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Glimmerglass: A Faeriewalker Novel
By Jenna Black
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It's all she's ever wanted to be, but it couldn't be further from her grasp…
Dana Hathaway doesn't know it yet, but she's in big trouble. When her alcoholic mom shows up at her voice recital drunk, again, Dana decides she's had enough and runs away to find her mysterious father in Avalon: the only place on Earth where the regular, everyday world and the captivating, magical world of Faerie intersect. But from the moment Dana sets foot in Avalon, everything goes wrong, for it turns out she isn't just an ordinary teenage girl--she's a Faeriewalker, a rare individual who can travel between both worlds, and the only person who can bring magic into the human world and technology into Faerie.
Soon, Dana finds herself tangled up in a cutthroat game of Fae politics. Someone's trying to kill her, and everyone seems to want something from her, from her newfound friends and family to Ethan, the hot Fae guy Dana figures she'll never have a chance with… until she does. Caught between two worlds, Dana isn't sure where she'll ever fit in and who can be trusted, not to mention if her world will ever be normal again…
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Start ReadingBook Information
Glimmerglass: A Faeriewalker Novel
By Jenna Black
Description
It's all she's ever wanted to be, but it couldn't be further from her grasp…
Dana Hathaway doesn't know it yet, but she's in big trouble. When her alcoholic mom shows up at her voice recital drunk, again, Dana decides she's had enough and runs away to find her mysterious father in Avalon: the only place on Earth where the regular, everyday world and the captivating, magical world of Faerie intersect. But from the moment Dana sets foot in Avalon, everything goes wrong, for it turns out she isn't just an ordinary teenage girl--she's a Faeriewalker, a rare individual who can travel between both worlds, and the only person who can bring magic into the human world and technology into Faerie.
Soon, Dana finds herself tangled up in a cutthroat game of Fae politics. Someone's trying to kill her, and everyone seems to want something from her, from her newfound friends and family to Ethan, the hot Fae guy Dana figures she'll never have a chance with… until she does. Caught between two worlds, Dana isn't sure where she'll ever fit in and who can be trusted, not to mention if her world will ever be normal again…
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Like so many kids who live with one parent Dana imagines that life would be so much better with the other. So she defies her alcoholic mother and seeks out her mysterious father. Dad's thrilled to have her so he sends her plane tickets and Dana's off to Avalon, the city that straddles the worlds of man and faerie.
And that's about the last time anything is easy or good for Dana. It turns out she's just as special as most kids dream of being and that specialness puts her in high demand and high danger. She can't trust anyone, not her political father, her alcoholic mother, or any of her new friends.
I'm definitely coming back for more. In future books I'd like to learn more about Avalon itself, and maybe more about faerie.
And that's about the last time anything is easy or good for Dana. It turns out she's just as special as most kids dream of being and that specialness puts her in high demand and high danger. She can't trust anyone, not her political father, her alcoholic mother, or any of her new friends.
I'm definitely coming back for more. In future books I'd like to learn more about Avalon itself, and maybe more about faerie.
The premise: ganked from Amazon.com: Dana Hathaway doesn’t know it yet, but she’s in big trouble. When her alcoholic mom shows up at her voice recital drunk, again, Dana decides she’s had enough and runs away to find her mysterious father in Avalon: the only place on Earth where the regular, everyday world and the captivating, magical world of Faerie intersect. But from the moment Dana sets foot in Avalon, everything goes wrong, for it turns out she isn't just an ordinary teenage girl--she's a Faeriewalker, a rare individual who can travel between both worlds, and the only person who can bring magic into the human world and technology into Faerie. Soon, Dana finds herself tangled up in a cutthroat game of Fae politics. Someone's trying to kill her, and everyone seems to want something from her, from her newfound friends and family to Ethan, the hot Fae guy Dana figures she’ll never have a chance with . . . until she does. Caught between two worlds, Dana isn’t sure where she’ll ever fit in and who can be trusted, not to mention if her world will ever be normal again . . . My RatingGlad It Was Free: I just want to say this is an INCREDIBLY fast read. I mean, I read it in less than a day. The writing style is easy and breezy and the teenage voice works that fine line of being both irritating and sympathetic. It just works. This is the kind of book you want for a beach read or a plane ride, but make sure it's not the only book in your bag, because you'll need something else to sustain your trip, okay?The story itself is a familiar one, but not because I've read it before. Dana's desires for a better life with what she hopes is a better parent is something that I suspect is a familiar desire for many people, especially in childhood/teen years. The story's twists and turns are rather predictable, but that doesn't detract from the fun of the story itself. I think Black's got some interesting world-building elements going on here, and while the romance element isn't quite winning me over, it has piqued my interest. That said, this isn't a series that I'm going to be chomping at the bit to buy. It's a fun, fast, fluff read, so unless I were in a situation that just demanded I wanted such a read, and if I didn't have something else on hand to fit the bill, then it's likely I won't be continuing. Still, this is a nice introduction to Black's work, and I may be interested in trying out some of her urban fantasy in the future.Review style: there's not a whole lot I want to discuss here, but here's a few items: sometimes you get exactly what you think and that in and of itself can be satisfying (this refers to plot structure), and then I want to talk about the portrayal of parents and best friends in YA. Spoilers? In the sense that I talk about predictable plots, then yeah, there's spoilers. :) The full review is in my LJ if anyone is interested, and as always, comments and discussion are most welcome. :)REVIEW: Jenna Black's GLIMMERGLASSHappy Reading!
Didn't like the protagonist. Too selfish. Too immature. But would still read the sequel just to see what happens next.
