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Available
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Publication
Margaret K. McElderry (2011), Hardcover, 336 pages
Description
When federal agents learn that seventeen-year-old Cassel Sharpe, a powerful transformation worker, may be of use to them, they offer him a deal to join them rather than the mobsters for whom his brothers work.
User reviews
LibraryThing member AyleeArgh
*This review is for both White Cat and Red Glove*
In short: Holly Black masterfully creates clever mysteries and an effortless and fascinating alternate universe in the first two books of the Curse Workers Trilogy, White Cat and Red Glove.
I read White Cat and Red Glove right after a string of
Speaking of Holly Black, can you believe these are the first books of hers that I have ever read? I have to say, my first impression is extremely positive. Her writing and world building was simply effortless. She was able to weave an entire alternate universe, in which magic exists and everyone wears gloves to avoid getting "worked" by people who wield this magic, with skillful proficiency. The story was never bogged down by too many details involving the backstory of curse working, and yet I still feel like I got a good background of the history anyway.
I adored Cassel, just like everyone else seems to love him. A bit surprising really, because as a con man, he is not the most moral character ever - his first instinct upon entering an expensive home is to think about the various ways he could steal the silver candlesticks, for instance - but he really is a good guy at heart. Even growing up in a mob family full of con artists and crooks, he feels compassion for victims and remorse for people he has played.
My only quibbles are related to a few plot holes and questionable character motivations, but they seem too minor to mention in detail. All I know is that the first two books in the Curse Workers Trilogy were brilliant, fast-paced, and enjoyable, and I have no doubt that the final book, Black Heart (to be published April 3, 2012), will be as well!
In short: Holly Black masterfully creates clever mysteries and an effortless and fascinating alternate universe in the first two books of the Curse Workers Trilogy, White Cat and Red Glove.
I read White Cat and Red Glove right after a string of
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serious and sad books and it couldn't have been a better balm for my hurt psyche. They were exactly the right books to read at exactly the right time. Thoroughly entertaining, fascinating, and clever, White Cat and Red Glove were completely fun to read. Not a mindless type of fun, mind you - Holly Black crafts very intelligent mysteries in these books that force you to put some serious thought into figuring out what's going on.Speaking of Holly Black, can you believe these are the first books of hers that I have ever read? I have to say, my first impression is extremely positive. Her writing and world building was simply effortless. She was able to weave an entire alternate universe, in which magic exists and everyone wears gloves to avoid getting "worked" by people who wield this magic, with skillful proficiency. The story was never bogged down by too many details involving the backstory of curse working, and yet I still feel like I got a good background of the history anyway.
I adored Cassel, just like everyone else seems to love him. A bit surprising really, because as a con man, he is not the most moral character ever - his first instinct upon entering an expensive home is to think about the various ways he could steal the silver candlesticks, for instance - but he really is a good guy at heart. Even growing up in a mob family full of con artists and crooks, he feels compassion for victims and remorse for people he has played.
My only quibbles are related to a few plot holes and questionable character motivations, but they seem too minor to mention in detail. All I know is that the first two books in the Curse Workers Trilogy were brilliant, fast-paced, and enjoyable, and I have no doubt that the final book, Black Heart (to be published April 3, 2012), will be as well!
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LibraryThing member princess-starr
This may get another reread in the near future because I have some mixed feelings on this first read. I don’t know if it’s just been so long since I read White Cat or if it was my mood in general. I did really like Red Glove and I really want to read Black Heart, but I can’t put my finger on
I still like Cassel, and I think that he works extremely well as an unreliable narrator, especially in this book. And I really like his internal conflict in Book 2; the complication of “protecting your family versus doing what’s right,” and even with his interactions with Lila. I like that neither conflict is presented as completely black and white, and that there are complications to what Cassel wants from life and what to do. I like that he wants to protect his family, but he doesn’t want them to wash away all of the crime in their lives. And with Lila, I like that even though Cassel wants to be with her, he’s willing to stay away from her until her curse is broken. (The fact that he manages to continuously fuck up with her, and what he tries to do at the end—the fact that it’s a dick move and Lila calls him out on going that route, well done.) I really like Cassel as a main character in general—he’s messed up and pulls cons and scares people (I like Sam’s admittance that he thought Cassel was going to kill him during their living together and Wallingford). But I like that he’s willing to do the right thing, even if it involves getting his hands dirty.
The other major thing that I like about this book is that Black nails one of the essentials to a second book—expanding the previously-introduced world. In White Cat, it was a little too subtle with the world-building at times and only to info-dump about the history of the curse workers. But I like that we get to see the other side of the coin, all of the non-criminal workers who get damned by the general public. I loved the scene at the protest, with Cassel and his friends getting arrested; I loved the HEX meetings and the fallout from the exposure. (Actually, one of the small bits that I loved that attributed to the world-building was a throwaway line about a dirty joke involving girls with bare hands.)
My slight problem here is the mystery, or rather, the multiple mysteries. Yes, they tie into to each other, but the plot cuts back and forth to Philip’s killer and then to the past murders/transformations and what happened in Cassel’s past. But it seemed like that Philip’s murder seemed to fall to the wayside at times and vice versa, that I couldn’t remember what mystery I was following. The revelation of Philip’s killer isn’t a huge surprise, as well as who hired Cassel to make all of the mafia hits, but it’s barely hinted at and Black uses a lot of misdirection to suggest it’s an entirely different suspect. There’s very little foreshadowing as to who the killer is, and it feels more like an out-of-nowhere reveal. The mystery in White Cat was well-done, and this feels like a let-down.
The other slight problem I had was Lila. She was such an enigmatic character in the first book for very obvious reasons, so I was interested in seeing her around and how Cassel deals with her in the flesh. (I do really like the implication that Cassel’s in love with the idea of Lila rather than being in love with her.) I do like her regal bearing, it fits her upbringing and lifestyle; but part of me wanted her to be more awkward. Considering the whole plot of the first book, I’m really not sure that Lila would be that comfortable in school, three months after she transforms back into human. Yes, she’s withdrawn and holds herself above everyone else, but it feels more due to her being a mafia princess rather than spending three years as a cat.
Daneca and Sam—Sam’s probably my favorite character in the whole series. I like that he doesn’t take a lot of bullshit from others, and I love that his relationship with Cassel is based on this uneasy trust. (And the fact that Sam is willing to help Cassel out on the cons just to test out his special effects.) He’s snarky and funny and I love his whole relationship with Daneca. AND CAN WE TALK ABOUT DANECA.I did not call that she was an emotion worker. For the problems with the main mysteries, Black’s misdirection actually works with Daneca. She could be taken as a hippie-granola girl who does want to fix every injustice in the world, and so when it’s revealed that she is a worker, it’s not a out-of-left field revelation, but it’s still a nice surprise. And that she’s specifically an emotion worker brings a whole new level to her relationship with Sam, and I love that I genuinely never called into question Sam’s feelings for her.
Despite the weak mysteries, I did like reading this and I did enjoy large parts of the book. But while the noir style and the plot twists didn’t work as well this time, I did really like the character development and the view from the other side of workers. And despite my reservations about this book, I’m very excited to read Black Heart in the near future.
