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The Glittering Court

(The Glittering Court #1)

Richelle Mead (Goodreads Author),

Kristen Sieh (Narrator)

3.48 · Rating details · 26,177 ratings · 3,747 reviews

Listening Length: 782 Minutes

For a select group of girls, the Glittering Court offers a shot at a life they’ve only ever dreamed of, one of luxury, glamour, and leisure. To high-born Adelaide, whose wealthy family is forcing her into a loveless marriage, the Glittering Court represents something else: the chance to chart her own destiny, and adventure in an unspoiled, pros ...more

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Audiobook, 13 pages

Published April 5th 2016 by Listening Library (Audio)

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Average rating 3.48 ·

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Jan 26, 2016 Emily May rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, 2016, young-adult, arc

A fantasy for those who thought The Selection wasn't long enough.

“Winifred, the first girl, would look so lovely in the diamond colouring. Ruby’s the next most precious stone, and that obviously wouldn’t suit you with your hair. So third, as a sapphire, seemed like-“
“Sapphire?” interrupted Tamsin. “Sapphire? Everyone knows green is my best color. Isn’t an emerald rarer than a sapphire?"

Who fucking cares? Because I surely don't.

I'll start with credit where it's due - the beginning of this boo ...more

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Oct 27, 2015 Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies rated it did not like it · review of another edition

I should have known from the blurb that this wasn't going to work for me.

The Selection meets Reign in this dazzling trilogy of interwoven novels about three girls on a quest for freedom and true love.

Really. This is my own fault. What did I think this book was going to be? I couldn't bear the aching stupidity of The Selection. Reign, the TV show, was abominably dumb, and more a parade of pretty prom dresses than anything resembling historical fact. And for once, the book was true to the blur I should have known from the blurb that this wasn't going to work for me.

The Selection meets Reign in this dazzling trilogy of interwoven novels about three girls on a quest for freedom and true love.

Really. This is my own fault. What did I think this book was going to be? I couldn't bear the aching stupidity of The Selection. Reign, the TV show, was abominably dumb, and more a parade of pretty prom dresses than anything resembling historical fact. And for once, the book was true to the blurb, sadly so. And in fact, this book is more an homage to fashion than a book with an actual plot.

Some of the dresses, particularly the daytime ones, were of purest white, made of delicate fabrics that rivaled those I’d worn in my former life. The evening and ball gowns were radiant confections of velvet and satin, done in gleaming white and glittering silver, embellished with jewels and metallic lace.

This hurts. It really does. Richelle Mead was one of my favorite authors, but her previous few books have done nothing for me (and let's not even mention the bullshittery ending of the Bloodlines series) and I have regretfully knocked her off my favorite author list.

This book is about a noblewoman who runs away to escape an arranged marriage - only she's kind of dumb, because in running away to escape that marriage, she ends up in a place where the "men outnumber women three to one." These men are fucking desperate for pretty wives that they're willing to take servant girls and My Fair Lady them into perfection.

"...the Glittering Court has taken it upon itself to create a cohort of young women willing to transform. We take lovely girls like Ada here, girls of common birth, girls with no family—or maybe too much family—and we train them up to greatness.”

So running away from one marriage into another. Out of the pot and into the fire, as they would say. Not the brightest girl, our Adelaide. Even so, she finds herself the object of desire. The "diamond."

“I don’t want to risk losing her to someone who might woo her with a lot of flash and no substance. I’ll put out a price to make it worth your while for removing her early—one I might not be willing to match if I have to wait. One thousand gold if you do the deal right now.”
Some of the girls near me gasped. There’d never been a sum like that offered in the Glittering Court’s history. It was double my starting fee.

Wow. Much expensive. Very special.

The book is as boring as it sounds. It is 416 excruciating pages full of proper girly training, dressing up, and checking out cute rich guys. I could include quotes, but there are no notable quotes. The writing was dull and uninspired. The setting is left unbuild, it's a pseudo-historical setting with some made-up religious stuff and that's it. No effort is made to give this world a sense of reality. The romance was dull, the love interest completely lackluster. It wasn't even one of those so bad it's good books, it was just plain old boring. ...more

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Oct 27, 2015 Jessica ❁ ➳ Silverbow ➳ ❁ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, ya, rabid-reads-reviews, cover-whore, half-fantasy

Reviewed by: Rabid Reads

4.5 stars

I don't know if I made an assumption based on the title 'THE GLITTERING COURT' and fantasy being listed as the primary genre, or if I saw something somewhere that said "Fae," OR if I just desperately wanted this book to be about Fae, but regardless of what led me to my conclusion, what you need to know is that THE GLITTERING COURT is NOT about Fae.