Tired of being the grown up in her relationship with her alcoholic mother, sixteen-year-old Dana decides it is time to spend some time with her powerful fae father in Avalon, the only human/fae city on Earth. That has to be better, right? Well, not so much.Dana finds herself mixed up in fae politics that she doesn't understand and that no one will explain to her when she reaches Avalon. She kidnapped by her Aunt Grace, rescued by teens Ethan and Kimber, and learns that she is a very rare faeriewalker who can travel between both worlds bringing magic to Earth and technology to Faerie. Everyone has a use for her and she doesn't know who she can trust.I liked Dana. She was forced by her family situation to be too old for her age. At the same time, because she had moved around so frequently with her alcoholic mother, she was younger than her age too. She didn't have any experience making friends and certainly knew nothing about having a boyfriend. Ethan seems more than willing to add to her boyfriend knowledge but she doesn't know if she can trust him.This was a fast-paced story with a bit of romance. I liked the whole concept of a city where humans and fae interact. I liked that she was getting to know her father. I liked that he was honest with her even when she didn't want to hear what he had to say. This is the first book in a trilogy. I'm eager to read the rest.
I was intrigued by the thought of this book. When I was not chosen to receive it through ER I immediately went to my local library and told them about it, they in turn ordered a copy for our library and I got first stab at it. I was not disappointed, well maybe I am disappointed that I will have to wait until 2011 to read the next installment in the series.Dana Hathaway is known as a faeriewalker (half fae and half human). This can be good, but it can also be very bad and it all depends on whose purpose is to be served. As Dana meets her father for the first time she is thrown into a political storm and she is now the center.
I very much enjoyed Glimmerglass and anxiously awaiting book 2. Glimmerglass offers all the great elements of a good fantasy book, and the added romantic struggle we like to watch and antagonize over. This books does move more slowly with the love interests, but in a good way, leaving the reader hungry to know more. The main character does seem a bit whiny at first, but I see where, hopefully, the author is setting her up to be a strong leading lady, mentally and physically. The plot moves along well. I read this book in one day, a very easy, smooth read.
Glimmerglass, by Jenna Black, is about a girl named Dana Hathaway who runs away to Avalon, England, where the line between the mortal and Faerie world is at its thinnest. She finds out that she is a Faeriewalker, the only person who can walk between the worlds freely. She goes on a huge adventure where she finds love and her purpose.
This book had such great potential. Between the creative concept of the Faeriwalker (who is half human and half fae), the splitting between worlds where one has magic and the other has technology, and the different version of Avalon (located inland instead of as a mist shroud island) there was so many things I was hoping to see in this novel. Unfortunately, for me the book fell short.While the MC, Dana, has an interesting background as a halfling (half human, half fae), she was very hard for me to relate to throughout the whole book. Even when I tried to hone in on my past teenage hood (since I'm 26 it wasn't that far behind), but that didn't work. Towards the end she does get better but for a good part of the book minus the end and the first chapter, Dana is more of a pawn being moved from place to place. The few times she does act just get her in trouble and someone else has to save her.The locations was something that caught my attention. It was actually a different approach, having Avalon be the gateway between the human world and the Fae one to begin with. Plus, it is inland, somewhere in England near mountains, instead of an island shroud with mist. Very different than the usual approach to Avalon.Could have been great and others may still really enjoy this novel but it didn't work for me.
Though I think that this book is meant to lean more towards teens and young adults, as a 26-year old I still found it to be fun to read. I haven't read many books about the Fae, but this one was actually pleasantly surprising. Just like any good book should, it made me feel as if I were IN the book instead of just reading it. By that, I mean that I imagined myself in Avalon alongside Dana, and it was definitely a wild ride. While reading this book, I was able to visit a different world...a different life than what we know here on earth. Also, I believe that this is Book 1 in a series, so I will definitely be checking the rest out.
‘Glimmerglass’ is Jenna Black’s first novel for Young Adults, and it was brilliant. It’s a novel about Faeries, but at the same time, it’s a novel about so much more. The elements that Black has woven into this story are so well done that I couldn’t read it fast enough. Glimmerglass just draws you in and keeps you there. Trust me, once you pick it up, you’ve got no hope. Glimmerglass centers around Dana, our protagonist. Her mother is an alcoholic, and Dana is really starting to feel the drain that is having on her life (I seem to be reading about alcoholics a fair bit lately, huh?). Eventually, after yet another embarrassing experience with her mother, Dana decides to leave her home in the USA and travel to England, specifically Avalon, the place where the both the human world and the Land of Faerie can be accessed. When there, Dana realises that not everything is as good as she expected it to be, and Avalon (as well as it’s inhabitants) may be more trouble than they’re worth.Jenna Black’s world is entirely unique. She has taken our everyday, normal world and turned it upside down. Pretty much everything functions as normal, except that right in the middle of London lies the city of Avalon. It’s a country unto itself, governed by a council of humans and Fae, with one leader (sort of like a Mayor I guess) that alternates between human and Fae. When Dana arrives, the election fast approaching and this time it’s the Fae’s turn.In Dana’s world, everyone knows about Avalon and the faerie realm, but only incredibly rare faeriewalkers (half human, half Fae – so it’s a bit more complicated than that, but you get the drift) can enter both, as well as the human world.Dana’s father, a faerie that her mother has kept her from since birth is one of the Fae running in the election. This, of course, causes some serious problems for Dana who finds out that she is a valuable commodity in her own.So as I said, Jenna’s world is incredibly new, exciting and in my opinion, unheard of in today’s YA. I loved the descriptions of Avalon that were full and easy to follow.The characters were likeable, and well described. I loved Dana, and aside from her having an alcoholic mother, I connected with her really well. In fact, she’s sounded a whole lot like me at 16. She was humorous, serious, and she reacted well to the things that had happened to her.I loved the secondary character as well – especially Kimber, Ethan, Dana’s father and Finn. Ok, so I pretty much loved Finn. Not in the ‘you’re-so-gorgeous-oh-my-gosh‘ way, but in the ‘you-are-hilarious-get-more-page-time‘ way. When he first appeared, I just couldn’t help from laughing out loud. And let me tell you, when a book can make me laugh you know it’s good (NB: I have a very serious reading face). Dana’s father was a really interesting character in my opinion. Unlike the normal angry, high-class faerie Dad’s you tend to read in YA these days, he was modern, classy and pretty normal. I mean, sure, he was a little bit ambitious, but he is a politician, so I guess some things are universal. I liked how he was always blunt about what he thought, never trying to hide things from Dana. And he cared too! Seriously, I know he could be a bit annoying at times, but he was a relief from the stereotypical supernatural jerk-Dad’s that YA seems to portray.Anyway, my point is that I liked the characters. They were fun to read about, they kept me interested and I genuinely liked them.The plot of Glimmerglass was interesting, but I felt that there wasn’t enough inclusion of magic. I mean, I loved what Black did include, and I couldn’t get enough of the explanation of how it worked (this was written so well! It couldn’t have been explained it better!) but I needed more! Maybe in the next book there will be more… we can only hope.The novel ends on a sort-of cliffhanger, so the plot is clearly going to continue into the next novel (and hopefully we’ll get to see some of Faerie then too!).Overall, I really enjoyed Glimmerglass, and I can’t wait for the sequel, ‘Shadowspell’ which is released in January of 2011. That’s too long!
