Der Bund der Wächter 2: Glasfaust

The Blood Guard #2

by Carter Roy

Bevor Ronan und seine Freundin Greta Wächter des Lichts werden können, müssen sie eine knallharte Ausbildung durchlaufen. Im Haus der superreichen Miss Glass sollen sie gegen andere Jugendliche um den "gläsernen Handschuh" kämpfen. Schon bald muss Ronan erkennen, dass es dabei um weit mehr geht als um einen Wettstreit. Es geht um Leben und Tod! Doch wer trachtet Ronan nach dem Leben - und warum?

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Adventure, Magic, Fiction, Young Adult, Childrens

353 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 2, 2015

About the author

Short Version: Carter Roy is the author of The Blood Guard and its sequels, as well as a forthcoming novel from Delacorte/Random House Children's Books. He lives in New York with his wife, a spiky cat, and far too many books.

In-Depth Version: Carter Roy has painted houses and worked on construction sites; waited tables and driven delivery trucks; been a stage hand for rock bands and a videographer on a cruise ship; worked as a line cook in a kitchen, a projectionist in a movie theater, and a rhetoric teacher at a university. He has been a reference librarian and a bookseller, edited hundreds of books for major publishers, and written award-winning short-stories for adult readers that appeared in a half-dozen journals and anthologies.
He is the author of The Blood Guard and its sequel, The Glass Gauntlet. He lives in New York City.

Reviews

[snowplum · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fast-paced, frequently exciting, action-filled book with a good bit of humor that is likely to appeal to a broad range of middle grade readers, and a nice handful of readers of any age who like adventure tales with young protagonists and a bit of magic.

I don't feel like I really need to write a very long review here, because my review of book 1 in the series The Blood Guard (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) is nearly entirely applicable to book 2, The Glass Gauntlet. But I'll see what I can do to add some thoughts specifically pertaining to this book, or recap the major points if you are profoundly averse to link surfing.

There is a very rich cast of supporting characters in this book. Roy's offerings as the other kids in the Gauntlet "exam" made me think a little bit of the bad kids in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but with significantly more sophistication. They are quite distinctive and I particularly admire how Roy manages to write characters you aren't supposed to like and makes you spend time with them without feeling like you just want those parts of the book to be over. Not many authors (especially of J- or YA-fic) can do that!

Roy has all sorts of unique ideas -- especially for establishing environment and ambiance. For example, the "famous Glass hedge maze" -- a "witch's playground" of dead bushes a dozen feet high, with shriveled yellow leaves and thorns, and no openings, controlled on a huge grid that can constantly shift when controlled electronically. It opens briefly for you to enter and then the aperture immediately closes behind... and then it shifts constantly while you're in it, pretty much trying to kill you. You want to go in that? Heck no! But the visceral feeling you get from the description goes a long way to drive how just how brave these kids have to be, as well as clever and resourceful to survive and make it out.

I'm also really impressed by the number of times I was surprised in the book by choices the characters make. They manage to come across as true to who Roy has crafted them to be, yet they are not at all predictable. For example... At one point Ronan isn't really in contention to win a particular challenge, while Greta is... and other kid, Kiernan (creepy little feller who wears a Hannibal Lecher mask and apparently has some sort of ability to use his iPad to hack anything that involves technology, including this challenge) seems like he could beat her, so Ronan doesn't think twice -- he tackles the creepy kid for Greta's benefit. Is it Right? Is it Wrong? The "Rules" (of the titular Glass Gauntlet challenge) don't say that anything is wrong; yet for our protagonists, such a thing (cheating, by conventional standards) is certainly morality... questionable. I mean, just cause the kid wears a biting mask and seems like he'd be happy to kill you, does he not have the right to win through hacking if Greta has the ability to win by the unconventional method she chooses?

Roy's sense of humor is distinctive and sometimes really shines. My absolute favorite silliness in this book is the villain's four fierce attack dogs: War, Famine, Pestilence.... and Debra. "Since when is the fourth horesman of the apocalypse named Debra?" one character asks. "Mrs. Glass felt Death was an inappropriate name for a female dog." Adding to this little awesomeness, said dogs are ultimately turned to the forces of good by Jack Dawkins, the coolest character in the book and the one I might have a crush on were I prone to such things.

