Customer Reviews

02 Glasswrights Progress

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Glasswright's Progress" is an improvement over her debut novel "Glasswright's Apprentice," which was an interesting quasi-medieval/feudal look at royalty, religion and society. Ms. Klasky's writing shows more depth and breadth, and her narrative flows more smoothly than in her debut novel.

One thing I really enjoyed about this book is that it wasn't what I expected. Rani Trader and her companion Mair of the Touched are immediately abducted by Prince Bashnorandi, and carried off to the court of Sin Hazar. Sin Hazar is an enemy of Morenia's King Halaravilli (or King Hal, for short), mainly because his society is quite different, and because Sin Hazar was raised to take anything he wanted due to how _his_ country views castes.

Rani and Mair form new alliances while King Hal tries desperately to find out what's happened to them; Hal must discard old alliances in favor of a new, uncertain future, and the outcome is always in doubt.

As I've said before, Ms. Klasky is superlative at showing moral ambiguity, and how the choices a person makes are more important than they might seem.

All in all, I'd call "Glasswright's Progress" a very strong book, one that succeeds in telling a darkly realistic tale. I would have liked to see more about Rani's quest to rebuilt the Glasswright's Guild, but I suppose that can wait for later books.

I really debated about what amount of stars to give this book; it's very good, and makes all its points. And I really enjoyed Rani and Mair in this book, far more than in the previous book (and I liked them there, too). Which is why I rounded up to five stars.

And I'd definitely recommend it. It's very interesting, and it might even stand on its own (without the first book, "Glasswright's Apprentice"), although it definitely is enriched by reading "Apprentice" first.

Barb Caffrey

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.

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.

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.

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

Really a very, very good book. If you were daunted by the first one, this one has a simpler plot and a lot of character. I couldn't put it down and didn't get confused, like I did with the first one. All of the old characters return in full force, most notably Hal as King of Morenia--and, of course, Rani, with as much intrigue and tricks up her sleeves as ever. Amazing, amazing book.

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 bastard 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 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'm sorry, I found this a step down from the Glasswright's Apprentice. That was a reasonably good book, but didn't really warrant a continuation of the story. The characterization is lame and Lasky does nothing to make you like these people, or care what really happens to them.