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The Glass Wall #1
The Glass Wall
17-year-old Sydney's only interest in life is flying under the radar.
But destiny has other plans when the tall, handsome, formal, and unusual Rafael Channing moves into the neighborhood. Athletic and with killer looks, he wears black eyeliner like a magician and seems to be watching Sydney's every move.
What starts out as a light-hearted investigation with her gadget-happy foster father takes a serious turn when she discovers that Rafael isn't human. Add Jareth, the country's latest rock sensation, into the mix and Sydney is swept into a mysterious world of Tulpas, the Fae, and the Brotherhood of the Snake.
Sydney doesn't know she's a Blue Thread of Fate. She doesn't know the fate of humanity depends on her choice of whom to trust--Jareth or Rafael. And she certainly doesn't know that she's taken the first step on the unexpected path of love.
Ages 12+ [83,605 words - 352 pages of a 6X9 book ]
Don't forget to read the free prequel short story "Behind the Mirror"!
But destiny has other plans when the tall, handsome, formal, and unusual Rafael Channing moves into the neighborhood. Athletic and with killer looks, he wears black eyeliner like a magician and seems to be watching Sydney's every move.
What starts out as a light-hearted investigation with her gadget-happy foster father takes a serious turn when she discovers that Rafael isn't human. Add Jareth, the country's latest rock sensation, into the mix and Sydney is swept into a mysterious world of Tulpas, the Fae, and the Brotherhood of the Snake.
Sydney doesn't know she's a Blue Thread of Fate. She doesn't know the fate of humanity depends on her choice of whom to trust--Jareth or Rafael. And she certainly doesn't know that she's taken the first step on the unexpected path of love.
Ages 12+ [83,605 words - 352 pages of a 6X9 book ]
Don't forget to read the free prequel short story "Behind the Mirror"!
347 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 5, 2011
130 people are currently reading
898 people want to read
About the author
Madison Adler
5 books37 followersAlso known as Carmen Caine
Like many of us on this planet, Madison Adler is from another world. She spends every moment she can scribbling stories on sticky notes that her kids find posted all over the car, house, and barn.
When she is not working as a software engineer, she is busy ferrying her kids to various appointments, writing lyrics for her husband's songs, taking care of the dog Tigger and his heart condition, attempting to tame her three insane cats, scratching her three Nigerian Dwarf Goats behind the horns or coddling her flock of thirty bizarre chickens from around the world.
Like many of us on this planet, Madison Adler is from another world. She spends every moment she can scribbling stories on sticky notes that her kids find posted all over the car, house, and barn.
When she is not working as a software engineer, she is busy ferrying her kids to various appointments, writing lyrics for her husband's songs, taking care of the dog Tigger and his heart condition, attempting to tame her three insane cats, scratching her three Nigerian Dwarf Goats behind the horns or coddling her flock of thirty bizarre chickens from around the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
June 26, 2012
It doesn't really break any new ground in the "two guys one girl paranormal creature" thing, but it wont insult your intelligence and has some nice twists.
Sydney is a girl being moved to her new foster family. They're a bunch of oddballs, but odder still are the flawlessly perfect, vaguely glam-ish people next door, who seem to take an interest in her. Add one annoying rock star who is interested in both her and one of the glam kids, Rafael, and hijinks ensue. Cue the standard "fate of the world" struggle.
It's really not that bad. You'll guess what Rafael is right away, but the author manages to add some twists that make you not sure what to think, like Jareth's immunity to a certain thing, and the world of Avalon. You wont want to smack Sydney for being unlikable, although a little more explanation why she seems so pivotal to things would be nice. I don't want to say the book is average, more like it's solid. If it had been a little wickeder it might be four stars, but it plays it safe.
Not bad if you like Fae books and need an inexpensive and decent new series, but it won't convert you and won't be different enough from the usual formula of these books.
Sydney is a girl being moved to her new foster family. They're a bunch of oddballs, but odder still are the flawlessly perfect, vaguely glam-ish people next door, who seem to take an interest in her. Add one annoying rock star who is interested in both her and one of the glam kids, Rafael, and hijinks ensue. Cue the standard "fate of the world" struggle.
It's really not that bad. You'll guess what Rafael is right away, but the author manages to add some twists that make you not sure what to think, like Jareth's immunity to a certain thing, and the world of Avalon. You wont want to smack Sydney for being unlikable, although a little more explanation why she seems so pivotal to things would be nice. I don't want to say the book is average, more like it's solid. If it had been a little wickeder it might be four stars, but it plays it safe.
Not bad if you like Fae books and need an inexpensive and decent new series, but it won't convert you and won't be different enough from the usual formula of these books.
July 19, 2016
This book surprised the heck out of me after reading a long string of truly dire free books. I'm pretty sure it is self-published as it has a lot of the common problems that would be solved by a competent editor... but despite those things, I really enjoyed reading it. And at the end of the day, my enjoyment is how I value a book.
I liked the main character - she seemed real enough and reacted to what was going on around her with spunk and motivation. I loved that she had a non-traditional family situation - she was bouncing from foster home to foster home with a mother in and out of rehab and had all the associated confusion. This was handled well - this wasn't just a bolt-on flaw, it was real and Sydney had some issues as a result.