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why I’m not jumping up and down, singing this book’s praises.I still like Cassel, and I think that he works extremely well as an unreliable narrator, especially in this book. And I really like his internal conflict in Book 2; the complication of “protecting your family versus doing what’s right,” and even with his interactions with Lila. I like that neither conflict is presented as completely black and white, and that there are complications to what Cassel wants from life and what to do. I like that he wants to protect his family, but he doesn’t want them to wash away all of the crime in their lives. And with Lila, I like that even though Cassel wants to be with her, he’s willing to stay away from her until her curse is broken. (The fact that he manages to continuously fuck up with her, and what he tries to do at the end—the fact that it’s a dick move and Lila calls him out on going that route, well done.) I really like Cassel as a main character in general—he’s messed up and pulls cons and scares people (I like Sam’s admittance that he thought Cassel was going to kill him during their living together and Wallingford). But I like that he’s willing to do the right thing, even if it involves getting his hands dirty.
The other major thing that I like about this book is that Black nails one of the essentials to a second book—expanding the previously-introduced world. In White Cat, it was a little too subtle with the world-building at times and only to info-dump about the history of the curse workers. But I like that we get to see the other side of the coin, all of the non-criminal workers who get damned by the general public. I loved the scene at the protest, with Cassel and his friends getting arrested; I loved the HEX meetings and the fallout from the exposure. (Actually, one of the small bits that I loved that attributed to the world-building was a throwaway line about a dirty joke involving girls with bare hands.)
My slight problem here is the mystery, or rather, the multiple mysteries. Yes, they tie into to each other, but the plot cuts back and forth to Philip’s killer and then to the past murders/transformations and what happened in Cassel’s past. But it seemed like that Philip’s murder seemed to fall to the wayside at times and vice versa, that I couldn’t remember what mystery I was following. The revelation of Philip’s killer isn’t a huge surprise, as well as who hired Cassel to make all of the mafia hits, but it’s barely hinted at and Black uses a lot of misdirection to suggest it’s an entirely different suspect. There’s very little foreshadowing as to who the killer is, and it feels more like an out-of-nowhere reveal. The mystery in White Cat was well-done, and this feels like a let-down.
The other slight problem I had was Lila. She was such an enigmatic character in the first book for very obvious reasons, so I was interested in seeing her around and how Cassel deals with her in the flesh. (I do really like the implication that Cassel’s in love with the idea of Lila rather than being in love with her.) I do like her regal bearing, it fits her upbringing and lifestyle; but part of me wanted her to be more awkward. Considering the whole plot of the first book, I’m really not sure that Lila would be that comfortable in school, three months after she transforms back into human. Yes, she’s withdrawn and holds herself above everyone else, but it feels more due to her being a mafia princess rather than spending three years as a cat.
Daneca and Sam—Sam’s probably my favorite character in the whole series. I like that he doesn’t take a lot of bullshit from others, and I love that his relationship with Cassel is based on this uneasy trust. (And the fact that Sam is willing to help Cassel out on the cons just to test out his special effects.) He’s snarky and funny and I love his whole relationship with Daneca. AND CAN WE TALK ABOUT DANECA.
Despite the weak mysteries, I did like reading this and I did enjoy large parts of the book. But while the noir style and the plot twists didn’t work as well this time, I did really like the character development and the view from the other side of workers. And despite my reservations about this book, I’m very excited to read Black Heart in the near future.
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LibraryThing member VykiC37
Find this review and more at On The Shelf!
I enjoyed White Cat a lot more than I thought I was going to and I am really glad that I decided to pick this series up. This is a great sequel and I really enjoyed it as well. You learn a bit more about Cassel and their are great descriptions, especially
I like Cassel and I really feel for him at points when it comes to things, especially Lila. Sometimes though, I just want to bonk him over his head and ask what he was thinking. He is fun and quite sarcastic with funny quips, and he is definitely quite clever when it comes to getting things done, though somewhat reckless, but that’s part of what makes him fun. I like all of the secondary characters, especially Sam since he is very loyal to Cassel and keeps all of his secrets.
I was surprised by a couple of things in this story, Cassel’s brother being murdered and even who murdered him. The author did a good job not being obvious about who the murder was and really, I never suspected, so kudos there! There wasn’t a whole lot of action, but it was still a good read and kept me interested. I look forward to the third book and how things will be wrapping up.
Great descriptions, good characters, not much action, surprising.
I enjoyed White Cat a lot more than I thought I was going to and I am really glad that I decided to pick this series up. This is a great sequel and I really enjoyed it as well. You learn a bit more about Cassel and their are great descriptions, especially
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concerning blow back from when he transforms things.I like Cassel and I really feel for him at points when it comes to things, especially Lila. Sometimes though, I just want to bonk him over his head and ask what he was thinking. He is fun and quite sarcastic with funny quips, and he is definitely quite clever when it comes to getting things done, though somewhat reckless, but that’s part of what makes him fun. I like all of the secondary characters, especially Sam since he is very loyal to Cassel and keeps all of his secrets.
I was surprised by a couple of things in this story, Cassel’s brother being murdered and even who murdered him. The author did a good job not being obvious about who the murder was and really, I never suspected, so kudos there! There wasn’t a whole lot of action, but it was still a good read and kept me interested. I look forward to the third book and how things will be wrapping up.
Great descriptions, good characters, not much action, surprising.
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LibraryThing member peptastic
This book did not disappoint. Everything I loved about White Cat made it's appearance in the sequel. All the complex characters, his crime family, more con artist stuff, etc. I do eat that stuff up about marks and cons.I love that Cassel isn't black or white. His struggles with himself felt very
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real without taking a step back or just repeating what he went through in White Cat. He made very genuine movements in his friendships with Sam and Daneca. I love his grandfather. Anyone with less than perfect family members know it's still possible to crave a relationship with them even if it can't happen [his brothers]. Black got those dynamics right.Plus all the wonderful social activism. Daneca is a girl I could've been best buds with in highschool and have avoided just like Cassel did his first two years in school. She's a lot like Hermione. Cassel would be Harry and Sam would be the Ron of the group. I'm not sure if I'm shipping him with Lila though. She makes him work too hard for it. I don't trust her at all. I get that's what he liked about her but my personal preference is to dislike bullies. I'm not sure if she was even worked by his mother for that long or if she was messing with him to get off on him suffering. Show Less
LibraryThing member rivkat
Cassel Sharpe is back in school, but his situation is no better: Lila, the girl he loves who was cursed to love him back enrolls to be near him; he just spent the summer running cons with his mother; and then family tragedy strikes, bringing with it new threats to his own health, both from the
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crime families and the Feds. Cassel is a good teen hero, trying hard to do the right thing while still wanting the rest of the world to leave him alone—not least the politics that threaten the freedom and perhaps the survival of curse workers as a whole. Show Less
LibraryThing member jmchshannon
In this second of the Curse Workers' series, Ms. Black picks up where she left off with Cassel's story. His mom is most decidedly in the picture, while his relationship with his brothers is now more complicated than he ever thought possible. Let's not even talk about his feelings for Lila, which
Holly Black is a master at grabbing a reader's attention and not letting go until the very end. She manages to pack in such ideas as tolerance, morality, peer pressure, and other teen dilemmas while exploring the seedy world of the workers, a world which Cassel manages to straddle without committing himself in either direction. Cassel is a character that maintains his innocence in spite of the world in which he was raised. This innocence helps him and yet hurts him as he struggles to make decisions that remain faithful to his family and to himself. In spite of this innocence though, Cassel is most decidedly a bad guy in the strictest sense of the word. He is not a boy you would want to bring home to your father, as he is always looking at the world as a con does a mark. This dichotomy makes for an interesting, if conflicted, main character.