Not only is it not about Fae, it's one of those weird half-fantasies that've been turning up everywhere the last few ...more

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Oct 17, 2020 MischaS_ rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: disappointment, english

My reaction to me one starring a Richelle Mead book
description

Wow, I almost thought that I would never finish this book. The last five or six chapters took me ages! Which is ridiculous because that's the point when something finally started happening but at that point, I did not care anymore. And when I say that I did not care I mean I was indifferent to anything happening. (view spoiler) ...more

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Feb 29, 2016 Angela rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: 1-star-reads

The Glitter Court is about a high society lady who steals the identity of her maid and becomes Adelaide. Adelaide is one of the chosen ones who will be taken to the New World. Adelaide of course is a special snowflake and gets tons of male attention. She is however more interested in Cedric.

Though Adelaide has some pretty comical moments while pretending to be who she is not I ultimately found myself wanting more out of her character. I like my women a little more badass and a little less dress The Glitter Court is about a high society lady who steals the identity of her maid and becomes Adelaide. Adelaide is one of the chosen ones who will be taken to the New World. Adelaide of course is a special snowflake and gets tons of male attention. She is however more interested in Cedric.

Though Adelaide has some pretty comical moments while pretending to be who she is not I ultimately found myself wanting more out of her character. I like my women a little more badass and a little less dress obsessed. The Countess is bored with her life and decides after being told she’ll have an arranged marriage that she will take the place of her maid at the Glitter Court… so she can be taught how to be a proper lady and be more appealing to men… so they can bid on who they want to be their next trophy wife…. So I was a little confused as to why she wanted to go??? You wanna leave arranged marriage to go and be set up for another marriage??

This book is also being marketed as a “fantasy”; it is not. Also where the story lacks any depth Mead tries to cover it up with more romance. I was expecting a book that has a kickass protagonist set in a high fantasy world…. Because that what the blurb lead me to believe… no what I got was a watery romance set in the 1800s with no world building. Mead introduces us to all these themes like objectifying women and religious persecution but then never deals with them.

AND THAT ENDING…. Ha the ending is my biggest negative. The two main characters have gotten themselves into so big trouble and an unknown character that has NEVER been mentions comes to save the day by giving some bizarre loophole that gets them off the hook. Oh please GTFOOH

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Apr 11, 2016 Ayesha rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: In search of religious Book Boyfriends

Shelves: 2016, fantasy, young-adult

RECIPE:How to make Chocolate Chip cookies!(For real)
INSTRUCTIONS:
PREHEAT oven to 375° F.

COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minu ...more

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Nov 30, 2017 Virginia Ronan ♥ Herondale ♥ rated it it was ok · review of another edition

This is probably one of the shortest reviews I’ve ever written but I think I really can’t say an awful lot about “The Glittering Court”. I really loved Richelle Mead’s other books but this one was so unlike her. I didn’t feel anything while I read this book and I’m really sorry to say it, but I’m kind of indifferent to all of the characters that were a part of this story.
They were so one-dimensional that I found myself not caring what would happen to them next and I constantly struggled to brin This is probably one of the shortest reviews I’ve ever written but I think I really can’t say an awful lot about “The Glittering Court”. I really loved Richelle Mead’s other books but this one was so unlike her. I didn’t feel anything while I read this book and I’m really sorry to say it, but I’m kind of indifferent to all of the characters that were a part of this story.
They were so one-dimensional that I found myself not caring what would happen to them next and I constantly struggled to bring myself to continue to read on. Seriously, if I’d be prone to DNFing books I most certainly would have done it with this one. *lol*
Which makes me so damn sad, because I LOVED and ADORED “Vampire Academy” and “Bloodlines”!

Urgh!! Why Richelle?!! I had such high hopes for this series and I kind of feel let down now. =(

So I guess the main problem I had with “The Glittering Court” was the following:

I didn’t feel sad, I didn’t feel happy or worried. I just didn’t feel at all!!!! Period!