The foster family in the story could have gone so far wrong - they were all very quirky and could have seemed so fake, but I ended up really liking them. I was interested in what happened to all of the characters in this book, and they all seemed real and differentiated.
The plot can be a bit confusing and the full reveal doesn't happen - there is a definite cliffhanger - but by the end I didn't mind because I was invested and willing to seek out the next book.
I have already bought the prequel short novella and am waiting for the next, which I will purchase.
Format: Kindle
Price Paid: Free
Recommended: Yes
Value: up to $4
Will I Buy the Next: Yes
I liked the main character - she seemed real enough and reacted to what was going on around her with spunk and motivation. I loved that she had a non-traditional family situation - she was bouncing from foster home to foster home with a mother in and out of rehab and had all the associated confusion. This was handled well - this wasn't just a bolt-on flaw, it was real and Sydney had some issues as a result.
The foster family in the story could have gone so far wrong - they were all very quirky and could have seemed so fake, but I ended up really liking them. I was interested in what happened to all of the characters in this book, and they all seemed real and differentiated.
The plot can be a bit confusing and the full reveal doesn't happen - there is a definite cliffhanger - but by the end I didn't mind because I was invested and willing to seek out the next book.
I have already bought the prequel short novella and am waiting for the next, which I will purchase.
Format: Kindle
Price Paid: Free
Recommended: Yes
Value: up to $4
Will I Buy the Next: Yes
July 13, 2012
As i have mentioned in other reviews when I download an amazon freebie, i pretty much always expect a 3 star or lower class of book. This book blew me away. The writing & editing are fantastic. The concept & story are brilliant. It was refreshing & interesting. The fae weren't the same as the cookie cutter version most authors use so that was a plus.
As soon as i finished this book i rushed on goodreads hoping that book 2 had been released so i could buy it & read it tonight! Sadly it is out yet so i will have to be patient :(
When the book started i had no idea how it was going to play out & i must say it was a brilliant surprise. I loved the characters & the interactions between them.
I would recommend this book & I will read the following books in the series.
If you enjoyed this book I also recommend The Changelings another fae book which i really enjoyed :)
(to read this review & more like it visit - http://bookprotagonist.blogspot.co.uk/)
As soon as i finished this book i rushed on goodreads hoping that book 2 had been released so i could buy it & read it tonight! Sadly it is out yet so i will have to be patient :(
When the book started i had no idea how it was going to play out & i must say it was a brilliant surprise. I loved the characters & the interactions between them.
I would recommend this book & I will read the following books in the series.
If you enjoyed this book I also recommend The Changelings another fae book which i really enjoyed :)
(to read this review & more like it visit - http://bookprotagonist.blogspot.co.uk/)
February 1, 2012
As much as I wanted to really like it, I found the cover more interesting than the books contents. Top marks for unintentional hilarity though as I found myself laughing a lot at the descriptions of the Fae's choice of clothing. I couldn't take it seriously with so much glitter and spangle being thrown around!!
November 17, 2018
Quick easy read
Nice and easy read with a captivating plot good to kill a couple of hours whilst traveling on a busy train
Nice and easy read with a captivating plot good to kill a couple of hours whilst traveling on a busy train
August 16, 2019
A fairly interesting book but nothing special, in my opinion.
June 27, 2020
Great read
Great book, very different. Can't wait to read part two. Sydney & Rafael make a good team, hope they get to team up with Jareth
Great book, very different. Can't wait to read part two. Sydney & Rafael make a good team, hope they get to team up with Jareth
March 4, 2019
This was a fun read. Although aimed at teenagers rather than adults, I enjoyed it and would recommend it to younger teenagers especially. It's good to have a non-standard central character, and a teenage female in foster care fits that description well. I also liked that the foster family are caring, kind, generous and supportive, showing how much of a positive impact such a foster placement can have on a youngster by providing a secure and safe family situation. Sydney (a girl despite her name) is feisty and smart, but she'll need all her smarts to survive the adventures with Jareth and Rafael, the two mysterious men with whom she comes into contact.
July 18, 2015
Surprisingly good
I read the Twilight series (mostly) but even with willing suspension of disbelief, I found it tedious. I judge books largely on 2 principles: 1) readability--does it suck me in? Do the words flow easily? Am i thrown back into reality by typos, poor organization or unrealistic dialogue?; and 2) believability--within the context of the book, do these characters behave consistently with their personalities? Twilight just didn't convince me that it was anything more than well-written fan fiction. That series turned me off of the "paranormal romance" genre.
I mention Twilight because, for better or worse, it's the ruler by which I measure all books in that genre, including this one.
This book has a high readability factor. I'm not particularly interested in paranormal romance. In fact, I tend to run away from it. I've encountered other books about the "Fae" and they're so obviously fawning fan fiction.
The Glass Wall description doesn't mention the Fae. It talks about fate and whether one girl could change the fate of all of humanity. The only thing the girl in Twilight did is moon over a vampire with skin that was cold and hard like marble (what woman really wants to cozy up to that?) Sydney is "normal," but unlike the love interest in Twilight, Rafael doesn't find her immediately (and inexplicably) captivating. Sydney acts like a normal teenage girl. She cares about school, she squeals in delight when she gets tickets to a pop concert (featuring the delicious bad boy Jareth), she respects the adults around her, she dives into the investigation of the mysterious boy across the street with her stepfather. She's a good girl and she never once simpers or pines which makes her totally refreshing.
