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Glass and Iron #1
Girl Under Glass
What do you do when you’re trapped between death and the devil? To protect her young daughter from a madman and a tyrant, Rachel Pryne must trust an enemy - one of the alien warriors who conquered Earth.
It is 2032, the Ohnenrai - Earth’s humanoid alien conquerors - orbit the planet, and Terran reproduction is failing. Rachel Pryne, a trained medic, is struggling to protect her seven-year-old daughter, Pearl, from the sexual predation of their penal colony’s leader. Having fathered the girl by rape, he now intends to take her on her eighth birthday, only six weeks away.
Then Rachel finds her unlikely champion - an injured Ohnenrai soldier who appears in her yard one stormy evening. She knows she may be choosing death over the devil in trusting this warrior, but she doesn’t know that her trust, and her DNA, will make her one of the most important and endangered people to ever set foot aboard an Ohnenrai starship.
***
Equal parts science fiction, suspense, and romance, Girl Under Glass moves from a post-apocalyptic wilderness in the American Pacific Northwest to a high-tech world aboard an alien starship furnished with all the stolen comforts of Earth. Readers meet Rachel Pryne, whose parents' lifelong and life-ending connection to the Ohnenrai has set her upon a path she never wanted to travel. And they're introduced to Ehtishem, an Ohnenrai soldier who exists to save his dying people, but who faces enemies from within and without his own military.
The only possible solution to the Ohnenrai’s extinction lies within Rachel, but all she wants to do is protect her daughter and see Earth’s alien conquerors go straight to hell.
341 pages, ebook
First published July 30, 2012
53 people are currently reading
783 people want to read
About the author
Monica Enderle Pierce
21 books193 followersMonica Enderle Pierce and her characters have been kicking the crap out of evil since 2012. She writes fantasy and science fiction. Her stories are filled with strong women, smart men, love, adventure, and magic. She has an English literature degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, and she lives in Seattle, Washington, with her husband, their daughter, a neurotic dog, and two crazy tomcats. When she's not sending characters into battle or off on an adventure, she's reading minds, seeing through walls, and reveling in the glorious Pacific Northwest rain.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
May 10, 2016
2.5 stars. Girl under Glass is a dystopian, sci-fi blend and I loved the first half of it. The main character Rachel, reminded me of the mother in Not a Drop to Drink. She was a very strong, resourceful person in the first half of the book who was determined to protect her child. I enjoyed the bond she had with her daughter and I thought that was the best part of the book. Unfortunately in the second half of the book we are taken to a different setting and she is separated from her daughter, which puts a big hole in the story because they are separated for too long and the element of the book I liked best is missing. It feels like she just gives up and becomes a much weaker character at this point, and I had a hard time liking her. She is still very stubborn, but in the wrong way. She is pretty much reduced to a weepy, angry mess. And I get that she would probably be upset with Ehtishem for not telling her the whole story, but she took her distrust of him way too far.
I liked Ehtishem, whose name kind of sounds like a sneeze. He was patient, considerate, compassionate, and understanding of her emotional issues that were brought on by traumas in her past, and he believed in her. But I thought the romantic relationship happened kind of sudden. I saw that they had started to respect each other and maybe even the beginnings of love feelings were there, but then suddenly they weren't just sharing a first kiss, they were making love. I didn't feel like it or the next big love scene blended into the story too well. They both came on too sudden like they suddenly had an attack of hormones or something. None of the love scenes were overly graphic or anything, but the way they were written sort of felt like I got pulled out of the book I was reading and dropped into the middle of a romance novel. And why is it that characters in books/movies/TV go from point A to point B so quickly now? Can we not have them share just a sweet kiss or two first?
There were two villains in this book. The first was Cyrus. He is the leader of the compound they are imprisoned in. He and a few others that are called Elders were given instructions on how to lead and run the compound they are imprisoned in by the Alien race that took over the earth. But Cyrus has taken the instructions that were given to them to a twisted level. He has made himself a cult leader. I thought he was written very well. But I also thought that once Rachel left the compound he should have been left behind as well. Unfortunately he keeps reappearing at all the most opportune times throughout the rest of the book and I felt it was just unreal.
The second baddie in this book is the Alien leader. I think he should have been allowed to take over as the only villain in the second half of the book. I found him rather inept and not scary at all through most of it. He was too eclipsed by Cyrus, even if Cyrus ended up under his control.
One other thing that bothered me was near the end of the book when Rachel agreed to mark her face with a permanent type of tattoo that will denote her as Ehtishem's property. It was a pretty large tattoo that marked pretty much one whole side of her face. It was done to protect her, not because he wanted her marked as his property, but it still bothered me. Then after it's done and she has permanently marked her face, we pretty much find out that they did it for nothing because now it isn't going to protect her anyway! I just thought it was a needless part of the story and couldn't really see either of the characters going along with this idea. And maybe they could have just put a fake tattoo on her that would have fooled everyone into thinking she was marked, I'm not sure why they couldn't have thought of that. I also find it a weird coincidence that this is the second book in a row I've read where something like this is done to a woman's face.
Ultimately though, I would have to say my main gripe about this book is all the cursing. I can ignore quite a bit of cursing in a book, but I have issues with the use of a deity's name with the f word, and this was done quite a few times in this book. I know most people probably don't care, but it bothers me. Even if it wasn't Christ and it was some other deity, it would still bother me. I feel it's disrespectful and I think people should think about what they are saying, or in this case making a character in a book say.
The first half of this book was good enough for me to give it 4 stars. The second half made it a 3 star book. However, the use of so much cursing in the book was enough for me to take my rating down to 2 stars. There will be sequels to this, and I would like to know what happens next, but I haven't decided whether I will read more.
I liked Ehtishem, whose name kind of sounds like a sneeze. He was patient, considerate, compassionate, and understanding of her emotional issues that were brought on by traumas in her past, and he believed in her. But I thought the romantic relationship happened kind of sudden. I saw that they had started to respect each other and maybe even the beginnings of love feelings were there, but then suddenly they weren't just sharing a first kiss, they were making love. I didn't feel like it or the next big love scene blended into the story too well. They both came on too sudden like they suddenly had an attack of hormones or something. None of the love scenes were overly graphic or anything, but the way they were written sort of felt like I got pulled out of the book I was reading and dropped into the middle of a romance novel. And why is it that characters in books/movies/TV go from point A to point B so quickly now? Can we not have them share just a sweet kiss or two first?
There were two villains in this book. The first was Cyrus. He is the leader of the compound they are imprisoned in. He and a few others that are called Elders were given instructions on how to lead and run the compound they are imprisoned in by the Alien race that took over the earth. But Cyrus has taken the instructions that were given to them to a twisted level. He has made himself a cult leader. I thought he was written very well. But I also thought that once Rachel left the compound he should have been left behind as well. Unfortunately he keeps reappearing at all the most opportune times throughout the rest of the book and I felt it was just unreal.