Nothing was fleshed out and everything happened so fast and the main characters were in love and did everything for each other but I wasn’t even persuaded they actually were IN LOVE.
It were grand gestures without substance and it felt like reading: “And they both were so much in love that they would do everything for each other.” I don’t want to read that they’d do everything for each other and I don’t want to read what they did. I want the emotions that move them to do such things!!!! I want to know why they do certain things, what’s their motivation to act the way they do!!! ARGH! I can’t even explain it. *lol*

It’s like you’re reading that someone is eating butter bread. You know how it would taste like, but you can’t really taste it. *LOL* Okay, I think I’ll stop now! Jeez! I’m even talking about butter bread! See what that book did to me?!

So yes, if you want to take the risk to read this book I won’t stop you. Maybe you’ll like it, maybe it’s the perfect book for you and I’m just not a fan of butter bread. ;-P After all tastes differ!!! Quite literally as it seems! XD
Either way, it’s up to you if you want to give it a try or not. All I can say is that it didn’t work out for me! I guess I’ve been as honest as I can be and that’s all you’ll get from me! ;-)

It is what it is!
A book that didn’t move me while I read it, but somehow caused me to rant instead! *lol*

P.S.: I have nothing against butter bread. I actually sometimes like to eat it. So I guess what I'm trying to say is, no butter bread got hurt in the process of writing this review! ;-)
Just in case you worried!! XD ...more

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Oct 26, 2015 Irena BookDustMagic rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Ladies and gentlemen, I now present you my review in pictures:

This is what The Glittering Court is about:

description

Only, imagine girls instead of horses.
Girls who are trained to become polite ladies so they could be sold to rich gentlemens who would marry them.
Before you turn upon me because I'm comparing girls to horses, let me say that that was my point: to show you how objectified women in this story were.

This is how happy I was when I started this novel:
description

This is how I felt most of the time while readin ...more

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Apr 04, 2016 Samantha rated it it was ok · review of another edition

*2.5 stars*

I had high hopes for this book and there were some elements I really enjoyed, but mostly, this book was messy.

Firstly, there was too much going on. This story felt like 4 different books thrown into one with parts missing. It was convoluted. That being said, the first third to half I really enjoyed. I adored the characters in this story, and they really shine in the first half.

Secondly, the world building was weak. This is a historical fiction novel that is trying to pass as fantas *2.5 stars*

I had high hopes for this book and there were some elements I really enjoyed, but mostly, this book was messy.

Firstly, there was too much going on. This story felt like 4 different books thrown into one with parts missing. It was convoluted. That being said, the first third to half I really enjoyed. I adored the characters in this story, and they really shine in the first half.

Secondly, the world building was weak. This is a historical fiction novel that is trying to pass as fantasy, when it should just do what it does best and stay historical fiction. There was no reason to make this a fantasy world. All the places and cultures were just substitutions for ACTUAL places and cultures.

Thirdly, the characters, like I said, were great. I love the protagonist. She's my kind of stubborn and impulsive. I really enjoyed the side characters as well. Keep in mind (because I didn't know this going in) that this is a companion series so each book will be following a different girl from The Glittering Court. So because of that, those side characters don't get super fleshed out because they'll have their own story. Additionally, since the protagonist only has this book, her story felt a bit rushed. The villains in this story were also extremely one note and predictable. The actions of one of the villains later in the story (tw: sexual assault) caused me to lower my rating due to their actions being unnecessary and used for drama, which I'm not okay with in this case.

Lastly, this book has a bad case of deus ex machina. Every time the characters were in a seemingly hopeless situation, they were miraculously saved from it. It happened so often that I started to see it coming from a mile away.

You might get the impression I hated this book. I didn't. It mostly didn't leave much of an impression on me. I didn't care to pick it up when I wasn't reading it, which was why it took so long for me to read it. And I had higher hopes for it, so I was a bit disappointed. But I will continue with the next book in the series because I do enjoy these characters and I want to know more about the side characters and how all of their stories fit together.

Am I doomed to dislike every Richelle Mead book I read? Maybe I just need to read Vampire Academy like I should have in the first place... ...more

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Oct 21, 2020 Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: machalo-tbr-cleaning-2020, audio, library-book

I love her other books but this....

NO!

Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾 ...more

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Dec 11, 2015 Riley marked it as did-not-finish · review of another edition

Reasons why this book did not work for me:

1. It is marketed as a fantasy but nothing about this book is fantasy. This would have made so much more sense if it was a historical fiction book because all Richelle Mead did was take places and customs from our world and give them new names.

