My Thoughts: Red Glove by Holly Black

3 yummy whoopie pies.

Cover Love:

It's alright.  I do love the colors!

Why I Wanted to Read This:

I just read and reviewed White Cat, the first book in this series.  I had to see what happened next to Cassel and Lila!  Here's the synopsis from  GoodReads:

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?

Romance?:  Some.

What I Liked:

I liked where this one picked up.  Cassel was trying to stay away from Lila and haging out with his mother, who is a truly awful person.  When he heads to school for the fall Lila is there, of course, so his plan to stay away is thwarted.  She is not a great person either though,  It's kind of refreshing to see a YA guy totally wrapped up in a YA girl who is not good for him!

His brothers were awful, awful people for what they did to Cassel his whole life.  It made him such a sympathetic character!  I wish he could have gotten over what he was tricked into doing over and over, but I understand why it was so hard for him.

I love his friends and the life he has built for himself at the school.  The bets kids place with him are hysterical!

I also love that Cassel is the most powerful worker in a few generations.  I can see why he doesn't use is often, though, the blowback sounds horrible!

To Sum Up:  I didn't run pick up Black Heart quite as quickly as I did with this one after White Cat, but I still want to finish out the series.

Book from my library.