Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.34 AVERAGE
3.34 AVERAGE
I audiobooked this one and found myself so pleasantly surprised! I have not read any of Richelle Mead's other books, so I wasn't sure what I should be expecting, but I found myself really gripped by these characters and this world. And I like that the main character and her man got together about halfway through or so and the story continued on - I feel like many books of this style focus on the couple getting together and getting their happily ever after. In this book, it was about life after the "happy ending" and how that ending isn't quite so easy. I really loved the female friendships in this book, specifically between Adelaide and Mira. I also loved the religious element because it gave the novel a historical tone that made it feel all the more real. I see that it says Glittering Court #1 so I was curious to see where this series was going to go - but I see that the next installment is going to focus on Mira and I can't wait!! She was easily the most interesting character and I can't wait to find out more about her past and what's in store for her.
Posted onBumble Bee Books.
I was really excited to read this book because I loved Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy series. This book was promoted to be like The Selection (which I love) meets Reign (which I’m dying to watch).
I absolutely loved the first half of the book. From the time “Adelaide” leaves Osfrid and joins TGC, I was hooked. I really enjoyed how Osfrid was like Victorian England- the dresses, the societal rules, etc. I loved how sassy and independent Adelaide is and how she takes her life by the reigns. Even at TGC where she is supposed to be demure and a perfect lady, she doesn’t let them break her spirit. She has to learn humility and what it is like to live as “common blood.” She also has to learn that everyone has secrets.
Things really started to go down hill for me in the second half of the book when, without revealing too many spoilers, Adelaide heads to the frontier. It felt like I was reading a completely different book. I almost feel like the author should have ended the first book here and put the whole frontier thing in the second book. It was just a bizarre ending that I didn’t see coming.
I also didn’t really like how quickly things move for Adelaide and her beau. She has all these potential suitors, but once things start happening with her guy, she goes from cold to hot hot HOT in love super fast. It was all just really convenient. It left me a bit bored. You can pretty much guess from the beginning who she is going to end up with, so since there are no plot twists with it, it was all just bland.
The supporting characters were fun, especially Mira and Tamsin. I wish they played a larger part in the book. With the way things ended, I have a feeling we will be seeing them again in the series. The mystery that surrounds Mira really intrigued me and I really hope we find out more about her background. I also hope that the author gives more information about the different religions featured in the book. It is very interesting and I would like to know more.
One thing that really bothered me from the beginning was the mystery surrounding “Adelaide’s” real name. Why keep it such a secret? When I FINALLY found out what it was (well, I figured it out before it was revealed since an animal is named for a nickname of her name… womp) it was a let down. It is such an ordinary name (especially for this time era) that I just had a big question mark on why it was such a big deal to keep it secret.
I think the biggest discussion point in the book is the misogyny. The Glittering Court girls are bought and sold off to the highest bidder. Their worth is determined on their beauty, but also on how well they can handle a household and be a society woman. The girls that are outspoken (like Adelaide) are looked down upon for having an opinion. Also, girls like Mira who are of a different ethnicity are looked at like pieces of meat and sexualized because of her exotic looks, but is not considered good wife material because of her ethnicity. While Adelaide, in the end, finds true love and yadda yadda despite her mouthiness, it is still stressed that she not violate her virtue until her wedding night. It left a bad taste in my mouth that even as much as Adelaide rebelled against being judged like cattle (as Mira put it), she still let the thought of being judged about giving up her virtue weigh her down.
Overall, it was a very strange book. Like I said before, I really enjoyed the first two hundred pages or so and wish that would have been the first book. Will I read the rest of the series? Sure, probably. I’m interested to see what happens to Adelaide, Tamsin, and Mira, especially. I don’t think this series is nearly as good as The Vampire Academy series, but it is something completely different and new so it is like comparing apples to oranges. I would say definitely give the book a shot if you are a fan of the author or are a fan of books set in this time period.
I was really excited to read this book because I loved Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy series. This book was promoted to be like The Selection (which I love) meets Reign (which I’m dying to watch).
