Author: Kristen Simmons
Series: Standalone
Released: February 10th 2015
Publisher: TorTeen
Length: 320 pages
Source: Publisher for review
Buy: Amazon
The Handmaid’s Tale meets Blood Red Road in Glass Arrow, the story of Aya, who lives with a small group of women on the run from the men who hunt them, men who want to auction off breeding rights to the highest bidder.In a world where females are scarce and are hunted, then bought and sold at market for their breeding rights, 15-year old Aya has learned how to hide. With a ragtag bunch of other women and girls, she has successfully avoided capture and eked out a nomadic but free existence in the mountains. But when Aya’s luck runs out and she’s caught by a group of businessmen on a hunting expedition, fighting to survive takes on a whole new meaning.
The world Simmons gives us is horrifying: hunger, disease and awful living conditions for everyone but the very few rich men. The women are considered to be merchandise and they are sold like objects on the meat market. They are groomed and fattened and polished to become more appealing to wealthy men. Most girls know that it’s the only future for them and some even welcome it, but Aya was raised in the wilderness, with her mother, her aunt and cousins. The mountains were Aiyana’s home since she was born and they’re all she knows, but once she is captured and taken to the city, she is able to show us the sickening societal structure and the absolutely horrendous treatment of women.
The Glass Arrow is a strange mix of old and new. People die from the simplest diseases, most barely surviving the hunger and filth. Food is rare, everyone but the rich survives on food supplements. However, they use plastic surgery to correct the flaws of girls ready to be sold, there’s permanent make-up and many other cosmetic procedures. Apparently, at one point the society decided to throw away cars and technology and return to a simpler life. But somehow, the rich still have the advanced video games and other technological developments.
The thing with dystopias, I think, is that they have to be believable, as close to reality as possible. We must be able to see things happen exactly that way, become utterly convinced that the world described is just around the corner. There are dystopias that work exactly like that, and they are always the best ones. But the future described in The Glass Arrow was illogical and full of discrepancies. It did not work at all.
Oddly enough, the romance saved the story. Aya’s feelings for Kiran changed very slowly and her weariness was understandable and even welcomed. Her internal struggle was done exceptionally well and the long journey from prejudice to trust seemed entirely believable and perfectly done.
I was surprised and glad to be reading a standalone. It’s nice to have a well-rounded ending that doesn’t attempt to do too much, but that covers all the things that are truly important to characters and readers both. Despite its flaws, The Glass Arrow is well-executed story that doesn’t have the strongest emotional impact, but it’s necessary and educational nevertheless.
A copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher for review purposes. No considerations, monetary or otherwise, have infleunced the opinions expressed in this review.
The world does sound horrifying! I love that even though this wasn't what you had been expecting (which I totally would have guessed fantasy as well!) I like that you still enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteWonderful review Maja!
I have read some good reviews for this one, but after reading yours, I am having second thoughts. It would frustrate me to read a book with shaky world building. Still it is nice that it's a stand alone with a good romance.
ReplyDeleteI have been waffling about this story -- do I want to read it or do I not? I like that the romance is strong (strong enough even to save a story for you!) but I tend to get caught up in settings/worlds that aren't well constructed. I usually need a solid foundation and reasons (WHY did they keep some tech and not others, especially since food is now scarce?). Still waffling...
ReplyDeleteI wasn't as generous with this book when I reviewed it. I still didn't get the glass arrow reference. I'd hoped it would play a bigger role than it did. Over all, another disappointing book from Ms. Simmons.
ReplyDeleteI just ordered this one for my library. I've got teens who simply devour dystopians whether good or bad. Personally, I've been burnt out from the genre. There doesn't seem to be anything original . I'm still waiting for one that will completely blow my mind.
ReplyDeleteOooh nice review! I did hear some good things about this one so I bought a copy awhile back. Still need to read it though. Such is life. I thought the worldbuilding was the most intriguing and terrifying. So I hope to read it someday soon! Nice review!
ReplyDeleteOkay, this is definitely different than what I had thought. I would have thought fantasy too. It is interesting that the romance saved it, I wouldn't have guessed.
ReplyDeleteIf it's too illogical then I can not deal
ReplyDeleteSounds like this is a good enough read but not a must read. So I think I'll continue to skip it, although it being a standalone makes it sound more appealing!