Dana Hathaway is a halfling - her mother is human, her father is fey. She lives in a world where humans and fey coexist in a city called Avalon. Avalon has its own political system consisting of human and fey rulers, the world and system are explained by the people that Dana meets when she runs away from her alcoholic mother to live with her father - one of the key players in the Avalon political scene. While I appreciated the world building, a lot was explained through dialogue and that becomes monotonous. It would have been great if Jenna Black showed us the world in other ways.
The moment Dana reaches London the reader is launched into a whirl-wind of activity, from her encounter with her Aunt Grace, her kidnapping, fights, flights and the discovery that she’s wanted as a pawn in the play for political power. The story itself moved quickly, but at the same time I felt as though it was dragging - there was a lot of conflict, but not a lot of answers, at least not until the very end.
At the end of the book I felt as though there was just something missing. I like the characters well enough, the story was interesting enough, the plot was ok, but there was just something that I felt was missing. I thought about this a bit and I think I’ve realized that I found myself more interested in the world than I was interested in what happened to Dana - the protagonist. I didn’t really care about her as much as I should, even Kimber was more interesting as a character and I cared more about Kimber than I did about Dana. I think there are many out there who would enjoy this series, but for me, while I liked it, I don’t really want to know anything else about Dana and what happens to her.
The moment Dana reaches London the reader is launched into a whirl-wind of activity, from her encounter with her Aunt Grace, her kidnapping, fights, flights and the discovery that she’s wanted as a pawn in the play for political power. The story itself moved quickly, but at the same time I felt as though it was dragging - there was a lot of conflict, but not a lot of answers, at least not until the very end.
At the end of the book I felt as though there was just something missing. I like the characters well enough, the story was interesting enough, the plot was ok, but there was just something that I felt was missing. I thought about this a bit and I think I’ve realized that I found myself more interested in the world than I was interested in what happened to Dana - the protagonist. I didn’t really care about her as much as I should, even Kimber was more interesting as a character and I cared more about Kimber than I did about Dana. I think there are many out there who would enjoy this series, but for me, while I liked it, I don’t really want to know anything else about Dana and what happens to her.
For a quick summary, Glimmerglass by Jenna Black is the first book in the Faeriewalker series. It's about a teenaged girl named Dana who is half human/half fae, which makes her a Faeriewalker- one of the extremely rare (the book makes it sound like they crop up once in a lifetime- the last one had been 75 years previous, I believe) individuals who can move between Earth and Faerie. Faeriewalkers have their own special abilities, but since Dana doesn't come into them in this book, we only really get to hear what they can do rather than see it. In this book she's little more than a pawn, with her fate in other peoples' hands and people trying to kidnap her for their political gain. Her family life isn't much better what with an alcoholic mother and a father she never knew being the cause of all this chaos. It's much better and more interesting than that sounds, though, I promise! I just really don't want to give too much away.I was a bit iffy when I first opened this book, because teenage protagonists can be hit-or-miss, and a book written in the first person about a teenager is in even more danger of said character being unappealing. I'm glad to say that I had absolutely no problem with Dana- she's well-written and balanced. She may be a pawn, but she refuses to take that sitting down, and on the flip side, she's not so strong-headed or self-centered that the reader doesn't like her. And yes, she's a teenager, but she really does sound like she should; when she gets upset or angry, she reacts the way you'd expect someone in her situation to react.As for the plot, I really liked that, too. There was action, but also a lot of character interactions, so that was a good balance. It started off a bit slowly but once the plot picked up, I couldn't put the book down because I wanted to know what happened next. We don't get to learn a lot about all of the cast of characters, but the ones that do take center stage are detailed and even get some character development. My favorites are Kimber (a female fae who becomes Dana's best friend) and Keane (the son of Dana's bodyguard)- I'm hoping they show up in the next book because both of those characters actually interested me more than the main one and I want to know more about them. :) It did seem kind of odd to me that even though the Fae apparently don't have many children, so many of them are around the same age as the main character- I think I must just be used to other fantasy things where elven-types age differently (more slowly, I guess).I was honestly afraid this book would read like Twilight (I couldn't even get through the first few chapters of that garbage), which made me worried about the writing and plot since it's a young adult book about a teenage girl and a supernatural twist. Once again, I had no need for worry- this book is very well-written and I could find absolutely nothing wrong with the writing style; it was witty, creative, descriptive, and nothing was wrong with the wording or pace (I'm quite picky about stuff like that, to say the least). Overall I really liked this book and am eagerly awaiting the next one in the series- I'll give this 4 stars out of 5. I think that once the main character starts to control her own life, the next books will be even better.
