modern time mind set, it might offend you. I've read a few reviews from people saying they were offended by the "crass" language used in the book. That doesn't make sense to me considering the feel of the book is set in the 1700's, maybe even earlier. The "slurs" in the book (as one review called them) can't be viewed through the lens of modern times, otherwise it is easier to get offended. So if you tend to get offended by terms such as "savages" or "heretics" and themes of colonization, religious upheaval, religious tension, and civil wars then the book may not be for you. The book also very briefly touches on a lesbian relationship and the narrator finds this peculiar, not necessarily wrong, but odd, which may offend some readers. But if you account for the time period this book is set in it makes sense; same sex relationships were not openly talked about, therefore it makes sense that the narrator would find said relationship to be peculiar. Once again, this shouldn't be seen as offensive writing because it is a book that takes place in a historical setting, NOT a modern one. Historically speaking, these themes are completely normal, and should not be seen as so offensive that it deter you from reading the book.
4. To be honest, this book was rather predictable. I love Mead's work. I've been reading her works for 8 years now. So I'm not sure if I have caught on to her writing style which has made it easier to predict her books or if the writing itself made it easy. But fair warning, I found it predictable the entire way through.
5. In the beginning the relationship between Adelaide and Cedric was strained. However as they got to know each other it became much more smooth and natural. My only complaint in regard to their relationship was the focus on the physical attraction rather than the emotional one. It seemed like majority of the relationship was them feeling a physical attraction towards each other over an emotional attachment.
I am in love with this world and this cast off characters. they have all the life and history of a week thought out series and I truly enjoy the main character which can be the hard part.
my first richelle mead read. pleasantly surprised
4.5
4.5
Two Stars, at the most. But can I get a refund on this book. That's mean but it's the truth. (:
An interesting concept but the pacing suffers from a lack of a clear antagonist until the final quarter of the book.
I cannot wait for the second book in this series!!! It has everything I could want in a book! It's got forbidden love, history and adventure. I want to know more about the lives of everyone. They all come from such different backgrounds and leave the reader with very little information which only makes me want to know more.
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The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead is one of this month's most anticipated YA novels. Did it deserve all that attention? I personally don't think so. My recommendation for this book would be to borrow it from the library if you're interested in reading it. Or if you enjoyed The Selection series and/or the Matched series, then this book is might be for you. But I personally prefer more grit than this book has to offer.
The Glittering Court tells the story of Adelaide, a countess who poses as her servant in order to escape an arranged marriage and enters the Glittering Court. The Glittering Court is both a business and school, designed to transform impoverished girls into educated, high class women suitable to be married to the elite of the overseas New World. So in essence, our heroine leaves one arranged marriage for another in hopes of having more choice in the matter. Only Cedric, the son of the Glittering Court's proprietor, knows Adelaide's true identity, but he is carrying a secret of his own.
This is another one of those romantic novels where I'm not sure why it was marketed and labelled as a fantasy. When I hear the word fantasy, I expect something fantastical. This book offers no magic, no unique creatures, no castles, nothing particularly otherworldly at all. I'm not sure whether to classify it as dystopian, western, alternative history, or simply general fiction. So we'll settle with romance.
There is large reference to different religions and their methods of worship, some considered pagan. However, these were extremely underdeveloped. In fact, the world building was pretty null and void, hence the genre confusion. Despite the importance of religion in the story, I can't tell you much about the religions of this world at all. The only clear thing in the book is that Osfrid is a representation of Elizabethan England while the New World, Adoria, symbolizes colonial and frontier America.
The writing in the book isn't bad, but it isn't particularly compelling. In fact, I'd say the first half of the book is fairly forgettable. It's basically a glorified, book version of the tv show The Bachelor. It's not much beyond the girls trying on dresses, going to parties, and talking about the rich men they someday hope to marry. And of course, we see Cedric and Adelaide's blossoming but forbidden romance. Some comedy results from Adelaide's attempts to conceal her identity and pretend to be part of the working class. But all in all, it was a bit boring.
The second half was much more enjoyable for me once the story focused less on the romance and more on the characters making lives for themselves in the New World. I wouldn't call it riveting, but definitely more interesting. Adelaide's character also gained some more emotional depth as she goes from the comforts of manors and ball gowns to living frontier life in the wilderness.
I like grit, remember?
The book ends with a few loose ends for the secondary characters, which I'm assuming means that they will take the reins in the planned sequels. I doubt I will read them. And if I do, I won't be spending the money on the book till after I've read it.
To each their own.
Tootle loo, darlings! Till next time!
The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead is one of this month's most anticipated YA novels. Did it deserve all that attention? I personally don't think so. My recommendation for this book would be to borrow it from the library if you're interested in reading it. Or if you enjoyed The Selection series and/or the Matched series, then this book is might be for you. But I personally prefer more grit than this book has to offer.
The Glittering Court tells the story of Adelaide, a countess who poses as her servant in order to escape an arranged marriage and enters the Glittering Court. The Glittering Court is both a business and school, designed to transform impoverished girls into educated, high class women suitable to be married to the elite of the overseas New World. So in essence, our heroine leaves one arranged marriage for another in hopes of having more choice in the matter. Only Cedric, the son of the Glittering Court's proprietor, knows Adelaide's true identity, but he is carrying a secret of his own.
This is another one of those romantic novels where I'm not sure why it was marketed and labelled as a fantasy. When I hear the word fantasy, I expect something fantastical. This book offers no magic, no unique creatures, no castles, nothing particularly otherworldly at all. I'm not sure whether to classify it as dystopian, western, alternative history, or simply general fiction. So we'll settle with romance.
There is large reference to different religions and their methods of worship, some considered pagan. However, these were extremely underdeveloped. In fact, the world building was pretty null and void, hence the genre confusion. Despite the importance of religion in the story, I can't tell you much about the religions of this world at all. The only clear thing in the book is that Osfrid is a representation of Elizabethan England while the New World, Adoria, symbolizes colonial and frontier America.
The writing in the book isn't bad, but it isn't particularly compelling. In fact, I'd say the first half of the book is fairly forgettable. It's basically a glorified, book version of the tv show The Bachelor. It's not much beyond the girls trying on dresses, going to parties, and talking about the rich men they someday hope to marry. And of course, we see Cedric and Adelaide's blossoming but forbidden romance. Some comedy results from Adelaide's attempts to conceal her identity and pretend to be part of the working class. But all in all, it was a bit boring.
The second half was much more enjoyable for me once the story focused less on the romance and more on the characters making lives for themselves in the New World. I wouldn't call it riveting, but definitely more interesting. Adelaide's character also gained some more emotional depth as she goes from the comforts of manors and ball gowns to living frontier life in the wilderness.
I like grit, remember?
The book ends with a few loose ends for the secondary characters, which I'm assuming means that they will take the reins in the planned sequels. I doubt I will read them. And if I do, I won't be spending the money on the book till after I've read it.
To each their own.
Tootle loo, darlings! Till next time!