BOOK REVIEW: STORM GLASS by MARIA V SNYDER

Title:   STORM GLASS (Glass #1)
Author:  MARIA V SNYDER
Publisher:  Mira
Published: April 2009

RATING:  4 Devilish Devlen Stars!!

Description:

As a glassmaker and a magician-in-training, Opal Cowan understands trial by fire. Now it's time to test her mettle. 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 happening again. But when the mission goes awry, Opal must tap in to a new kind of magic as stunningly potent as it is frightening. And 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 powers she hadn't known she possessed…powers that might lead to disaster beyond anything she's ever known.

REVIEW:

Opal Cowan.....could there be any other with such bad luck for disaster??? Danger, evil and disaster follow her everywhere....not to mention an amazing level of self-pity harboured by our lead character!!  Or should that be huge chip on the shoulder?  Either way, it all adds up to make Storm Glass a very entertaining read.  

So yes, we have some action, adventure, danger and of course a love triangle.  Though as per her life....will Opal choose the easy option of Ulrick - One Trick Wonder .....or fight against her inner doubt machine and explore the mysterious option of Kade - Stormdancer!

Kade comes with his own demons and needs to deal with them before he will let another love into his life. He is still learning to cope with the loss of his very close sister Kaya - a fellow Stormdancer. 

Ulrick......didn't like him when first introduced....didn't like when he got to the Keep.....don't like him at the end of the book!  There's just something a little spineless and almost creepy about Ulrick.  Without pin pointing one single item about him, he just didn't get me excited at the prospect of him being Opals choice in love - it would just be settling for what she had in front of her.

Devlen.....he's so bad and mean and nasty and yet there's something that just screams out "I have a conscience and my actions really do bother me!!"  He is very skilled in the art of pressure points....not that you would want him near you with how he uses that skill.  He can twist every situation to suit himself and make those around him look guilty.  He's also a Daviian Warper delving in Blood Magic and this means only a greater amount of disaster for poor dear Opal!  Can Devlen make up the fourth corner and give us a love square???

The world of glass making in this story is wonderful.  A time when magic and glass combine to create the equivalent to a mobile phone, albeit in the shape of animal!  Our modern technology was woven into a medieval time and I found this quite enjoyable. 

I did find myself rather frustrated with Opal as the lead - so much potential but a darn good shake up to strengthen her own self worth.  Maybe she will listen to Kade and be strong!  Regardless to the frustration I enjoyed Storm Glass and have gone on to it's sequel Sea Glass - thankfully no waiting involved!! 

ENJOY!

MARISSA