The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead

The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead

Release Date: April 5, 2016

Publisher: Razorbill

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 416

Summary:Big and sweeping, spanning from the refined palaces of Osfrid to the gold dust and untamed forests of Adoria, The Glittering Court tells the story of Adelaide, an Osfridian countess who poses as her servant to escape an arranged marriage and start a new life in Adoria, the New World. But to do that, she must join the Glittering Court.

Both a school and a business venture, the Glittering Court is designed to transform impoverished girls into upper-class ladies who appear destined for powerful and wealthy marriages in the New World. Adelaide naturally excels in her training, and even makes a few friends: the fiery former laundress Tamsin and the beautiful Sirminican refugee Mira. She manages to keep her true identity hidden from all but one: the intriguing Cedric Thorn, son of the wealthy proprietor of the Glittering Court.

When Adelaide discovers that Cedric is hiding a dangerous secret of his own, together they hatch a scheme to make the best of Adelaide’s deception. Complications soon arise—first as they cross the treacherous seas from Osfrid to Adoria, and then when Adelaide catches the attention of a powerful governor.

But no complication will prove quite as daunting as the potent attraction simmering between Adelaide and Cedric. An attraction that, if acted on, would scandalize the Glittering Court and make them both outcasts in wild, vastly uncharted lands…

 

My Thoughts:  Seriously I LOVED THE GLITTERING COURT!!! One of the best books I’ve read this year! I can see this becoming a favorite series of mine! I just loved it and enjoyed every second of it.

The Glittering Court reminded me a bit of the Selection series, maybe just how it was written. I loved the scenes, I felt like I was right there. I loved the plot. I loved the story-line. I loved the romance.

We are introduced to Adelaide who is a countess and has led a somewhat luxurious and rich life. She’s never had to worry about much or being taken care of. But when her family wants to marry her off, she figures out another plan. She will take the place over of somewhat else and join the Glittering Court.  Honestly, it’s kind of the same situation as getting married off, but generally the girl gets to pick the best candidate.

Well, Adelaide has a hand up on most of the girls. She’s been trained on how to act like a real lady. She’s got most of it down, except for a few things. Like her hair! HAHAHAHA

Gosh, I want to say so much about this one, but I’m having trouble without spoilers! I really liked a few of the guys in this story. But I really liked Cedric. He was just so nice but yet charming. He had good morals. He had a good head on his shoulders. And he was just so sweet!  

I also liked her friends. A few of them but each girl was so distinct and different from one another. But yet they all fit together.

The Glittering Court was a sweet and charming book. I don’t know rather to say it’s really a romance or fantasy. Made me feel like both I guess.

Overall: This is a rather vague and short review. I didn’t want to give away actual things that go down in the book! Lets just say I loved the characters, the plot, and the romance. A few times I teared up, I laughed, and mostly I swooned!

Cover: Love it!  Kind of a dark yet intriguing cover!

What I’d Give It:

So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti

So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti

Release Date:  May 3, 2011

Publisher: Viking Books For Young Readers

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 256

Summary:When Brooke's crush, Scott, moves from their suburban town to New York City, she decides to follow him there. Living with her formerly estranged dad and adapting to a new school are challenging, and things go from bad to worse when Brooke learns that Scott already has a girlfriend. But as she builds her new life, Brooke begins to discover a side of herself she never knew existed. And as she finds out, in the city that never sleeps, love can appear around any corner...

 

My Thoughts:  A typical fun Colasanti novel and I enjoyed it! I have pretty much enjoyed all her novels. A few more than others. Her writing tone is just so soft and sweet and fast.

We are introduced to Brooke who has been in love with a boy named Scott for a while now. She finally gets the nerve to talk to him and finds out he’s moving away. What a shock! She does the unthinkable. Moving to the new same city as him just to be close to him. To try to really become his friend and get him to notice her.

She also makes a few new friends there, including one boy named John. For me, I really liked John. Much more than Scott. John was real and he really understood Brooke. Scott was just… mehhh… I just didn’t want him to end up with Brooke from the get go!!!

I loved the New York setting. I’ve never been there but want too. And I think hearing about all the scenery and what was happening just pulled me in and made me want to visit even more. It sounds so thrilling and beautiful.

I really liked this one a lot. And I liked learning more about Scott and John both. I felt like Brooke was really smart but the boy angle, not as much as I wanted her to be. Just takes a while for her to really grow.

