I was hopeful, but I just can’t warm to this series. 3/5 stars.
The blurb: No blurb to avoid all spoilers for anyone wanting to start this series from the beginning. Click on the cover image for the Goodreads blurb, or you can visit my review of Book 1, Red Queen.
My take:
I’ve just re-read my review of Red Queen which was full of concerns, but also expressed hope that the sequel would improve on some of the first book’s weak spots. And it does. I think the plotting in Glass Sword is strong (the characters have a series of clearly-defined missions) and Aveyard introduces a couple of interesting new characters. The writing remain solid…and yet…any yet…
My issue with this book all stems from my problems with its first-person narrator. Using a first-person narrator is a gamble: if a reader connects with the character and their voice they’re likely to be hooked and have a great experience of the story; if they don’t then the writer loses them. And I didn’t connect with Mare, the first-person narrator of the whole series so far. At best, I’m indifferent to her. At worst, I find her stupid and tremendously selfish. And, as she’s our only narrator, the entire book becomes a long and dreary immersion in the thoughts of someone so self-centred that – at several points – they reduce the narrative to: “Me, me, me, la-di-dah, me, me me, oh and did I mention MEMEMEMEMEMEME”. And as I really don’t care for her or her suffering, I found myself skimming forward to get to the end asap.
At this point, I’m honestly not sure I’ll bother reading book 3.
Overall: If you read Red Queen and found yourself sympathizing with and rooting for Mare then you’ll probably enjoy Glass Sword. As I’ve said, the plot is solid and there are some likeable secondary characters. But, for me, these plus points were sadly over-shadowed by the increasingly dull and narcissistic voice of the narrator.
I haven’t read Red Queen yet and I’m kind of nervous to. Everyone either loves it or hates it, and I’m not really sure it actually interests me. It sounds too much like a bunch of other YA novels.
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There is very little original in the series. If you’ve read Hunger Games, Divergent, etc. then you’ll recognise pretty much everything in Red Queen That said, if you like Mare then I’m sure you’ll enjoy the series. I think that’s what divides readers down the middle.
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Fair enough… Ah, she sounds like a great character then, haha.
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I’m not reading this! I’m not reading this!! (hands covering my eyes!) 🙂 At least not until I finish the book. Reading it now, will give my thoughts on WWW Wednesday
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Ooooo! Can’t wait to hear what you think!! 🙂
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haha oh dear- I hate self-centred heroines. I did enjoy the first book, but one of the issues I had with it was Mare- if she’s more annoying in this book then I don’t hold out high hopes for the second one. Great review!
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Thank you!
I felt the same. I was annoyed with her naivety in the first book but made allowances because of her age and lack of experience. I had hoped she’d have learned her lesson for Glass Sword… but no!! 🙂
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You’re welcome! That makes sense! Such a shame
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These books are not really my genre but I do like the covers very much !
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That was what drew me to the series initially! They’re so simple and yet so striking 🙂
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I agree with so much of what you said! I don’t like Mare as a character either. It was the final couple of chapters which saved the book for me!
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I had hoped she would have learned from her experiences in book 1 and got it together! No such luck. It’s such a shame because the plot in this one was better and I liked some of the new characters too.
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I would have liked to get to know some of the new characters better. It was a missed opportunity.
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I agree. I’ll wait and read the reviews of book 3 before ruling it out. If the secondary characters from book 2 get to come into their own I might give it a try. Aveyard needs to switch to multiple viewpoints to give us all all break from Mare! Thank you again for the book 🙂
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Totally agree. Mare is frustrating to say the least! You’re welcome 🙂
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Having heard similar comments about Mare is what made me decide to remove this series from my TBR. I’m not the biggest fan of first-person narration anyway and she sounds really annoying! The covers are really gorgeous, though. I nearly did buy a physical copy of Red Queen a while ago just for that.
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It’s a shame because other elements of the story are sort strong. If Aveyard decides to give us multiple POVs in book 3 then I’ll give it a go. I usually prefer third person narration too.
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I still haven’t started this series but have heard mixed reviews. Which I suppose you could say about any book so I won’t read anything into it. I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy this one. I will give it a shot – having low expectations can only help, right?
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Exactly. And I can see why it’s divided readers. The series has so much going for it. The second book is particularly strong in terms of plot and secondary characters. If the author had included one other viewpoint to give us a break I think it would have been an entirely different experience. And if, like many other readers, you have no problem with the main character, then you’re sure to love it.
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EXACTLY! Bone Marrow kind of ruined the book. But that ending! Great review!
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Thank you! I’m hoping Aveyard listens to her readers and gives us alternating narrators in book 3. If she does then I’ll read it!
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I’m probably going to read it anyway. I really want to know how it ends, even if I can’t stand Mare.
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That’s my problem too! I’m so nosy 🙂
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Bone Marrow!!! Love it!!! 🙂
The name, not the character 🙂
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Finally! Everything about the book was good except Mare. Bone Marrow! Love it! I kind of hope she stays locked up and Cal or Farley can take over!!!
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Yes! I’m praying that she’s locked in a small room for ages with nothing to look at and no-one to talk to, forcing Aveyard to use Cal or Farley as new narrators. Anything to get a break from Mare’s selfish moaning.
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