I adore this cover. I love the background, and the about-face reflection, it's really stunning in the flesh. I only wish I'd read this sooner, as it's a stunning book.From the outset I felt empathy for Dana, as we're given immediate insight into her mum's alcoholism and lifestyle, which has a huge impact on Dana. Dana's desire for a 'normal' mum is heartbreakingly evident from first few pages. Unfortunately for Dana, we don't get to choose our parents, or their actions. This is fast paced, with plenty of plot twists to keep you both on your toes, and guessing as to what the true nature Dana's life should have been. Dana runs away and makes contact with the father she's never met before, and who was unaware of her existence. Trouble awaits her, as Dana knows nothing of Fae politics, nor of her father's part in them. The Fae world is not clear cut, or as welcoming as her own. Echoes of familiar Seely and Unseely phrases do come up in Glimmerglass, along with other steeped history.I adore Finn's character. He mixes chivalry with a position of security, which is unique and enticingly done. My favourite quote from Glimmerglass is from Finn:"I'm a knight of faerie," he said "I have been a knight since I turned 18...it is my job, and knowing full well what that job entails, I choose to do it."Keane's character proves an eye opener, and I felt he was a refreshing character amidst the storyline.. As Finn's son, I hope we get to see and hear more about him in Shadowspell, the next in the Faeriewalker book.Now more than ever, I can't wait to read Shadowspell! Dana is in for a whopper of an adventure - I couldn't put this down, and my eyes were glued to the pages all the way.
I wish I could give this three and a half stars, but I did enjoy Glimmerglass, so I thought I'd round the stars up.
Glimmerglass is enjoyable because it is written better than a great deal of other YA fantasy out there. The main character is a special, rare and highly sought after half-breed (faerie and human), but there is so much life in her--real life, like she could attend anyone's high school and fit right in--that such a premise is easier to swallow.
The main character's father was also particularly interesting. Parents tend to be shunted aside or hidden away for one reason or another in YA fiction--such as the main character's mother is--but her father is a fully-fleshed out character in his own right, and it was fascinating to read about his interactions with his daughter. The same goes for the main character's bodyguard, who is also an adult that isn't abandoned at two dimensions.
Overall, I enjoyed Glimmerglass quite a bit. I was relieved to find a YA fantasy that wasn't poorly written and I have already purchased the sequel. I'm going to start reading it asap.
Glimmerglass is enjoyable because it is written better than a great deal of other YA fantasy out there. The main character is a special, rare and highly sought after half-breed (faerie and human), but there is so much life in her--real life, like she could attend anyone's high school and fit right in--that such a premise is easier to swallow.
The main character's father was also particularly interesting. Parents tend to be shunted aside or hidden away for one reason or another in YA fiction--such as the main character's mother is--but her father is a fully-fleshed out character in his own right, and it was fascinating to read about his interactions with his daughter. The same goes for the main character's bodyguard, who is also an adult that isn't abandoned at two dimensions.
Overall, I enjoyed Glimmerglass quite a bit. I was relieved to find a YA fantasy that wasn't poorly written and I have already purchased the sequel. I'm going to start reading it asap.
Glimmerglass is the first book in a young adult fantasy series. Chronicling the adventures of a teenage girl named Dana, this book follows her from whining about her alcoholic mother to whining about being in Avalon to whining about her father to whining about missing her alcoholic mother to whining about more stuff.As you might be able to tell, I was not a big fan of this book. The plot was okay -- the plot actually dealt with some pretty interesting ideas. It moves along quickly, but it's not very effective due to the way it was written. It feels hurried. There's a lot that happens, but it all feels too fast. I also did not care about the characters.I feel like most of the writing is simply not as sympathetic as the author wants it to be.Having an alcoholic mother and constantly being on the move is hard. Not knowing a parent is hard. Running away is a stupid action that usually doesn't turn out the way a teenager thinks it will.But I just felt like Dana was whining.
ARC from the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.Dana is half-human and half-Fae teenager and when she can no longer stand living with her drunken (human) mother, she runs away to find her Fae father in Avalon, the city connecting the human and faerie worlds. But as soon as she walks through the gate, everything starts going wrong.Glimmerglass is an exciting story of a girl caught in a world she knows nothing about, forced to trust people she barely knows and being betrayed at every turn. I was concerned toward the end that too much plot would be worked into the last few pages, but it is the first in a series, so things wrapped up this book's story and set up for the next book. My only complaint is that I am tired of women falling for men who are nasty to them. None of the boys Dana's age are nice to her, and yet she's drooling over them because they're Fae-gorgeous. Those bits were incredibly boring, unlike the rest of the story.
Faeries aren't really my thing. I don't know what it is, but I just haven't been able to really get behind them. Although I am reading a piece right now that is being work shopped over at thenextbigwriter.com that is absolutely hilarious. What did draw me into Glimmerglass was the cover. I absolutely love it. Now, I've been sucked in by covers before, but here I really do think the cover suits the story, no matter if I was vaguely dissatisfied with the writing. The world building was actually really well done. I had no trouble visualizing Avalon and I love how it is developed as an actual place that has not only Faerie laws but also a human government element controlling the boarders. Things made sense there even if there was a touch of magic. It didn't feel like some fairy tale land, but rather an alternate world that exists with rules that are logical.Dana comes across as pretty selfish and annoying at first, but she did grow on me. I can remember being really frustrated with her instant attraction to Ethan and that she is quick to judge others despite being a horrible judge of character.Ethan seems like the extra slick guy, and he is, but halfway through the book he turns kind of creepy by using magic to calm Dana into submission during a make out session. The saving grace of the situation - Dana flips and actually starts to respond in a sensible, normal way. Ethan's a bit less appealing than that, but since he's introduced way before the two other attractive guys that pop up in Dana's new world. Ethan's sister Kimber was plain annoying at first, even more judgmental than Dana, but once we get some back story on her, she becomes very likable.There were a few nagging things for me. Like how Dana was constantly sleeping. It seemed like every time I turned the page she was just waking up or going back to bed. I wanted to tell the author that it's okay to imply that a day or even two had passed. And it was a bit bothersome how easily Dana's affections strayed. But that is typical of a teenage girl, particularly one who is completely surrounded by hot, HOT guys. I have to say that I loved the idea of a Faeriewalker. Being a non-Faerie reader I don't know how original that concept is, but I loved how Black described it and what Faeriewalkers can actually see that is different.I'm not sure if I ever realized that this was the first in a series. Maybe because I forgot to look, but it was actually the cover of the sequel that made me realize it. I am planning on reading the second book Shadowspell (now that I'm aware of it) and I hope that it sticks with me a bit better than Glimmerglass.
If Need is a book that you must read before you die, and Shadow Hills is currently the best book of 2010 then Glimmerglass is the cherry on top that completes the perfect recipe that these three books stir up.Seriously, if I could only read 3 books this year then these would be the three I pick. I mean I know Need is a 2008 published book, but still I love these three. All are very different in their own way.Glimmerglass is Jenna Black's debut Young Adult Novel. She has written Urban Fantasy and Paranormal before, but not young adult. And you can tell this isn't her first book because she does such a amazing job at getting inside of Dana's (protagonist) head and writing through first person point of view.This novel is the first of a series and I'm already looking forward to the next. I literally did not want to finish Glimmerglass because a) I didn't want it to end and b) the next book doesn't come out till 2011.It is a very fast paced book, and you'll never get bored with it. All the characters have there own charm, and you can't help but feel connected to them. Dana is a strong girl, but finds herself in a rather sticky mess and as a reader you really sympathize for her.My favorite characters were Ethan, Kimber and Dana. Ethan is so cocky, and some of his lines are priceless. Kimber reminds me of someone who would wear lolita clothing. And Dana is Dana. I can't explain her, she's just so mature and responsible. Also she deals with a problem that a lot of teens have to go through, which is having a alcoholic parent. I give three claps for making her very down to earth, realistic and a amazing protagonist.I like the fact, that Miss. Black didn't make the protagonist and the potential/already love interest go to fast. What I mean is, the protagonist and the guy she likes do not rush things. They aren't boyfriend and girlfriend by the end of the novel. I liked that because in a lot of YA novels these days romance is way to rushed and that makes it feel unrealistic. In this novel the growth of liking each other felt real. Also their is another character in this novel who I hope becomes a potential love interest/ love rival.What I did not enjoy was the lack of imagery of Avalon (setting). I really had a hard time imagining it, and that made me really frustrated at times. I thought if there was a bit more imagery, it would be a lot easier for the readers to fully grasp the beauty of Avalon.Overall Glimmerglass is a amazing start to a series, and I highly recommend this book to anyone. I will definitely be on the look out for the next book in the series.
Taking care of herself since the age of 6, Dana Hathaway has finally had enough of her alcoholic mother. Dana reaches out to her father, someone whom her mother ran away from when she was pregnant with Dana. But visiting her father after 16 years bring more than awkward goodnights as her Faerie side comes with a bit more political influence and power than she ever realized.Glimmerglass is quite easily one of the quickest novels I have ever read in one sitting—and that is saying something. The novel is by far not the most impressive works I have read, but there is something easy on the eye the way it was written and something heart pounding the way the story flowed. Glimmerglass is definitely not short of hot guys and life-ending fights, which makes for a nice balance between the two.At first I was quite hesitant about Dana being half-Fae because it never went in depth of her reaction when her mother told her, but that quickly dissipated when it turns out that it is a known fact that Faeries exist. Hello tourist attraction! Okay I’m lying when I say that I completely understand the whole human-with-Faeries ordeal. Faerie politics—needs to understand more. Creatures and rankings—needs to know more. Thank goodness this is only the first book.It is an addicting novel I will tell you that. Dana is that elusive teenage character that you don’t know if you like, understand (ahhh I’ve been there), or that almost Mary-Sue. I suspect a lot of male leads in the upcoming books, which I am petrified about.
I have an obsession with the fey. I do not "love" vampires, werewolves, ghosts, or whatever other kind of supernatural thing there can be. But I do love the fey. Maybe it's because of their "beauty". Maybe it's because they are so upfront about everything. Maybe it's because they are uninhibited. I can't say for sure what it is that draws me to reading and loving the fey, but I do. That being said, let's get on with this review!!!Jenna Black starts us off in an auditorium where Dana is singing her heart out for her entire school to hear. She has been able to hide the fact that her mother is an alcoholic from her current school until this night. When her mother shows up drunk during the recital, Dana has had enough and decides to move to Avalon with her fey father. She ups and leaves with no knowledge of Avalon, nor how her father looks because her mother was constantly moving them so they wouldn't find her. Low and behold, there is a reason for that, Dana is the first faeriewalker to be born in a very long time. This means she can walk in both Avalon and the people world and she is the only person who can bring technology and magic into both. Other faeries cannot enter the Earth plane without losing their magic. They also cannot bring in man-made weapons (bomb and guns) into Avalon either because they break.From there, Dana is thrown into a world that wants her, but also wants to kill her. She must decide on who to trust and the consequences of each choice she makes. Action, romance, and thrilling, this book is a page turner with something happening around every corner.
