Boy of Blood: Girl of Glass, Book 2

Girl of Glass #2

by Megan O'Russell

The price of a lie will be paid in blood.

Nightland’s attack shattered the safety of the domes, leaving dead to be burned and debts to be settled. As the Domers struggle to rebuild, Nola tries to forget everything she learned beyond the glass walls. The people on the outside aren’t hers to save. There is nothing left for them but pain and death. Nola’s life will continue trapped in the domes, Jeremy by her side.

When the chaos of the city reaches the glass, the line between murder and protection blurs, leaving Nola with only one terrible chance for survival.

Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult, Dystopia, Audiobook, Young Adult Fantasy

Audible Audio

First published April 10, 2018

About the author

From the epic fantasy world of Ilbrea to the vampire and werewolf-plagued dystopia of the domes, author Megan O'Russell offers readers thirty-two books across nine series.

With a passion for building immersive worlds, uncovering each character’s unique voice, and discovering innovative ways to bring stories to audiences, Megan has created and presented workshops across the country helping fellow authors along their journey, including facing the Indie Publishing process with clear eyes and a workable plan.

Megan's newest novel, Sketchbook of a Wayward Seer, is presented in partnership with the podcast Page by Page: Writing the Book in Real Time, where you can listen to a new, full chapter of the series every week. Other titles include Ember and Stone, Girl of Glass, The Cursebound Thief, and How I Magically Messed Up My Life in Four Freakin' Days.

Reviews

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boy of Blood starts where book one, Girl of Glass, left off. This is not a standalone story. You do need to read the first book in the series to truly appreciate this installment.

The book starts with Nola waking up after the attack on the domes, a perfect world inside glass walls created for chosen humans. The other half of the population is relegated to living on the outside of the dome to suffer and die.

In this dystopian sequel, we follow Nola as she tries to move on from the attacks on the domes and the heartbreak from Kieran's betrayal. This book really takes the time to explain and develop Nola's character and her relationship with Jeremy. I didn't see this book as just another dystopian book. I'm actually tired of reading most of the dystopian YA novels out there because many of those books are so similar. What I liked about Boy of Blood is that this story mixes a little romance, a little paranormal fantasy with vampires and werewolves, and it all works really well.

This is a fast-paced book with a cliffhanger ending that leaves you wanting more. I highly recommend it.

I would like to thank the author and Fiery Seas Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Aly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nola is a great character in this series! I enjoyed this book as much as the first one but they should be read in order.  The boy she loved broke her heart and she begins think about Jeremy's love and how that makes her feel. I was left at the edge of my seat and I can't wait for more. *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*

[Telma Rocha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book.

Book 2, Boy of Blood, by Megan O’Russell, continues right where book 1, Girl of Glass left off. In this dystopian world, humans are divided between the outsiders and the humans living within the glass domes, constructed to save humanity. Nola continues her struggles with who to fight along side with, and who to fight against, as the wars continues to rage, and turn even more aggressive.

Truths are discovered, feelings are shattered, and more heart wrenching decisions must be made. Nola wants nothing more than to help others, to save as many lives as she can, and every time she feels she is on the right team, she is pushed further beyond what she thought capable of dealing with.

I loved this book. It was just as captivating, and had me on the edge of my seat as much as the first book did. It contains enough adventure to keep me wanting to read more. The characters are developed further, and you get to know Nola a lot better. I liked the strength and independence that Nola displays throughout her challenges. I was also at times flustered by her innocence, and strong desire to want to save everyone, risking so much in order to do so. Her actions kept me turning the pages quickly. I also grew to love Jeremy’s character a lot. He was only a supporting character in Girl of Glass, so I was pleased that his character gets developed a lot further in this book, and you gain a lot of insight into who Jeremy is really is.

The book ended with an massive cliff-hanger, and so I am now patiently waiting for book 3, so that I can continue the journey along side Nola in her attempts to find freedom, and happiness. I sure hope there is a third installment on its way!

[Mariela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nola is trying hard to move on and seeing where things go with Jeremy. But when the dome is attacked time and time again she’s now taking the blame. She wants to tell someone what she did but Jeremy stops her. The people on the outside know her name, know what she did and now they come for her. The werewolves the vamps they want what she gave. Now that she can’t ANYONE she runs away to find Emmanuel the journey isn’t easy and just when you’re loosing breath because you’re rubbing away with them the book ends and leaves you wanting more! I want to know what happens!!!!