Every once in a while Roy does something as a writer that REALLY grates on me though. For example... it's been a hallmark of the whole series so far that Ronan and Greta have a zillion ridiculous and esoteric skills; it actually starts to be funny if you let it, but it can be annoying if you aren't in the mood for all of the implausibility in the Western Hemisphere all rolled into one MG novel. But in this case, Roy compounds the problem by not even telling you that Ronan, et al, have learned another ridiculous skill that is relevant to a challenge UNTIL the challenge happens. And then Ronan goes, "Rolleo!" because it turns out that DURING A PERIOD OF TIME ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE BOOK, he practiced balancing on rolling logs in water. At least have the grace to tell me he happened to try that at summer camp when he was 7. Not that he did it 50 pages ago but you didn't happen to mention it at the time.

I also think this book progresses a little too rapidly from the protagonists being captured and imprisoned in one way... to escaping... to getting caught... to escaping... to getting caught by someone else... to escaping... So they sneak. They plot. They fight. They plot. They sneak. They fight. If you break down the beats in the plot like that, there's almost no variety at all. Yes, something interesting is usually happening, but once you look at the structure of the book, it is pretty darn repetitive.

But as in the first book, my least favorite thing here is the strange amount of violence (especially by adults, toward children). But in this case someone also has to cut off his own hand. It's not described with a really gory amount of detail. It's just... surprising every time something is so brutal. I would not say that the writing of the violence is categorically inappropriate for children, but I think more sensitive younger readers might not particularly enjoy it.

One last thing I'll mention which I noticed here and not in The Blood Guard -- there is occasionally some impressive writing, including vocabulary like proprioception [which my word processor's spell checker doesn't even know, and which I could not have defined for you 15 minutes ago.] I think that's cool. Which probably tells you at least as much about me as I have told you in all this time about this book.

**

I received a complimentary copy of The Glass Gauntlet from the publisher via Net Galley, in exchange for an honest review. Feel free to chat with me about it and ask any questions you might have. (About the book, or otherwise; though I will say I'm more likely to answer all questions about the book and only some Others.)

[Shadowdenizen · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Glass Gauntlet" is Book 2 in the "Blood Guard" series, and it's another solid (if somewhat less-inspired) entry in this fledgling series.

Like Book 1 (The Blood Guard), this is a fast-paced, rollicking action-adventure series for young teens, following in the veins of such modern-day titles as the "Percy Jackson" series. The plot is fairly straightfoward, and flows along nicely and there's a few unexpected and interesting twists and turns, coupled with a pleasant mix of Magic/Mysticism/Theology bubbling in the pages that is quite intriguing.

My problem is not quite so much with what's there in the book as opposed to what's not there. (And, to be fair, I likely am a fair bit older than the target audience, and perhaps a bit more discriminating, due to the years of reading I've compiled in this genre.)

(Mild spoilers and speculation ahead...)
I felt that the first book laid out an intriguing premise that this book failed to capitalize on. The first book posited a world where two factions warred over the souls of the "Pure". This book DID present another obstacle for our heroes to overcome, but I felt like the MYTHOLOGY of the world and the setting wasn't substansially expounded upon fora follow-up book. (Yes, we did get another look into one of the more intriguing characters (Jack) backstory, and the relationship between our hero and his charge (Ronan and Greta) deepend a bit, but for the most part, the characters still remain ciphers, rathe than fleshed-out characters.)

More importantly, other than the (vaguely-Biblical) efforts for the Bad Guys (the "Bend Sinister") to ensnare the souls of the Pure, [which I presume to be the larger thesis of the series], we really don't learn anything new about either the Blood Guard or the Bend Sinister and their origins or history beyond a few tantalizing tidbits.)

And the inspired cover art (like the first book) is quite evocative, and really serves to bring a pleasing visual element to the series as a whole.

