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Glasswright #2
Glasswrights' Progress
The Little Army...
Rani Trader survived the destruction of her family, her glasswrights' guild, and everything else that she held dear. She has begun to settle into her new life, living in the palace of Morenia's new king. A brutal betrayal, though, within the very castle walls, results in Rani being kidnapped, carried overseas to distant Amanthia.
There, Rani discovers a plot against her king. Amanthia has raised the Little Army, a murderous force composed entirely of children. When Rani meets their captain, Crestman, she dreams of liberating the Little Army. But will she live long enough to try?
Rani Trader survived the destruction of her family, her glasswrights' guild, and everything else that she held dear. She has begun to settle into her new life, living in the palace of Morenia's new king. A brutal betrayal, though, within the very castle walls, results in Rani being kidnapped, carried overseas to distant Amanthia.
There, Rani discovers a plot against her king. Amanthia has raised the Little Army, a murderous force composed entirely of children. When Rani meets their captain, Crestman, she dreams of liberating the Little Army. But will she live long enough to try?
370 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2001
11 people are currently reading
370 people want to read
About the author
Mindy Klasky
111 books541 followersMindy Klasky learned to read when her parents shoved a book in her hands and told her that she could travel anywhere in the world through stories. She never forgot that advice.
Mindy's travels took her through multiple careers, including copyright lawyer and law librarian. Mindy now writes full time. Her books fall in a number of genres -- including romantic comedies, paranormal romance, and traditional fantasy.
In her spare time, Mindy knits, quilts, and tries to tame the endless to-be-read shelf in her home library. Her husband and two cats do their best to fill the left-over minutes in her days.
Mindy's travels took her through multiple careers, including copyright lawyer and law librarian. Mindy now writes full time. Her books fall in a number of genres -- including romantic comedies, paranormal romance, and traditional fantasy.
In her spare time, Mindy knits, quilts, and tries to tame the endless to-be-read shelf in her home library. Her husband and two cats do their best to fill the left-over minutes in her days.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 23, 2008
Book #2 in the Glasswright series. Klasky has created an imperfect heroine in her Glasswright's series. Much of the Glasswrights Progress has Rani being forced along a path without her being able to do much about it. She is kidnapped along with Mair to a neighboring kingdom where the caste system is very different from Morenia's, and whose king has devious plans. As usual, its tough to trust anyone's motives, and the reader is often left wondering if Hal and Rani are merely pawns in a greater game or can prove to be more important players. Both of them do some growing up and the lessons are hard. Mini rant: Klasky introduces us to the Little Army, whose tough training I found to not fit that well to the rest of the plot, especially in light of Sin Hazar's plans. I read the explanation but it still bugs me. But maybe I'm just missing something.
August 15, 2017
With multiple viewpoints this volume lacks the breakneck flow which kept the massive implausibilities of the initial book from totally overwhelming my suspension of disbelief. The title character remains self centeredly head blind and intense through every unlikely circumstance that should result in her immediate death.
January 30, 2018
For some reason, I never had a chance to complete this series . Finding it on E books has finally fixed that. The character growth is well done, the villains are definitely evil, and something lurks beneath it all.
April 24, 2020
Kidnapped by the king's bastard half-brother, Rani and Mair must do their best to avert a war.
July 10, 2022
Read it in two days - good storyline.
September 30, 2010
The Glasswrights' Progress is the second book in the Glasswright series by Mindy L. Klasky and I finished it this morning. I though the first book, The Glasswrights' Apprentice, showed some real promise for the character and the world and I was looking forward to seeing how Rani, the main character, was going to go about restoring the Glasswrights' Guild that was destroyed in the first book. That seemed to me to be the obvious plotline for continuing the series after the way the first book ended.
However, that turns out NOT to be what the second book is about. There are hints of that storyline here--Rani has that goal--but there isn't much progress made toward that goal in this book, regardless of the title. Instead, the book is about how Rani is kidnapped from her life in the court of the new King Halaravilli, the boy she unwittingly helped put on the throne, and taken to the northern realm of Amanthia, where King Sin-Hazar is planning war. Of course, Rani becomes embroiled in the politics and the mechanics of the preparations for war and ends up being important in the final outcome. The most shocking aspect of this war is that King Sin Hazar appears intent on forming an army of children, training them as if they were men already.
I thought the book was interesting, especially in the way in which the two kingdoms differ in their idea of a caste system. In the south, Rani's homeland, the castes are separated by, essentially, the job the person has, such as Trader or Soldier or Touched. In Amanthia, the caste is predicted at the time of the person's birth, a tattoo traced on the person's face signifying whether they are lions, owls, swans, or suns. The rest of their life is dictated by that tattoo. I also liked how the Fellowship of Jair--the group that helped Rani reach her new position in the first book--is used and how its perception shifts in this book.
