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Sea Glass (Glass #2)

by Maria V. Snyder (Goodreads Author)

4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 · rating details · 8,068 ratings · 561 reviews

From one-trick wonder to wielder of terrifying powers.

Not bad for a student.

Glass magician Opal Cowan’s newfound ability to steal a magician’s powers has made her too powerful in the eyes of the council… Despite being under house arrest, Opal travels to the Moon Clan’s lands in search of Ulrick, the man she thinks she loves. Thinks because she is sure another man, now her...more

Paperback, AU, 379 pages

Published July 1st 2010 by Harlequin Teen (first published August 18th 2009)

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Oct 18, 2010 Milly rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, dystopia, young-adult, series

What can I say, I was a little dismayed by Sea Glass. Perhaps because I expected more out of this second book. Perhaps because I thought Opal's character was going to be more interesting and her adventures more daring and intriguing. However, none of that came into fruition, at least in my opinion.

The book didn't really pick up for me until the last 100 pages. I felt that the first 200 pages dawdled and there were chapters that seem indulgent and unconsequential. I know Maria Snyder was trying...more What can I say, I was a little dismayed by Sea Glass. Perhaps because I expected more out of this second book. Perhaps because I thought Opal's character was going to be more interesting and her adventures more daring and intriguing. However, none of that came into fruition, at least in my opinion.

The book didn't really pick up for me until the last 100 pages. I felt that the first 200 pages dawdled and there were chapters that seem indulgent and unconsequential. I know Maria Snyder was trying to develop Opal's character and what other magical talents she has but some chapters just took too long to do so.

In respects to Opal, I appreciated her character developing some spunk in this book but I did not care so much for her becoming jaded and distrustful of everyone. I get it that a lot of people in this book disappointed her but it was just such a downer when she was acting this way. You can still be spunky and kind at the same time, Opal. It doesn't mean you're weak when you're kind. Just look at Harry Potter!

But what irked me the most about the Sea Glass is how Opal's character was turning into a mini-Yelena. Opal all of a sudden found the urge to learn to defend herself, just like Yelena in the Study series. Just like Yelena, she wanted to learn how to fight with weapons, pick locks, move like a ninja/ghost, do nightly investigations, etc. Also just like Yelena, she befriended two soldiers and have become her sworn protectors - Nic and Eve to Yelena's Ari and Janco. I just wish that Maria Snyder was more creative and original in fashioning Opal's character. She is the heroine of the Glass series after all. She should be different from Yelena, eventhough the Glass series is a sequel/spin off of the Study series. I'm sure if I looked for more similarities between these series that I would. But I'll stop here just to be fair with this book.

I just have a love-dislike relationship with this book. I did enjoy the last 100 pages of the book! I liked that Lief's character had more face time in this book. I still felt that Kade should have been in the book more since he is Opal's main squeeze. Good riddance to Ulrick. He's a whiny lad anyway. But, Devlen, hmmm, the devil who's had a change of heart might just steal Opal's heart. Sneaky little devil! This I am definitely interested in finding out in the 3rd installment, Spy Glass. Also, I am intrigued as to what becomes of Opal, with all her magical abilities changed.

So now that I've opined, I still love Maria Snyder. The Glass series is definitely not a favorite but I will continue onto Spy Glass as I'm intrigued indeed. (less)

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Dec 23, 2011 Shelley aka Gizmo's Reviews rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009-release, genre-fantasy, borrowed-library

*Rating* 3
*Genre* Fantasy/Science Fiction

*Review*

Glass Magician Opal Cowan is a danger to magicians in Sitia. She has the ability to steal a magicians power with her glass orbs. But, more important to her is the fact that Devlen and Ulrick have switched bodies via a blood magic transfer and she has to try to figure out a way to let someone in authority know what happened.

Opal's one saving grace to the Council is her unique ability to make glass messengers that allow magicians across Sitia to com...more

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Oct 12, 2009 Dee rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-and-fairytale

Brilliant! Was flipping through the pages at high speed.

Am always satisfied by Snyder's books. In this series the concept of Opal's magic makes for a fun read. I really wanted her to ping more magic into her orb! :) The dark can be pretty dark (particularly in the Study series), but the resolution is always completely satisfying. Aahh... I love it when an author is clever enough to finish a book well.