Frankly, this book sucked me in. It was well written, and I easily pictured the scenes as they played out. The dialogue was believable. Rafael came across as largely innocent of everyday human behavior while clearly admiring humans in general. His main interest in Sydney to begin with, and for at least half the book, is that she's a "blue thread." And even when he's accused of the betrayal of loving a human, the development of his affection for Sydney happens slowly and there's no overt sign of romance. The reader knows there's going to be a romance between the two but they don't. There's no lightening strike moment of love; they don't have to stay away from each other to keep their passion in check. There's no ridiculous plot to keep them apart "I could hurt you if I love you so alas I have to keep my hands off you though it pains me to do so!" a la Twilight. In other words, the book is lacking in melodrama.
It's a good book. I've downloaded the rest of the books in the series and am eager to start reading them.
I read the Twilight series (mostly) but even with willing suspension of disbelief, I found it tedious. I judge books largely on 2 principles: 1) readability--does it suck me in? Do the words flow easily? Am i thrown back into reality by typos, poor organization or unrealistic dialogue?; and 2) believability--within the context of the book, do these characters behave consistently with their personalities? Twilight just didn't convince me that it was anything more than well-written fan fiction. That series turned me off of the "paranormal romance" genre.
I mention Twilight because, for better or worse, it's the ruler by which I measure all books in that genre, including this one.
This book has a high readability factor. I'm not particularly interested in paranormal romance. In fact, I tend to run away from it. I've encountered other books about the "Fae" and they're so obviously fawning fan fiction.
The Glass Wall description doesn't mention the Fae. It talks about fate and whether one girl could change the fate of all of humanity. The only thing the girl in Twilight did is moon over a vampire with skin that was cold and hard like marble (what woman really wants to cozy up to that?) Sydney is "normal," but unlike the love interest in Twilight, Rafael doesn't find her immediately (and inexplicably) captivating. Sydney acts like a normal teenage girl. She cares about school, she squeals in delight when she gets tickets to a pop concert (featuring the delicious bad boy Jareth), she respects the adults around her, she dives into the investigation of the mysterious boy across the street with her stepfather. She's a good girl and she never once simpers or pines which makes her totally refreshing.
Frankly, this book sucked me in. It was well written, and I easily pictured the scenes as they played out. The dialogue was believable. Rafael came across as largely innocent of everyday human behavior while clearly admiring humans in general. His main interest in Sydney to begin with, and for at least half the book, is that she's a "blue thread." And even when he's accused of the betrayal of loving a human, the development of his affection for Sydney happens slowly and there's no overt sign of romance. The reader knows there's going to be a romance between the two but they don't. There's no lightening strike moment of love; they don't have to stay away from each other to keep their passion in check. There's no ridiculous plot to keep them apart "I could hurt you if I love you so alas I have to keep my hands off you though it pains me to do so!" a la Twilight. In other words, the book is lacking in melodrama.
It's a good book. I've downloaded the rest of the books in the series and am eager to start reading them.
June 18, 2013
I've found, through disappointing experience, that free books in the Kindle store on Amazon are generally awful. Liberally dowsed with typing errors, repetitive phrases and thoroughly disengaging writing- clearly I've read some free publications which have disenchanted me to the phenomenon of free e-books. Rant aside, 'The Glass Wall' was somewhat refreshing.
The storyline was on the whole well thought out with interesting plot twists, and the universe successfully avoided being a generic 'magical world'. The characters were well developed with believable personalities, and I felt that the continuous growth of minor characters and their relationships was smooth and well done- often lesser characters are ignored and then suddenly brought back into the main flow of the story with a sudden burst of intense detail. Adlers relationship development between Sydney, the main female character, and her new foster family were done superbly. The little details, such as the foster mothers addiction to online eBay bidding, were humourous yet avoided the common trap of repetitiveness therefore allowing the characters to develop for the reader without over emphasis. My main criticisms are the fact that I didn't particularly relate to the main character, Sydney, and I found some of the dialogue to be slightly stilted. The descriptions in some places were a bit over the top, for example the makeup of the new neighbours (attempting to avoid spoilers!) became a bit annoying. Looking at other reviews, I think these little critiques vary from person to person, and a personal dislike of boys in makeup shouldn't discourage readers from giving this a go! There was a romance theme ongoing throughout the book, and I was relieved to find it wasn't a 'we met and now immediately we're in true love' plot. The instant love premise has seriously been overdone, and for once I was wanting the flirtation to speed up a little! As it's the first in a series, I feel the author has taken a clever route in slowly developing a relationship whilst hinting at a romance between the main characters rather than rushing it and ruining the credibility.
On the whole this was an engaging paranormal ebook, suitable for older teens and young adults. As 'The Glass Wall' is currently free on Amazon, it becomes more appealing, and lessens the impact of the clear lack of competent editing influence. Unlike many other free books, I finished this quickly and the plot was intriguing which immediately places it far above the majority of free Kindle ebooks.
