Sea Glass

For those who fell in love with Poison Study (and Yelena & Valek),the previous Storm Glass (Glass, Book 1) was a bit of disappointment. The protagonist Opal frustrated long time Poison Study fans by being a "doormat". I understand why Snyder wanted to make her new heroine different from Yelena. This is a "coming-of-age" story of a young magician. She has to be clueless and imperfect in the beginning. Having said that, it's disappointing to find out all of Opal's love interests were too immature and two-dimensional to be interesting. I still enjoyed Storm Glass because of the magical world of Sitia and Ixia. Traveling with the characters in this strange and fantastic world Snyder created was enough reason for me to read Storm Glass. In this Sea Glass (Glass book 2), Opal grew up and became tough. She started to be in charge of her own fate. She is still not Yelena and there's no male characters like Valek, but if you get used to it, you'll appreciate Sea Glass more. In Sea Glass, many problems are solved, but some remain including Opal's future romance. I am looking forward to reading the next book, since I'm addicted to the magical world Snyder created.

Sea Glass was actually my first introduction to Maria V. Snyder, whom I've heard so much about due to her popular Study series. I had the opportunity to pick this up, and as much as I don't like picking up a series in the middle, I thought I'd try it anyway -and it's amazing just how easy it was to get into despite the fact that I hadn't read the first book! In Sea Glass, glass magician apprentice Opal is called back to the Citadel, the glass magician academy, after her latest adventure. The magician Council is very weary of Opal's new ability to strip magicians of their magic, and want to place her firmly under their thumb to do their bidding. Opal journeys back to the magician's country, Sitia, because she knows that listing to the Council is her best option. However, Opal is confronted with the reality that her friend Ulrich was tricked into swapping bodies with an evil magician. After dealing with the Council and reuniting with her beloved Stormdancer boyfriend Kade, Opal sets out to rescue Ulrich. Synder's Sea Glass is a highly entertaining, fun and imaginative fantasy novel led by a great heroine that connects with readers. Snyder's world is vivid, detailed and absolutely a joy to read. I enjoyed this novel throughly, it dripped with enchantment and beauty, providing a magical experience to readers. Something about this magic even translated beyond the book's intended audience -I'm older than the intended market, but I loved this book. Something about it took me back to my childhood, got me back in touch with my imagination and reminded me of the magic of well-done fantasy -truly a magical read.

A long time fan of Maria V. Snyder's books, I noticed that some of the charm from Poison Study began to fade in the later books. Well, it's back now, and I couldn't be happier. It's wonderful to once again immerse oneself in the rich and vivid world that the author keeps expanding on. It's also great to see cameos from some old friends from previous books. I can't wait for the third one!

The entire Sitian Council and the three Master Magicians demand apprentice glass magician Opal Cowan report to the Council Hall immediately. Her friends warn her if she goes to the Citadel as ordered she will vanish for quite a long time inside the Keep's dungeons. To ignore their summons means being declared an outlaw but for now being free; to adhere to their summons means being declared an outlaw and at best be under house arrest, but more likely dungeon duty. Her new powers to take away a magician's power frightens them more than her as they are wary of anyone powerful enough to milk dry any magician. Opal chooses to travel with her exasperating prisoner Devlen and her easy to goad ally Janco to the Moon Clan's land where they hope to find Devlen's body containing Ulrick's soul so that Yelena the Soulfinder can switch them back. Opal believes she loves Ulrick and will do anything to save him though she fears Devlen is right that her beloved is addicted to the blood magic, which if true would mean she lost him. As she treks across a land in which every mage wants her for her new skill, Opal also thinks about the hunk Kade the Stormdancer who seems repelled by her. However, Opal has no time to explore her desires as her quest remains steadfast. Although it helps to have read STORM GLASS to understand how far Opal has come and the soul switching magic, SEA GLASS is a fascinating quest fantasy. The heroine makes the novel worth following as she struggles to remain resolute while seemingly every practitioner in Ixia wants a piece of her. Fans will enjoy Opal's second gem of an adventure as she tries to rescue her beloved, but must at the same time either drain or elude a horde of mages. Maria V. Snyder affirms with the Glass series what the Study trilogy proclaimed that she is a super fantasist. Harriet Klausner

Sea Glass by Maria Snyder Fantasy- Sept 1st, 2009 5 stars Sea Glass is another magical triumph by the amazing talented Maria Snyder. Her books have the ability to transport me into a world that seems both magical and familiar. Her finely crafted novels pull me into her story and I feel as if I am one of her characters! In Sea Glass, Maria Snyder begins the 2nd installment of her Glass series involving the student magician Opal. What I found so exciting about this story was how the author seamlessly builds tension and thrilled me as the stakes in Opal's life change dramatically. Opal is a magical apprentice who has already gained fame when she helped save her country of Sitia. But as a result she has discovered deadly powers including one that allows her to drain the magic from another magician. Now she is being commanded by the Council to return under their custody. Opal is willing to turn herself in because she understands that people are afraid of her powers but she also realizes that once she does her skills maybe manipulated or used against her. Either way she knows the Council plans to keep close tabs on her and any independence will be cut severely short. To trouble her further, she has discovered that her friend Ulrick was tricked/forced to swap bodies with an evil blood magician, named Devlen Devlen tortured and manipulated Opal and she fears the destruction he will cause in his current disguise as Ulrick. Unfortunately, no one believes her claims. To prove the truth, Opal is determined to find and rescue Ulrick and prove to the Council and her friends that the impossible is possible before disaster strikes. I highly recommend this extraordinary fantasy. The boundless exuberance of characters like Leif and Janco and the suspenseful storyline will keep you at the edge of your seat! Opal and Janco's adventures as they try to find the real Ulrick, were well worth the price of the book. I love Maria Snyder's endearing characters, their bonding and lighthearted banter made this story a fun filled quest. But Maria Snyder also brings a darker more sinister side to her story that brims with incredible tension. Opal's admirable force of will and core of decency as she combats seemingly insurmountable obstacles are truly enthralling to read. As Opal tries to prove the truth of Ulrick's true identity she is tested by difficult circumstances. She no longer knows who are her real allies and friends. This adversity transforms Opal into a newer, tougher and more cynical heroine who still manages to keep a good heart. I was captivated by the difficult struggles and sacrifices she had to make to find the truth. And Opal gets much more than she bargained. This story does resolve the mystery behind Devlen and Ulrick but ends with surprises and changes for Opal that can only lead to a more turbulent and exciting 3rd book. Even though Opal faces an uncertain future, I was happy Opal had friends and family to support her. T