I absolutely loved the first half of the book. From the time “Adelaide” leaves Osfrid and joins TGC, I was hooked. I really enjoyed how Osfrid was like Victorian England- the dresses, the societal rules, etc. I loved how sassy and independent Adelaide is and how she takes her life by the reigns. Even at TGC where she is supposed to be demure and a perfect lady, she doesn’t let them break her spirit. She has to learn humility and what it is like to live as “common blood.” She also has to learn that everyone has secrets.
Things really started to go down hill for me in the second half of the book when, without revealing too many spoilers, Adelaide heads to the frontier. It felt like I was reading a completely different book. I almost feel like the author should have ended the first book here and put the whole frontier thing in the second book. It was just a bizarre ending that I didn’t see coming.
I also didn’t really like how quickly things move for Adelaide and her beau. She has all these potential suitors, but once things start happening with her guy, she goes from cold to hot hot HOT in love super fast. It was all just really convenient. It left me a bit bored. You can pretty much guess from the beginning who she is going to end up with, so since there are no plot twists with it, it was all just bland.
The supporting characters were fun, especially Mira and Tamsin. I wish they played a larger part in the book. With the way things ended, I have a feeling we will be seeing them again in the series. The mystery that surrounds Mira really intrigued me and I really hope we find out more about her background. I also hope that the author gives more information about the different religions featured in the book. It is very interesting and I would like to know more.
One thing that really bothered me from the beginning was the mystery surrounding “Adelaide’s” real name. Why keep it such a secret? When I FINALLY found out what it was (well, I figured it out before it was revealed since an animal is named for a nickname of her name… womp) it was a let down. It is such an ordinary name (especially for this time era) that I just had a big question mark on why it was such a big deal to keep it secret.
I think the biggest discussion point in the book is the misogyny. The Glittering Court girls are bought and sold off to the highest bidder. Their worth is determined on their beauty, but also on how well they can handle a household and be a society woman. The girls that are outspoken (like Adelaide) are looked down upon for having an opinion. Also, girls like Mira who are of a different ethnicity are looked at like pieces of meat and sexualized because of her exotic looks, but is not considered good wife material because of her ethnicity. While Adelaide, in the end, finds true love and yadda yadda despite her mouthiness, it is still stressed that she not violate her virtue until her wedding night. It left a bad taste in my mouth that even as much as Adelaide rebelled against being judged like cattle (as Mira put it), she still let the thought of being judged about giving up her virtue weigh her down.
Overall, it was a very strange book. Like I said before, I really enjoyed the first two hundred pages or so and wish that would have been the first book. Will I read the rest of the series? Sure, probably. I’m interested to see what happens to Adelaide, Tamsin, and Mira, especially. I don’t think this series is nearly as good as The Vampire Academy series, but it is something completely different and new so it is like comparing apples to oranges. I would say definitely give the book a shot if you are a fan of the author or are a fan of books set in this time period.
I am currently doing a month long readathon and decided to pick up this book while I was preparing for it and I have to say I am pleasantly surprised with this book. Some plot points where predictable for someone who reads a lot but over all this was an amazing read I couldn't put it down. I drank this book in and managed to read it in little over 4 hrs I was so enthralled.
I was glad the author was able to throw a few curve balls I wasn't suspecting while keeping to great plot that actually fit. I also loved the side characters though not much was explained about them in this first book. Though from what I understand that is kinda the point, you learn just enough to make you wonder and want to read the next book, but not enough to make you frustrated beyond belief.
In this book you follow a Countess who is trying to escape a life of always being told what to do for one of freedom, or at the very least some form of chose for how her life will be lead. You get a taste of the world they live in here and there, but not so much info dumping which books like this tend to do on occasion. And the audio book fits so nicely with the characters and how you envision them. I also love the level to detail Mead put into certain aspects of the book so that later things added up properly. I forget the number of times a book as ended and the plot had holes or something was thrown in last minuet to make things plausible.
I am also loving that this series will be a point-of-view type series, meaning you get one characters story view, then the next book is another point of view of that time and so on. Its a nice change from multi viewpoint books where things are rushed or in some cases to complicated to keep apart.
