Glow [Hardcover]

At first, this book reminded me of Across the Universe. However it wasn't at all the same. The only thing that would be considered similar is it takes place out in space, on a ship. That's it. And I was so very very glad it came out much more different because I thoroughly enjoyed this book and practically devoured it in one setting. Yes. It was THAT good.

The plot was very well done. It took you on several twists and turns you sort of had an idea on what to expect, but you just didn't know how it was going to be planned out. I think that was what made the book so enjoyable to read. There are two main story arcs, and I can't decide which one I liked better, because I liked reading about both. I'd have to say though, the one that drew my emotions out more had to be Kieran's story. It was almost like reading Lord of the Flies, but on a spaceship. That particular story arc made me want to gnash my teeth in anger at how Kieran was treated.

The characters were well done. I liked Waverly, I wasn't sure what to make of her at first, but as the story progressed, she grew increasingly stronger and I loved that about her. Kieran is the same and I think that's why they just go so well together. I'm concerned about Kieran though. He's definitely misguided and I'm hoping Waverly doesn't rely too much on that evil horrible character Seth (oh I really hated him, Kieran,why did you have to be so nice??!!!) because I really didn't like the way the story was headed in the end (not that I didn't like reading it, more like, I am hoping Waverly doesn't make bad decisions here). However, I still loved the book. The ending was a cliffhanger, which makes you want to anticipate the second book even more!

So, read this! seriously! pick this book up! and enjoy like I did!! I can't wait for the second book (which is due out soon). Definitely recommended if you like Sci-fi YA or if you liked books like Across the Universe.

Let me just say that this book is disturbing, very, VERY disturbing. If you don't like the idea of women being nothing more than a body with fertile eggs, then you will find GLOW to be quite horrific. These girls - especially Waverly - go through a hell of a lot of trauma. I loathed Seth (the bad boy who seems mildly sociopathic,) and I came to hate Kieran as well. Basically Waverly either ends up with a mildly-insane, cruel-beyond-belief guy like Seth, or a sweet, loving, yet completely brainwashed Kieran who has developed a massive God Complex and is now preaching religious bull to the impressionable children. No matter who Waverly ends up with, I will be unhappy because I hate them both so much.

But seriously, putting this book down was impossible. And overall, I think I liked Waverly's character. It is a very unusual book, and at times I felt nauseous (like when the girls were being used for their eggs, and Seth locked Kieran up and made him suffer,) but I am definitely reading the next one. I *have* to know what happens.

I won this ARC in a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway. I did not receive any compensation for my review, and the views expressed herein are my own.

This is a dystopian novel that is the first in a planned trilogy, which takes place entirely in space aboard a spaceship called the Empyrean. At some point of time in the future after Earth has been destroyed, the inhabitants of the Empyrean and their allied spaceship, the New Horizon, are planning a colony on New Earth.

Interestingly, the inhabitants of the two spaceships were separated into secular (the Empyrean) and non-secular (the New Horizon). The story has a "good versus evil" feel to it, but the people don't fall onto the side that you initially would expect.

The protagonist in the story is Waverly Marshall, a 15 year-old girl whose father was killed in an accident aboard the Empyrean when she was just a child. A love triangle between Waverly, Kieran (the 16 year-old boy to whom she is betrothed that is next in line to take over as Captain), and Seth (a 16 year-old boy whom she has been friends with since childhood and secretly longs for her) is hinted at but it doesn't really develop in this book.

The story starts off with a bang when armed men from the New Horizon spaceship come aboard the Empyrean and gather all the girls together and move them to their spaceship. The Captain of the New Horizon, Anne Mather, tells the girls that they were rescued and brought there for their own protection because of an air lock malfunction on the Empyrean that caused an explosive decompression.

When Kieran learns that there are no children about the New Horizon and that all of the women are infertile, he realizes that there is more going on than anyone is aware of.

Glow is fast-paced with a lot of action! The story is told from the alternating points of view of Waverly and Kieran, and I always find that I enjoy books with multiple narrators. Waverly is a strong and smart heroine. What she does is admirable, and I liked her character although I wish she was a little more complex. I enjoyed Kieran as well, but I feel as though I didn't really learn much about Seth aside from the fact that he is somewhat dark and dangerous. I hope that Ryan digs deeper into their characters.

What I enjoyed even more than the teenaged stars (Waverly, Kieran, and Seth) are the villains. Ryan has done a fantastic job creating so many ne'er-do-well characters and, at times, Ryan had me second-guessing who could be trusted!

The only thing that I didn't like about Glow was that the latter half of the book felt "preachy" to me. I don't normally have problems with books that include references to Scripture, but there was something about Kieran's transformation that left a bad taste in my mouth.

Overall, I still really enjoyed the book and the storyline has hooked me. I am looking forward to seeing where Ryan takes us next in Spark, which is due to be released in July 2012.

MY RATING: 4 stars! I really liked it and would recommend it!