So, in summary?
A decent 2nd book in the series; some fun twists and turns and character bits, marred by a lack of detail to the overarcing mythology. But I'm still onboard, and eagerly await Book 3! (As with the first book, I'm giving this 3.5 stars [rounded down to 3 in this instance.])

Full dislosure: With my thanks, I received an ARC of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Bill Tillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Two is even better than the first. Ronan, Greta, Sammy with Jack Dawkins try to restore the lost soul of a pure (not telling what that is). Agatha Glass becomes new player in the mix, a two hundred year old seven year old.

[Connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good, but I felt like this book was a little step down from the Blood Guard in all categories.

[E.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I received this copy free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)

There is always a fear when going into a the second book of a series, you never quite know if it will be better then the first, fall short, or be horrible. This book was not in those three, this book surpassed all my expectations by miles. Not only that, but I had this wonder read in less then three hours.

The second picks up where the first left off, with Ronan dealing with the fact that his father tried to kill him and trying to keep Greta safe, but in the dark at the same time. Heart pounding action was never far away, and like the first, at not point was I confused, bored, or unhappy. There are few books in this world that can capture me in a way where I feel like I was running and fighting along side the characters. This is a magic I crave in reading, and the standard I hold. It what's defines the difference between a good book and a great book.

The plot was straight up from the start, the mission was pointed out and was never far from Ronan's, Greta's or Jacks mind. It was said a few times, that the over all picture wasn't about them, but what and who they where protecting.

I talked about about Ronan and Greta in my first review, and I will get to them in a bit because I really want to talk about Jack and Sam.

Sam really came into his own in the book. In the first he was kind of a side character, who we didn't know what side he was on. But in this instillment Sam really shows of his hacking skills, his loyalty, and most of all, his will to fight for his friends. He is fully apart of the group and I'm excited to see him grow in the books to come.

Jack, I have a high-school crush on you. The background on him in the first book was well placed, and you get a sense of who he is. In this book we get to know him as a person, and his weird magical ability with dogs. He is the adult, the friend, yet parent to the kids, while their parents are off trying to keep them safe. You can tell he cares a lot for the group, a willingly throws himself in harms way, to the point of getting repeating killed just to keep his charges safe. The parental figure makes this book more, then the typical- overused ruse of, teens who happen to save the world. It gives, the world that Carter Roy has created a more realistic and authentic feel.

Ronan and Greta growth throughout this book is steady and progressive. Ronan has taken on the protector role and has committed to it, even if Grata my never know outside of the best friend zone. Their friendship is fast becoming that between phase where your not like family but are. Ronan is growing so much, he is more confident, and less unsure about his decisions. While Greta as smart as she is, has shown more of her convictions, letting us see the pure that she is. To point were Greta goes back for a kid that wanted to hurt her, and nursed him when he takes a turn for the worst. The more I read about Greta and Ronan the more I love them. They balance each other out and make a perfect team.

I love this series and where it's headed. I highly recommend this book, this series. It's more then a cookie-cutter cliché of boy finds out he special and has to save the world. This is an adventured made of many parts, and many people. It does not rely on one person to save everyone, nor does it revolve around one person having all the special only powers to save. It's a interlocking chain with no weak links and I can't wait to gets on my hands on the next one.

I would like to thank Netgalley for letting me experience this remarkable world of magical fiction.

Happy Reading

Emily

[Kyle Carson · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ARC of the Glass Gauntlet was given to me by MB Communications, but my opinion is entirely my own.

I hit the ground running when reading THE GLASS GAUNTLET as I had not read the first book in the series. I could have taken the time to read the first one, but I more wanted to read TGG on its own to see how well it stood up as its own story. After all, even though we write a series, aren't we told to make each book able to stand on its own? Its with that thought that I dived into these pages, and I gladly wasn't let down.

