Glass Sword Book Review
After the thrilling conclusion of Red Queen, I had high hopes for its sequel, Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard. The new book picks up right where the last one left off, with almost no time passing between the two.
At the start of Glass Sword, we know a few crucial things:
1. Prince Maven, the younger silver prince, has taken over the throne.
2. Mare and Prince Cal are on the run with the Scarlet Guard.
3. There are other Reds with Silver abilities known as New Bloods.
The beginning is just as action-packed and exhilarating as the end of Red Queen, feeling like a roller coaster ride. However, around chapter 3, the pace slows down, and it feels like you’re sifting through a lot of information.
Honestly, I found it hard to find many positive things to say about this sequel. It didn’t live up to the first book and felt more like filler content, as if Aveyard just needed to bridge us to the third book with some new information and characters. It reminded me of a long road trip through less interesting scenery—there were a few exciting moments, but mostly it felt like a slog.
While Aveyard’s writing remains lovely and Mare Barrow’s voice dynamic, the story fell flat for me. I lost interest in both the romance and the revolution. The villains became indistinct shadows, and the heroes almost turned into their own kind of antagonists. Plus, it had more explicit content than I expected in a YA novel.
The book did redeem itself in the last few chapters. The heroes decided to truly be heroes, and I became re-engaged with both their stories and the action—right before the book ended.
If you loved the first book, especially Mare’s internal struggle, this sequel might be for you. But if you were unsure about Mare, you might want to wait for the next book so you can read through to the end in one go.
Adaptation Recommendation
I can see Glass Sword becoming a thrilling movie. The jets, fight scenes, and characters with the ability to manipulate gravity would look fantastic on the big screen, but I wouldn’t want to spend more than two hours on it.
Content Note
Be aware that Glass Sword includes some sex scenes.
Have you read Glass Sword? What are your thoughts on the sequel?
