Holly Black

The cons get twistier and the stakes get higher in Red Glove, the sequel to White Cat.

Red Glove

Monicap

love, love, love, LOVE this book! I love Cassel and his world and everything that happens, especially his relationship with Lila. 
of course, other things happen in this book besides Lila-drama (but worry not, there is much of that). first off, his brother Philip dies. or get's murdered, more accurately. And, in hindsight, it's pretty obvious who did, but I didn't figure out. Actually, Cassel figured it out, but then DIDN'T tell me for, like, THREE CHAPTERS. made me mad. but he was a good guy, did a good thing.
we learn something about Daneca we didn't know before, and that I also did not see coming. there's some drama between Daneca and Sam. 
there's this bit at the end where I went "No! No Cassel, don't!" but he did, and then it went wrong, and then there was some more Lila-drama.
gotta go and read book three.

Sarah Sammis

The day I finished listening to White Cat I picked up the sequel, Red Glove by Holly Black. I would love to go back and re-read it as an audio, performed again by Jesse Eisenberg. That says two things about the series: Holly Black writes awesome paranormal organized crime thrillers and Jesse Eisenberg is perfect casting for Cassel Sharp.

The second book opens in Atlantic City with Cassel being tugged along by his grifter mother to work some cons. They've spent the summer going from hotel to hotel conning as many wealthy men as they can before wearing out their welcome. Just as things are getting dicey, school starts for Cassel.

Along with school, though, Cassel has some new problems to contend with. First, one of his brothers has been murdered. Second the FBI have taken a fancy to him as a person of interest in a number of missing person cases. Cassel doesn't remember taking part but he also knows his memory has been worked. As with the last book, Cassel needs to find the right balance between school, family, the Zacharov family, his own cons and, now, the FBI.

Black goes into greater detail with the political upheaval over the proposed testing of curse workers. With Cassel having lived both as a curse worker and as a non-worker, he's able to walk an ambivalent line, playing a devils advocate to the debate. He well knows that every bare hand can be a potential weapon.

There are some graphic descriptions of the effects of curse working and blow back. There was some of that in White Cat but in Red Glove I found them more visceral. I don't know if that's an affect of listening versus reading or not.

As I don't want to spoil anything for either book, let me close by saying I'm eagerly awaiting the third book, Black Heart (2012).

Vicky  Nuñez 

Having just finish reading this book, I am a mess. And to think I must wait a whole year for it's sequel, a WHOLE year. Oh Ms. Black, you are evil!

I really LOVED White Cat, but I LOVED Red Glove even more(as unbelievable as it sounds). 

Oh btw, this has spoilers of the first book. 

The story pretty much starts where it left off, Cassel with his two screw up brothers & mom, & Lila worked into loving him.

Unlike some sequels, Red Glove doesn't hesitate into reintroducing us into the crazy con world. From the start I found myself wanting to know more & reconnect with the story. 

We see Cassel struggling because of his mom's curse toward Lila, the recent death of his brother & new mysteries. 

The story goes smoothly & in no moment I had any trouble identifying with the characters. Although Cassel is a guy, we can easily relate to his struggles & sympathize with him. Sometimes his family relationship seem a bit far-fetched, but when you think about the ambient they grew up in, it's perfectly understandable. 

Overall, Red Glove keeps you on your toes the whole time. It is a magical tale of crime & romance. 

If I have an issue, is the long wait, a YEAR!

I wish I had more words to relate how amazing this book truly is. But if you don't believe or have doubts, read the book & find out for yourself!

jacque

I loved that this book went more in depth into the politics of the world! And how we learned so much more about the magic. And I love how morally gray Cassel is! I feel like most books don’t have truly gray characters as the protagonist!

Sheila

Okay, this series is getting pretty fantastic. I'm especially loving how Cassel's emotional turmoil isn't shallow or whiny, but does a good job of showing just how justifiably hard it is for Cassel to cope with his situation. Liked the additional development of Sam & Daneca as his actual! real! friends! without being perfect & full of rainbows (because, let's be real, teenage friendships never are irl). The mystery itself was well done, even though I figured it out pretty quickly. And LILA! She got a major short stick in this book but I still loved her so <3

When federal agents learn that seventeen-year-old Cassel Sharpe, a powerful transformation worker, may be of use to them, they offer him a deal to join them rather than the mobsters for whom his brothers work.

laura

Red Glove by Holly Black: Spoiler Review: This was the second book in the curse worker series and I loved it so much. It was a great follow up to white cat. The book started off with unexpected murder and that really propel the book forward. I liked the relationship between Cassel and Lila during this book it really made the ending so much more interesting to me. I almost made me forget that in the first book I really did not like her character and towards the end of this book I remembered why. 
 