The storyline was on the whole well thought out with interesting plot twists, and the universe successfully avoided being a generic 'magical world'. The characters were well developed with believable personalities, and I felt that the continuous growth of minor characters and their relationships was smooth and well done- often lesser characters are ignored and then suddenly brought back into the main flow of the story with a sudden burst of intense detail. Adlers relationship development between Sydney, the main female character, and her new foster family were done superbly. The little details, such as the foster mothers addiction to online eBay bidding, were humourous yet avoided the common trap of repetitiveness therefore allowing the characters to develop for the reader without over emphasis. My main criticisms are the fact that I didn't particularly relate to the main character, Sydney, and I found some of the dialogue to be slightly stilted. The descriptions in some places were a bit over the top, for example the makeup of the new neighbours (attempting to avoid spoilers!) became a bit annoying. Looking at other reviews, I think these little critiques vary from person to person, and a personal dislike of boys in makeup shouldn't discourage readers from giving this a go! There was a romance theme ongoing throughout the book, and I was relieved to find it wasn't a 'we met and now immediately we're in true love' plot. The instant love premise has seriously been overdone, and for once I was wanting the flirtation to speed up a little! As it's the first in a series, I feel the author has taken a clever route in slowly developing a relationship whilst hinting at a romance between the main characters rather than rushing it and ruining the credibility.
On the whole this was an engaging paranormal ebook, suitable for older teens and young adults. As 'The Glass Wall' is currently free on Amazon, it becomes more appealing, and lessens the impact of the clear lack of competent editing influence. Unlike many other free books, I finished this quickly and the plot was intriguing which immediately places it far above the majority of free Kindle ebooks.
April 15, 2012
This book kept me interested. I just really wanted to figure out what these supernatural beings were. I think I figured it out a bit sooner than our main character, Sydney, did though. Oh well. I like that she didn’t exactly guess correctly and even when she did find out what they were, she tended to revert back to her original assumption.
I like the storyline of Sydney developing her relationships with her foster family verses her real mother. I like how Grace has a crush on Rafael first and how she behaves about it—though I’m also glad that Grace isn’t the main character. I like how Grace’s attentions are shifted from Rafael. Oh and Al, Sydney’s foster dad, at the Thanksgiving scene, was hilarious. Down-right hilarious. Loved that scene. Laughed out loud reading that scene.
*Possible SPOILERS ahead, please proceed with caution.* However, I don’t like how Sydney seems not really oblivious to boys….but uninterested…and then all of a sudden she is…interested. And I don’t like how all of these other people keep saying “they see how Rafael looks at Sydney,” but there really feels like there’s no reason for him to like her. Or at least as a reader, I didn’t understand why he does. And there were times when I was reading that I flat just didn’t believe that he did like her. It didn’t feel believable to me. It felt like the author needed Rafael to like Sydney not that he actually did. I actually got more from Jareth in the way of feelings and reason to have feelings for Sydney than I did from Rafael. Now granted maybe all will be explored and explained in the upcoming books, guess we’ll have to wait and see.
Oh and I get that Rafael is a supernatural being and all—and all supernatural beings have their pros and cons—but he’s just a little too hetero for my taste. The makeup and sequins were just a bit too much. Especially when he crossed over into feather territory. Some eyeliner I MIGHT be able to handle. And yes I understand that Steven Tyler has a feather in his hair. You also see more pre-teen girls with the feather in their hair to mimic Steven Tyler than you do grown men or teenage boys. But the sequins? I can’t…just can’t buy that for a dude.
Overall good read. Check out The Glass Wall by Madison Adler.
I like the storyline of Sydney developing her relationships with her foster family verses her real mother. I like how Grace has a crush on Rafael first and how she behaves about it—though I’m also glad that Grace isn’t the main character. I like how Grace’s attentions are shifted from Rafael. Oh and Al, Sydney’s foster dad, at the Thanksgiving scene, was hilarious. Down-right hilarious. Loved that scene. Laughed out loud reading that scene.
*Possible SPOILERS ahead, please proceed with caution.* However, I don’t like how Sydney seems not really oblivious to boys….but uninterested…and then all of a sudden she is…interested. And I don’t like how all of these other people keep saying “they see how Rafael looks at Sydney,” but there really feels like there’s no reason for him to like her. Or at least as a reader, I didn’t understand why he does. And there were times when I was reading that I flat just didn’t believe that he did like her. It didn’t feel believable to me. It felt like the author needed Rafael to like Sydney not that he actually did. I actually got more from Jareth in the way of feelings and reason to have feelings for Sydney than I did from Rafael. Now granted maybe all will be explored and explained in the upcoming books, guess we’ll have to wait and see.
Oh and I get that Rafael is a supernatural being and all—and all supernatural beings have their pros and cons—but he’s just a little too hetero for my taste. The makeup and sequins were just a bit too much. Especially when he crossed over into feather territory. Some eyeliner I MIGHT be able to handle. And yes I understand that Steven Tyler has a feather in his hair. You also see more pre-teen girls with the feather in their hair to mimic Steven Tyler than you do grown men or teenage boys. But the sequins? I can’t…just can’t buy that for a dude.
Overall good read. Check out The Glass Wall by Madison Adler.
October 18, 2011
The Glass Wall – Sci/Fi Fantasy meets Suburbia!
