caszriel's review against another edition
3.0
The Glittering Court is full of mystery and intrigue. Perhaps not as good as the Vampire Academy series, but I liked it. The Glittering Court tells the tale of a young countess trying to escape an arranged marriage; usual enough, but unusual in its own way.
Assuming the identity of Adelaide Bailey, she joins The Glittering Court, a scheme for servant girls to become upper class ladies and marry into a new country. There she meets a fiery Tamsin, and the quiet Mira, who become her friends. What I liked about Tamsin and Mira was how much of their lives were hidden, saved for the next two stand-alones in this series.
One thing I disliked and liked about The Glittering Court was how I saw the ending from a mile away. Escaping an arranged marriage just to become stuck in another? Never gonna happen. On the other hand, what I liked was how small aspects were hidden then later revealed.
I really related to Adelaide, which helped me understand her choices and actions. Cedric was another good character that I certainly liked. My favourite out of them all had to be Mira; she keeps her speculations and secrets to herself, but doesn't push for information.
The ending of The Glittering Court was somewhat surprising, I really enjoyed it. Richelle Mead is a great writer, and I felt that The Glittering Court was a disappointment.
Assuming the identity of Adelaide Bailey, she joins The Glittering Court, a scheme for servant girls to become upper class ladies and marry into a new country. There she meets a fiery Tamsin, and the quiet Mira, who become her friends. What I liked about Tamsin and Mira was how much of their lives were hidden, saved for the next two stand-alones in this series.
One thing I disliked and liked about The Glittering Court was how I saw the ending from a mile away. Escaping an arranged marriage just to become stuck in another? Never gonna happen. On the other hand, what I liked was how small aspects were hidden then later revealed.
I really related to Adelaide, which helped me understand her choices and actions. Cedric was another good character that I certainly liked. My favourite out of them all had to be Mira; she keeps her speculations and secrets to herself, but doesn't push for information.
The ending of The Glittering Court was somewhat surprising, I really enjoyed it. Richelle Mead is a great writer, and I felt that The Glittering Court was a disappointment.
tartbarbie's review against another edition
5.0
Elizabeth's future doesn't look promising, the prospect of a marriage that will provide the financial needs but not the love she wants. When her maid receives an offer that is one of a kind chance of a lifetime she decides to help her maid and take the offer. In order to get away from her current life, she takes her maids name Adelaide taking a new adventure as one of the girls in the Glittering Court. She will spend the next year at a finishing school to become an upper-class lady so that she can find a successful husband in the Adoria.
Unlike the other girls at school, she's already a lady but she doesn't want to draw attention so she pretends to not be great but just enough to get by so that she can make it to Adoria. Only Cedric the man who made the offer to her maid knows who she really is and if she can make it through training she might just be able to get away with it. Finding friendship with her roommates who have become fast friends but when she learns what Cedric is hiding she decides that she needs to be the best of the Glittering Court in order to help. Will Adelaide marry one of the rich men or be sent back to Osfridian to her marriage that she ran away from.
I loved Adelaide she's one of those characters you can't help cheering for as she takes off on a whirlwind adventure risking everything for a chance at a new life. We also get to know Cedric really well as they develop a strong friendship while Adelaide is in school and while she's being courted by men in Adoria. We also get to learn a little more about Tasmin and Mira who are friends of Adelaide while she was in the school. We also are introduced to a few characters I didn't care for right from the start but things work out in the end.
I've had this one on my bookshelf forever but I never seemed to get around to it now and I'm kicking myself for not getting to it sooner. I love the idea for The Glittering Court it's a twist on the matchmaker concept but done by men who use it as a business. I instantly was hooked on the book finding it hard to put down I had to know what was going to happen to Adelaide next. The author has done an amazing job create a captivating story that captures the heart as well as the imagination. This isn't my first book by the author so I had some high expectations and The Glittering Court doesn't disappoint it's so much better than I expected. I honestly loved the book it was beautifully written and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Unlike the other girls at school, she's already a lady but she doesn't want to draw attention so she pretends to not be great but just enough to get by so that she can make it to Adoria. Only Cedric the man who made the offer to her maid knows who she really is and if she can make it through training she might just be able to get away with it. Finding friendship with her roommates who have become fast friends but when she learns what Cedric is hiding she decides that she needs to be the best of the Glittering Court in order to help. Will Adelaide marry one of the rich men or be sent back to Osfridian to her marriage that she ran away from.
