Book Review: Spy Glass by Maria V. Snyder

Spy Glass (Glass #3)

Maria V. Snyder

Review of Sea Glass (Glass #2)

Publication Date: August 31st 2010

Publisher: Mira Books

Pages: 535

Genre: Fantasy

An undercover mission leads to danger, adventure and an impossible choice. 

After siphoning her own blood magic in the showdown at Hubal, Opal Cowan has lost her powers. She can no longer create glass magic. More, she's immune to the effects of magic. Opal is now an outsider looking in, spying through the glass on those with the powers she once had, powers that make a difference in the world. Until spying through the glass becomes her new power. Suddenly, the beautiful pieces she makes flash in the presence of magic. And then she discovers that someone has stolen some of her blood - and that finding it might let her regain her powers. Or know it could be they are lost forever.

Where to begin? Where to begin? Well I guess with AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Spy Glass is quite the epic ending to what I shall call "The Adventures in Sitia". The book follows Opal figuring out what she wants to do with her life, even before she lost her magic she had absolutely no idea, and now she does not know where to even begin to plan since there's a chance she might get it back and a chance she might not.

It honestly did not end up where I thought it would when I began it, but I like the way it did end up a lot more.

I can't help but be so proud of Opal who has grown so much since her entrance in the Study Series. She has so much more confidence in herself. It's just so satisfying for me to see so much character growth. Devlen as well is full of character growth and what I really like about him as a character is that he becomes a lesson for Opal and for the readers, that people can change, actually change. I also do not find farfetched that he was truly in love with Opal from Storm Glass even if addiction, power and desire had twisted him so much at the time.

This book is definitely pushed by the characters rather than the plot, which is good or me since I am a character-driven story person all the way.

I feel redundant saying this about the Glass Series, but once again I loved learning more and more about the clans and specifics about them. This time we got a look into Sitia's prison system, which I found fascinating. Snyder does her research for things in her books (lock picking being a beautiful example) and that really shows through in this one.

It's so hard to review and talk about this book without being full of spoilers! First of all, a funny thing about this book is that because Valek is around a lot, it makes me want to reread Poison Study a whole lot. I had honestly forgotten how much Valek is a joy to read as a character. This ends up creating a rather interesting circle effect that I'm not sure that Snyder realized would happen. This has the potential to become a neverending cycle of the Study Series and then the Glass Series.

Also, as always when I talk about the Glass Series, Opal versus Yelena; once again the difference between these two character is made obvious. Where Yelena finds her heartmate in Valek and is done, finished, knows he is the one, Opal finds herself growing out and into different people. At the beginning I was all excited for her and Kade together, but I started seeing how they didn't fit together perfectly, that Opal was really too much for Kade. This is especially obvious when he talks about how for him Opal is a way to ground himself, and we all know that Opal cannot sit still to be a grounding influence to save her life. She has to be doing something, helping someone. She has also changed due to her loss of magic and dealing with that and truthfully Devlen is the only one who understands, and I found myself slowly but surely starting to root for him instead.

Another thing that I loved about this book is the climax/finale. Everyone important in Opal's life climbs out of the woodworks to save her from the village (which I totally guessed was going to be the villain so HA). It's a nice reaffirmation of the fact that Opal has people to trust, she has her herd, and they love her.

Opal's character growth is so astounding, I really am very happy to leave her and her little family. I feel that as a reader there is no longer a reason to spy in on her life, she has matured and I really am so proud of her. When I finished this book a bright smile was on my face and I knew, just knew I had to own this one, whether or not I went and bought the other books in the series, Spy Glass is hands down my favourite.

Obviously I recommend this book to anyone who has read Sea Glass. If the review interests you at all, I recommend starting with the Study Series with Yelena and Poison Study. Altogether the two series are a very enjoyable read, well researched and filled with enjoyable and depth filled characters.

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