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jennifermreads's review against another edition
3.0
Return to The Glittering Court through the eyes of political refugee Mira. While going through the motions of the etiquette lessons and introductions to men-of-means, Mira longs for something deeper and more meaningful. What she finds, however, may have her hanging from the gallows rather than swathed in silk.
When I first read The Glittering Court, I was entranced and mesmerized – and most intrigued by Mira’s story. I could not wait to delve deeper into the makings-of-Mira and learn more about this strong, independent woman.
And, then I read Mira’s story in Midnight Jewel and I walked away sad and unfulfilled. It just was not as engrossing or as satisfying as the first installment in this trilogy. The best parts were her midnight escapades in Adoria (and thank goodness for those because they saved this rating). The romance felt flat, and I sorely missed the detail and insight into Mira’s background before the Glittering Court.
Honestly, though, this may have been a story that was sunk by the narrator. For the first time ever, I listened to an audiobook at a faster speed. It was absolutely killing me to listen at real-time narration. Mooovvvviiiinnnngggg soooooooo sssllllooooowww. Yet, even at the increased speed, I still found the narration lacking. Mira had a knack for languages and their structure & sound. I expected so much more when Mira took on different personas and spoke in other tongues. It never materialized, and I felt cheated.
So, I move on to Tamsin’s story in The Emerald Sea. I truly hope the narration doesn’t kill this one too …
When I first read The Glittering Court, I was entranced and mesmerized – and most intrigued by Mira’s story. I could not wait to delve deeper into the makings-of-Mira and learn more about this strong, independent woman.
And, then I read Mira’s story in Midnight Jewel and I walked away sad and unfulfilled. It just was not as engrossing or as satisfying as the first installment in this trilogy. The best parts were her midnight escapades in Adoria (and thank goodness for those because they saved this rating). The romance felt flat, and I sorely missed the detail and insight into Mira’s background before the Glittering Court.
Honestly, though, this may have been a story that was sunk by the narrator. For the first time ever, I listened to an audiobook at a faster speed. It was absolutely killing me to listen at real-time narration. Mooovvvviiiinnnngggg soooooooo sssllllooooowww. Yet, even at the increased speed, I still found the narration lacking. Mira had a knack for languages and their structure & sound. I expected so much more when Mira took on different personas and spoke in other tongues. It never materialized, and I felt cheated.
So, I move on to Tamsin’s story in The Emerald Sea. I truly hope the narration doesn’t kill this one too …
laughlinesandliterature's review against another edition
4.0
I liked learning more about Mira. I knew she had her secrets, but I really loved that she was feistier than Adelaide. I also really liked how she wasn't afraid to blaze her own trail!
caszriel's review against another edition
5.0
Initial thoughts: okay, wow. I mean, I love The Glittering Court but Midnight Jewel is just so much better? For me, the main difference was that while I don't really relate to Adelaide, I absolutely relate to Mira and admire her as well. And, I just love Grant that much more than Cedric ;)
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Mira Viana has joined The Glittering Court to reach the New World so she can help her brother. When she discovers that Grant Elliott is actually a member of the McGraw Agency, she convinces him to hire her as a spy. In Cape Triumph, the militia do no enforce law and pirates rule the streets. But will Mira be able to change this?
The one thing I didn't like about this book is that when I started it, I had almost no recollection of the events in The Glittering Court. They slowly came back to me as I read Midnight Jewel, but it was disappointing that I remembered so little. Luckily, this book is Mira's story, so I didn't exactly need prior knowledge, especially as the book's events are parallel to those of The Glittering Court.
Mira is Sirminican, and gets judged harshly by some due to her race. Her home country is broken and so she lives in Adoria. I relate to her so much. Mira's intentions are always good, and in a few instances she is tested and passes with flying colours. The romance is so pure, it's not insta-love at all but a realistic developing of a good, honest relationship with its flaws. The characters have well rounded personalities which you will grow to love.
Midnight Jewel delves deeper into the world of The Glittering Court, showcasing none of the dark dealings which go on late at night. Mira's story will fascinate and excite as you join her in exploring Cape Triumph at night. This tale sheds some light on situations which occurred then from Mira's perspective. If you enjoyed The Glittering Court, Midnight Jewel will only make you fall deeper in love with the girls.
