The Quick Cut: Girl turned queen continues to try to survive in the palace without losing the precious few she cares about. Royal drama ensues.

A Real Review: Thank you to Random House books for providing a copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.

My eyebrow raised a lot during this book because it was so satisfying to see soapy drama play out on the page. It can be extremely difficult to make this type of drama enjoyable without it coming off as ridiculous or over the top, but this book does that balance like an expert. I kept finding myself thinking of the TV show "The Royals" because the antics level is similar and the emotional intensity is the same.

This sequel book to Glitter is split into 2 parts. Our queen Dani spends a good portion of Part 1 absolutely rejecting her marriage status and it's fascinating seeing that transition from "I refuse to acknowledge this!" to "I can use this..."

The only attitude that definitely does not change for her is the feelings she has towards Saber. Her dedication and refusal to leave him behind is the driving force for a significant amount of the story here, although I did hope to feel a little more romance from these two. Many times, it felt a bit stiff overall.

My biggest issue with Part 1 of the book is all of the entangled dramas with the secondary characters. So many names with a ton of title changes, moves to different locations, and alliances to different people? It is very easy to lose track and I did a number of times. I ended up re-reading sections to make sure I caught that detail correctly (and it's a good thing I did because it makes a big difference later on). If you have a not so great memory like mine, that becomes an issue.

In Part 2, the story takes a dynamic pacing shift towards more action, less drama. I enjoyed this part more personally, but it's also the shorter one. I won't spoil the ending with any details, but I found it a very satisfying way to end the series.

At the end of the book, I didn't really like Dani (although I understood her life choices). You agreed to sell drugs to get out of your life that you were signed up for and a marriage to a man you hate. However, Dani comes off a little too much as self seeking intead of protecting those she loves. Her interactions with Justin are intriguing because they both know they're manipulating each other, but at some point Dani manages to get the advantage. Her ability to manipulate is unparalleled (and on some level, unnerving).

Overall, the book is strong and well written. However, the littany of secondary characters and their drama is distracting from the core story. Without a lead character I like to get behind, I found it hard to get truly passionate about this one.

My rating: 3.5 out of 5

Danica got screwed over by her supplier/gangster contact, and now she has to attend her own wedding--marrying the one man she's more afraid of than anyone else. She will have to be the Queen, after all.

After her wedding, she's still trying to figure out how to win her love--Saber's--freedom from the lying gangster, when she stumbles on some even stronger reasons to stay, and really become the Queen she needs to be--for the good of her people, and everyone else effected by Sonoma-Versaille's forays into technology and medicine.

Book two in the Glitter series, and it's every bit as good as the first! Breaking Bad meets Marie Antoinette era court intrigue in a future full of style over substance. Fast paced, great characters, and wildly entertaining. Love it.

Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by the publisher, Random House Children’s, via NetGalley for an honest review.

Genre: YA/Fantasy/Science-Fiction

Plot: Danica planned to use beauty, blackmail, and a glittering drug to control her own fate. Her escape from the twisted world of the Palace of Versailles was perfectly orchestrated and paid for. Or so she thought.

Betrayed by the man who had promised her freedom, Dani is now married to the murderous king. It's a terrifying position to be in . . . and yet it's oddly intoxicating. Power may be an even stronger drug than Glitter--a drug Dani can't resist, in the form of secrets, manipulation, and sabotage.

In her new position at the head of the court, Dani must ask herself who she really is. Can she use her newfound power to secure her real love, Saber's freedom, and a chance at a life together outside the palace? Or is being queen too addictive to give up?

Opinion:

OoOoOo can you guys hear that?

It sounds almost like…like…ravenous courtiers inebriated on Glitter rouge and lipstick. Or maybe it’s the whimsical musings of backstabbing, and one or two dead bodies? Perhaps robots? Or even more likely, crushed dreams of freedom and public displays of forced affection and bliss?

One thing is for sure, some s**t just hit an eight-tier chandelier at the Palace of Versailles.

