Author: Richelle Mead
Publication Date: April 5, 2016
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 400
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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…
To be upfront and honest, I’m not sure how I feel about this book. It had its good moments and bad moments, but I did like reading it. It read very generically. We get a high society girl wanting a new life and a boy who helps her get that.
This book started out with so much promise. I was excited to see what new life was awaiting for the main character as she ran. I got nervous when she was almost caught, but then the events started to get blander and blander as the book went on. This book went from The Selection to Gold Rush and confused the crud out of me.
There were so many plot holes and loose ends left in this book it almost reminded me of a block of Swiss cheese. Most of the time I had no idea what was going on and why it happened and why the characters didn’t even reflect on the event that happened. I’m not sure if the next book will fill in these weird holes, but I’m almost not sure if I want to read it for fear of more plot holes everywhere.
I was kinda bummed with the romance in this book. It was lackluster and boring. I can’t even remember the love interest’s name he was that forgettable of a character. You think there would be something special that sets him apart from all of the other male attention the main character gets. Plus his “big secret” really was a flop and almost non existent once they were in the new world.
And one thing I realized after I finished this book is a lot of people consider this a fantasy, but there is no magic, mythology, or anything remotely supernatural. This book is more of an alternate history or dystopian novel.
I honestly wished this book was better. I really enjoyed the Vampire Academy and Soundless. Yet this book fell quite short of them. And like I said earlier, I’m not sure if I will even continue this series at all.
