Product Description

Untrained. Untested. Unleashed. With her unique magical abilities, Opal has always felt unsure of her place at Sitia's magic academy. But when the Stormdancer clan needs help, Opal's knowledge makes her the perfect choice - until the mission goes awry. Pulling her powers in unfamiliar directions, Opal finds herself tapping into a new kind of magic as stunningly potent as it is frightening. Now Opal must deal with plotters out to destroy the Stormdancer clan, as well as a traitor in their midst. With danger and deception rising around her, will Opal's untested abilities destroy her - or save them all?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #589 in Books
• Published on: 2009-07-17
• Binding: Paperback
• 512 pages

Review
'Storm Glass is accesible, unusual and most of all fun. If you're looking for a quick, entertaining summer read, you couldn't do much better.' --Deathray

'A novel of love, struggle, storms and magic and thoroughly enjoyable.' --lovereading.co.uk

'There is a lovely light touch to this series reminiscent of early Anne McCaffrey, so it s gratifying to see that Snyder has managed to deliver the old one-two fantasy-literature punch.' --Rhianna Pratchett, SFX, on Magic Study

About the Author
Maria V. Snyder has been writing since 1995 and has published numerous articles in magazines and newspapers. She lives with her family in Pennsylvania.

Customer Reviews

not as good as expected
I have read the author's previous trilogy and loved poison study and magic study, I thought that the last one 'fire study' was the weakest book of the three. This new book is largely based on events from that book and therefore appeared to be a re-hash of that plot. The main character has no real appeal and her potential suitors are the same, quite dull. If you didn't enjoy 'Fire Study' you won't enjoy this book either.

Fabulous!!!
This book is superb and heralds a great series to come. This is the first book in a new series by Maria, it does have links to the another series written by Maria (Poison study, Magic study, Fire study), however you don't have to have read them as everything is explained.The blurb reads:

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 Stromdancers- particularly the mysterious and mercurial Kade- require
Opal's unqiue 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 hadn't known she possed... powers that might lead to disaster beyond anything she has ever known.

This is a wonderful book that I would re-read many times over.

Mixed Feelings...
I greatly enjoyed Maria Snyder's Poison Study trilogy; it had it's weaknesses but had an enthusiasm that swept you along in its wake.

Storm Glass is based around the kidnapping and torture victim from the last of that trilogy. She has recovered remarkably well from her ordeal (most real life victims are changed by their experiences). However, she is now studying magic, and showing little sign of any abilities apart from those associated with her glass blowing. On the one hand she is making her glass communication devices for the Master Magicians, and on the other she is being bullied at the academy.

Opal is sent on a mission to the Stormdancers, to discover why their glass orbs are failing and killing Stormdancers, and threatening that the storms of the area will break free. She succeeds, but along the way picks up yet another blood magician, escaped from the wrapping up of Fire Study. Once again she is captive and tortured. Throw in a jealous bully from the academy, a petulant storm dancer, new magic glass abilities, and a stolid suitor, and stir the mix.

I didn't find this anywhere near as compelling as the first trilogy; the main character is uninteresting and unconvincing, and her suitors shallow. I'm not sure that I'll read the rest when they come out.