My fourteenth book review: Glow

Glow
Genre: Young Adult
Pages: 307
Published: September 13th 2011
Author: Amy Kathleen Ryan

Summary from Goodreads:
What if you were bound for a new world, about to pledge your life to someone you'd been promised to since birth, and one unexpected violent attack made survival—not love—the issue?

Out in the murky nebula lurks an unseen enemy: the New Horizon. On its way to populate a distant planet in the wake of Earth's collapse, the ship's crew has been unable to conceive a generation to continue its mission. They need young girls desperately, or their zealous leader's efforts will fail. Onboard their sister ship, the Empyrean, the unsuspecting families don't know an attack is being mounted that could claim the most important among them...

Fifteen-year-old Waverly is part of the first generation to be successfully conceived in deep space; she was born on the Empyrean, and the large farming vessel is all she knows. Her concerns are those of any teenager—until Kieran Alden proposes to her. The handsome captain-to-be has everything Waverly could ever want in a husband, and with the pressure to start having children, everyone is sure he's the best choice. Except for Waverly, who wants more from life than marriage—and is secretly intrigued by the shy, darkly brilliant Seth.

But when the Empyrean faces sudden attack by their assumed allies, they quickly find out that the enemies aren't all from the outside.

My review:  
Well, when I started reading this book, I truly wanted to like it. The summary sounds interesting and it's Science-Fiction. It's been a while since I read books about Science-Fiction and I truly hoped that Glow would be a real good one. I actually prefer the UK cover (image above) rather than the US cover. It looks better and looks more interesting. Many people compared this book to Across the Universe by Beth Revis because it's also Science-Fiction, but lucky for me, I haven't read it so I can make this review completely honest without comparing it with other YA science-fiction books.

First, the story. Waverly and Kieran, a couple are aboard on the Empyrean ship on the space. Kieran wants to marry Waverly but Waverly is still not ready yet (The typical thing where a girl likes the guy but feels it's not the time yet, etc) but suddenly the ship got attack by another ship called New Horizon. New Horizon's ship departs years before the Empyrean but they had to slow down to catch up with the Empyrean. Waverly and the girls in the ship were kidnapped. Why? About 1/2 the book explains about Waverly and her struggles with the kidnaps and finding out the reason why. The ending was a cliffhanger (I really don't like cliffhangers and this cliffhanger is sure quite annoying). 


When I read this book, I struggled hard to finish it because I'm not a fan of Science-Fiction (unless it's really good like Star Wars, etc) and the romance was barely there. The summary sounds like Waverly is having a love triangle between Kieran and Seth. That only happens a little bit in the beginning of the book and the end. I just don't get why make a love triangle in this book and putting it in the summary when it barely appears. Waverly is a character I can't really connect to. Although, there was a time when I felt a big pity towards Waverly (SPOILER: Waverly's ovaries were taken by people in the New Horizon ship to give other woman the chance to get pregnant). It was just so sad. It's too much. I can't believe that her 'eggs' were taken away so easily like that and given to other people. They had to cut her stomach and wow, I was really scared at that time, imagining if it happens to me. When Waverly found Kieran again, I felt happy and felt that I can stop my struggles of reading this book. Then, something even more annoying happens, which makes Waverly distant herself from Kieran saying things like he's not him anymore, etc. One thing I like about this book though was the descriptions used to explain what's happening in outer space, living in a ship your entire life, trying to find a new earth. I can imagine myself there in the ship, but I just can't connect to the characters. Also, this book is written from a third point perspective. So, it's not "I did this, I did that" but "She did this, she did that" which is probably the reason I can't connect to the characters. The POV changes between Waverly and Kieran. I can still get the change. Then, there's also the religious part which I can't understand. Kieran is religious and Waverly is not. So it becomes a problem. (SPOILER: Waverly in the end distants herself from Kieran because he was too religious. What?!)


Overall: Okay. I can understand why some bloggers didn't quite enjoy this book. Although, to those who enjoy it, I can also understand them. This book is set in outer space which is awesome, filled with actions too but it lacks of romance and I can't relate to the characters. I really hoped I would come to like this book by the end but the ending made me so annoyed! It's a cliffhanger too. I don't think I'm going to read the sequel. I almost dropped this book, but I actually bought it so it would be a waste of money. But one good thing was, I love the cover. The front represents Waverly and the back represents Kieran. I am so sad for the rating I have to give this book.

2 Forget-me-not flowers for Glow