The second baddie in this book is the Alien leader. I think he should have been allowed to take over as the only villain in the second half of the book. I found him rather inept and not scary at all through most of it. He was too eclipsed by Cyrus, even if Cyrus ended up under his control.
One other thing that bothered me was near the end of the book when Rachel agreed to mark her face with a permanent type of tattoo that will denote her as Ehtishem's property. It was a pretty large tattoo that marked pretty much one whole side of her face. It was done to protect her, not because he wanted her marked as his property, but it still bothered me. Then after it's done and she has permanently marked her face, we pretty much find out that they did it for nothing because now it isn't going to protect her anyway! I just thought it was a needless part of the story and couldn't really see either of the characters going along with this idea. And maybe they could have just put a fake tattoo on her that would have fooled everyone into thinking she was marked, I'm not sure why they couldn't have thought of that. I also find it a weird coincidence that this is the second book in a row I've read where something like this is done to a woman's face.
Ultimately though, I would have to say my main gripe about this book is all the cursing. I can ignore quite a bit of cursing in a book, but I have issues with the use of a deity's name with the f word, and this was done quite a few times in this book. I know most people probably don't care, but it bothers me. Even if it wasn't Christ and it was some other deity, it would still bother me. I feel it's disrespectful and I think people should think about what they are saying, or in this case making a character in a book say.
The first half of this book was good enough for me to give it 4 stars. The second half made it a 3 star book. However, the use of so much cursing in the book was enough for me to take my rating down to 2 stars. There will be sequels to this, and I would like to know what happens next, but I haven't decided whether I will read more.
September 6, 2012
This is going to be a long one...
An alien race known as the Ohnenrai came to earth. Religious fanaticism increased as a result and One Hundred days of terrorist attacks ensued. The Ohnenrai stepped in and took over by force, restricting the remaining humans to penal colonies. One of those colonies is Suffer, where Rachel Pryne and her daughter Pearl reside. While still living inside the penal colony, she is cast out of the puritanical community as a result of her sinfulness, although in reality, she was raped. Forced to live on the outskirts, Rachel still has some interaction with the community and provides medical care to some members in exchange for supplies. When an injured Ohnenrai soldier appears on Rachel's doorstep requesting medical assistance, Rachel's life takes a drastic turn and leads her into a personal mystery that will change her life and perception of the Ohnenrai.
Let me begin by saying I enjoyed this book and gave it 4 out of 5 stars. I would normally save that for last, but I am concerned that some will read this review and question whether or not I liked it. My ratings are always based on how much I enjoy a book. I don't reduce my rating because of typos, a historical error or because the explanation of how a faster than light speed spaceship is portrayed inaccurately due to flaws in the descriptions of astrophysical engineering (does that even exist?). If these things do not hinder the enjoyment factor, I don't really care.
Girl under Glass is a love story. Alien love story? Apocalyptic alien love story? Whatever it is, it worked for me. It was written well and I got into it.
Now to the nitty gritty. Based on the book, I am going to take a wild stab in the dark and guess that The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne was the classic novel that had the most impact on Pierce. You be the judge:
• The main character's name is Rachel Pryne and her daughter's name is Pearl.
• Rachel and Pearl live in a puritanical community that has shunned them due to Rachel's sin (although Rachel was actually raped).
• Rachel and Pearl live on the outskirts of the community.
• When Rachel and Pearl go inside the community, people look the other way and make their children keep a distance.
A sci-fi Scarlet Letter? One word of caution at this point- Rachel is blasphemous at times and frequently uses the name of the Lord in vain. If that bothers you, you will be bothered often. However, there are some really good quotes: "Religion is a method of control, quite effective if done correctly... And destructive, when done incorrectly..." That's a great topic for discussion. I could easily come up with a dozen more; here are a few:
• Why would the arrival of an alien race result with increased religious fundamentalism?
• How would the arrival of an alien race force the religious to reassess their beliefs?
• Why would different religions all of a sudden begin to attack each other?
Which brings me to MY question- Why are there no discussion topics on the book's Goodreads page? Someone should really step up...
Moving right along... There were portions of Girl under Glass that reminded me of other novels and movies besides The Scarlet Letter. The Ohnenrai suppressing emotions reminded me of the television series V. One of the scenes involving the alien race that is hunting the Ohnenrai reminded me of the Tom Cruise remake of War of the Worlds. The leader of Suffer, Cyrus, gave me flashbacks of the Gary Oldman character in the movie The Book of Eli. The whole setup of the humans, either as penal colony inhabitants or slave laborers, was a bit reminiscent of the John Travolta movie Battlefield Earth (I have not read the L. Ron Hubbard novel). I am not suggesting that Pierce 'borrowed' any of these themes; I am simply conveying my reaction to Pierce's story. Remember, I gave the book 4 stars and these were scattered scenes; I did not read the whole book in a constant state of déjà vu.
In my opinion, Pierce does a great job at character development. I absolutely loved Ehtishem, the stranger at the door and main Ohnenrai in the story. I actually enjoyed almost all of the characters, even the bad ones. On the other hand, I did have mixed feelings about Rachel. I really liked Rachel at the beginning of the book, but about mid-story, I was convinced that she is bi-polar. I understand that she has been through a lot and has been traumatized over and over, but the frequency and speed of her emotional about faces gave me whiplash. In addition, while I understand that she hates the Ohnenrai, the rudeness and smart-alec, profanity laced insults made her look like a spoiled brat. I admit I wanted to slap that Rachel on occasion. In all fairness, she sometimes felt remorse and once even apologized after one of her verbal attacks.
Then there is the Ohnenrai language. As you may have noticed, I have tried to carefully word my review so that I do not have to attempt to figure out the correct form of Ohnen-whatever although I am sure I failed miserably. For those of us who are alien language challenged, there is a glossary in the back of the book. I go back and forth on whether or not I like the use of the different language. Sometimes I thought it provided a little more ambiance and at other times I thought it was unnecessary. But it didn't affect my attitude toward the book as a whole nor will it in any subsequent books.
I think my favorite part of the book was when we got a better look into the Ohnenrai society. Most of that is within the military, but you get a snippet of the regular little people, or rather, aliens. I hope that is a teaser and we get much more detail later. Hint, hint.
Finally, there is the occasional humorous interaction: "You always have something to teach me." "Because you're stupid as stone." That got a chuckle out of me.
