In the second chapter of Shatterglass, THIS IS ALL SO COOL. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to read The Circle Opens.
Glass Dragons
Like, how? That’s my entire commentary in a nutshell. HOW DID SOMEONE THINK OF THIS? HOW CAN I GET MY HANDS ON ONE? Every new detail I learn about Chime makes me more excited to see how glassblowing will be used within this magical world. Keth’s uncontrolled magic created a dragon WHO BREATHES FIRE THAT TURNS IMMEDIATELY INTO MORE GLASS.
As if in reply the dragon twitched, its belly roiling. A moment later it opened its jaws. Antimony surged from its gullet to form clear glass flames that dropped as soon as they broke away from its mouth. Niko quickly thrust a hand under the dragon’s chin to catch the pieces. When the creature finished, Niko had a palmful of glass flames.
HOW IS THIS NOT THE COOLEST SHIT EVER??? Trick question, it’s the coolest shit ever. Oh god, I can’t get enough of this.
“Her blood though – her blood is lightning.”
I can’t deal with this.
A pure musical note rose from the creature as Tris stroked her, a lingering tone like those drawn from the lips of glasses filled with water. The girl smiled. “Is that your purr?” she asked. The ringing tone rose each time she ran her fingers down the dragon’s spine. The sound continued, first low, then higher, a melody that grew softer and softer, until it stopped. “I think she’s asleep,” Tris whispered to Niko. “I’m going to name her Chime.”
Bury me here, y’all. RIGHT HERE.
Niko
I know this is repetitive because of the structure of this series. I started off with Sandry’s book in The Circle Opens, and it made me miss all the characters who weren’t a part of it. So yes, it was great to finally have Niklaren Goldeye back into my life. Pierce has a great understanding of the dynamic he has with Tris, so I can’t imagine a better pairing for the set-up of this novel. Tris’s journey so far is one of chaos and mystery, perhaps more so than the other three Discipline kids. That’s not even taking into account the whole murder subplot, either! She’s got a mage thrust into her life whose power confuses everyone around him, and she still hasn’t even learned the full story of his life. She doesn’t know about Keth’s history with lightning, nor how lightning might have affected his power. (Which is fascinating to me because lightning plays such a huge part in Tris’s own life.) She doesn’t know that Keth truly hasn’t been taught any form of academic magic, too. So this is where Niko’s guidance is going to be necessary. She’ll need his support in order to navigate such a special and unique circumstance, you know?
I am curious if Niko’s conference will provide an integral part of the story. I AM INTRIGUED. There are so many mages here in Tharios at one time, and that’s bound to be a good thing, right?
Keth
Well, now it’s clear that Keth’s life will be tied into the ongoing serial killings in Tharios, given where he lives. It’s amazing to me that in just two chapters, Pierce has been able to construct a complicated web of characters spanning this whole city. Seriously, TWO CHAPTERS. We meet Poppy, Yali, and Xantha, yaskedasi who are all mourning the loss of Iralima, the latest victim of the Ghost. But the mourning they do does not mean they get to stop working, either. There’s a frantic energy to these scenes, in part because the three yaskedasi speak so quickly and wittily, but it’s also because you can tell these people are always moving. They’ve always had to. And in the middle of all of this is Keth, the disgraced Journeyman trying desperately to find his way back to his former glory. What’s cool about this is that he fits within this group of characters, since they all seem to share a sense of desperation in their lives. As usual, you can see the markers of class within this society and in the small details of these characters’ lives, and it all accentuates the story in rewarding ways. I love that we get a sense for who Poppy, Yali, and Xantha are, that they have stories that have nothing to do with Keth. I love that we see how Keth lives within such a chaotic environment and how he finds momentary peace within it. That’s what this chapter ends with: clarity. I don’t imagine it’ll last long, given how complicated Keth’s life is. But it was a comforting thing to read.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdoahJTPFkI
Mark Links Stuff
– I am now on Patreon!!! MANY SURPRISES ARE IN STORE FOR YOU IF YOU SUPPORT ME.
– The Mark Does Stuff Tour 2015 is now live and includes dates across the U.S. this summer and fall Check the full list of events on my Tour Dates / Appearances page.
– My Master Schedule is updated for the near and distant future for most projects, so please check it often. My next Double Features for Mark Watches will be the remainder of The Legend of Korra, series 8 of Doctor Who, and Kings. On Mark Reads, Diane Duane’s Young Wizards series will replace the Emelan books.
- Mark Does Stuff is on Facebook! I’ve got a community page up that I’m running. Guaranteed shenanigans!
