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The Glass Arrow

Kristen Simmons (Goodreads Author)

3.65 · Rating details · 5,650 ratings · 920 reviews

The Handmaid’s Tale meets Blood Red Road in Glass Arrow, the story of Aya, who lives with a small group of women on the run from the men who hunt them, men who want to auction off breeding rights to the highest bidder.

In a world where females are scarce and are hunted, then bought and sold at market for their breeding rights, 15-year old Aya has learned how to hide. With a ...more

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Hardcover, 334 pages

Published February 10th 2015 by Tor Teen

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· 5,650 ratings · 920 reviews

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Jan 12, 2015 ily rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: Todo el mundo.

Shelves: favorites, dystopian, fantasia

"I’ve fought well, just like my ma taught me. Just like I was supposed to do. It finally feels all right to let go, and when I do, I can breathe. It feels like the first time in years that I’ve really breathed. Everything is okay now. Everyone is safe. I am free. I’ve got the glass arrow."

Amor. Amor es lo que siento hacia este libro, hacia sus personajes, su protagonista y su escritura. Y odio. Muchísimo odio a esta horrible sociedad que ve a las féminas como objetos, como cosas que puedan s ...more

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Sep 17, 2013 Beth (YA Books Central) rated it really liked it

Shelves: the-wait-is-killing-me, young-adult, kick-ass-heroine, torteen, fav-covers-2015

The Glass Arrow is a captivating, haunting, and yet beautifully written story of a young girl's fight to survive in a world where females are scarce and the ones that survive are sold to the highest bidder for whatever purpose the buyer chooses....

As soon as I saw the synopsis for this book on Goodreads then I knew I was going to love it. I am a sucker for a good survival story and The Glass Arrow is a perfect example. The main character, Aya, is portrayed as such a strong heroine and has overco The Glass Arrow is a captivating, haunting, and yet beautifully written story of a young girl's fight to survive in a world where females are scarce and the ones that survive are sold to the highest bidder for whatever purpose the buyer chooses....

As soon as I saw the synopsis for this book on Goodreads then I knew I was going to love it. I am a sucker for a good survival story and The Glass Arrow is a perfect example. The main character, Aya, is portrayed as such a strong heroine and has overcome the odds for years while living in the forest. When she is finally captured by the Trackers she is then sent to a place called The Gardens where young girls are prepared for auction and sold to the highest bidder.

"Daphne was the first to tell me why the hunters were so eager to sell me to the Garden. The city scientists think it's the fresh air or the real food--as opposed to the meal supplement pills pumped down their throats in the early, formative years--that make wild girls like me, and those born in the outlying towns, like my mother, different. Whatever the reason, I'm worth quite a lot. I'm twice as likely to produce a living, healthy boy child than any other woman born in the city."

While in the Gardens Aya befriends a young boy that is called a Driver. Drivers are over the barns and the horses and responsible for the transportation of the Gardens. Drivers are unable to speak. I could not find in the book where it is clearly defined why they are unable to speak but it is just known that they can't. So when Aya meets the young Driver she names him Kiran and because he cant speak she feels like she can tell him anything. Each time they meet she tells him all about her life and all her secrets. Their friendship is slowly blooming into a romance when Aya is called to be sold at the auction.

One of my favorite characters in the entire book is Brax. Brax is a young wolf that Aya found while at the Gardens. She saved him and has raised him from a baby. I love their loving relationship and how protective he is over her. I have a softness for animals and especially ones like Brax who has no one but Aya and Aya feels like she has no one but Brax. They have such a special friendship and Brax will go to the ends of the earth to protect Aya.

"I cannot swallow the giggles that bubble from my throat as Brax kisses my cheeks and my neck with his long, rough tongue. Licks with sniffs and snorts through my mess of hair, as though he believes I've hidden treats inside my curls. His paws are on my shoulders, pinning me down, and his breath smells a little fishy, but I am overjoyed. Brax is the only good thing I have in my life since I was taken."

The Glass Arrow was full of so much raw emotion, shocking twists, and intense survival scenes. Kristen Simmons knows how to write a story that is so real and causes the reader to see the story and feel what the characters are experiencing. Kristen hits on topics that are controversial and grab reader's attention. I really enjoyed The Glass Arrow and am looking forward to the sequel and seeing where the story takes Aya and Kiran......

"Yes I say. But the fear has already set in. By the end of today I'll either by free or dead....."

http://curling-up-with-a-good-book.bl... ...more

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Sep 03, 2015 Nalani rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, physical-copy

“What’s a glass arrow?” she asks without turning around.
“Once, a long time ago, when the grass was grazed too thin and the game was scarce, Fox and Deer sang to Mother Hawk for food to end their families’ suffering.She flew down from the sky with an arrow made of green glass and told them that she’d give it to the winner of a race across the country. Fox thought the race was a waste of time and went to the lowlands in search of food. So Deer ran the path Mother Hawk had chosen alone. Into the mo “What’s a glass arrow?” she asks without turning around.
“Once, a long time ago, when the grass was grazed too thin and the game was scarce, Fox and Deer sang to Mother Hawk for food to end their families’ suffering.She flew down from the sky with an arrow made of green glass and told them that she’d give it to the winner of a race across the country. Fox thought the race was a waste of time and went to the lowlands in search of food. So Deer ran the path Mother Hawk had chosen alone. Into the mountains, across the sky, and back down into the valley. When he was through, Mother Hawk gave him the arrow to do what he would. He gave it to Fox, who placed it in the bow, drew back, and pierced Deer through the heart. Deer’s blood seeped into the ground, and from that place grew enough grass to feed his family for generations. But Fox and his family starved.”
“Why didn’t the deer just kill the fox?”
“A deer can’t live off a fox,” I say, quoting my ma. “But a family can live off one sacrifice for a long time.”

