Customer Reviews

Glass Houses (Morganville Vampires, Book 1)

5 star:		(96)
4 star:		(63)
3 star:		(34)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I'm 51 years old and I LOVED this book! Sure, the main characters act a little immature now and then, but THEY'RE KIDS.

This is my first book by this author and I could only put it down with difficulty (as opposed to the second book in the series, which I absolutely could not put down at all). The background of the town and vamps has been intricately built, with fascinating characters on all sides. Claire, the lead, is especially interesting and multi-dimensional (and I hope someone points her towards birth control real soon because she's gonna need it).

There is a real fear factor in the scary parts, real humor in the funny parts, and the guys are hilarious when they're being guys. The pace is get-up-and-go (2nd book even more so). All in all, tremendously entertaining.

The only sore spot was the sudden cliffhanger at the end, which (disregard the "look ahead" excerpt at the end of the book) is speedily dealt with in ch. 1 of Part 2. It almost made me NOT buy volume 2 after I'd determined that I wanted more of this author, but I bought it and am darned glad I did. Beware: volume 2 also has its own cliffhanger as well as numerous plot threads that need to be resolved fairly quickly. But that's what series are all about, right?

Buy this book! I don't like many vampire books, but this one is a winner.

Under attack by an upperclassman and her cronies, Claire Danvers, a young college freshman, moves into off campus housing with a group of teens that clue her in on the realities of life - and unlife - in Morganville.

Glass Houses had strengths and weaknesses. When a clique of psychotic popular girls is decidedly scarier and far more vicious than the vampires controlling the city, something doesn't seem right. In this, the first installment of a series, the vampires were, unfortunately, very much one dimensional, and aside from Amelie, uninteresting.

Caine did a better job with the heroes. Claire, Eve, Michael and Shane had distinct personalities, a good mixture of maturity and immaturity and enough quirks to make them seem real and likeable. I cared about them, and that drew me into the story.

This was the first book I've read by Rachel Caine, and while I had problems with a few of the characterizations, I found enough to like in this story to want to check out some of her other books.

Rachel Caine fans are in for another rockin' ride in this new series!

Some may be tempted to compare this one to her Weather Wardens books, but that's a big mistake. Each should be read on its own merits, keeping in mind it IS a whole different world and the rules are different. Were I in the right age group for this book I'd likely go nuts over it and be craving another one ASAP. As an adult I'm still nuts over it, but for different reasons.

The characters, especially the brainy, courageous Claire, are very well drawn and likeable for their quirks and shortcomings. Each has a history, baggage, and a unique way of dealing with problems. Young Claire is scary smart in some things, inexperienced in others, and attending college in Morganville, Texas, which has nasty goings on under the surface. Psychotic classmates, sinister cops, and other threats abound in a town where vampires make the rules and unwary humans are there for the taking.

Caine has gone all out on the "What if vampires (the e-vul, bloodsucking, barely controlled fiend kind) designed and ran a town?" It ain't a pretty sight, but it's a page-turning read as Claire and her housemates figure out how to survive. As if classes, term papers, and after school jobs weren't enough on a freshman's plate, the freshman could end up being the meal on that plate!

Think Veronica Mars crossed with Buffy, throw in a gallon of espresso shots to pitch things into high gear and that's what you'll find in Glass Houses. Just like the real world, this one isn't a fair place, and it can get very dark indeed, but you can get past that and thrive if you want it enough and have the support of good friends.

The other plus is the swift, effortless pace of well-executed writing. This is a book you can finish, turn to the front, and read again. That was my favorite kind of book as a teen and still is now. High school and college are long behind me, but Claire's fortune's, tribulations, and will to survive into adulthood take me right back to what it was like when I was her age. She doesn't deal with ordinary bullies, hers are certifiably insane, never mind the vampires and other things lurking about. Caine's characters are pushed to the limit, and just when you think things can't get any worse, they do, but the heroes ARE heroic and do their thing to the best of their ability.

I can't wait for the next one!

I'm not exactly sure what age group Ms. Caine was writing for with this novel. The main action takes place in a college town, but I can easily see college students passing this one by, the immaturity of the characters is hard to stomach. High School students might also be looking for something a little more mature (sorry to say, the few in my family prefer a little adult interaction with their violence - how shocking!). This could be considered a few age bumps up in fantasy from Harry Potter, but grade school children are too young for this book, its scary enough for nightmares. Junior High? Maybe, I have no current reference. As for those in my age group (well over 30 and then some), I left college years ago, and have no desire to revisit those times, I barely got out, sanity relatively intact, without the added complication of vampires. Who's left?

I have come to the conclusion that Rachel Caine is incapable of writing a bad book, she's more than talented, and this book does show that gift. I am obviously just the wrong reader. No matter how well written this was, I never became fully captivated with the characters, the plot, or the premise. Others, however, may love it, hence the three stars. When Glass Houses does find its audience, I truly believe she will have another successful series on her hands, I just won't be following along on this particular adventure.

I really would like to recommend this book, I'm just not sure who to recommend it to...

[Very mild spoilers below. Nothing new if you've read the preview, but here's a warning just in case.]

As I'm sure many reviewers have said, Claire has to be one dumbest leads ever. I don't understand why she insists on going to class when her life is at stake, or why she keeps mouthing off to the resident cliché "queen bee with a heart of vitriol," Monica. I thought Claire was supposed to be some sort of genius, or at least smart. Where are her priorities, her sense of self-preservation?** You could argue that she's trying to stand up for herself or not give her enemies the satisfaction of seeing her cower in fear, but really, she just seems like a moron. The risks far outweigh these lofty principles, which she doesn't seem to consider anyway. She just can't seem to curb her idiotic impulses. No one with a lick of sense loves college or fears professors enough to attend classes when their life is in serious danger. Come on now.

Also, she is pathetically self-deprecating. I didn't really pity or sympathize, so much as I wished she would grow a backbone. "It sucked to be smart, because this was where it got you." Thanks for another cliché, Rachel Caine. As if anyone with a brain is a freak who gets verbally and physically abused on a regular basis. As if there is always the "hot" rich girl with her posse of airheads and jocks to smack them down. Please.

"What normal girl loved physics? Abnormal ones. Ones who were not ever going to be hot. And face it, being hot? That was what life was all about."

I honestly can't find the words to express my disgust without resorting to profanity.

But this is getting awfully long, so I'll move on.

Another major drawback to the book: As another reviewer said, the ending is a ridiculous cliffhanger. There is no way to sugarcoat it. And I do not appreciate this manipulative attempt to make me buy the next godawful book.

And I didn't. But I am in the middle of it. The only reason "Glass Houses" is spared a one-star review is because I believe in fairness and am still reading the second installment. For whatever insane reason. It's quick and easy--cotton candy for the brain. A way to pass the time when you have nothing better to do, if not a particularly good one. There's some humor, some horror/suspense, but overall I'm too distracted by the bad writing to give this anything more than two stars.

[Having read partway through "Dead Girls' Dance," I can say with some confidence that it is also filled with rubbish. And inconsistencies. SO MANY inconsistencies. I say this because I am almost certain that such errors exist within the first novel as well, although I can't remember specific examples. These books are a little "in one ear and out the other" for me, in that I tend to skim and only retain the bare necessities.]

In conclusion: If you're still interested in reading this, I'd suggest borrowing it. Not worth the money, not by far. You could spend it on so many other much more worthwhile things.

[PS: There are annoying incongruities and absurd cliffhangers in many of Caine's books. And yes, I have read the Weather Warden series. You've been warned.]

** By the way, skipping a few grades? Not particularly genius-like. Well above average, but not genius. You want a genius? There's an elementary school-age kid taking advanced courses at what is supposedly the best public high school in NYC. Just saying.

I was very excited to get this book, because, though I state otherwise, I love vampires books, and I love young adult novels. Perhaps I'm learning that I should not mix the two, however. The main character was an idiotic "smart-girl". Her incessent need to go to college in the face of death made me dislike her and wish her all the trouble she got.

There were some highlights to the book such as the characters of Eve and Shane, but other aspects of the book detract too much from these characters to make it worth it. I didn't find Claire's parents to be believable characters, nor did I find theirs or her actions reasonable. The romance in the book felt forced and silly. I think I would have thought more of the book as a whole without the romantic angle.

The worst part of it all was that there was some climactic resolution, but no end. It was clearly set up to go to the next book. When I buy a book, I'm not buying a plot hook for the second book. I'm buying it for the story in the first.

Overall, I give this a borrow from the library recommendation if you really want to read it.

OK, it's my fault for not realizing this was a "young adult" book. I've read many of Rachel Caine's adult books and thoroughly enjoy them. This is not high literature, of course, but it's very entertaining and despite my initial reservations about content, I couldn't stop reading it. I found that the author's attitude was somewhat condescending to her readers, a quality missing from her adult work, and I imagine that even if I were still in my teens I might have been a bit offended. Also, this book contains an unresolved cliffhanger, so be warned. You may be condemning yourself to buying future books in the series.

