Most Recent Read: Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder

Description

STORM GLASS (GLASS BOOK 1): As a glassmaker and a magician-in-training, Opal Cowen 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 into 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 never knew she possessed...powers that might lead to disaster beyond anything she’s ever known. Read an Excerpt from STORM GLASS. April 28, 2009 from MIRA Books! (Trade Paperback $13.95 MIRA Books 2009 ISBN 978-0-7783-2564-2)

My Review:

For those who haven't read Maria Snyder's previous books, (Poison Study, Magic Study, Fire Study), I would recommend tackling that series first for a thorough introduction to characters and themes in this book. Snyder throws a whole slew of characters at the reader with little introduction and virtually no back story for any of them, not even the protagonist Opal. Although the main character's history is eventually flushed out, the rest of the support cast, heroes and villains, remain unknown entities and the bad guys are especially one-dimensional. This highlights the biggest problem for this book. There is too much 'adventuring' and too little character development. The quick paced adventure overlapping into another adventure leaves little room for the reader to create an emotional connection with Opal.

Snyder's attempt to create unique female characters seems to depend upon throwing the women into dangerous, derogatory and violent situations in which the characters are abused. The goal of which is for the women to recognize their strength and fight their way out. For Opal, the abuse which lurks fuzzily in her past returns to present her with her biggest obstacle. Great plot device for creating character development. Yet the actions presented in the novel make me question Opal's sanity. If she has such horrible emotional and psychological scars why would she be willing to open herself up to a romantic relationship with anyone? Much less a physical relationship which seems completely unlikely. It is obvious throughout the novel that Opal has deep emotional scars resulting from past events that should be so damaging that she would never want to let another person near her ever again. Yet Snyder has her interested in, and even coupling with one of two romantic interests.

As a pretty standard coming of age story, many of the plot elements are predictable making the read somewhat thoughtless. Opal must challenge herself and look outside of her comfort zones in order to learn more about what it means to become a woman. In the end the book was enjoyable enough, even with the lack of character developement, obvious plot points and overly adventurous setting. I would recommend this book if you have some free time and don't mind wasting it on a book of fluff.