I would Like to thank my English Teacher For allowing me to barrow this beautiful novel.
This book rattled me to the core. I have such a new respect for Simmons because of this book alone. It is a book about sacrifice and family and loyalty and freedom. Even though I am writing this review in December when I originally read it in October, this book is one that earn its spot in my list of books that greatly impacted me and ones that I will never forget. From the strong female character to the world that she is put into to the religious beliefs; every part of it was entertaining, beautiful and worthwhile.

So if it is so worth while, what is this wonderful book about? Well here is your answer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G20Qz...

The main character, Aya, is a breath of fresh air. She doesn't have anything special, just the will to survive and wanting to be free. She keeps a strong will and a clear head. She's loyal; she's brave; she's clever. Along with Ailen and Penryn, she is one of my favorite female protagonists of all time.

There is romance in this book. It doesn't make a statement for itself, but it's there. The main love interest is a boy named Kiran. I liked him from the beginning. It proves that in this world, you can still find love while not having to be forced to love.

The religious aspect of the novel was a smart touch. Mother Hawk is the goddess like figure that Aya looks up to for guides and comfort. I like this element because it connects with audience more. Being religious, I understood where Aya was coming from when she gets defensive and where her troubles lie.

All in all I truly suggest that each and every signal one of you, male or female, religious or atheist, read this book. Yes it is a stand alone dystopian, there is more that what meets the eye.

...more

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Nov 13, 2014 vicky. rated it really liked it

ARC provided by Publisher.

My ma taught me one thing from the beginning: My body is mine. My own. No one else’s. Just because someone thinks they have rights to it, doesn’t make it true. I thought I understood that before, but here, in this place, it’s become more clear than ever how right she was. My flesh and blood—it’s the only thing I own, and I’ll defend it until I can’t fight anymore.

In the city of Glasscaster, women have no rights. They are raised to bear children, taught that they shoul ...more

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Dec 23, 2015 Camly Nguyen rated it it was ok

Summary: Women are pretty much all sex slaves. Aya gets captured from her small house in the woods, men try to sell her off to rich people, but she falls in love with a Driver that ultimately saves her life. She finds her family the rest of her family in a lost village and saves them.

World building was very shaky. Didn't really understand why these prison cells had that much contact with the outside world, how a dog can randomly come through the bars, how a Driver can randomly throw a knife thro ...more

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Jun 10, 2016 Ashley Marsh rated it liked it

Shelves: owned, 2016

When I first discovered this book I HAD to have it. I ordered it immediately. Now that I've read it, I realize I could have lived without it. It was good, but not great. I think it would have been better as a trilogy. You're introduced to this horrible dystopian world. Normally, by the end, that world has been changed in some way. In this book, Aya simply escapes. The horrible world stays just as horrible. I really liked the characters, and the storyline was okay once you got past the incredibly ...more

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Apr 10, 2015 Rita rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, romance, ya, dystopian-and-post-apocalyptic, sci-fi, 100-book-challenge-2015

Initial thoughts:

1. Bad-ass female protagonist, who thinks for herself. I loved her!
2. This dystopian world was frighteningly realistic.
3. Really liked the beautiful prose.
4. Constant action; I just couldn't put this book down.
5. Brax! *squeal*

Check out my full review on my blog! ...more

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Feb 20, 2016 Trish at Between My Lines added it · review of another edition

Captivating

A strong feisty main character, a tender romance, a brutal world and a wolf. What's not to love! It is a little similar to so many other ya dystopias but still strong enough to hold its own. ...more

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Sep 15, 2014 Sajda rated it really liked it

4.5/5

From my blog: http://acrossthewords.com/2015/02/11/...

As someone who studied gender issues in college and currently works on women’s rights, I was immensely intrigued by the premise of this novel. I work a bit on countering sexual trafficking and even though The Glass Arrow has a dystopian setting, the idea of women being hunted and auctioned off isn’t so far from the realities women face in certain parts of our world. I had high expectations going into this book and it really delivered! Kr 4.5/5

From my blog: http://acrossthewords.com/2015/02/11/...

As someone who studied gender issues in college and currently works on women’s rights, I was immensely intrigued by the premise of this novel. I work a bit on countering sexual trafficking and even though The Glass Arrow has a dystopian setting, the idea of women being hunted and auctioned off isn’t so far from the realities women face in certain parts of our world. I had high expectations going into this book and it really delivered! Kristen Simmons did a phenomenal job of building a vivid yet terrifying world in which women are treated as disposable property. The Glass Arrow is an action-packed and intense story that addresses some very complex issues.