What I love the most about this book is the growth in Opal's character from the beginning of th...more

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Feb 15, 2013 Alaisse Amehana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Da http://labellaeilcavaliere.blogspot.i...

Siamo di nuovo a Sitia, dopo che Opale è riuscita a liberarsi dall’astuto Devlen e a catturarlo con l’aiuto di Janco. C’è solo un problema: Devlen si trova ora nel corpo di Ulrick e per salvare il suo (ex )ragazzo, Opale deve ritrovare il vero corpo di Devlen e costringere i due a scambiarsi di nuovo i corpi. Troppo complicato? Non ditelo a me. Immaginarsi ogni volta un personaggio dentro un altro ha richiesto ogni grammo della mia concentrazione.
Il Co...more Da http://labellaeilcavaliere.blogspot.i...

Siamo di nuovo a Sitia, dopo che Opale è riuscita a liberarsi dall’astuto Devlen e a catturarlo con l’aiuto di Janco. C’è solo un problema: Devlen si trova ora nel corpo di Ulrick e per salvare il suo (ex )ragazzo, Opale deve ritrovare il vero corpo di Devlen e costringere i due a scambiarsi di nuovo i corpi. Troppo complicato? Non ditelo a me. Immaginarsi ogni volta un personaggio dentro un altro ha richiesto ogni grammo della mia concentrazione.
Il Consiglio di Sitia ordina a Opale di tornare alla Cittadella per fare rapporto e spiegare l’accaduto. I Maestri Maghi e i Consiglieri sono infatti preoccupati dal nuovo potere di Opale che può risucchiare la magia di un altro mago quando questo l’attacca fino a prosciugarlo. Ma non sanno che il potere di Opale è ancora maggiore: infatti la ragazza ha appena scoperto di poter prosciugare la magia di un mago anche quando questo non la sta attaccando, le basta avere del vetro a portata di mano.
Cercando Urlick, intrappolato nel corpo di Devlen, Opale e Janco cadono in una serie impressionante di disgrazie finché Opale non scopre che quello che le ha raccontato Devlen è vero: Urlick non vuole tornare nel suo corpo ma vuole continuare a praticare la magia di sangue per accrescere il proprio potere.
Costretta a tornare al Mastio, Opale deve guadagnarsi la fiducia del Consiglio che ormai la vede come una possibile minaccia e le impedisce di lavorare alla fornace senza un rigido controllo. Infatti nessuno le crede quando racconta che i Distorsori non sono stati tutti sconfitti, ma alcuni possiedono ancora la Magia di Sangue, e viene perciò screditata. Tuttavia Opale non si arrende e alla fine del libro arriva a svelare altri complotti all’interno del Consiglio e a riportare i due ragazzi nei rispettivi corpi.
Ci troviamo davanti a un bel dilemma.
Io, per principio, tifo sempre per il perdente. Non ci posso fare nulla. Nelle (rarissime) occasioni in cui mi capita di guardare una partita la mia simpatia va subito per la squadra perdente. Se ci fossero i Mondiali e l’Italia stesse vincendo contro il Katmandù, probabilmente tiferei per quest’ultimo solo perché mi dispiacerebbe vederlo perdere, salvo poi tornare dalla parte dell’Italia una volta passata in svantaggio.
Dunque è questo il dilemma: chi sceglierà Opale? L’affascinante Danzatore Kade che l’ha sostenuta durante tutte le sue vicissitudini, o l’intrigante, nonché poco di buono, Devlen finalmente tornato nel proprio corpo e con un improvviso desiderio di conquistarla? Io temo già di conoscere la risposta, infatti tifo per l’altro.

Alaisse(less)

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Dec 08, 2012 Swiftsea rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book drove me a little crazy. I found that too many things were occurring at the same time. Just like a whirlwind, Opal was involved in too many things.

Moreover, the deaths of many of the glass-makers frustrated me a little. I found it unnecessary to kill them off. Too many authors use the 'only person capable' routine to accentuate the importance of their protagonists.

However, what irritated me the most was definitely Opal's relationships with men. Her constant desire to rescue Ulrick wh...more

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Aug 18, 2012 Carly rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: crazy-intense-suspense, fan-girly-romances, i-extremely-recommend-to-anyone, i-think-i-died-when-this-ended, kick-ass-adventurous, love-love-love, please-never-ever-end-i-love-you

I couldn't stop reading these books! It took some time to yet used to the choppy sentences, but otherwise it was great!

