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A review by angelofthetardis
Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The follow up to 'Red Queen', Mare has escaped the clutches of Queen Elara and her own fiance, and is now in the hands of the Scarlet Guard. Armed with the knowledge that she's not the only one of her kind, her mission now is to recruit 'newbloods' to her cause and to save them from certain death at the hands of the Silver King. But who exactly can she trust? And just who is going to trust her?
I know it's probably a lazy comparison, but throughout my reading I felt like this followed the same storyline as the first half of 'Mockingjay'. There are a lot of similarities - the hidden bases that 'normal' people believe are abandoned, the filming of a propaganda reel with the main protagonist going off script and so on. It's definitely not a bad thing as the story completely works, but a part of me had hoped for something a bit different.
However, I like it when action takes a back seat to character development and the deepening of a reader's emotional investment into the story, and thus book absolutely achieves that. The twists and turns of Mare's thoughts and feelings, the continual questioning of just who is trustworthy, who is safe, who is going to betray you... by the conclusion, you can totally understand Mare's psyche and her feeling of being totally lost. You know what you hope will happen and what you expect to happen, but there's definitely plenty of room for further surprises. Part of me wants everything to pan out in the 'traditional' way, but there is so much scope for alternatives the other half of me really wants to be surprised!
The author hasn't shied away from taking a darker tone in places to illustrate the change in Maven and the 'oncoming storm'. While not graphic, there are a couple of scenes that, if they made this into a TV show or film, I know I'd be hiding behind a pillow at. In those moments, you do suddenly remember that Mare is just a teenager and so the contrast with the death and destruction she is faced with is quite shocking.
Overall I enjoyed this deeper dive into Mare's head and heart, and I look forward to seeing things continue to play out. Fortunately I don't have to wait long to find out what happens next; the next book in the series is waiting for me at the library!
I know it's probably a lazy comparison, but throughout my reading I felt like this followed the same storyline as the first half of 'Mockingjay'. There are a lot of similarities - the hidden bases that 'normal' people believe are abandoned, the filming of a propaganda reel with the main protagonist going off script and so on. It's definitely not a bad thing as the story completely works, but a part of me had hoped for something a bit different.
However, I like it when action takes a back seat to character development and the deepening of a reader's emotional investment into the story, and thus book absolutely achieves that. The twists and turns of Mare's thoughts and feelings, the continual questioning of just who is trustworthy, who is safe, who is going to betray you... by the conclusion, you can totally understand Mare's psyche and her feeling of being totally lost. You know what you hope will happen and what you expect to happen, but there's definitely plenty of room for further surprises. Part of me wants everything to pan out in the 'traditional' way, but there is so much scope for alternatives the other half of me really wants to be surprised!
The author hasn't shied away from taking a darker tone in places to illustrate the change in Maven and the 'oncoming storm'. While not graphic, there are a couple of scenes that, if they made this into a TV show or film, I know I'd be hiding behind a pillow at. In those moments, you do suddenly remember that Mare is just a teenager and so the contrast with the death and destruction she is faced with is quite shocking.
Overall I enjoyed this deeper dive into Mare's head and heart, and I look forward to seeing things continue to play out. Fortunately I don't have to wait long to find out what happens next; the next book in the series is waiting for me at the library!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Child death, and Death