As Danica’s plans to escape the Palace of Versailles slips from her gloved fingertips, the realization of her new life sets in: she is to marry Justin and become Queen. Danica knows that there is no other way for her now, and so she begrudgingly takes the role. As she begins to gain control of her court, the demand for her beauty products known as Glitter are at an all time high. Danica begins to throw herself into her duties, but losing herself along the way is just part of the process. In Shatter, Danica searches desperately for another way to leave Versailles and for a way to free Saber from his slavery. But Danica is getting in deeper than she expected, and the role of being Queen is a drug all on its own. Time is running out, but the Glitter isn’t.

WHAT. A. WHIRLWIND!!!

I want nothing more than to jump into this world that Aprilynne Pike has created! As I had said in my review for book 1 (Glitter), Shatter takes place in Sonoman-Versailles at the Palace of Versailles. Sonoman-Versailles reflects the fashions and dialect of that of the 18th-Century, but the technology they possess surpasses present time. Danica resides in the Queens quarters, which is the exact quarters that Marie Antoinette resided in during her time. But for Danica, being Queen is the last thing she wants. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what she gets. After Reginald refuses to help her flee, Danica is forced to marry Justin. Now stuck with the task of trying to navigate her new roles, she is also forced to sit back as Reginald takes control of her Glitter business.

Danica is a WHOLE new person in this book. She has transitioned into something truly amazing yet terrifying, and I am OBSESSED with it. In Shatter Danica is still doing everything she can to find a way for her and Saber to escape, but the role as Queen starts to drastically change her. The reader follows Danica as she makes RUTHLESS decisions and power-plays against the King, Reginald, and even a few members of the court. The King even goes so far as to say that he and Danica are alike, which honestly is NOT an exaggeration. She has blossomed into a calculating and manipulative character, but really…can we blame her? She is surrounded by horrible people, and all she wants is to be free. Bottom line, the girl is a savage and I commend her for it.

“’None of this is funny,’ I say, straightening my arm with my finger on the trigger. ‘No, of course not,’ he says, sobering. I shoot him in the leg.”

As for our other characters, Saber is still kind of lame and Justin is still an ass. Saber has become a minor role next to Danica, and especially now that she is Queen and being a badass. But with that considered, he still isn’t much of a character to be cared about in my opinion. In Shatter Saber had one role: try to be the voice of reason for Danica as she makes some SERIOUSLY CRAZY moves. But that’s about all he was there for. I honestly wouldn’t have noticed if he just disappeared halfway through the book, and frankly, I would have preferred it.

JUSTIN…still sucks in book 2. Although, you can’t say the guy is bland! He is such an arrogant piece of work, always playing mind games with Danica and acting like a spoiled brat. But, I kind of…like it?

Okay, I love him.

I can’t help it; the guy is downright horrible, and I’m so overly entertained by it. The more ruthless and snobbish he is, the more I hope for encounters with him. The banter between Justin and Danica is PURE gold. The author has created an intricate dance that these two participate in when they converse. They speak in carefully constricted sentences, and the only goal is to manipulate and play the other until one of them comes out champion. I LIVE FOR THIS! Though the end of Justin and Danica is to be expected by the end of this book, I am a little saddened by the way things turned out. For some reason, I just wanted Justin to prevail.

All in all, I think book 2 followed up book 1 nicely. There was A LOT more going on, and there even a few more twists and turns that the reader won’t expect. If you haven’t had the chance to get your hands on book 1 (Glitter) yet, then I SERIOUSLY suggest that you do. These books are hidden little gems and I haven’t seen much buzz about either, WHICH I JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND. There is so much happening in these books that it is impossible to lose interest. Death, manipulation, royalty, 18th century fashion, and a ton of sarcasm and wit. Trust me guys, you will LOVE Glitter and Shatter.

W.O.W. I loved Glitter and was looking forward to it's sequel, but Shatter blew me away. The characters got even deeper and stronger and the story twisted and turned at just the right times. Superb!

