 | Title: Glimmerglass Reading level: Young Adult
Source: Bought |
Book Description
A runaway girl discovers she has the unique power to enter the Land of Faerie and bring back magic in this fabulous start to a hot new young adult series.
Dana Hathaway doesn't know it yet, but she's in big trouble. When her mother, an alcoholic, shows up at her voice recital drunk, Dana decides she's had enough of playing the role of her mother's keeper, so she packs her bags and travels to see her mysterious father in Avalon: the only place on Earth where the regular, everyday world and the magical world of Faerie intersect. Dana is a Faeriewalker, a rare individual who can travel between both worlds. She has always known that her father is a big-deal Fae, but what she doesn't realise is that she could be the key to his rise to power. When she arrives in Avalon, Dana finds herself a pawn in the game of magical politics. Avalon is a place where both magic and technology work, and humans and Fae coexist in something resembling peace. How can she change the winds of fate, find a boyfriend, and make new friends when she's not sure who, if anyone, can be trusted
Review
GLIMMERGLASS is the only paranormal YA book that I can think of that has an open world system involving faeries. Both the human and Fae sides know about each other, but physically cannot exist in the other’s world. Avalon, however, is the one place where they live together. It’s also the place where Dana was conceived and the reason she is a Faeriewalker, an uber rare human/faerie hybrid able to live in both worlds.
There are a number of interesting and well drawn relationships going on in GLIMMERGLASS beyond just the obligatory romances (and yes that’s romances plural). Dana has two very different relationships with her parents. With her alcoholic human mother we see Dana as the adult who would give anything not to have to be, and the reverse with her strict fey father.
Then there is the sibling rivalry/jealousy between Kimber and her brother Ethan (the golden boy fey and one of Dana’s romantic interests). And an additional father son pairing that I won’t spoil. These character dynamics never overshadow the main plot with Dana and her struggle to survive caught between two frightening worlds, but they did add a layer of realism that allowed me to become equally invested in the supporting cast as I was with the main characters.
The romance in GLIMMERGLASS is a little steamier than usual for YA, not ever graphic, but super steamy. And surprising in a lot of ways too. Dana is in a position where everyone wants something from her and it’s impossible to know who to trust. Her heart and her head are constantly leading her in opposite directions and I have to give her props for recognizing that it’s dangerous to blindly trust her feelings.
Overall, GLIMMERGLASS is the start of a mesmerizing new series. Fey feuds, risky romances, and charismatic characters abound. I can’t wait for more Faeriewalker books and thankfully I don’t have to. Remedial Magic is a free short story that is available now and the next full novel called SHADOWSPELL will be published on January 4, 2011.
Sexual Content: Kissing and mild sensuality.
My Rating:
4/5
Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now & pre-order the sequel.
Click HERE to read an excerpt
Previous books in the series:
- N/A
Also reviewed by:
Im glad you enjoyed this one. I just ordered this yesterday and haven't really read much about it. When I saw your title I kind of held my breath hoping you were going to give it a good review :)
ReplyDeleteI downloaded Remedial Magic recently. Sounds like I will have to get this one too .
ReplyDeleteThis one sounds good, I will have to add it to my TBR file close to the top!
ReplyDeleteS~
Great review! Thank you for including my review as well. <3
ReplyDeleteI recently acquired this as an e-book, and your review makes me want to start it right away. Hopefully soon! =)
ReplyDeleteThe Slowest Bookworm - I do the same thing when I see other reviewers with titles I haven't read yet :) I'm glad that I was able to give you god news.
ReplyDeleteSharon S. - I think you will. The world building in this series is a lot of fun and I can see Jenna running wild in it.
EJ - I thought so, hope you enjoy it too!
Shannan - Oh good. And I'll give you a heads up that the sequel is just as good. My review will be up later this week.
Eleni - You bet. I'm glad I'm not the only one who responded to Dana's maturity. We need more characters like that in YA.
Sabrina - Pick up SHADOWSPELL while you're at it, you'll want to know what happens next.
Simay - Don't you love the instant gratification of eReaders :)
I've been waffling about starting this series, your review pushed me over the edge. TBR pile, here it comes!
ReplyDeleteJulia - It was fun. A more mature YA faery story.
ReplyDelete