I love the characters, the sarcasm and humor- which me laugh out loud a few times- and the suspense that makes you put the book down just gawk at what just happened and makes you think about long after putting the book down!

Even though Opal gets kidnapped excessive amounts of times throughout the series, she is relatable and still keeps you guessing and adding new puzzles and...more

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Jun 08, 2012 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Despite that "dangerous" comment I made to start my review of Storm Glass, the streak continues for me with Snyder's books. By the time my review posted a couple of days ago I had already finished Sea Glass and was lamenting the fact that the last book isn't due out for nearly three more months!

In all honesty there isn't much that I can add to what I have already said I loved about this series and Snyder's Study series. Her world-building is one of the key aspects that makes these books so good-...more

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Jun 03, 2012 Jade rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Well what can I say? Snyder did it again. She kept me glued to the page in the really fun, action packed continuation of 'Storm Glass'. I must admit, being a big fan of the 'Poison Study' series, finding out that the 'Glass' series, was going to be told from Opals point of view was a bit of a let down. Her character was rather flat in the 'Study' series, and we didn't really get the chance to know her. But I persisted through the next book and ended up loving it. Sea Glass was lovely, filled wit...more Well what can I say? Snyder did it again. She kept me glued to the page in the really fun, action packed continuation of 'Storm Glass'. I must admit, being a big fan of the 'Poison Study' series, finding out that the 'Glass' series, was going to be told from Opals point of view was a bit of a let down. Her character was rather flat in the 'Study' series, and we didn't really get the chance to know her. But I persisted through the next book and ended up loving it. Sea Glass was lovely, filled with the same beautiful imagrey as it's priors, creating the same feeling of intimacy the reader has to the characters again, but shedding alot of them in a new light, bringing new twists. Opal Cowan the lead character under went the biggest change. I loved kickass, hard Opal towards the end of the book. It was just what the book needed to give her a bit of a back bone.
Although they are books about action filled magic, there is always the undertone of the love story. I like Kades character as a love interest, although I don't think he'll ever be as special to me as Valek was in the 'study' series. Snyder uses the simplest moments between her love intrest that can make a girl feel just a little bit fuzzy on the inside. I particularly liked when Kade was at the keep, especially when he was in her bedroom ;) (Yet again he doesn't hold the element of danger and mysticism of Valek.
A clever trick on behalf of Snyder was encorporating some of the characters from the previous series. In this book, Proffessor Bloodbain, Janco, and even Yelena herself had rather big parts. Also Leif and Fisk, who are two astoundingly original characters, who always manage to make me smile, were in it aswell. Having previous knowledge of the world and it's inner working, allows you to really sink into the story. You already understand how magic works, and the powers of certain characters...this can be especially fun, with the intruduction of a new character, who has yet to learn all these tricks and twists to Snyders world.
I give this book full stars. It really was fantastic...I just don't want to give to much away. The next book hopefully will live up to it's expectations. Snyder has created a world that makes the reader feel at home, and a book series, that truley allows the sense of escapism.(less)

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Feb 02, 2012 Carien rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, ya

This book seemed to suffer from middle book syndrome.

There are a couple of story hooks introduced that seem to go nowhere at this moment and that I can only assume will be picked up in book three.

Otherwise the story is both frustrating and intriguing. There's lots of stuff going on and I had to keep reading to find out how everything would fit together.

The love square from book one was reduced to a love triangle and while my favorite character was still Opal's main squeeze, again there were lots...more

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Oct 08, 2011 LitAddictedBrit rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebooks, read-2010

Firstly, I definitely wouldn't say that to have to read the Study series before you read this but it does, I think, make the experience a lot more rounded and gives you much needed background on a lot of the characters, political intrigue, history and the magic. Although if you don't want to or don't have time, don't feel you have to - this series is fantastic in isolation too!

As before, I love the magic in this series - the whole world is coated with power from which some can draw. Those that c...more Firstly, I definitely wouldn't say that to have to read the Study series before you read this but it does, I think, make the experience a lot more rounded and gives you much needed background on a lot of the characters, political intrigue, history and the magic. Although if you don't want to or don't have time, don't feel you have to - this series is fantastic in isolation too!