2. There were so many plot holes and unanswered questions since this is going to be a companion series. The idea of having each book in this series follow a different girl sounds good, but it didn't work for me.

3 ...more

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Apr 13, 2016 Rose rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: drama, young-adult, zero-stars-is-too-much-for-this, fantasy, audiobooks, romance, religion, historical

Initial reaction: *shakes head* One of the few times I'm speechless as one of the authors I hold in high regard wrote one of the most ethnocentric and bigoted pieces of fiction I've read in this genre to date. I'm honestly stunned. Native populations deserve a lot better than this. (As does the GLBT community).

I mean, I know that this book is stand-alone and told from the perspective of different girls in each of the three books, but if your first book starts out with something like this, it' ...more

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Aug 15, 2017 Danielle rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Thank god I'm finally finished with this book!! I've got so many issues with it. Characters are not really likable- story jumps around and is just not at all thrilling. I wish I were the type of person who could put a horrible book down. But apparently I have some kind of disease that requires I finish a book once I start (no matter how boring it is). There was nothing of remote interest for me here. I just didn't care about anything going on in the story. There was a strange attempt to cliff ha ...more

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Nov 22, 2016 Ryan marked it as lowkey-curious · review of another edition

Oh, look! Another book I want to read because everyone dislikes it.

description

~~(Probably, let's be honest here.)~~ ...more

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Apr 20, 2016 Helen 2.0 rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, dnf, brs-done, love-triangle, romance-focus, historical, trash-and-i-know-it, 2016, read-16

WARNING: I was extremely tired and grumpy when I wrote this. I apologize for excessive sass.

DNF at 300 pages in. I couldn't keep pretending I cared in any way about these characters. If you liked this book, you might want to look away right about now.

So this book is about Adelaide/whatever her original name was, a highborn lady whose family is running out of funds. To escape arranged marriage with a glorified oats farmer, she joins a school designed to teach girls skills Adelaide already knows WARNING: I was extremely tired and grumpy when I wrote this. I apologize for excessive sass.

DNF at 300 pages in. I couldn't keep pretending I cared in any way about these characters. If you liked this book, you might want to look away right about now.

So this book is about Adelaide/whatever her original name was, a highborn lady whose family is running out of funds. To escape arranged marriage with a glorified oats farmer, she joins a school designed to teach girls skills Adelaide already knows to prep her for yet another backwater arranged marriage in a continent that matches colonial North America in all but name. Looking back on it, I should have known I wouldn't like this book because the premise is a girl running from one arranged marriage to another at the expense of her family. Where exactly is the sense in that?
Anyway, on her journey Adelaide excels so much at every single thing she tries that she has to fake unladylike manners, and nearly everyone in the school hates her because of her haughty attitude. Poor Adelaide. Luckily along the way she learns that peasants, foreigners, and pagans are people too, just like the aristocracy! Good for you, Adelaide!

Don't even get me started on the degrading concept behind the Glittering Court - teaching women to be proper so they can be bought by some man like a pretty sack of meat. I just love the feminist undertones of the book there.

Part of the problem here is me, because I'm weird about romance books. While I read them all the time and enjoy them, in real life I'm not much of a romantic. So when Adelaide decides to give up a safe, prestigious, respectable life for a half-built shack in the middle of nowhere in the name of true love, I wanted to roll my eyes so hard they'd get stuck looking into my brain forever. At that point I stopped reading. If Adelaide wants to die in her twenties of starvation or tuberculosis or any of the other hundred ways to die in a shack, then that's her choice, I guess. But I'm not going to concern myself with it anymore. ...more

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Oct 28, 2015 Wendy Darling marked it as on-hold · review of another edition

Shelves: penguin, april, fantasy, 2016-publication, young-adult, own-dtb-tbr

But no complication will prove quite as daunting as the potent attraction simmering between Adelaide and Cedric. An attraction that, if acted on, would scandalize the Glittering Court and make them both outcasts in wild, vastly uncharted lands. . . .

:D

SCANDALIZE ME.

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Oct 26, 2015 Sophie marked it as maybe-read · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016-releases

New Richelle Mead? I need this now!!!

P.S. Anyone else think the cover model looks a bit like Zoey Deutch?

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Mar 08, 2016 Alyssa rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016-releases

REALLY GOOD. And I actually really love that the next two books will be companion sequels, told in the perspective of two different girls. Adelaide's story is very complete and wrapped up. Mira's story, and Tamsin's story... I can't wait to see who is next! Both of them are wonderful characters. <3

Anyway, THIS Mead book really worked for me!

