Big and sweeping, spanning from the refined palaces of Osfrid to the gold dust and untamed forests of Adoria, The Glittering Court tells the story of Adelaide, an Osfridian countess who poses as her servant to escape an arranged marriage and start a new life in Adoria, the New World. But to do that, she must join the Glittering Court.
Both a school and a business venture, the Glittering Court is designed to transform impoverished girls into upper-class ladies who appear destined for powerful and wealthy marriages in the New World. Adelaide naturally excels in her training, and even makes a few friends: the fiery former laundress Tamsin and the beautiful Sirminican refugee Mira. She manages to keep her true identity hidden from all but one: the intriguing Cedric Thorn, son of the wealthy proprietor of the Glittering Court.
When Adelaide discovers that Cedric is hiding a dangerous secret of his own, together they hatch a scheme to make the best of Adelaide’s deception. Complications soon arise—first as they cross the treacherous seas from Osfrid to Adoria, and then when Adelaide catches the attention of a powerful governor.
But no complication will prove quite as daunting as the potent attraction simmering between Adelaide and Cedric. An attraction that, if acted on, would scandalize the Glittering Court and make them both outcasts in wild, vastly uncharted lands…
Richelle Mead made me fall in love with her writing years ago when I read Vampire Academy. I never expected to find something of hers that I loved more than that series (c’mon, Rose and Dimitri? Can it get any better than that?) but I was wrong. The Glittering Court is Richelle Mead’s best book so far, in my opinion.
Pros:
Overall, there are no cons with The Glittering Court. It’s perfection in book form. Fans of Richelle Mead will find many things to love about it that will remind them of their favorite book from her. New readers of Richelle Mead will seek out more of her work after reading this one. You can’t go wrong with The Glittering Court.