The beauty about Red Glove is that Ms. Black plays so well in the gray area between right and wrong. Humans are never as white and black as one would like, and Cassel and Lila are reminders of this. These are not good people, no matter how much the reader might like Cassel or adore Lila. These are people who take advantage of and even harm others. It is a testament to Ms. Black's writing that she can get her audience to care about such characters as much as the reader cares about Cassel and Lila.
Red Glove sets up the third novel in the Curse Workers' series quite nicely, with some surprising twists that will make for an interesting future for Cassel in his effort to keep his family and friends safe. Engaging and fun while remaining dark and twisted, Red Glove highlights Ms. Black's skill at creating and writing such subtly macabre worlds. She is quickly becoming one of my favorite YA authors of all time.
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have been ruined by his mother's "gift". In spite of his abilities, Cassel is still trying to be a normal teen in this most decidedly abnormal world of Ms. Black's imagination.Holly Black is a master at grabbing a reader's attention and not letting go until the very end. She manages to pack in such ideas as tolerance, morality, peer pressure, and other teen dilemmas while exploring the seedy world of the workers, a world which Cassel manages to straddle without committing himself in either direction. Cassel is a character that maintains his innocence in spite of the world in which he was raised. This innocence helps him and yet hurts him as he struggles to make decisions that remain faithful to his family and to himself. In spite of this innocence though, Cassel is most decidedly a bad guy in the strictest sense of the word. He is not a boy you would want to bring home to your father, as he is always looking at the world as a con does a mark. This dichotomy makes for an interesting, if conflicted, main character.
The beauty about Red Glove is that Ms. Black plays so well in the gray area between right and wrong. Humans are never as white and black as one would like, and Cassel and Lila are reminders of this. These are not good people, no matter how much the reader might like Cassel or adore Lila. These are people who take advantage of and even harm others. It is a testament to Ms. Black's writing that she can get her audience to care about such characters as much as the reader cares about Cassel and Lila.
Red Glove sets up the third novel in the Curse Workers' series quite nicely, with some surprising twists that will make for an interesting future for Cassel in his effort to keep his family and friends safe. Engaging and fun while remaining dark and twisted, Red Glove highlights Ms. Black's skill at creating and writing such subtly macabre worlds. She is quickly becoming one of my favorite YA authors of all time.
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LibraryThing member callmecayce
I read the first book in this series, though for some reason it doesn't show that I've read it. Regardless, Red Glove is a fantastic novel and I really enjoy this series. Cassel at times both a sympathetic and frustrating and it's something I adore. I hope that Holly Black writes more to this
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series. Show Less
LibraryThing member mountie9
The Good Stuff
* Love the cover (the one for White Cat was awesome too!)
* Wonderful dry humour
* Intriguing storyline, fascinating world the author has created
* Cassel is such a wonderful rich character and he is even more well developed in this installment of the series. Very conflicted and
* nice commentary on prejudices and persecution of those that are different. Sort of reminds me of the X-Men series and the persecution of the mutants (yes I am a nerd thank you very much)
* Love Cassel's grandfather and I think Black needs to write more scenes with him
* The character of Zacharov has been fleshed out and made more interesting
* Hell of a cliffhanger -- guessing there is going to be another book in the series
* Story will appeal to both males and females
* Lots of twists and turns that will keep you guessing
* Got a kick out of the sly mention of the character from her writing pal Cassie Clare's series
The Not so Good Stuff
* Cassel's family is pretty much incredibly awful and I find it hard that Cassel can find redeeming qualities in them - with the exception of his grandfather
* Things jumped around a lot and I got lost a couple of times -- but this is just me and I am a Mom who doesn't get a lot of sleep
* Honestly I was a little frustrated at times with the story, but can't put my finger or explain what bothered me - there was just something missing
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"I just told him that Sam and I had a project to do together and that the common room was too noisy. He said as long as we kept the door open and actually studied, he didn't mind."
"Nerds get away with everything," Sam says."
"I like that Sam doesn't lied to his girlfriend. I like that they are in love. I even like the way that Daneca gets on my case."
"That stoner dude, Jace, says he hooked up with someone over the summer," Kevin whispers. "But I hear all the pictures he's showing around are really pictures of his half sister. Fifty bucks says there's no girlfriend."
What I Learned
* My family -- not so bad compared to the Sharpe's
Who should/shouldn't read
* This is one that will definitely appeal to the YA crowd.
* Obviously those who enjoyed White Cat, will also enjoy this
4 Dewey's
I received this from Simon and Schuster in exchange for an honest review
* Love the cover (the one for White Cat was awesome too!)
* Wonderful dry humour
* Intriguing storyline, fascinating world the author has created
* Cassel is such a wonderful rich character and he is even more well developed in this installment of the series. Very conflicted and
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tortured yet still somewhat hopeful and decent* nice commentary on prejudices and persecution of those that are different. Sort of reminds me of the X-Men series and the persecution of the mutants (yes I am a nerd thank you very much)
* Love Cassel's grandfather and I think Black needs to write more scenes with him
* The character of Zacharov has been fleshed out and made more interesting
* Hell of a cliffhanger -- guessing there is going to be another book in the series
* Story will appeal to both males and females
* Lots of twists and turns that will keep you guessing
* Got a kick out of the sly mention of the character from her writing pal Cassie Clare's series
The Not so Good Stuff
* Cassel's family is pretty much incredibly awful and I find it hard that Cassel can find redeeming qualities in them - with the exception of his grandfather
* Things jumped around a lot and I got lost a couple of times -- but this is just me and I am a Mom who doesn't get a lot of sleep
* Honestly I was a little frustrated at times with the story, but can't put my finger or explain what bothered me - there was just something missing
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"I just told him that Sam and I had a project to do together and that the common room was too noisy. He said as long as we kept the door open and actually studied, he didn't mind."
"Nerds get away with everything," Sam says."
"I like that Sam doesn't lied to his girlfriend. I like that they are in love. I even like the way that Daneca gets on my case."
"That stoner dude, Jace, says he hooked up with someone over the summer," Kevin whispers. "But I hear all the pictures he's showing around are really pictures of his half sister. Fifty bucks says there's no girlfriend."
What I Learned
* My family -- not so bad compared to the Sharpe's
Who should/shouldn't read
* This is one that will definitely appeal to the YA crowd.
* Obviously those who enjoyed White Cat, will also enjoy this
4 Dewey's
I received this from Simon and Schuster in exchange for an honest review
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LibraryThing member Bookswithbite
Seriously, Ms. Black I love your writing! Red Glove is a great sequel I really enjoyed. I found myself at the edge of my seat bouncing with joy as I read this book. So many betrayals, secrets, murders that has left me with practically no finger nails!
So this book picked right where it has left off
The plot twists were amazing! As I was reading this book, I kept wondering how Ms. Black would pull it off for Cassel. When I finally got to the end and saw how it fit together, genius. That's all I thought. The plot came off beautifully.