If I remember correctly, Pierce intends to tell this story over the course of three books. Might I make a suggestion? At some point, I would like to hear the events that predate Girl under Glass, possibly in a prequel. I imagine a book going back and forth between Terrans and Ohnenrai because both stories sound fascinating. I want to hear the details of why the Ohnenrai decided upon Earth, the religious fanaticism that resulted with their arrival, what happened to all the atheists and scientists during that period, the Hundred Days of terrorist attacks, the shift in Ohnenrai leadership, the establishment of Suffer, the events leading up to Pearl's birth, etc. I think all these details could provide many more discussion topics.
In conclusion, I thought Girl under Glass was a good book; I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and look forward to the sequels.
Recap: 4 out of 5 stars.
February 27, 2018
Girl Under Glass I have missed GOOD science fiction. Thank goodness I discovered Monica Enderle Pierce as a result of an internet exercise called Six Sentence Sunday. I followed her snippets (consisting of six sentences) for many weeks before I finally pulled the trigger and bought GIRL UNDER GLASS. Monica's worldbuilding is impeccable. Her story is stark, blunt, and often sad even as her prose is rich and layered.
Set on an Earth destroyed by a 100 Day War, the "Strangers" in their starships watch over the rag-tag remnants of humanity with an arrogance born of superior technology. I don't want to spoil the plot so I won't go into much detail.
Rachel Pryne is a woman shunned but her medical skills keep her from being completely banished by the penal colony where she was taken as a fourteen-year-old. Her whole focus is centered on protecting her seven-year-old daughter, Pearl. In the middle of a storm, an injured Ohnenrai soldier appears, seeking her assistance. She'd just as soon shoot the humanoid Stranger as help him, but something stays her trigger finger and she brings the man into her home to heal him.
From the Pacific Northwest to a massive alien starship in orbit around the earth, Rachel struggles to protect Pearl, to protect her own heart, and eventually, to protect the man who might be her savior or the man who betrays her and those who depend upon her.
This book was a 2012 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Semi-finalist. Please note, if you don't like cliff-hangers, you may be slightly disappointed in the end of this book. While the story comes to a partial conclusion, there's much more to tell--in at least two more books. Personally, I can't wait for them to see what happens next. This book, series, and author definitely go on my keeper shelf.
Set on an Earth destroyed by a 100 Day War, the "Strangers" in their starships watch over the rag-tag remnants of humanity with an arrogance born of superior technology. I don't want to spoil the plot so I won't go into much detail.
Rachel Pryne is a woman shunned but her medical skills keep her from being completely banished by the penal colony where she was taken as a fourteen-year-old. Her whole focus is centered on protecting her seven-year-old daughter, Pearl. In the middle of a storm, an injured Ohnenrai soldier appears, seeking her assistance. She'd just as soon shoot the humanoid Stranger as help him, but something stays her trigger finger and she brings the man into her home to heal him.
From the Pacific Northwest to a massive alien starship in orbit around the earth, Rachel struggles to protect Pearl, to protect her own heart, and eventually, to protect the man who might be her savior or the man who betrays her and those who depend upon her.
This book was a 2012 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Semi-finalist. Please note, if you don't like cliff-hangers, you may be slightly disappointed in the end of this book. While the story comes to a partial conclusion, there's much more to tell--in at least two more books. Personally, I can't wait for them to see what happens next. This book, series, and author definitely go on my keeper shelf.
January 13, 2020
3.5
An absolutely great first half, and a weaker second (that marred quite a bit my enjoyment). The heroine was downgraded from tough cookie to weeping mass of nerves and I couldn't see the reason why. I get a strong mother first and then a NA heroine, it was a bit jarring. But then so was the love story, it came out of the blue.
I couldn't see the reasons why she trusted him or his people, kidnappers, jailers, liars and mass murderers. Why she decided to help. Nor why she accepted the brand of property without a real reason. I sound as a broken tape, but yes there was a lot I couldn't phantom the reasons why.
I'm glad the sequel is out, otherwise I doubt I would have remembered to get it. And I'm sorry to say it as I really like Ms Enderle's work.
An absolutely great first half, and a weaker second (that marred quite a bit my enjoyment). The heroine was downgraded from tough cookie to weeping mass of nerves and I couldn't see the reason why. I get a strong mother first and then a NA heroine, it was a bit jarring. But then so was the love story, it came out of the blue.
I couldn't see the reasons why she trusted him or his people, kidnappers, jailers, liars and mass murderers. Why she decided to help. Nor why she accepted the brand of property without a real reason. I sound as a broken tape, but yes there was a lot I couldn't phantom the reasons why.
I'm glad the sequel is out, otherwise I doubt I would have remembered to get it. And I'm sorry to say it as I really like Ms Enderle's work.
May 30, 2016
This was very different for me. This is mainly a science fiction piece with some romance (probably a bit more romance than in most science fiction books, but if you're looking for a romance driven story, you may want to pass because it is secondary).
I truly cannot find a way to summarize this story due to it's complex nature so I will just tell you what I liked and didn't like. Oh! Just remembered that I did feel it was a bit of (Star Trek fans) a rip off of the whole Borg "assimilation" thing with the other more elite alien race (which you wont get until the second half of the book).
I liked the world building. It was painstakingly detailed, and I felt at times a bit too overly so. The characters were likeable and complex. The pace was slow and steady with moments of intensity. I did feel it lag a bit at times, but not enough to cause me to skim. I also liked how half the book takes place on earth and the other half on the spaceship. It was fun seeing things on both sides.
I loved both the hero and heroine as well as the secondary characters.
What I didn't care for was the ending. I am hoping there is a sequel to come, but am thinking there might not be one since it's been so long since this had been published (2012). I will have to look into it. If there is one, I will certainly read it. I chalked this up to a cliffhanger because we don't know what the outcome is but it is not so terribly left hanging as much as it could be. I also didn't like how we don't get inside the hero's head. I truly missed that and find it is rampant in most 1st person POV's. I would have liked a little more romance and more detailed loving..more spice, but that is just personal preference.
I would recommend this to other fans of science fiction who also like a bit of romance.
Safety issues:
No OW
No cheating
Both H & h experienced
Violence - yes with detailed blood and gore at times
Heroine was raped in the past before meeting hero, but it was not detailed
No insta love
Hero's past not mentioned at all. There is alot of DNA sharing and he says he has "offspring" not children so my interpretation is that his offspring came about through scientific ways as opposed to the old fashioned ones.
There are 2 loving scenes, both short and not very descriptive.
There is ILY's and the HEA still remains to be seen but for the most part it ends pretty positively.
++Update++
Author says sequel to come Dec 2016 or Jan 2017! Yeay
July 31, 2013
Since I knew I was going to read this as Apocalypse Whenever's August selection, regardless of content, I willfully skipped any description of the novel. Based on the title and cover, I guessed that it would be Space Snow White, which isn't that odd given that we read Cinder in June. Imagine my surprise when I actually started to read it and discovered that it was Space Scarlet Letter told with the grittiness of Flowertown.
Pierce isn't subtle about it; she named Rachel's daughter Pearl Pryne for goodness sake, and while the circumstances behind her birth are dissimilar, the shunning is all the same. I like that it was set initially in the Pacific Northwest; I was on vacation there in May, so I was really able to picture the forest and such.
The first wrong step for me was the romance plot. Blah, I wasn't aware insta-love was popular outside of YA, and yet here it rears its ugly head. There is no groundwork laid for the leads to fall in love, and so that whole bit could just die for me. Two, the book seriously loses its way when the location changes. It goes from pretty well-grounded to a flighty mess. I like politics done well, but this is politics done stupid.
Three, I hold to that comparison to Flowertown. Rachel has a lot in common with that crazy thug Ellie, except, you know, the charm. I liked Ellie in spite of herself; I wanted Rachel put down like a rabid dog. She spits venom and rage like a petulant, immature brat, and I can't imagine why Ehtishem (whose name I imagine is pronounced like a sneeze) doesn't keep her tranquilized all the time. I almost lost it when he praised her self control. Her lack of self discipline is epic. Oh, and there's that bit where Cyrus has almost magical abilities of popping out of nowhere for no better reason than he's the bogeyman.
Also, the more I think about it, there are some real logic fails. Take a moment and try to imagine the supply chains the Ohnenrai must use. They're clearly eating human food and using Terran supplies, but they've destroyed the existing infrastructure, and there's no suggestion that they've rebuilt it or that they've collected humans in agriculture camps or whatever. Or big
This was bad. I will not read the sequel.
Pierce isn't subtle about it; she named Rachel's daughter Pearl Pryne for goodness sake, and while the circumstances behind her birth are dissimilar, the shunning is all the same. I like that it was set initially in the Pacific Northwest; I was on vacation there in May, so I was really able to picture the forest and such.
The first wrong step for me was the romance plot. Blah, I wasn't aware insta-love was popular outside of YA, and yet here it rears its ugly head. There is no groundwork laid for the leads to fall in love, and so that whole bit could just die for me. Two, the book seriously loses its way when the location changes. It goes from pretty well-grounded to a flighty mess. I like politics done well, but this is politics done stupid.
Three, I hold to that comparison to Flowertown. Rachel has a lot in common with that crazy thug Ellie, except, you know, the charm. I liked Ellie in spite of herself; I wanted Rachel put down like a rabid dog. She spits venom and rage like a petulant, immature brat, and I can't imagine why Ehtishem (whose name I imagine is pronounced like a sneeze) doesn't keep her tranquilized all the time. I almost lost it when he praised her self control. Her lack of self discipline is epic. Oh, and there's that bit where Cyrus has almost magical abilities of popping out of nowhere for no better reason than he's the bogeyman.
Also, the more I think about it, there are some real logic fails. Take a moment and try to imagine the supply chains the Ohnenrai must use. They're clearly eating human food and using Terran supplies, but they've destroyed the existing infrastructure, and there's no suggestion that they've rebuilt it or that they've collected humans in agriculture camps or whatever. Or big
This was bad. I will not read the sequel.
December 4, 2012
Rachel is a healer in the small and religious enclave of Suffer (which is a town that really lives up to its name)- however her world is rocked upside down when an injured alien asks for help. Because of her vows, she ignores her mistrust and doubt over his real intentions on why he is visiting a human settlement, especially when his people has helped to cause so much destruction on earth.
This was a very interesting little gem of a book, with the premise of an alien race invading Earth and causing world wide mayhem and destruction. The themes and ideas were thought-provoking and I loved the heroine's determination in protecting her daughter from the clutches of her rapist father and in a society where religion has become misogynistic and hateful. It had a similar vibe to The Handmaid's Tale, although the latter half of the book delves deeper into the motives and the political struggles of the alien hierarchies which Rachel is an important figure for one faction. She becomes very important to the survival of her people as well as the aliens, and I loved the twist at the end which hints of a greater threat for all parties.
Nonetheless, I wasn't too sure about a world that destroyed itself due to religious terrorism and I wished there was more time spent on explaining the fall of civilisation because it didn't feel realistic. And I am in two minds about the religious overtones of the book. I also did find the second half of the book lost some steam and it got a bit convoluted, and I also found myself getting frustrated with Rachel's reactions towards the twists and the events which didn't ring true for me because she acted out like an annoying teen instead of her stoic and calm self that she presented in the first half. And I was not a fan of Cyrus, who morphed from this cold and sociapathic preacher to this cardboard cut-out villain in the end.
But Girl Under Glass had a great tense build-up which was tense and chilling and despite the issues I had with the second half, the world-building was strong and well thought out with a great eye to detail. I will definitely pick up the sequel!
This was a very interesting little gem of a book, with the premise of an alien race invading Earth and causing world wide mayhem and destruction. The themes and ideas were thought-provoking and I loved the heroine's determination in protecting her daughter from the clutches of her rapist father and in a society where religion has become misogynistic and hateful. It had a similar vibe to The Handmaid's Tale, although the latter half of the book delves deeper into the motives and the political struggles of the alien hierarchies which Rachel is an important figure for one faction. She becomes very important to the survival of her people as well as the aliens, and I loved the twist at the end which hints of a greater threat for all parties.
Nonetheless, I wasn't too sure about a world that destroyed itself due to religious terrorism and I wished there was more time spent on explaining the fall of civilisation because it didn't feel realistic. And I am in two minds about the religious overtones of the book. I also did find the second half of the book lost some steam and it got a bit convoluted, and I also found myself getting frustrated with Rachel's reactions towards the twists and the events which didn't ring true for me because she acted out like an annoying teen instead of her stoic and calm self that she presented in the first half. And I was not a fan of Cyrus, who morphed from this cold and sociapathic preacher to this cardboard cut-out villain in the end.
But Girl Under Glass had a great tense build-up which was tense and chilling and despite the issues I had with the second half, the world-building was strong and well thought out with a great eye to detail. I will definitely pick up the sequel!
October 4, 2016
ARC received via NetGalley
I really enjoyed this book, mainly due to the fact that the story was different. It wasn't like books I have read previously. It was well written and I would read more of this author's work. I look forward to future books in this series as I am intrigued as to what will happen with these characters.
One of the things I like about sci-fi/alien themed books is that the author basically has a clean slate in terms of the world their story is based around. For this book, it is not a world I would want to live in but I did like reading about it. The author made it their own.
I think there was only one aspect of this book that I didn't particularly like/enjoy. The aliens in this story have their own language. When this language is used, maybe only half the time there is an English translation with it. So if you don't remember what words mean, you sort of have to 'wing it'. There is however a glossary at the end of the book with alien words and phrases plus their translations. I didn't realise this until I had finished the story. I would have liked for this glossary to have been at the start as I think it would have been more useful.
I really enjoyed this book, mainly due to the fact that the story was different. It wasn't like books I have read previously. It was well written and I would read more of this author's work. I look forward to future books in this series as I am intrigued as to what will happen with these characters.
One of the things I like about sci-fi/alien themed books is that the author basically has a clean slate in terms of the world their story is based around. For this book, it is not a world I would want to live in but I did like reading about it. The author made it their own.
I think there was only one aspect of this book that I didn't particularly like/enjoy. The aliens in this story have their own language. When this language is used, maybe only half the time there is an English translation with it. So if you don't remember what words mean, you sort of have to 'wing it'. There is however a glossary at the end of the book with alien words and phrases plus their translations. I didn't realise this until I had finished the story. I would have liked for this glossary to have been at the start as I think it would have been more useful.
July 12, 2016
Okay I dont usually pick up books about aliens but I LOVED this book! So if youyou like alien books or not i suggest giving this book a try. I really enjoyed the love interest and all the action - I want a second book Monica Pierce!
February 28, 2013
I'm done. Ridiculous.
January 18, 2013
Also posted on Bookish Treasures blog
I loved Girl Under Glass because it is unique and stands out; something that is quite an achievement what with the amount of books of all genres available. It is an amazing science fiction romance set in a post-apocalyptic dystopian world and this blend of genres gives it a wide appeal as well as making it different and interesting.
Rachel lives in the camp of suffer where she has been shunned due to unfair circumstances and only given minor acceptance due to her skills as a medic and most importantly her 7 year old daughter Pearl, a prize in a place where children are growing rare and girls even rarer. When an injured Stranger – the alien race that is Earths conquerors – turns up at her doorstep, she finally has a chance to escape the oppressiveness of suffer and its religious fanatic leader Cyrus who has been Rachel’s tormentor for many years. However, though she doesn’t know it, Rachel holds the key to the survival of the Ohnenrai and that means both her and her daughters lives are in danger.
In my opinion the world building was excellent and the romance is beautifully written and well developed. Normally it is quite rare for a book to have both a good romance as well as an in depth story but Monica has succeeded where many other authors fail. Girl Under Glass also has lots of depth and emotion caused by Rachel’s tragic past and it is nice to see her grow as a character and come to grips with all that has happened and be stronger because of it.
Unlike several science fiction books, the backstory and world building is not all just thrown in at the beginning but instead mentioned a little bit at a time. Some people might not like this as you could possibly get confused but I really liked the fact that there wasn’t a boring information overload at the beginning. If you would prefer to have all the backstory at the beginning the author has a free short prequel available on her website called A Sad Jar of Atoms that has most the backstory nicely summed up.
The book had quite a lot of suspense and there is several unexpected twist that keep the reader engaged and some of them are very surprising, you will not guess at them happening and this only adds to the wide appeal that I believe this book has.
Girl Under Glass definitely has something for everyone as it has so many elements in it. I definitely recommend it as a must read and I am excited to read the sequel when it releases.
*I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
I loved Girl Under Glass because it is unique and stands out; something that is quite an achievement what with the amount of books of all genres available. It is an amazing science fiction romance set in a post-apocalyptic dystopian world and this blend of genres gives it a wide appeal as well as making it different and interesting.
Rachel lives in the camp of suffer where she has been shunned due to unfair circumstances and only given minor acceptance due to her skills as a medic and most importantly her 7 year old daughter Pearl, a prize in a place where children are growing rare and girls even rarer. When an injured Stranger – the alien race that is Earths conquerors – turns up at her doorstep, she finally has a chance to escape the oppressiveness of suffer and its religious fanatic leader Cyrus who has been Rachel’s tormentor for many years. However, though she doesn’t know it, Rachel holds the key to the survival of the Ohnenrai and that means both her and her daughters lives are in danger.
In my opinion the world building was excellent and the romance is beautifully written and well developed. Normally it is quite rare for a book to have both a good romance as well as an in depth story but Monica has succeeded where many other authors fail. Girl Under Glass also has lots of depth and emotion caused by Rachel’s tragic past and it is nice to see her grow as a character and come to grips with all that has happened and be stronger because of it.
Unlike several science fiction books, the backstory and world building is not all just thrown in at the beginning but instead mentioned a little bit at a time. Some people might not like this as you could possibly get confused but I really liked the fact that there wasn’t a boring information overload at the beginning. If you would prefer to have all the backstory at the beginning the author has a free short prequel available on her website called A Sad Jar of Atoms that has most the backstory nicely summed up.
The book had quite a lot of suspense and there is several unexpected twist that keep the reader engaged and some of them are very surprising, you will not guess at them happening and this only adds to the wide appeal that I believe this book has.
Girl Under Glass definitely has something for everyone as it has so many elements in it. I definitely recommend it as a must read and I am excited to read the sequel when it releases.
*I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
August 30, 2012
Wow!
Every sentence of this review could start with "Wow!".
Pierce has written an edge-of-your-seat read.
Rachel, the female protagonist, was so well-written. Her life had been pitiful, yet I didn't feel sorry for her--because she never felt sorry for herself.. I was drawn in and rooted for her. Such a powerful character. Feisty, smart, and in your face. Yet Pierce allowed for Rachel's vulnerability in a few weak moments--adding a layer of complexity and believablilty.
Ehtishem, the enemy soldier who walked into her yard one day,asking for help, is believably alien by his behavior. And that behavior is perfectly flawed when measured by human standards.
Girl Under Glass is beautiful example of genre-crossing, Scifi, romance, with a touch of dystopian thrown in for good measure. The story is full of twists and turns, surprises, and doubt. Who to trust? Who to trust? Or should Rachel trust at all. If she trusts, she will put her daughter at risk, but she has to trust--an enemy soldier, no less, to save her daughter.
The story developed at a nice pace; the foundation was laid perfectly. The character dynamics were very well played out. The suspense built early and never let up.
The book was compelling; life was an annoying distraction until I read the last foreshadowing line.
I hope Pierce is busy writing the sequel! Five amazing stars!
Every sentence of this review could start with "Wow!".
Pierce has written an edge-of-your-seat read.
Rachel, the female protagonist, was so well-written. Her life had been pitiful, yet I didn't feel sorry for her--because she never felt sorry for herself.. I was drawn in and rooted for her. Such a powerful character. Feisty, smart, and in your face. Yet Pierce allowed for Rachel's vulnerability in a few weak moments--adding a layer of complexity and believablilty.
