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Glass Hearts
June Romero had a secluded life with her mother. Every year they would go from city to city, constantly changing schools, never really having friends, or forming relationships. She always felt different, but never gave it much thought. Everything changed when a stranger came into her home. Discovering the extent of her invulnerability and how she's not alone, The Biological Research Identification and Containment agency known as B.R.I.C. tracks down and protects the world from the discovery of other unbreakable-skinned individuals like her. Tied closer to the agency than she could have imagined, June is thrust into a world of espionage and peacekeeping. However, the more she learns about the agency, the more she learns about her past. All the while forces are stirring that threaten the peace. Can June trust her new allies while stopping forces at work that threaten humanity?
311 pages, Paperback
First published January 8, 2025
About the author
G.S. Cifuentes
2 books10 followers Surviving in South Florida, G. S. Cifuentes is the son of Cuban and Colombian immigrants. Born in Miami and raised moving all over the city with a "Que Pasa, USA?!" like family, G. S. found his voice in his creativity.
Son of a musician, grandson to a poet, and filled with crippling self doubt, anxiety, and imposter syndrom, G. S. wants to leave his own mark in the world.
Creating and molding stories around personal expirences and things he loves.
Married to the love of his life, father to a fur child, and working to survive, he finds the time to get his stories out whenever he can.
Lover of movies, books, shows, and video games, if it has a good story, chances are he's hanging on every word and hopes to provide that feeling to others.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 16, 2025
I'm trying to read the first books of new independent authors--I'm in the same boat, or will be soon, and I know how hard it is to succeed in attracting readers.
This is book one of a series and I presume Cifuentes is hard at work on book two. I'm quite impressed. There is strong world-building, engaging characters, and a compelling story line.
June is a high school kid who lives with her single mother in New Jersey, though they move a lot, apparently on the run from the "stalker dad," who is pursuing them. One day June comes home alone and her dad is there. He whisks her away to a super-secure underground compound and tells her what seems like a crazy story. She--and many other people on earth--are super-strong, almost indestructible, very special humans. Dad works for an organization that protects and trains these people, called Bricks (it stands for something--read the book). There is always fear that one of them will give in to evil and try to dominate the world, or a portion of it. On the other hand, normal people will fear these super-people, and there are ways that they can be killed, so they have to be protected from the "normies."
June is assigned to Team Alpha, several well-trained young people who can be trusted to run ops for the organization, such as to extract bricks who are misbehaving and abusing their powers. June goes along on an op even before she has had any training, and the op goes wrong...very very wrong.
That's where I am in this book right now. I have to admit that it could have used both more copy editing and proofreading. The young people use vernacular language, of course, but there are times when the narrator does as well--inadvertently, I think. The narration is awkwardly worded at times. I've seen a couple of typos. We learn that the team studies languages in their classes at the organization, but I was surprised that June was completely fluent in Spanish--obviously she didn't just take a high school class. Did she grow up speaking Spanish with her mother? There's no explanation. Also, June's dad, William, is a leader over the base where she lives, and he almost immediately makes the decision that June will be his next in command, who will take over leadership from him when he retires. I know he loves his kid, but what leader would do that? He's putting someone he hasn't seen since she was a toddler in a leadership position. Wouldn't he wait till she's proved her talent? The experienced team members accept her as a leader as well. Plausible? I'm not sure.
Cifuentes is setting the stage carefully for a betrayal from among the team. They know that someone is giving away their plans, and it has to be someone very close to them. I think I already know who it is, but that's just because I know the tropes so well.
In summary, Cifuentes has a great cast of characters, they inhabit an interesting world, and there's likely no limit to the adventures he can create in this series. What a great beginning!
This is book one of a series and I presume Cifuentes is hard at work on book two. I'm quite impressed. There is strong world-building, engaging characters, and a compelling story line.
