Customer Reviews

The Glasswrights' Progress: The Glasswright's Progress, Book Two

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I first heard that this book was going to be released I thought that it would focus on Rani rebuilding her guild, her life in court and the problems that arise. I found that to be incorrect. There are only a few occasions when the Glasswrights' Guild is even mentioned. This book takes place two years after the previous one and the condition of the Guild is the same as at the end of the previous book. I was surprised that there weren't a few members of the guild around to help Rani.

I was also looking forward to how Rani was learning to deal with life at court. This did not happen. She does deal with a King's Court, but not in Morenia, so I was a little disappointed in that respect.

The method of storytelling did change. The first book was entirely set in Rani's point of view. In this book there were four different points of view, but the changes helped the reader to understand the events better. However, I did enjoy the story, it just wasn't what I expected it would be about. I do eagerly await the third book about Rani, The Glasswrights' Journeyman.

I thought that this new book by Mindy L. Klasky was wonderful. The only thing that disappointed me was the lack of romance between Hal and Rani. At the end of the "Apprentice" I felt sure that their was something developing between the two of them. Somehow they just seem so right for eachother. In this book, Rani is still struggling to find her place in this world, I think. She still has some growing up to do, as many of her actions in this book are immature!!! I was slightly annoyed when, during the course of the novel, Hal pines for Rani and vows with his whole being to avenge her "death". He risks his life and his army for her memory (as he believes her dead). But at the end of the book after the battle when Hal is overcome with grief at the loss of his men etc.. Rani doesn't even go to console him "because he is my king ... and nothing more". Hal practically considers Rani to be his sister and I think he may be starting to fall in love with her, but she is oblivious to it all. Overall, this book was great but I still think that Ms. Klasky should make Hal and Rani fall in love and I also think that Rani needs to be a little more mature. Great Book!!! Happy reading to everyone!

I enjoyed the first book in this series very much and the second does not disappoint. Newly made an honorary noble for her part in foiling a traitorous plot, all Rani Trader wants to do is rebuild the destroyed Glasswright's Guild. But again she finds herself in the middle of great events when she is kidnapped by a traitorous prince and taken to be used as a hostage in an enemy kingdom. The devious king of this land is seizing all the children in his nation and turning them into an amoral army of obedient soldiers. At least that is the official story of what it happening to the children. Rani uncovers the fact that he is actually selling them as slaves and has amassed a huge army of mercenaries using the money gained from the slavetrade. And he is poised to invade her own country! She escapes and tries to warn her king with the aid of a conflicted young captain in the children's army. Meanwhile her young king values her far more than she knows and invades the enemy in vengeance for what he believes is her death. This is another book with wonderful characters. I can't wait to see the further exploits of Rani and her King.

I really enjoyed the book even though it was not writen for people my age. I liked how the plot was deeper then most books for teens. It was nice how Rani was not perfect and she did make people get mad or annoyed at her like she was a real person. I also liked how sometimes what you expect to happen doesn't happen and it's somthing completely different.

I liked this book better than the first one, although it was slightly upsetting in some parts. Rani is still a very interesting character, although I think Hal is probably my favorite. Mair returns in this books as Rani's friend and lady in waiting.

In this book, Mair and Rani are abducted by Prince Bashanorandi and taken to the neighboring country of Amanth, as insurance that no one will try to stop Bashi. Bashi goes to his uncle, King Sin Hazar's palace. There Rani and Mair are prevented from going home or even writing letters, and are eventually locked away. Eventually they find a way to escape and meet up with Crestman who is running away from King Sin Hazar's little army, an army made intirely of children. He is traveling with Shea, and old woman helping him to escape.

Meanwhile, Hal is trying to negotiate for their return. He receives a fake letter from Rani which convinces him that she is dead, and he prepares to go to war on Amanth. Rani and her friends are soon captured by the little army, so Crestman is forced to pretend that he had never run away.

Things begin to get more complicated when Rani and Mair are recaptured by Sin Hazar and put on a ship heading to a far away country where they and the little army are to be sold as slaves. But how do they convince the little army of that? Meanwhile, Sin Hazar and Hal are ready to begin the war, but Sin Hazar as a secret weapon. How will Rani free herself, and will she be in time to warn Hal and save Crestman? Read to find out!

One final note; I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone under thirteen because it has some very gory scenes in it.

This series is worth reading, but tends to be a little lean. The characters are blind to the events that surround them. They have common goals but work against each other to achieve them. If you like the first in the series The Glasswrights Apprentice, the second is better, but in whole this series needs a little more beef.

Rani Trader's life has changed very much since 2 years ago when she was falsely accused of being involved in the crown prince's murder. Now, at 15, she is working very hard to rebuild the shattered glasswrights guild as she lives a privileged life in the court. But everything changes when she and the former touched girl Mair are kidnapped by the ... prince Bashi, and taken away to a northern country. Here lives an old woman who's life is changed forever when she saves a young boy named Crestman who is in fact the leader of the "Little Army," an army of children loyal to the tyrant Sir Hazar. Meanwhile back in Morina, the young king Hal finds himself in a fierce political battle with the Fellowship of Jair, the same fellowship that have protected him and helped in achieved a throne. His loyalty to his country and loyalty to his brothers are put to the test. He soon realizes that he won't be able to remain loyal to both of them for ever, and soon he will half to make an important choice.

