The Second Book in a Series is Usually Meh

I read the first book in the Red Queen trilogy earlier this year. The second book in a series is usually the poorest- you need to advance the plot to a point where you can deliver a knock out ending (hopefully) and new characters are introduced to get to the point where the finale can start. It often ends on a cliffhanger. Glass Sword introduces a lot of new characters. Some of them got very little introduction before they were killed. It was hard to keep everyone straight.  I still liked the main character, Mare Barrow, but I have a lot of issues with her love interest, Cal. I was also pleased that they didn’t prolong the “love triangle” very long between Cal, Mare, and Kilorn. It’s obvious Kilorn has been in the friend zone for a long time and she tells him that very clearly.

Cal is pretty ridiculous in this book. The “but I was only following orders” argument is completely stupid. For him to pass judgement on her when he has killed many more people on the battlefield irritated me a lot. If both of them survive I am rooting for her to end up alone. She’d be better off.

I thought this book was okay, parts of it dragged and I found myself skimming sections. Especially when Mare was rescuing newbloods and Maven was getting in her way. I do think the author is setting things up for an exciting ending…I believe there are two more books planned. At the end of the book things look pretty bleak for members of the Scarlet Guard. I liked the conflict between the newbloods and the “normal” folks in the Scarlet Guard. The introduction of the twins who lead the revolution in their land is interesting- do they rule just like Silvers? Are they ever going to be able to reach a point where ordinary Reds can lead? Or is the Scarlet Guard planning on replacing a monarchy with a military dictatorship?  I will keep reading to see where the story goes from here.