Midnight Jewel (The Glittering Court #2) by Richelle Mead

“In Midnight Jewel, Richelle Mead goes beyond the glitz and glamour of the Glittering Court, delving into the dark, political underbelly of Cape Triumph through the eyes of one girl who dares to fight for her freedom. A refugee of war, Mira was cast out of her home country and thrust into another, where the conditions were inhospitable at best. In a life-altering twist of fate, she is given the chance to escape once more, and she takes it, joining the Glittering Court.” - Publisher's blurb

Last year I read the first book in this series, The Glittering Court . It was one of my favourite books of the year, set in a (slightly) fantasy world that seems to mirror England in the 17th Century as they colonise America. The Glittering Court is a ladies training school - taking poorer English girls, and teaching them to be poised, sophisticated women that can be married off to the highest bidders in the colonies. Adelaide was an Osfridian countess who posed as her servant to escape an arranged marriage and start a new life in Adoria, the New World. But (surprise, surprise) things did not go according to plan, and Adelaide had to fight for her life, and her freedom.

Midnight Jewel takes place over the same period of time, told from the point of view of Mira, a refugee who just wants to come to the New World to find her brother and start a new life. She becomes one of Adelaide’s closest friends, but the two girls keep secrets from each other, and both must travel their own paths to find love and happiness.

While I loved The Glittering Court, I preferred Mira’s story. She is resourceful, complicated and prepared to do whatever it takes to find her brother. It was an exciting read, and even though you kind of knew how it was going to end because of the first book, getting there was just as exciting.

Posted by Sas

Catalogue link: Midnight Jewel