The beginning of the book is a little bogged down with some telling of what occurred in the previous book. As I had not read the first book, I found this information helpful, though many other readers could quickly grow tired of the explanations. Besides that, the book starts right into action, begginning with training in the Blood Guard's base camp before moving out to the estate of Agatha Glass to compete in some sort of 'test.' At first glass, Agatha's test could be seen as a refinishing of the Hunger Games trope-- a competition with life threatening challenges that runs the majority of the plot. Thankfully, this is not the case, as the "test" is not what the story focuses on, but rather everything going on outside of the test, which was refreshing. The tension and voice kept the story moving fluidly until all the tipping points are in place. It was nice to see that the major complications that Ronan faces in this story is caused by his own actions. Rather than being dragged along as a tool of the plot, Ronan instead makes choices both in the beginning and at the end that greatly shapes the outcomes. I especially liked how his decisions made things worse rather than better, as it keeps the tension high and the main character in the action seat.

The entire book had a definite feel of Rick Riordan's books, and many mirroring ideas. But where Riordan's stories focus more on magic, the GG is more focused on tech. The main mystery focuses around the glass gauntlet, what it can do, and how they were going to make it work. The writing is smooth and rather descriptive without going on for paragraphs and paragraphs. The way Carter Roy described scenes and actions made it very easy to visualize. His writing style keeps the pace swift and with deliberate details that are easy to latch onto.

One of the downsides was the lack of serious character changes or development over the course of the novel. I figure that more characterization of the main three characters took place in the first book, and the second is now more focused on plot than building up characters. It was nice to see some of Ronan's struggles-- how he dealt with thinking of his father and his responsibility to Greta-- but outside of him there's not much there besides showcasing character skills to convey personality. The character I was most interested in was Jack Dawkins, mostly because the mystery of his history and the emotion brought out of him, having to face friends he hadn't seen for many many years.

All in all, The Glass Gauntlet made for an enjoyable and fast-paced read. It definitely feels like a book that would appeal to boys, especially those interested in things like the Percy Jackson series. I did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did and was delighted with the ideas and plot elements Roy brought to the table.

3/5 stars. A good adventure story for those who dream of being a hero.

[Rosie Rizk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Notice: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Once again, the author grabs your attention with a great book. Occasionally, I've read books where I lose interest in the story because there are too many things happening, too much action, and not enough of anything else. There's lots of action in both Blood Guard books, but there are also lots of twists, interesting sci-fi, action, and magical moments that manage to keep me glued.

One thing that really bothered me was when Ronan attacked his father with barely a second thought. Now, I understand that his father was trying to kill his friends and bring about the end of the world, and all of that wonderful stuff, but still, it's one thing to act immediately to stop your father from killing someone, but it's a whole different view when it's premeditated. Ronan just doesn't have a close relationship with his father, and has very few memories of bonding moments. I just wish the author put in more of an inner conflict over there, rather than a simple doubt once or twice.

All that aside, the book was very good. I loved the plot twists, action and bits of magical feats mixed with science and gadgets. It's a nice mix of science, action, & magic, perfect for fans of the 39 Clues & Percy Jackson.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as with the first book, I was immediately captured. The characters and their relationships continue to ring true to me. The good vs. evil plot continues, with new characters and complications coming in to enrich the story. It’s a little slower going than book one, which is typical of the middle book in a series, but has enough highs and lows to keep the reader engaged.

Can’t wait for number three!

Possible objectionable material: Disobeying adults. Perilous situations. Violence, some gory but none graphic. One reviewer points out that the idea of 36 “Pure” individuals on earth, whose souls are reincarnated, and who keep the world worthy of continuing, is against their religious beliefs. This could offend some; your suspension of disbelief may vary.

Who would like this book: I think this would be a great book for reluctant readers, because the plot keeps you wanting more. Late elementary through early high school. (Let's face it, I'm 51 and I liked it.) While it’s a book that girls can definitely get into, it’s a great choice for boys who don’t like female protagonists. (Greta is such a strong character, they’ll get a lot of girl anyway.) Approximate Lexile: 880.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance reader ebook.