I did like how so many people wanted to get their hands on Cassel for different means and how he still is not sure what he wants due to the fact that he was basically a killer for so long but it was not of his choosing. I also liked seeing the development of Barron and Cassel relationship and am excited to see what happens in the final book in this series.
 
I have said before that I loved this world and that was even more increased in this book when the FEDS got involved and added another layer to the people that want Cassel for various reasons. I am excited to see where the FEDS storyline goes and what will happen in the final book.
 
I thought the twist with Sam girlfriend was so clever and I want to know more about her past and history and if Sam will be able to understand why she had to keep her secret. The one down side to this book was not enough Grandpa and I really hope we get more of him in the final book of the series.
 
Lastly I thought the person the killed the character was so interesting and the ending was not one I predicted and am excited to see what the fallout will be in the last book.
 
I really loved this book and am excited to complete the series soon! What were your thoughts on the book! Let me know in the comments of check out my video and leave one there!Happy Reading!
http://youtu.be/wO4qM0YdHck

Such a good book! Such a good second book in the series. I am growing to love cassel even more and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book. The ending is going to make that book so inteasting. I like both the world building and magic building in this world. I also liked both the murder and who killed that character it surprised me. So good!

Abby N. Lewis

I absolutely loved this book! I read the whole thing in less than a day, which I rarely have time to do now a days.

The mixture of humor and suspense and action and romance and mystery in this book all add up to a fast paced novel that you just cannot bear to put down for even a minute.

This is an absolutely must read for everyone of all ages, but first, read the first book in the series.

Nikki Sojkowski

Throughout the whole book I was completely captivated. What would happen next? Lila was worked, Phillip was murdered, the Fed's want Cassel! This book was a total page-turner and I absolutely loved it! So why does it only get four stars? Because of Lila and Cassel's relationship, by the last page I felt empty inside. (view spoiler)[ Lila is mobster royalty and Cassel works for the Fed's now. Lila hates him. There is nothing he could ever say to fix their relationship and they both know it. The books ends and it's over!  (hide spoiler)] I thought the plot of the story was very interesting with no boring slow parts. In the beginning, Phillip is murdered and the Fed's have footage of a mysterious woman with red gloves. Who is this woman and what reason did she have for killing Cassel's older brother? Personal reasons? Or maybe a hired killer? The Fed's want Cassel to solve a bunch of murders all while Cassel has to deal with the Zacharov's, family issues, school, friends, HEX, and of course destroying the evidence all while trying to uncover his past that Barron made him forget. There was action, romance, and a touch of hilarity that never seems to leave Cassel's side. That, along with his 2 trusty friends, made this book a must-read for any book lover!

Chelsea Breher

This series continues to catch my attention, still not a favourite of mine but I am currently enjoying it. The twists and turns it takes allow it to continue to captivate me.

Elettra Macri

Minnie Mazuera

jenna

Elizabeth Nolan

Cindy

Jeff James

Ashley Janssen

Stefanie  Uwah

hannah

Elisa Bieg

Latitude Tamarind

Maggie Gordon

The cons get twistier and the stakes get higher in this second book of The Curse Workers trilogy: “a sleek and stylish blend of urban fantasy and crime noir” (Booklist). 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. After rescuing his brothers from Zacharov’s retribution and finding out that Lila will never be his, Cassel is trying to reestablish some kind of normalcy in his life. That was never going to be easy for someone from a worker family tied to one of the big crime families, and a mother whose cons get more reckless by the day. But Cassel is also coming to terms with what it means to be a transformation worker and figuring out how to have friends. But normal doesn’t last very long—soon Cassel is being courted by both sides of the law and is forced to confront his past. A past he remembers only in scattered fragments and one that could destroy his family and his future. Cassel will have to decide whose side he wants to be on because neutrality is not an option. And then he will have to pull off his biggest con ever to survive. Love is a curse and the con is the only answer in a game too dangerous to lose.

Red Glove

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