Overall this gets a easy 4.5 from me, not a all time favorite but enough to ensure I will most defiantly continue the series, maybe even a reread, high praise coming from me. I cant wait to read book two and find out what Mira was up to this whole time.
I was glad the author was able to throw a few curve balls I wasn't suspecting while keeping to great plot that actually fit. I also loved the side characters though not much was explained about them in this first book. Though from what I understand that is kinda the point, you learn just enough to make you wonder and want to read the next book, but not enough to make you frustrated beyond belief.
In this book you follow a Countess who is trying to escape a life of always being told what to do for one of freedom, or at the very least some form of chose for how her life will be lead. You get a taste of the world they live in here and there, but not so much info dumping which books like this tend to do on occasion. And the audio book fits so nicely with the characters and how you envision them. I also love the level to detail Mead put into certain aspects of the book so that later things added up properly. I forget the number of times a book as ended and the plot had holes or something was thrown in last minuet to make things plausible.
I am also loving that this series will be a point-of-view type series, meaning you get one characters story view, then the next book is another point of view of that time and so on. Its a nice change from multi viewpoint books where things are rushed or in some cases to complicated to keep apart.
Overall this gets a easy 4.5 from me, not a all time favorite but enough to ensure I will most defiantly continue the series, maybe even a reread, high praise coming from me. I cant wait to read book two and find out what Mira was up to this whole time.
This book was just ok. I was interested in the story for the most part but then with about 160 pages left it took a turn that was completely boring.
Very underwhelmed by the book. I've read great reviews about other books Mead has written, but this did not live up to them for a few reasons.
First, I was bored. So bored. The beginning was exciting, and I was hoping it would continue when she was at Blue Spring Mansion. It didn't. By the time it got "exciting" again I was already too far gone. I ended up skimming the last 150 pages.
Second, I hated the writing, particularly Adelaide's commentary. She's a Countess, and a "high born lady" but she rarely speaks like one. For example, "I'd kill for a honey cake," All of the "um's." I couldn't. She's a teenager, and you can definitely tell, but I wasn't sold on her being a noblewoman. I also couldn't stand her internal commentary. I feel like I would have liked this book a lot more if it was told from third person rather than first.
A lot of reviews on here didn't like Cedric, but I actually didn't mind him. I enjoyed how kind he was, and how he always kept Adelaide's reputation at the forefront of his mind. He was one of the only characters' role I was sold on (i.e.: I believed he went to university, and knew how to speak to nobility and pass as one). I also think that since his dad was so harsh, it only made sense that he was the opposite. Giving them both the same personality wouldn't have worked, and they would have been non-characters and really played no part.
I also really liked the lawyer, Nicholas. He was a secondary character, but I really wish he would have ended up with Mira. I also really liked her. She seemed the most independent and was another character I was sold on. However, I didn't like that Mead just drops her story as soon as they got to Adoria. She literally loses Tamsin twice, and I really didn't enjoy that either.
I feel like there was a lot of potential that wasn't tapped, and things could have gone a few different ways. My biggest gripe is the writing. I know I'm supposed to feel like this is colonial/Elizabethan, but it just wasn't there with the characters. It also focused way too much on looks and parties, and expected us to believe that the main characters are "strong, independent women." Not my cup of tea overall.
First, I was bored. So bored. The beginning was exciting, and I was hoping it would continue when she was at Blue Spring Mansion. It didn't. By the time it got "exciting" again I was already too far gone. I ended up skimming the last 150 pages.
Second, I hated the writing, particularly Adelaide's commentary. She's a Countess, and a "high born lady" but she rarely speaks like one. For example, "I'd kill for a honey cake," All of the "um's." I couldn't. She's a teenager, and you can definitely tell, but I wasn't sold on her being a noblewoman. I also couldn't stand her internal commentary. I feel like I would have liked this book a lot more if it was told from third person rather than first.