[Lynndell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Two Lions for the arc of The Glass Gauntlet by Carter Roy. This enjoyable sequel to Blood Guard is quickly placed. The characters are still loyal to each other and have developed stronger friendships. Jack Dawkins continues to make things interesting and comical. The ending leaves off with another adventure in mind. Very fun read!

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am ridiculously close to this book, and so my rating of it should be taken with a pillar of salt. Still: I certainly enjoyed it.

[Marie -The Reading Otter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review:
http://pagestoexplore.blogspot.com/20...

[Samia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is aging like a fine wine! Now that the backdrop of the story has been set, the second book gets even better. The bad guys just got a little bit worse, our heroes just discovered more heroic parts of themselves, and the climax is just a tad more chilling to the bone.
I love the concept of this book, even though it follows the traditional good vs. evil base, it has taken that well beyond our imagined limits.

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great series. I recommend it to students, teachers, and librarians.

[Pop Bop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forget the Plot, Get Me the Cheat Codes

This breathlessly fast-paced book is the second in the Blood Guard series. While the series has an interesting and fairly complicated premise and back story, the plots of each individual book are so antic and improvised they hardly matter. In a lot of ways the story is presented the way stories are presented in adventure/shooter video games - it's an excuse to get the characters places and to move them around enemies while doing things and finding macguffins. That's all fine by me because the characters, the action, the curvy plots, and the witty dialogue all work together to create a satisfying, if slightly exhausting, reading experience, and the plotting, exposition and storytelling have enough substance to justify the effort.

And, it seems that, no matter what the threat, all of our favorite characters will survive. Indeed, the supporting character who most readers like the best, (Jack Dawkins), literally can't be killed no matter how much he is injured, shot, stabbed, burned, mauled. I like that in a hero.

There's a fine line between an exhilarating actioner and a confounding mess, and to me the signature success of this book is that the author manages to keep everything under just enough control that it all works and makes sense as you read it. MEDIUM GENERAL SPOILERS HERE: In this book we have apprentice good guys, mellow Karate Kid type training, an attack, an escape, a flight to safety, a mini distracting Hunger-Wizarding-Games-Tournament, a steampunk soul transmogrifying thingy, three sets of competing bad guys, a Victorian era flashback, several more escapes, several different creepy-power villains, several captures, several sword fights, and more escaping from being bound up than I can count. Plus, each major character nearly dies at least ten times each. Wow.

But as I say, it works. I attribute that to the fact that the three teen heroes are pretty appealing, (even if somewhat shallowly drawn), the pacing is superb, and there is enough sly humor to keep everything and everyone from being too serious or angsty for the material. Think about why you like "Indiana Jones" books and movies. This book taps that same sort of vibe.

So, if you want a lively, good-humored, actioner that keeps your middle grade reader turning the pages, this might be a very nice choice.

Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast-paced, quick read with plenty of action and some very close calls, The Glass Gauntlet will get a grip on you (LOL) from the beginning. Ronan, Sammy, and Greta are three young people who have joined forces with the Blood Guard to protect the world from the villains of the Bend Sinister. The problem? Well, there are several, starting with the fact that Ronan's father is a leader within the Bend Sinister. Prior to this volume of the tale, Ronan's dad had actually ordered an underling to kill him. His mother, one of the Blood Guard, says that he probably only did it in a panic and didn't really mean it. But how do you get over something like that? Then there's the small fact that the baddies are trying to bring about some major end-of-the-world event AND they are trying to steal the souls from Pures, people with (you guessed it), pure spirits. It doesn't make for a lot of warm and fuzzy moments between father and son. Throw in an immortal companion who seems to have a perpetual teenage outlook on life, a strange contest called The Glass Gauntlet, killer Dobermans, bad guys who have awesome mental powers and things get intense.

This series has the feel of several recent best sellers - Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Kane Chronicles, The Name of this Book is Secret, etc. We have the close band of young friends, they are in training with talented adults with some amazing skills, the bad guys also try to recruit teens and kids, and the fate of the world hangs in the balance. Yet with all the similarities, the story doesn't feel like a generic copy. And there is plenty of humor to balance the dangers. For instance, Ronan's first name is actually Evelyn, but he is a boy. Their immortal friend Jack Dawkins does things like wear shirts that say "YOLO," but with the final O crossed out. (I told you he was a perpetual teenager.)

