Glass Sword

Oh this book. I feel like that about sums up my feelings, but I guess I’ll explain a little more for those who haven’t read it yet.

Glass Sword picks up right where Red Queen left off. And I mean right where it left off. This immediately got me back into the headspace I needed in order to remember what happened in the first book. Plus, it really helped that there was a ton of action right off the bat. Gotta love me some superpowered people doing superpowered-people things.

The plot of this book was just as compelling as the first book except for a few small areas that I found to either drag on or just simply not go the way I wanted them to. I won’t explain further because I don’t want to spoil anyone, but there was some slow parts show more towards the middle-endish of the book. It was nothing that would ever make me want to put the book down, it was just a little whiny and repetitive. I understand Mare has a lot on her plate, but I think her inner monologue got in the way a bit in a few scenes.

Despite this small complaint, Mare’s character did grow a lot throughout this book. She went from a scared girl running for her life to someone who is the complete opposite of that. However, I wasn’t sure I liked her character development towards the very end of the book. I guess I’ll know for sure by the time the sequel comes out, but for right now, I’m on the fence. As for my main squeeze Cal, he actually became a very fleshed out character and not simply “the love interest” within these pages. Yes, some of his character’s motivations remain a mystery, but for the most part, readers get to see an in-depth side to someone who was just an attractive enigma before. I love him! Err… it. I love it. Even though sometimes I disagreed with his decisions and favored Mare’s, or vice versa, I loved witnessing their arguments because each had good points. No one in this series has all of the correct answers and I think that’s what makes the story so compelling. I think some of the side characters like Shade, Farley, and Mare’s family, really helped bring this idea home. show less

⚡📖 Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard 📖⚡

My Thoughts

Glass Sword felt noticeably faster paced than Red Queen, and honestly? I enjoyed it more because of that. The story moved quickly, the stakes stayed high, and there was always this heavy tension hanging over everything like a thunderstorm waiting to break. ⚡🌩️

Mare still frustrated me at times because girl... PLEASE gather your emotions. 😭 I genuinely could not fully understand her feelings toward Cal or Kilorn. If this was supposed to feel like a dramatic love triangle, it just didn’t fully land for me. Mare and Kilorn gave me more of that Katniss and Peeta- energy.

There was one particular moment of karma involving a certain character where I was internally show more screaming, clapping, and thriving 💅🔥 but I’ll keep my mouth shut because spoilers are a crime punishable by dragon fire. On the flip side, another tragedy genuinely broke my heart... right up until the endless finger-pointing and blame-shaming started. Then I went from emotional devastation to irritated side-eye real fast. 😒

Overall, while this book didn’t completely blow me away, it absolutely kept me interested enough to continue the series. The world is still fascinating, the powers are cool, and the betrayals hit like emotional drive-by attacks. ⚔️👑

Tropes 🐉
⚡ Elemental powers / lightning powers
👑 Corrupt royalty
🩸 Revolution & rebellion
🔥 Morally gray decisions
🖤 Power comes with a cost
🏹 Oppressive society / class divide show less

** spoiler alert ** In this continuation of the Red Queen series, Mare is tested -- and in more ways than one. She feels this incredible amount of guilt for all of the things she's done over the course of the last two books. Ultimately, it is her choices that end up deciding everyone's fate and she doesn't want that responsibility. Jon the Seer gives her a vision of how she can help save lives, but some must be sacrificed in the process... including her own.

I like Mare a lot more in this book, because she becomes increasingly complex. She becomes almost a villain -- an anti-hero -- because she does what she has to and can never be saved. She tries to justify her decisions, but at the same time carries all this rage, hate, and anger for show more what the Silvers are still forcing her to do. She has a choice to bestow mercy and rejects it, making her transform into a monster that Cal is afraid of.

Cal is complex as well; I figured that he still loves Mare, even though she's become less human over the time span of this book. The fact that she said she wouldn't go back to Maven, no matter what and then sacrificing herself for him and Kilorn by doing the very thing she said she wouldn't do takes a lot of courage and self-loathing. I'm hoping Cal will be the one to rescue her and make it right, to ease her doubts and tell her that he's not going anywhere. Their relationship is about to get even more complicated, but I think it will work.

Maven, at the end of this book, is motivated by vengeance. Even though he puts her on display, I'm wondering what other modes of torture he has waiting for her. He doesn't want to kill her, but then... what will he do with her?

What I'm really impressed with is how Aveyard does a really good job describing the conflict of war. Not only the military strategy that is embodied by the Colonel and Cal, but how after battles people's motives and views change drastically. Mare couldn't save her brother, but still feels responsible for his death. She goes into battle not willing to make that same sacrifice again, and sacrifices herself instead. Cal is trying to keep his humanity by not killing as many people as possible, but ultimately dooms Shade because he did not kill Samos. And the Colonel, I think, knows better not to challenge Mare because she more determined than ever to destroy Maven and his rule. Can't wait for the next book in the series... and more novellas! show less

[b:Glass Sword|23174274|Glass Sword (Red Queen, #2)|Victoria Aveyard|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1436460934s/23174274.jpg|42720997] picks up only moments after the end of the previous book, meaning that there is no skipping over any fallout of the previous book's explosive climax. While a lot of Red Queen was about the rise of Mare Barrow, the lightning girl, the girl with red blood and silver powers, Glass Sword was about her slow destruction, in every way. In a lot of ways, that sets this book and its protagonist apart and elevates the book in an ocean of similar YA dystopian fantasy.

The main plot of Glass Sword involves Mare Barrow and a small team of followers racing against newly crowned Silver King Maven and the mind controlling show more queen mother to either capture or recruit 'newbloods' - people like Mare and her brother, Shade - on a commandeered military plane. Because of that it's heavily reminiscent of [b:Mockingjay|7260188|Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3)|Suzanne Collins|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1358275419s/7260188.jpg|8812783] and [b:Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows|818056|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter, #7)|J.K. Rowling|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1351958236s/818056.jpg|2963218]; though I feel that Aveyard manages to dig deeper into Mare, so that you don't realize you've been reading the deconstruction of her until she does.

I surprisingly enjoyed the continuation of the relationships between Mare and what I assume are her 'love interests' exiled prince Cal, childhood friend Kilorn, and even her cruel, turncoat ex-fiance Maven. Each relationship went in interesting directions, with Aveyard managing to sidestep obnoxious love triangles (the true villain of YA fantasy) and a whole trope of cliches. I actually quite loved the way Maven cast a shadow over the entire book despite appearing only rarely, it added atmosphere. His petulant, clever brutality makes Maven a dangerous villain, while his age and desire to control Mare add a subtly menacing sexual vibe to his evil. I also loved the relationship between Mare and her brother Shade, though I'm disappointed in the lack of Farley.

A fairly satisfying 8/10 show less

Glass Sword, the second installment in Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen series, struggles to recapture the magic and momentum of its predecessor. While the stakes are undeniably higher and the world broader, the execution leaves much to be desired.

One of the biggest issues is the overwhelming flood of new characters—many introduced so quickly that it becomes difficult to keep track of their names, let alone their powers or personalities. This bogs down the story and creates confusion rather than intrigue.

Mare, once a compelling and conflicted heroine, becomes increasingly difficult to root for. By the end of the book, her cold, often dismissive behavior makes her feel distant and, frankly, unbearable. Her inner monologue becomes show more repetitive, and her “I am a weapon” mantra wears thin.

Cal, on the other hand, remains a consistent highlight—loyal, thoughtful, and quietly strong. He deserves better than the chaos he’s been dragged into. The same goes for Kilorn, whose loyalty is constant but often unappreciated.

Overall, Glass Sword feels like it’s trying to do too much, too fast. It expands the world but loses the emotional core that made Red Queen so engaging. While fans of the series may stick around for the ride, this sequel stumbles more than it soars. show less

OKAY HOLY SHIT.

This book was clever, and it was vicious. It started slow, like Red Queen, but hit the interesting point about a third of the way in rather than two-thirds. And from there, it only got better and better. It was fast-paced and you never got time for a break and it really fit with the frantic pace of the rebellion. Red Queen was like The Selection, with pretty dresses and love triangles in the forefront for most of it. Glass Sword was like Mockingjay - desperate.

Mare. Oh, Mare Barrow. Her character evolved so, so much in this book from a traumatized but angry teenage girl to a ruthless antihero unable to stop her own cruelty, and it was amazing. I am so here for vicious and dark girls. I love her character. And it's about show more to get worse. I love how everyone who loved her stand for her ideas but not for her now. It's complex. It's good.

I think what Victoria Aveyard did with Shade was interesting. You knew he was fated to die. He kept getting injured and almost dying, and when he did die, the only reason you knew it was real was because they showed the body.

And that ending. Holy shit! Holy shit! What a fucking cliffhanger. I can't wait for the next book. I need the next book now, because oh my god. Oh my god. Maven. You fucking bastard. I hate him so much. (Aside: How do people still ship Maven/Mare? He's an abusive, manipulative asshole and his actions in this are reminiscent of sexual abuse. It's creepy what the fuck don't ship it.)

All in all: Holy shit. show less

I really hummed and hawed over DNFing this one or not. Even ran a Twitter poll...most people said to DNF it.

I was SO BORED by this book!

I LOVED the Red Queen! I was a strong defender of it, telling everyone to not be so hard on it and all that. So Glass Sword was one of my most anticipated reads of 2016.

But this was dreadfully dry. Nothing seemed to be happen except the passing of time.

Understandably, everyone is a little beaten down. Mare especially. I really struggled with her character. Cal was so dull; and there was very little Maven.

This is the very definition of a Book 2 slump if you ask me. It's just one of those bridging books that is a necessary evil to the series. Seems like something big happens at the end that I am curious show more about, but not curious enough to pick this one back up.

It's been 8 months since I stopped in the middle of the novel and I haven't regretted it yet.

Perhaps Ill finish it another time but as of right now, this is a DNF'd series for me. show less