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The Glass Spare
(The Glass Spare #1)
by
A banished princess.
A deadly curse.
A kingdom at war.
Wil Heidle, the only daughter of the king of the world’s wealthiest nation, has grown up in the shadows. Kept hidden from the world in order to serve as a spy for her father—whose obsession with building his empire is causing a war—Wil wants nothing more than to explore the world beyond her kingdom, if only her father wou ...more
A deadly curse.
A kingdom at war.
Wil Heidle, the only daughter of the king of the world’s wealthiest nation, has grown up in the shadows. Kept hidden from the world in order to serve as a spy for her father—whose obsession with building his empire is causing a war—Wil wants nothing more than to explore the world beyond her kingdom, if only her father wou ...more
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Start your review of The Glass Spare (The Glass Spare, #1)
It had been two hours. Two hours since she’d gotten too close to that boy in the woods. That strange, lovely boy with the deep sad eyes and tattoos he kept hidden like words that went unsaid.
I am so tired of these pseudo-fantasy cover ups for bland romance novels.
The Glass Spare has an interesting premise - a spin on the King Midas myth, where the protagonist turns everything and everyone she touches into precious gemstones - but it is bogged down by slow pacing and a distant third person n ...more
I learned I had OCD from watching Maury. At least, I think it was Maury. The mid-90s was the age of daytime talk shows, and now they have all blurred into my memory. What I do remember is this: I was eleven years old, and suddenly my entire world made sense.
I’ve heard that mental illness is often genetic. However, this wasn’t the case for me. I was raised as an only child, and whenever I tried to articulate what I was feeling to my parents, I got the distinct impression that I was starting to so ...more
I’ve heard that mental illness is often genetic. However, this wasn’t the case for me. I was raised as an only child, and whenever I tried to articulate what I was feeling to my parents, I got the distinct impression that I was starting to so ...more
Awesome Owlcrate Box! Link under picture will take you to my close-ups and explanation ♥
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I fell right in love with Wil and her two brothers Gerdie and Owen. Her brother, Baren, not so much. I love Gerdie the most. He has a sickness but he's totally cool. He's always making creations and blowing t ...more
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On many nights in Wil's childhood, the queen would hold her and rock her to sleep, and she would whisper, "Death itself is no match for you. The day you were born, it shrank away in fear."
I fell right in love with Wil and her two brothers Gerdie and Owen. Her brother, Baren, not so much. I love Gerdie the most. He has a sickness but he's totally cool. He's always making creations and blowing t ...more
Part of the November Owl Crate box!! Another great pick :)
Wil is the fourth child of a ruthless king, kept secret from the world. In a turn-of-the-century inspired world with both industrialization and magic, she plans to use her anonymity to serve her father as a spy. However, at 15 Wil mysteriously develops a power that turns any living thing under her touch to gemstone. This prompts her to seek out a magical marveler to undo her curse.
The characters are well-developed and continued to surpri ...more
Wil is the fourth child of a ruthless king, kept secret from the world. In a turn-of-the-century inspired world with both industrialization and magic, she plans to use her anonymity to serve her father as a spy. However, at 15 Wil mysteriously develops a power that turns any living thing under her touch to gemstone. This prompts her to seek out a magical marveler to undo her curse.
The characters are well-developed and continued to surpri ...more
Really solid fantasy read. Super interesting world building. And I absolutely adored all of the characters.
Did someone say King Midas? The world here was amazing! Not to mention, I am a big fan of the whole king turning everything he touches to gold story, so that being an influence here, drew me in! There was excellent character development throughout the story and each character had their own quirks.
Wil was great and had her flaws. I'm usually not a big fan of the girl lying to a love interest about things, but here it was definitely understood why she needed to do it. The romance is normally my fa ...more
Wil was great and had her flaws. I'm usually not a big fan of the girl lying to a love interest about things, but here it was definitely understood why she needed to do it. The romance is normally my fa ...more
I really wanted to like this. I tried hard and pushed through when the sluggish pacing made me want to DNF. There is nothing wrong with the writing or story. I just felt that something was missing and I never felt engrossed in the story or characters. It's a sort-of re-telling of the King Midas faiytale but with a female teenager named Wil who has the "Midas touch." She is a princess, a
"spare," and her father is a king who is not a good father or ruler.
Something happens (spoilers) and she has t ...more
"spare," and her father is a king who is not a good father or ruler.
Something happens (spoilers) and she has t ...more
On many nights in Wil's childhood, the queen would hold her and rock her to sleep, and she would whisper, "Death itself is no match for you. The day you were born, it shrank away in fear."
Oh, Wonderlings. I am so woefully disappointed. The Glass Spare was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, ever since someone said it was Shatter Me 2.0 with a villain love interest.