If you enjoy stories with a cast of faithful friends who are trying to save the world and bad guys who are very easy to dislike, plus lots of action and laughs, then try The Glass Gauntlet.

I read an ebook provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS

I enjoyed book 1 The Blood Guard much more. It was easier to put the book down. It had good guys and bad guys, lots of sword fights, even water fights. Cool tools. Had some twists I did not see coming.

Ronan, Greta, and Sammy are being taught how to be blood guards in a old ghost town. They don't really like it. Especially Greta. She keeps trying to breakout.

Ronan Truelove is 13 years old. He has found out his father is a major bad guy who last time he saw him ordered his death. On the other hand his mother is a blood guard working to protect the pure. He is given a secret mission to follow Greta on her escapes and protect her.

Greta's parents are divorced. She is a Pure but doesn't know it. She wants to train and be a blood guard but she also wants to see her mother. She is 13.

Sammy is a orphan he likes being trained to be a blood agent. He had rotten foster parents who tried to kill him. He is only 11.

The Blood Guard as sworn to protect the 36 Pure good people in the world. If the Pure get killed early before their time it throws the world off balance. Last time 5 were murdered it caused WW11.

The Bend Sinister want to kill the 36 and cause the end of the world. They have a lot of scientists working with them. One of the leaders is Ronan's father.

Ronan, Greta, Sammy and Jack get a mission of their own. The three of them are entered into The Glass Gauntlet competition. The winner wins 1,000,000 plus prizes and scholarship. It a reason for Jack to be on the estate to find something.

Things don't go like planned. Instead of a test it is more physical, mental and no rules comp.
I wish there were more of the tests in the story.

The inventions are cool, dangerous and some are unbelievable.

I want to read more and see what happens next in the series.

I was given this ebook to read by Net Galley and Two Lions. In return I agreed to give a honest review of The Glass Gauntlet.

[Elevetha · Rating 2 out of 5]

**An copy of this book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

2.5 stars.

Ronan and Greta and Sammy are sent to take the Glass Gauntlet in order for Dawkins to find the Damascene Scope, which is supposed to be in the same general area as where the Glass Gaunlet is taking place and which will hopefully be able to put Flavia's, a Pure, soul back into her body. The Damascene Scope can also do other soul related things, like filter and focus the Pure's light but meh.) Conveniently, the Glass Gauntlet isn't just a series of paper tests, as Dawkins apparently thought, but is pretty deadly and literally everything related to it is also related to the Pures and the Blood Guard, etc. Dawkins did ZERO RESEARCH.

Anyways, action ensues and we don't get anywhere plot-wise, but we do discover a friend from Jack's past, who had a rogue Blood Guard experiment go poorly and is stuck as a 9-year old, so she's spent the last 200 years trying to recreate the experiment, using the Glass Gauntlet and the Damascene Scope and a Pure to fix her aging problem. Unexpectedly, she also becomes good by Greta's light being focused on her through the Damascene Scope, so now Agatha is on "our" side. And the only other plot point of importance is that Ronan's dad knows Greta is a Pure.

The writing and pacing is still good, and definitely enough to keep a tween interested. I wish the story was a bit more logical, even within the parameters in the story, and that the characters, especially the 200+ year old ones, were a little smarter, but other than that, the series is passably entertaining. However, for myself, at this point, it's a toss-up if I'll pick up Book 3, but I would hope the next book isn't so much illogical filler.

