Series: Glass Series

Review: Storm Glass by Maria. V. Snyder

Item: Storm Glass
Rating: 4
Author: Holly

Posted May 6, 2009 by Holly in Reviews | 11 Comments

Reviewer: Holly
Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder
Series: Glass Series #1
Publisher: MIRA
Publication Date: July 30th 2013
Genres: Fiction, Fantasy
Pages: 432
Add It: Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books

Series Rating:

Award-winning author
Maria V. Snyder
brings readers into a world of molten magic, where storms can be captured within a glass orb and a magician's powers can remain hidden…until challenged by enemy forces.
As a glassmaker and a magician-in-training, Opal Cowan understands trial by fire. Someone has sabotaged the Stormdancer clan's glass orbs, killing their most powerful magicians. The Stormdancers—particularly the mysterious and mercurial Kade—require Opal's unique talents to prevent it from happening again. But when the mission goes awry, Opal must tap into a new kind of magic. Yet the further she delves into the intrigue behind the glass and magic, the more distorted things appear. With lives hanging in the balance—including her own—Opal must control her powers…powers that could lead to disaster beyond anything she's ever known.
www.mariavsnyder.com

Storm Glass is book one in Maria V. Snyder‘s new Glass series, a spin off of her wildly popular Study series. This book is narrated by Opal Cowan, who we met for the first time in Magic Study (Study series, book 2). I don’t believe this book can be read as a standalone. Too many things that happened in the previous trilogy are alluded to. Readers who are new to this series should begin here at their own peril.

This novel features one adventure after another. Opal is first told she’ll be traveling with 4th Magician Zitora to help the Stormdancers because the orbs they store energy they harness from storms are breaking and killing them off. They need her to help them figure out what the problem with their glass orbs are. From there she’s lead on many other adventures.

Opal was an interesting character. In the beginning of the novel she seriously lacks self-confidence and has very low self-esteem. Because of things that happened in her past, this is somewhat understandable, but I think it went a little far. By the end of the novel she was showing signs of improving, but I feel she has a long way to go still. Especially after events the events that transpired here. I wonder if she’ll backslide?

Unlike in the Study series, the romance in this book is much more prominent. It’s obvious right from the beginning that Opal feels an attraction to Kade and her budding romance with Ulrick is at the forefront of the story. I really enjoyed Kade’s character and hope we find out more about him as the trilogy progresses. Ulrick I’m reserving judgment on for now.

View Spoiler »

The story is fast-paced and action packed, but at times I felt like things were moving so quickly we missed some of the character development. I am willing to look past though, however, because the series will be continuing. One of the characters I’m most interested in learning more about is Devlin. I hope once you read this (if you haven’t already) you’ll come back and tell me your feelings on him. There are definitely some shades of gray to his character.

I think the world-building was rich and colorful in this novel, and it was easy to get wrapped up in the characters and the world they live in. Despite the few issues I had, I couldn’t put this down and look forward to the next installment (Sea Glass, September, 2009).

4.25 out of 5