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Author: Madison Adler
Format: Kindle, Paperback
Staring out the car window, Sidney takes in the neighborhood that will become her next temporary home. As her social worker Neelu says all the right things about the foster family she’ll will be living with, Sydney tunes her out having heard it all before. Months from now her mom will be out of rehab and they'll move across country to once more start over only to replay the entire scene sequence again. Much to her surprise however, Sydney quickly takes to her new foster parents and even their athletic daughter Grace. For once in her life, Sydney started to feel like she belonged and all would have been fine had not been for the strange neighbors across the street whose strange behavior and expensive cars are far out of place in this lower middle class neighborhood. Sydney's foster father Al suspects the neighbors are dealing drugs, and he and Sydney install a few hidden video cameras to begin surveillance. What Sydney learns, however, is something more than she ever bargained for, and she soon finds that it is she and not her neighbors that is at the center of all that is strange in the neighborhood.
Madison Alder's "The Glass Wall" is a different type of fantasy book. The beginning third of the book reads a bit like an after school special about the lonely girl whose only real friend is her pet mouse that she has smuggled from foster home to foster home. This premise is itself a compelling read. Then midway through the reader comes to understand that the neighbors are much more than they appear. Without giving the plot away, this is more a sci/fi/fantasy novel than one might first expect. Adler integrates these diverse elements in such a way that they read very plausible managing the suspension of disbelief factor well.
For those interested in a different twist in this genre, check out The Glass Wall. It is the first in a series and at only $0.99 it is a bargain!
Note: A complimentary copy of this work was provided in return for a review.
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Author: Madison Adler
Format: Kindle, Paperback
Staring out the car window, Sidney takes in the neighborhood that will become her next temporary home. As her social worker Neelu says all the right things about the foster family she’ll will be living with, Sydney tunes her out having heard it all before. Months from now her mom will be out of rehab and they'll move across country to once more start over only to replay the entire scene sequence again. Much to her surprise however, Sydney quickly takes to her new foster parents and even their athletic daughter Grace. For once in her life, Sydney started to feel like she belonged and all would have been fine had not been for the strange neighbors across the street whose strange behavior and expensive cars are far out of place in this lower middle class neighborhood. Sydney's foster father Al suspects the neighbors are dealing drugs, and he and Sydney install a few hidden video cameras to begin surveillance. What Sydney learns, however, is something more than she ever bargained for, and she soon finds that it is she and not her neighbors that is at the center of all that is strange in the neighborhood.
Madison Alder's "The Glass Wall" is a different type of fantasy book. The beginning third of the book reads a bit like an after school special about the lonely girl whose only real friend is her pet mouse that she has smuggled from foster home to foster home. This premise is itself a compelling read. Then midway through the reader comes to understand that the neighbors are much more than they appear. Without giving the plot away, this is more a sci/fi/fantasy novel than one might first expect. Adler integrates these diverse elements in such a way that they read very plausible managing the suspension of disbelief factor well.
For those interested in a different twist in this genre, check out The Glass Wall. It is the first in a series and at only $0.99 it is a bargain!
Note: A complimentary copy of this work was provided in return for a review.
January 8, 2012
*same review posted on Amazon* This book is very good. I am not normally one who enjoys books written from the first person pov but in this case the author makes it work. The story is fast paced and a good way to spend the afternoon, I finished it in less than 6 hours and cannot wait until the next book is published. The kindle price makes it the best value buy I have made so far.
The only complaint I had was that in places the language is a bit awkward. The author chooses not to use common contractions of some words which throw the flow and speech off. However this flaw is more than made up for by the characters being very well written. Best of all in my mind is that the interactions seem natural within the world the author has created. I have read other reviews comparing this to certain other authors, none of which I agree with. This book does not feel like the poorly written style of Twilight, or the fanfiction rewrite style of Claire. Most of all the lead female character is not simpering or helpless. Her confusion about the events taking place is well placed and expected, and her spunk while dealing with the situations presented seems logical and natural.
If you are searching for a clear story line from the get go this book is not for you, it is also not for you if you are only here for a weak female stereotype or the romance. There are no forced romantic interactions, or fake seeming emotional hangups. In fact this book deals solely with the possibility of the inevitable romance and to me harkens back more to the work of L.J. Smith. I would suggest this book to anyone who enjoys supernatural fantasy that is still firmly rooted in the real world. The next book will no doubt deal more with the supernatural aspects of the world the author has created, but with this book the author clearly demonstrates her ability to logically inject that supernatural element into a realistic plot.
The only complaint I had was that in places the language is a bit awkward. The author chooses not to use common contractions of some words which throw the flow and speech off. However this flaw is more than made up for by the characters being very well written. Best of all in my mind is that the interactions seem natural within the world the author has created. I have read other reviews comparing this to certain other authors, none of which I agree with. This book does not feel like the poorly written style of Twilight, or the fanfiction rewrite style of Claire. Most of all the lead female character is not simpering or helpless. Her confusion about the events taking place is well placed and expected, and her spunk while dealing with the situations presented seems logical and natural.
If you are searching for a clear story line from the get go this book is not for you, it is also not for you if you are only here for a weak female stereotype or the romance. There are no forced romantic interactions, or fake seeming emotional hangups. In fact this book deals solely with the possibility of the inevitable romance and to me harkens back more to the work of L.J. Smith. I would suggest this book to anyone who enjoys supernatural fantasy that is still firmly rooted in the real world. The next book will no doubt deal more with the supernatural aspects of the world the author has created, but with this book the author clearly demonstrates her ability to logically inject that supernatural element into a realistic plot.