VILLAIN. LOVE. INTEREST. Do you see, dear reader? I was ensnared. I needed it more than I needed to breathe, or ...more
4.5 stars
“Death itself is no match for you. The day you were born, it shrank away in fear.”
My first book of 2018 and I loved it!
Lauren DeStefano continues to surprise me with each book she has written. She's definitely an author I really enjoy.
If you haven't guessed already, The Glass Spare takes inspiration from King Midas who could turn anything into gold. Our main protagonist, Wil, is the hidden princess of a kingdom acting as a spy on behalf of her father. She later finds out she can turn pe ...more
“Death itself is no match for you. The day you were born, it shrank away in fear.”
My first book of 2018 and I loved it!
Lauren DeStefano continues to surprise me with each book she has written. She's definitely an author I really enjoy.
If you haven't guessed already, The Glass Spare takes inspiration from King Midas who could turn anything into gold. Our main protagonist, Wil, is the hidden princess of a kingdom acting as a spy on behalf of her father. She later finds out she can turn pe ...more
4.5 Stars!
I've been meaning to try this author for awhile now and even though I have many of her books in my TBR pile, I decided this story would be the one I would start with first.
I'm so very glad that I did. I opened this expecting cliches galore and a little bit of the same old same old that the YA market has been flooded with and instead I found a read that was not only engaging but easy to pick up and hard to put down. I quickly became not only interested in the story line and what the cha ...more
I've been meaning to try this author for awhile now and even though I have many of her books in my TBR pile, I decided this story would be the one I would start with first.
I'm so very glad that I did. I opened this expecting cliches galore and a little bit of the same old same old that the YA market has been flooded with and instead I found a read that was not only engaging but easy to pick up and hard to put down. I quickly became not only interested in the story line and what the cha ...more
2 stars
Following the Goodreads rating system, this was an okay read for me hence 2 stars.
I remember I loved Wither by this author, it was one of those books you devour. But then everything else after was meh. And that was The Glass Spare, bland and utterly forgettable. Being the DNF queen I am I'm impressed I made it all the way through. I think the story was an interesting concept and the book had a strong start, but from the moment she was banished I was bored and no longer cared what happen ...more
Following the Goodreads rating system, this was an okay read for me hence 2 stars.
I remember I loved Wither by this author, it was one of those books you devour. But then everything else after was meh. And that was The Glass Spare, bland and utterly forgettable. Being the DNF queen I am I'm impressed I made it all the way through. I think the story was an interesting concept and the book had a strong start, but from the moment she was banished I was bored and no longer cared what happen ...more
Ok I'm pretty curious how the next book is going to go. Most of this book destroyed my heart but I'm glad I picked it back up and got to finish it. Definitely a good read if you're in to fantasy.
Thank goodness that's over. This book is as exciting as a goldfish is to a dog lover. Everything from the plot, to the characters, to the trite "philosophical" observations was so unbearably flat.
The relationship between Wil and her brothers was interesting but as soon as she meets Loom and Zay, it goes downhill. The "relationship" with the love interest was more flavourless than flour. We're constantly TOLD how the characters feel but the dialogue was basic and cliche. I felt NOTHING. And the ...more
The relationship between Wil and her brothers was interesting but as soon as she meets Loom and Zay, it goes downhill. The "relationship" with the love interest was more flavourless than flour. We're constantly TOLD how the characters feel but the dialogue was basic and cliche. I felt NOTHING. And the ...more
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
After giving up on a few books in a row I was so relieved when this gripped me almost right away. This story follows a banished princess on a quest to find a marveler who can remove her curse while avoiding the war thats brewing. I loved the concept of turning people into gemstones with a touch. Gemstones have always been a fascination of mine.
The main character Wil was caring and resourceful. I liked how she was able to take care of herself. I could relate to her wander ...more
After giving up on a few books in a row I was so relieved when this gripped me almost right away. This story follows a banished princess on a quest to find a marveler who can remove her curse while avoiding the war thats brewing. I loved the concept of turning people into gemstones with a touch. Gemstones have always been a fascination of mine.
The main character Wil was caring and resourceful. I liked how she was able to take care of herself. I could relate to her wander ...more
Oct 13, 2017
Sarah Elizabeth
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
netgalley-edelweiss,
fantasy,
love-triangle,
r2r-read,
read-2017,
romance,
as,
young-adult,
death
(I received an advance copy of this book for free. Thanks to HarperCollins and Edelweiss.)
This was a YA fantasy story about a girl who found out that she could turn living things into gemstones.
