Synopsis (from Netgalley)
Pages: 132
Publisher: Orchard Books
Released: 9th of March 2017
Mariana lives with her family on the Venetian island of Murano - famed for its artists who create masterpieces from glass. But when Mariana's little sister, Eliza, dies of consumption and her mother's heart seems as though it will never heal from the pain, Mariana's father decides to use his glassmaking skill - and a dash of magic - to create a girl of glass in Eliza's image.
The remarkable glass doll, who sings, dances and talks, draws attention wherever she goes, and soon Mariana is famous for having the magical glass sister. But as the glass girl takes on more and more of Eliza's personality, Mariana begins to suspect that there is more than just magic at play. Could the girl of glass be her sister's ghost made real?
What I Have to Say
I still haven't read the first two books in the series, but the beautiful thing is, it doesn't seem to matter. It's the kind of series where you can engage in each of the books and the magic world within in them without having to worry about loads of backstory you may have missed. Some of the same characters reappear, but only in minor rolls. It's both a series and a standalone in the best way.
Eliza (the glass version, not the real version who we don't get to spend as much time with) is the most wonderful, beautiful character. She's an excitable little thing who you want to protect from all the harm in the world especially as being glass makes her so much more fragile. I truly fell in love with her as a character and felt the same towards her as Mariana does, ready to do whatever it takes to keep her safe.
Mariana also is a really interesting character. She has magic but is unable to train properly as glass making magic is for men. Throughout the book she does a lot to protect her sister, but she also has her own desire to learn magic and see where her talents lie.
This really is a beautiful series and so great for younger readers. I want to get everyone to start reading these books.
My thanks go to Netgalley and Orchard Books for providing me with this copy for review.
Definitely read the other books in the series! I have read them all and believe it or not, this was the one I liked the least - not that I didn't enjoy it. I just didn't feel it was as action packed as the others and the magic not so... magical lol. The mask makers daughter has been my favourite so far so I hope you get a chance to check it out :)
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