Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was different to my normal reads but it had everything. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would hughly recoment it. Gena weaves a brilliant storyline with characters i both loved and loved to hate.

Thank you #netgalley #harlequinaustralia and #genashowalter for the advanced copy of this novel.

This is book #2 in the Forest of Good and Evil series.

In this Cinderella retelling, we read the story of Ashleigh Anskelisa who is nicknamed the glass queen because of her weak heart. Because of this, Ashleigh must find a way to show her enemies and allies that she is much stronger than they believe.

One of these enemies is Saxon. They have a troubled history with Saxon knowing things that Ashleigh doesn't remember. As restitution, the king offers Saxon Ashleigh, to be a slave/maid and do everything Saxon demands. As expected, she is much more trouble than first anticipated and Saxon must find creative ways to punish her. Slowly though, they come to realise that they enjoy each other's company and start to fall in love. But will it be too late?

This YA book had the enemies to lovers dramatics that fans of this genre love. There's romance, twists, magic and dragons, what more could you want! While I haven't read the first book in this series, I didn't feel like I needed to.
I'm not the biggest fan of the YA genre but I have been trying to expand my reading choices and I love Gena Showalters other novels so I am glad I read this as I did enjoy it.

3.5 stars and many thanks to netgalley and Harlequin Australia for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

For this, I had pretty much the same comments and thoughts as I had for The Evil Queen. But oddly enough, I ended this with wanting one more book. In my head, this series already feels like the YA-NA version of the Lord of the Underworld. A dynamic cast, the evident main pairing, the friends that care for each other and the ones who are holding all the cards, and not always trustworthy.

What I liked about the Glass Queen. It's fast paced, there's less info dump compared to the first, and Ashleigh was somewhat interesting. Though that weak heart thing wasn't always consistent. It's fun and messy and actiony with that dash of romance. Granted there was too much romance, but it was easy to handle since I <i>knew</i> the main couple would be mostly safe, once they passed their trials. The dragons. Ophelia and Noel are completely here and there, and the kind of friends you don't want but need to be on your side. Seeing Everly and Roth again was awesome. I find myself liking them more in this one than in their own book!

What I didn't like were the same things as the first, and the same things that I feel make my brains melt and melt and melt and melt. The gooey-ness between Saxon and Ashleigh, specially in the dialogue. That's probably the worst part and typical Showalter style. The touchy feather wings thing. Ashleigh's attitude sometimes made me wanna strangle her. Seriously, toothpaste as herbs? Well, as least she wasn't a 2D Cinder, but one two out of three times did I think Ashleigh's bending of Saxon's commands were actually clever. Again, this doesn't feel YA. It feels like her LOTU books, but with a younger cast haha.

But regardless, I would still probably read the next book. I think the world is interesting. And it's the kind of reckless writing that one needs when they don't want to feel angst-ridden-roughshod one hundred times over. The main pairing is pretty safe.

Now, some other important points to address:
- Comparison books. I'll say, this book is complete Showalter style, and beings with wings are not a first for her. So comparison to A Court of Thorns and Roses doesn't make sense to me. This might share some similarities, but they're two very different series and unique in their own way. Showalter has been writing about mates since forever, cf. Lords of the Underworld. So if anything, Maas has probably read Showalter at some point, or other supernatural romance. I'm not a fan of mate storylines, but I think I generally only forgive this when it comes to Showalter or I read a really guilty pleasure romance when I'm in a low mood. So, I don't plan to compare these two, because funnily enough, I would probably pick up Showalter's again since it's the fun without the angst for that summer day when I don't feel like getting all angsty.
- It does have a bit of Game of Thrones feel to it with the dragons, but well, this is probably the same as any other book that comes with baby dragons. Probably. I haven't read Game of Thrones yet, so I can't really compare.
- Once Upon A Time! This series did have more of a Once Upon A Time feel to it. I remember that tv series, and I sometimes felt like that overlapped with these books so far.
- I've seen this compared to the Lunar Chronicles, and I'm going to have to pass on this. I don't think anything about this book or The Evil Queen is remotely similar. Except maybe some of the funnier parts of the dialogue? But otherwise, nothing, nada.

Overall, I do plan to read the next book if there is one. It's that one series I'll probably forgive anything for, simply just to see how the fairytales live out and how Showalter twists them, and how the characters interpret them. And I plan to read it simply because it melts my brain and I find myself enjoying the fast paced mix of pretty much everything.

Before I begin my review for The Glass Queen by Gena Showalter, I would personally like to thank the author, the publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC and I have reviewed it honestly.

A delicious cocktail of Cinderella and Throne of Glass, with a shot of Game of Thrones! The Glass Queen is a sizzling, slow-burn, enemies to lovers YA fantasy romance. This enchanting Cinderella retelling features an innocent and sickly princess and a crowned prince with revenge on his mind. Beware... here be dragons.

The Glass Queen features, but is not limited to, the following themes:
○ YA fantasy
○ Steamy YA romance
○ Forbidden romance
○ Prophecy
○ Cinderella retelling
○ Enemies to lovers
○ Dragons


My overall rating for The Glass Queen is…

4.5 Stars!

WINGSPAN YA'LL! Who doesn't love a muscular, brooding, winged man to heat and cool your blood with mixed signals? Yes please! Another incredible tale by Ms Showalter! This author knows no bounds with her beautiful and creative mind, her unstoppable world building and attractive characters. Keep 'em coming!

I love reading different takes on the classics and this is no exception!! Look forward to more from this author

Okay ... I am a sucker for fairytale retellings. Here is one that is reimagined in a totally modern way - intrigue, drama, action and romance. This particular retelling is Cinderella as you never could have imagined. The Glass Queen is the second book in The Forest of Good and Evil series, however, readers can easily pick up and quickly get up to speed. It almost reads as a standalone.

‘I wasn’t just Cinder. I was a mother of dragons, the fated one of Craven, a designer of spectacular weapons, and a slayer of wicked phantoms.’

Maybe not so much Game of Thrones but definitely traces of Once Upon A Time are evident here. Fun modern twists on traditional classics. Ashleigh is quite the Cinder - brave, strong and very determined. I love the fact that in this world of reincarnation, no one is truly sure what fairytale role they will fulfill in the prophecy. There are loads of characters here that bring much to the story and the whole concept of working through lives to reach your destiny is clever.

‘The second I remembered I stood in the presence of an enemy, I shot around, facing her again. I jutted my chin. More than anyone else in Enchantia, I knew the devastation this girl could cause. I knew the cruelties that lived in her heart.’

The few issues I had concerned some of the dialogue which was far too cheesy for me (but that might just be my age! LOL!) It is questionable whether this is ‘teen’ and rather more young adult due to the sexual content (my age once again!) It was also rather long and could have been edited to lose some of the scenes that added little to the storyline eg. What was happening in the tournament? Who cares!

As fairytale retellings go this was a winner for its unique and action packed twist. This is a great world created by the author and I look forward to what she has in store next for this series.

“You know as well as I that the tales are symbolic rather than literal. The obvious is never the answer. What seems to be right is always wrong. What seems to go this way always veers that way. But I would take care, if I were you.” His voice turned menacing. “The king who despises his daughter has a queen who dies far too soon.’



This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

A well paced and exciting Cinderella retelling. Really enjoyed this sequel and looking forward to more from this author