I’m a sucker for books with a kick-butt female heroine and so I knew from the first few chapters of The Glass Arrow that I was absolutely to love the main character, Aya. We learn early on that Aya is not like the majority of females in her society; she has been raised in the “wild” (i.e. the mountains) and thus, wasn’t subject to the intense patriarchal hierarchy that is present in cities and villages. At the start of the book, Aya is fighting to save her life and the lives of her loved ones; we get to see how self-less she is when she tries to save her family even as she’s being hunted. Once Aya is captured by the hunters she is brought to “The Garden,” which is basically a prison/auction-house for young girls. Aya does not want to be trapped in a society in which women are mere property and so, she is determined to escape and return the mountains. She refuses to be brainwashed at The Garden into thinking that she is inferior to men and that her body is not her own. I really admired how resilient and fiery Aya is; although many of her attempts to escape fail, she refuses to give up

The world-building in this book is absolutely astounding. I loved reading about the world outside of The Garden and seeing how the privileged members of society live. Kristen Simmons creates such a unique and vivid world that I could picture quite clearly. She also manages to develop a complex social hierarchy that isn’t only split between males and females, but is also further divided into groups such as the Virulent, the Pips, and the Drivers.

On the subject of Drivers, can I just gush about Kiran? Aya meets a young Driver (an ill-treated societal group in charge of maintaining the barns and horses, as well as offering carriage rides to the wealthy) during her time in captivity at The Gardens. Drivers are mute and since Aya does not know the young man’s name, she decides to name him Kiran. When Aya and Kiran first meet, they both don’t really trust one another. However, they soon become friends, especially after Aya decides to basically just ramble about her life and secrets to Kiran because she figures that since he’s unable to speak, he cannot understand her/tell anyone. The romance that eventually develops between the two is such a beautiful and slow-burning one. I absolutely loved Kiran; his patience and confidence were such a good balance for Aya’s fiery spirit. Also, I have great admiration for all that he put up with; Aya did not always make the wisest decisions and I definitely became frustrated with her choices a couple of times.

One thing that I didn’t love about the book is the lack of female solidarity and mutual support at The Garden. I’ve studied a bit about brothels + sexual trafficking in my gender courses and one thing I remember learning is that although the women held in captivity might try to sabotage each other, there is usually some sense of community and solidarity. At The Garden, most of the girls are your typical “mean girls” and are so incredibly brainwashed. Most of the girls mistreat Aya and perceive each other as competitors. It was a bit difficult to believe that the girls wouldn’t rise up together at times and try to escape. Towards the end of the book, we do get to see two of The Garden girls trying to break the pattern of male dominance but I would have loved to see more female characters rebel against the system.

Overall, The Glass Arrow is a captivating book with a strong female heroine, an adorable wolf sidekick, and a lovely romance. This is a fantastic standalone full of adventures and the ending is absolutely beautiful; it actually nearly brought me to tears. If you’re a fan of YA and dystopian books, this is definitely one to pick up! ...more

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Aug 19, 2015 Hannah rated it it was ok

Shelves: owned

2.5 Stars

I have to say that I was overall disappointed in this book.

I didn't go into this expecting much, but after reading the first half, I was really pleased with how the story was progressing and where it was headed. I LOVED having a POC main character who was fierce and independent and, most importantly in my book, rational. And I enjoyed watching the aspects of her (fictional) culture explored and weaved into the message of the story. The world building was fascinating, and I loved the ba 2.5 Stars

I have to say that I was overall disappointed in this book.

I didn't go into this expecting much, but after reading the first half, I was really pleased with how the story was progressing and where it was headed. I LOVED having a POC main character who was fierce and independent and, most importantly in my book, rational. And I enjoyed watching the aspects of her (fictional) culture explored and weaved into the message of the story. The world building was fascinating, and I loved the backstories about their society and what factors led to the downfall of their world.

But most importantly, what I was most excited for and what prompted me to read this book in the first place, was the underlying feminist themes in this book. This book is a dystopian that's set in the (somewhat near) future of our world. Essentially, a feminist uprising occurred and the patriarchy was not happy about this so they tore it back down to a point where women are no longer just unequal to men, they are the literal property of men. They are bought and sold in auctions, there's a census kept on them, and they are reduced to nothing but property.

I think it's safe to say that some aspects of this book were intended to be somewhat satirical, or at least a commentary, on our modern society and our current view of and attitude towards women. This book explored some important topics such as women's body's, women's sexuality, the sexualization of young girls, patriarchy, the "ownership" of women, and a whole host of other issues all through the eyes of our 16 year old main character, Aya.
Because the story was told in first person from Aya's perspective, the reader gets a limited sense of the world and all of the issues that plague it. I would have preferred to see more of the world explored to get a better understanding of why and how it became the way that it is. However, it was interesting to see the world through the eyes of this one girl. I LOVED Aya's character in the first half of this book because I felt like she was determined and knew exactly what she wanted and where she was going.

However, by the second half, I felt like her character changed a bit and instead of being confident and determined, she became selfish and arrogant. I understand that her main goal was to get back to her family because they were what mattered most to her. But it seemed as if she thought that anyone who didn't agree with her or think like her, any of the girls who wanted to be sold, or were happy where they were, weren't as good as her and didn't deserve to be free or happy. I felt like at times, she almost had more disdain for the other women in this book than for the men. It was as if she was constantly comparing herself to them and tearing them down because they didn't think the way she did. And that didn't sit well with me. I feel like this book tried to get at feminist values but took a very narrow, misguided approach.

I also wasn't a fan of the romance in this book AT ALL. I felt like it was used as a plot device in order to help her "grow" but it was unnecessary and honestly offensive to say that the only way the main female protagonist can learn to be loving is because a boy "owns part of her soul." It's like once a boy comes into her life who doesn't want to buy her at an auction she's suddenly weak at the knees. That's not a very good standard. Just saying.

