3.5

Arc provided by Netgalley for my honest review.

I have read several of the KingFountain series also by Jeff Wheeler so I am familiar with this author. This book had the same feel to it as his other books despite it being a slightly different genre. There are two main problems I seem to have with every Wheeler book I read. The first it that so many of his books seem to be connected and I have such a hard time figuring out what book to read next. His website (https://jeff-wheeler.com/) has a great reading order list to solve this problem. (to be honest, I have yet to follow it as I have only read the Kingfountain books before this one.) I can only assume that since he created this list I am not the only person with this problem. Now, as far as I know, the Harbinger series is independent of his other works. The second problem with these books is when I am reading them I cannot put them down, but when I do I have no desire to pick them back up. I often set his books down and take weeks to return to them. Having a deadline helped me read this one so fast.

Finally on to the actual review for Storm Glass. This is the first book in the Harbinger series. I believe there is a total of five books planned. This is a steampunk fantasy series about opposite worlds and how they coexist. Cettie grew up in a world with nothing, she had to fight for every scrap she had. Sera was handed everything she could ever need, born into a world of luxury. How one is born is not how one must live. Both girls learn all they can to gain some power over their own lives.

Cettie was an interesting character. She seemed both old and young for her age, not the innocent twelve-year-old I was expecting. She often spoke like an adult, using words that seemed wrong for an uneducated pre-teen, yet the next moment her actions made her seem like a young child, not someone who was almost a teen. She was by far the better of the two main characters. I did not like Sera. I found her to be annoying and immature. When she was first introduced she did whatever she wanted with no regard to the way it might affect others.

This world was very interesting. As I understood it there was a world on the ground that was filled with the lower classes and many poor, sick people. The upper class lived on floating rocks right above the grounded cities. I think that the world building was done very well.

This book seemed to drag on for me. I didn’t really get into it until the halfway point. Most of the first half was simply a description with little plot. This was a good start but I wanted more. More plot. More action. I wanted more about the worlds in a more active way. I wanted an actual explanation, not everything being explained by "the mysteries". I wanted the more development from these characters. I think this series has potential, but it needs more.

Storm Glass left me with mixed feelings. For the majority of the book, I wasn’t certain if I was enjoying it or if the characterisations were grating on me. Then I suddenly realised that I was making the point of finishing it one evening rather than saving it for the train. Something had gripped me and I wanted to know what was going to happen.

The two main characters are twelve-year-old girls, Cettie – a waif from “down below”, a nobody with nothing and Sera – a princess given everything but her freedom.

I liked Cettie. She has courage and only desires to fit in with a loving family, changing her life for the better. She aims to please and will do anything to be accepted by her new family, despite the hardships they throw at her. While not the strongest character, she was likeable enough.

Sera, however, was spoilt. She was abused in the sense that she literally isn’t allowed to leave her house and her father tries to deny her an education. Loneliness and isolation are her main companions. But there was something in Sera’s attitude: she doesn’t think of consequences and deliberately goads her governess. Despite her circumstances, it was sometimes hard to see past the spoilt exterior.

Sera also goes from spending her lessons daydreaming to suddenly become studious and devouring everything she can. But, as a reader, I didn’t feel there was a transition period between the two and it was jarring.

At times, the adults in this book felt more childish than their children. Sera’s father especially acted as a toddler who wasn’t getting his own way. I couldn’t connect with any of the adults. Fitzroy was likeable enough, but I didn’t feel anything on an emotional level with the older characters.

There were parts of this that left me frustrated, hence why I was left with mixed feelings. Anna, Fitzroy’s youngest, is clearly plagued by ghosts like Cettie is, only she can’t seem them, leaving her terrified. It’s obvious she feels how strongly Mrs Pullman – the housekeeper – dislikes her (despite no obvious reason as to why is given: I guessed it was because Anna has a good heart). However, she has a strong relationship with her father: I never understood why she hadn’t told him she was afraid.

Storm Glass has a fairly gentle pace for the majority of the book. The switching narration allows a few months to pass without feeling like there are obvious gaps, allowing Cettie to settle into her new life and Sera to adapt to her new schedule. The pace quickened towards the end and the tension increased, resulting in an engaging finale.

The final scene, however, felt rushed. It was as if the characters suddenly needed to land in this certain place for any potential future books to develop, so the characters were dumped there. It wasn’t the most satisfying ending.

Like I said: mixed feelings here. I ultimately enjoyed this book though and it held my attention throughout.

This is the first time I’ve reviewed one of Mr. Wheeler’s books even though they’ve come to be favorites. First, full disclosure … I am a “first reader” for Deep Magic e-zine which is published by Mr. Wheeler. This means that I get to sift through their submissions and pick the ones I like best, but none of that prevents me from writing an objective review of this book.

