Customer Reviews

01 Glasswrights Apprentice

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I would have to disagree with most of the reviewers. I found this book rather tantalizing. It not only had action, adventure, love it also gave you something to think about. Rani Trader has grown up in a town where everyone has their own group and their own classification. Everyone usually stays within that class and doesn't mingle with the others. But Rani is put in a situation in which she will have to pretend she is in all the classes at one time or another. She finds that even though what she has been told, everyone is somewhat the same no matter what class. There is a lot more to the book as well. Give it a try!

I had no problem with the writing style or the basic plot. It would have been an enjoyable read except for one problem: the main character. I agree, she is selfish. But even worse, she is just an idiot. She is one of the stupidest characters I have come across in literature. Her choices are completely irrational and confusing; we are given no reason why she acts in such unbelievable ways. I prefer to read about characters whose actions are based on the their personalities and experiences, not random choices for the sake of the plot.

This book started out with the biggest onslought of action I have ever read and then didn't really stop till close to the end. If you like constant action then i sujest this book but if you like a little bit more substance and power then don't read this. I whent out and bought the intire series(on account of my library not having it) and was sadly dissapointed. The main character ended up being an absolute sef sentered idiot! I kept looking for some significant grouth of maturaty as the book progressed. This significant change in maturaty and decision making is normaly what happens when you start off whith a character that stupid and unable to see the differednt sides of situations but that growth never happened. I was constantly being frustrated by the main character's desecions to the point where I would groan aloud. The only thing that kept me reading was the need to know what happened. I read the rest of the series hoping the situation would improve but it didn't. The only book in Klasky's entire Glasswright series I acctually thought was worth reading was the Progress. It wasnt a boring book it just wasntvery well writen and didnt envolve me like other actually well writen books. Unfortunitly I probably have expectations which are far too high and the majority of teen readers will probably like this book.

After reading so many fantasy books about epic wars and lost loves, I went searching for something different. What I found in The Glasswrights' Apprentice was just that. This is not a tale about cataclysmic wars and galactic struggles between opposing powers, but a tale about a single girl who is trying to return the honor of a broken guild. Though the entire book is virtually nothing but thoughts to herself, those thoughts are interesting and further the plot. Action and suspense run rampant in this book; sometimes they run faster than Rani does at times. For something fresh and new, this book is a definate read.

This book, "The Glasswright's Apprentice," is much better than the already reviewed "Season of Sacrifice," and thankfully so. It has an interesting plot, a likable heroine (Rani Trader), and believable themes. It even has a prince that is reminiscent of Poor Tom in King Lear, who rises to the occasion at the end.

I think I liked this book more because of the prince, Hal (with a much longer royal name), than I did because of Rani. Still, Rani wasn't a bad character, exactly; too easily led in some ways, as when she killed the soldier, but not bad.

Btw, killing the soldier was a totally unexpected move; how could she have been that naive? Trusting the Brotherhood, whether her last relation was in it or not, was not a smart move; she already knew Guildmistress Salina, who'd betrayed her much earlier in the book, was a member of the Brotherhood. So, why do it?

That was one really bad, bad move, and a totally unexpected one.

The ending, however, was not as "unexpected" as I'd been led to believe by the color blurbs. Basically, Hal had to do something; he liked Rani, knew she wasn't bad, and revealing himself as a sort of uber-guardian wasn't all that surprising to me.

Btw, the characterizations of the Touched (the casteless folks who run the streets, and who are treated terribly poorly) was spot-on; most people in the medieval era, as now, prefer not to think of those less fortunate than themselves. Yet the Touched here are very, very believable, complex characters; hardly bums, they're trying for meaning in the only way open to them.

I'll definitely give the next "Glasswright's" book a try, because this book was a strong effort. And, I want to see what happens to the new King Hal . . . he seemed to have enormous promise as a character.

When Rani Trader finds herself wanted for the murder of the Prince, she flees from her condemned guild house and takes to the city streets, disguising herself along the way, and desperately seeking the truth behind the vile crime that everyone believes she is responsible for. But lies and treachery abound and Rani unknowingly becomes a pawn in an evil plot that centers on The Brotherhood, a secret organization that has been growing for years and encompasses her guild, her family, and even as high up as the royal household.

I really loved this book! I stayed up all night to read it from the first page to the last. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough, and there wasn't a single dull moment where you can say to yourself, "Okay, here's a good spot to take a break and come back later." I found myself completely wrapped up in Rani's plight, and followed right along in her footsteps, trying to puzzle out what was really going on and who to trust. Ms. Klasky did a wonderful job of describing the very interesting caste system she's created, and the important role of the Gods in these people's lives.

This book has it all; mystery and intrigue, lies and deception, love and loss, friendship and betrayal, action and suspense, and ultimate truth and atonement. The world was real and believable, the characters were intriguing, and the plot was expertly woven together, with nice little twists and turns along the way. It was also a roller-coaster of emotions that even coaxed forth some tears. If a book can make me cry, it's definitely a keeper! And even though things are wrapped up nicely at the end, I still can't wait to dive into the next book in the series (The Glasswrights' Progress) to see what happens next for this plucky little heroine!

Rani lives in a world unlike ours where moving from one class to another is nearly impossible. For that reason her parents spend all the money they have to make her an apprentice to the Galsswrights guild, a place where she will have the skills to live a better life than as a simple merchant. But when she sneaks into the temple one day to watch a special ceremony involving the crown prince her whole life changes. Suddenly the prince is dead and everyone thinks she's the one who killed him. The Glasswrights guild is destroyed and the kings men are out hunting for her. Rani doesn't know what to do or who to trust. Running through the city streets she starts to learn about a secret government who speak of equality among the castes, a brotherhood that deals in murder. What can Rani do?

Although the beginning of this novel at first turned me off it quickly picks up to a suspenseful pace. I was a bit shocked that there was no magic or any kind of sorcery in this novel, considering I found it in the fantasy section, but it did not make my reading experience any worse. If you're into medieval novels that are fast paced and don't necessary need to have magic in them this is for you. I'm looking foreword to reading the rest of Rani's books.

This book has a realy good cover but gets realy boaring. I started this book three different times and was only able to make it half way. The turn of events just isn't that interesting.

Interesting setting and background for the storyline.

I love the qurkiness of first novels, but this one suffers from "muddle in the middle." That doesn't make it a bad book. It was quite readable. What bothered me perhaps more was that it was marketed as a fantasy novel without a clear element that could be called "fantasy." Other than taking place in another place and time, there wasn't really anything of the genre in the book.

For a truly excellent first novel published in the genre in 2000, take a look at Carol Berg's Transformation.

That said, I'll read Ms. Klasky's other books and see how she progresses as a writer. She clearly has some very interesting ideas.