That said, I felt this second novel suffered from the rumored "second novel syndrome." I didn't feel it was as well written as the first, and I was disappointed that there wasn't more done with the restoration of the Glasswrights' Guild. Some progress is made in that respect, but it was more or less tacked on to the end. The new characters introduced were interesting, but I was still more invested in Rani and her plight than any of the others. And I felt that the threat of war needed to be . . . well, more threatening. There were a few good scenes indicating the stakes, but overall the war itself--the marching northward, the preparations, and the final confrontation--weren't a significant portion of the novel. Most of it was Rani's kidnapping, the introduction of the new characters in Amanthia, and the convergence of their plotlines.
So, in the end I enjoyed the book, but overall it felt like a bridging novel to the third book. I realize that in order for Rani to make any progress in restoring her guild that she needed to leave the realm of Morenia (all things glasswright were destroyed in the previous king's rage over his son's death), but I would have liked to have seen more developed along this plotline. I'm moving on to the third book, hoping for more on the guild.
However, that turns out NOT to be what the second book is about. There are hints of that storyline here--Rani has that goal--but there isn't much progress made toward that goal in this book, regardless of the title. Instead, the book is about how Rani is kidnapped from her life in the court of the new King Halaravilli, the boy she unwittingly helped put on the throne, and taken to the northern realm of Amanthia, where King Sin-Hazar is planning war. Of course, Rani becomes embroiled in the politics and the mechanics of the preparations for war and ends up being important in the final outcome. The most shocking aspect of this war is that King Sin Hazar appears intent on forming an army of children, training them as if they were men already.
I thought the book was interesting, especially in the way in which the two kingdoms differ in their idea of a caste system. In the south, Rani's homeland, the castes are separated by, essentially, the job the person has, such as Trader or Soldier or Touched. In Amanthia, the caste is predicted at the time of the person's birth, a tattoo traced on the person's face signifying whether they are lions, owls, swans, or suns. The rest of their life is dictated by that tattoo. I also liked how the Fellowship of Jair--the group that helped Rani reach her new position in the first book--is used and how its perception shifts in this book.
That said, I felt this second novel suffered from the rumored "second novel syndrome." I didn't feel it was as well written as the first, and I was disappointed that there wasn't more done with the restoration of the Glasswrights' Guild. Some progress is made in that respect, but it was more or less tacked on to the end. The new characters introduced were interesting, but I was still more invested in Rani and her plight than any of the others. And I felt that the threat of war needed to be . . . well, more threatening. There were a few good scenes indicating the stakes, but overall the war itself--the marching northward, the preparations, and the final confrontation--weren't a significant portion of the novel. Most of it was Rani's kidnapping, the introduction of the new characters in Amanthia, and the convergence of their plotlines.
So, in the end I enjoyed the book, but overall it felt like a bridging novel to the third book. I realize that in order for Rani to make any progress in restoring her guild that she needed to leave the realm of Morenia (all things glasswright were destroyed in the previous king's rage over his son's death), but I would have liked to have seen more developed along this plotline. I'm moving on to the third book, hoping for more on the guild.
October 28, 2008
Rani and Mair are kidnapped and taken as a hostages to the land of a dangerous, oppressive king. They eventually fall in with a group that demonstrates that king's ruthlessness, an army made up of children who were stolen from their homes and proper castes. Hal faces down both his council and the shadowy Fellowship in order to avenge both their loss and the insult to his sovereignty.
I liked that there was more action, and the plot seemed a bit less random than the first book. But Rani spends too much of the story being herded from one place to the next, she serves more as an observer than an instigator of events up until the end. And sadly, it's only chance that advances the Glasswright Guild plot in the slightest.
Some of the side stories don't really fit. And the book seems too full of supposedly dire threats that are never really a problem. The Fellowship representative made tough statements but attempted to back them up in the most foolish way possible. A terrible siege engine was introduced but mostly just served as an example of the genius of its creator. The Little Army is a nightmarish creation, but it's only truly seen in action during a mock fight. And once the purpose of that group is understood, it made me wonder why they were so heavily built up and trained.
I guess it just seemed that, considering the setup, things worked out in an overly-neat way. It was an interesting book and I liked it well enough, but there were too many things that just felt off.
I liked that there was more action, and the plot seemed a bit less random than the first book. But Rani spends too much of the story being herded from one place to the next, she serves more as an observer than an instigator of events up until the end. And sadly, it's only chance that advances the Glasswright Guild plot in the slightest.
Some of the side stories don't really fit. And the book seems too full of supposedly dire threats that are never really a problem. The Fellowship representative made tough statements but attempted to back them up in the most foolish way possible. A terrible siege engine was introduced but mostly just served as an example of the genius of its creator. The Little Army is a nightmarish creation, but it's only truly seen in action during a mock fight. And once the purpose of that group is understood, it made me wonder why they were so heavily built up and trained.
I guess it just seemed that, considering the setup, things worked out in an overly-neat way. It was an interesting book and I liked it well enough, but there were too many things that just felt off.