As before, I love the magic in this series - the whole world is coated with power from which some can draw. Those that can, are magicians. Opal Cowan is unique in that she can only draw power to glass - creating 'glass messengers' that magicians use to communicate with each other (think glass magic meets mobile phone technology...). Her abilities make her both revered among older magicians and an outcast among her peers. She struggles with being a one trick wonder and trying to find her place in the magical community.

Admittedly, at times, Opal can be a tad on the whiny side and it is a bit off-putting earlier on in the first novel but, I promise, she does get better. I love that she reacts to her experiences like a 'real person' - her relationships seem more realistic than those often found in fantasy novels aimed at younger readers as they are more complex. I've read criticism of the love triangle but I think it works and helps bring Opal to life more. The development of Opal throughout the books is fabulous and I find that the stories shift to reflect that.

Lastly, the dialogue in particular is perfect in this novel, if heavy on the sarcasm. There are moments when I've actually chuckled to myself and that kind of light relief is necessary when you have torture and murder lurking around! The stories get dark but are so involving that I was absolutely hooked.

Overall: This is sharper and snappier than the Study series and is greatly entertaining. There are some of what the film/TV industry call 'adult themes', as before, which make the series more gritty and exciting than the more commonplace fantasy offerings - I've yet to finish the series but I love the way its shaping up! (less)

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Aug 04, 2011 Amanda rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 magi...more

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Feb 23, 2011 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010

the sea glass doesn't appear until quite close to the end, I’d say over two thirds of the way through. That threw me a bit. My suspicion is that it's actually a set up for the third novel (which comes out in September and I now have to wait for, boo) but if that's the case why call this one Sea Glass and not the third novel? Which is called Spy Glass? The titles probably could have worked reversed actually since there's a fair bit of spying in this novel. I guess something like Secret Glass woul...more

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Dec 05, 2010 Siobhan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Opal Cowan is growing in power... this is a superb second book to the trilogy. I really like the style of this writer, her imagination relating to the evolution of the magic that the lead characters acquire and then learn to master is brilliant. She then applies this to huge consequences and events which both shape the plot of the book and provide the depth to the characters and sub plots.
Opal is a wonderful focus for this book, she has a fabulously rounded personality with many qualities and i...more

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Dec 01, 2010 Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009-100-book-challenge, books-i-own

I thought this was a great pick up from Storm Glass. I thought the story line was good, and it was full of some great twist and turns, much like Storm Glass that kept me glued to the book and turn pages. The only thing I didn't like was the fact that Opal was just this character who lacked self confidence. I felt she found it at the end Storm Glass, but lost it again in Sea Glass. I read the books back to back, which made me feel like her character should have developed more out of the "I'm not...more

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Oct 28, 2010 Chibineko rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved this book & actually started reading it immediately after the first book in the Glass saga- 'Storm Glass'. I enjoyed this book, but I have to admit that only one thing spoiled it somewhat... Opal's behavior.

This book picks up immediately (like seconds after) the ending of 'Storm Glass' & finds Opal attempting to prove that Ulrick & the dastardly Devlen have switched bodies. Unfortunately nobody believes her & multiple groups are trying to gain control over Opal's glass me...more

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Jun 23, 2010 Lydia Presley rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010, fantasy, fiction, young-adult

Well, I'm glad I stuck the series out - because this book was better than the first.

The things I dislike about Opal were still present, but it felt like Maria took a good look at the character halfway through and decided to insert a bit of a backbone into her (maybe that was intended, but it sure made for annoying reading during Storm Glass).

I'm still a bit distracted by the love interests - three is too many and since they are stretched so thin there really isn't a "side" I can get on, since a...more

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Jun 11, 2010 Debbie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: blues, water

I give this book 3.5 stars
I really wish I had re-read Storm Glass before reading this one but I still really enjoyed. There were a few things I had forgotten but I quickly slipped back into Opal’s world. I found Opal much more irritating this time around. She was too head strong and whiny for my tastes but you did have to start feeling sorry for her as one bad thing after another seemed to happen to her. Things also heat up in the fight for Opal’s love. Kade is his usual strong, caring and suppo...more

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Mar 29, 2010 Miki Garrison rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Going into it, this book had a lot of things going for it, for me as a reader. It's set in the same world -- with some of the same characters -- as Snyder's earlier trilogy, Poison Study / Magic Study / Fire Study, which I absolutely *loved*. Those books pull me in again and again with how much I truly like the characters, with the sizzling tension, and the vivid settings. This next series is truthfully missing out on some of that, but I still really enjoyed the first book, Storm Glass. And alth...more

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Mar 12, 2010 Doris rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Wow. With a major change in pace from the first Glass book, this second book in the series has our meek doormat change to a wildcat.

There is romance. There is danger. There is a strong plot which comes to a reasonable conclusion (sometimes a little too convoluted to follow). There is an evil mastermind.

As our story opens, Opal is revisiting her plight, wondering why she isn't trusted or believed. She winds up arrested numerous times, usually on spurious charges, but manages to escape time after...more

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Mar 07, 2010 Rachael rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Transformed from a timid girl who could make magical glass to a magician who can readily steal the power of other magicians, Opal Cowan is considered too powerful and possibly a threat to Sitia. Though ordered home by the Council, Opal is no longer content to follow them blindly and instead goes off on her own to search for Ulrick who she believes to be a victim of corrupting blood magic. But Opal’s plans hardly go as she hopes, and soon she finds herself embroiled in another deadly plot. Word o...more Transformed from a timid girl who could make magical glass to a magician who can readily steal the power of other magicians, Opal Cowan is considered too powerful and possibly a threat to Sitia. Though ordered home by the Council, Opal is no longer content to follow them blindly and instead goes off on her own to search for Ulrick who she believes to be a victim of corrupting blood magic. But Opal’s plans hardly go as she hopes, and soon she finds herself embroiled in another deadly plot. Word of Opal’s newfound abilities has spread, and now there are people after her for their own selfish gain. With numerous enemies everywhere she goes, Opal no longer knows who to trust. All she knows for sure is that there are more lives than just her own at stake and that she can’t solve this mystery on her own.

Although my confidence had never really been shaken, Sea Glass renewed my faith in Snyder for truly fantastic storytelling. The plot in this novel is even more fraught with frequent dangers than its prequel Storm Glass was. This made the story more difficult to follow and even confusing at times, especially with the quick pace of the plot. However, everything else more than made up for this. Sea Glass is definitely more complicated than its prequel, as evidence by the almost too numerous twists and turns in this novel, but the complexity of the different characters and situations is what made this story so good. The doubt and treachery that Opal experiences strengthen her character; all the changes that Opal goes through due to various revelations and epiphanies are quite fascinating and realistic. This coupled with her confusing regarding her various personal relationships made the story even more interesting. However, what I appreciated most about Sea Glass was the completely unpredictable conclusion; the way Snyder managed to bring this about was just amazing.

Sea Glass will be enjoyed by fans of its prequel Storm Glass, the Poison Study trilogy also by Snyder, and The Named trilogy by Marianne Curley. I cannot wait for the conclusion to this exciting trilogy.

reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com (less)

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Oct 04, 2009 Lexie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: genre-fantasy, review-blog, genre-romance, books-owned, book-type-tradepaperback, autographed

I'll start off first by saying--omg how much did I want this book? I might be a little biased, since I have adored the series since the very first, but I'm so glad I got a copy a little early. Next, for those of you who haven't yet gotten around to reading Storm Glass (for whatever reason, I don't judge) don't feel that you'll be lost jumping into this second book. The first 100 pages or so of Sea Glass has a pretty intensive overview of what happens in the first book through interactions and co...more I'll start off first by saying--omg how much did I want this book? I might be a little biased, since I have adored the series since the very first, but I'm so glad I got a copy a little early. Next, for those of you who haven't yet gotten around to reading Storm Glass (for whatever reason, I don't judge) don't feel that you'll be lost jumping into this second book. The first 100 pages or so of Sea Glass has a pretty intensive overview of what happens in the first book through interactions and conversations. Its not like 'exposition drop', but if you've read or re-read the book recently you'll find yourself skimming passages a little more frequently then in Yelena's books.

The book itself! After the huge revelation in Storm Glass about Ulrick and Devlen's connection, you'd think Opal would be that much wiser. I'm not so certain she is. More cautious, but wiser? Not so much since Devlen manages to trick her a couple of times and Ulrick...well Ulrick is just difficult to deal with. To be fair she has a lot stacked against. Like Yelena, Opal's actions are judged critically through fear, paranoia and the careful manipulation of facts by enemies.

I was happy to see that the whole romance angle was worked out for this book. The synopsis is slightly misleading, but the author purposely had it changed that way so that spoilers for Storm Glass weren't covering the back cover. As much as possible (in a continuous series) MVS tries to keep things vague and 'in the moment' so that spoilers don't ruin a new reader's perception (which is nice since I can't tell you how many times I've picked up the third or second in a series and been spoiled for plot twist major from Book 1).

Janco plays a bigger role in this book then in the previous one. Which made me gleeful. I love Janco (and Ari) and lamented the fact there isn't more of them. Fisk too (a minor character from the Study series that, more or less, worked his way up the supporting character ladder to become pretty important in Sitia) makes several appearances.

What's interesting is to see the unraveling of a society. Between the events of the Study series and the events transpiring around Opal, Sitia is becoming a messy, paranoid country (or at least the leaders are). The Council is making more mercenary decisions, treating each suspicious piece of evidence as hard proof and being secretive. Not for anything, but I can see why the Commander is so reluctant to work with them on allowing magic in Ixia. Ixia might not be the perfect place, but a lot their problems stemmed from magic (Mogkan for instance) and the consequences thereof. The Council stood back for far too long and let things run rampant, their sudden 'we're in trouble, batten down the hatches' attitude isn't being helpful.

If, like me, you pick up a first press release of Sea Glass you're likely to see that on the last page it says 'Stay Tuned for more in Fall 2011'. MVS assured me that the next book is due out in the Fall of 2010, the publishers just printed the wrong year (and forgot her acknowledgements as well). If, also like me, you finish the book and scream that its a pretty important cliffhanger and why are we waiting for a year to find out what happens--take heart in three things:

1) MVS' young adult novel, Inside Out, is due out in the Spring of 2010 from Harlequin Teen. Not set in Ixia/Sitia (but a whole new world), but still. Get a MVS fix where you can.

2) MVS' newsletter (published once every two months or so depending on her schedule) ordinarily has a short story set between the events of books (or concurrent to events from a different character's perspective). Right now a mini-series called 'Ice Study' is under way. E-mail her at any time to get the back chapters and join the list!

3) This is par for the course. Anyone who picked up Luna's original printing of Magic Study and waited for them to put out Fire Study had a cruel awakening when the books switched to Mira (a different imprint), had to be re-released as new trade paperbacks (no more mass market or hardcovers) and THEN Fire Study came out. Almost two years later. Having Storm Glass, and six months later Sea Glass, come out so close together was a wonderful vacation. Welcome back to reality. We still have nothing on the Wheel of Time fans.(less)

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Sep 14, 2009 Julie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Opal Cowen has been summoned back to Sita's Magicians Keep by the high council. Never a good sign. After an unsuccessful trip to find her lost friend Ulrick who has switched souls with her long time enemy, Opal heeds the summons and returns only to be put under house arrest. Her new found power of siphoning the magic of others has the Keep on high alert and she must earn back their confidence.

At the same time, Opal is determined to prove that Ulrick is no longer himself, and becomes entangled in...more Opal Cowen has been summoned back to Sita's Magicians Keep by the high council. Never a good sign. After an unsuccessful trip to find her lost friend Ulrick who has switched souls with her long time enemy, Opal heeds the summons and returns only to be put under house arrest. Her new found power of siphoning the magic of others has the Keep on high alert and she must earn back their confidence.

At the same time, Opal is determined to prove that Ulrick is no longer himself, and becomes entangled in a plot to steal control over the glass messengers Opal creates for Sitia. Unless Opal can figure out who is behind the plot, all of Sitia may be in danger from something much worse than just some stolen magic...

You know the old saying that sequels are never as good as the original? Well Snyder has proved that saying wrong. I enjoyed "Sea Glass" much more than I liked its predecessor "Storm Glass." I found that Snyder developed her characters a lot more than in "Storm Glass" and therefore I found them to have more depth and were more enjoyable to read about.