Actually, I hadn’t heard of his other books until I became a first reader for Deep Magic and they were recommended by a fellow reader. I am SO glad I found them! He writes excellent fantasy. I hope to post reviews of some of his other series in future. Storm Glass is the first book in a completely new series so I was so excited to get the ARC!

Celie & Sera are two girls who are from very different backgrounds. Celie reminds me very much of Jane Eyre. Neglected, poor and likely doomed a short life of misery, but everything changes when she meets a kind Military Officer who decides to help. Sera is royal. Affluent, bright, vivacious and deeply unhappy. Both girls are fascinated by the magic that runs their world and are determined to learn more about it, and unaware of the danger of doing so.

I think one of the things I love most about Mr. Wheeler’s books are the women/girls who people them. They can be fierce warriors (The Maid of Donremy), the source of courage (Evie), the power behind the throne (Ankarette), and hope for the future (Lia). We have just met Celie and Sera in this new series, but they have real potential. I was particularly fond of Celie. If you have already read Mr. Wheeler’s other books then be prepared. The twist about 3/4 in floored me. How did I not see it coming?? I love when that happens.

I’m dying for the next book which comes out very soon. Don’t you love it when a series has some get up and go. It’s nice not to have to wait forever for the next installment. I wouldn’t mind waiting though. I look forward to it.

Song for this book: Hold Me by The Sweeplings

DNF @ 20%
This was not for me. I had never read anything by this author before, but I was never engaged nor cared about the characters. The beginning moved way too fast to establish any feelings for the main character and I felt like it was just overall cheesy and boring. It also read younger than most YA novels. Review is now up on my blog and is linked here.

I received an ARC for Storm Glass from NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

Not that authors generally have much control over their jacket covers, but this art is amazing! I love it! After reading Storm Glass, I love it even more since it could be symbolic of the happenings within the story. 

At this point, I feel fairly certain I will thoroughly enjoy books written by Jeff Wheeler. He develops creative worlds and characters that are thoroughly delightful, or despicable, depending on the type required. Fantasy continues to be one of my favorite genres because of the flexibility and the ability to explore social problems in a different environment. Magic is simply a bonus.

In Storm Glass, we are transported to a Regency styled world, where the rules of social class are rigid and absolute. Wheeler creates a nice play between the contrast of the extremes in society that could be seen as a parallel to our own world. The discussions on debt, and how financial concerns could quickly become the downfall of a family - and their floating manor - make it feel real. Anyone with sense can see how debt strangles families today.

In Storm Glass we are introduced to some of the dregs of society. A foster mother has collected a swarm of children to be eligible for money from the government. She, in turn, drinks up the money leaving the children destitute. Two of the older children take a strong role in caring for the younger children by stealing food, protecting and comforting when there is nothing else to be done.

The Mysteries are a controlling force within society. The magic of the Mysteries bleeds into the realm of science. Only the privileged will be educated in the Mysteries, because it's education that could change the opportunities afforded the poor. The four major schools are the Mysteries of War, the Mysteries of Wind, the Mysteries of Law and the Mysteries of Thought. Cettie appears to be sensitive to the Mysteries, but it has not yet been revealed how her upcoming education will help her bloom. 

Cettie Pratt, the mother-figure for the orphans, has a secret. A ghost comes to haunt her, with the intent to harm. With the little ones, the protection becomes mutual - she shelters them and their innocence acts as a barrier the ghost cannot cross. When one of the wealthy, from the skies above, enters the home and witnesses the conditions he uses the Mysteries to banish the ghost. Cettie asks to be taken away - without understanding the ramifications. This powerful man, Vice Admiral Fitzroy, extends himself and brings Cettie to his home where she finds a mixed reception. His wife and youngest are loving to the poor child, but others see her as a threat.

Cettie, is filled with doubts about her worth. She is complex because she is ashamed of her background, but doesn't feel compelled to mimic high society and fail in the undertaking. Ms. Pullman, one of the most despicable characters I've met in quite awhile, plucks expertly at the loose threads of Cettie's feelings - shredding any confidence the girl might have found in her new home.  Though she is twelve, Cettie, has grown up quickly in a world that thrust responsibility on her and so se evaluates the world through the lens of her experience. I enjoyed seeing how she could be mature, and still cowed by Ms. Pullman. Ultimately, Cettie is a hero because she wants to stand up for the down-trodden and create a better world. It will be fascinating to see how she manages to work through her lofty goals.