I like how well Ms. Black leaves her endings. There not cliff hangers, but not finished as well. They leave you with just enough to know that there is more. The ending definitely left an open door to know that there is going to be much more!
Red Glove is a fantastic sequel that I could not get enough of. Written beautifully, Red Glove takes you on a ride that you won't forget!
So this book picked right where it has left off
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with Cassel trying to fix things from the first book. Now I won't tell what it is, in case you have not read it, but he deals with a lot. Cassel's character has grown up from the first book. Where as he was ignorant, now he knows better and is smarter. Cassel has now become the guy you don't want to mess with. This time Cassel thinks about everything not because he wants to but he has to. He is put into a very hard place and needs to find a way out. The plot twists were amazing! As I was reading this book, I kept wondering how Ms. Black would pull it off for Cassel. When I finally got to the end and saw how it fit together, genius. That's all I thought. The plot came off beautifully.
I like how well Ms. Black leaves her endings. There not cliff hangers, but not finished as well. They leave you with just enough to know that there is more. The ending definitely left an open door to know that there is going to be much more!
Red Glove is a fantastic sequel that I could not get enough of. Written beautifully, Red Glove takes you on a ride that you won't forget!
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LibraryThing member IceyBooks
Cassel Sharpe can't help it that his mind is full of schemes. He can't help it that his life is full of them either. When his brother, Phillip, gets murdered, he finds himself on the other side of the law. The right side... almost.
Once again, Holly Black writes a blood-pounding thriller, with an
Like White Cat, I wasn't sure what was going on until the end, and even then, I thought I had it all figured out, but I was wrong - by a long-shot. I found myself deeply engrossed in Holly Black's latest release. The characters, the settings, the plot, everything was incredible and hooked my interest from the very first few pages. More than anything, I loved Cassel's voice - always edgy and totally unique.
Red Glove is irresistable. From the blood-red leather glove on the front to the talk of mobs, crime families, and cons in the back, the second book in Holly Black's Curse Workers series is dangerously good.
Once again, Holly Black writes a blood-pounding thriller, with an
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incredible, swoon-worthy main character. You have to love Cassel, no matter how many crimes he may have committed. You have to love a criminal who wishes he didn't have to be a criminal. And his almost best friends too - Sam and Daneca, who has a secret she's been hiding from Sam and Cassel. And Cassel thought he was the one hiding things.Like White Cat, I wasn't sure what was going on until the end, and even then, I thought I had it all figured out, but I was wrong - by a long-shot. I found myself deeply engrossed in Holly Black's latest release. The characters, the settings, the plot, everything was incredible and hooked my interest from the very first few pages. More than anything, I loved Cassel's voice - always edgy and totally unique.
Red Glove is irresistable. From the blood-red leather glove on the front to the talk of mobs, crime families, and cons in the back, the second book in Holly Black's Curse Workers series is dangerously good.
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LibraryThing member krau0098
I have really loved Black's previous book but to be honest I wasn't a huge fan of White Cat. Still, since I have loved everything she has done previously I decided that I should give the second book in this series a try. It was better than the first but I still had some problems with it.
Cassel's
Black has created a very creative world. I love the idea of curse workers and the blow-back they suffer when they use a curse. It is interesting to tie all of this into the mob. Black's writing style is very readable. I also enjoyed that this book spent some time talking about how the presence of curse workers affects society as a whole; there is a lot of time spent on discussing curse worker rights, etc.
That being said I was still not crazy about this book. Cassel is an intriguing character, but not a likable one. He is still making a lot of bad decisions and bumbling through situations. I enjoyed his friends more (mainly Sam and Sam's girlfriend). Lila is a confusing character for me; we never really get to understand her or learn much about her. Cassel spends the majority of the book trying to avoid her and she was a cat for most of White Cat so that's probably why the reader doesn't know her well. I have trouble finding Lila interesting or even seeing what Cassel sees in her. I was hoping this book would give more insight into her personality, but by the end of the book she was still pretty undefined for me.
The plot is twisty turny and definitely has some surprises in store for the reader. Most of this is still a lot of Cassel dealing with the mob. As I mentioned in my review of White Cat, I am not a fan of plots that revolve around a mob mentality; I just don't enjoy reading about it. This book was no exception. Cassel hates his family but continually makes poor decisions that keep him deeply entangled with the mob. As the book went on that improved, but I still didn't really enjoy the story or plot all that much. The book ended well and should have to readers looking forward to the next book Black Heart.
This is definitely more of a mystery/thriller than an urban fantasy. You do have the curse working, but that's the only really fantastical element. I honestly prefer more magic and other twists in my stories; the lack of fantastical elements makes this story a bit drab at times.
Overall this book was an easy read and somewhat engaging. I am still having trouble enjoying any of the characters and, the mob-based plot isn't my favorite. Cassel is an interesting but hard to like character for me and Lila still seems a bit vague as a character. If you really liked White Cat, I think you will like this book. If you were on the fence about White Cat, this book is similar. Will I read Black Heart? I don't know. I honestly prefer Black's Spiderwick Chronicles and Modern Faerie Tales series over this series; but I am such a huge fan of her previous books that despite my feelings on this series I might go ahead and read Black Heart just to see if I start to enjoy it more.
Cassel's
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mom is out of jail and he is going back to school. When he arrives at school he finds that Lila is there too; this complicates things since Cassel has loved her forever but she has been cursed to love him so he doesn't want to take advantage of her. Then the Feds contact Cassel to let him know his brother's been killed and they want Cassel to help find who did it; the only clue they have is a lady with a red glove was seen exiting the scene of the crime. Cassel is being pulled in a number of directions: the Feds want his help, the crime boss his brothers are involved with wants him to join, one of his brothers wants him to join another crime organization, he is trying to protect his mother, trying to avoid Lila, and trying to get his school work done. Will he be able to solve the mystery of his brother's murder? What will he decide to do with his life in the end?Black has created a very creative world. I love the idea of curse workers and the blow-back they suffer when they use a curse. It is interesting to tie all of this into the mob. Black's writing style is very readable. I also enjoyed that this book spent some time talking about how the presence of curse workers affects society as a whole; there is a lot of time spent on discussing curse worker rights, etc.
That being said I was still not crazy about this book. Cassel is an intriguing character, but not a likable one. He is still making a lot of bad decisions and bumbling through situations. I enjoyed his friends more (mainly Sam and Sam's girlfriend). Lila is a confusing character for me; we never really get to understand her or learn much about her. Cassel spends the majority of the book trying to avoid her and she was a cat for most of White Cat so that's probably why the reader doesn't know her well. I have trouble finding Lila interesting or even seeing what Cassel sees in her. I was hoping this book would give more insight into her personality, but by the end of the book she was still pretty undefined for me.
The plot is twisty turny and definitely has some surprises in store for the reader. Most of this is still a lot of Cassel dealing with the mob. As I mentioned in my review of White Cat, I am not a fan of plots that revolve around a mob mentality; I just don't enjoy reading about it. This book was no exception. Cassel hates his family but continually makes poor decisions that keep him deeply entangled with the mob. As the book went on that improved, but I still didn't really enjoy the story or plot all that much. The book ended well and should have to readers looking forward to the next book Black Heart.
