Red Glove (The Curse Workers #2) by Holly Black

Cassel returns to his boarding school after discovering just what kind of curse work he is capable of and, after his mother works Lila, the girl he loves and consequently
can no longer have. When his brother is murdered Cassel becomes trapped between the FBI and the mob, both of whom want to use his talents for their own cause.

I have to say that Red Glove was as brilliant as White Cat, a book that I loved wholeheartedly.  Even as Cassel explains how to swindle a mark, I can't help but love him.  I feel sorry for him and I keep hoping he can just get out of this whole thing alive.  He is certainly not an innocent character but there is something about him that invites sympathy and I sincerely hope that he can get together with Lila and live a normal life.  I don't think that is possible but, you know, one can hope. 

I love the world of the curse workers that Black has built.  It is intriguing that, as one of the FBI agents says, if you know that you are a curse worker then you've already broken the law.  Because it is taboo to lay bare hands on someone else and it is illegal to work someone.  I love how just the sight of bare hands causes an extreme reaction in people.  It's almost like being naked and carrying a loaded weapon at the same time.

SPOILERS:
(highlight) ** I just wanted to say that I was kind of right about the chair.  In my review of White Cat, I questioned the chair, thinking maybe it was Cassel's dad.  I was wrong about that, but it was a person.  I feel alright about my detecting ability right now because I also was guessed it was Maura that killed her husband.**

Hogwarts: Defence Against the Dark Arts

White Cat (The Curse Workers #1) (e-book) by Holly Black

Cassel comes from a family of criminal curse workers, people who have the power to change people, change their memories, their luck, their emotion, with just one touch.  He is the one person in his family who is not a worker, but he is a great con man.  Haunted by the memory of the murder he committed, Cassel tries to become the most normal kid, but his hard work of normalcy starts to unravel the night he finds himself of the school roof lead by a dream of a white cat.

In the Sharpe family the worst thing you can do is be vulnerable in front of a mark.  And everyone who isn't us is a mark.  p.26 e-book

I'm a sucker for a good con game story.  I loved Heist Society and Ocean's 11.  Something about these especially when the main character is sympathetic makes me happy.  Cassel is an extremely sympathetic character even as he explains how to swindle or outright steal from someone.  There are some seriously horrific things going on this book though, but Cassel carries the whole book really well.  The whole idea of curse workers is an intriguing one and there are a lot of parallels that can be drawn to their situation. I liked the whole world that Black built.  It was very thorough and there were lots details that support the idea of the curse workers and their abilities and oppression as well as the fear that having people with the innate ability to change someone would bring.  The mystery was sound and I enjoyed the resolution.  Now I can't wait for Red Glove to come out and I will definitively read that one as soon as it is published.

**SPOILER section (highlight)!
Question for people who have read the book.  Do you think Cassel changed his dad into the chair that he hates but that no one in the family wants to get rid of?  I know that is a weird detail to walk away with, but I was wondering if that one of the memories that got changed.  Like if he did it on accident or if his brothers made him do it, but didn't have the heart to get rid of the dad like they should have.  Maybe that's crazy though.**

Hogwarts: Transfiguration
Colorful Reading
R.I.P.
Twentyten

Teaser Tuesdays - White Cat

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!
Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page


 

She leans up to kiss my cheek, which startles me into flinching. "Two brothers in love with the same woman never goes well.".

p.90 e-book White Cat by Holly Black