meganla's review against another edition
4.0
4.5/5 Stars
I thought it was great! Action-packed right from the beginning.
It was a bit hard for me to get into at first (But that's just me). But when part 2 started the whole book was amazing from then on.
Super interesting and unique story. Loved the dual point of views since their situations were so different. Just all in all a great story.
I thought it was great! Action-packed right from the beginning.
It was a bit hard for me to get into at first (But that's just me). But when part 2 started the whole book was amazing from then on.
Super interesting and unique story. Loved the dual point of views since their situations were so different. Just all in all a great story.
karen_k77's review against another edition
4.0
This book wasn't what I expected, and I think that's what threw me off. Originally, I wasn't going to give this more than a two-star rating, maybe a three-star one. But then I stopped to think about it, and honestly, this book deserves a lot more than that.
I thought it was going to be a standard love-triangle story line vaguely disguised as a science fiction/social commentary. I liked Waverly well enough, but I was all geared up for her story to revolve around her Kieran/Seth struggle, and I knew that wouldn't appeal to me. I was prepared to dislike Kieran for being bland and uninteresting, and to maybe like Seth because he would be the opposite. I was set in my expectations about fifty pages in, and that's my mistake, because the book turned out to be nothing like what I thought. Prepare for long rants about the three main characters, and why they're great.
Waverly's story line actually had very little to do with Kieran or Seth. She's physically removed from them for most of the book, so beyond missing her boyfriend sometimes, neither boy is in her thoughts that much. I loved that. It's not that romance is bad, or detracts from a character's presence, but it was a pleasant surprise to have a good female character who had romance in her life, but who wasn't defined by it. That kind of character isn't rare, but I don't find it as much as I'd like, and it endeared me to Waverly even more. Her story was interesting and brutal, her actions/reactions were honest and strong without being over-the-top, and the presence of the main story made any thoughts she did have about the boys seem more appropriate and understandable.
Kieran was also a pleasant surprise, if only because he was both stronger and weaker than I anticipated; in other words, he was actually interesting. He struggled with things, he made mistakes, he won some, lost some, and he grew and changed for it. I loved all of that about him. Contrived romances don't only detract from female characters; a lot of the time, male romantic interests tend to lack personality. A lot of the time, they seem like vehicles of physical/emotional attraction and nothing else, an entity that wouldn't be substantial when separated from the romance. Kieran was not like this. He was hopelessly in love with Waverly, but he also had a personality and story separate from that fact. That being said, I wasn't a fan of him as a person.
Same with Seth. I expected to like Seth as a person but not as a character, and it turned out to be the exact opposite. I dislike him as a person, but I absolutely love him as a character. He's also just plain interesting. He's way more than just a kid that moons over a girl from afar, a broody dunce with nothing better to think about than his love. He had more bad qualities than good, but his perspective is also the one we didn't get to see, so his intentions are shrouded in mystery. Is he an anti-hero with violent tendencies, or is he just plain evil? Is he good or bad, in the end? I really want to know.
And for once, I also want to know what happens with the romance, if only because I want to see if Waverly realizes how poisonous both of those relationships would be, and dumps both of them in the dust. The only thing I'd say against the characters is that I found it hard to relate to Kieran or Seth. Their story is a power struggle between the two, and I wasn't sure who I wanted to root for, since Seth seemed violently cruel and Kieran seemed indecisive and whiny. It made Kieran's chapters a little bit of a struggle.
The story itself, separate from the characters, was also interesting. Female reproductive rights/misogyny are hot topics right now, so it was intriguing to see a science fiction built on that foundation. It made Anne Mather a more believable antagonist, since we saw where she was coming from, and it added a fascinating spin on the whole thing; instead of black and white, good and bad, the story comes from both sides making mistakes fueled by anger and hatred. It was compelling. I'm so invested in knowing what happens. And the space thing was done decently, considering its a science fiction where science is not the point.
The writing style is the only thing I wasn't excited about. Amy Kathleen Ryan is a good writer, but not a distinct one, and if there's anything about the book I feel no passion for, it's her prose. But that's fine, because she's crafted a crazy engaging story with it.