[Emily Beaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ronan Truelove is finally getting into the swing of things with the Blood Guard. Earning himself his first mission, Ronan and his friends are sent to partake in a series of tests called the Glass Gauntlet. Mazes replace classrooms as the competitors race the finish, hoping to eventually snag the large scholarship. But the Glass Gauntlet soon becomes more than a tedious way to achieve wealth. A literal gauntlet made of glass is slowly pieced together as the champion of each challenge is rewarded. With their team slowly dwindling down and Jack's mysterious disappearance, Ronan, Greta, and Sammy go searching for answers. Except, they may have just stumbled into something even bigger than the competition itself. New powers are unleashed and old faces return to this thrilling sequel.
I really enjoyed this book, even though this book is mostly aimed at children. The characters are great in their own special way. Ronan slowly begins to see Greta more as a friend than as another Pure that needs protecting. Greta, oblivious to what she truly is, comes quite in handy with her lockpicking skills. Although Sam is new to the team, he is a pro when it comes to technology. And then there's Dawkins. With his amazing power and his humor, the book is enjoyable for all ages! I was expecting a little bit more action considering ever other chapter had something going on in the first book. However, I think my heart really benefited from the slow pace. Roy makes writing look so easy and flawless! I cannot wait to see where the characters end up next!

[Jeannette · Rating 4 out of 5]

The adventure continues! The Glass Gauntlet shortly after The Blood Guard ends. Ronan (love that name), Gerta & Sammy are all in training at the make shift home base of the Blood Guard. While Jack trains in them in his unique way, Ronan's mom continues to search for the Head of the Bend Sinister & the soul they stole from an innocent woman. Soon Jack & the new trainees are off to the mysterious Glass Estate to enter Ronan, Greta & Sammy in the Glass Gauntlet. Once they realize the competition is not what it seems things get pretty crazy. I loved the twist in the plot and the pace the story moved at. I wonder if the new character will stick around and be of help to the Guard. Ronan continues to be one of my new favorite characters as he lets his instincts take over and uses his new training to protect his friends. I can't wait to see where the next book will lead. I hope it's not too long.

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Recommended for readers 12 & up.

[Ruby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ronan and Greta are back in the next chapter of The Blood Guard... The Glass Gauntlet. Filled again with action and thrills, the Glass Gauntlet begins with the first stretch in the training of Ronan to be a true Blood Guard. Faced with the fact his father is evil and that he might be out to destroy all the pure spirits, Ronan must decide what he's going to do. Also in the mix, he must pass The Glass Gaunlet, a series of tests in a weird school that will ready him for his next missions as part of the protection detail.

As with the first, these books are great for bored readers(readers who think all books are boring). Much like Percy Jackson, the characters are ones that you identify with as well as fall in love with. You care about Ronan and Greta as they try to get along and make it through a life they never thought possible. Descriptions are well worded and give you just enough to set your imagination wild. We are ready for the third.

[Critterbee❇ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Blood Guard series, and it does not disappoint. I really enjoyed the first book, and was very excited to continue reading about the adventures of Ronan, Jack, Greta and Sammy. Also there are new characters who are just as fun to get to know.

The story is fresh and exciting, and we learn more about the Blood Guard and their enemies. The new adventure centers around a mysterious test and strange happenings at the testing facility. Without giving too much of the story away, I can safely say that there are surprises, epic battles, and strange new characters. surprises,

I am excited to see where this series goes, and plan on reading every book as it comes out, and would recommend the same to everyone.

Like Blood Guard, this is perfect for YA and older children reading groups, and great for reluctant readers.

**eARC netgalley**

[Jonathan Taverna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I find it to be different from a normal "super power" book where the main character us always the most important. I think it is nice that the main character does matter to both sides, but I like that he is a protector of the special person. Having the main character as an underdog or as a special person is overused in my opinion. I also like the various twists in the book, like Agatha being a little girl, and how Ronan's dad always seems to escape. I think these books are extremely well written in the way that you can't always predict what's going to happen. Most books don't keep you guessing, though a good one should, but this one really does for me. I love these books and I'm excited to see what happens next.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think you need to read the first book to enjoy The Glass Gauntlet, but it will help to understand how everything started. This book reads more like an adventure, although Dawkins, one of the Blood Guard, is able to cut off his own hand without dying. I enjoy the caring and teamwork shown by the characters, and their ability to work together gets them through the challenges. The fact that Greta's death could disrupt the balance of life throughout the whole world adds to the suspense. The author mixes action and humor throughout the plot, and a new character will change sides in the conflict.

