The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead

4/10

The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead was a total disappointment. I've been a fan of Richelle Mead's books since I discovered the Vampire Academy series (which I've read at least 5 times by now). I honestly have to say that the only way this novel can even remotely be considered fantasy is because it takes place in a fictional land. I've never been so baffled by a book in all of my life.

Adelaide, or Ada, is a member of the Glittering Court, a business that takes common born Osfridian girls and trains them to be high-class ladies for settlers of Adoria to marry. That's it. That's the story. There really isn't much else to add. Which is horribly upsetting to me because the story of the Vampire Academy series is so compelling and engrossing. 

I feel like the entire novel is exposition. There's no feel of plot to the story and I found myself wondering, "What the hell is the point here?" more than once. To be accurate, it was more like every 25 pages. The end felt so rushed to me, and so undeveloped. Even though it's only 400 pages, it dragged on for what seemed like years. I never was absorbed into the story, and I never bonded with the characters. I felt like Ada was very Mary-Sue-esque, and Cedric was just bland. The romance was so sudden and seemingly out of nowhere. Obviously, you can tell while reading the book that there is romantic tension but it just blindsides you with how intense it suddenly became. 

I'm so upset that I didn't like this book, because I know Richelle Mead is a great author and capable of writing and crafting amazing stories and characters that are so incredibly life-like. 

Honestly, this book is barely considered fantasy in my opinion and if you're looking for a good fantasy novel, don't start here.