At first, I wasn't sure how much I liked this book. Intellectually, I think it's an amazing book. The characters and their progressions are fascinating, and the story itself is also worth getting excited about. The writing is done well enough. But I got more excited thinking about it and dissecting it in my head than I did when I was actually reading it, and I think that's what's keeping me from giving it five stars. It's like the book's ideas transcend the way it was written.
But overall, I definitely recommend it to anyone interested in reading it. It's worth your time, in more ways than one.
I thought it was going to be a standard love-triangle story line vaguely disguised as a science fiction/social commentary. I liked Waverly well enough, but I was all geared up for her story to revolve around her Kieran/Seth struggle, and I knew that wouldn't appeal to me. I was prepared to dislike Kieran for being bland and uninteresting, and to maybe like Seth because he would be the opposite. I was set in my expectations about fifty pages in, and that's my mistake, because the book turned out to be nothing like what I thought. Prepare for long rants about the three main characters, and why they're great.
Waverly's story line actually had very little to do with Kieran or Seth. She's physically removed from them for most of the book, so beyond missing her boyfriend sometimes, neither boy is in her thoughts that much. I loved that. It's not that romance is bad, or detracts from a character's presence, but it was a pleasant surprise to have a good female character who had romance in her life, but who wasn't defined by it. That kind of character isn't rare, but I don't find it as much as I'd like, and it endeared me to Waverly even more. Her story was interesting and brutal, her actions/reactions were honest and strong without being over-the-top, and the presence of the main story made any thoughts she did have about the boys seem more appropriate and understandable.
Kieran was also a pleasant surprise, if only because he was both stronger and weaker than I anticipated; in other words, he was actually interesting. He struggled with things, he made mistakes, he won some, lost some, and he grew and changed for it.
Spoiler
And frankly, his religious fervor at the end, with all its sinister tones and promises of further character development/devolution, was what made me excited for the second book; I'm excited to see where it takes him, and how Waverly reacts to it, and what it does to the overall story line. God, I hope he turns evil.Same with Seth. I expected to like Seth as a person but not as a character, and it turned out to be the exact opposite. I dislike him as a person, but I absolutely love him as a character. He's also just plain interesting. He's way more than just a kid that moons over a girl from afar, a broody dunce with nothing better to think about than his love. He had more bad qualities than good, but his perspective is also the one we didn't get to see, so his intentions are shrouded in mystery. Is he an anti-hero with violent tendencies, or is he just plain evil? Is he good or bad, in the end? I really want to know.
And for once, I also want to know what happens with the romance, if only because I want to see if Waverly realizes how poisonous both of those relationships would be, and dumps both of them in the dust. The only thing I'd say against the characters is that I found it hard to relate to Kieran or Seth. Their story is a power struggle between the two, and I wasn't sure who I wanted to root for, since Seth seemed violently cruel and Kieran seemed indecisive and whiny. It made Kieran's chapters a little bit of a struggle.
The story itself, separate from the characters, was also interesting. Female reproductive rights/misogyny are hot topics right now, so it was intriguing to see a science fiction built on that foundation. It made Anne Mather a more believable antagonist, since we saw where she was coming from, and it added a fascinating spin on the whole thing; instead of black and white, good and bad, the story comes from both sides making mistakes fueled by anger and hatred. It was compelling. I'm so invested in knowing what happens. And the space thing was done decently, considering its a science fiction where science is not the point.
The writing style is the only thing I wasn't excited about. Amy Kathleen Ryan is a good writer, but not a distinct one, and if there's anything about the book I feel no passion for, it's her prose. But that's fine, because she's crafted a crazy engaging story with it.
At first, I wasn't sure how much I liked this book. Intellectually, I think it's an amazing book. The characters and their progressions are fascinating, and the story itself is also worth getting excited about. The writing is done well enough. But I got more excited thinking about it and dissecting it in my head than I did when I was actually reading it, and I think that's what's keeping me from giving it five stars. It's like the book's ideas transcend the way it was written.