May 4, 2013
I have had this book in my Kindle Library for a year and a half--and just gotten around to reading it. Now in some ways I wish I had sooner, but now that I have read the first 2 books in the series, I have to wait to read the thirds as it hasn't been published yet.
I read this in 2 days--and that was with working! I couldn't put it down. Sydney, a 17-year-old Foster kid learns she is being monitored bay the Fae--one of which Raphael, she is falling for the other, Jarath--on earth as a popular rock star, who Sydney dispises once she has met him.
Then she learns that she has a blue fate line. The importance in this is that "blues" as they are called can in one decision, destroy the fate of not only all humanity, but the life of 3 dimensions OR they can have and credibly positive contribution to all dimensions. They Fae are concerned that Blues (even some Faes are blues) will not choose the right path--especially humans.
Add into the mix the Lizard beings that are to be exiled the 2nd dimension, unwillingly. These lizard being feed off of human emotions, particularly fear and are trying to cross and live on Earth.
Adler keeps the pace of the story moving at a perfect pace. It is an easy read, but fun too. Adler ends the book, leaving the reader hanging--you can't wait to pick up the next book.
This is Book 1 in the 4-book "The Glass Wall Series" Book 2 is "The Brotherhood of the Snake." Book 3 is due out this summer. Adler has also written a prelude to the book called "Behind the Mirror." You do not need to read this before reading Book 1, but even after, it gives some good background to the story.
I read this in 2 days--and that was with working! I couldn't put it down. Sydney, a 17-year-old Foster kid learns she is being monitored bay the Fae--one of which Raphael, she is falling for the other, Jarath--on earth as a popular rock star, who Sydney dispises once she has met him.
Then she learns that she has a blue fate line. The importance in this is that "blues" as they are called can in one decision, destroy the fate of not only all humanity, but the life of 3 dimensions OR they can have and credibly positive contribution to all dimensions. They Fae are concerned that Blues (even some Faes are blues) will not choose the right path--especially humans.
Add into the mix the Lizard beings that are to be exiled the 2nd dimension, unwillingly. These lizard being feed off of human emotions, particularly fear and are trying to cross and live on Earth.
Adler keeps the pace of the story moving at a perfect pace. It is an easy read, but fun too. Adler ends the book, leaving the reader hanging--you can't wait to pick up the next book.
This is Book 1 in the 4-book "The Glass Wall Series" Book 2 is "The Brotherhood of the Snake." Book 3 is due out this summer. Adler has also written a prelude to the book called "Behind the Mirror." You do not need to read this before reading Book 1, but even after, it gives some good background to the story.
September 19, 2011
What an imagination Ms. Alder has revealed in writing The Glass Wall.
From red tubes called Tulpas that have the ability to suck up negativity and fear, to new worlds with two moons, she kept me immersed in her story from the beginning to the end. Partially, it was because she wrote in the first person, and so it was easy to imagine myself as Sydney, the main character. I was able to experience everything she felt and thought. Of course, that was made possible by good, strong writing skills and a lot of descriptive phrases. The author's talent kept me enthralled and forced me to read long into the night to find out what in the world would happen next.
The quirky foster family this young girl ends up inheriting added a lot of fun also. From Al, her foster father who had an abnormal interest in aliens and collected weird contraptions to try and catch them, to her lovely foster mother Betty who bought and sold all kinds of goodies on E-Bay, this family grabbed my interest. Even moody Grace, their daughter became more likable as the story progressed. My only problem is how long will it take Ms. Adler to get the second in the series published. I've got to find out what happens to handsome Rafael, sweet Sydney and her pet mouse Jerry.
From red tubes called Tulpas that have the ability to suck up negativity and fear, to new worlds with two moons, she kept me immersed in her story from the beginning to the end. Partially, it was because she wrote in the first person, and so it was easy to imagine myself as Sydney, the main character. I was able to experience everything she felt and thought. Of course, that was made possible by good, strong writing skills and a lot of descriptive phrases. The author's talent kept me enthralled and forced me to read long into the night to find out what in the world would happen next.
The quirky foster family this young girl ends up inheriting added a lot of fun also. From Al, her foster father who had an abnormal interest in aliens and collected weird contraptions to try and catch them, to her lovely foster mother Betty who bought and sold all kinds of goodies on E-Bay, this family grabbed my interest. Even moody Grace, their daughter became more likable as the story progressed. My only problem is how long will it take Ms. Adler to get the second in the series published. I've got to find out what happens to handsome Rafael, sweet Sydney and her pet mouse Jerry.
August 20, 2013
Very entertaining take on fairies.. oh, sorry, Rafael... I meant "the Fae" :-)
I found Ms. Adler's story to be a very welcome light read. Story unfolds well and the main characters each have very distinctive qualities.
The reader is immediately introduced to the heroine Sydney and her past. Throughout her 17 yrs she's been shuffled in & out of foster care due to her mother's revolving door of alcohol rehab stints. She has built up a defensive hardened emotionless skin as she enters yet another foster family's care.
It's impossible not to love this family! Al, especially, is such a character... ex-military + community neighborhood watch + high suspicion of the new & unusual neighbors next door= highly amusing entertainment. That culminates into the ultimate Thanksgiving experience:-)
The neighbors next door move in the day Sydney arrives at her new foster home. Gorgeous, mysterious and a bit odd they raise Sydney's and Al's suspicions right away. I did find the makeup and feathers a bit distracting. However, it was an interesting enough story that I'll move to the 2nd book.