Overall:  I think this rates between a 3.5 and 4 cupcake rating from me. I really enjoyed the scenes with John the most. It was also a very fast and light read which I needed right now! I’m almost done with all Colasanti’s books. Only a few more left to read!! I try to read them as guilty pleasure reads!

Cover: Love it! I love how they are standing and their clothes! Pretty!

What I’d Give It:

Soundless by Richelle Mead

Soundless by Richelle Mead

Release Date: November 10, 2015  

Publisher: Razorbill

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 272

Summary:  In a village without sound…

For as long as Fei can remember, no one in her village has been able to hear. Rocky terrain and frequent avalanches make it impossible to leave the village, so Fei and her people are at the mercy of a zipline that carries food up the treacherous cliffs from Beiguo, a mysterious faraway kingdom.

When villagers begin to lose their sight, deliveries from the zipline shrink. Many go hungry. Fei and all the people she loves are plunged into crisis, with nothing to look forward to but darkness and starvation.

One girl hears a call to action…

Until one night, Fei is awoken by a searing noise. Sound becomes her weapon.

She sets out to uncover what’s happened to her and to fight the dangers threatening her village. A handsome miner with a revolutionary spirit accompanies Fei on her quest, bringing with him new risks and the possibility of romance. They embark on a majestic journey from the peak of their jagged mountain village to the valley of Beiguo, where a startling truth will change their lives forever…

And unlocks a power that will save her people.

My Thoughts:  When I first read the summary of this one, I was excited. A world where nobody can hear? And nobody has for a while. This really intrigued me. I needed to know how Mead was going to capture this.

I started off reading Soundless with a bang. I really enjoyed the beginning. Learning about Fei and her sister and how they get by. How they live their lives and on top of that how it all works.  We also get introduced to a boy named Le Wei (was that his name)? I really liked him. I liked how tough but yet how sweet he was.  I loved how he wanted to protect his father and even Fei.

As I got about halfway through the book, I started to not really want to read it anymore. It just stopped really pulling me in. Maybe its my reading mood, maybe once I knew more about why they couldn’t hear I just wasn’t as involved anymore. I don’t know.  I liked this one but didn’t love it. If you like Mead’s previous works, go for it. Give this one a chance and tell me what you think.

Overall: This one really pulled me in towards the beginning than it just went downhill for me. I liked it but didn’t love it. And I just wasn’t that involved with any of the characters either.  It was just okay to me.

Cover: I do like the cover! Almost has a mysterious feel to it, yet it’s all out there.

What I’d Give It:

Hearts Fingers And Other Things To Cross (Broken Hearts And Revenge #3) by Katie Finn

Hearts Fingers And Other Things To Cross (Broken Hearts And Revenge #3)  by Katie Finn

Release Date: May 10, 2016

Publisher: Feiwel And Friends

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 256

Summary: WEATHER ALERT: SEVERE STORMS AHEAD

Gemma and Hallie's world has come to a screeching halt. Their parents are engaged, which makes them step-sisters. Nothing in the world could possibly be worse for Gemma and Hallie--they won't let it happen. Even if it means putting their own feud aside to separate their parents.

Events quickly escalate as a hurricane rips through the Hamptons leaving everyone (including Gemma's two exes, her current crush, best friend, and her nemesis) bottled up in one house. One big, miserable group of exes and enemies together allow secrets to unfold and plans to be plotted. The calm before this storm definitely doesn't exist.

Katie Finn pulls out all the stops for this fast-paced, dramatic conclusion in the Broken Hearts and Revenge series, Hearts, Fingers, and Other Things to Cross.

My Thoughts:  I remember really liking the first one in this series. And then the second one I liked to an extent, so I was really happy to keep reading and see if I liked the third one, this one.  Honestly, I did like it but I didn’t love it.

We are back with Gemma and Hallie and their worlds are about to crash. They are still fighting from before but now they find out that their parents are planning to be married. This does the unthinkable, makes them team up to break up their parents. But is this really the right thing to do?

I think both girls had more feelings in this book but they pushed them to the side, to deal with their parents. Which probably wasn’t the best idea. I also liked all the side characters once again. Honestly, that may have been the better part of the book for me. I didn’t really like that they wanted to break up their parents.

I liked this one, it was a very fast read once I got started. It just flowed along and even though they had revenge on their mind it wasn’t quite like the other books and towards each other.  

Overall:Out of all of the books in this series, I think the first one is the best. Maybe because it’s the opening and is more juicy. I liked this one, just wasn’t as sucked in. If you’ve already started the series do read this one!

Cover:  Love it even though yellow isn’t my favorite color. These covers all have such beachy cute themes!

What I’d Give It: