Red Glove (Curse Workers, Book 2) [Hardcover]

Holly Black (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 5, 2011

Curses and cons. Magic and the mob. In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth—he’s the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything—or anyone—into something else.

That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her. Now that she's human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila's been cursed to love him, a little gift from his emotion worker mom. And if Lila's love is as phony as Cassel's made-up memories, then he can't believe anything she says or does.

When Cassel's oldest brother is murdered, the Feds recruit Cassel to help make sense of the only clue—crime-scene images of a woman in red gloves. But the mob is after Cassel too—they know how valuable he could be to them. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can't trust anyone—least of all, himself?

Love is a curse and the con is the only answer in a game too dangerous to lose.

Editorial Reviews

Review

* "Black again delivers complex characters and a nicely developed alternate universe where magic workers are social pariahs. This powerful, edgy dark fantasy won't disappoint Black's fans."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Dark, disturbing fare, crafted by a master; readers of the trilogy's first will be supremely satisfied."--Kirkus Reviews

"Readers will be happy to slip back into Black’s elaborate, fascinating world of workers, curses, and the seeming ease with which everyone has learned to live in a world where no one, not even family, can be truly trusted, and this sequel offers satisfying additional glimpses into this nearly familiar but ultimately shockingly different world."--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"The Curse Workers series continues to offer a sleek and stylish blend of urban fantasy and crime noir."--Booklist

About the Author

Holly Black is the author of bestselling contemporary fantasy books for kids and teens. Some of her titles include The Spiderwick Chronicles (with Tony DiTerlizzi), The Modern Faerie Tale series, The Good Neighbors graphic novel trilogy (with Ted Naifeh), the Curse Workers series, and her new ghostly middle grade novel, Doll Bones. She has been a finalist for the Mythopoeic Award, a finalist for an Eisner Award, and the recipient of the Andre Norton Award. She currently lives in New England with her husband, Theo, in a house with a secret door. Visit her at BlackHolly.com.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books; First Edition edition (April 5, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9781442403390
• ISBN-13: 978-1442403390
• ASIN: 144240339X
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (76 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #384,057 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hi! I'm Holly Black, and I write contemporary fantasy of all different sorts. Some of my titles include TITHE, VALIANT (winner of the Andre Norton Award), IRONSIDE, the Spiderwick Chronicles (with Tony DiTerlizzi), the graphic novel series The Good Neighbors (with Ted Naifeh), and the new mobster fantasy series The Curse Workers, which includes WHITE CAT and the forthcoming RED GLOVE. I have also co-edited three anthologies, GEEKTASTIC, ZOMBIES VS. UNICORNS and WELCOME TO BORDERTOWN. I live in western Massachusetts with my husband, artist Theo Black, and several odd cats in a house with a secret library.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An electrifying, byzantine high-stakes sequel April 5, 2011

By The Compulsive Reader VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Cassel Sharpe always thought that he was the only one in his family who wasn't a curseworker, but then he found out the truth: he has the powers of transformation, the rarest--and most dangerous--ability there is. He intends to lay low: attend school and stay away from Lila Zacharov until the curse his mother worked to make Lila love him has faded. But all of Cassel's plans are derailed when Lila enrolls in Wallingford Prep, his oldest brother Philip is murdered, and the feds try to recruit him. Caught between the mob and the government, Cassel has to find Philip's murderer and play both sides if he wants to survive long enough to figure out just which side he's actually on.

Red Glove is as smart and sharp as its prequel, White Cat, but has a whole new element of danger as Cassel realizes just how deep into a life of crime he is when the Feds come after him. Cassel remains entrenched in the world of cons and crime, but yet he doesn't exactly become a criminal like the rest of the members of his family. He is clever, knows how to play a person, and isn't afraid to break some rules, but he still is concerned with doing what is right, which we can see this in his attempt to stay away from Lila, unwilling to take advantage of her while she is still cursed. Despite his best attempts though, she manages to work her way into his life, giving readers the chance to get to know her a bit better despite her messed-up emotions. Sam and Daneca also show up a bit more in Red Glove, providing Cassel with the opportunity to work on trust as he slowly opens up to them and it allows Black to reveal more of Cassel's world and its politics as the government and population deal with prejudice and secrecy when it comes to curseworkers.

