November is a time to be grateful for things like left turn arrows, girl trips, Baby Foot and chunky sweaters that hide my muffin top. But right now, I’m mostly grateful for living in a reality where magic curses don’t exist.
That being said, I do love reading about them. Lauren Destefano’s new series, The Glass Spare is a huge departure from her Chemical Garden series. (If you’re in the mood for a disturbingly amazing dystopia, then you need to read Wither. Loved this series.) This isn’t a bad thing, Lauren Destefano can turn a page and it’s fun to read a different genre from her. (Yes yes, dystopia is fantasy and fiction but you know what I’m saying, especially if you read the Chemical Garden series. The premise is deliciously messed up.)
The Glass Spare reimagines The Midas Touch, where our main heroine finds herself cursed with turning living things into jewels. Set amongst dueling kingdoms, this YA fantasy is a fast adventure with a satisfying love interest.
More about The Glass Spare
Born with a curse on her heart, Wilhelmina (yup, super mouthful—good thing she goes by Wil.) is the youngest of four royals in the Arrod kingdom. The only princess, and her mother’s favorite, Wil is the third spare if anything were to happen to her oldest brother, the crown prince. But being a spare royal is like being a spare tire—mostly forgotten until it’s needed.
Like a spare tire, her father keeps her hidden from the kingdom, so no one knows what she looks like, but then he uses her anonymity to work as a spy outside the castle.
Just before her sixteenth birthday, the curse manifests itself and Wil struggles to keep her family safe and her cursed touch secret. When one of her spy missions goes terribly wrong, Wil becomes exiled from her kingdom and must flee. With war brewing in the other kingdoms, Wil must discover what or who gave her this curse.
Why I loved The Glass Spare
The premise. Being a royal spare is a precarious position of finding one’s purpose. Wil struggles to gain her own identity as well as her father’s approval. And then to have a Midas Touch-like curse would be devastating. How could you have any real relationship or intimacy with anyone without killing them? The Glass Spare delivers high-pace adventure.
The thief. Without giving too much away, I need to mention this thief that complicates Wil’s life. He’s hot, misunderstood and completely adorable. He comes in and out of Wil’s adventure in all the best ways.
The royal family. The king, the queen, the crown prince and the three spares are all complex diverse characters vying for position and worth within the family. Each with a different motivation, you love/hate them all for their choices. I can’t wait to see where Destefano takes them next.
I would recommend The Glass Spare by Lauren Destefano to anyone who enjoys YA fantasy and adventure. While this is kingdoms with tech, it doesn’t get super high fantasy with weird creatures or fairies. It would make a great gift for anyone who loves Lauren Destefano or The Red Queen or The Young Elites. The first in a duology, it’s fast and totally entertaining. So if you hate entertainment, then yeah, you shouldn’t read this.
It just came out, so you can buy it now on Amazon!
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
What would you do if you had The Midas Touch?