There were also very, VERY, subtle hints that one of the characters in the book was gay which, again, didn't sit well with me because I would have preferred to see it explored rather than indirectly mentioned in passing. And yeah, though it was treated as completely normal, it's not representation by any means.

So like I said, overall, not impressed. This book had so much potential but I felt like the execution was poor and it ended up doing more harm than good. ...more

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Feb 15, 2014 Erin Arkin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: series, dystopian, 2015-real-book-challenge, 365daysofya-challenge

The Glass Arrow by Kristen Simmons has been staring at me since we got it in the mail but I had to make myself wait to read it. Partly because of my list of books that had to get read but also partly because I know Simmons can write great swoony boys and strong females and I wanted to be able to sit and enjoy every little bit of it without interruption.

At its core, this is a story about survival but I thought there was so much more to it than that. Aya and Kiran have to learn to trust and no mat The Glass Arrow by Kristen Simmons has been staring at me since we got it in the mail but I had to make myself wait to read it. Partly because of my list of books that had to get read but also partly because I know Simmons can write great swoony boys and strong females and I wanted to be able to sit and enjoy every little bit of it without interruption.

At its core, this is a story about survival but I thought there was so much more to it than that. Aya and Kiran have to learn to trust and no matter what, both are loyal to their friends and family and both really just want to do what they can to protect them. In addition to the actual story, Simmons has brought to life this world that I would definitely not want to live in but could imagine based on the descriptions she gave me.

So…the story. Aya has been living in the wild (outside the city walls) with her family and has basically been hiding because she lives in a world where females are captured and sold to the highest bidder and she knows she never wants to be in that position. Unfortunately something happens to change everything for Aya and when she is captured and taken inside the walls, she is taken to a facility where the girls are “prettied” up and put up for auction. I loved how Simmons brought me into these situations and I was able to view them from Aya’s point of view – they were horrifying but definitely brought the situation to life as a reader.

Every month Aya does what she can to avoid the auction block because her hope is that someday she will come up with a plan to get out and return to her family. When she ends up in solitary again, she sees a new driver over at the stables. One night he crosses the river and sits with her (Drivers are mute), Aya decides to name him Kiran. While Kiran doesn’t talk, he is smart. He knows what goes on around him and adapts. One night of sitting together turns into almost a month and they begin to form a friendship and although Aya does all the talking, they become close.

When Aya can’t get out of the auctions any longer, she is purchased and eventually sent away from the facility, Kiran, and her wolf. She also finds herself at the home of the mayor because his son thought she was funny so he wanted her. UGH…right? The only thing I will say about this part of the story is that Amir was creepy and all I could picture was this kid - I mean, I couldn’t live with him either!

photo Children-of-the-Corn_zpsugmcigow.jpg

So…there isn’t much more I can say about the rest of the story without giving anything away so I’m pretty much going to say….get the book!! This is a fantastic story that has action, swoony parts, creepy parts and lots of action. Also, the characters are well-developed and the world building was great! If you are in the mood for a dystopian, definitely check this one out.

Thank you to Tor Teen for the review copy! ...more

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Aug 31, 2013 BookLoversLife rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review, netgalley, on-my-kindle

This book was high on my wishlist since I first knew the author had a new book coming out. I loved her other series and this one sounded epic! Well I loved it!!!

I love strong female heroines and Aya is one of the strongest! This girl never gives up. Aya is living in hiding along with a handful of others. Out hunting one day, she runs into a group of Businessmen out on their own hunting expedition, these men aren't hunting game though, they hunt women! Aya struggles but she is taken captive and i This book was high on my wishlist since I first knew the author had a new book coming out. I loved her other series and this one sounded epic! Well I loved it!!!

I love strong female heroines and Aya is one of the strongest! This girl never gives up. Aya is living in hiding along with a handful of others. Out hunting one day, she runs into a group of Businessmen out on their own hunting expedition, these men aren't hunting game though, they hunt women! Aya struggles but she is taken captive and is taken to the one place she feared. Will she escape and return to her family? Aya was such a feisty and brave girl and I loved her character. She could of given up so many times but she knew that the twins were relying on her!

In the Garden when Aya is in trouble (yet again) she is taken to solitary. While there she sees a Driver across the river. At first the Driver keeps his distance but when Aya is struck by the guard, he comes to her. They strike up a hesitant friendship. Everyone knows that Drivers cant speak so Aya fells like she can tell him anything. Since he can't tell her his name, she names him Kiran. I really liked Kiran. He was a rock for Aya and did all he could to try to help her. I loved seeing their friendship grow and blossom too.

Then we have Brax! He was just full of awesomesauce. He is a wolf that Aya befriended from her many many visits to solitary. He comes and visits her and she feeds him. He is a big help to her during her loney nights.

The best thing for me was the world building. It was amazing!! Men rule and women are nobodies. They are sold at auction to the highest bidders and have to do EVERYTHING they are told by their masters. The ones who aren't sold are often sold to be prostitutes. Aya has missed the last few auctions due to her own actions, she gets in fights so that her face is marked. This last auction though, since she was in solitary, she is perfect for. She tries her best to ruin it but ends up being sold to the Mayors son. She knows that once she is in that house, there's no way she will leave, it's too highly protected! How can she escape??