But overall, I definitely recommend it to anyone interested in reading it. It's worth your time, in more ways than one.
elmeeks's review against another edition
4.0
This novel takes place aboard a space shuttle in outerspace. Kieran and Waverly are two ordinary teens on the Empyrean who know they are going to get married to each other someday. When the other spaceship (New Horizon) that is also bound for New Earth shows up it is a puzzlement. When they board the ship and kidnap all of the young girls including Waverly it becomes a nightmare. Kieran is left to run a ship full of boys, which Waverly tries to find a way for the girls to escape.
This book is full of topics that would be great for discussion such as religion, fertility, and leadership. It is the first book in a series. The next installment is slated to come open in summer 2012.
This book is full of topics that would be great for discussion such as religion, fertility, and leadership. It is the first book in a series. The next installment is slated to come open in summer 2012.
paperbackd's review against another edition
3.0
First things first: Glow is not a happy book. Amy Kathleen Ryan’s story involves brutal power struggles, human captivity, rape, sexual abuse, misogyny and religious zealotry. The story starts when the young girls of the Empyrean are captured by the New Horizon, another ship heading to a fresh start on New Earth. Here, the narrative separates as the two main leads, Kieran and Waverly, step up to take charge of the boys and girls whose lives have been torn apart by the murder, kidnapping and sabotage that has left them with no adult help, fending for themselves.
Of Ryan’s characters, only Waverly is both likable and well-developed. A few of the other girls are likable, but never fully explored enough for the reader to form an attachment to them. Waverly’s two suitors Kieran and Seth seem likable at first, but gradually become dark, power-hungry villains.
Ryan shows us how frightened people will resort to terrible things in order to feel safe and looked-after. The boys’ story, narrated by Kieran, is a Lord of the Flies-esque power-play between the two eldest boys, following the departure (and/or death) of all the adults and girls of Empyrean. Seth, a character who started out with some promise, quickly loses all substance and becomes a cartoonish villain, driven mad by his jealousy of Kieran. Kieran also becomes less and less likable in his attempts to keep control of the ship, finally losing all sympathy with me when, in an attempt to bring the (secular) boys together using religion, he tells his crew that if their families had prayed together every week, their tragedy could have been avoided. I fail to see how guilt-tripping survivors of a terrible attack with a god they don’t believe in is supposed to raise morale. Both Kieran and Seth use violence, lies and fear to keep their positions of power. Honestly, I’m hoping Waverly ditches the both of them as quickly as she possibly can.
The girls’ story, narrated by Waverly, shows the extents to which people will use and manipulate each other in desperate times. On board the New Horizon, Waverly and the other girls are kept separated, drugged and forced to become egg donors without their consent when it is revealed that the women of the New Horizon are barren. The population of the ship is controlled by Anne Mather, another cartoonish villain with no redeemable traits, who, like Kieran, uses religion as a form of control. Waverly’s side of the story is undoubtedly stronger – perhaps because while she suffers just as much (if not, more than) Kieran, she retains her values and her ordeals inspire her to help her fellow captives rather than control them. During Waverly's stay aboard the New Horizon Ryan also develops a fascinating backstory, explaining the hostility between the captains of the two ships which paints both captains and their crews badly.
Although Ryan covers a ton of issues in Glow, she understands the seriousness of the themes she introduces and doesn’t trivialise or dismiss them. Waverly’s suffering affects her deeply and will undoubtedly continue to be addressed as the series continues. However, with so few characters to sympathise with, I’m not sure if I’ll be continuing with this series when the sequel is released.
Of Ryan’s characters, only Waverly is both likable and well-developed. A few of the other girls are likable, but never fully explored enough for the reader to form an attachment to them. Waverly’s two suitors Kieran and Seth seem likable at first, but gradually become dark, power-hungry villains.
