Review: Glitter by Aprilynne Pike

Glitter by Aprilynne Pike

My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Received: Publisher
Publication Date: October 25th 2016
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Point of View: 1st Person & Feminine
Recommended Age: 12+
Pacing: Fast
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Science Fiction, (Bad) Romance

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BLURB:

Outside the palace of Versailles, it’s modern day. Inside, the people dress, eat, and act like it’s the eighteenth century—with the added bonus of technology to make court life lavish, privileged, and frivolous. The palace has every indulgence, but for one pretty young thing, it’s about to become a very beautiful prison.

When Danica witnesses an act of murder by the young king, her mother makes a cruel power play . . . blackmailing the king into making Dani his queen. When she turns eighteen, Dani will marry the most ruthless and dangerous man of the court. She has six months to escape her terrifying destiny. Six months to raise enough money to disappear into the real world beyond the palace gates.

Her ticket out? Glitter. A drug so powerful that a tiny pinch mixed into a pot of rouge or lip gloss can make the wearer hopelessly addicted. Addicted to a drug Dani can sell for more money than she ever dreamed.

But in Versailles, secrets are impossible to keep. And the most dangerous secret—falling for a drug dealer outside the palace walls—is one risk she has to take.

I have no idea who this book will appeal to. Maybe readers who enjoy fast-paced well-written ridiculous stories?

Because that’s what it is. Ridiculous.

I fell in love with Aprilynne Pike’s ‘‘Wings’’ series, but this is nothing like that beautiful series.

For one, the world-building doesn’t make much sense. So they’re in this make-believe Versailles palace with make-believe gowns and make-believe events, because that’s how the King wants it.

It’s no historical fiction but it isn’t a dystopian book either. I guess you could say that it defies the genres. But it is futuristic, so I’m going to go with science fiction.

But seriously. At first, I thought Danica selling drugs to all the Versailles dwellers was fully entertaining and original. However, after a while I was appalled by this.

Because Danica is so single-minded she isn’t bothered by the fact that she’s ruining lives… and killing people with her drugs.

All she thinks about is fleeing from the palace. One has to agree that she is incredibly determined but also incredibly selfish.

And come on, what a clichéd love story. Not only that, but it’s not even romantic. It just… happens. And we see this happening from miles away.

It’s not as if this book sent the message that drugs are good, not at all, but there are no inspiring characters or quotes. It does feel like it was written to entertain only, but it was a bit too ridiculous for me.

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