——————————————
Mira Viana has joined The Glittering Court to reach the New World so she can help her brother. When she discovers that Grant Elliott is actually a member of the McGraw Agency, she convinces him to hire her as a spy. In Cape Triumph, the militia do no enforce law and pirates rule the streets. But will Mira be able to change this?
The one thing I didn't like about this book is that when I started it, I had almost no recollection of the events in The Glittering Court. They slowly came back to me as I read Midnight Jewel, but it was disappointing that I remembered so little. Luckily, this book is Mira's story, so I didn't exactly need prior knowledge, especially as the book's events are parallel to those of The Glittering Court.
Mira is Sirminican, and gets judged harshly by some due to her race. Her home country is broken and so she lives in Adoria. I relate to her so much. Mira's intentions are always good, and in a few instances she is tested and passes with flying colours. The romance is so pure, it's not insta-love at all but a realistic developing of a good, honest relationship with its flaws. The characters have well rounded personalities which you will grow to love.
Midnight Jewel delves deeper into the world of The Glittering Court, showcasing none of the dark dealings which go on late at night. Mira's story will fascinate and excite as you join her in exploring Cape Triumph at night. This tale sheds some light on situations which occurred then from Mira's perspective. If you enjoyed The Glittering Court, Midnight Jewel will only make you fall deeper in love with the girls.
luna_rondo's review against another edition
3.0
Much better then the first - thank you, Mira - but still an abundance of problems. Mira and Grant saved this book for me though.
meglang's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
hgranger's review against another edition
3.0
I like Mirabel as a main character of the story but I wish she was fleshed our better. I can’t quite put my finger on what was wrong with the book, but there was something that made it less than great. I never quite felt connected to Mira, or anyone else in the book. The entire novel felt like it was a retelling of a story and not an actual adventure happening, which made it a little boring — and that’s too bad because the actual story line is not bad. It was pretty neat to have the holes of Adeline’s story filled in but I’m wondering if it will be too dull to read the story from yet another perspective by the time we get to Tamsin... All in all, this isn’t what I remember Mead’s writing to be like and it makes me question of her other books weren’t as good as I remember them to be. 😕
erinarkin20's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
Midnight Jewel is book two in The Glittering Court series by Richelle Mead and I was looking forward to reading this book. I liked book one which was from Adelaide’s point of view and I admit, I didn’t realize each of these books was the same timeline but from a different girl’s perspective until I was ready to dive into Midnight Jewel.
Mira is a solid character and I was interested in her since book one. She always seemed a bit separate from the other girls and not just because of her heritage. As the story moves forward, it becomes very clear that Mira has some skills that allow her to move around unnoticed and she is an observer so she can gather information fairly easily. These things help her when she notices that one of the men on the ship with the girls happens to have some features very similar to other gentlemen she has noticed since she began her training. When Mira makes the decision to find out who this man is and what he wants, she sees an opportunity for herself and seizes it.
Grant Elliott is the man Mira begins to dig into and when she finds out who he is, she negotiates her way into an agreement with him to be an “asset” and provide information she gathers by mingling with the rich men of Cape Triumph during their parties and balls. The goal is to find out who the rebels are and who is supplying gold to the traitors. If they can do this, Mira might be able to make enough gold to find/release her brother and get out of her contract. If it all happens the way she is thinking, she won’t have to find a husband.
Along the way, Grant realizes just how good Mira is at uncovering information. They also both realize there is an attraction between them but they have a lot of secrets and neither is ready to give them up right away. As the story moves forward, we learn more about both Mira and Grant and their secrets and the impact they have on their futures. While they both continue to work to find out who the rebels are and what they have planned, the feelings they have for each other definitely put a wrench in the plans they have made.
I have to admit, I started this book and got through about the first third but ended up putting it down for a bit. With that said, there wasn’t really anything wrong with it – I actually enjoyed this story but I just wasn’t that invested in the story. I don’t know if it was because it did overlap with book one or if I was something else. No matter, when I did pick it up again, I was pulled right back into this book. Of course, Mira and Grant have their angsty moments but they also have some swoony parts that I loved. The banter between these two was one of my favorite parts of the book.