Anyway, The Glass Arrow was amazing. There is so much to learn and love about it and I loved everything, from it's intriguing and emotional story to it's captivating characters. It's stunningly written and in a way I'm sad that it's a standalone because these characters have captured my heart! Everything about this book was sheer perfection and I urge everyone to read it! ...more

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Aug 20, 2014 Stephanie • Ideally Inspired rated it really liked it

“We are strong and proud and beautiful and there are not enough stars in the night sky to measure our worth.

I will honor my mother and take care of my family.

Yes, I think. I am just a woman.”

In a few words: This cover lured me in, but it was the characters that kept me drawn to the story.

After reading the blurb, and seeing that this book was a standalone, I was curious to see how the author would tie up the complexities of this story into one book. I can tell you tha ...more

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Mar 04, 2014 Bipasha marked it as pretty-or-wtv

Shelves: wantwantwant

From the author of Article 5 comes the haunting tale of a girl on the run from the men who hunt her, men who want to auction off breeding rights to the highest bidder.

In a world where females are scarce and are hunted, then bought and sold at market for their breeding rights, 15-year old Aya has learned how to hide. With a ragtag bunch of other women and girls, she has successfully avoided capture and eked out a nomadic but free existence in the mountains. But when Aya’s luck runs out and she’s ...more

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Oct 01, 2014 Brooke ♥booklife4life♥ rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-a-day, library-book, stand-alone, caste-system, girl-pov, read-in-2015

At A Glance
Genre: Young Adult; Sci Fi
Love Triangle/Insta Love?: nope.
Cliff Hanger: Kinda.
Rating: 4 Stars

Score Sheet
All out of ten
Cover: 7
Plot: 7
Characters: 8
World Building: 8
Flow: 8
Series Congruity: n/a
Ending: 8

Total: 8

In Dept
Best Part: Kickass Female MC!
Worst Part: Slavery!
Thoughts Had: Yah fight back!; hottie alert!

Conclusion
Continuing the Series: n/a
Recommending: yes

Short Review: I love me a strong female MC, and this book has one!!! I don't think i would be as strong as her if this was m ...more

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Dec 27, 2014 Lauren rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2015, pub-tor

4.5 stars. I liked this a lot! Story structure reminded me a bit of Article 5, but I connected sooo much better to Aya than I did Ember. The world was also incredibly compelling and also frightening - reads like mix between fantasy as dystopian. In this society, women are property and bought and sold as breeders. It's terrifying, but also something that happens in our world today - even in America.

The romance is slow building but lovely. I loved Kiran! I especially enjoyed watching Aya begin to ...more

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Sep 17, 2014 Alexandra Christo rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, authors-that-own-my-soul

If there's one thing Kristen knows, it's how to write dystopia. She effortlessly shapes a world that shows the elimination of the feminist struggle, where the worst fears of women are brought to life as they're hunted and sold like cattle.

This is a story as captivating as it is controversial. It's a testament to Kristen's writing that she manages to create truly diabolical male characters, as naive as they are maniacal, alongside fantastically empathetic men who managed to woo me from the first ...more

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Jul 27, 2014 Riya rated it it was amazing

Shelves: dystopian, character-crushes, 2015-books

This was one of the best books I've read in a long time, and I know that this will be one of the best books I read this entire year. When I saw that this was a standalone I honestly couldn't contain my sadness and was full-on freaking out. I'm gonna try my best to explain why, but I know that whatever I say won't do the book justice- so just go read it!!

Of course, there was an amazing plot. This book doesn't skirt around any of the more uncomfortable or harsh aspects of life at this time. There This was one of the best books I've read in a long time, and I know that this will be one of the best books I read this entire year. When I saw that this was a standalone I honestly couldn't contain my sadness and was full-on freaking out. I'm gonna try my best to explain why, but I know that whatever I say won't do the book justice- so just go read it!!

Of course, there was an amazing plot. This book doesn't skirt around any of the more uncomfortable or harsh aspects of life at this time. There are people who simply look at women as a way to reproduce, there are hard choices to be made, and there are the girls who are unable to see past their expected roles in society. This isn't a book about feminists taking over the dystopian world or how everything was so fun and dandy when Aya destroyed the government. This is a book about a tough future and the struggles that Aya faces. There are twists and turns and I honestly couldn't put the book down from page 1. The entire gripping concept combined with the amazing writing style was absolutely irresistible. I look forward to buying a real copy of this book and reading it dozens more times in the future.

Then, there were characters. And they were amazing. Yeah there were some pretty great supporting characters who were vital to the plot and the novel as a whole such as Brax and whatnot, but guys- Aya and Kiran. Honestly they were fantastic. Although Kiran doesn't even say a word for much of the novel, it's impossible to not fall in love with him. He's tough, caring, and just passionate. In a city where most men are cold and heartless, Kiran managed to be effortlessly life-changing in a good way. I honestly wish I could just read novels and novels of Kiran. That'd be nice... Anyways, there was also Aya. Aya is the awesome, strong female protagonist that I love. She never let people take away her hope or skills and was always plotting to escape no matter how dire her circumstances seemed. She cared for her family, and was easy not only to relate to but also to respect. She was tough, and knew how to do what needed to be done.

Last comment, the romance. You can probably tell that I love Kiran already, but in general this was a dystopian book first, and a romance second- as it should be. The romance didn't distract from the rest of what was going on, but instead was perfectly melded with it. The few romantic scenes were absolutely amazing and I only wish there had been more of them!

