Review - All That Glows by Ryan Graudin

Title: All That Glows

Author: Ryan Graudin

Series: Stand Alone

Pages: 463

Published:  February 11th 2014 by HarperTeen 

ISBN: 9780062187413

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

Description: 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. 

First Line: The sickness hits even before I hit the outskirts of London.

I Give This ...  

I really waiver back and forth on my thoughts on this one.  I found aspects of it very intriguing.  However, the delivery wasn't all there.  It seemed like a watered down version of events.

Emrys wasn't quite the fairy I thought she was going to be.  She's suppose to be the young hardcore fairy that has risen up through the ranks quickly.  I get that the technology driven world makes her ill, but she's doesn't come across that way at all.  It's not very long before she's completely head over hills for Richard.  In the process she manages to forget centuries worth of training and rules.  

I did find the world this book is set up in to be extremely interesting.  I wasn't able to identify if this was present or future England just set with the fairy world intertwined.  I really enjoyed the background on how this system was set up.  I was intrigued in how this all seem to come to the ultimate war so quickly.   It kind of felt like I was missing some sort of back story.

This had potential.  But, it felt more middle grade fiction and lacking in substance.