May 17, 2015
It was a good sequel to a decent book. I really enjoyed seeing Rani come into her own throughout this novel, moreso than we did in the first book. She wasn't just taking orders from other people without question and had her own ideals about what is right and wrong -- and acted upon these to suit her needs. I am still not impressed that there was a two year gap between the first novel and this one as it made it feel like the first novel was a standalone and this one was a mere afterthought. However, I did enjoy seeing the characters more comfortable around one another because of the time they were allowed to spend together during these two years. The character interactions felt more natural and not as forced as the first novel, especially those of Rani and Mair.
There were a lot of good characters introduced in this novel, although my favourite was Crestman. I'm a little disappointed that he is not returning to Morenia with Rani, but I am hopeful that he is still a major presence in the next novel and eventually they are together again.
The information we receive about the Fellowship of Jair is limited, but was enough that I am curious as to their overall schemes and plans and how they will play out now that Hal has more of an understanding of what the plans are. I am intrigued to find out if they will be successful or not....
I was skeptical to continue with this series after the first novel, but I will most definitely be continuing it!
Overall: 4/5 stars because Crestman.
There were a lot of good characters introduced in this novel, although my favourite was Crestman. I'm a little disappointed that he is not returning to Morenia with Rani, but I am hopeful that he is still a major presence in the next novel and eventually they are together again.
The information we receive about the Fellowship of Jair is limited, but was enough that I am curious as to their overall schemes and plans and how they will play out now that Hal has more of an understanding of what the plans are. I am intrigued to find out if they will be successful or not....
I was skeptical to continue with this series after the first novel, but I will most definitely be continuing it!
Overall: 4/5 stars because Crestman.
September 18, 2011
I skimmed a lot of this book.
The parts that detailed the brutality the "little army" visits upon each other just seemed unnecessarily detailed to me. Also, the various points of view were difficult to follow, and I didn't understand why some of the people were emphasized in the story.
I don't understand most of the relationships in this series yet, either. Why does the king think so much of Raini? Why are Raini and Mai even friends? What was up with the other prince? And the secret society? Going on to the next book, but mostly because I already have it.
The parts that detailed the brutality the "little army" visits upon each other just seemed unnecessarily detailed to me. Also, the various points of view were difficult to follow, and I didn't understand why some of the people were emphasized in the story.
I don't understand most of the relationships in this series yet, either. Why does the king think so much of Raini? Why are Raini and Mai even friends? What was up with the other prince? And the secret society? Going on to the next book, but mostly because I already have it.
December 11, 2007
This book had a bit of a slow start, but it turned out to be a very good book. Like the first book, there were a lot of twists and turns. There are also quite a few people who's loyalties are uncertain. I've learned not to get too attached to any character. There is a good possibility that they will switch sides. Overall, a good series so far.
November 14, 2012
That one was a downer! The 2nd part of this series couldn't capture my imagination as the previous book did. Rani is still the unsure girl, who'se not very active, but is merely dawn into the story. I wished her character would grow more and not stagnate like it does in this one. Also, the love story between her and a boy in the foreign kingdom is just too constructed for my taste.
June 3, 2012
Just as I had hoped, The Glasswrights' Progress is a far cry from its predecessor - The Glasswrights' Apprentice - in that the story is more intense, more mature, and significantly more horrifying.
Continue reading the rest of the review at http://www.dreamworldbooks.com/2012/0....
Continue reading the rest of the review at http://www.dreamworldbooks.com/2012/0....
January 18, 2008
This started out with new characters in a neighboring country, which I had a little trouble with at first. Where was my girl and her handsome prince? They entered the action at last, and I was well rewarded!
May 31, 2008
Not as compelling as the first book in the series. The society isn't described as well and the characters aren't really getting anywhere. I may try one more in the series but it will need to be an improvement.
August 31, 2012
This was really good too...not quite up to the first in my opinion, but pretty darned close. Some of the characters seem almost intentionally obtuse at times which is annoying but all in all not too bad a detraction.
March 17, 2009
Okay. Maybe it is a romance cloaked in fantasy trappings. Nonetheless, once the action starts, this is an enjoyable read.
May 20, 2009
I didn't like this book as much as the first. The story went on an unexpected tangent that lasted the entire book. Alas.
December 8, 2009
The caste system of the country she visited was really interesting. I enjoyed reading this book because of that aspect.
January 20, 2010
Just like in the first book, I was really intrigued by the plot but I wasn't so thrilled with the main characters, especially some of the new ones introduced in this book.
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July 27, 2011Not as good as the first one. The main characters spend too much doubting themselves and Rani Trader is a pain. The majority of conversations are held more as an argument which is a bit wearisome.
February 2, 2012
Not as good as the first one...though Rani Trader is such a great female character.
April 11, 2015
This is the prequel to The Glasswrights' Apprentice. It is filled with intrigue and violence, a smart female lead. Setting is medieval times and very descriptive.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews