I loved this book. I was glad to still be in the whole Sitian/Ixian World. I thought that Opal's character definitely matured as the story progressed. I thought that in the beginning she was very shy and timid and did whatever was asked of her. She seemed too nice at times. She started to not let people "walk all over her" and grew a backbone.

I wish that we read more about Kade in this story. I feel like we really didn't learn enough about him. In the Study series, I felt that Valek and Yalena were both in the situation together, but in Storm Glass, Opal and Kade weren't really shown as much together. There were a lot of love triangles in this story which definitely kept me as a reader hooked!

I wanted to stop in and share some news about a contest. I'm not sure if Maria has posted this somewhere but in case not, I thought it would be something everyone would be interested in.

eHarlequin.com and Maria have teamed up and are having a contest. You can win some awesome prizes.

http://community.eharlequin.com/content/...

Check it out! and Good luck!

Keelin, sorry, I seem to remeber a map at some time but I'm not sure if it was to the commanders castle and I can't remember where I saw it. I'm sure someone will come by soon and be able to help you.

this mite seem like a really random comment but on marias website there is a map of the keep. i was just wondering if there was a map of the commanders castle ??????? i always wundered what it looked like.

I just realized that I never commented on the book, I finished it 2 days after it came out. I put my review on Goodreads, but not on here. Anyway, I loved it. I had a hard time at first liking Opal, I loved Yelena, even before she became a Soulfinder she was so strong! Opal was a character that as she learned to love herself and accept herself I learned to love her too. I guess that is how real life is, people like us more if we like ourselves. I thought how she grew was cool, and quite a different perspective for magic! I am looking forward to learning more about her in Sea Glass! It also made me think, okay women it is not okay to SETTLE, if you don't like a guy, or there just is something holding you back, maybe there is a reason! This is coming from a person who only gave guys 2 weeks to figure out if I liked them or not and then I would dump them. When I started dating my husband, my mother started having people make quilt squares for a wedding quilt only a month after our first date, because she "knew" it was meant to be when I didn't break up with him. Ha ha, oh well, my fickle heart still likes Opal, and my husband and I are going on 10 years of marriage. So you know, once I fall in love it is forever.

WET and der wer ALOT of seagulls .... i dnt like birds an awful lot n i got attacked by wans wen i came out of da chip shop........ i had nightmares bout dem!!!!!!!!! otherwise it was great craic... especially wif my girls der as well !!!!!!

YAY - I saw the book at the airport when i went to visit my dad and stoped to look at it. At which point my sister started moaning at me as i already had it and then walked away as if she didn't know me as i was jumping around really excited that if was finally out in the UK!
How was your trip Keelin?

I GOT THE BOOK IN THE ISLE OF MANN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i finished it the second day after i got it and now i hav to wait till january next year :(:(:(:(:( i do have to say that it was well worth the wait cuz its cool ....... now i want the next one :(:(:(

Finished it a few days ago!

I wasn't sure I was excited about Opal as a narrator, but I loved it!

The scenes of Yelena and Leif were lots of fun-- made me laugh.

I really need to go back and reread the Study books (and this one!) before Sea Glass comes out!

Is anyone else really curious about what's up with Ulrick??

Hi, yes I know I have not been here in a loooong time and I received Storm Glass a while back, had it read it one night. I loved this book, I believe Opal is going to turn out to be almost as strong as Yelena is her thinking and acting. Kade is wonderful and yes I am with all of you about see more of him :). I believe Opal is going to be able to do a whole lot more with her talents then it looks like now, as you know Maria has a way of adding to ones personality through out the series so its going to be interesting to see where she takes Opal and with whom and what she takes her there with.

Misti- great to have you here! I'm really fascinated by glass blowing, too. Although I have done no outside research, I feel like I know enough to have much more appreciation for hand made glass objects.

And I agree, more Kade would be fantastic! I'm really interested in learning more about him.

Hi there. I just joined this group because I love these books and I am always happy to talk about them. I had to go watch everthing I could find online about blowing glass. I thought it was fascinating in the book. I'm excited to see where the story goes. I though Devlen was one of the most interesting characters but I'm hoping to see a lot more of Kade in the next book.

Mic- Cool! I completely agree. It will be interesting to see what Opal becomes.

Rachel wrote: "Except I don't feel seeing shades of gray necessarily makes one more vulnerable.I personally feel seeing in shades of gray allows someone to see the truth of matters more clearly and how one acts on that reflects on their personality."

I agree with you that it can make a person see things more clearly. However, like you said, it really depends on the personality of the person. On one hand, if the person who sees these shades is insecure, then it opens her up to being manipulated by others and second-guessing herself. On the other hand, if a person who sees these shades is self-confident, then it makes that person more likely to be the voice of reason and play more of a mediator role in her society. When I think of this type of person, I'm more inclined to point to Yelena. She saw both sides of the countries and instead of choosing between the two, she took the middle ground. I believe that as we see Opal grow and become more confident in her abilities, we'll see Opal become more of a mediator.

Mic- What you say about seeing shades of gray is interesting and I feel you are totally right concerning Opal.

Except I don't feel seeing shades of gray necessarily makes one more vulnerable. I personally feel seeing in shades of gray allows someone to see the truth of matters more clearly and how one acts on that reflects on their personality.

I feel Opal sees in shades of gray, but her personality takes that perceptiveness and turns it into something she uses to second guess herself.

I just finished Storm Glass last night. I have to say I agree with a lot that everyone said. There are plenty of times you just want to slap Opal for being so insecure and tell her to wake up! And the fact that she can see the shades of gray in Devlen is most telling of her character. It makes me like her more, but it also makes me want to "baby sister" her. Seeing the shades of gray sometimes makes a person more vulnerable or leaves them forever trying to do the right thing instead of just following their heart and acting. It also leaves a person second-guessing themselves, which Opal does from time to time. However, I love how brave she was in the end and how she got the guy.

I completely agree with the quality of the printing. Books are expensive as it is, to have a poor quality printing just adds insult to injury.

I finished my copy, too. Ready to discuss when you are! Yes, loved it. Ready for sequel! Loved seeing Yelana from third person viewpoint!

I saw Storm Glass at Borders and had to smile to myself. It took me a bit to get into the book and really start to understand Opal. I love the action and adventure and really just getting to know Opal's world better.

I didn't think about it like that, but I guess he kind of reminds me of Sylar, too, good point!

It was just kind of refreshing to see a villain that way because in fantasy/sci-fi the characters are typically either black or white, no shades of gray. They fit too easily in their stereotypical boxes.

For me (especially after reading just the excerpt), Devlen's role has become really interesting because of the mythology that Snyder has created with Sandseed guides and what they mean to the people they guide. It seems like that would be so personal/intimate (like in Yelena's case). What does it mean if he resonates so closely with her (supposing he's telling the truth)?

Devlen has caused some of the most horrendous memories in Opal's young life (especially the fact that he has basically raped Opal, because he took away her choice by "being" Ulrick). Yet Opal is able to see the subtle characteristics in people, she discerns some of the things that make the evil Devlen more human (which can be just as scary, too).

I don't know, it's just so layered! I love that Mrs. Snyder can write with such detail, it definitely gives us something to think about! :0)

Samantha- I liked your comments on Opal, although I think her lack of change is a result of being human. How many people can actually do the change they want to see? She's flawed in many ways and I really like her for it.
As for Devlen, his character is fascinating!! I don't feel like I'll ever know what he's about to do. lol I watch Heroes and he kind-of reminds me of Sylar. :) He's really bad when he wants to be, but there's a little bit of good hiding in there...somewhere lol Besides who ever dictated that bad guys always have to be "bad?" Is it really that black and white or is it more like shades of gray? I am very curious to see what happens to him after he loses his powers-that excerpt was really interesting. I think he's playing it off like he's good because he loves Opal, but I don't really feel that he's "good". (currently-this can always change after reading Sea Glass) How do you feel about Devlen?