This is definitely more of a mystery/thriller than an urban fantasy. You do have the curse working, but that's the only really fantastical element. I honestly prefer more magic and other twists in my stories; the lack of fantastical elements makes this story a bit drab at times.
Overall this book was an easy read and somewhat engaging. I am still having trouble enjoying any of the characters and, the mob-based plot isn't my favorite. Cassel is an interesting but hard to like character for me and Lila still seems a bit vague as a character. If you really liked White Cat, I think you will like this book. If you were on the fence about White Cat, this book is similar. Will I read Black Heart? I don't know. I honestly prefer Black's Spiderwick Chronicles and Modern Faerie Tales series over this series; but I am such a huge fan of her previous books that despite my feelings on this series I might go ahead and read Black Heart just to see if I start to enjoy it more.
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LibraryThing member MissHavoc
Loved it! It was even better than the first! You know it's good when the sequel out wits its predecessor! Cassel is back with more trouble nipping at his heels. Now that he knows what he's capable of, he has a whole new set of issues to face. Like, who killed his brother or the other men missing
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from the mom? Let's not forget that the love of his life has been cursed to love him back by his mom. AWKWARD! And then there's the small issue of the mob and the Feds fighting over him. Yeah, senior year is going to be a crazy one. Show Less
LibraryThing member titania86
Cassel Sharpe recently discovered that he is a rare type of curse worker that has the power of transformation. Of course, he needs to keep this from other people because he would be a powerful asset to however can get control of him. After his brother is murdered by a woman only identifying by her
The first Curse Workers novel is the best urban fantasy I have ever read. The gritty reality of the underground crime world and the fantastical curse worker magic together make a wonderful and unexpected novel. This one is steeped in the same world, but focuses on slightly different aspects. The Mob is still a central part, but the law is a new focus. The Feds are shown to be almost as corrupt and horrible as organized crime. Cassel is more bullied, coerced, and threatened by law enforcers than by the Mob. Even though they want to solve crimes and put deserving people behind bars, harassing and intimidating a teenage boy is a horrible way to accomplish the task. There is also a scene where Cassel and Lila are involved in a protest where everyone takes off their gloves. This is forbidden because touching is they way the curse workers influence people with their magic. It was a beautiful, shocking moment that took a lot of trust. Then the moment was interrupted by police violence and brutality. These scenes provided a larger view of the world that revealed the corruption that is rampant not only in the Mob, but also the police force.
The other amazing thing about this novel is the characters. Cassel is a boy raised in a crime family that struggles to be a good person. He is incredibly clever and solves his problems in the most unexpected ways. I sympathize with Cassel and fiercely want things to turn out well for him. Black writes clearly and convincingly in his voice. Lila is another character that is intriguing, but she's very mysterious. She was raised by the head of a faction of the Mob and spent many years as a cat. She is fiery and unpredictable with a mysterious past. To get a better view of her personality, I would recommend reading Lila Zacharov in 13 Pieces, which is a series of vignettes taking place at different times in Lila's life presented in a random order. I really like this experimental series of short stories and would love to read a book narrated by Lila.
Red Glove's only shortcoming is being not as good as White Cat by a very small margin. I think it's the symptom of being the second book in a series. I still highly recommend this crime adventure and mystery. I can't wait for the next book and I really hope the series extends past a trilogy.
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red gloves, the Feds come after him demanding information. The two opposing factions Mob are also after him for his power. Whichever side controls him will destroy the other. On top of all this, Lila, the girl Cassel loves, is turned back into a human from being a cat. His mother thought it was a nice present to make her feel like she loved him, so he is resolved to stay away from her until the magic wears off. Can Cassel avoid being owned by the Feds and the Mob and still be with the girl he loves without the enchantment?The first Curse Workers novel is the best urban fantasy I have ever read. The gritty reality of the underground crime world and the fantastical curse worker magic together make a wonderful and unexpected novel. This one is steeped in the same world, but focuses on slightly different aspects. The Mob is still a central part, but the law is a new focus. The Feds are shown to be almost as corrupt and horrible as organized crime. Cassel is more bullied, coerced, and threatened by law enforcers than by the Mob. Even though they want to solve crimes and put deserving people behind bars, harassing and intimidating a teenage boy is a horrible way to accomplish the task. There is also a scene where Cassel and Lila are involved in a protest where everyone takes off their gloves. This is forbidden because touching is they way the curse workers influence people with their magic. It was a beautiful, shocking moment that took a lot of trust. Then the moment was interrupted by police violence and brutality. These scenes provided a larger view of the world that revealed the corruption that is rampant not only in the Mob, but also the police force.
The other amazing thing about this novel is the characters. Cassel is a boy raised in a crime family that struggles to be a good person. He is incredibly clever and solves his problems in the most unexpected ways. I sympathize with Cassel and fiercely want things to turn out well for him. Black writes clearly and convincingly in his voice. Lila is another character that is intriguing, but she's very mysterious. She was raised by the head of a faction of the Mob and spent many years as a cat. She is fiery and unpredictable with a mysterious past. To get a better view of her personality, I would recommend reading Lila Zacharov in 13 Pieces, which is a series of vignettes taking place at different times in Lila's life presented in a random order. I really like this experimental series of short stories and would love to read a book narrated by Lila.
Red Glove's only shortcoming is being not as good as White Cat by a very small margin. I think it's the symptom of being the second book in a series. I still highly recommend this crime adventure and mystery. I can't wait for the next book and I really hope the series extends past a trilogy.
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LibraryThing member SavvyEscapades
I think I’ve mentioned how much I loved White Cat at least a million times by now. It was my favorite read of 2010, and I have recommended it to everyone who has asked me what they should read. So when I opened my email a few weeks ago and saw that Red Glove was on Galley Grab, I freaked out and
I thought the plot of this book was slightly more straight-forward that White Cat, but I suppose that’s not really saying much. The ending seemed less unexpected to me, but I was still amazed at how Cassel deals with what seems like an impossible choice between two undesirable futures. Really, in my opinion this book was more about character development. Don’t get me wrong— there’s still LOTS of plot, but we also get to see defining moments from Cassel’s friends Daneca and Sam, we see how Barron and Cassel’s relationship is evolving since the events of White Cat, and we get to see Cassel’s mother in all of her sociopathic glory. I didn’t not think there was enough Lila, though there is definitely more of her than in the first book. She has the potential of being an amazing and in-depth character (just see the “Other Tangential Thoughts” section), but we don’t get to see all of her depth in this book… well, because there’s only so much room. Lila’s not *super* integral to the plot, so she kind of takes a side-seat. But the end of Red Glove, while thankfully not a cliff-hanger in my mind, sets up Black Heart to be epically Lila-and-Cassel-centric.
I was not expecting my review to be this short, but that is largely because I don’t want to give *anything* away. The character development revelations and the plot are pretty tightly interwoven, and frankly it was just plain exciting to find out the characters’ secrets on my own. I would hate to rob you of that opportunity.
So in short! This is an excellent second book to the series, and it delivers the same action-packed adventure as the first book while also allowing us to understand and love all of the characters a little better.
