juliaosk's review
4.0
Did not like the first part of the book, like first 30% or so. It picked up after that though.
hhllmm77's review
5.0
This book was wonderful! I loved it! I listened to the Audible version and the narrator was spectacular! I can’t wait to read the next one! I’m so glad I stumbled upon Jeff Wheeler!
faithtrustpixiedust's review
4.0
"We all learn, little woman, that before we can be old and wise, we must at first be very young and foolish."
This is marketed as young adult, and while the writing style and pacing were definitely of that genre, the main characters were both 12 throughout the entire novel, which was surprising to me at first. The plot was well paced, though, and the characters well rounded, so it was not a bad thing by any means.
I was drawn into the story and the world as soon as Cettie's character was introduced. She had a gothic quality to her that reminded me of Jane Eyre, and her storyline gave me strong Mansfield Park vibes, which I really liked and appreciated.
Unfortunately, I did not feel such about our other heroine, Sera, at least not for a long while. I found her initially more along the lines of the princess part of Barbie's The Princess and the Pauper: whiney, ungrateful, and ~so unconventional~ But after some hardships, her character really blossomed into someone I genuinely cared about.
"Some knowledge, important knowledge, requires a price to be paid before it is learned. The secrets must be guarded. But they can be learned."
I was not a huge fan of the unnecessary love interests, as they made the 12 year old protagonists feel much older, especially since their respective love interests were both a few years older than them. The other secondary characters, such as Sera's governess Hugilde, Mr Durrant (an iconic gem of a man), and Anna were all great additions that helped to populate the world and expand the breadth of the characters.
I did not like the random thoughts from a seemingly unimportant character, Lady Corrine of Pavenham Sky, as they were largely unrelated to the themes of the novel, and served only to reiterate worldbuilding, spew pointless philosophy, and distract from the plot. The character in question, when she did appear, did not seem even remotely like her philosophical self.
The malevolent spirits and their influence in Cettie's life, as well as Fitzroy's apparent ability to ward them off, was immediately compelling and I was dying to know more about them. I loved the worldbuilding as a whole and was fascinated by the mixture of myth and science. It reminded me a lot of one of my favorite underrated novels, Dominion by Shane Arbuthnott, with its historical feel and steampunk mixed with otherworldly fantasy aspects.
"That's the thing about stories. They can touch on truths that some people are not ready to hear."
Read this review and more on my blog here!
echotechne's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cavewoman4's review
5.0
my heart!
I’m falling deeply in love with this story.
The familial love that comes from this book makes me wish I had this type of love in my childhood. Two very smart girls who continue to have hard trials thrown at them use their wits to combat them..
I need to know about the Mysteries and all the other questions that were left unanswered.
I’m falling deeply in love with this story.
The familial love that comes from this book makes me wish I had this type of love in my childhood. Two very smart girls who continue to have hard trials thrown at them use their wits to combat them..
I need to know about the Mysteries and all the other questions that were left unanswered.
nclcaitlin's review
4.25
Theirs is a world of opposites.
The privileged live in sky manors held aloft by a secretive magic known only as the Mysteries. Below, the earthbound poor are forced into factory work to maintain the engine of commerce.
Cettie is an orphan doomed to the world below, until an admiral attempts to adopt her.
Sera is a princess who wants to experience the world.
Neither girl feels that she belongs.
I loved the presentation of young girls and their desire for knowledge, experience and strive for better.
”I am young, but I still have thoughts. I still have ideas. I want to talk about things.”
Not to mention, the admiral is, well admirable. He’s so noble and wise and aweeee. He’s perfect for Cettie.
It wasn't that the villagers gave poor advice.
They just lacked the ability to see the travelers' circumstances for how they really were.
The people below are kept there for a reason. When one of them shows enough ambition or skill to rise, they are rewarded and encouraged and praised. They are fattened, like a hog to be butchered. And then they are brought to their knees. Men prey on other men. They gain some inherent satisfaction from devouring each other.
I have just found out Jeff Wheeler is also a Christian, perhaps explaining the profound and touching comments and my empathy with the protagonists and themes explored in this novel.
This was touching and sweet and cozy and Victorian England combined with steampunk fantasy…
A lovely fireplace read!
cmf1205's review
4.0
Wow what a beautifully written novel about multiple point of views mostly 2 young (12 yr old) girls who have such different lives but live such similar situations! I look forward to continuing this series.
Rich or poor. Sick or heathy. Above or below there isn’t so much different between each of the worlds within.
Rich or poor. Sick or heathy. Above or below there isn’t so much different between each of the worlds within.
wtaylor1321's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
bookloversboudoir's review
4.0
https://thebookloversboudoir.wordpress.com/2020/11/22/storm-glass-by-muirwoodwheeler/
I’ve become quite a fan of the author recently and wanted to read this because I love the image on the front cover. This is quite different than the other books I’ve read by the author. It’s set around the Victorian era with fantasy elements thrown in such as rich people life in magnificent floating mansions and flying sky ships. Fitzroy, one of the elite with such a mansion is drawn to a young, poor girl from the people who live on earth and decides to adopt her, setting in motion a chain of events that will not only change both their lives but the very fabric of society. We are also introduced to the daughter of one of Fitzroy’s friends and learn the important role she will play. This is the first book in the series so there is a lot of character set-up and world building and of course the to-be-expected open ending. I thought Storm Glass was great and plan to read the rest of the series.
I’ve become quite a fan of the author recently and wanted to read this because I love the image on the front cover. This is quite different than the other books I’ve read by the author. It’s set around the Victorian era with fantasy elements thrown in such as rich people life in magnificent floating mansions and flying sky ships. Fitzroy, one of the elite with such a mansion is drawn to a young, poor girl from the people who live on earth and decides to adopt her, setting in motion a chain of events that will not only change both their lives but the very fabric of society. We are also introduced to the daughter of one of Fitzroy’s friends and learn the important role she will play. This is the first book in the series so there is a lot of character set-up and world building and of course the to-be-expected open ending. I thought Storm Glass was great and plan to read the rest of the series.