Book Review: Red Glove by Holly Black

Red Glove by Holly Black
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Publication date: April 2011
ISBN: 9781442403390
Source: e-galley provided by Simon & Schuster GalleyGrab

 

*Some spoilers for White Cat*
Cassel's life was turned upside down, when he learned that not only was he a worker, but a very rare type of worker at that.  And he was being used by his brothers for their dirty work.  Now, he's trying to return to normal life, but nothing will ever be normal again.  When his brother is murdered and the feds show up trying to solve the case, Cassel is embroiled even more in a world of deceit, lies, and destruction.  Will he be able to extricate himself without losing all he cares about?

Things I Liked:
Remember how I loved White Cat?  This one did not disappoint for me either.  The realistic feel of Black's world is amazing!  She's managed to create this alternate reality with curse workers and magic that feels absolutely real.  The details and description just suck you into it.  Not only that, but Cassel is also really interesting and, well, real.  He feels like a real teenage guy, dealing with all the regular teenage things, in addition to the crook lifestyle of his family and the gangsters pitching for his help.  He has the good guy vibe going for him, while also not really being a good guy.  And I have to admit I loved the crime family lifestyle.  There is something so appealing about reading those kinds of stories (as opposed to living them).  Oh, and I have to mention the awesome twists that Black manages to throw in as well.  I don't usually see all of them coming, though sometimes I'll get a few.  Seriously, this is probably one of my favorite series ever.  Some favorite parts:

I remember sitting in the basement for hours, watching movie after movie of rough-voiced women and men in dapper suits with drinks in their gloved hands.  When Lila's parents divorced, she went to Paris with her father and came back smoking Gitanes and outlining her eyes in smudgy black kohl.  It was like she stepped out of the movie I wanted to be in. p 145

I thought that I could never betray my family, work someone I loved, never kill anyone, never be like Philip, but I get more like him every day.  Life's full of opportunities to make crappy decisions that feel good.  And after the first one, the rest get a whole lot easier.  p 253

Things I Didn't Like:
It wasn't quite as amazing as the first one.  But darn near close.  I can't remember anything else I didn't like about it, though.  

Read-alikes:
I guess it felt a little Heist Society by Ally Carter

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@#
plenty throughout (no f-words)

mrg-factor: XXX
it was very sensual in a few places

v-factor: ->->
some instances of roughing people up, but nothing too graphic

Overall rating: *****

Any others who are just as enthralled by this world and Cassel?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: White Cat by Holly Black

White Cat by Holly Black
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Publication date: May 2010
ISBN: 9781416963974
Source: ARC sent by publisher

 

As the only non worker in a family of curse workers, Cassel is an outcast among his own.  Forced to build a regular life, he tries to fit in at a regular boarding school.  But when he starts sleepwalking, he finds himself in dangerous situations, wondering if he's been cursed, even though curse working is illegal.  He's tried to put his miserable past behind him, his accidental killing of his best friends Lila, but it seems to come back to haunt him over and over again.  Caught up in a web of lies and deceit, Cassel struggles to understand what part he might have played in the biggest con his family's ever undertaken.

Things I Liked:
Awesome world-building and story.  I really had no idea where it was going or what twists and turns it would take and it completely took me by surprise more than once.  I loved how realistically Black created an alternate reality with curse workers.  Every detail was thought through and executed completely!  It was so well done that I began to believe in Cassel and his family.  A unique and pretty well written paranormal fantasy.  Honestly, I'd probably just keep gushing if I said more about it, so I'll just say - read it.  I just finished Red Glove, watch for my review coming soon!

Things I Didn't Like:
I can't think of much I didn't like, though some of the surprises felt a little unbelievable at first; but after some time, they felt right.  Really a great new series.

Read-alikes:
I guess Heist Society by Ally Carter

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@ 
some, but nothing too strong

mrg-factor: XX 
a few suggestive parts

v-factor: ->-> 
things got a bit brutal near the end, but not graphic

Overall rating: ***** 

Do you have a favorite stands-above-the-pack YA paranormal?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage