Author: Joanna Hathaway
Series: Glass Alliance #1
Publisher: Tor Teen
Release Date: February 5, 2019
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewer: Jessica Higgins
Intricately written with a passionate voice, this new series transports you to a new world filled with hope, despair, and sacrifice.
Athan Dakar is the youngest son of a military leader. Although his father loves war and the chaos that comes with it, Athan could really care less. His brothers have each been bred to lead the charges of his father’s plan, one by land and one by sea. Athan’s path is for the air. On the other side of the world, young Aurelia is the princess of a small kingdom. Her brother is preparing to take over the kingdom from their mother, so Aurelia has had little interest in political matters until she learns of her possible marriage to an ambassador that repulses her. Can either Athan or Aurelia be truly happy with life?
All that changes when a lone bullet snuffs out the life of Athan’s mother. His father is convinced that the plot was schemed by Aurelia’s mother and is determined to return the favor. But he is master of the long game and waits for his chance. When Athan and his father travel to Aurelia’s home, he is tasked with spying on her. But he finds himself drawn to her in an ensuing forbidden romance that neither side can comprehend. Both teenagers must find a way to be loyal to each other but also to their families, but can these two survive simultaneously?
The language in this book was very passionate and flowed smoothly throughout the book. I was hooked in the opening teaser and just wanted to dive right in, but first had to go read the events that set everything into motion. The characters fleshed out quickly and came to life in an instant, especially Athan’s family. The book is told somewhat between a revolution era novel and the great war. It just feels like a little bit of both and transports the reader to a world unlike any other that I’ve had the pleasure of reading about. This will definitely be a book unlike any you’ve read before.
The only drawback that I see may be that off the length and overall complexity of the story being of interest to young readers. Part of what made me enjoy the book so much was that it made me be engaged throughout the whole story and constantly think about different parts that I had read as I continued. Several of today’s more popular young adult books are much shorter and the content is more cut and dry. There was some occasional foul language, which is becoming more persistent in YA literature, but it did not detract from the story.
If you want something different the includes espionage, assassinations, romance, military battles, and politics, then you should grab a copy today.
I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions express within are my own.
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