ReplyDeleteGreat review Maja!
I have this one for review on audio but there was something wrong with one of the disks so I have to wait. Not liking the sound of the illogical world but I do like the dystopians. Perhaps now that I'm prepared it won't bother me too much. *fingers crossed*!
ReplyDeleteOk, yeah, The cover and title to this one totally make it sound like a fantasy. The discrepancies remind me if Wither. Nothing in that book made sense. It came off as lazy. This one sounds the same but at least it had a romance that saves it.
ReplyDeleteI was curious about this one, the world and else as I heard nice things about it and it sounds nice in fact. I'm glad to see you had a good tim with it. I didn't know it was a standalone book either I confess. thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteIt's dystopia, really?! Who would've thought from the cover. I've heard quite a few mixed reviews for this book. I haven't read anything by this author before although I've heard some good stuff about her Article 5 series. Great honest review. :)
ReplyDeleteI liked this one more than you did. I thought it was going to be a fantasy too, but I was pleasantly surprised when it wasn't. I really loved the romance. It's exactly how you described it to be.
ReplyDeleteLovely review, Maja!
The way you described it, I wouldn't be such a big fan of the plot, either. :( It sounds like a bunch of popular YA books just meshed into one. (I'm thinking it's Eve + The Hunger Games + The Selection right now, based on the things you said.) But the romance does sound really sweet! So that's an aspect I'm really looking forward to. :) Fabulous review, Maja!
ReplyDeleteAimee @ Deadly Darlings
My opinion exactly! So many discrepancies, both in the narrative and in the characters. It just did not hang together at all. It's funny, because I've read quite a few reviews full of complimentary things and from looking at the cover I was sure I was in for an extraordinary ride. I was sorely disappointed. Oh, well. Plenty of other fish in the sea :)
ReplyDeleteOooh, a standalone? I'm all for standalones at the moment, instead of having the plot dragged out over a series. But I'm very skeptical with dystopias at the moment, and not sure if I can ignore shoddy world building. Great review though!
ReplyDeleteYikes, you're right. I read your little tidbits about what to expect from the world of The Glass Arrow and all I could think was "INCONSISTENCIES INCONSISTENCIES!" It just doesn't make sense somehow o_O It feels all over the place! I'll still read it though I'm curious, and maybe it wouldn't bother me, but expectations are way lowered now ><
ReplyDeleteFaye at The Social Potato
I have heard a lot about this one but sad to hear that the world didn't fell all that believable
ReplyDeleteThe romance saved the story for you... At least you got something good out of it
ReplyDeleteWonderful review, Maja! Illogical world building in dystopia can be so annoying. And I hear you about standalones.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame that you weren't all that sold on the world that Simmons presented before you. And a romance that saved the story? I am curious!
ReplyDeleteLovely review as always, hun <33
Really? This is a dystopian novel? I could swear that it's a fantasy story. Maybe if I read the blurb for a change...alas, I'm glad that it's really interesting read and it seems quite terrifying if you ask me. But I'm not happy to hear that the world building wasn't logical. It usually bothers me more than it should. Still great review :)
ReplyDeleteWe're about the same on this one, I think. I liked that it was a standalone, but even though I was REALLY looking forward to this one (it was one of my most anticipated reads of 2015), I thought the world-building was ... pretty unrealistic. (Not that, like, a dystopian centered on women's reproductive rights or lack thereof would be unrealistic!) But that this one wasn't fleshed out enough for me. And instead of focusing on the the dystopia, centered on our MC and her romantic relationship with Kiran - makes sense in scope for a standalone, but ultimately, I wanted more explanation for why this world was the way it was.
ReplyDeleteI'm still curious about this one since it's a standalone and the romance was built up slowly and done well. It seems best to go into this knowing the world buildling, as a Dystopian, may not be what is usually expected. Glad you enjoyed it for the most part. Great & thoughtful review, Maja :)
ReplyDeleteHmmm. I disliked the romance in Article 5 and (I think) I remember having issues with the believability of the world as well.
ReplyDeleteBut the fact that it's a standalone makes me more inclined to try it. Great review!
Thanks so much for stopping by! Jen at YA Romantics