Review: All That Glows by Ryan Graudin

Title: All That Glows by Ryan Graudin

Published by: HarperTeen

Release date: February 11^th, 2014

Source: ARC

Format: eBook

Genre: Paranormal | Fairies | Romance

Age group: Young adult

Grade rate: C+

Emrys—a fiery, red-headed Fae—always embraced her life in the Highlands, far from the city’s draining technology, until she’s sent to London to rejoin the Faery Guard. But this isn’t any normal assignment—she’s sent to guard Prince Richard: Britain’s notorious, partying bad boy and soon-to-be King. The prince’s careless ways and royal blood make him the irresistible for the dark spirits that feed on mortals. Sweet, disheveled, and alive with adventure—Richard is one charge who will put Emrys’s magic and heart to the test.When an ancient force begins preying on the monarchy, Emrys must hunt through the London’s magical underworld, facing down Banshees, Black Dogs and Green Women to find the one who threatens Richard’s life. In this chaos of dark magic, palace murders and paparazzi, Emrys finds herself facing an impossible choice. For despite all her powers, Emrys has discovered a force that burns brighter than magic: love.

My Review

What enticed me to read All That Glows is its beautiful cover and that it is a book about fairies.  I’m a sucker for both pretty covers and fairy books. 

This is a story about fairies and other things that go bump in the night that takes place in contemporary England.  It explores how modern technology has made the fairies weaker and older fairies cannot come near the city of London.  How these magical beings manage the sickness that drains them.  The guard is tasked with protecting the monarchs since the time of Arthur Pendragon; an invisible safeguard to maintain the blood magic alive.

We get to understand Emrys a lot more than Richard probably because she is our narrator.  Emrys (beautiful name, right?) is brave, loving, loyal, strong, powerful, and of course, gorgeous.  She is really old (although she looks 17, of course), and has seen a lot, she’s jaded about a lot of things, until she sees Richard.  There is a special and inexplicable connection between the two.

Richard is the prince of England, handsome, spoiled and full of vices and irresponsibility.  Emrys brings out the best of him and gives him strength to face a world that he didn’t know anything about.  Sometimes the relationship between Emrys and Richard felt too dependent on each other. I know if sound very romantic, but to me it sounds unhealthy. 

The world building was not extensive and the background information given was necessary and adequate.  The writing is easy to read and lovely, but it was full of metaphors and similes, which I found sometimes unnecessary.  The plot is simple, but I have to say that I did NOT guessed who was the “Old One” that was causing all the havoc.  I always love stories where the couple is sort of pre-destined to be together, when they have a deeper connection or prior forgotten past and I love that aspect of the story.  However, I felt like at the ending all the loose ends where tied too neatly; there seemed to be an explanation (and solution) for everything.  Is not that I was expecting an unhappy ending precisely, but that the ending felt rushed and it was disappointing and poorly executed. 

At the end All That Glows is a romantic, light read that was quite enjoyable. 

Some quotes for you:

“I blink, allowing the word to simmer for a moment. Love. A word for Fae never even think to utter.  There was duty, magic, power, honor – but never love. That was for humans, to fill the gaps in their lives. To make the shortness of their years bearable.”

“You’d be dashing no matter what you wore.”

“You think so?”

“Stop fishing for compliments. You know you’re sickeningly handsome.” I mean for these words to be teasing, but they betray me. Come out earnest.

“So you’re saying I make you sick?”

“Yes, Embers. You are my yes. You’re the one I’ll love until the day I die.”

About the cover: As you can tell from the first sentence of my review, the cover is gorgeous! Its airy, whimsical and the font is so pretty. 

Have you read this one?  Do you like books about fairies? Do you like couples that are pre-destined to be together?  Do you like the cover?