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead
Book One of The Glittering Court series
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication Da ...more

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Nov 12, 2015 Melanie rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: signed, young-adult, arc, historical, read-in-2016, romance

I've read almost everything Richelle Mead has ever written, but I think it's time for me to stop. Do you ever feel like maybe you outgrew an author? I remember buying physical Vampire Academy books at midnight, because they were so magical I couldn't wait! One time, during a move, my new house didn't have internet yet, so I camped out in a McDonald's parking lot at midnight so I could download The Indigo Spell. To this date, the Dark Swan series is one the best series I've ever read and is sti ...more

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May 28, 2017 Jeff rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: aarrrrggghhh, i-don-t-know, ummmm

So, I've heard of the vampire academy series for a while and jeez, that's quite a few books to take care of, so hey, when this series came along, it was just.....JACKPOT.

See, I thought this was gonna be a stupendous book.
I mean, first of all, I thought that there would be glitter.
GLITTER.

So.....hehe, yah THERE WASN'T ANY.
NO F*CKING GLITTERY COURT AT ALL -_-

EXCEPT: A WHINY GIRL WHO DECIDED TO RUN AWAY FROM HER LIFE.

See, I believe in freedom and all that.
Rights?
Freedom of speech?
Anyone?

So of cours ...more

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Oct 27, 2015 Bree marked it as to-read · review of another edition

I'm sorry, but how many times can Richelle Mead get shitty cover after shitty cover?
FOR EVERY SERIES SHE HAS EVER DONE.
This is a tragedy. It feels like Leonardo Decaprio never recieving a Oscar.
Why must the wonderful things be taken from the talented people, PRAY TELL ME!

God, Just, look at it.
She looks like the glittering court gave her an allergic reaction
And JESUS. I haven't even begun with the title yet. WTF.
I FEEL LIKE TAKING THIS TITLE TO COURT AND DEMANDING IT BE JAILED AND LOCKED AWAY A ...more

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Oct 27, 2015 Katerina Kondrenko rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: 02-out-of-10, imo-boring, romance-forbidden-affair, plot-cliched-much, era-historical-and-retro, dnf, pov-1st-person, plot-driven-by-characters, friendship-ff, genre-fantasy

2 out of 10

Ревью в моем блоге/This review on my blog
Living A Thousand Lives (please use Chrome/Yandex browser or Android/IOS to see the page; otherwise, spoiler-tags I use to make my post compact may not work)

Genre: high-fantasy, YA
Stuff: historical hints, bride-market
Fail: boring story and characters
POV: 1st-person, female
Love-Geometry: seeming

Quote-Core: “We’re all in charge of our own lives—and we have to live with the consequences of the choices we make.”

Buddy-DNF with Nastassja.

I rarel ...more

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Apr 05, 2016 Lindsey Rey rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, 2016

[4.5 Stars]

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Mar 29, 2016 Nastassja rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: no one

Shelves: did-not-finish, fell-short-of-expectations, young-adult, fantasy, 2016, buddy-reads, these-two-are-terrible-together

Actual rating: 1.5 stars

DNF at about 53%

Welcome to a fancy brothel! Every kind of girl is available here for a good price. Have a pick.

Actual rating: 1.5 stars

DNF at about 53%

Welcome to a fancy brothel! Every kind of girl is available here for a good price. Have a pick.

Our MC is the Countess of Rothford. Her life is pretty hard: she has to marry an itching nasty cousin or stay moneyless heiress and loose her grand fancy house *gasp* what a terrible fate! How will our poor baby find a way out of this situation? Will she decide to stay poor but, at least, save her pride and title? Or will she marry her terrible cousin? No. She will steal her maids identity and enlist into a fancy brothel called The Glittering Court where women are shipped into a foreign country and sold to rich men. Wow, that is the best option ever! Independence and comfort life are on the way. Oh no, stop, I forgot to mention a working house for girls who refuse to play along with fancy brothel's rules (and something tells me she'll choose not to marry another itchy man). Such a freedom, indeed! For the love of god, I can't fathom why abandoning your responsibility and going to an unknown country with no means and utter dependence on other people's mercy is better than staying home and facing your problems? Simply put: exchanging one problem for a whole carriage of problems.