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downloaded it right away. It wasn’t pretty. B and I were in the library waiting for M to get out of class, and there was much squealing and hand-flapping as I waited for the little download bar to fill up. B looked fairly confused at this display, as it was very similar to my “this wasabi is way too hot, but there’s nothing I can do because I shoved that entire piece of sushi in my mouth like an idiot, so now I suppose I’ll choke or die of some spice-related death” reaction, to which he had recently been exposed. That is the level of awesome we are talking about, people: loud and squeaky displays usually reserved for near-death dining incidents, all right in the middle of the law library.I thought the plot of this book was slightly more straight-forward that White Cat, but I suppose that’s not really saying much. The ending seemed less unexpected to me, but I was still amazed at how Cassel deals with what seems like an impossible choice between two undesirable futures. Really, in my opinion this book was more about character development. Don’t get me wrong— there’s still LOTS of plot, but we also get to see defining moments from Cassel’s friends Daneca and Sam, we see how Barron and Cassel’s relationship is evolving since the events of White Cat, and we get to see Cassel’s mother in all of her sociopathic glory. I didn’t not think there was enough Lila, though there is definitely more of her than in the first book. She has the potential of being an amazing and in-depth character (just see the “Other Tangential Thoughts” section), but we don’t get to see all of her depth in this book… well, because there’s only so much room. Lila’s not *super* integral to the plot, so she kind of takes a side-seat. But the end of Red Glove, while thankfully not a cliff-hanger in my mind, sets up Black Heart to be epically Lila-and-Cassel-centric.
I was not expecting my review to be this short, but that is largely because I don’t want to give *anything* away. The character development revelations and the plot are pretty tightly interwoven, and frankly it was just plain exciting to find out the characters’ secrets on my own. I would hate to rob you of that opportunity.
So in short! This is an excellent second book to the series, and it delivers the same action-packed adventure as the first book while also allowing us to understand and love all of the characters a little better.
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LibraryThing member xXlovelyxladyXx
You will not believe how happy I was to get my hands on this ebook thanks to my gooreads friend Suzy :) for sending it to me. I really appreciate it! Even though this book wasn't as stunningly amazing as the first book, I still loved it. Holly Black is just one of those writers who writes her
Cassel is so wonderful. I absolutely love him. There's just something so raw about him throughout this story that keeps me interested through and through and of course I love his curse. If I could choose, I would want the transformation curse, even if it means my body goes haywire. We also got to learn so much more about the curse, like what he could specifically transform and how the backlash would hurt him.
And Sam! Oh my gosh, what a great friend. Seriously, he's funny, he's adorable and he's always got Cassel's back which I love. Those two make a crazy pair. I also like Daneca a lot more in this book, and her love hate relationship with Cassel. It was kind of obvious that she was a curse worker, although I would have thought she was a luck worker not an emotion worker.
Lila is back...she's a little better in this book but I'm still not crazy about her. Seeing her through Cassel's eyes affects my overall opinion of her but who knows, maybe I'll love her by the third book. Most likely not because Cassel deserves so much better than her, especially with how she treats him. I mean, yes he did transform her into a cat but he did everything he could to save her.
Overall, I loved this book! The plot was exciting, a little predictable but with a perfect Holly Black twist that I just love! I am DYING to get my hands on Black Heart because I know its going to be an amazing finale to this series! :D
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
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stories, characters, and plot almost effortlessly. She could be writing about dirt and I would still be crazy about it. Thats how much I love her.Cassel is so wonderful. I absolutely love him. There's just something so raw about him throughout this story that keeps me interested through and through and of course I love his curse. If I could choose, I would want the transformation curse, even if it means my body goes haywire. We also got to learn so much more about the curse, like what he could specifically transform and how the backlash would hurt him.
And Sam! Oh my gosh, what a great friend. Seriously, he's funny, he's adorable and he's always got Cassel's back which I love. Those two make a crazy pair. I also like Daneca a lot more in this book, and her love hate relationship with Cassel. It was kind of obvious that she was a curse worker, although I would have thought she was a luck worker not an emotion worker.
Lila is back...she's a little better in this book but I'm still not crazy about her. Seeing her through Cassel's eyes affects my overall opinion of her but who knows, maybe I'll love her by the third book. Most likely not because Cassel deserves so much better than her, especially with how she treats him. I mean, yes he did transform her into a cat but he did everything he could to save her.
Overall, I loved this book! The plot was exciting, a little predictable but with a perfect Holly Black twist that I just love! I am DYING to get my hands on Black Heart because I know its going to be an amazing finale to this series! :D
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
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LibraryThing member renkellym
Summary: The king of cons is back, and things are just as crazy in Cassel Sharpe’s life as they were in White Cat. This time around, Cassel must figure out who murdered his brother Philip (something he doesn’t feel too terribly sad about) and deal with his feelings for Lila, the beautiful girl
My Review: Red Glove was every bit as good as White Cat.. I’ll first profess my love for the character that is Cassel. Holly Black did a magnificent job of further developing Cassel’s dark side in this sequel. There were many introspective pauses as he considered his guilt, or lack of guilt, which really made me think about criminals and what it really means to be one. I loved the fact that Cassel was an atypical brooding character; he had his reasons for being sullen, and his dry humor made me smirk all through the novel.
Red Glove’s story had many different levels—Cassel’s inner turmoil, the who-killed-Philip story, and a sort-of romance with Lila. Each of these levels was fully developed and exciting; there was never a dull moment in the entire book. The implementation of the Feds was genius; I loved that Cassel had to choose between the mobsters (wrong) and the government (right), and that his rock-and-a-hard-place situation made it almost impossible to choose—leading to the ultimate con.
I have no negative things to say about Red Glove. It was an amazing follow-up to White Cat, and left me desperately wanting the third book in the series. Fans of mystery and suspense will definitely enjoy Red Glove, and so will people interested in reading from the perspective of a bad guy. If you haven’t read White Cat, which was one of my favorite books of 2010, do that before Red Glove comes out! It’s a sequel you won’t want to miss.
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his mother worked to love him. My Review: Red Glove was every bit as good as White Cat.. I’ll first profess my love for the character that is Cassel. Holly Black did a magnificent job of further developing Cassel’s dark side in this sequel. There were many introspective pauses as he considered his guilt, or lack of guilt, which really made me think about criminals and what it really means to be one. I loved the fact that Cassel was an atypical brooding character; he had his reasons for being sullen, and his dry humor made me smirk all through the novel.
Red Glove’s story had many different levels—Cassel’s inner turmoil, the who-killed-Philip story, and a sort-of romance with Lila. Each of these levels was fully developed and exciting; there was never a dull moment in the entire book. The implementation of the Feds was genius; I loved that Cassel had to choose between the mobsters (wrong) and the government (right), and that his rock-and-a-hard-place situation made it almost impossible to choose—leading to the ultimate con.
I have no negative things to say about Red Glove. It was an amazing follow-up to White Cat, and left me desperately wanting the third book in the series. Fans of mystery and suspense will definitely enjoy Red Glove, and so will people interested in reading from the perspective of a bad guy. If you haven’t read White Cat, which was one of my favorite books of 2010, do that before Red Glove comes out! It’s a sequel you won’t want to miss.