[Simone · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book is as good as the first one! I love the characters, especially Nola. She is such a loving and caring girl!

But I just can’t believe this cliffhanger! I’m shocked. I definitely need to read the thirth book as soon as it’s available. I can’t wait!

If you like Dystopian worlds, please read this one. It’s such an amazing story about a girl who has to live in a dome to save te human race. A good girl who cares so much, that she sometimes makes bad decisions. This Dystopian world is also mixed with fantasy creatures.

Favourite quote:

'I never thought loving you would be easy.” Jeremy pressed his lips to the top of her head. “You don’t get something as wonderful as you without having to work for it. And I’m willing to do whatever it takes.'

[Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read my review to book #1, Girl of Glass, HERE: https://www.facebook.com/EyesOpenRevi...

*this review contains minor spoilers*

Often, when I start a book series, book #1 tends to be my favorite. I'm usually not much of a series reader for this reason - unless you're Ransom Riggs, I often find that sequels pale in comparison to the first book. However, I actually think that Boy of Blood, #2 in the Girl of Glass series by Megan O'Russell, is BETTER than the first.
Saying that, though, I'm not going to lie: I do think that the title for this book is a little misleading. I went into Boy of Blood (before reading the summary) thinking that I was about to read a third-person narration following Kieran so, when I realized that we would be sticking with Nola's side of the story, I was a little surprised. However, I ended up liking much of what I read - I feel like Nola herself was already a stronger character compared to book #1, and I LOVE that the love triangle element takes a backseat in the sequel - she already seems less wishy-washy (and doesn't kiss two different boys within the span of three pages) because of it.
That being said, Nola does, eventually, take action in returning to Nightland, but I'm beyond glad that her reasoning is because she's realizing how screwed up the domes are and not just "for Kieran." In fact, despite the title, Kieran is hardly mentioned and makes no in-person appearance in this sequel - he literally goes against everything I thought while starting it, lol. I am interested to see what's going to happen once Kieran and the Vampers make their reappearance, but the turn that this book took (<--- when you accidentally turn into a poet) was a pleasant surprise - compared to her character in book #1, I wasn't really expecting Nola to turn into a lying, thieving, jail-busting badass. Especially after she had to deal with Jeremy for so long - I still don't like him, lol. I'm glad she finally ditched him and saw his and the Dome's hella-creepy reasoning for wanting to "protect" women.
Going back to the Vampers, "Boy of Blood" also introduces another supernatural element into its plot: Werewolves. Werewolves were mentioned in Girl of Glass, but only as a background-building tool, so I definitely like that O'Russell is taking a slower approach in blending all the supernatural elements together rather than throwing them all in your face in book #1. It almost makes me wonder if zombies will make an appearance next in book #3.
Overall, I'd say that my biggest complaint is the somewhat-misleading title, but I definitely liked this book more than book #1! It's a bit short - not even 200 pages on iBooks - but it's a strong read and, despite its length, it's packed with lots of the same world-building imagery from book #1. Cliches are still evident, but I feel like they're not as strong as they are in the first book - like the love triangle, they sort of take a backseat - and I think Boy of Blood makes for an especially strong sequel. It's a quick read, but I think it has a wonderful mix of detail and action, and I recommend it to any reader of dystopia or the supernatural.

[Mat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boy of Blood picks up Nola Kent's story moments after Girl of Glass ends. Nola's world is falling apart, literally. She has been betrayed by those she cares the most about. As a result, she is driven into the arms of a boy whose obsessive love for her is both endearing and frightening (at least for the reader). Their blossoming love is derailed by a series of actions taken by Domers, including her now beloved Jeremy, that she views as yet another set of betrayals. Enraged and disillusioned she escapes to Domes with four outsiders in toe.

Frankly, I have not been so enthralled with a book in a very long time. I read the entire book in a day. I simply could not put it down. As with Girl of Glass the writing is fantastic. The characters and setting are engaging and the plot twist unexpected and fun.

I can't wait for the next installment in the Girl of Glass series.

[Jenn Bradshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

We received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review:

Megan O'Russell hits another home run with Boy of Blood, book 2 in the Girl of Glass series.

