Spy Glass review

Spy Glass (Opal Cowan 3)

-       Maria V Snyder

Publisher: UK – MIRA Books

*Warning Description will contain Spoilers if you haven’t read the previous two books*

An undercover mission leads to danger, adventure and an impossible choice. 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 stolen some of her blood - and that finding it might let her regain her powers. Or know it could be they are lost forever.

This is the final of the Opal Cowan books and I’m sorry it’s over. I feel like there could easily be another book covering the consequences of this story. Opal has changed so much from the rather timid, unsure student magician we first met in Storm Glass. She has learnt a variety of skills, physical, emotional, magical and intellectual and this book covers some truly personal revelations as well answering most of the loose threads from the previous novels.

Opal’s character development has been the joy of this series as she makes mistakes and learns from them, decides who to trust and colours in various shades of grey in her world that they don’t warn children about. In this book Opal takes control of her own destiny at last and makes decisions throughout that will affect others as well as conscientiously develops skills that will help her in her missions. While still told through the first person, you can get a clear view of how Opal’s relationships with people change especially with Kade and Devlan, her two love interests and her mother. Her decision regarding her love interest in the end was the right one for her, but I still feel for the other one.

The big finale was exciting as Opal has to face her decisions and friends in a show down for her life and future. The bad guys here were truly despicable and while previously I never cared much for Opal opponents, I never despised them before. This time I really wanted them to fail and needed to see them punished.

This is a great series with plenty of action, mystery, politics and magic throughout and I really hope Maria V Snyder decides to write further novels based in Sitia. Please try some of her books if you’re interested in magical romance and different worlds.

Recommended for fans of Jim Butcher and Karen Miller. 8 out of 10