Sera Fitzempress, lives an isolated life. She has been kept from mingling with society at large, and specifically children her own age. Despite her upbringing, she is fierce, loyal, smart and driven. Her governess, Hugilde - and only companion, easily becomes exasperated with the child but is also the only adult who truly loves her. As more political power comes within grasp of her father, he becomes more controlling. Her mother appears to be powerless, but has secrets of her own. The bickering parents could have ruined Sera, but instead she wants to seek social justice and change the world she lives in. She, however, may truly gain the power to change the world. Associating only with adults is another way for a young person to mature beyond her years. Sera has had to negotiate the relationship with her parents, knows her value is seen - in part - by who she weds for political advantage and her friendship with Hugilde. It feels realistic that Sera would be another mature young woman because of her circumstances.

I highly recommend Jeff Wheeler as an author!

I really enjoyed the book. The plot and characters are amazing. The book cover is gorgeous. I really looking forward to read the second book.

A new departure for Jeff Wheeler set in a society where the ruling class lives in floating cities while the oppressed live below. It's a good book, once you get past the improbability of an influential member of the ruling class adopting an orphan within a few minutes of meeting her just because she asks him to.

I definitely enjoyed the book. I liked the plot and the character development. I felt as if the ending was a little rushed for closure though and think that it could have been drawn out further, even into a second book perhaps. I would follow a series if this book was expanded.

Though this book is geared more toward a young adult audience, I feel the better audience would be 4-6th graders. The premise is interesting and I like how the "Mysteries" with a capital M are described and used. The writing isn't as polished as I would like and there were redundancies in explanations and descriptions that detracted from the story. I found myself saying aloud, "Yes, yes! You've covered this already."

#StormGlass #NetGalley

publisher synopsis: 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. Only the wealthy can afford to learn the Mysteries, and they use their knowledge to further lock their hold on society.
Cettie Pratt is a waif doomed to the world below, until an admiral attempts to adopt her. But in her new home in the clouds, not everyone treats her as one of the family.

Sera Fitzempress is a princess born into power. She yearns to meet the orphan girl she has heard so much about, but her father deems the girl unworthy of his daughter’s curiosity.

Neither girl feels that she belongs. Each seeks to break free of imposed rules. Now, as Cettie dreams of living above and as Sera is drawn to the world below, they will follow the paths of their own choosing.

But both girls will be needed for the coming storm that threatens to overturn both their worlds.



Jeff Wheeler is the ultimate storyteller!! Every story I have ever read from this author is a delicate web, intricately spun throughout the entire series. Sometime you don't even realize some of the details that correspond until you re read the series. This series is just as intricate and just as awesome!

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

I loved the Kingfountain Series so I was thrilled to see that Jeff Wheeler had started a new series. This book is very different from Kingfountain and Muirwood. We alternate between following two very different protagonists, at least different in their circumstances. Cettie was impoverished down below in the Fells and finds an opportunity to go up to a floating mansion in the sky. In this world the gap between rich and poor is very great. The poor live on the ground in the shadow of mansions that float in the sky. The magic in this world is called the Mysteries and only the rich begin to understand it when they are old enough to receive their education. Sera is the rich and privileged daughter who has grown up in the clouds but she is sad due to her neglect and isolation. This is a complex world that is deeply layered with a lot to take in. Our protagonists have their own struggles which are compelling, though very different. This felt like a completely new world to me until almost the very end when an action that was taken that reminded me of another book by the author. This book can be started by a reader unfamiliar with the author’s previous works but it may be fun for readers that are familiar with to be reminded of previous works. I am very excited to see where this series is going, although I have to admit I’m nervous about where the story ended. I am not sure if that will mean a series that felt so new and fresh to me when it continues.

The book flowed along nicely. Well written and interesting slant on castles in the air. I expect more will be revealed in the following books. Rather Dickensian in style with a steampunk element and dark undertones.

Floating cities levitating above the muck and mire of the downcast. So begins a new series by Jeff Wheeler, which is set centuries after his lauded Covenant of Muirwood series.

The two main protagonists are the young girls, Cettie and Sera, representing the dichotomous nature of society, in a world whose nature is not too dissimilar to our own.

This world is imbued with rites of power, which are as Delphic as they are complex. This power is only studied by the privileged few with four major schools: the Mysteries of War, the Mysteries of Wind, the Mysteries of Law and the Mysteries of Thought.

This is my first Jeff Wheeler novel and I really enjoyed his light, breezy writing style. While this series is clearly Young Adult fiction, it belies the depth of his characters that can be quite insightful in their observations.

I am most definitely looking forward to exploring this world further through the upcoming books as well as Jeff Wheeler's previous series.

I received a free copy of this for review from NetGalley **

I was so excited when I got this for review. I've read every book Jeff Wheeler has published and I'll continue to. This book didn't disappoint, there's something about his characters that I fall in love with. I can't wait to continue with the series.