This book picks up right where Girl of Glass left off - the night Nightland attacked the domes. Nola struggles with intense feelings; she's betrayed the domes, and those she tried to help, betrayed her. The boy she loved has turned on her, and she begins to accept Jeremy's love as she starts to heal. The blinders are off now, and every time Nola turns around, she discovers another lie, another secret, more and more blood on her hands as she starts to ask herself who the real monsters are. What's a girl to do?

Megan's world building in this series is amazing. She's created vivid settings and torn them down, piece by piece. Her characters are rich, deep and (mostly) relatable - I can't honestly say I can relate to the blood thirsty, murderous and snarky Vamper, Raina. However, even the difficult-to-understand characters have their own story that makes them understandable, even if they aren't likeable. (What kind of dystopian/urban fantasy would it be if everyone was rainbows and sparkles?)

Boy of Blood is just as fast-paced and full of plot twists as book 1 was. And... Nah. Not gonna give away the spoilers. Though, I will say that Megan has confirmed that there are at least 2 more books coming in this series. (I say "at least" only because she revealed this was originally supposed to be a trilogy, during our interview.)

Girl of Glass and Boy of Blood are easily on par with Hunger Games and Maze Runner. Fans of dystopian fiction - this one's for you! Paranormal and urban fantasy fans looking for a twist on the usual vampires and werewolves - check this one out.

Easily 5 out of 5 stars from this reader.

[bookgeek607 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once your eyes are opened to the world you really live in is there any way to going back? Can you move on with your life living in a sea of lie after lie? For Nola that is her reality. After a devastating attack on the domes and a deeper betrayal from the boy you love, is where we pick back up with her. Trying to accept this is life and not hurt her mom and the boy who has stood by her no matter what. When she finds that her moral compass is leading her towards a different path. A path that pulls her from the life she knows . A battle of what is right and what is needed by taking a stance against all odds. A fantastic read for any dystopian fans. But beware the book ends in a cliffhanger that may or may not lead to book frustration 😂

[Samantha Bradshaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nola is safe in the domes, but she is more aware than ever. The domes were attacked. The current love of her life had almost been lost. She has been bitten and scarred. It is part of her history now, and she won’t forget it. She’s caught the eyes of the guards, and when dark secrets begin to reveal themselves to her, her trust shatters all over again. The guards are using the drugs from outside the domes now, going against everything Domers were taught. Who can she trust, if anyone?
Gripping, and well told, you will find yourself falling back into Nola’s world of glass and blood and danger. Don’t want to leave quite yet? Do not worry my friends, there are three more stories to tell. This story is far from over.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I begin!! I loved the first installment but I believe that as the story progresses the series will get better and better. I’m utterly speechless right now. I listened to the audiobook, and bam it was over when I least expected it to!! I was so enthralled with the events that was happening in the book. Nola’s character is developing quite well. I enjoyed watching how Jeremy had her back through everything that Nola has had to go through. If your looking for a dystopian series that has paranormal elements, and action packed scenes then pick this series up. I love the audiobook as well!

[Hannah Michaels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Writing cliff hangers feels good. Reading them, not so much. But anyways. I’m really looking forward to the third one that I know she’s going to write because if she doesn’t I’m going to have to take matters into my own hands and fan fiction again. So. Help a girl out! You’re going to need this book when it’s out next week! Another quick read like the first, and very engaging.

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg what a great book 2!!! Please make the 3rd one come soon. I do t want to give anything away but I was just sure my reader had stopped working. Nope it was the end of the book :(. I love the story the characters are amazing and book 3 needs to hurry.

[Melissa Levine · Rating 2 out of 5]

The most confusing part of this story was the fact those on the outside wanted Nola. Yes, she’d gone to Nightland, and later Capt. Ridgeway tells her that she’s become a symbol of the domes, but so what? Why did they want her? There was a part when she talks to Capt. Ridgeway and he says her name has been going around within the outsider community. She responds with “They’ll keep coming for me till they kill me.” Or a later part when she says, “He thinks the wolves or Vampers or someone will come after me AGAIN.” No one! I repeat no one has come for her, period. I don’t know what she was talking about. Had they really wanted her like during the Nightland battle, they could have grabbed her then, but they didn’t. So why would they want a little girl so badly, who can’t do anything to benefit them? There’s all this build up of her being so important, like when she escapes the domes, the guards come after her, why? Yes, she was with the outsiders and Raina (a prisoner) but still. What’s so special about Nola? This lack of information was so annoying to me throughout the book that I was tempted to stop reading. I feel like a missed a huge part of the story.