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LibraryThing member bell7
Cassel Sharpe, son of a criminal family and a con man, is back in this sequel to White Cat. His mother is now out of jail, and she and Cassel have been traveling Atlantic City looking for a rich man for his mother, an emotion worker, to use to get money. When Cassel goes back to school, he expects
Like the first book in the series, this story has a really interesting idea behind it, and having the first-person narration be that of a con man who's generally a good guy but who also doesn't want to betray his family, is a brilliant choice. I could really feel for Cassel and understand the way in which he's pulled in several directions as he tries to stay on the straight and narrow (sort of). The mystery aspect of the story held a lot of surprises for me, and if I probably wouldn't reread it just because it wouldn't have the same tension now that I know what happens, I will eagerly look for the next book in the series.
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some relief but federal agents show up with a proposition for him.Like the first book in the series, this story has a really interesting idea behind it, and having the first-person narration be that of a con man who's generally a good guy but who also doesn't want to betray his family, is a brilliant choice. I could really feel for Cassel and understand the way in which he's pulled in several directions as he tries to stay on the straight and narrow (sort of). The mystery aspect of the story held a lot of surprises for me, and if I probably wouldn't reread it just because it wouldn't have the same tension now that I know what happens, I will eagerly look for the next book in the series.
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LibraryThing member g33kgrrl
A continuation of Holly Black's Curse Workers series, Red Glove follows Cassel Sharp and his friends and family through another year of high school. The story is once again interesting, focusing on what Cassel does in the midst of a tangle of crime, politics, law enforcement, other teenagers, and
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school, but just as much on how to trust when all your life you've been lied to and put in situations where the smartest thing to do is to never, ever trust anyone. Black does a great job of telling this story and making it meaningful, and showing us more and more about Cassel's world through his clever eyes. An enjoyable read. Show Less
LibraryThing member theepicrat
I could not wait to read Red Glove after being blown away by the ending of WHITE CAT - and let me say that Holly Black does not disappoint! She delivers a high-stakes sequel that will have readers gripping each page with anticipation as the roller-coaster suspense continues to climb uphill.
Cassel
So how does Cassel cope with all these unwanted - not to mention, quite unpleasant - changes in his life? How does he keep a respectful distance from Lila whom he would give anything to kiss, but whose true feelings have been replaced by false affections? How does he deal with his brothers - one who hates Cassel for ruining his plans of taking over the mob family, the other who dotes on Cassel simply because that is what his memory journals tell him is true? How does he handle his mother who means well, but simply cannot pass up a good con that involves a rich wallet?
Like its predecessor, Red Glove is one cool character that doesn't break a sweat. Holly Black sets up the stage with great meticulous care and manipulates readers right where she wants us to be - so wrapped up in the con of the story that we don't see the ending until we are there. And let me say that this also ends with heartache that makes me want to reach out and hug Cassel until the world turns around.
I'd like to say that fans of Veronica Mars or Heist Society may delight in The Curse Workers series. Although the series may be more dark than quippy or bubbly, I think it is a perfect read if you like con games and main characters who will give their enemies a run for their money!
Cassel
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lives a glass-half-full life - his brothers have betrayed him, his mother totally ruined the love of his life, and he can no longer hide under the cloak of normalcy because he happens to be a mob boss's dream-come-true (or should I say, curse-come-true?).So how does Cassel cope with all these unwanted - not to mention, quite unpleasant - changes in his life? How does he keep a respectful distance from Lila whom he would give anything to kiss, but whose true feelings have been replaced by false affections? How does he deal with his brothers - one who hates Cassel for ruining his plans of taking over the mob family, the other who dotes on Cassel simply because that is what his memory journals tell him is true? How does he handle his mother who means well, but simply cannot pass up a good con that involves a rich wallet?
Like its predecessor, Red Glove is one cool character that doesn't break a sweat. Holly Black sets up the stage with great meticulous care and manipulates readers right where she wants us to be - so wrapped up in the con of the story that we don't see the ending until we are there. And let me say that this also ends with heartache that makes me want to reach out and hug Cassel until the world turns around.
I'd like to say that fans of Veronica Mars or Heist Society may delight in The Curse Workers series. Although the series may be more dark than quippy or bubbly, I think it is a perfect read if you like con games and main characters who will give their enemies a run for their money!
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LibraryThing member RamonaWray
Amazing sequel. Holly Black is brilliant, as usual. Recommended to everyone ( seriously, everyone should read at least one book by Holly Black)
LibraryThing member sch_94
My Summary: It's been months since Cassel discovered the truth about himself and foiled his brother's plan to overthrow the biggest crime-boss in the city; it's also been months since his mother worked Lila, the girl Cassel loves, into loving him, forever destroying any chance he had with her.
Now
And to top it all off, Cassel is picked up by the Feds, who try to recruit him to help find a killer that leaves behind no bodies ... a killer that Cassel's brother was supposed to lead them to before he was killed.
My Thoughts: Another awesome read from Holly Black! I gotta say, I loved being back in Cassel's world - there's something about the mobster/worker thing that fascinates me. And of course, Holly's writing is always amazing, making this a novel you could breeze through with no problem. I, for one, read it all in one sitting (2am - 5am... I know, I have a problem), needing to find out who the killer was before I could put the book down.
I really liked the way Holly showed Cassel's struggle to stay away from Lila - it made him seem more human and relatable. And I seriously laughed out loud when I read the mention of Jace (from The Mortal Instruments series, which you should definitely check out as well!).
Final Thoughts: I recommend this series to anyone who loves paranormal YA but is a little sick of the usual vampire/werewolf/faerie stuff (or fairy, or faery, or fayrie or however else you wish to spell it, because I have no idea which is correct). There are a few scenes that probably aren't appropriate for anyone under 16 (some cases of drinking, plus some more mature topics), but they're not too bad - if you're a parent are are worried about this stuff, I recommend reading it before giving it to your child. Check it out! It really is a great series.
Now
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Cassel is living with his mother, moving from hotel room to hotel room and doing his best to forget about Lila. He thinks he'll be home-free once he goes back to school, but once he arrives, his worst nightmare comes true: Lila followed him, enrolling in the same school - ensuring Cassel wouldn't be able to escape the guilt of what his mother did.And to top it all off, Cassel is picked up by the Feds, who try to recruit him to help find a killer that leaves behind no bodies ... a killer that Cassel's brother was supposed to lead them to before he was killed.
My Thoughts: Another awesome read from Holly Black! I gotta say, I loved being back in Cassel's world - there's something about the mobster/worker thing that fascinates me. And of course, Holly's writing is always amazing, making this a novel you could breeze through with no problem. I, for one, read it all in one sitting (2am - 5am... I know, I have a problem), needing to find out who the killer was before I could put the book down.
I really liked the way Holly showed Cassel's struggle to stay away from Lila - it made him seem more human and relatable. And I seriously laughed out loud when I read the mention of Jace (from The Mortal Instruments series, which you should definitely check out as well!).
Final Thoughts: I recommend this series to anyone who loves paranormal YA but is a little sick of the usual vampire/werewolf/faerie stuff (or fairy, or faery, or fayrie or however else you wish to spell it, because I have no idea which is correct). There are a few scenes that probably aren't appropriate for anyone under 16 (some cases of drinking, plus some more mature topics), but they're not too bad - if you're a parent are are worried about this stuff, I recommend reading it before giving it to your child. Check it out! It really is a great series.