READ THIS BOOK. Like seriously, if you get nothing else from this whole review, just read the book. It's honestly amazing and everyone should pick it up right away. ...more

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Oct 18, 2013 Donna {Book Passion For Life} rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya-dystopian-scifi-thriller, for-review

3.5 stars!

The Glass Arrow follows fifteen-year-old Aya who has been hunted all her life because she’s a female. In her world, females are bought and sold at market for their breeding rights. Their lives are not their own, they are controlled by men and destined to produce male heirs to wealthy family that bought them and once they’ve done their jobs, they are resold and their journey starts all over again. Aya has been hiding in the woods for years until one day, she’s captured and taken to a c 3.5 stars!

The Glass Arrow follows fifteen-year-old Aya who has been hunted all her life because she’s a female. In her world, females are bought and sold at market for their breeding rights. Their lives are not their own, they are controlled by men and destined to produce male heirs to wealthy family that bought them and once they’ve done their jobs, they are resold and their journey starts all over again. Aya has been hiding in the woods for years until one day, she’s captured and taken to a camp that prepare females for their duties but Aya will never give up on escaping and soon her life depends on it.

Another book by Kristen Simmons? Well that sold me straight away. I love her Article 5 series so I had really high hopes for this and while The Glass Arrow did have faults, it was a pleasant read.

I really struggled to get into the story when I first started reading but I’m glad I pushed through because once I got through the first 100 pages or so, the story picks up a lot and I soon found myself rooting for Aya. I loved that Aya was such a strong character. She’s young for her age but she’s so knowledgeable and very determined. It’s easy to forget that she’s only fifteen years old. And she has gone through so much in her life. She’s suffered loss, hurt, pain in ways you can’t imagine and I really sympathised with her.

It’s not Aya is in seclusion that a boy from across the lake starts interacting with her. He can’t talk so Aya finds herself opening up to him in many ways she’s never done so before with anyone else. I loved this part of the story. I really liked watching Aya opening up to the boy who she names Kiran. It’s here you truly get to know what type of person she is and also, even though Kiran doesn’t say anything you start to discover there’s more to him than meets the eye. He has his own secrets but he’s a kind and loving person. And the romance between them is very swoon-worthy.

The plot of the story really picks up towards the end and it becomes a nail-biting read. And what makes this story so enjoyable is that it’s a stand-alone and you all know we don’t get many of them. While Aya’s story is over, the world Aya lives in is still the same so if Kristen Simmons wanted to write more, I guess she could but I’d hope not in Aya’s point of view. Maybe a different character?

In all, The Glass Arrow was an enjoyable read and I can’t wait to see what Kristen Simmon’s does next!

Thank you to Tor Teen for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Feb 18, 2015 Olivia-Savannah rated it really liked it

This review can originally be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/20...

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2015, and I was so happy to receive a review copy! I can’t wait to buy this one in print; that’s how good it was! I wanted to read it so much because I want to read The Handmaid’s Tale and loved Blood Red Road, both books which this was compared to. And for once I read the synopsis and decided it was one I wanted to read based off of that.

I will say th This review can originally be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/20...

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2015, and I was so happy to receive a review copy! I can’t wait to buy this one in print; that’s how good it was! I wanted to read it so much because I want to read The Handmaid’s Tale and loved Blood Red Road, both books which this was compared to. And for once I read the synopsis and decided it was one I wanted to read based off of that.

I will say that the beginning was a bit slow (which was why this had to be four stars instead of five), and I wanted the story to move on. But once it did, then I was completely blow away! The book does throw you right into the novel, so it would be easier if you do read the synopsis for this one first so you don’t end up too confused.

I loved the characters a lot. I thought Aya was pretty cool because she was a fierce and independent character who would do everything herself if she could do. She also really valued family, which is something I value highly too, so I could connect with her on that level. But my favourite character had to be Kiran. He was patient, passionate and (without giving anything away) someone I would love to know. His role started as a small one and grew bigger as the story progressed.

This story also had some disturbing factors to it as well. The whole system of how the girls are handled was a bit spooky, especially if I imagine it as a reality. There were some parts that had me shivering at the thought of them. What they did to the Pips, some of the deaths and the idea of the plague… it definitely had its own dark elements to the society.

I wouldn’t say the world building was spectacular, but it was just the right amount of this story. I could still picture everything and it was enough to keep me focused on the plot and characters.

The ending was absolutely lovely ^.^ The slow burning romance was a definite plus as well and made me so happy. I loved this read and definitely want to see more from this author! ...more

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Feb 16, 2015 Bèbè ✦ RANT ✦ rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc-copies

The Glass Arrow was an incredible read and really shocked me. The summary from Goodreads says that it is a mix between The Handmaid’s Tale meets Blood Red Road but since I've never read either of them, I was coming into this story with a fresh start, without any expectations. I have heard that Simmons is an incredible author and I was definitely not disappointed.

The story starts out when Aya, our main character, is being captured. Because all women are captured and being sold for population con ...more

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Nov 14, 2014 Rebecka2 rated it it was ok

The world building and history was just laughable. Why the eff do they have movies, makeup, some random advanced technology and guns but uses exclusively horses for travel? And for history, WHAT HISTORY? PFFF, WHO NEEDS THAT? Let's just throw in some really confusing info dump and THE worst explanation ever for why women were enslaved.
Oh, and don't forget the genetically modified monsters called "Watchers" and "Pips" (because they say "pip" all the time. Dafuq? That doesn't even make sense!).