But honestly? Who’d pick those kind of long work hours over a chance to be on the arm of a wealthy, doting husband who’ll drape you in silks and jewels?

Any sane being would choose the first option but Ada (it's her maid's name and we don't even know her real one) is a selfish, fickle creature. Now tell me, author, why should I care about a heroine who cares only about herself, betrays her friends easily when it suits her and has no doubts about her own awesomeness ~~*standing ovations*~~ *throws tomatos*

Nothing happens in the book except for balls, and discussions of all kind of ball gowns and ball related conversations. Ballocks, what a waste of book space!

Oh, wait, I forgot to tell you about Cedric - main love interest, who has this terrible secret that can be his undoing. *whispers* he's a heretic *gasp* No shit!

“I believe the six wayward angels are every bit as holy as the six glorious ones. They aren’t demons. And I believe divinity is all around us in the natural world, free to anyone,” he said calmly. “Not something only accessible through the priests in their churches.”

So, you are saying that he is, simply put, a hippy? And that, um, in his country hippies are illegal and punishable by death? So, these people live in the 18th or 19th century but act like they are from Middle Ages. Bloody hell, people, don't you have more important issues to fight?! Heretics are your major Government level problem?! *facepalm* What a nonsense! Religious stuff is always hard to interpret, so readers would accept it and understand the importance of it in a book, but this absurd is beyond my comprehension.

To summarize my opinion about this book:

“Do you think my future’s a joke? Is all of this a joke to you?”

What do you think is my answer?

*******************************
Pre-review
No more. this book feels like torture. Katerina and I tried to slay the dragon, but the fucking dragon is unkillable.

...more

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Oct 27, 2015 Wanderlust_Wanz rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult-dystopia-fantasy-scifi

The Glittering Court is quite an enjoyable read, with its rather intriguing premise and slow-building romance between Adelaide and Cedric. Though there were some flaws present such as slow pacing and certain loopholes, I still enjoyed it as a whole regardless.

Things started to get more interesting when Adelaide departed to Adoria after receiving ample etiquette trainings where she met with other potential and noteworthy suitors, or so she thought as things started to go downhill for her. Still, ...more

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Oct 28, 2015 Stacee rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: rape-or-molestation-or-sa, read-in-2016, title-in-the-story, cover-lust

4.5 stars

I loved the premise and hello gorgeous cover, so I was eager to start this book. Once I got started, I tried to take my time because I wanted to savor it.

Love love love Adelaide. She's sassy and fantastically outspoken for the time period. Her BFFs Tamsin and Mira were just as delightful and I really enjoyed all of the scenes with the three of them. And Cedric...he's a whole other story. The UST between him and Adelaide is so delicious. There are some of the sweetest swoons and their b ...more

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Oct 26, 2015 Rachel (APCB Reviews) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016-releases

I've been a longtime fan of Richelle Mead, and although this is completely unlike any of her other works, I found myself completely delighted by her latest series starter, The Glittering Court. It has so many fascinating components weaved together in a way that somehow works. With strong characters, adorable romance, and many intertwined plot conflicts, this series definitely has a lot going for it.

Wanting to escape a loveless pending marriage and a stifling lifestyle, Adelaide assumes her serva I've been a longtime fan of Richelle Mead, and although this is completely unlike any of her other works, I found myself completely delighted by her latest series starter, The Glittering Court. It has so many fascinating components weaved together in a way that somehow works. With strong characters, adorable romance, and many intertwined plot conflicts, this series definitely has a lot going for it.

Wanting to escape a loveless pending marriage and a stifling lifestyle, Adelaide assumes her servant's identity to join the Glittering Court, a business and finishing school that takes low-class girls and transforms them into educated, proper women fit to marry wealthy men looking for wives in the new Osfridian colonies across the treacherous sea. As Adelaide struggles to hide her true identity, she must spin even more lies and sometimes hurt the ones she loves.

The main character, Adelaide is a witty, highly opinionated person. I love her tenacity and will to change her fate. It was quite comical seeing her learn how to do such mundane tasks such as mending and cleaning dishes. Cedric, the Glittering Court owner's son, is an intellect and extremely kind gentleman. I felt their connection from the very beginning, and I love their sassy banter and electrifying chemistry.

As much as I enjoyed the romance, the friendships in this novel surpass that. I wish more books would contain wonderful friendships like this book does. Tamsin is a fiery, driven, and ambitious person who has a sentimental and fiercely protective side. Mira has so much inner strength and wisdom. Together the three work together and support one another. I love this friendship, and I'm so glad Richelle included it in her story.