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LibraryThing member danijohns
First off, let me say I didn't love White Cat. I liked White Cat but did not really love it. I actually haven’t read it since it was released and I was only gonna check out the sequel because it was a sequel if I had time. However, thanks to some persuading by Jen, I decided to give Red Glove a
Red Glove was a great sequel. Personally, I really enjoyed Red Glove about ten times more than White Cat. I really felt the now that Cassel’s world was already developed, Holly Black was able to do more with the actual plot and characters.
After the ending of White Cat, I was interested to see what was going to happen with Cassel and Lila’s relationship. I really loved the dynamics of their relationship. Cassel cares a lot for her, but wants their relationship to be genuine, not the work of some curse, and it was heart-wrenching to see how hard he was trying to make the relationship not work because it was not real.
I really loved the mystery element of this book. The whole murder plot was interwoven seamlessly with the Feds. You could feel Cassel’s confusion at what to do, should he stay loyal to his family or help the government find his brother’s murderer. When the murderer was revealed, I was shocked. It definitely was not who I expected. And the big con in this book was brilliant. Cassel is a genius and a great con artist even if he does not want to be.
The ending made me frustrated at some of the characters, but frustrated in a good way. I was really saddened that I was at the end of the book, I wanted it to keep going! I literally flew through reading this book I was so engrossed. Holly Black has created an intriguing, unique world filled with some very great characters, characters who you learn a lot more about in this sequel. Now if only Black Heart were out now…
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go instead of putting it off and I am really glad I did.Red Glove was a great sequel. Personally, I really enjoyed Red Glove about ten times more than White Cat. I really felt the now that Cassel’s world was already developed, Holly Black was able to do more with the actual plot and characters.
After the ending of White Cat, I was interested to see what was going to happen with Cassel and Lila’s relationship. I really loved the dynamics of their relationship. Cassel cares a lot for her, but wants their relationship to be genuine, not the work of some curse, and it was heart-wrenching to see how hard he was trying to make the relationship not work because it was not real.
I really loved the mystery element of this book. The whole murder plot was interwoven seamlessly with the Feds. You could feel Cassel’s confusion at what to do, should he stay loyal to his family or help the government find his brother’s murderer. When the murderer was revealed, I was shocked. It definitely was not who I expected. And the big con in this book was brilliant. Cassel is a genius and a great con artist even if he does not want to be.
The ending made me frustrated at some of the characters, but frustrated in a good way. I was really saddened that I was at the end of the book, I wanted it to keep going! I literally flew through reading this book I was so engrossed. Holly Black has created an intriguing, unique world filled with some very great characters, characters who you learn a lot more about in this sequel. Now if only Black Heart were out now…
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LibraryThing member sensitivemuse
**possible spoilers**
Holly Black’s writing still continues to keep readers entertained with her sequel to White Cat. There’s still twists and turns to go through, and Cassel is such a great anti hero there’s nothing to not like about him. The reader can’t help but feel for Cassel, he’s
The plot is just as good as it was with White Cat. Lots of guessing, plenty of revelations, and the cliffhanger ending made the book such a great read (although now I have to wait for a while for the third installment of this series). Cassel not only develops as a character, but his relationships with his other friends and Lila develop with him. Although Lila was ‘worked’ on, I couldn’t help but love how her and Cassel felt right for each other. Their chemistry was just right without being overdone and cheesy but you still had that nagging truth in the back of your head; Lila has been worked on, so this love can’t be real. But then you ask yourself, but the love sure feels real. I love this kind of writing! the author just initiates these doubts and thoughts to the reader which makes the reading experience all the more enjoyable.
As mentioned before, the twists and turns are just as good as the first book, and the new things Cassel has to deal with add more to the story. You’d have to feel sorry for the guy, it’s as if he’s meant to deal with a lot of crap day after day, and his family doesn’t really help with that fact either (except for his Grandpa, which remains one of my quiet favorite characters in the novel). I loved how the revelations (both big and small) are revealed in this book, perhaps it was the way the author revealed them, or maybe because I was so engrossed in the book but each one was shocking as the previous one.
With the ending the way it was for this one, it’s going to be hard to wait for the last book! Holly Black’s writing just keeps getting better and better with each book she writes.
Holly Black’s writing still continues to keep readers entertained with her sequel to White Cat. There’s still twists and turns to go through, and Cassel is such a great anti hero there’s nothing to not like about him. The reader can’t help but feel for Cassel, he’s
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gone through so much! and he’s goes through a lot more in Red Glove.The plot is just as good as it was with White Cat. Lots of guessing, plenty of revelations, and the cliffhanger ending made the book such a great read (although now I have to wait for a while for the third installment of this series). Cassel not only develops as a character, but his relationships with his other friends and Lila develop with him. Although Lila was ‘worked’ on, I couldn’t help but love how her and Cassel felt right for each other. Their chemistry was just right without being overdone and cheesy but you still had that nagging truth in the back of your head; Lila has been worked on, so this love can’t be real. But then you ask yourself, but the love sure feels real. I love this kind of writing! the author just initiates these doubts and thoughts to the reader which makes the reading experience all the more enjoyable.
As mentioned before, the twists and turns are just as good as the first book, and the new things Cassel has to deal with add more to the story. You’d have to feel sorry for the guy, it’s as if he’s meant to deal with a lot of crap day after day, and his family doesn’t really help with that fact either (except for his Grandpa, which remains one of my quiet favorite characters in the novel). I loved how the revelations (both big and small) are revealed in this book, perhaps it was the way the author revealed them, or maybe because I was so engrossed in the book but each one was shocking as the previous one.
With the ending the way it was for this one, it’s going to be hard to wait for the last book! Holly Black’s writing just keeps getting better and better with each book she writes.
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LibraryThing member stephxsu
Unfortunately, did not like this one as much as I did the first. The plot seemed to simultaneously drag more and be less inspiring. Still will read the last book in the series, but now I'm worried that the incredibleness of the first book was just an anomaly...
LibraryThing member sszkutak
I have been thinking about my rating of this book and going back and forth between 3 and 4 stars. I really liked the first one, White Cat, but Red Glove falls a little short for me. The plot was slower and the characters seemed to loose a little bit of their charm and appeal. However, I must say
Cassel Sharpe is the main character here and he still isn't your average teenage boy, not only is he not obsessed with sex and the opposite sex but he is coming to terms with being a curseworker and trying to figure out his place in his family, school, and life overall.
Interesting story line in this 2nd book, Cassel's brother is murdered and the Feds want Cassel's help solving it...only problem is that White Cat was such a stronger plot with more mystery and appeal.
Character wise...I think Cassel needs to suck it up and find a place for himself rather than follow his deranged family...
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that I am happy to read a YA novel that does not really drive into the fact that there may be a romance...maybe it's because it is from a males POV but still, refreshing.Cassel Sharpe is the main character here and he still isn't your average teenage boy, not only is he not obsessed with sex and the opposite sex but he is coming to terms with being a curseworker and trying to figure out his place in his family, school, and life overall.
Interesting story line in this 2nd book, Cassel's brother is murdered and the Feds want Cassel's help solving it...only problem is that White Cat was such a stronger plot with more mystery and appeal.
Character wise...I think Cassel needs to suck it up and find a place for himself rather than follow his deranged family...
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Awards
Locus Recommended Reading (Young Adult Book — 2011)
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Selection — 2012)
Language
Original publication date
2011-04-04
Physical description
336 p.; 8.54 inches
ISBN
9781442403390