Review courtesy of All Things Urban FantasyGLIMMERGLASS is the only paranormal YA book that I can think of that has an open world system involving faeries. Both the human and Fae sides know about each other, but physically cannot exist in the other’s world. Avalon, however, is the one place where they live together. It’s also the place where Dana was conceived and the reason she is a Faeriewalker, an uber rare human/faerie hybrid able to live in both worlds.There are a number of interesting and well drawn relationships going on in GLIMMERGLASS beyond just the obligatory romances (and yes that’s romances plural). Dana has two very different relationships with her parents. With her alcoholic human mother we see Dana as the adult who would give anything not to have to be, and the reverse with her strict fey father. Then there is the sibling rivalry/jealousy between Kimber and her brother Ethan (the golden boy fey and one of Dana’s romantic interests). And an additional father son pairing that I won’t spoil. These character dynamics never overshadow the main plot with Dana and her struggle to survive caught between two frightening worlds, but they did add a layer of realism that allowed me to become equally invested in the supporting cast as I was with the main characters.The romance in GLIMMERGLASS is a little steamier than usual for YA, not ever graphic, but super steamy. And surprising in a lot of ways too. Dana is in a position where everyone wants something from her and it’s impossible to know who to trust. Her heart and her head are constantly leading her in opposite directions and I have to give her props for recognizing that it’s dangerous to blindly trust her feelings.Overall, GLIMMERGLASS is the start of a mesmerizing new series. Fey feuds, risky romances, and charismatic characters abound. I can’t wait for more Faeriewalker books and thankfully I don’t have to. Remedial Magic is a free short story that is available now and the next full novel called SHADOWSPELL will be published on January 4, 2011.Sexual Content: Kissing and mild sensuality.
The Grass is Always GreenerThis book introduces a rather different city of Avalon, one that is midway between the world of faerie and that of man, that you can actually find on a map and travel by airplane almost to its gates, where both some magics and some tech can work, and is the only portal for trade between the two worlds. But the story is not about Avalon itself, but rather a 16 year old, Dana, with a great voice, an alcoholic mother, and a very absent father, about whom Dana knows almost nothing except that he's some high mucky-muck in the Avalon world of politics, and whom her mother fled from for reasons that seem to change every time Dana asks about him. Finally getting thoroughly fed up with trying to handle the embarrassments and messes her mother keeps making for her, Dana decides to go to Avalon to find her father, figuring it couldn't be any worse than the life she's currently leading. What she finds in Avalon is not quite what she expected, as she finds herself immediately involved in the political shenanigans of the Avalon ruling council, with sub-texts of fomented discord by the battle for supremacy between the ruling factions of Faerie. Here she finds the beginnings of romance right alongside distrust of her own ability to properly evaluate other people's character, and where everyone seems to be out to use her for their own ends. Dana is a likeable and quite believable teen throughout this work, hardworking, independent, and with a solid moral compass. Her mental state mirrors that of many teens who feel alienated and put upon by the vagaries of life, who just know that 'things will be better' somewhere else, or with different parents, and the inevitable 'knowledge' that she's already an adult - and why doesn't the world recognize that fact? Her growth through the trials of this book is nicely portrayed, and her final conclusion may surprise some readers, but actually makes good sense. Most of the other characters of this book are not given very much development room, and quite a few of them come across as near-stereotypes. The descriptive work on the city of Avalon is quite sparse, making it difficult for me to really 'see' it as a real city. The plot developments come thick and fast, but I did feel that some information was inappropriately withheld from the reader for too long just to heighten suspense and keep confusion reigning supreme. There are many threads and world-building snippets that are introduced but not given any resolution here, which I suppose will be the subject of further books in this series. But as it is, the ending feels like something of an anti-climax, both happening too fast and only resolving a small portion of the entire story arc. This is a world that shows much promise. If further books can flesh out what has been started here at the same level of immediacy and relevance that this book displays, then this will be a very good series, good reading both for teens and adults. ---Reviewed by Patrick Shepherd (hyperpat)
16 year-old Dana just wants to fit in, but she finds that difficult with an alcoholic mother and a powerful faerie father that she has never met. She runs away to Avalon to find her father, but as soon as she arrives her dangerous adventure of magic, self-discovery, political power struggle, and romance begins. Dana discovers that she has never been and will never be a normal teenager. Book 1 in the Faeriewalker series creates a suspenseful new world that readers will find hard to break away. The author develops the characters and the readers will develop their own feelings towards them. The plot is unique, but it can be slightly confusing because of the unfamiliar setting of the plot. The reader is dropped into the story without much background information and learns more about this Fae world as the story progresses, but by the end of the book the reader might have more questions than answers. Though the unfamiliar environment may present a problem, the book overall is intriguing. Recommended for readers 14 and up.