While I found "Sea Glass" extremely entertaining and exciting, I couldn't give it a five-star rating for several small things. First, "Sea Glass" was an extremely slow starter. I was on page 252 before I really started to become interested in the plot and wanted to find out if Opal would succeed in the end. I'm not saying that the first 250 pages of the book were horrible or boring, I just found this part of "Sea Glass" to be very reminiscent of "Storm Glass." Opal gets either lured into a trap or abducted, and fairly easily finds her way out of it again. It definitely gave me a feeling of déjà vu.

Second, I really didn't understand the title. Only more than half way through the book do we understand why the title is "Sea Glass" at all, and just as quickly as the topic comes up, the sub-plot around the "Sea Glass" is dropped like a molten slug of glass. Perhaps there's some sort of metaphor Snyder was going for that I missed completely when titling her book, but if she's going to continue with the "Sea Glass" sub-plot in her next "Glass" book one would think she would have waited and named that book "Sea Glass," not this one. I would have called the book "Blood Glass" but without giving away any of the plot, I won't go into detail as to why.

"Sea Glass" also had a tendency to weave in several sub-plots into the main storyline that to me didn't make a whole lot of sense. I get that Snyder is setting us up for the next book in the series, but it seems like she could have been a little more subtle in her placement of these plots. Instead of finding them interesting and intriguing, I found them a little on the annoying side for two reasons: First, they distracted from the main storyline, and second, they were never resolved in any way so I found myself let down and a little confused.

Now, I can't bash Snyder too hard for the sub-plot thing as I understand this is a second in the series book, and therefore to make her final (I'm assuming it will be a trio) book more climatic she had to put in some "teasers." Thing "Empire Strikes Back" kind of disappointment. You know, you're all into the story and you are on the edge of your seat and then the credits start to roll and you're like: "WHAT? It's over?! No way!" For that I have to applaud her.

Overall, Snyder has crafted yet another magical book and has taken readers into a wonderful land of enchantment. Her characters are deep and stirring, and she has an uncanny ability to make the magic of the characters come to life. For those reasons I can overlook the small complaints I may have formed throughout "Sea Glass" and will be very excited to read the third installment. Too bad we have to wait until 2011. Sad.(less)

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Sep 01, 2009 Bookaholics rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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...more 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 may 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.

This was a fabulous book from start to finish. An indomitable heroine and endearing characters combined with a spellbinding plot make this book a treasure! I can’t wait to find out what happens next!

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club(less)

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Feb 10, 2012 Katherine rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: teen-fantasy, fantasy

Sea Glass—Book Two of the Glass Trilogy by Maria V. Snyder
In book two of this immaculate trilogy we see our heroine having to fight through the tide turning against her in many ways, facing trust problems on both fronts; whom she can trust and who trusts her. If Storm Glass was the alchemizing of Opal from a student to an adult, than Sea Glass takes that adult and hardens her into an opponent. This book took us to many of the same haunts that frequented the first volume, the Stormdancer lands, F...more

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Jan 06, 2012 Shweta rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-fantasy

I would be wrong in judging Opal for who she becomes in this book. I know her history, so I understand what she is going through and how it's is all linked to the traumatics events in her past. Did that stop me from judging her ? No! I was frustrated with her. I wanted her to speak up , do some thing right , follow what her elders were trying to tell her. At one point I was so frustrated that I wanted to throw the book at the wall in front of me .Extreme reaction, I know ,but when you are invest...more I would be wrong in judging Opal for who she becomes in this book. I know her history, so I understand what she is going through and how it's is all linked to the traumatics events in her past. Did that stop me from judging her ? No! I was frustrated with her. I wanted her to speak up , do some thing right , follow what her elders were trying to tell her. At one point I was so frustrated that I wanted to throw the book at the wall in front of me .Extreme reaction, I know ,but when you are invested in a series so good ,for a really long time you do feel for the characters. You sympathise with them. Love them , hate them , pray for them. Yes, that does give you the right to imagine hurling the book at the wall( which I never actually did!)

Sea Glass was an emotional reading experience for me. Ya, I know I am weird like that :) I gulped this book in record time and that only made my thoughts more extreme.It took another slow reading of final few chapters to grasp what I had missed out in excitement to reach the ending . So much happens in the end that if you aren't attentive you will miss out stuff.