Freakishly smart Claire Danvers has always lived on the outside. Never exactly the popular girl, Claire has been fine with her low social status until she started her freshmen year of college in Morganville, Texas at sixteen years of age and took the role of social outcast to a whole new level. After innocently making a bad impression with the reigning Queen Bee of Cruel, overnight Claire turned from simply unpopular to walking punching bag. Claire decides to ditch her on-campus lodgings in favor of an off-campus abode hoping the old 'out of sight, out of mind' adage will do the trick. Even though she isn't exactly crossing her fingers. As luck will have it, Claire manages to stumble across a listing for the Glass House: occupied by Michael Glass (owner and local man of mystery), Eve (bubbly goth girl), and Shane (slacker hottie who likes x-box) - all of whom have secrets galore. In the Glass House, Claire discovers her sleepy college town is actually controlled by vampires and that none of her roommates (Claire included) are currently under the protection of a vampire - effectively branding them all as fair game. Suddenly Claire's got a lot more to worry about than just midterms.

One of the main reasons I was looking forward to reading Rachel Caine's Morganville Vampires series is because her vampires are just that. Evil bloodsuckers who basically want humans controlled and docile. Or dead. None of this sexy, misunderstood souls business - Morganville vampires can be easily labeled as villains. And can I just say that for once, it's nice to be on sure footing where the bad guys are concerned. Vampires = bad. Humans = good. Easy peasy. Well, that equation normally holds true, but like any good story it isn't always so black and white; but more on that in the next book, The Dead Girls Dance.

Claire's story was decent, but it wasn't until she meets up with her three roommates in the Glass House that the pages really started turning. Not that I don't like Claire - I do, to an extent - but Michael, Eve, and Shane just happened to up the entertainment ante much faster than our bookish heroine has previously accomplished. It also helps that Claire develops a backbone while living in the Glass House, making her infinitely more likable. Her three roommates have a nice, comfortable banter with each filling a specific role which helped me relax and fall into the story more than anything else.

Glass Houses is fast-paced and short and I quite enjoyed Claire's story but every so often little details would pop up that would end up completely pulling me out of the story. Like when this scary old vampire lady calls Claire 'winsome' and Claire has no idea what she means. Really? A girl who reads anything and graduated from high school at 16 doesn't know what winsome means? Huh. I guess those SATs aren't as tough as they used to be. I mean, I know Claire is mainly math and science smart, but it happened a couple of different times and just didn't feel right.

Plot Summary: Claire Danvers is a 16 year-old super smarty who is enrolled in a small town Texas university, and she's become the target of a pack of bullies. When their hazing becomes life-threatening, Claire visits a house with a room for rent, and she meets Eve, Matthew, and Shane, who are all two years older than Claire, but insist on calling her `kid.' They take her in, and Claire learns that Morganville is completely under the control of vampires. The bullies increase their attacks on Claire, and the little band of buddies try to bargain with the vampires for protection.

This story reminded me of those teenage summer horror flicks, where a mixed group of boys and girls run around, they attract the attention of something evil, and then survive based on sheer dumb luck rather than any skill on their part. That pretty much sums up how this young adult fantasy goes, which has a barebones plot that gives the main characters plenty of time to scramble while the bullies and vampires maneuver them into a corner.

Claire is an awkward duckling who never attains swan status, but since this is a series, I'm thinking the author is holding back for future books. While I didn't hate Claire, I didn't find much to love either, and that applies to all the characters who reside at the Glass House. I found it ironic that the 18 year-olds lorded over Claire like she was a snot-nosed kid, but I suppose that's how teenagers treat miniscule age gaps. I think they're all kids, but they would beg to differ.

I absolutely hate how this book ended, and the cliff-hanger was irritating instead of scintillating. This was a dismal world, where the vampires operate like the mafia, and they aren't remotely sexy or appealing. I don't take issue with the unappealing vamps, but Claire and the gang's total lack of power was disheartening. Call me crazy, but I like to see some superpowers on the good guy's side in an urban fantasy, and watching mere mortals scurry like rats in a vampire infested town isn't my idea of a good time.

I love Rachel Caine and when I heard she was going to write a vampire story I was very excited. Well, I finished it and let me tell you this book is a very much meant for young adults. It's not like her Weather Warden series. I will start with the bad. It has some cussing, which is okay, but the heros/main characters were very immature at times, even for there own age. The vampires in this story, with the exception of one, were 2 dimensional. This is about a city with vampires owning it and had owned it for a very long time, but some how all the vampires have all the same personalities. They are all evil which is fine, but there were no surprises with these guys. Rachel also used a lot of dated items. She went and used terms like xbox and ipods. This is fine, but from 5 years from now these items will be something different.
I love young adult novels. They can be just as good as any old book. This book was still a page turner and if you had read any L.J. Smith works you will enjoy this book. This story reminds you how your first crush was like and how mean girl clicks back in school could really be. None of this lets shake hands and everything will be all right. Rachel was right on the dot with that.
Even with the flaws this book is a enjoyable read. I'm looking forward to getting to know the characters a little bit more in her second book in this series. When reading this novel just remember it was meant for young adults.