A lot of reviews on here didn't like Cedric, but I actually didn't mind him. I enjoyed how kind he was, and how he always kept Adelaide's reputation at the forefront of his mind. He was one of the only characters' role I was sold on (i.e.: I believed he went to university, and knew how to speak to nobility and pass as one). I also think that since his dad was so harsh, it only made sense that he was the opposite. Giving them both the same personality wouldn't have worked, and they would have been non-characters and really played no part.
I also really liked the lawyer, Nicholas. He was a secondary character, but I really wish he would have ended up with Mira. I also really liked her. She seemed the most independent and was another character I was sold on. However, I didn't like that Mead just drops her story as soon as they got to Adoria. She literally loses Tamsin twice, and I really didn't enjoy that either.
I feel like there was a lot of potential that wasn't tapped, and things could have gone a few different ways. My biggest gripe is the writing. I know I'm supposed to feel like this is colonial/Elizabethan, but it just wasn't there with the characters. It also focused way too much on looks and parties, and expected us to believe that the main characters are "strong, independent women." Not my cup of tea overall.
I enjoyed this book. It was certainly different from what I expected. I'm not usually a fan of series where each book follows a different character. I think this book did pretty well wrapping up the story, yet leaving room for events to happen in future books, but from a different perspective. However, there were several storylines that were not properly flushed out, and I wish those and been explored a little further in this book. I feel like a lot of the action happened in the last 50 or so pages, so I wish the plot had moved along a little faster, or the book had been shorter.
I really wish there was a map. There are lots of different places mentioned, and the events of this book take place over 2 different continents. So it was confusing trying to keep track of where everything is in relation to all the other countries and continents. Maps just add so much to a world. You can see where places are in relation to coasts and mountains, and it just makes the world so much more real and makes everything make more sense.
The writing was different from all of Richelle's other books. I wouldn't have thought she wrote this book if I didn't know. It felt clunky at some places. I think some of the language and terminology wasn't the best for this setting.
A lot of the major plot twists and drivers were quite predictable. I still enjoyed the book, but it just wasn't as fun as others, where you have no idea what's going to happen next. I'm hoping the next books in this trilogy are better.
I liked this book, but it's not my favorite. I'll be picking up the next book when it comes out, but I'm certainly not dying to read it.
I really wish there was a map. There are lots of different places mentioned, and the events of this book take place over 2 different continents. So it was confusing trying to keep track of where everything is in relation to all the other countries and continents. Maps just add so much to a world. You can see where places are in relation to coasts and mountains, and it just makes the world so much more real and makes everything make more sense.
The writing was different from all of Richelle's other books. I wouldn't have thought she wrote this book if I didn't know. It felt clunky at some places. I think some of the language and terminology wasn't the best for this setting.
A lot of the major plot twists and drivers were quite predictable. I still enjoyed the book, but it just wasn't as fun as others, where you have no idea what's going to happen next. I'm hoping the next books in this trilogy are better.
I liked this book, but it's not my favorite. I'll be picking up the next book when it comes out, but I'm certainly not dying to read it.
I actually didn't finish this one. I stopped about 75% through. I felt that this book started changing its setting/plot too drastically at the end, and that such a change should have been held off for the sequel. For some reason it really out me off, and I had no desire to finish. Up to that point, I thought it was pretty decent.
The book was OK. I had really high hopes for this book but I didn't like that she escaped getting married, to then go to a program that the main goal is getting married to the highest bidder. I'm not sure how this is a series either. it was left open ended to the 2 supporting characters. I don't know, she could have ended it and got rid of filler from the middle of the novel.
This was pretty good. I finished it in 2 days. Loved the whole idea of it. Loved the main character, enough that I’m scared to move onto other books where she isn’t the main character. But I’m going to anyway because I’m here for Adoria and the adventure.
Mead is a solid writer and I admire her work.
Mead is a solid writer and I admire her work.
I found The Glittering Court in the clearance section of my university’s Barnes and Nobles. This book was nothing like I expected. I thought it was going to be a YA Fantasy with a romance. Not one bit. Instead it feels like a historical fiction. The first chapter was far from interesting.