Another area of the story was the sudden 180-turn that Nola took with her feelings toward Jeremy. In book 1, there was a supposed love triangle. I say “supposed” because while there were two boys vying for her attention, she was in love with Kieran and only wanted Jeremy as a friend. Yet in book 2, when Kieran is no longer in the picture, it’s like… I don’t even know what happened with Nola. But she was all eager for Jeremy. All the “I love you” and “only want to be with you forever” talk was strange. Yes, Jeremy is very vocal with his feelings toward Nola, in a psychoish kind of way, in my opinion, but she had already known that he loved her in book 1. Either way, his personality, if you will, is annoying. Maybe it’s because I’m not a lovey-dovey kind of person, but I found him over the top, as in if Nola left him, (and there was no way of reuniting) he’d either kill himself or hunt her down and make sure she wasn’t able to leave again. Definitely not a keeper.

On a side note, I couldn’t help but notice that there were a lot of run-on sentences throughout the series. I listened to the audiobook version for book 1, so it’s kind of impossible to tell if there were run-ons in that one or not, but most likely there were.

Questions/Comments:

Nola is asleep/unconscious and Jeremy decides to bring her food, right at the moment she wakes up. Would he have just left the food to get cold/go bad if she’d been asleep still? It was too coincidental for me.

I don’t know if this was purposely done on Jeremy’s part (for some unknown reason) or the author’s but it was a contradiction when he told Nola: “The wounded are all out of the medical wing and back home except for the worst few.”

The first day Nola works with the outsiders, they see the lunch food and get excited. Nola though wonders how she’s going to tell them that they’d only be fed a simple meal. What? I don’t they expected a fancy meal; any food would be appreciated given where they come from. I just found that a strange comment/thought for her to make.

Nola asks Jeremy, “What if all the darkness and blood really are chasing me?” What?

There’s a part when Nola is thinking about how unfriendly the dome guards are toward each other, what their specific purpose is. The reader learns that half the “Dome Guard had been dragged away to help stop the fighting. Some had been injured, and four had been killed.” Strangely, Capt. Ridgeway had told Nola that only TWO had died.

After speaking to Doc. Mullins about T and her baby, why in the world did Nola go to T and tell her that there might be something wrong with her baby? The doctor never said that. Obviously given T is an outsider, it would be unexpected if her baby had issues when it was born, so why bring it up?

Nola is on the bridge at night and standing fifty feet from Lucifer. Somehow, she’s able to see the “reddish hue of the man’s eyes.” Sorry, but no. That wouldn’t have been possible.

I found it funny that Nola considered Jeremy a monster because he took Graylock, yet Raina wasn’t and she’s a vampire. No sense there. Or even stranger, when Jeremy had been badly wounded, the bullet hole and gashes on her chest/stomach area, Nola never questioned how he’d been able to heal so fast. Like the next day he was eager to get out of bed, and she didn’t say or think anything about it.

If the destruction of the bridge meet they wouldn’t be able to go into the city, how did the domers go from dome settlement to dome settlement?

When they’re running away after leaving Raina’s sister’s house, the reader learns that “Inside her shoes, Nola could feel the skin on her feet tearing.” Um… no. They hadn’t even gotten that far from the house yet, hadn’t been running that long. Yet, even after they pause to break/rest, Nola never comments about her foot pain.

[Kristy Hurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Action packed and intense! You forget at times that Nola.is a teenage girl. Then she will have thoughts that shine a bright light on her age, and illuminate how much she is taking on.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

ugh

I’m not even sure why I picked this one up. Book 1 didn’t impress and this wasn’t much better. The thought process of our heroine just doesn’t make sense. Nothing she does or thinks or says makes much sense. It’s annoying. I the series had potential but somehow lost it on a weak character.

[Stella Patajac · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a great book, but Nola and Jeremy are the most annoying characters I have ever encountered, and I wanted to punch them in the face whenever they thought or spoke about anything.

