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A review by emleemay
The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead
2.0
A fantasy for those who thought [b:The Selection|10507293|The Selection (The Selection, #1)|Kiera Cass|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1322103400s/10507293.jpg|15413183] wasn't long enough.
Who fucking cares? Because I surely don't.
I'll start with credit where it's due - the beginning of this book is quite enjoyable and it is, in my opinion, more entertaining than [b:The Selection|10507293|The Selection (The Selection, #1)|Kiera Cass|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1322103400s/10507293.jpg|15413183] (and much more entertaining than [b:Soundless|24751478|Soundless|Richelle Mead|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1446266199s/24751478.jpg|44380622]). Adelaide's narrative is quite amusing, especially in the novel's early stages, and her attempts to impersonate a poor maid make for some comical moments.
This doesn't last for long.
It quickly becomes apparent that Mead has no intention of moving past descriptions of dresses, dances and romance. I keep coming back to her because I loved the early Mead - such immoral entertainment! - but there will have to come a point when she joins the [a:Lauren Oliver|2936493|Lauren Oliver|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1416335442p2/2936493.jpg] box. It’s been a long time since she’s written something I've enjoyed.
[b:The Glittering Court|27272506|The Glittering Court (The Glittering Court, #1)|Richelle Mead|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1458743105s/27272506.jpg|47326016] is about a high society girl who steals her maid's identity and becomes Adelaide, one of the chosen girls being brought to the New World, Adoria. In a spin reminiscent of [b:The Selection|10507293|The Selection (The Selection, #1)|Kiera Cass|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1322103400s/10507293.jpg|15413183], she will be paraded in front of wealthy bachelors and compete with her fellow girls to attract the best husband.
However, though drowning in male attention, Adelaide finds herself drawn to one of the Court's proprietors - Cedric Thorn.
With some small exceptions, these girls are all obsessed with dresses that suit their coloring, behavior fit for upper class ladies, and the wealthiest dudes. It's tiring. I don't know about you, but I like my stories with a bit more badassery, action and grit.
The world is inspired by a combination of the Elizabethan and Frontier eras, borrowing heavily from both societies and doing nothing new with them. What's more surprising is the distinct lack of any fantasy elements - this book could just as easily have been marketed as alternate history or dystopian. There is no magic, no mythology, nothing remotely supernatural.
Not only lacking in action and magic, [b:The Glittering Court|27272506|The Glittering Court (The Glittering Court, #1)|Richelle Mead|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1458743105s/27272506.jpg|47326016] is extremely tame on several levels. The romance lacks chemistry and Cedric is too nice, polite and forgettable to serve as an enticing love interest. His "dark secret" is also disappointingly lame, not juicy like all dark secrets should be.
As with the direction of the romance, everything else about this book is painfully obvious. Mead tries to build up drama (oh my, what will happen? Can they really be gone forever?) and yet it is dampened by the reader’s surety of the conclusion.
Perhaps an entertaining read for those who like books with lots of fashion and boys.
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“Winifred, the first girl, would look so lovely in the diamond colouring. Ruby’s the next most precious stone, and that obviously wouldn’t suit you with your hair. So third, as a sapphire, seemed like-“
“Sapphire?” interrupted Tamsin. “Sapphire? Everyone knows green is my best color. Isn’t an emerald rarer than a sapphire?"
Who fucking cares? Because I surely don't.
I'll start with credit where it's due - the beginning of this book is quite enjoyable and it is, in my opinion, more entertaining than [b:The Selection|10507293|The Selection (The Selection, #1)|Kiera Cass|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1322103400s/10507293.jpg|15413183] (and much more entertaining than [b:Soundless|24751478|Soundless|Richelle Mead|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1446266199s/24751478.jpg|44380622]). Adelaide's narrative is quite amusing, especially in the novel's early stages, and her attempts to impersonate a poor maid make for some comical moments.
This doesn't last for long.
It quickly becomes apparent that Mead has no intention of moving past descriptions of dresses, dances and romance. I keep coming back to her because I loved the early Mead - such immoral entertainment! - but there will have to come a point when she joins the [a:Lauren Oliver|2936493|Lauren Oliver|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1416335442p2/2936493.jpg] box. It’s been a long time since she’s written something I've enjoyed.
[b:The Glittering Court|27272506|The Glittering Court (The Glittering Court, #1)|Richelle Mead|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1458743105s/27272506.jpg|47326016] is about a high society girl who steals her maid's identity and becomes Adelaide, one of the chosen girls being brought to the New World, Adoria. In a spin reminiscent of [b:The Selection|10507293|The Selection (The Selection, #1)|Kiera Cass|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1322103400s/10507293.jpg|15413183], she will be paraded in front of wealthy bachelors and compete with her fellow girls to attract the best husband.
However, though drowning in male attention, Adelaide finds herself drawn to one of the Court's proprietors - Cedric Thorn.
With some small exceptions, these girls are all obsessed with dresses that suit their coloring, behavior fit for upper class ladies, and the wealthiest dudes. It's tiring. I don't know about you, but I like my stories with a bit more badassery, action and grit.
The world is inspired by a combination of the Elizabethan and Frontier eras, borrowing heavily from both societies and doing nothing new with them. What's more surprising is the distinct lack of any fantasy elements - this book could just as easily have been marketed as alternate history or dystopian. There is no magic, no mythology, nothing remotely supernatural.
Not only lacking in action and magic, [b:The Glittering Court|27272506|The Glittering Court (The Glittering Court, #1)|Richelle Mead|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1458743105s/27272506.jpg|47326016] is extremely tame on several levels. The romance lacks chemistry and Cedric is too nice, polite and forgettable to serve as an enticing love interest. His "dark secret" is also disappointingly lame, not juicy like all dark secrets should be.
As with the direction of the romance, everything else about this book is painfully obvious. Mead tries to build up drama (oh my, what will happen? Can they really be gone forever?) and yet it is dampened by the reader’s surety of the conclusion.
Perhaps an entertaining read for those who like books with lots of fashion and boys.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | Store