No cussing & no sex... Very pleased with this YA/ teen book.
I found Ms. Adler's story to be a very welcome light read. Story unfolds well and the main characters each have very distinctive qualities.
The reader is immediately introduced to the heroine Sydney and her past. Throughout her 17 yrs she's been shuffled in & out of foster care due to her mother's revolving door of alcohol rehab stints. She has built up a defensive hardened emotionless skin as she enters yet another foster family's care.
It's impossible not to love this family! Al, especially, is such a character... ex-military + community neighborhood watch + high suspicion of the new & unusual neighbors next door= highly amusing entertainment. That culminates into the ultimate Thanksgiving experience:-)
The neighbors next door move in the day Sydney arrives at her new foster home. Gorgeous, mysterious and a bit odd they raise Sydney's and Al's suspicions right away. I did find the makeup and feathers a bit distracting. However, it was an interesting enough story that I'll move to the 2nd book.
No cussing & no sex... Very pleased with this YA/ teen book.
July 17, 2012
A very strong fantasy tale with great characters and good writing. Sydney is a delightful heroine and she is supported well by well drawn secondary characters. The writing is clean and easy to read, and Sydney has a good voice, if not the most original.
The story is interesting, but I felt was slow to start. The author does a good job of developing the character relationships, but this appears to come at the cost of plot. There's not an awful lot of action, and to be fair not much romance, either. The rivalry between Jareth and Rafael felt a bit forced at times, and the 'mystery' of Rafael dragged on for too long. Sydney's seemingly strong curiosity just wanes, which I felt weakened the story. And by the time we get a hint at answers, there's only 40 pages left to read! Hence the ending felt rushed with few threads closed, rather than having a neat cliff hanger to await the next book.
All in all though this was a fun read and the author has clear talent for writing. I hope she continues to build on this solid start, and I await book two with anticipation.
The story is interesting, but I felt was slow to start. The author does a good job of developing the character relationships, but this appears to come at the cost of plot. There's not an awful lot of action, and to be fair not much romance, either. The rivalry between Jareth and Rafael felt a bit forced at times, and the 'mystery' of Rafael dragged on for too long. Sydney's seemingly strong curiosity just wanes, which I felt weakened the story. And by the time we get a hint at answers, there's only 40 pages left to read! Hence the ending felt rushed with few threads closed, rather than having a neat cliff hanger to await the next book.
All in all though this was a fun read and the author has clear talent for writing. I hope she continues to build on this solid start, and I await book two with anticipation.
January 16, 2014
Definitely a YA book that avoids the familiar traps of annoying heroines readers usually put up with. Sydney is a foster child with a mother in and out of rehab, a teen who has seen a lot and is about to experience something totally new. Her relationship with her foster dad reminded me of "The Book Thief" just in terms of shared interests and feeling that her really cares about her--the foster mom does as well. The new sibling, new school, and the investigation Sydney sets out on to discover what makes the new neighbors so suspicious is all worked into a nice plot. Add in the craziness of a rock star hanging around Sydney and there's a lot to appreciate and enjoy.
I'm used to full-on fantasy that starts in the other world rather than ours. This barely touches on the other place till close to the end as Sydney is figuring things out. It was well done, though.
Some questions are left unanswered at the end of the book, but the next volume awaits.
I'm used to full-on fantasy that starts in the other world rather than ours. This barely touches on the other place till close to the end as Sydney is figuring things out. It was well done, though.
Some questions are left unanswered at the end of the book, but the next volume awaits.
February 8, 2016
I just couldn't even like this, though I did read it through to the (almost climactic) non-ending. The characters are inconsistent and the plot is all over the place and many of the basic world-creating terms and build-up is left to languish or be filled in by the rather inept main character. Only in the last 20% of the book do we learn anything of any real import and it feels as though that was only to make you feel a need to continue on to the next story.
I'm sorry but to me a book that spends SO MUCH TIME letting the main character numerate the many things she DOESN'T know is just bad editing. If this were half as long it STILL could have gotten the same plot across and likely done a better job of it. Disappointing all around.
*big spoiler* Also? Don't spend 75% of a book acting like your main character is too dull to recognize (after doing lots of research even) that if her neighbors are allergic to IRON they might be freaking FAE and not aliens. *sigh*
I'm sorry but to me a book that spends SO MUCH TIME letting the main character numerate the many things she DOESN'T know is just bad editing. If this were half as long it STILL could have gotten the same plot across and likely done a better job of it. Disappointing all around.
*big spoiler* Also? Don't spend 75% of a book acting like your main character is too dull to recognize (after doing lots of research even) that if her neighbors are allergic to IRON they might be freaking FAE and not aliens. *sigh*
February 5, 2012
I was expecting something else from this book. I liked the main character and I really liked her foster family. The Fae (and the endless descriptions of their over-the-top make-up and outfits) I felt "meh" about. Also, seriously, naming one of them Jareth?
Where the author really lost me was the big plot reveal. I started laughing at loud at that point. It felt really hokey and already done to me (Buckaroo Bonzai anyone?).
It was a quick read and I got it for free, so I'm not terribly disappointed. I will probably not be continuing the rest of the series.