There are so many new revelations ,that if vertigo can happen while reading books then it did happen with me. In a really good way because I loved thrill of the story. There were times when too many things made me go back read the previous few pages but it was a great plot. Kade, the hot Storm Dancer who took my breath away in Storm Glass is even more awesome in Sea Glass. He even kept me from giving up on Opal . Just as some sub plots from Sea Glass are resolved, some new ones arise which I am sure will make the third installment- Spy Glass, a must read !

Opal who had been a one trick wonder in the beginning of the series has changed her status often from being an asset to the Magicians Keep, to being a threat to other magicians. But one thing that remains the same is her under confidence. Stubborn under confident girl. I never knew these 2 qualities could be seen in the same person but Opal is a case study for student of psychology :) If there is a character in literature ,who needs to read a lot of motivational stuff then Opal is the one.

Recommended to all fans of fantasy genre. This is one series you should read.
(less)

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Mar 19, 2011 Sarah Kelsey rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, fantasy

I liked the cover art and the concept based on the little description, and it has some good elements, but I really, really suffered getting through this book. I listened to the audiobook version of this and it is awful. Let me repeat that: AWFUL. The narrator took any life out of this book that might have been in it. I've read some reviews on audible.com that suggest the text is better than the audiobook, and I agree that the reader here was way, way off on the voice for this protagonist. The se...more

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Mar 12, 2011 Alicia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: magic, young-adult-fantasy, kickass-heroines, reviewed

An intense, enjoyable continuation of the series, if perhaps a tiny bit repetitive. I'm starting to feel just slightly burned out on this series for the same reason that I know a lot of readers got tired of the Poison Study series, which is that there certainly seems to be a never-ending flow of kidnappings, beatings, assaults, torture and attacks for Yelena and Opal, our poor featured Sitian women. It does get to be a bit over-done and repetitive, and after a while you start to wonder if there...more

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Jan 08, 2011 Megan Lillian rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2011, female-hero, worth-reading-over-and-over

My least favorite of all the books I have read by this author (Study series, and now the entire Glass series). The anxiety this book brought up for me made it difficult to even finish, and there are some thematic elements I am struggling to "be okay" with. There are instances of horrific abuse, torture, misuse of power, helplessness and hopelessness all woven with regular appearance within this book. It's like a barrage that doesn't let up for long enough to allow the characters to adjust or the...more

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Aug 21, 2009 Tiffany rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009-books-i-read, 2010-books-i-read, books-i-own

There were a couple of things that make me nervous after reading this book and one of them being that I have to wait until the Fall of 2011 before book 3 will come out.

I am actually going to quote part of the book

"....of being a piece of sea glass. High tides, low tides, storms, sand and mistakes all contributed to the polishing process. Though difficult to endure at the time, the demanding elements helped smooth the surface, transforming one into a better person, not worse. A person who learn...more

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May 13, 2013 Kim rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: has-read

If I had to sum up this story in two words they would be: Stockholm Syndrome. No really, I'm not joking.

The idea that you find yourself having feelings for your torturer is just horrendous. And honestly it sets up a whole new meaning for a love triangle. Of course having said that, the book was still a great read.

I honestly didn't think I would enjoy the spin-off series with Opal as much as I have. Don't get me wrong, Opal is still dumb, naive on a whole other level, and totally insipid at times...more

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About Maria V. Snyder

Maria V. Snyder earned an MA in Popular Fiction Writing from Seton Hill University. Her freelance articles appear in magazines and newspapers, and she enjoys teaching fiction writing classes at the local college.

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Quotes from Sea Glass

“When we reached the beach, Leif fell to his knees with a dramatic cry. "Solid ground! I'll never take you for granted again."
"Are you going to kiss the sand?" I asked.
"Don't be ridiculous."
"Now I'M the one being silly?"
"Yes.” — 48 people liked it

“Did she just-"
"Yes."
"But I don't-"
"Yes you do. We both stink."
"Well, I'm not-"
"Yes. You are."
He huffed. "You wont let-"
"No. No complaining. Let's go." I grabbed a clean shirt and pants from my saddlebags.
"Well, she could have handled it better," he grumped.
"No. She couldn't."
He settled into a sulky silence as we visited the bathhouse.” — 31 people liked it

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Sea Glass (Glass #2)

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