‘Glass Sword’ picks up straight after the events of ‘Red Queen’, and we are thrown quickly into the bloody aftermath of the escape.
This novel focuses a lot more on the emotional impact of events on our key players, which might irritate some readers. It’s not that there isn’t action – there’s a fair few skirmishes – but it’s all part of a much bigger picture so in the grand scheme of things you could argue that not much happens.
That’s what my detached head response says. But as Aveyard keeps pointing out, anyone/anything can betray anyone. My heart has a much stronger response to this novel and I lapped it up whole-heartedly.
Without giving plot details away, this novel focuses on the attempt to find the Newbloods, those Reds with powers, before Maven can get to them. We get to see some interesting new characters, and there’s a definite sense of a strategic pulling together of various threads. Mare develops in ways that aren’t always welcome, but I felt for her as she struggles to become what people want her to be. Her changing relationships with Cal and Kilorn have me totally clueless about which way this romantic element will play out. There’s also a small part of me that would love Maven to be redeemable. I teared up at the loss of some favourites (and, no, I won’t spoil it by saying who) and was more than a little intrigued by the appearance of some new characters.
There’s been some criticism of the revelation that there are to be four books in this series. With an ending like this, however, I personally can’t wait. A powerful, yet ominous, final image that has me desperate to know what comes next.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy (sorry to not get round to reading it until a lot later than publication)