I could see how this novel would appeal to a teenager/pre-teen. The characters were of the right age, the guys were "handsome" (despite all the glitter and tank tops), and the action kept the plot moving.
Where the author really lost me was the big plot reveal. I started laughing at loud at that point. It felt really hokey and already done to me (Buckaroo Bonzai anyone?).
It was a quick read and I got it for free, so I'm not terribly disappointed. I will probably not be continuing the rest of the series.
I could see how this novel would appeal to a teenager/pre-teen. The characters were of the right age, the guys were "handsome" (despite all the glitter and tank tops), and the action kept the plot moving.
May 8, 2017
She starts out just thinking this will be one more foster home, like all the ones before. But somehow, this one is different right from the beginning. She's drawn in by Al and Betty, who treat her as if she's one of their own children. She's not sure how to respond to Grace, who treats her like a sister. And the neighbors, well, they are out of this world! No, really, they are from another dimension. They're fairies and stuff like that! And there's Rafael. To fall in love will end it all. But somehow, they just can't seem to avoid it. As they are drawn along this course of destiny that seems ordained, they learn more and more about the evil intent of those they trusted. What can a young woman in a foster home have in common with a Fake prince? Find out!
February 11, 2012
All together this book was pretty good, and I will be reading the next book in this series when it comes out. I like all books about the fae, and liked the different take on them in this book. Especially the makeup and clothes part. However, I found myself getting annoyed with Sydney being confused all the time. I wished she was more pushy about finding things out for herself. I loved Sydney's foster family, and seeing a different family life then you normally do in YA books. I wish there was more romance between Sydney and Rafael. It was kind of weird that they were so in love, but haven't even kissed. I look forward to reading what happens next.
April 9, 2013
Not urban fantasy, suburban fantasy. Yes, geared toward a YA audience. But well-written, decently plotted and with characters you don't want to strangle. Nice antidote to some of the YA fantasy out today. Wee bit supernatural (no vamps or werewolves, but Fae) but without that it would be fantasy, would it? I would definitely give this to someone in the 12-year old and up. Probably more girl than guy (heroine, hunky boy singer as...villain/not-so-bad-guy/bad-boy...). Something pre-Twilight (no dating, just crushes) but better characters (Sydney is a full rounded character, with flaws and good points).
January 23, 2014
Liked it, don't love it.
I give it 3.5 stars. Not bad for a freebie. I have never really been drawn to "fae" books so I was a little surprised in the fact that I download this book and then actually enjoyed it a little! About 2/3 through the book, I was thinking that I wouldn't really be looking into getting the next one but, after finishing, I may have to reconsider, especially for $2. The ending was exciting enough and left me wanting to know what happens next. This book was fairly short but gives enough details to draw you in. I am interested in finding out more about this group of fae, fate trackers and what big role Sydney will play as her fate is revealed.
I give it 3.5 stars. Not bad for a freebie. I have never really been drawn to "fae" books so I was a little surprised in the fact that I download this book and then actually enjoyed it a little! About 2/3 through the book, I was thinking that I wouldn't really be looking into getting the next one but, after finishing, I may have to reconsider, especially for $2. The ending was exciting enough and left me wanting to know what happens next. This book was fairly short but gives enough details to draw you in. I am interested in finding out more about this group of fae, fate trackers and what big role Sydney will play as her fate is revealed.
November 1, 2011
My husband downloaded this for free, so perhaps my expectations were unduly low, but this is really a great Fae story. The heroine is strong and unique. She has completely sane and normal reactions to being surrounded by beings with unusual powers. She becomes a little brittle and repetitive near the end of the book, but the plot moves so quickly that I didn't notice much. The slight romance is a bit of a mystery. But I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt since it isn't progressing at a bizarre pace. All in all, this an adventure packed, enjoyable YA read!
November 13, 2013
My first book about the Fae, so I can't comment on the use or non-use of the normal tropes of fairy books, but I'm glad these Fae don't have wings. Overall it was pretty good, good enough that I bought the next one. Only giving it 3 stars because there were so many questions that weren't answered in this book, basic world-building things that made me feel like I really didn't know what was going on in several parts. But the writing was good enough that I bought the second book in the series, so it wasn't all bad by any means.
April 26, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. Sydney hasn't had a lot of luck it seems during her shirt life. Her mom is placed in rehab again and she is placed in another foster home. The foster family is a unique group of individuals and we can see Sydney forming a bond with them. Then enter Rafeal and Jareth the new neighbors. Sydney's life becomes stranger and stranger. We are thrown into a roller coaster of mystery, intrigue, and romance as Sydney struggles to discover her true identity. I'm ready for the next book!!
December 29, 2011
I downloaded this book for free on my kindle. By the time a started to read it, I had forgotten what the story outline said about it. I was completely sucked into this book. I LOVED IT!! I author does such a great job with character development and scene setting. What a great story! I can't wait for the other 3 books to come out and will definitely purchase them and not wait for a free download.
June 18, 2012
This was a very compelling story! For once I felt nearly as confused as the main character did about the strange people across the street (I read a lot of this genre so I can usually predict where things are going). I did suspect their true character after a few clues, but her rendering of the other side of reality was unexpected enough that I was intrigued. I will be waiting with great anticipation for the rest of the books in this series!
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