While I enjoyed Rani's first story, The Glasswrights Apprentice, I was blown away by it's sequel. In the Glasswrights Progress Rani and her friend's story is more thrilling than ever. While reading it I found myself shocked at the maturity some of the characters now posses. Rani's life has changed a lot since the last book and she shows it. I was also surprised to see a very little romance sneak in towards the end. If you're a fan of dark suspenseful fantasy novels I recommend this to you. I can't wait to read the 3rd book in the series, the Glasswrights Journeyman.

This is a great book and I would encourage you all to read it, even if there was one problem I had with the book.I will not write a summary of the plot simply because there are many people already who have done so and a person may just look at other reviews if they choose. Instead, I would just like to address an issue that I have seen springing up. Many have thought that the main character, Rani, shows immaturaty in this book and acts younger than her age, but I must disagree. I am fifteen, the same age as Rani is in the second book, and so I look to relate with the character a little more. While reading this, I have found myself thinking over and over again how she acts OLDER than she really is. I mean, she is at an age where we spend waaaay to much time worrying about ourselves and just trying to figure out what to do with ourselves with our mood swings and awkwardness, and here she is, saving hundreds of lives, trying to rebuild an entire guild, and in the service of a secret Fellowship (the second one shes been in!). She shows bravery (okay, it could be insolence, but still) in showing defiance to Sin Hazer and she doesn't complain and whine about her situations, even if she is really hurting. Another thing are the boys Crestman and his little army. Okay, I am friends with guys Crestman's age, and they can hardly take care of themselves, much less a whole army of unruly boys!! I realize that in the culture thsi book is set in, children are raised to be adults at an early age, but I find myself repeating that in my head over and over as I read this book in which a nine year old child is a hardened warrior ready to die and kill for his cause. Also, I was afraid that in the first book, Rani and Hal were going to get together and I'm glad they didn't because I don't know if I could take a thirteen year-old girl and a fifteen-year old boy having a "romance". I think that in the upcoming third book, she will more ready to handle things like that.

While I enjoyed "The Glasswrights' Apprentice," I wasn't sure if I would buy any of the sequals--the characters were likeable enough, but I wasn't really very hooked on the story. Well, I was browsing the bookstore, looking for something lighter to read over my spring break, and bought "Glasswrights' Progress" on impluse. I'm glad I did! I was drawn in much more quickly than with the "Apprentice" novel.

Klasky's prose style has noticably matured since the first book. It seems to me that the author's overall narration of the Rani's world shows improvement--the more forced, rushed feeling in the first book has been significantly pared down. I would compare her style to Deborah Chester's ("The Sword" trilogy), although without the accomplished battle descriptions. Like Chester, Ms Klasky writes engagingly and tries, with varying success, to give depth to her characters. But for me, the main problem is that the story still feels crammed into a small paperback (this is also the case with Ms Chester). I realize that Rani's story is obviously a multi-book adventure, but I would like it more if there wasn't so much glossing over of travels from here to there, preparations for battle, etc. The characters participate in quite a bit of physical activity and emotional maturation, but there are few moments of transition (aside from when Rani and the others are on the ships). I think Rani, Hal, and the rest deserve a more extensive narration, especially in this second book.

The characters do go through some development (much more so than in the first installment). I'm intrigued by both Hal and Crestman, though, again, I wish there had been more interaction between these two. Rani seems to be (slowly) growing up, which makes for a less frustrating read. :) I know many people love the fact that these characters are all still children, but, as with Chester's books, I find it a little unusual to imagine 15-16 year olds doing what they do in this series. I have to force myself to picture them much younger in my mind...although that may be what the author intended.

My final (minor) complaint is how little this is really about the Glasswrights Guild. For me, that was one of the most interesting aspects of the first book. Still, that didn't detract from the story really...just something I was a little disappointed in.

In any case, I enjoyed this book much more than the first. I'm sure I'll buy the third to see what happens next. :)

legolas_arrowlord

I've read the intire series and found most of the books lacking. This was the best of all four if only becuase the plot was less the ever told hero overcoming the absolutly impossible and dealed more with believable problems. The other books dealed with political conflict more than anything else and I felt that the main character besides being an absolute idiot was more draged along by the plot than actually a factor in its creation. I liked the character of Crestman and his self conflicts. He had potential to be an actually interesting character who actually made somewhat educated decisions but Mindy just well seemed to want to get rid of him. Untill she had him show up in the Glasswright's Test as a misguided villian which dissapointed me. My overall problem with the intire series was the stupidity of the main character who never seemed to look at things from more than one direction or point of view and seemed really selfcentered.