I wanted to like Glitter, I really did.... in the end it just wasn't a favorite. I thought it had all the good pieces to a story. Interesting premise, location, and characters. They all just didn't mesh well for me.

Unfortunately, this was a DNF book for me. I thought it would be more of a thriller/mystery.

The story flows very well and the writing is easy to read. The writing thought everything up, from the way people dresses until the way they talk. It pays attention to details without being info dumpy. The plot is really good and interesting, but I found the ending was underwhelming. I will definitely read the next book though, I’m really curious about what happens next!

A quick, intriguing read. This is a story I quickly devoured. There was something about it that fascinated me. This was not at all what I was expecting, and I kind of liked that. There was something about this story, and about Dani, and the situation she found herself in, that intrigued me. That's not to say I agreed with Dani's choices, however to some degree I sympathized with her, and wanted to see how she was going to get out of her predicament.

Character wise, there's not much in way of emotionally connecting with the characters. Normally that bothers me, but not with this story. These characters don't emotionally connect to each other, which is part of the deception, the power struggles, and the twisted game so to speak, that's being played in court. In order to protect themselves, they have to be on guard. Not emotionally connecting with the characters, when they themselves fight so hard to not emotionally connect to each other, worked well in this story.

I really liked this setting. Pike created a fascinating blend of royalty, history, and modern day technology, that really worked well for this story. I was completely hooked with way she crafted these elements together, especially the historical part of it. I loved how that part into this story. Just as I would expect any court to have, there are plenty of deceptions, secrets, and power struggles that often times lead to deadly consequences.

Romance wise, I'm really curious about where one of these romances will lead. It's a little hard to figure out who's in it for the right reasons, vs who's obviously in this for the power play. With the way this story ended, I'm really hoping we'll get a sequel so I know what happens next, not just with Demi, but with the direction one of the romances is going.

Glitter is a fast paced, unique story that quickly held my attention, and had me wanting to know more. It's definitely not a story I was expecting, and I liked that it was something different. I don't think I've read anything quite like this one. Normally this wouldn't be something I'd like. Yet, I found myself curious about the Court, the politics, deadly secrets and blackmail that went on behind the scenes. It definitely made for an interesting read, and had me wondering how it was all going to end. That was a brutal ending and one that may be different in the finished book vs what was in the arc. It definitely has me looking forward to reading the sequel.

There are definitely some sensitive subjects in this book. There are also darker elements than Pike's previous books have had. There's murder, a forced marriage, sexual context, drug use, and some mild language.

I was surprised how much I actually liked this. I loved the cover so much and the blurb was great but as I saw ratings come in I was a little worried. It is like a mixture of historical fiction, Cinder by Marissa Meyer and a dystopian novel. This was so different than most dystopian novels though. It was a perfect world but it had hidden threats that most people aren't aware of. I didn't realize it was a part of a series so as the end came I expected it to wrap up but it just left a huge cliffhanger. I have to say I'm looking forward to book 2.

An entertaining read! The plot was unique and was a lot different than anything else I have read before. The summary really caught my eye and I was pleasantly surprised that I could match up the summary to what was happening in the summary. That doesn't happen often anymore!

The plot got a bit messy and confusing for my liking, and I found the main character a little off-putting. The originality was amazing, though, and I could really tell that the uniqueness of this novel was something totally new. The whole concept of the main character drugging people without them knowing didn't really sit well with me, so that wasn't something that I could really get behind. It took me a while to get into mainly because of that and also because of the fact that I just couldn't relate to the main character at all.

This was really fast-paced, albeit a bit ridiculous and over the top, but it served as an entertaining read. I think this novel could've used some more world-buidling and some character development, but it was an okay read for me!

i enjoyed this amazing story! the world was easy to slide into and lose yourself!

Most girls at Versailles would die to have Danica’s role as Marie Antoinette, but only she and her scheming mother know the truth about her murderous betrothed. Longing to escape her contract, Danica makes a bargain with a local drug dealer who wants to break into business at Versailles. Peddling his wares disguised as cosmetics, Danica longs to break free, but the web she has entangled herself in will not let her be free.

GLITTER by Aprilynne Pike is one of the most unique and fascinating reads of 2016. It’s an incredible blend of French history and dystopian. It’s dark and captivating—almost as addictive as the substance Dani sells.

We follow Danica (Dani), who is being blackmailed by her mother into marrying the reprehensible King of Versailles. Her desperation to escape leads her to betray those closest to her. This is a fascinating examination of morality—how far is a person willing to go to do what they think is right?

Pike builds a beautiful and vivid future world. She nails the decadence of the French court, while highlighting what that world might look like in a highly advanced technological environment. Big brother, or in this case M.A.R.I.E., is always watching…

It took me a while to warm to some of the characters, but my love for them turned out to be a nice slow burn. By the end I was desperately rooting for Dani’s success, no matter the cost. The ending left my jaw on the floor.

I cannot recommend this book enough.

A book that delivers what I need when it comes to recommending books based on my students likes and in some cases LOVES. Paired with Red Queen because of the intrigue of the court and society rules and Cinder because of the uniqueness of the tale and reinterprentation of history and or fairytale...well, it makes my job all the better!

This book immediately caught my eye for being pitched as Marie Antoinette meets Breaking Bad. On the surface those two things would not appear to blend well together. Aprilynne Pike has crafted an refreshingly original story that is filled with romance, intrigue, and memorable characters.

This is my first Aprilynne Pike novel and I was pleasantly surprised. The writing was sharp and focused. The plot was ambitious but well woven. The characters were fully defined and interesting. It has made me curious to check out her other novels.

Glitter blends historical and futuristic elements together. The premise of a futuristic society choosing to live like those in the eighteenth century is a fascinating one. The descriptions of the dress is matched only by their technological advances. It adds an extra layer of tension to the story knowing that cameras are catching every move. This twist on the historical setting is something I had never read before, and I was surprised with how well they blended together.

Danica is a complicated character. You feel both revulsion and sympathy for her. You immediately understand Danica's desperation to escape. She's betrothed to a dangerous and impulsive young king who has already committed violence. Her life is in danger, and it is ensured that we see how vital it is that she escapes and why she's backed into a corner so to speak. She, however, is willing to do morally questionable things to get her freedom. This includes getting innocent people addicted to a very powerful drug to suit her own needs. She rationalizes her decisions to ease her own guilt. She's selfish, brazen, and impulsive. She is not always a good person. However, she's written in such a way that you understand her. You question what your own choices would be in this situation. This type of situation does not have a right or wrong answer and that is what makes Danica's dilemma so engrossing.

Justin, the king, is not written as a one note villain. He is entirely despicable, but he is well crafted. He is the type of villain who believes in everything that he is doing, and that adds something to his personality. He doesn't feel he is in the wrong. He even feels justified in some of his actions, mainly because he feels he was blackmailed for what he considers an accident.

There is a sense of justice in this novel. We have seen Danica spiraled down a pretty dark path that is wrapped in pretty glitter. Rewarding these actions would feel wrong. The author ensures that these choices have consequences. She is not unscathed and it feels deserved. It is of her own making and I look forward to seeing her redeem herself in subsequent installments.

Those looking for likeable characters, or a neat and tidy plot will not find that here. This novel is filled with characters who make bad decisions, do even worse things and is all the more deliciously deceptive for it. An entirely original premise that more than delivered for me. It is going to be torture waiting on the next book after that stunning ending, but I have not doubt i'll be worth the wait.