The Glittering Court Review!

The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead

Book One of The Glittering Court series

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: April 5, 2016

Rating: 3 stars

Source: Bought at a Walmart

Summary (from Goodreads):

A dazzling new fantasy series set in a mix of Elizabethan and frontier worlds that’s dripping with romance from Richelle Mead, #1 internationally bestselling author of Vampire Academy.

Big and sweeping, spanning 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 capable of arranging 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 later, 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. . . .

While Reading:

Tea: I recommend white tea because it’s a delicate flavor, and screams fancy. So it will put you in the mood to read. I was drinking Ambrosia Plum White Tea.

What I Liked:

• The character Elizabeth who is later called “Adelaide”, I actually loved seeing her react to the lower class and her remarks. She had some snappy retorts to people she didn’t like.
• The writing flowed really well between scenes. The dialogues between Adelaide and Cedric made my heart flutter. Cedric alone is why I kept reading, to be honest.
• I enjoyed the different religious and different gods/ angels Richelle Mead introduced into this world. And I enjoyed the Alanzan heretics culture the most.
• The romance is a slow angsty (just how I like them!).
• The gold mining and the Frontier vibes were interesting!

What I disliked:

• First off, the summary on the book tells the entire story including most plot twists. That alone disappointed me because I need plot twists in books and when I can predict them coming a mile away…it is disappointing.
• The cover art is not aesthetically pleasing in my viewpoint. The only reason I picked The Glittering Court up is that I actually loved The Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead.
• This book is under the genre Fantasy. Now, to me, I didn’t feel like I was in a fantasy world at all. It had no magic elements, and most of the elements were realistic. To be fair the setting and religious aspect is fantasy but that’s it.
• To me, the whole “Glittering Court” is like human trafficking. In the beginning, I understood that it was a time period for nobles to marry wealthy bloodlines and what not. However, when you trade that to get sold to the highest bidder for your hand in marriage…it just rubbed me the wrong way when I was reading it.

Would I recommend it:

Yes….

Yes to people who loved the Selection series. It is right up that ally with romance, adventure, and finery lifestyle. And just because I did not jump up and down with joy for this book, does not mean that you wouldn’t. I have different tastes and I expected more and got underwhelmed.

Let me know if this helped at all! And don’t be afraid to discuss your likes and dislikes with me (:

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