[Jinghay (these.blank.pages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roy has an amazing skill, I haven't been so engrossed in a novel for a long time. This is a novel that I can see myself coming back to in a few years and rereading. But wow... what a story! Just when you think something is DEFINITELY going to happen, something else happens and completely alters the situation. I must admit that i'm not much of a fan of the adults in these novels (apart from Jack), but that might just be Ronan's thoughts projected back onto me.
It kind of felt like a shame to see this novel come to an end but now I just can't wait to see what happens next. Completely recommend this book to all ages.

Now I just have to get my hands on the next novel...

[Penny lurkykitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you!
I read the first one (The Blood Guard) so that I would know what was happening in this book. I think it is good to read them in order. The Glass Gauntlet is a highly enjoyable read and hard to put down. The characters are developed more in this book and the friendship between the three children strengthens. Highly recommended for middle graders and up.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is pretty great. I warn you, it is not as exciting as the blood guard, overall. But this was better.
I just wonder, if there are hands and heads, would the hands’ 1,2,3,4, and 5 be fingers and a thumb, with Evangeline Birk being the heart, or brain, or something?

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick fun read, with a perfect amount of adventure, humor and "supernatural".

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from Net Galley. I enjoyed the sequel and was left hanging to wonder what happens next. I see middle school students loving these stories!

[Dusty · Rating 3 out of 5]

RATING: 3.5 STARS

The Glass Gauntlet by Carter Roy is the sequel to The Blood Guard and it’s just as zany and action-packed. It picks up where the first book left off (plus a couple of weeks or so), and it does take longer for the action to pick up. However, once the action does pick it up it’s well worth it and quite exciting.

While this book is most commonly compared to Percy Jackson, I also got some vibes that reminded me of The Hunger Games or Indiana Jones. There’s the competition aspect (in which the kids are in way over their head) that reminds me of The Hunger Games. The hunt for lost artifacts and the secret society reminded me of Indiana Jones. I especially enjoyed learning about the Glass Gauntlet (both the competition and the item), and it’s cool how the author built on the history of the Blood Guard that they introduced in the first book.

The characters and their relationships were a highlight of this book (and the series overall). Jack Dawkins is definitely the comedic relief in the group. I enjoyed the narrator’s performance of his character. This book goes into his backstory a bit more, and I appreciated the opportunity to learn more about how he became the person we see in the books. The growth of the friendship between the trio was a key point in the book’s storyline. I’m really fond of their dynamic. Despite enjoying romance in the books I read that are aimed at older audiences, I’m quite happy that there is seemingly no budding romance in this book. It isn’t necessary at this level, and sometimes it is nice to just have the main characters be best friends.

Altogether, The Glass Gauntlet is an entertaining adventure-filled fantasy read. It doesn’t have quite as much wow factor as the first book, but I would still happily recommend it to those who enjoy books like Percy Jackson.

[Gwenllian Jacobi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found that there were quite a few spelling mistakes in this book especially near the end and that is why I'm giving it 3 stars and not 4. The reason why I gave it a lower rating than the first book is simply because I didn't enjoy it as much as the first book. It doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the book. I did enjoy it a lot. However I did find that there were some slow parts in the book especially at the start of the book. I find that if the start of the book is quite slow it takes me longer than most books for me to get into. Usually a book of this size would of only lasted me a week. I also had college exams round the time of me reading this book so... ye that would of effected my reading time too. However, I did like the ending a lot. The last six chapters of the book I liked the most. Overall it was a good book, but there could of been changes that would of made the book better and also the spelling mistakes. I find that if there are five or more spelling mistakes in a book it can put me off the book a bit but I do try to push past it. One thing that I enjoy about this book the most though is Jack Dawkins' sarcastic comment and just his attitude in general. It was his character that made me enjoy this series a lot. I feel if Dawkins wasn't apart of this book it wouldn't be as interesting to read about.