Ehtishem, the enemy soldier who walked into her yard one day,asking for help, is believably alien by his behavior. And that behavior is perfectly flawed when measured by human standards.
Girl Under Glass is beautiful example of genre-crossing, Scifi, romance, with a touch of dystopian thrown in for good measure. The story is full of twists and turns, surprises, and doubt. Who to trust? Who to trust? Or should Rachel trust at all. If she trusts, she will put her daughter at risk, but she has to trust--an enemy soldier, no less, to save her daughter.
The story developed at a nice pace; the foundation was laid perfectly. The character dynamics were very well played out. The suspense built early and never let up.
The book was compelling; life was an annoying distraction until I read the last foreshadowing line.
I hope Pierce is busy writing the sequel! Five amazing stars!
August 29, 2012
A wonderfully written science fiction romance with a complex plot and engaging characters. Rachel is great - strong and smart but willing to compromise when she needs to. What I like best about Ehtishem is that while his love for Rachel humanizes him to some extent, you never forget he's an alien coming from a completely different culture with completely different values. The worldbuilding is fantastic too. Love her writing. Wish the next one was out now.
June 10, 2013
Fantastic Science Fic. A good romance but it didn't take over the amazing plot either. I can't wait to read more in this series. Great characters, hero and heroine are both very strong and well-written. I had a lot of empathy for both. This book didn't have graphic sex, it was low-key, but the love was still strong. Good secondary characters too. I'm looking forward to seeing more of the daughter and his mother.
August 8, 2012
First and foremost, I don't really read stuff about aliens...and I read A LOT! I read the premise for this book and it sounded interesting. I downloaded the sample and was like.."wow, I can definitely read this". I was not disappointed. Rachel and Ehtishem are great characters, but I love, love, love Pearl! Great book and I look forward to the next one.
October 17, 2012
Read this book! It is one of the best books I have read this year, and I do a lot of reading. I think other folks have done excellent reviews on the book already, so I will simply say that the book kept me up late at night, on the edge of my seat and I cannot wait until the 2nd one is published. I will be first in line to buy it!
August 16, 2012
I'm loving this book! It is not my usual read, but I can't put it down!
I highly recommend it! It's not too sci fi, and I do love a strong female character! Congrats to the Author for a great book and her being on the top new 100 authors list.
I highly recommend it! It's not too sci fi, and I do love a strong female character! Congrats to the Author for a great book and her being on the top new 100 authors list.
August 11, 2016
I loved this book. It is very well written - the characters are relatable, the pace flows well, and the story is interesting. Plus, I love the strong female characters. In fact, I want to be friends with the characters (except for the villains). I can't wait to read the next one.
April 15, 2013
This book started out very good and ended at "meh". Things fell apart towards the end as the characters totally changed their personalities in the last 1/4 of the book. It was very odd, almost as if the author was just rushing to finish it. It ends at a cliffhanger, which I find annoying.
January 1, 2016
This book was very well written ,the story, plot twist and turns ,heart breaking in places it was brilliant the plot and characters where very well put together and it isn't insta love it's a gradual romance but not so romanticly focused which makes a change I really did enjoy this book
September 5, 2012
Really liked it. Didn't realize it was part of a series so wasn't expecting the "cliffhanger" ending.
September 23, 2012
I loved the story. I am looking forward to the sequel. Loved that it was something that d/n have a lot of graphic sex for once. Italic of Sufi stories with a romantic twist rely on that a lot.
December 3, 2012
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 13, 2014
Enjoyed this book. Well written and good solid characters, set in a post invaded world where there is very few people left behind. I hope to read what comes next.
January 11, 2020
There were things I quite liked about this book, but the things I didn't like were pretty glaring.
Pierce knows how to put a character through the ringer. The amount of abuse heaped on the heroine of this story is epic, right up there with an Anne Bishop heroine. It's so ongoing I became desensitized to it and just started expecting not only for her to be abused but for her to rationalize away any reason to stand against it. I did NOT like this part of this character, which is interesting because in spots she's plucky and "steel-spined" and brave. It's just inconsistent as hell.
I wanted to get on board with the romance and ship the H/h, but I kept feeling like I was getting whiplash from the way it happened. The transitions from not trusting to being all in were too quick and didn't make sense to me, nor did the heroine's transition from being angry about being deceived by her lover to being all in again. Those transitions didn't make sense to me, they read like I had missed a chapter or something. Besides, I'm a very hard sell on the Stockholm Syndrome trope and this book is one, of a sort.
As mentioned in a previous status update on this book, there wasn't a lot of morally nebulous characters here. Most of it was pretty black and white with only a few exceptions. The story is such that it could develop into more interesting and layered characters, but by and large most of them are 2 dimensional.
All that negativity aside, it's an interesting and exciting story that I intend to finish, which I'm sure that cliff hanger ending was supposed to assure and which only served to make me have to struggle against my knee-jerk tendency to write off cliff hanger series.
But this isn't a series, it's a duology, so I will finish it. But I'm still not sure I will read more of this author's work. Perhaps I will decide by the end of the next book.
Pierce knows how to put a character through the ringer. The amount of abuse heaped on the heroine of this story is epic, right up there with an Anne Bishop heroine. It's so ongoing I became desensitized to it and just started expecting not only for her to be abused but for her to rationalize away any reason to stand against it. I did NOT like this part of this character, which is interesting because in spots she's plucky and "steel-spined" and brave. It's just inconsistent as hell.
I wanted to get on board with the romance and ship the H/h, but I kept feeling like I was getting whiplash from the way it happened. The transitions from not trusting to being all in were too quick and didn't make sense to me, nor did the heroine's transition from being angry about being deceived by her lover to being all in again. Those transitions didn't make sense to me, they read like I had missed a chapter or something. Besides, I'm a very hard sell on the Stockholm Syndrome trope and this book is one, of a sort.
As mentioned in a previous status update on this book, there wasn't a lot of morally nebulous characters here. Most of it was pretty black and white with only a few exceptions. The story is such that it could develop into more interesting and layered characters, but by and large most of them are 2 dimensional.
All that negativity aside, it's an interesting and exciting story that I intend to finish, which I'm sure that cliff hanger ending was supposed to assure and which only served to make me have to struggle against my knee-jerk tendency to write off cliff hanger series.
But this isn't a series, it's a duology, so I will finish it. But I'm still not sure I will read more of this author's work. Perhaps I will decide by the end of the next book.
May 17, 2018
The “Girl under Glass” is a good book. I enjoyed the combination of dystopian and alien elements. A strong heroine, an intriguing male character.
