The Skyscraper Throne reread- Chapters 1 to 4

Apologies for lateness of the post! I'm not sure if you noticed, but I really like Tom Pollock's The Skyscraper Throne series, and I'm hugley excited for Our Lady of the Streets. To lead up to its release in August, Jo Fletcher has been holding a reread of the books, with and we're now at the start of The Glass Republic. This summary will have spoilers for The City's Son, but I'll try and keep them to a minimum.

Chapter 1

Pen's back at school,following her being held captive by Reach, explaining her scars to her new “friends”. They don't believe her, even when she tells the truth. Who would? Still, their disbelief and promise that they will find out what happened don't matter for the time being, as it's off to go see Parva. I started off by thinking more Pen! Heck yes! I loved her in The City's Son. It's great to see she's the focus of The Glass Republic. I really like the idea of another version of Pen, and the added intrigue of the mirror world, which we were kind of introduced to in The City's  Son, but it seems like it'll be a bit more involved in this one.

Chapter 2

This quickly looks back to Pen was first adjusting to her scars. It shows the awkwardness you get when you don’t fit in, and with her scars and the fact that for the first week, she really doesn’t fit in as she chooses not to wear makeup. There’s also lots of bad flashbacks for Pen, for abuse from both Reach and Dr Salt. I loved seeing how she reacts to everything, with her religion and her choice to work to become physically strong. It’s these little things away from the big fantastical elements that really build up her character.          

Chapter 3

This is a more happy chapter, in which Pen and Parva talk, and dance, and have fun.  It’s a lot of fun, and sets Parva up as a totally different character to Pen, despite the physical similarities and them both being equally awesome. I definitely wanted to know more about Parva, how Pen and Parva came to be different, and life in the London-under-glass that we were briefly introduced to in The City’s Son.

Chapter 4

Longer chapter, back to Beth for the time being. I’m glad she isn’t forgotten about, even though the focus has changed. She’s exploring the city, and finds a sewermandar. And names him Oscar. And has a text conversation with Pen that shows the friendship between Beth and Pen really well, and  gives way to one of my favourite lines from this book: “I only went and got a bloody dragon!” This chapter brings out one of my favourite things about Tom’s writing and this world, the fantasy and imagination and description that creates such a beautiful new  world for the story to happen. This chapter then sets up some more of the plot: Pen asks if there’s a way to go behind the mirrors. Beth’s not sure. Beth leaves, a little awkwardness in the air, and sees Pen dancing with someone who isn’t there.  

What did you think of this? Leave comments here or at the Jo Fletcher blog, or use the hashtag of  #SkyscraperThroneReread .

Tom can be found at his website, twitter and goodreads.

My review of The City’s Son can be found here and my review of The Glass Republic can be found here.
You can get copies of The City's Son and The Glass Republic from amazon by clicking the links. 

Don't forget to go to Utter Biblio to follow chapters 5-8 of The Glass Republic!

Book Review-The Glass Republic by Tom Pollock

Title: The Glass Republic

 Author:  Tom Pollock

Series:   Skyscraper Throne #2

Published: August 2013 by Jo Fletcher 

Length: 464 pages

Source: publishing

Other info: The City's Son, book one, is awesome. Book three should come some day. 

Summary :  Pen’s life is all about secrets: the secret of the city’s spirits, deities and monsters her best friend Beth discovered, living just beyond the notice of modern Londoners; the secret of how she got the intricate scars that disfigure her so cruelly – and the most closely guarded secret of all: Parva, her mirror-sister, forged from her reflections in a school bathroom mirror. Pen’s reflected twin is the only girl who really understands her.

Then Parva is abducted and Pen makes a terrible bargain for the means to track her down. In London-Under-Glass looks are currency, and Pen’s scars make her a rare and valuable commodity. But some in the reflected city will do anything to keep Pen from the secret of what happened to the sister who shared her face.

Review: After the events of The City's Son, Pen has been left with scars over  face, and with Parva, her  sister of a kind-a double in London Under-Glass, the reflection of the city  found in the mirrors. Pen's been trying to get back to normalcy, but one day, Parva isn't in the mirror. What is in the mirror is blood. After making a deal with the Chemical Synod, Pen travels through London Under-Glass, passing as

her mirror sister, a countess and the Face of the Looking Glass Lottery,  and gets pulled into the world where people are stripped of their faces, where people go missing, and a group called the Faceless are on the streets.