[Chad Barrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another pulse pounding book by the masterful one and only Megan O’ Russell! You really need to get this series and get to know the writing style of this amazing author!! If you’re looking for a book which will keep you on the edge of your seat and glued to the pages that you don’t want to do anything else but read her books well here you are!

This is the second book in this series and it opens with Nola feeling betrayed and lied to by a boy she loves. She is trying to come to grips with that in the aftermath of an attack on her home by him and his friends and feels sure of what she wants to do now. However circumstances change and once again she feels betrayed and makes a life altering decision!

I recommend this book because in my opinion you can’t go wrong with picking up any book by Megan but I would suggest you start with book one in this series Girl of Glass and then pick up this book at the same time because you will want to go immediately to this book upon completion of the first I can guarantee it!

Be prepared to really develop empathy for the characters you are about to read for you are going to feel you have been transported through the pages and are experiencing what they are undergoing yourself! Megan’s books are easily 50 stars not 5 but alas one can only affix 5 to it. Any book you pick up in a series will draw you in like a spider to a fly and you are going to find yourself hooked in a good way because you will have found a book that you are going to feel the time reading it was indeed time well spent!! In fact you are going to want to get the entire series so you don’t have to look for the next book and can just go to the next book where the cliffhangers will unfold as the story continues!

I urge you to get this series and start it today for it is well worth your time I can assure you!

[Inga O · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free audio copy of this book directly from the author for an honest review.

Took me a second time to get into this book but after a few months break omg I loved it and then dived into book 3 as well. Nola is such a fantastic MFC who is loving and caring but so strong inside especially when people aren’t always so forthcoming with information with her! The story is so interesting and shows that things in life aren’t always black and white that just makes it so interesting to read where you just don’t know how people are going to react to certain situations. That cliffhanger was so evil in this book! It’s no wonder I jumped right into book 3. 😆

[Andra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 in Girl of Glass series

Mistakes. Guilt. Betrayal. Lies. Love.

Boy of Blood is an intense, emotionally-charged dystopian fantasy following Nola on her continued journey of dome life vs city life after finding out she's been living a life surrounded by lies. She's a symbol of the domes, but death is coming for her. This book is filled with young love, secrets, lies, betrayal, unlikely allies, twists and turns, and a cliffhanger ending that'll leave you on the edge of your seat. Detailed world building and strong character development.

"She had played with shadows. Now she was condemned to darkness."

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, fantastic read. Nola is back in the dome but not for long. There are hundreds of lights on the bridge to the city, and Nola is asked by Jeremy's father to go and talk to the people on the other side. They have actually asked for her. While talking to them, the bridge blows up. The Domers had used Nola to keep the others occupied and of course a lot were killed. And some Domers also. This is all too much for Nola. Death. Lots of death. Love with a guard. Betrayal. The city. More death. Another ripper of a story in this brilliant series. Now on to Book 3.

[John Orlowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read!

If you have read the book Girl of Glass, then this is a must read.

Nola is true to herself and is the best the domers have to offer. You only hope that you would be as good as she is.

When is the next book coming out?

John orlowski

[Phyllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pace in this story has been uninterrupted from
Book 1 into Book 2.
You **do ** need to read Book 1 first ( Girl of Glass )
because if you don't, you won't understand what's
going on.
I read it in one sitting, being unable and unwilling
to put it down.
Enjoy !!


Phyllis S.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book!

I liked this one better than the first! The beginning was a bit slow moving but once I got into it, I couldn’t put it down. What a great read! Action, drama, suspense! I highly recommend this series!

[Kyla Sixkiller · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second installment delivers just as much excitement as the first! Nola, a kind and compassionate heroine, continues to win hearts. The shocking cliffhanger has left me desperate for the third book's release.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Shabana]

I really enjoyed this continuation. I liked the romance and I felt the hurt the characters go through, and wished I could help. I’m hoping the next one is just as good, if not better

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

I wish it was longer!!! I need to know! Does she survive?!?!? The cliff hanger is killing me!! Good job!

[♡ A ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

[Resa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book continues Nola’s story. I like how she has developed from the last book and is less wish washy. It ends abruptly and you will be wanting to read book 3 as soon as you’re done.