Ryan shows us how frightened people will resort to terrible things in order to feel safe and looked-after. The boys’ story, narrated by Kieran, is a Lord of the Flies-esque power-play between the two eldest boys, following the departure (and/or death) of all the adults and girls of Empyrean. Seth, a character who started out with some promise, quickly loses all substance and becomes a cartoonish villain, driven mad by his jealousy of Kieran. Kieran also becomes less and less likable in his attempts to keep control of the ship, finally losing all sympathy with me when, in an attempt to bring the (secular) boys together using religion, he tells his crew that if their families had prayed together every week, their tragedy could have been avoided. I fail to see how guilt-tripping survivors of a terrible attack with a god they don’t believe in is supposed to raise morale. Both Kieran and Seth use violence, lies and fear to keep their positions of power. Honestly, I’m hoping Waverly ditches the both of them as quickly as she possibly can.
The girls’ story, narrated by Waverly, shows the extents to which people will use and manipulate each other in desperate times. On board the New Horizon, Waverly and the other girls are kept separated, drugged and forced to become egg donors without their consent when it is revealed that the women of the New Horizon are barren. The population of the ship is controlled by Anne Mather, another cartoonish villain with no redeemable traits, who, like Kieran, uses religion as a form of control. Waverly’s side of the story is undoubtedly stronger – perhaps because while she suffers just as much (if not, more than) Kieran, she retains her values and her ordeals inspire her to help her fellow captives rather than control them. During Waverly's stay aboard the New Horizon Ryan also develops a fascinating backstory, explaining the hostility between the captains of the two ships which paints both captains and their crews badly.
Although Ryan covers a ton of issues in Glow, she understands the seriousness of the themes she introduces and doesn’t trivialise or dismiss them. Waverly’s suffering affects her deeply and will undoubtedly continue to be addressed as the series continues. However, with so few characters to sympathise with, I’m not sure if I’ll be continuing with this series when the sequel is released.
sydofbee's review against another edition
3.0
I think the first thing many people think of when they see the cover the British Paperback is "Across the Universe?" and I admit my thoughts were similar. But since I have been really into stories set in space it was really no question about whether I would read Glow.
It starts with Waverly and Kieran enjoying the evening in the orchards, talking about all sorts of things but also about the ship, the New Horizon, that has suddenly appeared in sight even though it should be light years ahead of the Empyrean. I can't say that I connected with the characters right away. Especially Kieran stayed almost unlikeable for me until the end. However, I had read the praise and it said something about the action starting 50 pages in so I decided to read until the action started without putting it down. Good decision, because I got a feel for the world building and the characters while looking forward to what was to come.
Quite obviously, Waverly is the reason I was invested in the story. What happens to her and the other older girls is just terrible. Sure, the boys have to deal with their own issues on the Empyrean but it's still somewhat of a known enemy. Waverly doesn't have that luxury and what is done to her is just horrible. I think I would have curled up in a ball and just given up. So, to see such a strong heroine defeat the evil was just wonderful.
While reading Glow I was never quite sure who the liar was. In the end, many roles have changed and you're left with a kind of foreboding feeling that what Waverly (and Kieran) were able to achieve is not going to last. It's not the sort of ending where most everyone is kind of happy but the real evil-doer must still be defeated. It's an ending that leaves the reader somewhat defeated but also energized at Waverly's strength and it suddenly turns the villain into ... what? You'll have to read Glow to know!
However, religion becomes a big part of this book. As an atheist, of course the religious people were somewhat suspect to me from the beginning. When Waverly and the other girls have to attend services every Sunday I kept thinking what I would do if I were in their shoes. But what could they do, really? I would have liked some clearer statement as to what the nonbelievers of the Empyrean believe because in the end Waverly talks as though she believes in God but in the beginning it is stated that Kieran's family is one of few believers aboard. So ... what do they believe? That irked me more than almost anything else I have to say. Maybe it will be cleared up in Spark - which I'm going to pre-order right now!
It starts with Waverly and Kieran enjoying the evening in the orchards, talking about all sorts of things but also about the ship, the New Horizon, that has suddenly appeared in sight even though it should be light years ahead of the Empyrean. I can't say that I connected with the characters right away. Especially Kieran stayed almost unlikeable for me until the end. However, I had read the praise and it said something about the action starting 50 pages in so I decided to read until the action started without putting it down. Good decision, because I got a feel for the world building and the characters while looking forward to what was to come.
Quite obviously, Waverly is the reason I was invested in the story. What happens to her and the other older girls is just terrible. Sure, the boys have to deal with their own issues on the Empyrean but it's still somewhat of a known enemy. Waverly doesn't have that luxury and what is done to her is just horrible. I think I would have curled up in a ball and just given up. So, to see such a strong heroine defeat the evil was just wonderful.
While reading Glow I was never quite sure who the liar was. In the end, many roles have changed and you're left with a kind of foreboding feeling that what Waverly (and Kieran) were able to achieve is not going to last. It's not the sort of ending where most everyone is kind of happy but the real evil-doer must still be defeated. It's an ending that leaves the reader somewhat defeated but also energized at Waverly's strength and it suddenly turns the villain into ... what? You'll have to read Glow to know!
However, religion becomes a big part of this book. As an atheist, of course the religious people were somewhat suspect to me from the beginning. When Waverly and the other girls have to attend services every Sunday I kept thinking what I would do if I were in their shoes. But what could they do, really? I would have liked some clearer statement as to what the nonbelievers of the Empyrean believe because in the end Waverly talks as though she believes in God but in the beginning it is stated that Kieran's family is one of few believers aboard. So ... what do they believe? That irked me more than almost anything else I have to say. Maybe it will be cleared up in Spark - which I'm going to pre-order right now!
wildflowerz76's review against another edition
3.0
Eh. I'm not sure how I feel about this book. I was interested and it was a very quick read. But from the beginning, I just felt like I'd read this before. Repeatedly. There didn't seem to be a whole lot new in the story. I always appreciate with religious corruption is brought to light and it might be interesting to read where this goes, but I find that I'm not interested ENOUGH. So, this was okay, but I didn't love it.
aj113's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
reanimatedreader's review against another edition
3.0
Futuristic novel about planet Earth being uninhabitable and the population leaving to recolonise another planet. A story about hardships, adapting, generational differences, love, friendship and life changing events. Somewhat similar to Lord of the Flies in parts. The story flows well and the action keeps the pace up in places.
thomcat's review against another edition
1.0
I think what bugged me most were the testimonials - this is definitely *not* the "next Hunger Games".
In summary: two ships are in space, bound to colonize "new Earth" after an environmental collapse. One ship has very religious types, the other a more secular mix. Long-term space travel has caused sterility in both ships; the secular solves the problem and a party from the religious ship attacks and captures all female children. Most of the adults die in this attack, leaving only the male children.
So the secular ship experiences a "Lord of the Flies", while the females on the religious ship experience oppression and violation. Specific quibbles include:
1) Bad science fiction
2) A Muslim character on the secular ship (and he is the most sympathetic of the story)
3) A direct appearance by God
This is the first book of a series. It barely stands alone, and that only if you skip the Epilog. The main female character is written well enough; the main male characters are caricatures of power seekers. I had no idea what message about religion the author was trying to convey, and have no desire to read more books to find out. While this is young adult and *some* bad science fiction could be excused (I'm looking at you, Hunger Games), this book is over-the-top.
In summary: two ships are in space, bound to colonize "new Earth" after an environmental collapse. One ship has very religious types, the other a more secular mix. Long-term space travel has caused sterility in both ships; the secular solves the problem and a party from the religious ship attacks and captures all female children. Most of the adults die in this attack, leaving only the male children.
So the secular ship experiences a "Lord of the Flies", while the females on the religious ship experience oppression and violation. Specific quibbles include:
1) Bad science fiction
2) A Muslim character on the secular ship (and he is the most sympathetic of the story)
3) A direct appearance by God
This is the first book of a series. It barely stands alone, and that only if you skip the Epilog. The main female character is written well enough; the main male characters are caricatures of power seekers. I had no idea what message about religion the author was trying to convey, and have no desire to read more books to find out. While this is young adult and *some* bad science fiction could be excused (I'm looking at you, Hunger Games), this book is over-the-top.