I finished The City's Son and knew I had to read this as soon as I could. Because reasons.

Pen is an awesome character. I liked her in The City's Son, and I'm really glad we get a whole book for her.  She could choose to carry on with her life of relative normalcy, but instead goes back. She then pays a huge price for passage to London Under-Glass, adapts quickly, and is clever and quick in certain situations. Espel, the girl who Pen saves and puts on staff, is a whole load of surprises, especially around the 200 page mark. The  romance is nice.  There's repeat appearances from Beth and the Chemical Synod and some other familiar faces from The City's Son. It kept things going and set up for book 3, but I like that the main focus is Pen in London Under-Glass.

I know Tom has received a few very ignorant comments from people. Pen is Muslim,  and it's a sad thing that there isn't more Muslim main characters  in literature in general  (or any religion that isn't Christian/fantasy religion-says a lot about diversity). 

I really like the comments on beauty in society. In this world, Pen is attacked violently for not telling how she got her scars (people from her school burn her headscarf), and she acknowledges that she isn't the most desirable due to them. In London Under-Glass, asymmetry (in a world where the standard is being only one half of you is actually you, the other half is a symmetrical copy) is desirable, valuable, and Pen is loved for them. Also,  props to the US team who showed Pen's scars on the cover.  Ok, that last paragraph wasn't particularly on topic about how The Glass Republic comments on beauty in society. But it did, subtly. Just read it.

Once again, it is wonderfully unique. London Under-Glass has a different flavour to our fantasy filled London. There's a bit of possible squick with the people without faces and with the excitations, but it's morbidly fascinating to imagine.

Guys. Guys. Guys. The ending. And the title for book 3. I CANNOT WAIT PLEASE TIME TRAVEL BE INVENTED BOOK THREE NEEDS TO COME NOW.

On a final note, I want a sewermander. Dragon that manipulates gas. Made of fire. Oscar is awesome.

Overall:  Strength 4.5, very slightly more a 4, to a great continuation to a unique series.

Links: Amazon | Goodreads | Author website |

Top Ten Books I Want of 2013

Yeah...I was going to publish this next Wednesday, but everyone else was doing it today. So...Extended Waiting on... Saturday! Possibly featuring past WoW picks, because I want to feature them again. Links lead to Goodreads!



Title: The Glass Republic
Author: Tom Pollock
Release Date: 1 August
Why I want it: I loved the London that Tom created and just can't wait to go back to it.

Title: Level 2
Author: Lenore Appelhans
Release Date: 15 January
Why I want it: Cool concept and refreshing take on the afterlife.


Title: The Program
Author: Suzanne Young
Release Date: 30 April
Why I want it: It's an interesting concept and the topic interests me.


Title: Inferno
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Release Date: 19 March
Why I want it: I've stuck with Nick throughout his series and the majority of the Dark Hunter one. And it was an epic cliffhanger for Infamous. The title suggests that hell's breaking loose.

Title: Etiquette and Espionage
Author: Gail Carriger
Release Date: 5 February
Why I want it: If it contains anywhere near the amount of sly witty humour and fun as the last two books in the Parasol Protectorate series, it would be amazing.

Title: Clockwork Princess
Author: Cassandra Clare
Release Date: 19 March
Why I want it: Steampunk fantasy/paranormal  with generally awesome characters.  And pretty cover!

Title: Scarlet
Author: Marissa Meyer
Release Date: 5 February
Why I want it:  I love fairy tales. I love steampunk. The first in the series was awesome. Yay.

Title: Call of the Jersey Devil
Author: Aurelio Voltaire
Release Date: 28 May
Why I want it: I love Voltaire's music. The concept of this (New Jersey is the gateway to hell) is highly amusing, even if you don't live there, and I'm generally guessing this'll be facepalmingly funny.

Title: Valkyrie
Author: Kate O Hearn
Release Date: 2 May
Why I want it: I've been telling myself for a long time I'll read some more Norse myths. This isn't exactly one, but it has elements and mythology fiction, I tend to enjoy anyway.

Title: Undone
Author: Cat Clarke
Release Date: 31 January
Why I want it: I loved Cat's other books-and talk from friends has said it's even better. Not sure if this is possible. Must check it out.




Seriously, there's more than ten books I really want coming out in 2013. I really cannot list them all. They'll feature in upcoming WoWs (as long as I remember to do them!). In the meantime though.... *eyes up huge box of books to read*