Snyder, Maria V.: Sea Glass
Sea Glass (2009)
Written by: Maria V. Snyder
Genre: Romantic Fantasy
Pages: 379 (Trade Paperback)
At this point, Maria V. Snyder's work needs no introduction. She was a classmate of mine, and I've read every novel she's published, so of COURSE I'm going to read her latest the second it comes out. If you're like me, you will too.
The premise: Terrified of her new abilities and what the Council will do to her when she goes home, Opal seeks out to right Devlin's wrongs and find a way to put his and Ulrick's souls in their proper bodies. But things go haywire faster than she anticipated, and Opal soon finds herself under house arrest with no one who'll believe her story. She has no proof for what happened, and it's all she can do to pretend everything is all right. With few, if any, allies, Opal's got to find the truth no matter what it costs.
Review style: Stream-of-conscious variety this time. With Storm Glass, I felt the need to break down the book component by component, but not so much here. Expect spoilers.
I'm still not able to pinpoint what is so different about this particular book. I've read every Snyder book since her debut of Poison Study, and while I've enjoyed them all, I feel like Sea Glass is one of the better titles SINCE Poison Study. I think part of it has to do with this book is a little more compact and focused than the previous books--it's around 100 pages shorter than Storm Glass. I may not have known what was going to happen as the book progressed, but it felt tighter and more focused. Which, for me, is always a good thing.
Also a good thing is watching Opal evolve and change during the course of the novel. She's been through hell and nobody believes her when she tells them Devlin traded souls with Ulrick. Further confusing her is how Devlin, who she knows to be a villain, is actually not acting like a villain at all. He tells her the truth (so he says) of what happened and why, and tells her he's happy to be free from magic (that she took from him). His character development is also fascinating, and it was in the previous book too. I'm really looking forward to seeing what comes of his arc in the next installment, and I suspect that he might end up dying for her. I could be wrong.
But back to Opal: Snyder does a good job getting into Opal's head and allowing Opal to be bitchy and direct without being unsympathetic. Because the reader, like Opal, is at a loss of what's really going on and why no one believes her, and the reader, like Opal, firmly believes something fishy is really going on. I liked the twist with the Councilor. I knew something was up but couldn't place my finger on what, and that was a nice repeat usage of magic. And what I liked the best in this book was the fact that Opal sacrificed so much to save Zitora. Losing her magic, becoming supposedly immune, is an excellent development and really makes me wonder where the third book will go. If Opal can't make the magic glass, who will (Helen, perhaps)? And if Opal isn't magic, what is her role in this world?
One thing that leaves me unsettled, though I like them together, is Opal's relationship with Kade. There's a lot of competition for their affections--Helen with Kade and Devlin with Opal, and I'm curious to see what becomes of it. Unlike the love triangle in the Study books, this one feels more realistic, and I'm honestly not certain who Opal WILL end up with. It's more subtle, more developed, and while I don't really believe Helen is a threat to Opal for Kade's affection, I do believe Devlin is a threat to Kade for Opal's affections in an odd twisted way. We'll see. Snyder's crafting this well so far, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out.
And really, that's all I've got to say. This book just struck the right balance this time, and I can find anything that urks me, save for the VERY beginning, when we're tossed in and left to swim until the story gets going. Oh, and I thought the title, while metaphorically right on, didn't quite fit in literally, considering how little a role the actual sea glass played in the book. I suspect something more is going to come out of that in the third book.
Other than that, I'm a happy reader.
My Rating
Must Have: which is a big fat duh if you're already a Maria Snyder fan. Her style is light and smooth and easy to read, and the "modernisms" aren't quite as prominent this time around (in Storm Glass, I found them jarring). If you haven't read her work, however, I suggest starting with either the first book in this trilogy, which is Storm Glass, or--because Storm Glass spoils the events that happen in the Study trilogy--go back to the beginning with Poison Study. There's a part of me that still feels like this is the fifth book of a series instead of the second book in a second trilogy, but I've been told by readers who HAVEN'T read the Study series that they had no trouble with Storm Glass. So, if you're new to Snyder's work: Poison Study or Storm Glass. Take your pick. :)
Those of you who are familiar with Snyder's work and are caught up with the series so far will definitely enjoy this one. I read it in less than a day, and I was really, really pleased with the character development and the choices Opal had to make by the end. ONE IMPORTANT THING: the book LIES when it tells you the next installment comes out in 2011. Snyder's website corrects this and says the next book, Spy Glass, will be out in 2010. Fall 2010? I'm not sure, but I'm very much looking forward to it.
Cover Commentary: as always, Snyder has the cover art gods on her side. It's a gorgeous cover, and I love the coloring as well as the pose--there's something rather evocative about the showing of hands, as hands are always offering something to the viewer. Just look at Stephenie Meyer's Twilight with the offering of the apple and Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely with the frosted flowers. Here, we have glass starfish glowing inside. Quite pretty, if I do say so myself.
Next up: Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey
DON'T FORGET: September's book challenge is Emma Bull's War for the Oaks. Details are here.