Helpful Score: 1
I liked this novel as much as White Cat, which is to say, quite a lot. Holly Black gives us a world in which magic is mixed with "mafia" family dynamics. The elements of mystery, self-discovery, love, loss, magic, boarding school, crime families, paranormal reality (where everyone wears gloves to prevent skin-to-skin contact necessary for magic workings), teenage cynicism, and interesting secondary characters combine into an exciting story.
Definitely dark, but somehow not as twisted as "White Cat". Cassel is a likable bad/good guy and the book is fairly compelling. It just didn't have the air of mystery to it that the first book had. I wasn't overly concerned about this "Red Glove" killer nor was I really into the whole "rights for workers" thing. I did like the tidbits of information Cass found out along the way. But they were more interesting and not mind blowing.
The story moved at a pretty good pace, but it never clicked with me. White Cat never clicked with me either, but it kept me wanting to know more. In both cases the world seems surreal, like it's made from plastic and is all shiny like glaze. Like I was watching from through a really hazy piece of glass. I also feel that Lila was... flat. She had some great aspects of her personality, like how wicked she was despite being worked from the last book, but I felt the other parts of her were left as a gaping hole. Like something was missing.
I just felt too many things were stretched fairly thin to me. The characters a little too strained, the story just a bit too off. But it was a good read nonetheless. Just don't be too put out that you might not connect with the story.
The cons were very well researched. Throughout the book, I wondered if Black herself was a con artist! It was great. I like con artists because they are so flawed and she really had that going for her. Kudos to you, Mrs. Black, for doing such thorough homework. If you have read White Cat, do pick this one up, even if it's just for the sake of knowing a little more. Just don't expect it to be the most real and awesome thing you've ever read, because it might not be.
The story moved at a pretty good pace, but it never clicked with me. White Cat never clicked with me either, but it kept me wanting to know more. In both cases the world seems surreal, like it's made from plastic and is all shiny like glaze. Like I was watching from through a really hazy piece of glass. I also feel that Lila was... flat. She had some great aspects of her personality, like how wicked she was despite being worked from the last book, but I felt the other parts of her were left as a gaping hole. Like something was missing.
I just felt too many things were stretched fairly thin to me. The characters a little too strained, the story just a bit too off. But it was a good read nonetheless. Just don't be too put out that you might not connect with the story.
The cons were very well researched. Throughout the book, I wondered if Black herself was a con artist! It was great. I like con artists because they are so flawed and she really had that going for her. Kudos to you, Mrs. Black, for doing such thorough homework. If you have read White Cat, do pick this one up, even if it's just for the sake of knowing a little more. Just don't expect it to be the most real and awesome thing you've ever read, because it might not be.
Okay, I will make this as unspoilery as I can (yes, it's a word... I just invented it!). The first book I did enjoy, but not at first. I thought it was a bit slow. However, this book starts off with a bang. I think that is due to the fact that the world was already built and so it doesn't waste any time with Cassel. Because of that, I enjoyed this book even more than the first. And even though it has been a year since I visited Cassel and his friends, I slid back into that world easily.
Cassel finds himself back in trouble (when isn't he in trouble?) and several mysteries to be solved. Plus, he also finds himself in several binds in which it seems that no one answer is the perfect one. As with the first, Cassel worries about everyone, and is still our smart con man. He uses this to his advantage while he considers what his future will be if he survives senior year. All this and a few twists and turns make this book a fun ride. If you read the first one, you will enjoy this one. If you haven't read either, I suggest you read the first as it sets up the world in which Cassel inhabits.
I give this book 4 stars.
Cassel finds himself back in trouble (when isn't he in trouble?) and several mysteries to be solved. Plus, he also finds himself in several binds in which it seems that no one answer is the perfect one. As with the first, Cassel worries about everyone, and is still our smart con man. He uses this to his advantage while he considers what his future will be if he survives senior year. All this and a few twists and turns make this book a fun ride. If you read the first one, you will enjoy this one. If you haven't read either, I suggest you read the first as it sets up the world in which Cassel inhabits.
I give this book 4 stars.
I have really loved Black's previous book but to be honest I wasn't a huge fan of White Cat. Still, since I have loved everything she has done previously I decided that I should give the second book in this series a try. It was better than the first but I still had some problems with it.
Cassel's mom is out of jail and he is going back to school. When he arrives at school he finds that Lila is there too; this complicates things since Cassel has loved her forever but she has been cursed to love him so he doesn't want to take advantage of her. Then the Feds contact Cassel to let him know his brother's been killed and they want Cassel to help find who did it; the only clue they have is a lady with a red glove was seen exiting the scene of the crime. Cassel is being pulled in a number of directions: the Feds want his help, the crime boss his brothers are involved with wants him to join, one of his brothers wants him to join another crime organization, he is trying to protect his mother, trying to avoid Lila, and trying to get his school work done. Will he be able to solve the mystery of his brother's murder? What will he decide to do with his life in the end?