I liked Wil as a character, she was fierce and strong and a lot tougher than she looked. She was also willing to go a long way for the people she loved which was an admirable quality.
The storyline in this was abo ...more
“Death itself is no match for you. The day you were born, it shrank away in fear.”
This was a YA fantasy story about a girl who found out that she could turn living things into gemstones.
I liked Wil as a character, she was fierce and strong and a lot tougher than she looked. She was also willing to go a long way for the people she loved which was an admirable quality.
The storyline in this was abo ...more
I absolutely loved the worldbuilding in this one, and the way things are always more complicated than they first appear.
it really wasn't that great. the gorgeous cover is a real let-down when the inside is bland and not at all sparkly. no, i wasn’t expecting jewel-encrusted pages, but some plot, maybe?
there was so much potential in this book to be amazing, but it really freaking wasn't. Don't tell me you're going to give a girl three older brothers (an older brother is something I've wanted for a long time) aND then not make me fall in love with the relationships you've crafted. i was only mildly interested in ...more
there was so much potential in this book to be amazing, but it really freaking wasn't. Don't tell me you're going to give a girl three older brothers (an older brother is something I've wanted for a long time) aND then not make me fall in love with the relationships you've crafted. i was only mildly interested in ...more
“Death itself is no match for you. The day you were born, it shrank away in fear.”
I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I was expecting a fun and unique fantasy story (which I got), but I loved the strong family relationships and the science fiction elements seamlessly blended into the story. The Glass Spare follows Wil Heidle, the elusive princess of Arrod. Kept a secret to spy for the king, Wil has a wandering heart and wants freedom and adventure. But, when Wil’s attacked she ...more
WrensReads Review:
Everyone knows this is a play off of a classic story, right? About the king named Midas who made the wish to have everything he touches turn to gold? And he ends up alone because he kills everyone he comes in contact with? Well this is a play off that where a princess can turn things into gems that she touches when her heart-rate is raised.
Things that I love:
01. There was wonder world building in this steampunk/medieval setting.
02. We have a brother who doesn’t let his physi ...more
Everyone knows this is a play off of a classic story, right? About the king named Midas who made the wish to have everything he touches turn to gold? And he ends up alone because he kills everyone he comes in contact with? Well this is a play off that where a princess can turn things into gems that she touches when her heart-rate is raised.
Things that I love:
01. There was wonder world building in this steampunk/medieval setting.
02. We have a brother who doesn’t let his physi ...more
Full review can also be viewed on Lair Of Books:
https://lairofbooksblog.wordpress.com...
PLOT
The Glass Spare by Lauren DeStefano can very well be seen as a gender-bend version of the King Midas & the Golden Touch myth. We are introduced to Wil Heidle the only daughter to the Northern King as well as her 3 brothers & mother. The King himself is a man who will stop at nothing when he sets out to seize lands & so the North is at the brink of war with the South. The South may not be wealthy like the ...more
https://lairofbooksblog.wordpress.com...
PLOT
The Glass Spare by Lauren DeStefano can very well be seen as a gender-bend version of the King Midas & the Golden Touch myth. We are introduced to Wil Heidle the only daughter to the Northern King as well as her 3 brothers & mother. The King himself is a man who will stop at nothing when he sets out to seize lands & so the North is at the brink of war with the South. The South may not be wealthy like the ...more
***4.5 STARS***
I was actually surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It was a hard one to rate but I settled on 4.5 because of how unique it was and how well-executed. I feel like it deserves more appreciation.
🦊 My Thoughts
The Glass Spare is a dark, atmospheric story about a girl who can suddenly turn every living thing she touches into gemstone. It’s a gender-bent, King-Midas-Inspired story set in an intriguing world of warring kingdoms, alchemy and magic. The protagonist, Wil, is the only ...more
I was actually surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It was a hard one to rate but I settled on 4.5 because of how unique it was and how well-executed. I feel like it deserves more appreciation.
🦊 My Thoughts
The Glass Spare is a dark, atmospheric story about a girl who can suddenly turn every living thing she touches into gemstone. It’s a gender-bent, King-Midas-Inspired story set in an intriguing world of warring kingdoms, alchemy and magic. The protagonist, Wil, is the only ...more
“Death itself is no match for you. The day you were born, it shrank away in fear.”
I was pleasantly surprised by this book, I honestly thought it would bore the shit out of me- Never judge a book on the cover or synopsis alone! Truth be told I picked this up because I was running out of books to read, but im glad I did. It was better than expected! Not a favorite, but still a good read, hence my rating. A few people compared it to Shatter Me, almost like a Shatter Me 2.0, a series I ...more
ARC provided by HarperCollins via Edelweiss.
Review to come soon!
Review to come soon!
This book came in one of my Owlcrate boxes several months ago and I just now got around to reading it. Honestly, I wouldn’t have picked this book out for myself. Several things didn’t work for me.
I felt like I needed more to the story. There were pages and pages where not much happened and I found myself skipping and skimming parts. The pacing was too slow and when something finally did happen, it wasn’t enough action to make up for the slow pace.
I wasn’t fond of the storytelling. There were t ...more
I felt like I needed more to the story. There were pages and pages where not much happened and I found myself skipping and skimming parts. The pacing was too slow and when something finally did happen, it wasn’t enough action to make up for the slow pace.
I wasn’t fond of the storytelling. There were t ...more
Rating ~2.5
“I run into fires, not from them.”
This was actually better than I thought it would be.
As a book, it was not anything particularly new and it did fall into a lot of trope patterns. But it did have at least some aspects that proved interesting enough.
One thing I enjoyed, and I wish there were more of, was the sibling's dynamics. I enjoyed seeing Wil's relationships with her brothers. To be honest, for the first have of the book we not only got to see Wil's journey but we also got ...more
“I run into fires, not from them.”
This was actually better than I thought it would be.
As a book, it was not anything particularly new and it did fall into a lot of trope patterns. But it did have at least some aspects that proved interesting enough.
One thing I enjoyed, and I wish there were more of, was the sibling's dynamics. I enjoyed seeing Wil's relationships with her brothers. To be honest, for the first have of the book we not only got to see Wil's journey but we also got ...more
I thought this was actually a rather charming and interested book. It does have the Midas feel obviously but it also has some fascinating characters that are fun to read about. The world building was not extensive, which I like more than the lengthy world building. I will continue this series for sure. I was a little thrown off on the relationships in this book though. Some are very undefined. But it didn't take too much away from the story.
My quick and simple overall: an entertaining fantasy th ...more
My quick and simple overall: an entertaining fantasy th ...more
🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪
5 Cookies
My blog! Check out the photos here
jeqcbueou!!! Wow you guys... This book was an awesome owlcrate to recieve! I'm was actually thrilled to get it. It has taken me forever to write this review mainly because I wanted to wait until I could express my feelings without totally fan girling over it.
Wil Heidle: The totally unique character in this story. Honestly I wanted to jump in that book and just give her a big hug. She was confident in herself without being totally arrogant and this ...more
5 Cookies
My blog! Check out the photos here
jeqcbueou!!! Wow you guys... This book was an awesome owlcrate to recieve! I'm was actually thrilled to get it. It has taken me forever to write this review mainly because I wanted to wait until I could express my feelings without totally fan girling over it.
Wil Heidle: The totally unique character in this story. Honestly I wanted to jump in that book and just give her a big hug. She was confident in herself without being totally arrogant and this ...more
Death itself is no match for you. The day you were born, it shrank away in fear.
Wil is the fourth child of the royal family and has grown up nearly invisible. Few outside the castle know what she looks like - which means she can sneak in and out to collect objects from the black market for her brother's experiments without anyone realizing they're trading with a princess. One night, however, something goes horribly wrong as a vendor tries to kill her - and Wil, in turn, turns him to ruby wit ...more
I really liked this book, but I wouldn't say that I loved it. I'm definitely planning to read the sequel, The Cursed Sea, when it's released, though. :)
My rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars on Goodreads' rating system, and 7 out of 10 on my own scoring system.
My rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars on Goodreads' rating system, and 7 out of 10 on my own scoring system.
This review was originally posted on The Moonlight Library
The Glass Spare tells the fascinating story of a young princess named Wil, the fourth child and only daughter of a powerful and ruthless king, who wants nothing more than to travel the world. When she is attacked she discovers she has the power to turn living things into crystals and gemstones, and she goes off on a journey to cure her curse, only to fall in with the banished prince of a rival kingdom who is determined to save his kingdo ...more
The Glass Spare tells the fascinating story of a young princess named Wil, the fourth child and only daughter of a powerful and ruthless king, who wants nothing more than to travel the world. When she is attacked she discovers she has the power to turn living things into crystals and gemstones, and she goes off on a journey to cure her curse, only to fall in with the banished prince of a rival kingdom who is determined to save his kingdo ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YA Buddy Readers'...: The Glass Spare (The Glass Spare #1) by Lauren DeStefano - Restarting May 15th 2020 | 43 | 127 | May 18, 2020 09:30PM | |
| Synopsis in Spanish // Sinopsis en Español | 1 | 2 | Nov 05, 2017 09:10AM | |
| Čteme anglicky: The Glass Spare (listopad 2017) | 1 | 24 | Nov 03, 2017 02:38PM |
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