The first half was brilliant, set on earth. Showing how much strength and determination it needs to grow up in a religious cult-like parish. Still haunted by the past of her parents, being a doctor, a mother and an outcast.
The second half, set in space, I also enjoyed, although the primary focus on the female main character led to a neglect of a lot of interesting elements and parallel plot threads.
What irks me tho, this book was released in 2012, ends in a cliffhanger, at least in my perspective and yet in 2018 we don’t have a next book. It is even marked as book 1 in the “Glass and Iron” - series.
What is going on??
The first half was brilliant, set on earth. Showing how much strength and determination it needs to grow up in a religious cult-like parish. Still haunted by the past of her parents, being a doctor, a mother and an outcast.
The second half, set in space, I also enjoyed, although the primary focus on the female main character led to a neglect of a lot of interesting elements and parallel plot threads.
What irks me tho, this book was released in 2012, ends in a cliffhanger, at least in my perspective and yet in 2018 we don’t have a next book. It is even marked as book 1 in the “Glass and Iron” - series.
What is going on??
December 20, 2012
Yay!!! A full length exceptional indie dystopian sci fi romance that has been well edited! A rare and wonderful find, this is the first book in a planned trilogy. While the story arc continues after this book a lot of what made this book nail biting good is wrapped up in this first volume.
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From the book description:
It is 2032, the Ohnenrai—Earth’s humanoid alien conquerors—orbit the planet, and Terran reproduction is failing. Rachel Pryne, a trained medic, is struggling to protect her seven-year-old daughter, Pearl, from the sexual predation of their penal colony’s leader. Having fathered the girl by rape, he now intends to take her on her eighth birthday, only six weeks away.
Then Rachel finds her unlikely champion—an injured Ohnenrai soldier who appears in her yard one stormy evening. She knows she may be choosing death over the devil in trusting this warrior, but she doesn’t know that her trust, and her DNA, will make her one of the most important and endangered people to ever set foot aboard an Ohnenrai starship.
---
I found this an exceptionally well written book. Rachel was a very strong woman who told the story in a strong voice. There was also no insta-anything. Her reactions felt very realistic, sometimes it took her time to process what was happening around her but ultimately her strong love for her daughter and developing love for the h carried her through.
What is very unusual for this book is the two very different halves. The first part of the book is set on dystopian earth, Rachel and her young daughter Pearl are barely surviving in a cabin in the woods outside a small town controlled by a religious zealot. Though it is in the future it could have been set way in the past. People hunt and farm, trade for things, meet for mandatory prayer meeting. The story line is very The Scarlet Letter. Things change for Rachel right at the start of the book with the arrival of a wounded alien soldier. She is the town medic who has sworn to turn no one in need away, and she makes herself treat the soldier even though she is scared and mistrusting. Slowly over time Pearl and Rachel come to trust the soldier, and he becomes their protector against the people of the town who have been persecuting them.
Upheaval happens and Rachel and Pearl find themselves on the alien ship orbiting Earth in the second part of the story. Now the story is set in a very high tech environment with aliens that look so much like us but have a very different culture. This is a very different set of challenges for Rachel, she is separated from Pearl and desperate to get her back, and completely dependent on the soldier she is developing feeling for. Rachel starts to figure out answers as to what the town she was living in really was, how Earth came to be so destroyed, why the aliens are here and what they want and what her own special role is. It is no simple matter - the aliens are divided into two factions battling for control and very different outcomes for Earth hang in the balance. The alien Rachel has trusted and is coming to love is no simple soldier but a major power player in what Rachel's, and ultimately Earth's fate will be.
---
From the book description:
It is 2032, the Ohnenrai—Earth’s humanoid alien conquerors—orbit the planet, and Terran reproduction is failing. Rachel Pryne, a trained medic, is struggling to protect her seven-year-old daughter, Pearl, from the sexual predation of their penal colony’s leader. Having fathered the girl by rape, he now intends to take her on her eighth birthday, only six weeks away.
Then Rachel finds her unlikely champion—an injured Ohnenrai soldier who appears in her yard one stormy evening. She knows she may be choosing death over the devil in trusting this warrior, but she doesn’t know that her trust, and her DNA, will make her one of the most important and endangered people to ever set foot aboard an Ohnenrai starship.
---
I found this an exceptionally well written book. Rachel was a very strong woman who told the story in a strong voice. There was also no insta-anything. Her reactions felt very realistic, sometimes it took her time to process what was happening around her but ultimately her strong love for her daughter and developing love for the h carried her through.
What is very unusual for this book is the two very different halves. The first part of the book is set on dystopian earth, Rachel and her young daughter Pearl are barely surviving in a cabin in the woods outside a small town controlled by a religious zealot. Though it is in the future it could have been set way in the past. People hunt and farm, trade for things, meet for mandatory prayer meeting. The story line is very The Scarlet Letter. Things change for Rachel right at the start of the book with the arrival of a wounded alien soldier. She is the town medic who has sworn to turn no one in need away, and she makes herself treat the soldier even though she is scared and mistrusting. Slowly over time Pearl and Rachel come to trust the soldier, and he becomes their protector against the people of the town who have been persecuting them.
Upheaval happens and Rachel and Pearl find themselves on the alien ship orbiting Earth in the second part of the story. Now the story is set in a very high tech environment with aliens that look so much like us but have a very different culture. This is a very different set of challenges for Rachel, she is separated from Pearl and desperate to get her back, and completely dependent on the soldier she is developing feeling for. Rachel starts to figure out answers as to what the town she was living in really was, how Earth came to be so destroyed, why the aliens are here and what they want and what her own special role is. It is no simple matter - the aliens are divided into two factions battling for control and very different outcomes for Earth hang in the balance. The alien Rachel has trusted and is coming to love is no simple soldier but a major power player in what Rachel's, and ultimately Earth's fate will be.
October 1, 2012
First of all, I have to say that I am not a huge Science Fiction fan! I’ve noticed this seems to be a trend to other people who have reviewed this book as well. So, if you’re worried about not liking this book because of the Sci Fi genre, think again. You will be presently surprised.
I have been following Monica’s work for quite a while and while I loved each and every little snippet of the novel she posted on Facebook, Twitter, and her blog, I still was not exactly sure what I was about to get into when I finally got my hands on this book.
While the novel does have aliens in a futuristic world, I felt the book was about so much more than a new species coming to the planet earth. The novel explores the main character Rachel and her daughter, Pearl, as they strive to carry on with very few resources in the midst of an injured Alien showing up on their doorstep begging for help and medical aid. Rachel struggles through the book, and within the storyline she not only learns more about her past and her parents worth, but she also finds herself and learns her destiny.
