Naomi's Reading Palace: Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard ~ Review & Teaser (@VictoriaAveyard, @harperteen)

I am glad that I jumped back into this world again. It was very exciting and intense especially in the second half of the book!

Title: Glass Sword

Author: Victoria Aveyard

Series: Red Queen #2

Genre: YA Fantasy

Published: February 9th 2016

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If there’s one thing Mare Barrow knows, it’s that she’s different.

Mare Barrow’s blood is red—the color of common folk—but her Silver ability, the power to control lightning, has turned her into a weapon that the royal court tries to control.

The crown calls her an impossibility, a fake, but as she makes her escape from Maven, the prince—the friend—who betrayed her, Mare uncovers something startling: she is not the only one of her kind.

Pursued by Maven, now a vindictive king, Mare sets out to find and recruit other Red-and-Silver fighters to join in the struggle against her oppressors.

But Mare finds herself on a deadly path, at risk of becoming exactly the kind of monster she is trying to defeat.

Will she shatter under the weight of the lives that are the cost of rebellion? Or have treachery and betrayal hardened her forever?

The electrifying next installment in the Red Queen series escalates the struggle between the growing rebel army and the blood-segregated world they’ve always known—and pits Mare against the darkness that has grown in her soul.

I began this book in October last year, then put it down for a while before picking it back up in February. It was a little slow to get back into, but when I picked it back up in February I was determined to read more. What a ride it turned out to be! Trusts had been broken, decisions needed to be made, the characters needed to recruit others and there was enough action to keep me hooked! However, it wasn't always smooth sailing, as I shed a tear and I was left in shock at the end of the book... so much, that I picked up the third book immediately.

It was interesting to see Mare and Cal work on building their relationship once again. They had both been through so much and due to sacrifices that were made, they found it hard to trust one another again. Mare had a good support crew around her and Cal was the outsider, but in the end they worked well together and became a good team as they recruited other people to join their cause.

Maven was always looking for them and was doing what he could to try and catch them or hinder their plans. I was always on edge when he was close because I think he was more unstable than I thought!

Although this story began a little slowly, I did appreciate the authors way of telling her story, creating her world and the characters that I feel close to. The story is building, and building! There were a few WOW moments for me that I didn't see coming and my heart broke for Mare and some of her crew. I see this story is getting a lot bigger and I'm excited to see where it goes next! That ending OMG! If you are going to read this series, have the third book handy, because you will want more!

The first tease is where Mare and Cal are starting to find their connection again and the second is from Kilorn, and the passion that he has for their cause and Mare.

Would that Maven were here now, so I could rip out his horrible, haunting eyes. “Well, he can't have me.” I realize the consequences of this and so does Cal.
“Not even if it stops the killing? Not for the newbloods?"
Tears bite my eyes. “I won’t go back. For anyone.”
I expect his judgment, but instead he smiles and ducks his head. Ashamed of his own reaction, as I am of mine.
“I thought we would lose you.” His words are deliberately chosen, carefully made. So I lean forward, putting a hand on his fist. It’s all the assurance he needs to press on. “I thought I was going to lose you. So many times.”
“But I’m still here,” I say.
He takes my neck in his hands like he doesn’t believe me. I'm dimly I reminded of Maven’s grip, but fight the urge to flinch. I don’t want Cal to pull away.

Paperback Page 249

“Mare saves people.”
Kilorn's voice sounds different, older. The longing ache in my chest returns.
“Mare saved every one of you from prison or death. She risked herself every time she walked into your cities. She’s not perfect, but she’s not a monster, not by any measure. Trust me," he adds, still refusing to look at me. “I have seen monsters. And so will you, if we leave newbloods to the mercy of the queen. Then she’ll make you kill each other, until there’s nothing left of what you are, and no one alive to remember what you were.”

Paperback Page 332

Victoria Aveyard is an author and screenwriter, born and raised in a small town in Western Massachusetts. Both her parents are public school teachers, as well as avid film, television, and literature fans. Victoria grew up on a steady diet The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, and LOST. She pursued a degree in Writing for Film & Television at the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts. After graduating college in 2012, Victoria moved home from Los Angeles and began writing the manuscript that would become Red Queen.

She has since published three #1 New York Times bestselling and USA Today bestselling books, two New York Times bestselling novellas, and continues pursuing her writing career while living full-time in Los Angeles, California.

The Red Queen series is currently being translated into 37 languages and counting.