Books › Shatterglass
Shatterglass
First published 2004 · 368 pages
A crackling blend of elemental magic and urgent mystery, where harnessing volatile power is the only way to catch a killer.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like holding a storm in a glass—volatile, crackling with elemental energy, and constantly threatening to shatter. It blends the steady, character-driven work of magical mentorship with the urgent, ticking-clock tension of a murder mystery. The atmosphere is charged with the friction of clashing tempers and the unpredictable sparks of lightning-infused magic. As the narrative races against time, the prose remains accessible and brisk, perfectly suited for younger readers who crave adventure anchored by strong, capable heroines. It is an experience centered on the difficult, delicate process of rebuilding oneself after a devastating accident, appealing to anyone who loves watching raw, fractured potential get forged into something sharp, focused, and powerful enough to bring hidden truths to light.
- Mood
- crackling
- suspenseful
- magical
- charged
- Tone
- urgent
- determined
- adventurous
- tense
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- magical mentorship · harnessing volatile power · rebuilding after trauma · uncovering hidden truths
- The writing
- Accessible and brisk, balancing the mechanics of elemental magic with the forward momentum of a ticking-clock mystery.
- The arc
- Moves from volatile frustration and shattered confidence to focused, empowered determination.
- Who it's for
- Younger readers and fantasy lovers who enjoy elemental magic systems, stubborn characters learning to work together, and mysteries solved through magical ingenuity.
Content notes
- murder
- accidental trauma
About the book
Kethlun Warder was a gifted glassmaker until his world was shattered in a freak accident. Now his remaining glass magic is mixed with lightning, and Tris must teach him to control it (if she can teach him to control his temper first). But there's more at stake than Keth's education. With his strange magic, he creates glass balls that reflect the immediate past and expose the work of a murderer. If he can harness his power properly, he'll be able to see the crimes as they take place. Keth and Tris race against time, and the local authorities, to identify a killer who's living in plain sight.
Description from Open Library.
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