I felt this book had three distinct parts. At first I was immediately swept up in the world-building and the pretty dresses and opulence. Eventually the pace slowed down for me as they entered the voyage section of the book, but it quickly picked up again. This book went through highs and lows in terms of pacing, but overall it was an easy, engaging read.

This book had so many fascinating elements. I really liked how this book had influences of Elizabethan culture yet later on in the book there's a new frontier/wild west vibe. Of course the scenes of luxury especially piqued my fancy. There is a large cast of characters, and I had a bit of trouble keeping up with all of them. I was also expecting a bit more from the fantasy label of this book, but there are no magical or supernatural elements.

I'm pretty sure the next two books will follow Tamsin or Mira as Adelaide's storyline is resolved by the end of this book. I'm curious, so I'll definitely continue with this series. If you're into books with historical settings, great friendships, and a great lead main character, I think you'd like this book! ...more

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Jul 08, 2016 Mel rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2016, library, 3-stars

this book was GOOD but there was too much useless plot. This book follows a girl who wants to escape her royal life and ends up going to the Glittering Court which teaches "common" girls how to be royalty, and then they are sold on a different continent to men needing wives. That is a good plot, and that aspect of the story was good. But Mead added all these sub plots that were really in the background and not well explained or expanded or developed so the book just had too much of nothing in it ...more

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May 25, 2017 Rachel E. Carter rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: have-paperback

I wasn't sure what to expect going in, this book took all my expectations and kind of threw them out the window. From a finishing school to gold panning, and yet I kinda loved it. I suppose what I wasn't expecting was that each book is actually a standalone from a different character's perspective, and to be honest I'm not sure I want to read two more in the same timeline so I'll pass on the sequels... It was a good book, I enjoyed it, yes the ending was a bit convenient, but who cares: I had fu ...more

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Nov 16, 2015 Jennifer rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: i-met-the-author, dropped-series, historical-fiction, overrated-imo, listened-to-audiobook, read-2016, young-adult-genre

★★½
The Glittering Court is the first installment in Richelle Mead's series titled (surprise, surprise) The Glittering Court. At this point in my reviews, I would have listed the genres but I kinda have a problem. It is marketed as a fantasy but I find this severely misleading. The Glittering Court is historical fiction with conveniently made-up names for the countries and oceans. There is no fantasy in this book. As for historical fiction, it wasn't bad. I liked the first half very much actually ...more

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What's the Name o...: SOLVED. YA Fiction - Series about a group of girls who are trained in manners and then sent somewhere to represent some elite company, trilogy with three books each told from a different perspective. [s]	6	44	Nov 02, 2020 06:45PM
Fans of Fairyloot: The Glittering Court	1	3	Aug 12, 2020 09:57AM
YA Buddy Readers'...: Glittering Court (The Glittering Court #1) by Richelle Mead - Restarting March 28th 2020	41	60	Mar 31, 2020 11:38AM
What's the Name o...: SOLVED. Young Adult Fantasy? Daughter of the duke runs away after being engaged. She goes to an academy of sorts in place of her maid, to learn "proper etiquettes" [s]	3	17	Feb 17, 2019 11:07PM
YA Buddy Readers'...: The Glittering Court (The Glittering Court #1) by Richelle Mead - Restarting August 22nd 2018	142	206	Jul 29, 2018 06:28AM

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About Richelle Mead

Richelle Mead

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Scorpio Richelle Mead is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of urban fantasy books for both adults and teens. Originally from Michigan, Richelle now lives in Seattle, Washington where she works on her three series full-time: Georgina Kincaid, Dark Swan, and Vampire Academy.

A life-long reader, Richelle has always loved mythology and folklore. When she can actually tear herself away f ...more

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The Glittering Court (3 books)

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Quotes from The Glittering Court

“That easy, confident grin returned. “Don’t worry, it’s easily forgotten.”
“Well,” I said huffily, “it shouldn’t be that easily forgotten.”
“Would you like it better if I say I’ll eventually forget it but not without a great deal of struggle and torment?”
“Yes.”
“Done.” — 19 likes

“Do you think my being someone else's wife will change anything? Don't you know that I'd lie with you in the groves, under the light of the moon? That I'd defy the laws of gods and men for you?” — 17 likes

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