Pierce’s beautiful flowing words describe planet Earth in a way I never could have imagined myself. With crystal clear descriptions and thriving characters that came to life in my mind, I found myself wanting more! While I was slow starting the book, once I got deeper into the storyline, I couldn’t put the book down!
There was one scene in the novel when Rachel was drugged by the Aliens that I had a hard time following. But then, I guess it made since because the story DOES revolve around Rachel, and if she was drugged, she probably was not very aware of what was going on around her. This part of the story cleared up as I read and all of my questions were answered, though not immediately evident.
Like I said, even if you’re not a Sci Fi fan, give this book a try, it’s a wonderful read that explored way more than little green aliens (no, they’re not green in this novel!).
I have been following Monica’s work for quite a while and while I loved each and every little snippet of the novel she posted on Facebook, Twitter, and her blog, I still was not exactly sure what I was about to get into when I finally got my hands on this book.
While the novel does have aliens in a futuristic world, I felt the book was about so much more than a new species coming to the planet earth. The novel explores the main character Rachel and her daughter, Pearl, as they strive to carry on with very few resources in the midst of an injured Alien showing up on their doorstep begging for help and medical aid. Rachel struggles through the book, and within the storyline she not only learns more about her past and her parents worth, but she also finds herself and learns her destiny.
Pierce’s beautiful flowing words describe planet Earth in a way I never could have imagined myself. With crystal clear descriptions and thriving characters that came to life in my mind, I found myself wanting more! While I was slow starting the book, once I got deeper into the storyline, I couldn’t put the book down!
There was one scene in the novel when Rachel was drugged by the Aliens that I had a hard time following. But then, I guess it made since because the story DOES revolve around Rachel, and if she was drugged, she probably was not very aware of what was going on around her. This part of the story cleared up as I read and all of my questions were answered, though not immediately evident.
Like I said, even if you’re not a Sci Fi fan, give this book a try, it’s a wonderful read that explored way more than little green aliens (no, they’re not green in this novel!).
June 2, 2014
When I first started reading this, I didn't know that the author billed it as "sci-fi/romance." So, fellas in the audience, be aware of what you're getting in to with this one. Most of the male characters in the book are either rapists or garden variety assholes, and the book contains at least one scene of what is heavily implied to be attempted rape that has absolutely no bearing whatsoever on the wider plot, and seems to be included just to prove to the reader that all men are dicks. A few of the minor male characters are nice enough, but the only main male character who doesn't fit the mold is an incredibly tall, strong, and handsome man who literally comes from another planet, and who also happens to be high ranking nobility. He's also killed people in the past, but he's better now, so he has *just the right amount* of bad boy danger. Is there a name for the male equivalent of a Mary Sue? Because that's basically what Ehtishem is. I'm not usually one to look for hidden gender dynamics in every book and movie - frankly, it sucks all the fun out of everything - but this book is seriously like the literary equivalent of a Lifetime movie at some points.
That said, it actually is a pretty good book. In spite of my griping about the rather sorry lot of men here, the characters are vividly realized. The protagonist has some annoying traits, but on the whole she is a pretty empathetic character, and that's all you need for a story to work. The plotting is excellent - this book could easily be used as an object lesson in three act structure and plot midpoint. There are some old sci-fi tropes used in some novel ways that make for a refreshingly new plot, and on the whole, once you get past the occasionally melodramatic romance novel-ness of it all, it's a pretty enjoyable and gripping read. The ending is a cliffhanger, but the author intends to make this the first installment of a series, and I think I'd probably read the next one.
That said, it actually is a pretty good book. In spite of my griping about the rather sorry lot of men here, the characters are vividly realized. The protagonist has some annoying traits, but on the whole she is a pretty empathetic character, and that's all you need for a story to work. The plotting is excellent - this book could easily be used as an object lesson in three act structure and plot midpoint. There are some old sci-fi tropes used in some novel ways that make for a refreshingly new plot, and on the whole, once you get past the occasionally melodramatic romance novel-ness of it all, it's a pretty enjoyable and gripping read. The ending is a cliffhanger, but the author intends to make this the first installment of a series, and I think I'd probably read the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2017
I really enjoyed Girl Under Glass. Not sure why I hadn’t read it sooner! It was likely the cover. It does nothing for me, but I believe that Monica will be changing that soon as I’ve seen the new one and it is beautiful. It fits the book so much better after having read it.
I loved the characters and the events that happened in this book. There are always shades of grey. Rachel was an amazingly strong woman and fierce protector. She suffered a tragic past and lived the results, and continued to fight for herself and her daughter – a product of rape. That takes strength. And during the book, some might call her weak and weepy, but to me, it makes her real. Not everyone can stand up and suffer as she did through her life and what was currently happening to her and not shed a tear. Not mourn for those they lost and other she feared to lose still. Not once did she give up.
And we have Ehtishem, a man that looks human but isn’t. I loved him. Loooooved him. From the moment he arrived on Monica’s doorstep to the end, he was an amazing character. He was compassionate, strong, and oh so patient. He understood what Monica was going through and not once did he take any anger out on her. He cared for her and her child and was willing to do whatever it took to save them. They had such tender moments that I wish could have been expanded on. I know this isn’t straight up romance as it’s more sci-fi with romantic elements, but damn, I can keep wishing.
Monica did a wonderful job and her writing just sucks me right in. I’ve read her Fantasy (The Shadow & The Sun), and now her sci-fi and can’t wait for sequels to each of these! There is a bit of a cliff hanger as Rachel and Ehtishem's story is not yet completed. There will be three books, I believe? But so worth the read!
I loved the characters and the events that happened in this book. There are always shades of grey. Rachel was an amazingly strong woman and fierce protector. She suffered a tragic past and lived the results, and continued to fight for herself and her daughter – a product of rape. That takes strength. And during the book, some might call her weak and weepy, but to me, it makes her real. Not everyone can stand up and suffer as she did through her life and what was currently happening to her and not shed a tear. Not mourn for those they lost and other she feared to lose still. Not once did she give up.
And we have Ehtishem, a man that looks human but isn’t. I loved him. Loooooved him. From the moment he arrived on Monica’s doorstep to the end, he was an amazing character. He was compassionate, strong, and oh so patient. He understood what Monica was going through and not once did he take any anger out on her. He cared for her and her child and was willing to do whatever it took to save them. They had such tender moments that I wish could have been expanded on. I know this isn’t straight up romance as it’s more sci-fi with romantic elements, but damn, I can keep wishing.
Monica did a wonderful job and her writing just sucks me right in. I’ve read her Fantasy (The Shadow & The Sun), and now her sci-fi and can’t wait for sequels to each of these! There is a bit of a cliff hanger as Rachel and Ehtishem's story is not yet completed. There will be three books, I believe? But so worth the read!
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