I loved Adelaide she's one of those characters you can't help cheering for as she takes off on a whirlwind adventure risking everything for a chance at a new life. We also get to know Cedric really well as they develop a strong friendship while Adelaide is in school and while she's being courted by men in Adoria. We also get to learn a little more about Tasmin and Mira who are friends of Adelaide while she was in the school. We also are introduced to a few characters I didn't care for right from the start but things work out in the end.
I've had this one on my bookshelf forever but I never seemed to get around to it now and I'm kicking myself for not getting to it sooner. I love the idea for The Glittering Court it's a twist on the matchmaker concept but done by men who use it as a business. I instantly was hooked on the book finding it hard to put down I had to know what was going to happen to Adelaide next. The author has done an amazing job create a captivating story that captures the heart as well as the imagination. This isn't my first book by the author so I had some high expectations and The Glittering Court doesn't disappoint it's so much better than I expected. I honestly loved the book it was beautifully written and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
bookishlynomes's review against another edition
2.0
Definitely had potential but didn't quite live up to my expectations. I've enjoyed most of what I've read by Mead in the past and will continue to check out her other books.
ninadonata's review against another edition
4.0
Ich muss zugeben dass mich bei diesem Buch als erstes, neben dem Namen der Autorin, auch das wunderschöne Cover angesprochen hat. Doch als ich dann den Klappentext gelesen habe, war mir klar das wird meine Geschichte.
Der Text ließ sich flüssig lesen. Auch fand ich den Einstieg in die Handlung gut gewählt, denn schon nach wenigen Kapiteln wurde es spannend und man musste nicht lang in diese Welt eigeführt werden.
Außerdem ist es Frau Mead gelungen dem Leser ihre Welt mit wenigen Mühe nahe zu bringen. Also den Aufbau des Lands, in dem ihr Fantasy Roman spielt.
Auch wenn die Grundidee der Gesichte eine ähnliche ist, wie die von "Kiss of Diception", gelang es Richelle doch dem ganzen ihre eigene Note zu verleihen.
Sehr aufregend ist es gewesen dass im Zentrum der Handlung ein Adlige steht, die den Platz ihrer Bediensteten einnimmt. Meiner Meinung nach, würde diese Handlung im wahren Leben nicht eintreten. Während des Lesens befürchtete ich, dass die Hauptakteurin ihre Identität jederzeit Preis geben könne. Der Spannung wurde über den gesamten Zeitraum des Romans hoch gehalten.
Bei dem ganzen Trubel am Hof ist mir die Liebesgesichte jedoch ein wenig zu kurz gekommen. Irgendwie waren die beiden Hauptcharaktere plötzlich Paar, bei dem ich das extreme Knistern zu Beginn nicht bemerkte.
Im Gegensatz dazu fand ich sehr schön, wie sich andere Beziehungen langsam entwickelt haben. In meinen Augen war es sehr gut und verständlich geschildert, warum sich diese Beziehungen so entwickeln wie sie sich entwickelten.
Der Spannungsbogen den Richelle Mead aufgebaut hat, war sehr gelungen. Es ist Teilweise so viel passiert dass ich immer gedacht habe, ,,Huch, wie ist dieses denn nun passiert”. Obwohl es relativ schnell spannend wurde, gab es noch immer einen Höhepunkt.
Mit der Protagonistin Elizabeth konnte ich mich nur teilweise identifizieren. Das Schicksal was sie erwartet ist meiner Meinung nach verständlicherweise nicht motivierend. Durchaus hat sie aber ein gutes Leben und ist in ihrer Handlungsweise zwar sehr mutig, aber nicht durchdacht, Als sie den Platz ihrer Bediensteten einnimmt. Was mir aber gut gefallen hat, ist wie sie für ihre Freunde einsteht.
Conclousion
Alles in allem kann man sagen, dass ein solider Reihenbeginn vorliegt. Ich habe die Geschichte verschlungen, obwohl manche Stellen meiner Meinung widersprachen. Zum Beispiel die Auseinandersetzung zwischen den Kandidatinnen. Es sind zwar temperamentvolle Frauen, aber für die Probleme, die ihnen widerfahren sind, hätten sie sich meiner Meinung nach reifer verhalten können. Aus all diesen Gründen gebe ich vier von fünf Pferden.
