Glitter by Aprilynne Pike

 

Glitter

Glitter * Shatter

Publish Date: 2016
Series: Glitter
Format Reviewed: Audiobook
Author: Aprilynne Pike
Author’s Website
Author's Twitter

Goodreads Review

~Quick Review~

Introduction

(From Goodreads)

Outside the palace of Versailles, it’s modern day. Inside, the people dress, eat, and act like it’s the eighteenth century—with the added bonus of technology to make court life lavish, privileged, and frivolous. The palace has every indulgence, but for one pretty young thing, it’s about to become a very beautiful prison.

When Danica witnesses an act of murder by the young king, her mother makes a cruel power play . . . blackmailing the king into making Dani his queen. When she turns eighteen, Dani will marry the most ruthless and dangerous man of the court. She has six months to escape her terrifying destiny. Six months to raise enough money to disappear into the real world beyond the palace gates.

Her ticket out? Glitter. A drug so powerful that a tiny pinch mixed into a pot of rouge or lip gloss can make the wearer hopelessly addicted. Addicted to a drug Dani can sell for more money than she ever dreamed.

But in Versailles, secrets are impossible to keep. And the most dangerous secret—falling for a drug dealer outside the palace walls—is one risk she has to take.

Final Verdict

I love Versailles, and I hope to visit one day, so I was a sucker for this book. My only complaints are the insta-love and I wasn't able to imagine the bot technology they use. I'm not sure if it was described only once and I missed it (I listened to this while driving), or if it was never described adequately. But this book definitely is an interesting dystopia that is set in a recreation of Versailles. I loved this and I look forward to listening to the next book soon. 

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The Nowhere Girls by Amy Reed

 

Publish Date: October 10th, 2017
Format Reviewed: Audiobook
Author: Amy Reed
Author’s Goodreads
My Review on Goodreads

Quick Review

Introduction

When Grace moves into a new town, she learns about a high school girl who was raped about a year prior. Horrified, she digs deeper. Nothing was really done about it. There were no consequences. She and her family moved away. Misogyny runs deep in the high school, and with her friends, Rosina and Erin, they start the collective known as the Nowhere Girls, in hopes of changing sexist culture. 

Characters

This book has a tonne of interesting characters. Grace comes to town because her mom was a former southern Baptist preacher, but after she fell off a horse and hit her head, she became more liberal and took up a position in this new town. Erin has Asperger's and loves marine biology and thinks she may be an android. Rosina is a lesbian and clashes with her conservative Mexican immigrant family. While the book starts off with three perspectives, it eventually does add more voices of various girls, some of the other Nowhere Girls, and some girls who have not joined. 

Overall Thoughts/Verdict 

This book does deal heavily with sexuality, consent, rape culture, and family dynamics. Ultimately, I recommend this book to older teens. However...I think we need to have these conversations with teens before they are ready to read this book. So in a way, this book affirms beliefs we (probably) already hold. If someone doesn't hold these beliefs, I don't see why they would pick this up, and I don't see this as changing anyone's mindset. It's still a fabulous book worth reading, though it does try to do a lot of things at once. I would have liked for the school to have changed in some regard, but it doesn't. With the exception of one teacher, we only see negative reactions from the school. The principle is a cartoonish villain besides the concept of generational misogyny. I still highly recommend it, though some readers may be put off by the themes.   

King of Always by Juno Heart

Black Blood Fae

Prince of Never * King of Always

Publish Date: August 24th, 2020
Format: ebook
Series: Black Blood Fae
Author: Juno Heart
Author’s Goodreads
My Review on Goodreads

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Introduction

Taking place after the first book, King of Always brings another romance from the land of Faery. Isla, a baker with a stubborn and independent personality, has decided to take a vacation in the land of Faery. Raff is the current crown prince and is seeking his fated mate. In the last book, he is so carefree and friendly, but now, the curse runs through him. He has become colder, meaner. When Raff and Isla meet, it's obvious they are meant to be together, but Raff isn't exactly likable all the time, and Isla doesn't like being ordered around by anyone. To top it all off, they are in the land of Faery, a dangerous place for humans, no matter how independent they are. 

Relationship

I really enjoyed reading about their relationship dynamics. Can you imagine having a smouldering hot crown prince with fire magic trying to woo you? Poor Isla, though. She doesn't want to stay in Faery. She wants to be a baker and she has dreams she wants to fulfill in the human world. Plus, she wants to marry for love! But there's something unique about Isla and her baking and her link to fire that can't be ignored.

Final Verdict

I definitely recommend this book to people who like happily-ever-after romances, enemies-to-lovers, and faeries. It was just as addictive as the first book, and we get to see Lara and Ever again as well. Also, this book makes me want to bake. I have been told I make a mean apple pie. So, snuggle up with some baked goods and enjoy this fabulous book!