Rachel,
I guess even though I thought at times her self-esteem issues were appropriate for a girl her age, she had so much self-introspection, but with (what seemed to me) no results or actions because of it. Don't get me wrong, she was very brave and selfless, but sometimes it just didn't mesh well for me personally... She has the most amazing family (which she admits when she compares her family to Ulrick's), her mentor believes in her (the comment when Zitora tells her to never mention that she's not capable, even if she doesn't believe it-or something like that-comes to mind), and it's not like she's mean-spirited.
Part of me understands that it's her growth as a character, but it's not exactly my cup 'o tea when she constantly revisits her "one-trick" status. I did like that she was such a sympathetic character. She tries to look at things through others eyes and help them if she can, like when she could empathize with Ulrick's feelings as far a magic abilities go. So it was the good and the not-so-good that took me a little while to warm up to Opal.
Just like you Rachel, I'm sure that these events will make her a more secure person, in fact, I can't wait for it!! :)

On a side note, Devlen certainly is an interesting villain (especially after reading the excerpt for Sea Glass)...Does anyone care to elaborate on their thoughts about him?

I would LOVE to have Storm Glass in hardcover!! That would be awesome!
Samantha- I'm curious- what was it about Opal that you had difficulties warming up to her? I really enjoyed her character. I liked her inner struggles and felt they were a realistic portrayal of someone with too many insecurities. I have a feeling that these adventures will shape her into a much more secure and confident person.

Donna wrote: "I think I'm going to write to Mira, because I really don't want this lower-quality trade edition thing to become a trend. "

Yeah, really! I thought it was just the ARC, but no, the so-called "quality paperbacks" of Storm Glass are not the same quality as the Study Series. Jane and I are still hoping for hardcovers. I don't know why they don't just do it--Mira carries hardcovers for other authors! and I sell way less Debbie Macomber than I do Maria V. Snyder (eh, well, that's probably not an accident ^_^)

I get a day off tomorrow! Guess what I will be re-reading, hehe...

I really enjoyed it, too! It took me a little bit to warm to Opal, and at times she was a little trying. Yet I like the direction this story is going! I'm a little hesitant to have the conflict with the Warpers again, but I have confidence that Mrs. Snyder can work her magic. :)

I agree with Donna about the paper, but I do like the fact that it bends and it makes it easier when you're in the middle of a ~480 page book.

Go for it, Donna! I'll wait for a few others to chime in before I put in my two cents.

I'm assuming that a spoiler thread is okay now, since I've noticed the book on the shelf at a couple of stores around here.

I finished Storm Glass at ridiculous o'clock in the morning, and it was worth the wait. I have to admit that based on Opal's earlier appearances, I wasn't sure that I'd like her as the focus of a new series. So I was surprised at how easily I found myself caught up in her story.

It was great to see some characters from earlier books, although it did feel odd to read about Yelena from an outside perspective. I was happy that her involvement wasn't overdone though, because she didn't overshadow Opal.

Kade is a great character, though I don't think we really got to know him as much in this book as I'd have liked to. Of course now that he's more settled about his past I'm sure that'll change, so I guess that'll give me something to look forward to.

I feel like a dork for admitting this, but I'm already reading it again. I hardly ever re-read a book right after finishing it, but I'm still a little sorry that it's over and that it'll be so long before I get to have the next one.

My only complaint is about the way that the book was printed. You know how the higher priced trade paperbacks (including the earlier Study books) are printed on nicer quality paper than mass markets? Well Storm Glass isn't. It uses the same paper as smaller paperbacks, not the longer lasting, nicer-feeling stuff of the typical trade edition. This may be why the print is not that crisp (and in my copy, sometimes smudgy). And the text on some of the pages has at a small but noticeable tilt. I'm gentle with my books, but after one reading my copy of Storm Glass looks a little more roughed up than the Study books that I've read through many times. I think I'm going to write to Mira, because I really don't want this lower-quality trade edition thing to become a trend.

So what did other folks think about the story?