ARC Review: The Glass Arrow by Kristen Simmons ♥

The Glass Arrow
Kristen Simmons

Publisher: Tor Teen; First Edition (February 10, 2015)

• Genre: Dystopian, Teen
• Pre-Order: Amazon | Barnes & Nobles
• Source: Review copy was sent free of charge courtesy of Tor Teen.

Synopsis: Once there was a time when men and women lived as equals, when girl babies were valued, and women could belong only to themselves. But that was ten generations ago. Now women are property, to be sold and owned and bred, while a strict census keeps their numbers manageable and under control. The best any girl can hope for is to end up as some man’s forever wife, but most are simply sold and resold until they’re all used up. Only in the wilderness, away from the city, can true freedom be found. Aya has spent her whole life in the mountains, looking out for her family and hiding from the world, until the day the Trackers finally catch her.Stolen from her home, and being groomed for auction Aya is desperate to escape her fate and return to her family, but her only allies are a loyal wolf she’s raised from a pup and a strange mute boy who may be her best hope for freedom . . . if she can truly trust him.

•  Aiyanna( Aya) has been on the run from the trackers, she does not want to be captured - she simply wants to live her own life in the mountains with her family and dear ones. Soon, Aya is hunted and captured in the wilderness, she's separated from her family and friends and placed into a facility called The Gardens where the rest of the girls are being groomed for auction. 

• : Kristen Simmons definitely has an amazing way of writing, her writing engages the reader to  keep reading till the near end. I was disappointed in Article 5, but I happened to enjoy reading The Glass Arrow. This dystopian novel does remind me a bit of The Handmaids Tale, but the story is completely different. I did like Aya's character, I love brave, strong, yet kind heroines. Aya tried to overcome obstacles, and she never gave up once. She easily had the chance to punish those who were cruel to her, but instead she showed mercy. It made me want to scream at her for risking her life for someone who clearly did not deserve it, but it also made me admire her character.  The concept of the novel can be controversial as females are being hunted and sold to the highest bidder to create male children, however, I liked how The Glass Arrow had badass heroines and mainly imperfect men.

•  There is romance in The Glass Arrow, but is not as big as it was in Article 5. It was slow, yet the connection and chemistry built up as the plot went on. The romance does play an important part in the novel though, and the chemistry was amazing. I really liked the dystopian aspect of the novel. I cannot believe this is a standalone novel, it could have been made into an amazing series as well - but I'm glad the author managed to fit everything into one novel.

• The ending was quite epic, and it is probably one of the best endings I have read. I did feel Simmons should have added what happens to the rest of the girls though.. as in what happened to the corrupt government? How do you get rid of it now? It seemed to end on an open note, as the government is still corrupt. I did appreciate Kristen Simmons attempt with this novel, it's a read that easily engages the reader. It had my attention since the first chapter - and I couldn't wait to find what happens next.  

• Overall, The Glass Arrow is a great survival novel with adventure, romance, and action. The vivid imagery was great, I could literally imagine how the story is going forward. I liked the shocking twists, and how fast paced the novel was. I did enjoy this novel from beginning to the end, I would rate it 4 butterflies.

Recommended for fans of 1984, The Book Thief, and The Handsmaid Tale.

"Be the change that you wish to see in the world."— Mahatma Gandhi

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