Black has created a very creative world. I love the idea of curse workers and the blow-back they suffer when they use a curse. It is interesting to tie all of this into the mob. Black's writing style is very readable. I also enjoyed that this book spent some time talking about how the presence of curse workers affects society as a whole; there is a lot of time spent on discussing curse worker rights, etc.
That being said I was still not crazy about this book. Cassel is an intriguing character, but not a likable one. He is still making a lot of bad decisions and bumbling through situations. I enjoyed his friends more (mainly Sam and Sam's girlfriend). Lila is a confusing character for me; we never really get to understand her or learn much about her. Cassel spends the majority of the book trying to avoid her and she was a cat for most of White Cat so that's probably why the reader doesn't know her well. I have trouble finding Lila interesting or even seeing what Cassel sees in her. I was hoping this book would give more insight into her personality, but by the end of the book she was still pretty undefined for me.
The plot is twisty turny and definitely has some surprises in store for the reader. Most of this is still a lot of Cassel dealing with the mob. As I mentioned in my review of White Cat, I am not a fan of plots that revolve around a mob mentality; I just don't enjoy reading about it. This book was no exception. Cassel hates his family but continually makes poor decisions that keep him deeply entangled with the mob. As the book went on that improved, but I still didn't really enjoy the story or plot all that much. The book ended well and should have to readers looking forward to the next book Black Heart.
This is definitely more of a mystery/thriller than an urban fantasy. You do have the curse working, but that's the only really fantastical element. I honestly prefer more magic and other twists in my stories; the lack of fantastical elements makes this story a bit drab at times.
Overall this book was an easy read and somewhat engaging. I am still having trouble enjoying any of the characters and, the mob-based plot isn't my favorite. Cassel is an interesting but hard to like character for me and Lila still seems a bit vague as a character. If you really liked White Cat, I think you will like this book. If you were on the fence about White Cat, this book is similar. Will I read Black Heart? I don't know. I honestly prefer Black's Spiderwick Chronicles and Modern Faerie Tales series over this series; but I am such a huge fan of her previous books that despite my feelings on this series I might go ahead and read Black Heart just to see if I start to enjoy it more.
Cassel's mom is out of jail and he is going back to school. When he arrives at school he finds that Lila is there too; this complicates things since Cassel has loved her forever but she has been cursed to love him so he doesn't want to take advantage of her. Then the Feds contact Cassel to let him know his brother's been killed and they want Cassel to help find who did it; the only clue they have is a lady with a red glove was seen exiting the scene of the crime. Cassel is being pulled in a number of directions: the Feds want his help, the crime boss his brothers are involved with wants him to join, one of his brothers wants him to join another crime organization, he is trying to protect his mother, trying to avoid Lila, and trying to get his school work done. Will he be able to solve the mystery of his brother's murder? What will he decide to do with his life in the end?
Black has created a very creative world. I love the idea of curse workers and the blow-back they suffer when they use a curse. It is interesting to tie all of this into the mob. Black's writing style is very readable. I also enjoyed that this book spent some time talking about how the presence of curse workers affects society as a whole; there is a lot of time spent on discussing curse worker rights, etc.
That being said I was still not crazy about this book. Cassel is an intriguing character, but not a likable one. He is still making a lot of bad decisions and bumbling through situations. I enjoyed his friends more (mainly Sam and Sam's girlfriend). Lila is a confusing character for me; we never really get to understand her or learn much about her. Cassel spends the majority of the book trying to avoid her and she was a cat for most of White Cat so that's probably why the reader doesn't know her well. I have trouble finding Lila interesting or even seeing what Cassel sees in her. I was hoping this book would give more insight into her personality, but by the end of the book she was still pretty undefined for me.
The plot is twisty turny and definitely has some surprises in store for the reader. Most of this is still a lot of Cassel dealing with the mob. As I mentioned in my review of White Cat, I am not a fan of plots that revolve around a mob mentality; I just don't enjoy reading about it. This book was no exception. Cassel hates his family but continually makes poor decisions that keep him deeply entangled with the mob. As the book went on that improved, but I still didn't really enjoy the story or plot all that much. The book ended well and should have to readers looking forward to the next book Black Heart.
This is definitely more of a mystery/thriller than an urban fantasy. You do have the curse working, but that's the only really fantastical element. I honestly prefer more magic and other twists in my stories; the lack of fantastical elements makes this story a bit drab at times.
