Glove Love

Red Glove
By: Holly Black
Reported by: Juli Helms

Curses and cons. Magic and the mob. In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth—he’s the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything—or anyone—into something else.

That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her. Now that she's human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila's been cursed to love him, a little gift from his emotion worker mom. And if Lila's love is as phony as Cassel's made-up memories, then he can't believe anything she says or does.

When Cassel's oldest brother is murdered, the Feds recruit Cassel to help make sense of the only clue—crime-scene images of a woman in red gloves. But the mob is after Cassel too—they know how valuable he could be to them. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can't trust anyone—least of all, himself?

Love is a curse and the con is the only answer in a game too dangerous to lose.

-Summary from Goodreads

Red Glove is a thrilling ride, one that I want to go on again and again. It picks up not long after the end of White Cat, and personally, I liked this book even better than the first... except the ending.

Here's the thing. Red Glove is a wonderful read. It's layer upon layer of revelation, like in White Cat, except this time we get to see more character development and Holly Black smears the already thin line between good and evil, so much so that by the end, I couldn't decide who was truly good or bad. Because no one was truly anything.

There was always a secret, one that you wouldn't have expected.

The action in this book was very tightly knit, and the plot was well-planned. I thought I knew the truth behind something, but then a few chapters later it turns out I was totally wrong!  I love a good mystery, and the Curse Workers are not only a mystery, but a romance as well.

The romance throughout this book was just cruel. You'd have these steamy scenes, but of course it'd break your heart, because (like the summary says) Lila's cursed to love Cassel. And my heart just broke for him.

The action kept building and building in the story, until I was just on the edge of my seat, waiting to see how Mrs. Black will pull it off.

Here's the nit-picky me's problem: It never came.

The ending was just... the romance's cruelness magnified by a billion. When I reached the last page, I had to re-read it a few times before it really sank in that yes, indeed, this was the last page.

But, I actually didn't mind the ending too much. It wasn't a giant cliffhanger (well, it was, but it was the type of cliffhanger that--sort of--wraps up one story and teases you with the promise of another one, one that is even greater), and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

You know where to find me on April 3rd, right?

At the bookstore, buying Black Heart.