After the spectacular con he pulled in White Cat, it's hard imagine that Cassel could come up with something better for the end of this book, but this con is plenty smart and it has the added emotional pull of being linking to the mystery of Philip's death. Red Glove is an electrifying, byzantine high-stakes sequel that raises as many questions as it answers and will leave readers' hearts pounding with exhilaration and danger.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Yet another score for Black!... April 11, 2011

By CRISTY

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Holly Black has created a truly unique world in the Curse Worker series with the successful and intriguing debut of WHITE CAT and now I can tell you the much awaited sequel, RED GLOVE does not disappoint.

Cassel Sharpe is happy to be back in school at Wallingford after all that went down with his older brothers and crime boss Zacharov. Notably, Cassel is uncomfortable now knowing that he is a transformation worker, but glad to be free from his brother's memory manipulations and control. He's doing his best to stay clear of Lila, the girl he loves and has always loved, until the love cures his mother worked on her wears off... if it wears off. Everything in Cassel's life is slowly returning to normal... that is, until the Feds show up at school looking for him. Complicated doesn't even begin to describe the left turn his life is about to take. Backed against a wall, Cassel needs to decide where his loyalties lie and fast, unfortunately, no matter where he chooses could end up getting him killed. Oh and looks like love cursed Lila just enrolled in Wallingford... perfect.

Greatly to Black's credit, there's not a lot of rehashing of the first book, no lengthy flashbacks retelling what happened in WHITE CAT, just cleverly inserted references where the two stories overlap and/or relate; keeping this second installment of Curse Workers moving right along. All our favorite characters are back and so are the dangers, the betrayals, and the lies. The "who-done-it" factor is strong in RED GLOVE, and Black does an excellent job keeping the reader guessing right up to the end.

Fans of the first book will undoubtedly enjoy this follow-up, as I did, although; RED GLOVE couldn't quite maintain the sparkle that shown so bright throughout WHITE CAT, admittedly allowing my interest to wane slightly midway through. But Black manages to recapture my attention with vengeance in the end, producing some pretty impressive twist and a shocker or two that make for a great set-up to book #3 BLACK HEART, due out in 2012.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Red gloves, gun shots, and guilt April 8, 2011

By E. A Solinas HALL OF FAMETOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Cassel Sharpe's life is a chaotic one, even when matters have improved. And everything seems to be circling the drain in "Red Glove," which is even more taut and electrifying than Holly Black's first Curse Workers book. One part murder mystery, one part mob thriller, and one part tale of a good-hearted boy mired in a shadow world of deception.

Cassel's first day back at Wallingford is ruined by two things. One: Lila is now enrolled at his school, and she's still cursedly in love with him. Two: the FBI drags him in, revealing that his brother Philip has been murdered -- and since he had turned informant, they want his murderer. All they know is that it was a woman, and she was wearing red gloves.

Soon Cassel is trapped between the feds and the worker mobster Zacharov, both of whom want him to come work for them. And as he tries to keep his secret, keep his family from being arrested, and solve his brother's murder, Cassel begins to suspect that someone close to him murdered Philip -- and he's not sure what to do about it.

"Red Glove" is technically an urban fantasy, but it's really more like "supernatural suspense." We've got FBI agents, mobsters, teen love, lies, false memories and a young man walking the tightrope between right and wrong -- and even worse, between the amoral forces that want to use his powers for their own ends.

Black's story is tightly plotted, with lots of little hints and subplots that she ties off neatly, while still leaving the door open for the third book. She has sharply electric prose ("A glit­ter­ing chok­er of dried blood") and dryly witty dialogue (""You're a pret­ty cool customer, huh?" "I hide my inner pain un­der my stoic visage").

And she takes some time out in the middle of the story to explore what a world with workers would be like: some people defend their rights, while others don't care about rights as long as they feel "safe" and the government is in control.

Cassel is still a "leopard pretending to be a housecat" -- a young man raised among criminals and grifters, but who still desperately wants to do the right thing, but keeps getting yanked back into MoralAmbiguityville. Black also fleshes out his conflicted, fiery love interest Lila, whose love for him may or may not be real, as well as his friends Sam and Daneca.

Holly Black might as well be a curse worker herself, because "Red Glove" is a spellbinding experience that wrenches your emotions and your gut.