Der Text ließ sich flüssig lesen. Auch fand ich den Einstieg in die Handlung gut gewählt, denn schon nach wenigen Kapiteln wurde es spannend und man musste nicht lang in diese Welt eigeführt werden.
Außerdem ist es Frau Mead gelungen dem Leser ihre Welt mit wenigen Mühe nahe zu bringen. Also den Aufbau des Lands, in dem ihr Fantasy Roman spielt.
Auch wenn die Grundidee der Gesichte eine ähnliche ist, wie die von "Kiss of Diception", gelang es Richelle doch dem ganzen ihre eigene Note zu verleihen.
Sehr aufregend ist es gewesen dass im Zentrum der Handlung ein Adlige steht, die den Platz ihrer Bediensteten einnimmt. Meiner Meinung nach, würde diese Handlung im wahren Leben nicht eintreten. Während des Lesens befürchtete ich, dass die Hauptakteurin ihre Identität jederzeit Preis geben könne. Der Spannung wurde über den gesamten Zeitraum des Romans hoch gehalten.
Bei dem ganzen Trubel am Hof ist mir die Liebesgesichte jedoch ein wenig zu kurz gekommen. Irgendwie waren die beiden Hauptcharaktere plötzlich Paar, bei dem ich das extreme Knistern zu Beginn nicht bemerkte.
Im Gegensatz dazu fand ich sehr schön, wie sich andere Beziehungen langsam entwickelt haben. In meinen Augen war es sehr gut und verständlich geschildert, warum sich diese Beziehungen so entwickeln wie sie sich entwickelten.
Der Spannungsbogen den Richelle Mead aufgebaut hat, war sehr gelungen. Es ist Teilweise so viel passiert dass ich immer gedacht habe, ,,Huch, wie ist dieses denn nun passiert”. Obwohl es relativ schnell spannend wurde, gab es noch immer einen Höhepunkt.
Mit der Protagonistin Elizabeth konnte ich mich nur teilweise identifizieren. Das Schicksal was sie erwartet ist meiner Meinung nach verständlicherweise nicht motivierend. Durchaus hat sie aber ein gutes Leben und ist in ihrer Handlungsweise zwar sehr mutig, aber nicht durchdacht, Als sie den Platz ihrer Bediensteten einnimmt. Was mir aber gut gefallen hat, ist wie sie für ihre Freunde einsteht.
Conclousion
Alles in allem kann man sagen, dass ein solider Reihenbeginn vorliegt. Ich habe die Geschichte verschlungen, obwohl manche Stellen meiner Meinung widersprachen. Zum Beispiel die Auseinandersetzung zwischen den Kandidatinnen. Es sind zwar temperamentvolle Frauen, aber für die Probleme, die ihnen widerfahren sind, hätten sie sich meiner Meinung nach reifer verhalten können. Aus all diesen Gründen gebe ich vier von fünf Pferden.
karmakit's review against another edition
3.0
It wasn’t bad, but I did not believe the love story here and everything just seemed TO convenient. The “villain” was also overly dramatic and I have no idea why he did what he did the way he did it…..I enjoyed the writing, but for lost in the weeds on some of the story.
iphi_kc13's review against another edition
2.0
The beginning was alright, I held on for as long as I could though and finally had to call it done. Mira is supposed to be mysterious and contradictory but I just find it annoying. Adelaide starts out well enough with her escape plan, but her obsession with Cedric makes no sense to me. I felt both rushed in some instances and dragged along in others and I just had to skip through the end.
littlemisscass's review against another edition
2.0
I like the ideas behind Mead's novels. I even have quite enjoyed two of her series. But this book was, for the most part, unengaging. Although I tended to like the characters (Adelaide was incredibly annoying and precious most of the time, which wasn't helped by the first person perspective), there was little apparent plot driving the book, and it seemed like as many genres as possible had been mashed together to create something new. Genre-mash really works for the Age of X series, but less so here, where it flitted from one to another (from 'historical' to colonial to gold rush to...), rather than settling on one. The setting and general 'colonial' plot was too close to history to be interesting but too far from history to make sense. Honestly, the only thing that kept me reading was the decent writing (if I ignore the irritating and cringeworthy dialogue - internal and external - in the finishing school/female friends scenes) and the slow burning romance. Even that got boring by the end.
bellabern's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
ivy_camilla's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
5.0