Spy Glass
Spy Glassby Maria V. Snyder
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 st olen some of her blood—and that finding it might let her regain her powers. Or learn if they're lost forever… (goodreads.com)
Here's the thing: I love Maria V. Snyder's writing, worlds and story lines. I love her characters and her mysteries and her relationships. What I do not love? Opal Cowan.This was a very difficult book to get through because I just cannot stand Opal. I don't care about her one bit. I think she's selfish and whiny and a brat. With each book in this trilogy I have wrestled with my dislike of the main character but for the most part I was able to ignore it and move on with the story. Not so much with this book.I didn't hate the book though, so don't think that, because I like everything else about it EXCEPT for Opal. Heck, I even liked her mother when her mother gave her the silent treatment for coming home with little time to prepare for her sister's wedding. There was just something about Opal that rubbed me the wrong way. And how everyone always fawns all over her and everyone loves her and thinks she's awesome? Gah!Opal aside (although that's hard to do since she's the main character) I do like the way the story unfolded. I thought quite a bit happened for one book, but in the end there is resolution to everything. It's strange going from a book series where the main character tries to do things alone but accepts the help of her friends to this one where it is Opal against the world and I really think she could learn a thing or to from Nya in The Healing Wars series.I didn't really think twice about Opal in the Study series so I was curious as to how a trilogy about her would pan out. I just wish I found her a more likable character than I did.One part in the last 1/3 of the story sort of confused me though. It's a scene in the mines and concerns a particular character and I had to go back and reread a few pages to figure out what the heck was just revealed and just happened. Even with the rereads I am still baffled but rather than dwell too much on it I continued on because I really wanted to finish the book and see how Snyder was going to wrap things up.I am highly anticipating Maria V Snyder's next book however, it is the sequel to InsideOut and I think it comes out in the Spring. Even though I didn't quite care for this main character, I love everything this woman writes it seems. She has a brilliant way with creating worlds and stories that you can fill your entire being with.The Glass Series