At first glance, Glimmerglass can be deceiving. In fact, when I first saw the cover and heard that title, I was expecting it would just be another Twilight-style rip-off dripping with romance and flat characters. I really wasn't expecting much from it and, in fact, was convinced that I probably wouldn't finish it. But then, I started reading Glimmerglass and found something that far more than what I expected. Dare I say that I was completely and absolutely wrong about my first impressions of this book? Really, it seems like the actual book itself doesn't mirror the cover and title at all (okay, I didn't read the blurb before reading it, so I can't say anything about that). I wouldn't be surprised if the marketing folks took over the look of Glimmerglass to make it more "friendly" to current market trends. Now, there's still romance and other common teen paranormal themes/elements, but Glimmerglass manages to be more than that.Dana has always lived a tough life. Not only is she a half-Fae girl living in a mortal world, but her mother is a terrible drunk, which has forced Dana to grow up fast -I mean, most sixteen year-olds don't pay bills and balance the checkbook. Dana finally gets fed up and decides to run away to Avalon to meet her Fae father, whom she has never met. But upon arriving in Avalon, Dana instantly get caught up in a political conflict between different Fae factions, where the consequences run high and Dana's death could be the next move in the game.Glimmerglass starts out with a bang. The reader is immediately introduced to a character that they sympathize with and want to follow. Without even getting the opportunity to figure out what's going on, Dana is whirled through the dizzying world of Fae politics, where she doesn't know who to trust or what to believe. Once the story starts to settle down a little, the pacing does get a little uneven, but author Jenna Black throws in some romance and paranormal aspects that keep the story going. I really liked the highly political natural of this book, since it always felt like someone else was trying to pull the strings and throw unexpected twists and turns in Dana's way.I couldn't put this book down. Really, I finished this in about a day and a half and ran out to the library to pick up the sequel. Glimmerglass ended up being so much more than I expected, and it a quickly-paced novel filled with fascinating Fae politics, and just that hint of romance to bring in the paranormal romance crowd. This one really surprised me, but in a good way. Recommended.
this is about a girl who is half human and half fae with an alcoholic mother who wants to find her dad and winds up getting involved with the faerie politics, which she knows nothing about. She has know idea of her own powers, others are trying to find out if she has them and how strong they are. All in all, it was an o.k. read, it kept me entertained. I will read the second one when it comes out to see what happens, because now I'm intrigued. Black brought in some faerie lore that I had not heard about, and that is rare for me because I read a lot of faerie literature. But, the glimmerglass is something new for me, so this is something I am going to have to look into.
So, I have to admit, I totally judged this book by its cover. I think the cover is BEAUTIFUL and so I went ahead and bought this book....even though starting yet another YA series about the fae was something I probably should have avoided. I didn't expect a lot when I started the book. But it didn't take more than two chapters and I was hooked. I couldn't stop reading this book. I had to find out more, and more, and more. "Glimmerglass" is the story of Dana, a half human/half Fae. Her father left long before Dana could meet him and her mother is now an alcoholic. Dana has had to be the head of her household for far to long. Fun? Nope. Friends? Nope. Super dysfunctional family? Check. When her mother shows up super drunk to her voice recital, Dana has had enough. She packs her things and runs away to Avalon, the home of her father. Avalon is a place between the mortal (human) realm and the Fae world. Its the only place where human and fae can exist side by side. In the Fae World there are two courts...the Seelie and the UnSeelie. Yet in Avalon, both Seelie and UnSeelie have supposedly let go of those labels and live together semi-peacefully. The first part of the book, is intense action as Dana is immediately kidnapped, maybe more than once, upon her arrival in Avalon. We never really know who to trust and this is a strength to the book, in a way. We never know more than Dana does. It seems that Dana's father is a very powerful Fae who is vying for a spot on the Cousel. There are many fae, or groups of fae, that would like Dana for various reasons. There is a lovely scene or two of friendship that touched me. Dana had to move so often due to her mother (being drunk, and always hiding from Dana's father) that she never had a friend before. There may also be the start of a little love triangle (I know, if you are an avid reader of YA fantasy, you are probably over the love triangle too) but its not so much of one just yet. There is also no clear forerunner for Dana's heart. Ethan is an UnSeelie fae and that goes against the Seelie ties of Dana's father. We don't ever really know if we can trust Ethan. Then there is Keane, a young man brought in to tutor Dana in self-defense. The story has enough action and posts enough little mysteries that it made for a very pleasant read. The resolution is good, but we are still left with some questions. It is very hard to not want the next book right now. This is my first Jenna Black book but I have no intention of making it my last. I have to read the next book Shadowspell and also her adult urban fantasy stories.
Title: GlimmerlgassAuthor: Jenna BlackGenre: YA, Romance, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy# of pages: 304Start date:End date:Borrowed/bought: boughtMy rating of the book, F- [worst] to A [best]: ADescription of the book: From the outset of the novel, we are introduced to Dana, whom we assume to be a normal teenager who has normal growing pains. She and her mom move constantly to the point where she can't make friends. Another thing is that her mom is a real drunk, making it impossible to form normal relationships if she gets to stay anywhere long enough to do it. After an embarrassing scene at her school choir concert Dana's decided she's had enough. She sneaks around contacts her father which her Mom has told her since she was a little girl that he was a bad idea to get involved with.Review: There were a lot of fun Characters in this novel and the world and politics that Black describes are my favorite part of the book. The story was a bit predictable but I think the author has a lot of promising characters and story line to work with so I will be continuing with the series.
This was an early reviewer book for me and, as such, I'd like to give it high praise... but I really can't, because it simply wasn't that great. Not that it was terrible -- in the realm of YA fantasy, there are WAY worse books out there -- but it was a bit forgettable. 'Glimmerglass' is a contemporary fantasy that approaches the classic fantasy concepts of the realm of Faerie and half-fey offspring and has a few things going for it in how it characterizes Faerie itself -- the descriptions of border control are particularly enjoyable -- but there is little here that doesn't seem borrowed from more experienced authors. Of course, Faerie is a politically volatile realm, full of scheming lords and ladies, large bodyguards (most of whom have hearts of gold), smokin' hot young men, and one or two random monsters, just for thrills. And of course, amidst this whirlwind of emotional and physical stimulation, our heroine (a pretty girl with daddy issues who, SPOILER, turns out to be the most powerful type of half-breed possible) feels lost, confused, and angsty. Yup, I have read this before. The funny thing is, I would not mind reading the same old set-up again, if things really made sense in the novel. Unfortunately, the super-rare-and-powerful-half-breed reveal seems disconnected from the heart of the story and many of the money shots (monsters, the heroine rescued, the heroine in danger again) feel anticlimactic or illogical. Add to that the heroine's realization that her alcoholic mother is really just misunderstood, and the whole thing starts to feel like the fantasy version of an after-school special (for those who are old enough to get that reference).Like many of its ilk, this novel is a pleasant enough read, as long as you don't slow down to think about it. Once you do, what pleasure you had seeps away as you remember the other fantasy authors you have read who have simply done this better. I think Jenna Black has potential -- this novel isn't terrible -- but I suspect that if she keeps tripping down the Stephanie-Meyer-inspired primrose path, her books will not get much better. On the flipside, her publication timing is good, so she may make a boatload of money regardless.
