Electrifyingly Brilliant
Glass Sword
by Victoria Aveyard
4.5 / 5
Mare is a sword, a sword made of glass, and she is showing signs that she may shatter. In this fantastic continuation, Mare and her Scarlet Guard comrades are attempting to track down and recruit the Newbloods (Red bloodied, but with abilities stronger than a Silver), to create a force that is capable of overthrowing the Silver Dynasty. Glass Sword is a pulsating read that has more twists and turns than a double helix which resides within the Reds, Silvers and Newbloods alike.
The one thing that everyone will talk about when discussing Glass Sword will undoubtedly be the ending. I could write endless amounts about the events that happened leading to this moment, as well as speculating about the events to come, but this review will be unspoilerery for those yet to read it. I can already feel an invisible force trying to make me write about the thrilling moments of unbridled action and suspense, perhaps its Queen Elara entering my mind. I will try my best to compose a review which is two-pronged in approach. Firstly, to persuade those yet to delve into Mare’s world of Red and Silver that they should discover these brilliantly written books which are sure to be the next big book series to be turned into a Hollywood blockbuster. But I will also try to write a review which does justice to Aveyard’s incredible work. She has created a world which I willingly fall into every time I pick up the book. The characters are interesting and three-dimensional, and there is never a moment where you can relax as the line that is now etched into the minds of her readers is that “anyone can betray anyone.” Both in Red Queen and Glass Sword this line is enacted by someone, which adds an unpredictability element to the proceedings. Unpredictability is the key theme that runs throughout the book, even with a Newblood with incredible seer abilities, and the unknown nature of what will happen next is idiosyncratic of Aveyard’s style, perfectly shown in the cliffhanger ending. Continue reading →