Another excellent story by Jeff Wheeler! Mr. Wheeler has a knack for writing stories about young people who are strong, true to their values, and are needed to save the very world around them. Insert a little magic, an imaginative setting, and you have a truly great series. This new series is a little Dickensian - the very poor Cettie, living below in the Fells, strives to rise to a better station. Sera, the princess who lives in a manor floating among the clouds, wants to save her people. Book one sets the stage for them both, and tells a great tale along the way. Can't wait for Book 2 in this series! Man thanks to NetGalley and 47 North for the e-arc. 4.5 stars!

Where Kingfountain is set in quite a ‘classic’ fantasy setting (at times it feels very Arthurian), Storm Glass is in a fantasy regency setting which ticks all the boxes in my book. This was one of the best choices this book made as it allows you to play with some of the societal rules that governed that era, as well as the ever-important class divide.

Did I mention there are floating villas? Oh yes. There are floating villas. I’ll admit that was my favourite part. I’m obsessed with flight, have been since The Edge Chronicles so this was right up my alley and I would have read it just for that.

I also think the characters were interesting. Cettie, one of the protagonists is a kind of rags to riches character when she is rescued by the dashing (at least he is very dashing in my mind) Lord Fitzroy who takes her in. She has to deal with a world she’s never known, fitting in with newfound siblings and struggling with the idea that she can now pursue her passions. Cettie was a great character, I loved her inquisitive mind and I also loved that she never quite forgot where she came from. I hope that isn’t something that is lost in later books.

Our other protagonist Sera is Cettie’s privileged counterpart. Though the two characters never meet you can see that Wheeler is setting them up to be friends despite their differences. The princess and the ‘pauper’ is a tried and tested dynamic after all. I thought that Sera was also written well, she’s likeable and relatable enough that you care about what happens to her, but her privilege is also brought out on many occasions. She doesn’t feel too much like a ‘saviour of the poor’, she feels like a real person who has had a very sheltered upbringing.

Where Kingfountain chose to explain away anything that wasn’t quite explainable with ‘the fountain’, Storm Glass instead uses ‘the Mysteries’ which essentially form the magic system of this world. There isn’t really the space in the plot to properly explain this which is why it feels a little bit nebulous, however, I do believe these will be explained and developed in later books (please?).

There are a lot of ideas in this book that I wasn’t sure would work together, rags to riches, floating villas, conscience vs economy, ghosts, magic, and science. However, I think the concept and the way this plot is put together is so strong that these disparate elements somehow come together to form an extremely entertaining storyline. Maybe that’s a mystery in itself.

Much like Kingfountain this is another very enjoyable book, I wouldn’t say it’s pushing boundaries, or that it’s particularly diverse, however, it is a fun quick read and I would certainly recommend it to both those who have read Jeff Wheeler’s work in the past or those who have never tried but don’t know where to start. If you want to follow a story from the beginning, now is the time.

My rating: 4/5 stars

I received a digital advanced review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book took some time to get into, but stick with it! I liked this book and recommend it to genre fans.

Okay... For the most part I really enjoyed this book. I liked the two different perspectives in social class and wealth. The contrast made it an exceptional story. I also have always loved the idea of living on floating castles and cities. It was no surprise that I was drawn to such a storyline. This definitely felt like a coming of age story in the sense both girls are struggling with their place in the world and who they are. Of course it leads to a journey of self discovery but it's not as simple as it seems. The character development was not on par as I would like but overall was good. The storyline was steady and evenly paced. The fantasy world was generally well developed and easy to understand. I would recommend for a light easy read. I received this book free for unbiased review through NetGalley and publisher.

A tale of two cities…

… of two worlds, to be more correct. Storm Glass is a wonderful fantasy about worlds colliding! Cettie Pratt is an orphan living in the Fells, an area of starving, debt-enslaved, deed-contracted, ground-bound poor. Sera Fitzempress is royalty, living aloft in a luxurious castle floating in the air, in line for the throne; surrounded by luxury, she has never been allowed to leave her parents’ estate. The rich live aloft in floating manors that rise and fall according to the fortunes of their owners. The poor live below, ground down under the harsh conditions and work that support the nobles floating overhead.

Everyone’s fortunes rise and fall as Cettie is taken in by a compassionate noble who wants to adopt her. Sera dreams of helping change society and demolishing the rigid codes that oppress the lower classes. Her father sees her as a rival for the throne, many nobles have no desire to change the status quo, and there are evil forces at work.

Cettie is drawn to the Mysteries, even as Sera is drawn by her story. Can either girl break free of their assigned place in society and change the world around them?

Storm Glass is reminiscent of a steampunk novel, but rather than mechanisms, there are magic stones, mysteries, and maritime vessels flung aloft. The world-building is wonderfully colorful and real, the characterizations are deep and complex, and the magical system of mysteries is, well, mysterious.

It’s a fun, enchanting read with a lot of deep thoughts. Highly recommended.

I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) through NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

A wonderful take on the factions of the wealthy and the poor