Overall this book was an easy read and somewhat engaging. I am still having trouble enjoying any of the characters and, the mob-based plot isn't my favorite. Cassel is an interesting but hard to like character for me and Lila still seems a bit vague as a character. If you really liked White Cat, I think you will like this book. If you were on the fence about White Cat, this book is similar. Will I read Black Heart? I don't know. I honestly prefer Black's Spiderwick Chronicles and Modern Faerie Tales series over this series; but I am such a huge fan of her previous books that despite my feelings on this series I might go ahead and read Black Heart just to see if I start to enjoy it more.
Kind of an odd series. Finished it so I would know who did it?
Very good sequal. Complex plot and characters. Interesting bits of paranormal and a good mystery. Very well written. I liked it better than the origianl, White Cat. Looking forward to the next one. Cassal's mother is a real piece of work.
Ill state right off that I have a fondness for the way Holly Black writes and may be biased towards her books. I adored Tithe for many of the reasons people despise it. Blacks characters are not whiny ass pansies, they have dark edges and do questionable things, theyre never perfect and I find her books intoxicating because of it.
Red Glove is the sequel to White Cat which you must read first if youre going to read the series. It picks up pretty much where White Cat left off and begins with more woe, worry and grief for our protagonist Cassel as he returns to boarding school. Because of his abilities (which Im not revealing because you need to read White Cat!) Cassel is once again drawn into a number of shady situations (to put it mildly) but this time hes aware of everything hes doing and he is torn up because of it. Cassel has an innate sense of decency despite the fact that hes grown up with mobsters and a mother who makes her living bilking sugar daddies out of their fortunes. But as Cassel says, Temptation is tempting. Because of his uniqueness he is being seduced by mobsters and the FBI and gets involved in a murder investigation all while dealing with his tumultuous love affair with his sweetheart Lila.
I admire Cassel and his struggle with right and wrong and his ability to keep his sense of humor. Seriously, play out this little scenario, where his mom is demanding that he be an accomplice to her crime and tell me how well adjusted you would be if this was your idea of normal:
Mom says: ... grab the plastic bag over by my suitcase. The bag contains pantyhose. I put them on her desk.
Theyre for you.
You want me to look homeless, desperate but also kind of fabulous?
Over your head, she says
Oh, poor, sweet Cassel!
Honestly, why dont they adapt these for film?
Red Glove has no schmaltz, no sickening gooiness, no self-involved, superficial brats like so much other YA and no weak females. Some may argue that Cassels mom is weak, unstable or crazy (and all of that may be a little true) but I see her as an opportunist, like the rest of her family members, using her powers to the fullest advantage for herself.
I grew to love Cassels character even more in this book and though his relationship with Lila remains complicated none of it ever feels contrived and the things that happen fit in with the magical plot and the power plays. I cant wait for the next installment and hope more people check out this over looked series.
Red Glove is the sequel to White Cat which you must read first if youre going to read the series. It picks up pretty much where White Cat left off and begins with more woe, worry and grief for our protagonist Cassel as he returns to boarding school. Because of his abilities (which Im not revealing because you need to read White Cat!) Cassel is once again drawn into a number of shady situations (to put it mildly) but this time hes aware of everything hes doing and he is torn up because of it. Cassel has an innate sense of decency despite the fact that hes grown up with mobsters and a mother who makes her living bilking sugar daddies out of their fortunes. But as Cassel says, Temptation is tempting. Because of his uniqueness he is being seduced by mobsters and the FBI and gets involved in a murder investigation all while dealing with his tumultuous love affair with his sweetheart Lila.
I admire Cassel and his struggle with right and wrong and his ability to keep his sense of humor. Seriously, play out this little scenario, where his mom is demanding that he be an accomplice to her crime and tell me how well adjusted you would be if this was your idea of normal:
Mom says: ... grab the plastic bag over by my suitcase. The bag contains pantyhose. I put them on her desk.
Theyre for you.
You want me to look homeless, desperate but also kind of fabulous?
Over your head, she says
Oh, poor, sweet Cassel!
Honestly, why dont they adapt these for film?
Red Glove has no schmaltz, no sickening gooiness, no self-involved, superficial brats like so much other YA and no weak females. Some may argue that Cassels mom is weak, unstable or crazy (and all of that may be a little true) but I see her as an opportunist, like the rest of her family members, using her powers to the fullest advantage for herself.
I grew to love Cassels character even more in this book and though his relationship with Lila remains complicated none of it ever feels contrived and the things that happen fit in with the magical plot and the power plays. I cant wait for the next installment and hope more people check out this over looked series.
