Review of Glow (Sky Chasers #1) by Amy Kathleen Ryan



What if you were bound for a new world, about to pledge your life to someone you'd been promised to since birth, and one unexpected violent attack made survival—not love—the issue?

Out in the murky nebula lurks an unseen enemy: the New Horizon. On its way to populate a distant planet in the wake of Earth's collapse, the ship's crew has been unable to conceive a generation to continue its mission. They need young girls desperately, or their zealous leader's efforts will fail. Onboard their sister ship, the Empyrean, the unsuspecting families don't know an attack is being mounted that could claim the most important among them...

Fifteen-year-old Waverly is part of the first generation to be successfully conceived in deep space; she was born on the Empyrean, and the large farming vessel is all she knows. Her concerns are those of any teenager—until Kieran Alden proposes to her. The handsome captain-to-be has everything Waverly could ever want in a husband, and with the pressure to start having children, everyone is sure he's the best choice. Except for Waverly, who wants more from life than marriage—and is secretly intrigued by the shy, darkly brilliant Seth.

But when the Empyrean faces sudden attack by their assumed allies, they quickly find out that the enemies aren't all from the outside.

(From GoodReads)

My Review

Hmm... I could give a lot of info about Glow and try to gloss over what I think. But I don't really have the energy or the inclination to do that. I'm just gonna say it. I don't know how I feel about this book. And the worst part is, I can't even tell you why. As a matter of fact, I threw out a lifeline on Twitter this morning. I needed some help. My good friend Kara at Great Imaginations responded. The conversation went like this:

@BookishAndrea: "Can someone please tell me how I felt about Glow? I need to write a review and
                                 I'm confused..."

@Kara_Malinczak: "LOL that seems to be a common reaction. I wouldn't know. I haven't read it yet."

@BookishAndrea:  "I liked it. Then I didn't. Then I was bored. Then excited. Then I rolled my eyes.
                                 then tearful. Then 'Blah'. There's my review.

@Kara_Malinczak: "It sounds like a perfect review. LOL"

So. That, in a nutshell, is how I felt about Glow. I didn't hate it. In fact, there were parts that I downright enjoyed. And I even got a little teary-eyed at the end. But, I didn't love it, or even like, a lot of the book.

I don't know if this is the case (I certainly hope not) , but I almost felt as if the author didn't know what the "message" of the story was. At first it felt like an adventure in deep space. Then an allegory on religion. Then a cautionary tale on cults. Or what being on a space ship for dozens of years will do to people. And perhaps, it is meant to be all of those. And that's okay. It's just not for me.

I was also bothered by the characters. Waverly was great. She was brave and proud and honorable. But Kieran, I felt like the whole book was building him up as one idea, getting the reader on his side. Then, almost as an afterthougt, throw something out of left field. Turn him into a crazy. And Seth. He starts the book nice. Then goes ape-sh*t crazy. He turns into a dictator and abuses little boys. And then, at the end, he's the good guy?! I don't think so.

I don't like to go off and rant and rave about what I don't like about books. I really, really don't. Something about this one just set me off. And I'm sorry. There are lots of people who like Glow. So I've linked to some reviews so you can see for yourself.
Here's one by Miranda and another by Amber .

Favorite Quote:

" All the boys were looking at him now. Many of them were crying openly, sending tears to float in
   the air of the central bunker like snow, but they were quiet."

Hardcover, 307 pages

Published September 13th 2011 by St. Martin's Griffin                     

You can find Glow at:

GoodReads  |  Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository

* I won this book through the First Reads program at GoodReads, with no obligation to review.*