A ...more

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Dec 03, 2014 Natasha rated it really liked it

3.75/5 stars. This book left me with mixed feelings. Mind you I'm in some type of weird reading slump so that might had had an effect, but overall I was pleased with this book. The beginning was a bit slow and boring, and focused on the capture/escape of our main character. Definitely the 2nd half of the book was full of action and I liked the pace a lot more. I'm not entirely sold on the world, but the concept wasn't typical, so I liked that this isn't some cookie cutter dystopian structure. Th ...more

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Jun 27, 2014 TheBlueBookworm marked it as to-read

Shelves: to-be-released, ya

If you're excited and you know it, clap your hands

BUT WAIT...
FEBRUARY 2015???

(view spoiler) ["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]> ...more

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Dec 23, 2012 Sierra Abrams marked it as to-read

Will read every one of her books faithfully. Motto #1

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Feb 11, 2016 Reem rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

""What's a glass arrow?" she asks without turning around.
"Once, a long time ago, when the grass was grazed too thin and the game was scarce, Fox and Deer sang to Mother Hawk for food to end their families' suffering. She flew down from the sky with an arrow made of green glass and told them that she'd give it to the winner of a race across the country. Fox thought the race was a waste of time and went to the lowlands in search of food. So Deer ran the path Mother Hawk had chosen alone. Into the ...more

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Jul 02, 2014 Michelle Sedeño rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2015-4-5-stars

Originally reviewed on The Escapist.

***
Rating: 4.5

Pre-reading thoughts: It's written by Kristen Simmons! The author of Article 5 trilogy, which I really liked. (Without reading the blurb..) The title alone sounds really good. I'm imagining a fantasy Hunger Games-type or the likes. The cover looks bad-ass and pure angst. I'M VERY EXCITED FOR THE GLASS ARROW! I have no idea, however, about both the The Handmaid’s Tale and Blood Red Road thing so I'm not sure what to expect, I just read it like it ...more

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Feb 10, 2013 Rebecca rated it liked it

Shelves: love-the-cover, out-in-2015

I really enjoyed the first two books in Simmon’s Article 5 series. I haven’t read the third one yet, but I’ll get around to it eventually. This new book of hers, The Glass Arrow, sounded like it could potentially be pretty thrilling. I already knew this author was capable of writing some pretty good actions scenes, so that made it all the more interesting. There’s something about the color combination on the cover that makes it gorgeous, as well.

The Glass Arrow starts off with a bang – the hero I really enjoyed the first two books in Simmon’s Article 5 series. I haven’t read the third one yet, but I’ll get around to it eventually. This new book of hers, The Glass Arrow, sounded like it could potentially be pretty thrilling. I already knew this author was capable of writing some pretty good actions scenes, so that made it all the more interesting. There’s something about the color combination on the cover that makes it gorgeous, as well.

The Glass Arrow starts off with a bang – the heroine, Aya, is running through the forest, away from some bad people who end up taking her captive. The book was very easy to get into right away. I’ve never read The Handmaiden’s Tale, so I have nothing to compare it to, but I loved how high the stakes felt in this – it added quite nicely to the suspense. Basically, if you’re caught out in the wild you’re taken back to a sickening prison camp where you’re polished and prettied by sadistic beauty teams who want to sell you to the highest bidding man. I, of course, would pretty much like to avoid any and all dystopian worlds because of their unparalleled terribleness. But being a woman in a world like this would probably be among the top five worst places you could end up, and I felt incredibly sorry for Aya’s situation. The writing is still as good as I remember from Simmon’s previous work.

Although it has an excellent beginning, I can’t deny that it sort of fizzled out over time. A majority of the book is Aya simply planning her escape and explaining her back story and the horrors of her world. She sits in solitary confinement doing next to nothing for a very long time. For that reason, I was a little slow about finishing it. Maybe it would have been easier to deal with if I cared about any of the secondary characters – because honestly, I didn’t. Daphne and all the other girls were so very annoying. Of course I felt bad for them too, but the way they were all so eager to please men and their nastiness to Aya in general was hard to swallow. Daphne is meant to get more likeable over time, I think, but she never really grew on me. I really liked the wolf Brax, though. He was awesome. (view spoiler)

Aya was a pretty awesome protagonist. You need to have some fight in you to exist in this world, and she had plenty of it. She’s constantly scheming and planning, refusing to give up, and I loved that about her. Although, to be honest, it seemed a little strange that she seemed to be the only girl who wanted rights – every single other woman was content with their lot in life. The Garden – the prison she was kept it – was awful. Girls are kept locked up like animals and of course there’s a “purity” rule. I wanted to leap into the book and punch the Governess square in the face for her role in prettying up the girls and contributing majorly to Aya’s misery. So The Glass Arrow was definitely successful in making me hate its villains – there’s also a little boy named Amir, who’s basically a monster.

At some point the story, the love interest is introduced, and it’s a mute man named Kiran (or, at least, that’s what Aya decides to call him). I liked the way they slowly built a relationship by sitting together and learning to trust, it was sweet. It felt incredibly awkward during that part when Aya was trying to get Kiran to break the purity rule with her, and also sad. Sad for her that she had to go to such measures, and sad for him, because I’m sure he would prefer to have sex with a girl who actually wanted to be with him. Though I liked them together and I’m thankful there was no love triangle present in the book, I didn’t have a lot of strong feelings about their relationship. It was cute, but not particularly memorable. Honestly I think it would have been better if he had never spoken – it’s not like there’s a lot of mute YA boys.