3.5 stars

Shatter is book two in the Glitter series by April Lynn Pike and I think I liked this one better than the first book. I was successfully pulled back into this world of deception, blackmail, and intrigue and I found myself unable to stop reading.

If you recall from book one, Danica was looking for a way out of the world she was trapped in. As her escape from the Palace of Versailles was thwarted, Danica finds herself back with the King (Justin) and trapped in a world where she doesn’t feel she belongs. Add to that the fact that Saber has been locked up, and Danica has no choice but to dive into her role as Queen.

Danica’s relationship with Justin is interesting. It is clear she is using him and that she will do whatever she needs to in order to get what she wants but I have to say, I was kind of surprised she went as far as she did. While throughout the story it was clear she was looking for a way out for her and Saber, I actually kind of liked her better when she wasn’t so manipulative. However, in her role as Queen, she had to establish herself otherwise people would continue to walk all over her and I get why she did what she did.

In addition, despite her disagreement with Saber about it, Danica continues to sell glitter and it gives her the money and cushion she needs if she ever hopes to get away. It also created some challenges but in the end, it was what she needed to help herself.

I think the issue I had here is that Danica was willing to do whatever she could to get Saber out of slavery (including put herself in danger with Reginald) but he took this fatalistic view and discouraged her from doing anything at every opportunity. I suppose I get it, he didn’t want to hope, and I can’t blame him for that, but I wanted him to be more than just the guy who is by her side no matter what. He just didn’t seem to be as critical to the story as he used to be.

As the story moves forward, Danica becomes almost ruthless. She bargains with the King, she takes on Reginald, and she takes down her nemesis in court. She goes toe to toe with Justin and comes out in pretty good shape. I was curious to see how she was going to wrap this up and thought Pike did a good job of bringing everything together at the end. If you liked Glitter, consider checking this book out – there was a good mix of action and character development to keep the story moving along. I’m glad I picked it up to see how things turned out for Danica.

I admit that I should have read the first book in this series. But anyway I thought that this book was fun, devious and loved the romance. I enjoyed the last chapters of the book. There was so much wealth and robots and tech in this book. I enjoyed this version talking about Marie and cake. I also enjoyed seeing things in court and her relationship with Justin and Saber.

So…I kind of hated Saber this time.



I loved book one, but it’s been a while since I read it. I was kind of afraid that I’d forgotten everything. Nope, I was able to get right back into this one. I will say, however, that you MUST read book 1 in order to understand this one. It doesn’t work as a standalone.

I loved Danica. I realize many people might not. She gets downright ruthless in this book. She grows into everything we always knew she could be – even if it isn’t everything she should be. She’s bright, clever, daring, and willing do to everything and anything she has to in order to protect the ones she loves. Some readers might find her a bit morally bankrupt at times, but she’s genuine and knife sharp.

My problem with this book was Saber. Did I like him in book 1? I think I did.

However in book 2, he’s like some morally superior old man – always looking at Danica with a look of abject disapproval on his face. I mean, she’s literally putting her life on the line for him and he spends almost the entire book scolding her like an old man. Saber lost something for me in this book – something he never got back.

I still liked the book. I really liked what the author did with Justin and I really liked the bold decisions she made with Danica.

Looking forward to more from the author in the future.

*ARC provided via Net Galley

I loved the idea, it was original and really fun, but there was just something lacking to me in the characters. This one had me hooked and I enjoyed the character development for everyone way better. The way everyone was playing each other was awesome.

I was able to get Glitter on loan from the library, finish it within 24 hours, and start and finish Shatter within a second 24 hours. Whew... What a ride! I very much enjoyed this young adult science fiction story. Any questions I had throughout the story was answered - what happened to cause Sonoman-Versailles to succeed? How did Sonoman-Versailles stay "in business?" By the end of this duology, I was amazed at the many twists and turns the plot had taken.

While my least favorite aspect was the whole "slaveminder" storyline, I did like that Dani was using her coding skills to work through the problem. I will definitely recommend this to my middle schoolers for a fun and entertaining read.