Quick & Dirty: An ill-fated adventure that captivates and enchants.Opening Sentence: The absolute last straw was when my mom showed up at my recital drunk.The Review:Glimmerglass is Jenna Black’s debut young adult novel. For a series debut, Glimmerglass is a good novel with only a few flaws. Ms. Black’s storytelling and writing style are captivating. A great plot is very well laid out, and the characters are interesting and compelling.Our narrator, Dana, who is half fae and half human, is in a tough situation. Her mother is an alcoholic and Dana can’t continue to live with her mother’s poor choices. She decides to reach out to her father, whom she’s never met. Dana travels to Avalon to meet her father, a powerful faerie lord, and hi-jinx ensues. In Avalon, humans and fae are supposed to be able to co-exist peacefully without the influence of the faerie courts. It quickly becomes apparent that this isn’t true. As events unfold, Dana learns that she’s a Faeriewalker, which is a really interesting concept. Faeriewalkers are very rare and they have the ability travel between the mortal and faerie realm. Dana is perceived as a threat because she can bring magic into the mortal world and modern technology into the faerie realm. Intrigue and betrayal unfold as everyone around Dana has an ulterior motive, and will do anything to gain political leverage. Confused and conflicted, Dana finds herself in a world of trouble.For the most part, Dana is a sympathetic character, but I don’t think she’s all that likable. She’s not a particularly strong character for someone who’s supposedly been taking care of herself and her alcoholic mother for years. Dana is immature, ungrateful, selfish, dramatic and unreasonable. Several times throughout the book, Dana talks about having to grow-up fast, and how the crushing weight of her responsibilities drove her to bail on her train wreck of a mother. Given her exposure to the harsh realities of life, you would think that Dana would be more practical and mature. Her behavior is also a bit erratic. I found her snap judgments and unwillingness to listen to her father on just about any subject irrational. Given that she sought out his care and parental guidance, she sure wasn’t open to it when he wanted to lay down the law. I just never got the feeling that she wanted to build an actual relationship with her father, so what’s the point? She does have some endearing personality traits. Dana can be very funny at times, and witty.In terms of romance, I’m not sure how well that will end up for Dana. She quickly becomes enamored with Ethan, a powerful Unseelie fae and son to her father’s enemy. Ethan is an entertaining character and has a lot of potential. For someone with his future responsibilities and his ever growing powers, he doesn’t seem to take many things seriously.Many of the secondary characters stand out, such as Finn, Dana’s fae Knight bodyguard. Keane, Finn’s son, is also great. He’s essentially Mr. Miyagi to Dana, teaching her how to fight and defend herself. These secondary characters enhance the story, adding elements of danger, humor and sorrow.I do have a few issues with the book’s structure. It felt as if some of the details and back-story regarding the Faeriewalker mythology were glossed over. I am also a bit disappointed that faerie court politics was portrayed as an afterthought, and not more closely tied to the plot given the fact that Dana is supposedly being used as a political pawn between Avalon and Faerie. All of these “meetings” and “battles” about what’s best for Dana happen off of the pages. I think the reader would have been better served by getting a firm grasp on the “players” and a better understanding of the gravity of the situation. The reader wouldn’t be able to escape that sense of impending doom. In addition, I never really got a feel for Avalon. It never felt particularly magical or unique, which doesn’t really ring true when a lot of its inhabitants have all of these special abilities.Overall, Glimmerglass is an enjoyable read. With a great premise, suspenseful plot and good action sequences, readers are sure to be entertained. I’m looking forward to the sequel, Shadowspell, to see just how dangerous this world can get, and see what surprises are in store for Dana.Notable Scene:I stopped worrying about the gun when an awful shrieking sound, like fingernails on a blackboard, only ten times worse, split the air. With all the echoes, I couldn’t tell where it came from, but the three Fae seemed to have a good idea. They stood side by side, knives at the ready as they faced one particularly dark pool of shadow.Then the shadow moved, stepping into the glow of the torchlight. I clapped my hand over my mouth to keep from screaming, because whatever it was, it wasn’t human. Not even close.It looked like it was made of sticks and straw, with a vaguely humanoid shape and huge black eyes. The sticks that made up its fingers were sharpened at the end, and several of them glistened with blood. My stomach almost revolted when I noticed another sharpened appendage, this one jutting out from between the creature’s legs. There was blood on that, too.The Faeriewalker Series:1. Glimmerglass2. Shadowspell – 2011FTC Advisory: St. Martin’s Press provided me with a copy of Glimmerglass. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. In addition, I don’t receive affiliate fees for anything purchased via links from my site.
I have been seeing this book around for a while and it caught my eye as a Faerie related story so I finally picked it up. I was surprised at how fast paced this book moved and how the characters interacted with one another. I will definitely grab the next ones that go with this series to see how the plot plays through, the difficult part is not knowing which characters to trust in the story...gets a little frustrating.