I thought the book ended slightly before it should have – I believe it’s standalone, so an epilogue might have been nice. I loved how noble Aya was about her family in the climax of the story (view spoiler), and how it kind of fit in with the title of the book. Overall, I’m a little disappointed that The Glass Arrow wasn’t everything I felt like it could be, I still enjoyed it and would check it out if you’re interested.

3.5 stars
...more

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Apr 14, 2018 Karen’s Library rated it it was amazing

Shelves: dystopian

The Glass Arrow is my favorite to date of Kristen Simmons' books! The synopsis says that it's The Handmaid's Tale meets Blood Red Road and that's actually pretty accurate. In this world, woman are used primarily as breeders and just tossed aside when done. It's a pretty bleak dystopian world.

Aya lives free with her family deep in the mountains until she's hunted down by trackers and brought to town to be sold at auction as a breeder. Aya does everything in her power to escape and return to her y ...more

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Dec 08, 2014 ReadWriteLove28 rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5stars, best-read-in-2015, rev-on-amazon

Do you enjoy dystopians? Do you enjoy badass heroines? Do you enjoy books that suck you in from beginning to end? Do you enjoy never knowing what is coming next? If you answered yes to any (or all) of these questions, you must read The Glass Arrow. You must! With that being said, when you pick it up, make sure you have ample time, because you’re going to want to read this in one sitting. And the most important tip I can give you before reading this book- DO NOT LEAVE IT ANYWHERE. (Slight sidenot Do you enjoy dystopians? Do you enjoy badass heroines? Do you enjoy books that suck you in from beginning to end? Do you enjoy never knowing what is coming next? If you answered yes to any (or all) of these questions, you must read The Glass Arrow. You must! With that being said, when you pick it up, make sure you have ample time, because you’re going to want to read this in one sitting. And the most important tip I can give you before reading this book- DO NOT LEAVE IT ANYWHERE. (Slight sidenote: For those of you who didn’t know, I started reading this book, left it somewhere, promptly got the flu, and didn’t get to pick it up again until I recovered. And, because of the amazingness that is this book, I had a book hangover and didn’t read for a week while I was sick.) If my sidenote doesn’t convince you that this book is incredible, I don’t know what will!

Let me quickly introduce the setting of this novel by saying that girls were bought like cattle, pills were used instead of meals, cars were all but extinct, and men always got what they wanted. Always. Well…unless you lived in the forest, hiding from the majority of humanity. Aya was one of the lucky few who lived in the forest, until the trackers captured her, and then sent her exactly where she didn’t want to be- they sent her to be sold. She knew that she would be in high demand because she was from the “wild.” And because of this, she deliberately sabotaged every attempt for her to be sold, choosing to be sent into solitary instead. But as time went on, she had less and less options available to her. She knew that time was running out. What happened next? You’ll have to read the book to find out. ;)

Now, onto the characters- the amazing, amazing characters. Warning- if you’re looking for a book with fluffy characters, this is not the book for you. If I had to describe Aya/Clover in one word, I would say that she was determined. Every time that a new obstacle was placed in her way, instead of getting upset, she figured out a way to beat the obstacle. Some of her methods were definitely unconventional, but that’s what made them so interesting. I would never have thought to do half of the things that she did. I do not think that I would even be brave enough to do half of the things that she attempted! While Aya was the main character, she was certainly not the only character that peaked my interest.

One of the main characters was a Driver, who didn’t talk. The reader doesn’t find out why until the end of the book…Mwahaha. But even with the Driver not talking, he was the closest person that Aya could consider as a friend. Aya built up many barriers around her, not allowing herself to become close to anyone. But as she spent more and more time with the Driver, she started opening up to him. It made me think- “If I knew someone who couldn’t tell anyone what I was saying, would I trust them with my secrets?”

One question that I’m sure has popped into your head by now is…”Is there a love triangle?” Guess what? The answer is no! There is no love triangle. To be perfectly honest, there isn’t much romance in this book. *GASP* And guess what? It was still absolutely incredible. I actually thought that the bond between Aya and Brax, her so called ‘pet’ wolf, was the strongest as far as love went. Then again, who wouldn’t love Brax? *Creeps towards Brax and opens arms for a hug* Shhh, I never did that.

From beginning to end, this book was phenomenal, and I am extremely happy that I had the chance to read it. Thank you Kristina for the giveaway! Also, if you couldn’t tell by now, I gave this book 5/5stars. ...more

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About Kristen Simmons

Kristen Simmons

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Kristen Simmons is the author of the ARTICLE 5 series, THE GLASS ARROW, METALTOWN, PACIFICA, and the upcoming DECEIVERS. She loves her family, Jazzercise, and chocolate cupcakes. She currently lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.

For more updates on Kristen and her writing, follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @kris10writes.

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Quotes from The Glass Arrow

“My ma taught me one thing from the beginning: My body is mine. My own. No one else’s. Just because somebody thinks they have rights to it, doesn’t make it true. I thought I understood that before, but here, in this place, it’s become more clear than ever how right she was. My flesh and blood–it’s the only thing I own, and I’ll defend it until I can’t fight anymore.” — 21 likes

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