I have seen a number of people say they liked this book better than book one and I think I liked them equally. The story itself felt a bit more like a mystery and the characters seemed a bit more complex but I don’t know, there is just something I liked about Adelaide and Cedric. I am looking forward to book three which is from Tamsin’s point of view. I can’t wait to see what happened during her disappearances and am curious to get her perspective on events with Mira and Adelaide. Consider checking this book out. Obviously reading book one would provide some additional insight into the characters of this series but I don’t know that it is absolutely necessary to have done so as this felt almost like a companion versus a continuation. Regardless, if you are interested in a story with a smart daring girl, intrigue and mystery, this may be one for you.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
Midnight Jewel is book two in The Glittering Court series by Richelle Mead and I was looking forward to reading this book. I liked book one which was from Adelaide’s point of view and I admit, I didn’t realize each of these books was the same timeline but from a different girl’s perspective until I was ready to dive into Midnight Jewel.
Mira is a solid character and I was interested in her since book one. She always seemed a bit separate from the other girls and not just because of her heritage. As the story moves forward, it becomes very clear that Mira has some skills that allow her to move around unnoticed and she is an observer so she can gather information fairly easily. These things help her when she notices that one of the men on the ship with the girls happens to have some features very similar to other gentlemen she has noticed since she began her training. When Mira makes the decision to find out who this man is and what he wants, she sees an opportunity for herself and seizes it.
Grant Elliott is the man Mira begins to dig into and when she finds out who he is, she negotiates her way into an agreement with him to be an “asset” and provide information she gathers by mingling with the rich men of Cape Triumph during their parties and balls. The goal is to find out who the rebels are and who is supplying gold to the traitors. If they can do this, Mira might be able to make enough gold to find/release her brother and get out of her contract. If it all happens the way she is thinking, she won’t have to find a husband.
Along the way, Grant realizes just how good Mira is at uncovering information. They also both realize there is an attraction between them but they have a lot of secrets and neither is ready to give them up right away. As the story moves forward, we learn more about both Mira and Grant and their secrets and the impact they have on their futures. While they both continue to work to find out who the rebels are and what they have planned, the feelings they have for each other definitely put a wrench in the plans they have made.
I have to admit, I started this book and got through about the first third but ended up putting it down for a bit. With that said, there wasn’t really anything wrong with it – I actually enjoyed this story but I just wasn’t that invested in the story. I don’t know if it was because it did overlap with book one or if I was something else. No matter, when I did pick it up again, I was pulled right back into this book. Of course, Mira and Grant have their angsty moments but they also have some swoony parts that I loved. The banter between these two was one of my favorite parts of the book.
I have seen a number of people say they liked this book better than book one and I think I liked them equally. The story itself felt a bit more like a mystery and the characters seemed a bit more complex but I don’t know, there is just something I liked about Adelaide and Cedric. I am looking forward to book three which is from Tamsin’s point of view. I can’t wait to see what happened during her disappearances and am curious to get her perspective on events with Mira and Adelaide. Consider checking this book out. Obviously reading book one would provide some additional insight into the characters of this series but I don’t know that it is absolutely necessary to have done so as this felt almost like a companion versus a continuation. Regardless, if you are interested in a story with a smart daring girl, intrigue and mystery, this may be one for you.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
shai3d's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
katleap's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
So I listened to the majority of this in audio and read a little bit in the book.
I liked Mira. She is more feisty than Adelaide but at the same time she is so caught up in what she is doing that she doesn't notice things. But that's okay because Mira is a pirate and a spy and glittering court girl. Mira's story is plot-twistier too, and being there are refugee tones. I liked Grant and Silas and Aiana.
This is still the alternate historical so things fell familiar but they are different. I would kill for a map, just to plot out where the countries and which direction everything is. I also really really wanted to know what was going on in Sirminica, like details and I actually wanted to meet Lonso.
So overall it was a good companion to The Glittering Court.
So I listened to the majority of this in audio and read a little bit in the book.
I liked Mira. She is more feisty than Adelaide but at the same time she is so caught up in what she is doing that she doesn't notice things. But that's okay because Mira is a pirate and a spy and glittering court girl. Mira's story is plot-twistier too, and being there are refugee tones. I liked Grant and Silas and Aiana.
This is still the alternate historical so things fell familiar but they are different. I would kill for a map, just to plot out where the countries and which direction everything is. I also really really wanted to know what was going on in Sirminica, like details and I actually wanted to meet Lonso.
So overall it was a good companion to The Glittering Court.