June is a high school kid who lives with her single mother in New Jersey, though they move a lot, apparently on the run from the "stalker dad," who is pursuing them. One day June comes home alone and her dad is there. He whisks her away to a super-secure underground compound and tells her what seems like a crazy story. She--and many other people on earth--are super-strong, almost indestructible, very special humans. Dad works for an organization that protects and trains these people, called Bricks (it stands for something--read the book). There is always fear that one of them will give in to evil and try to dominate the world, or a portion of it. On the other hand, normal people will fear these super-people, and there are ways that they can be killed, so they have to be protected from the "normies."
June is assigned to Team Alpha, several well-trained young people who can be trusted to run ops for the organization, such as to extract bricks who are misbehaving and abusing their powers. June goes along on an op even before she has had any training, and the op goes wrong...very very wrong.
That's where I am in this book right now. I have to admit that it could have used both more copy editing and proofreading. The young people use vernacular language, of course, but there are times when the narrator does as well--inadvertently, I think. The narration is awkwardly worded at times. I've seen a couple of typos. We learn that the team studies languages in their classes at the organization, but I was surprised that June was completely fluent in Spanish--obviously she didn't just take a high school class. Did she grow up speaking Spanish with her mother? There's no explanation. Also, June's dad, William, is a leader over the base where she lives, and he almost immediately makes the decision that June will be his next in command, who will take over leadership from him when he retires. I know he loves his kid, but what leader would do that? He's putting someone he hasn't seen since she was a toddler in a leadership position. Wouldn't he wait till she's proved her talent? The experienced team members accept her as a leader as well. Plausible? I'm not sure.
Cifuentes is setting the stage carefully for a betrayal from among the team. They know that someone is giving away their plans, and it has to be someone very close to them. I think I already know who it is, but that's just because I know the tropes so well.
In summary, Cifuentes has a great cast of characters, they inhabit an interesting world, and there's likely no limit to the adventures he can create in this series. What a great beginning!
April 23, 2025
From the first few pages of Glass Hearts, I was completely hooked! The mysterious, nomadic life of June Romero instantly pulled me in ,there’s something so captivating about a girl who doesn’t quite fit in, and you know there’s more beneath the surface. The slow unraveling of her powers and the sudden appearance of a stranger in her life sets a gripping tone that promises action, secrets, and self-discovery.
The plot delivers on that promise, diving deep into the hidden world of the B.R.I.C. and other “unbreakable” individuals like June. The blend of espionage, sci-fi, and a touch of dystopia makes for a thrilling storyline. G. S. Cifuentes’ writing style is both immersive and fast-paced ,clear, punchy, and emotionally resonant. I loved the layered themes of identity, trust, and the cost of safety vs. freedom. The mystery around June’s past keeps the pages turning, and the slow-burn tension is so satisfying.
Personally, I found June to be a refreshingly real protagonist ,strong, but still vulnerable, especially as she questions everything around her. The book hits that sweet spot between action and introspection, giving it real heart (pun intended). By the end, I was left thinking about how we define who we are and what we’re willing to sacrifice for the truth. Glass Hearts is a unique and powerful debut that blends sci-fi thrills with emotional depth ,definitely a must-read!
The plot delivers on that promise, diving deep into the hidden world of the B.R.I.C. and other “unbreakable” individuals like June. The blend of espionage, sci-fi, and a touch of dystopia makes for a thrilling storyline. G. S. Cifuentes’ writing style is both immersive and fast-paced ,clear, punchy, and emotionally resonant. I loved the layered themes of identity, trust, and the cost of safety vs. freedom. The mystery around June’s past keeps the pages turning, and the slow-burn tension is so satisfying.
Personally, I found June to be a refreshingly real protagonist ,strong, but still vulnerable, especially as she questions everything around her. The book hits that sweet spot between action and introspection, giving it real heart (pun intended). By the end, I was left thinking about how we define who we are and what we’re willing to sacrifice for the truth. Glass Hearts is a unique and powerful debut that blends sci-fi thrills with emotional depth ,definitely a must-read!
August 23, 2025
You have such a unique voice, and I really admire the way you were able to make every page so engaging. Honestly, it’s one of those books that stays with you long after reading.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews