Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.34 AVERAGE
3.34 AVERAGE
BLOG | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | STORE
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!
adventurous
challenging
emotional
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Me 10 years ago probably would have loved this book. At this stage in my life, I was left with too many of the following moments thought the story:
What the heck?
Where did this come from?
Who is that again?
Well isn't that convenient?
Wait, that's supposed to be a major plot point?
That character doesn't have a larger role?
When did that happen?
What is this book supposed to be about?
It felt like there were too many details about characters and plot points and world building that were glossed over and taken for granted. On the other hand, there was too much detail and attention given to what were ultimately red herrings that didn't have anything to do with the plot.
The main character and her love interest were about as blasé as they come.
What the heck?
Where did this come from?
Who is that again?
Well isn't that convenient?
Wait, that's supposed to be a major plot point?
That character doesn't have a larger role?
When did that happen?
What is this book supposed to be about?
It felt like there were too many details about characters and plot points and world building that were glossed over and taken for granted. On the other hand, there was too much detail and attention given to what were ultimately red herrings that didn't have anything to do with the plot.
The main character and her love interest were about as blasé as they come.
adventurous
lighthearted
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
A good read about a strong woman who wants get away from the upper class world that will marry her off just to keep name and fortune. But, by escaping her world she falls into another that still treats her as a possession and not as the strong smart woman she is. Can she escape those ties before it's too late? And by breaking away can she keep her friends and the new found love she never thought she'd have?
2.5 stars
Better than I expected, but I expected this to be really bad. It's no great novel that people will be talking about for years to come, but I did find myself reading it pretty quickly. I do hate books, though, that are pseudo-historical fiction like this. Either set it in reality or invent a completely new world. There's really no point in inventing new countries that are basically just England and America.
Recommended only for friends who enjoy reading pretty bad YA novels from time to time.
Better than I expected, but I expected this to be really bad. It's no great novel that people will be talking about for years to come, but I did find myself reading it pretty quickly. I do hate books, though, that are pseudo-historical fiction like this. Either set it in reality or invent a completely new world. There's really no point in inventing new countries that are basically just England and America.
Recommended only for friends who enjoy reading pretty bad YA novels from time to time.
I tried to get into this one AT LEAST three times.
Sorry to say, not for me.
Still, Richelle Mead is brilliant.
Highly recommend her Vampire Academy and Georgina Kincaid series.
Sorry to say, not for me.
Still, Richelle Mead is brilliant.
Highly recommend her Vampire Academy and Georgina Kincaid series.
This was a hard book to categorize. It's sort of historical fiction but yet it is its own world. This book takes things from Victorian England, the gold rush of the 1800's in America, with Scotsman and religious persecution thrown in. Lady Elizabeth is as blueblood as you can get, but after her parents' death she is cash poor. Her grandmother is trying to convince her to accept an arranged marriage with a rich cousin who is awful.
When Elizabeth's maid is accepted to be in the Glittering Court, basically a place where poor girls are given instructions on how to be a lady. They are then ranked and shipped over to the New World to become a wife to one of the rich overabundance of men across the sea in the New World. Lady Elizabeth decides to switch places with Adelaide after meeting the handsome Cedric Thorn the son of the owner of the Glittering Court. She wants the chance to escape and create her own life in the New World. The story follows Adelaide (Lady Elizabeth) as she tries to hide who she is all the while falling in love with the forbidden Cedric and trying to become the most sought after bride in the New World.
I liked this story. It was a little long in places. The story was such a hodgepodge of history and yet not, because this was a make-believe world. There were a few things in it that I didn't like. On the whole though, it was interesting if a bit predictable. The most interesting character is Mira. She is the least explained and the most intriguing. I'd probably pick up the next book. If you want a fluffy read, this is it. (I don't really get the Selection comparison, because the only thing the two have in common is that there are women competing to get the best catch of the men, but other than that, they're totally different.) I wouldn't recommend this book to young teenagers. It's a semi-clean read because at least two characters wait until they are married to have sex (yea for that!). Just FYI, there is mention of birth control, one of the minor characters is gay, and there are a few intense make-out scenes.
When Elizabeth's maid is accepted to be in the Glittering Court, basically a place where poor girls are given instructions on how to be a lady. They are then ranked and shipped over to the New World to become a wife to one of the rich overabundance of men across the sea in the New World. Lady Elizabeth decides to switch places with Adelaide after meeting the handsome Cedric Thorn the son of the owner of the Glittering Court. She wants the chance to escape and create her own life in the New World. The story follows Adelaide (Lady Elizabeth) as she tries to hide who she is all the while falling in love with the forbidden Cedric and trying to become the most sought after bride in the New World.
I liked this story. It was a little long in places. The story was such a hodgepodge of history and yet not, because this was a make-believe world. There were a few things in it that I didn't like. On the whole though, it was interesting if a bit predictable. The most interesting character is Mira. She is the least explained and the most intriguing. I'd probably pick up the next book. If you want a fluffy read, this is it. (I don't really get the Selection comparison, because the only thing the two have in common is that there are women competing to get the best catch of the men, but other than that, they're totally different.) I wouldn't recommend this book to young teenagers. It's a semi-clean read because at least two characters wait until they are married to have sex (yea for that!). Just FYI, there is mention of birth control, one of the minor characters is gay, and there are a few intense make-out scenes.