From the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Kingfountain Series comes the first novel in a bold and richly imagined world.
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 … 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.
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I was first introduced to Jeff Wheeler via STORM GLASS (#1 in the series,) which came highly recommended by the Historical Novel Society, of which I am a member. I don’t usually think of myself as a great fan of fantasy, but how I loved the Dickensian alternate world that Jeff Wheeler conjured up with his TWO female protagonists.
One of the reasons why I loved this series so much is because it deals with a crisis that bedevils modern-day United States today, that of a widening income gap between rich and poor. Sara FitzEmpress has everything one could want, money, power, and the promise of a throne one day. But she is so lonely, and not treated very well by her estranged parents.
Cettie Pratt is doomed to live in an ash-heap of a city, in darkness, as any light that reaches it is blocked out by the sky manors of the rich which float overhead. But Cettie persuades someone rich and powerful to save her, and thus begins a series of five volumes: MIRROR GATE (#2) IRON GARLAND (#3) PRISM CLOUD (#4) and BROKEN VEIL (#5), which trace the different life paths of two young women from the ages of 12 through 21.
Highly recommended! Five stars. #jeffwheeler #theharbingerseries
Just finished this series. I have been binge
reading Jeff Wheeler for two months (or more). Love his stories!
Jeff Wheeler does it again!
Like the Kingfountain series, this one also introduces child protagonists, going back and forth between Cettie, a little orphan girl who grew up in the “fells” (or the bottom rung of society,) and Sera, daughter of the emperor and destined to be the empress herself–at least in theory. It was very enlightening to learn in the author’s note at the end that Wheeler based this world upon Regency England, and yet he put his own twist on everything to such an extent that I never even saw the parallel. This is a fantasy world of literal castles in the sky (which made me think of Cosette’s song from Les Mis and then Wheeler said he was thinking of the same thing)–except that those castles can fall from on high if their owners fall upon hard economic times. It’s a world of ghosts, and the few (like Cettie) able to see them. It’s a world of political intrigue and machinations, as there is both a Prime Minister and an emperor who want to stay in power. Like all of Wheeler’s worlds, this one is so intricate, and the stories are so detailed that it’s hard to boil down the story into a clear summary. But I’m glad it’s the first in a series and that it doesn’t end here!
My rating: ****1/2
Sexual content: none
Language: none
Violence: minor
Political content: present but in context of the fantasy world
The cover is awesome on this book! I enjoyed this novel, although the characters never progressed beyond age 12, and I thought it was a young adult (YA) book where the characters involved are usually 14 to 18. In my opinion, the two main girl characters, Cettie and Sera, often acted and thought older than 12 anyway, more like 14. Especially since there were some (mild) romantic plotlines. The worldbuilding throughout the novel was good, with the Mysteries and the elite class floating in land masses above the poorer districts. I’m not used to reading YA that is written in 3rd person, so some of the more omniscient narration felt more “Telling” to me rather than a reader directly experiencing the events or how the characters felt/thought. Still, it gave a more classic or old-fashioned feel to the novel, like a Charlotte Bronte or Jane Austen type of read, I suppose. Some parts were slower in pacing, but there were some nice twists and reveals.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Reminiscent of Dickens (without all the words), The Little Princess, and The Prince and the Pauper in painting a world of haves and have nots. The characters are nicely developed and not one note beings. Magic clearly plays a large role in what undelies the society and the plot going forward, and I am excited to see what comes next – in the next book.
Enjoyable story with interesting characters. A unique world, well imagined. This one did not disappoint.
This world is new and unique. The terminology is easy to learn and the characters are well written
Imagine a world that is part “Oliver Twist” and part “Downton Abbey,” with a heaping of magic and a slight Steampunk vibe, and you’ll begin to get a feel for the world of “Storm Glass.” It’s a world where the wealthy nobles live in sky manors that float above the dangerous and dingy cities where the common folk live hard, miserable lives. The story’s protagonists are drawn from these two worlds, one a poor girl from the city, and the other a princess who lives a sheltered life among the clouds. But it’s the magic in this world, called the “mysteries,” that intrigued me the most. Overall, I found “Storm Glass” to be a unique and endearing fantasy that sets the stage for an even more powerful tale in the series to come.
I don’t feel like writing a full review. It had its moments but I wasn’t invested in any of the characters. I may continue the series because I have KU and I definitely want to watch the antagonists lose.
This is a great fantasy! I loved every part of it and found Mrs. Pullman to be one the most vile characters I’ve read in a long time. I can’t wait to start the next book in the series.
I’ve enjoyed all of Wheeler’s series Very very much. So much that I reread them after a year or two. If I dislike anything it’s only a page or very rarely a chapter of the doings of his well developed ‘bad guys’ when they are cruel or annoying. Of course the stories Need them to keep the main characters working hard for the “good”! 🙂
Storm Glass by Jeff Wheeler and narrated by Kate Rudd is a fabulous world that is fleshed out magnificently! Floating mountain cities, the poor people and the life they live on the ground, the magic that keeps things going they call the “Mysteries” , and the ship’s that soar through the sky! It is all so cool!
The characters are well developed and either terrifying or wonderful. Sure their are others but all are unique!
The narration is excellent too! I will certainly follow this series!
Fantastic storyline, characters and world. You’ll be immersed in it by the second chapter. So good I am now listening to the audio
Brilliant book, everyone should be reading this one! 5 stars easily…
What to say that others haven’t? Not sure, but I’ll give it a shot. Storm Glass (The Harbinger Series Book #1) by Jeff Wheeler was phenomenal! For reals…it kept me wondering what would happen next and did surprise me several times (a rare thing in a book). Would recommend for those who love fantasy with some elements of steampunk and good life lessons.
There are two main characters with different stories that merge together, Cettie and Sera. Cettie is from the Fells (the ground, lower class), while Sera is from the upper class and born a princess (floating island). Both are destined to change their world. The supporting characters are fantastic (good and evil ones). There will be at least one character you can relate to in this book. It feels a bit steampunkish with certain elements (note it is not full steampunk).
Things to expect: life lessons, friendships, enemies, ghosts, science, mysteries, magic, and great world building.
Overall I would recommend this book and can’t wait for the second!
Audiobook was easy to listen to and would recommend it.
Parental advisory/trigger warnings: stabbing of two teenagers with knife, talk of marriages failing due to affairs, mistreatment/bullying of children (but the adults in charge do the right thing and help- good life lessons in the story). I do not recall any swearing or sex talk. I would have no problem letting my younger teen/tween read this book due to the life lessons involved (treat people right, do the right thing even if people tell you otherwise/look down on you for it, everyone has the ability to become/do something with their life).
*I read one review that said this book is like the hunger games- I disagree with this comment. Only thing close is there is an upper class and lower class.
#Fantasy #Reading #Books #JeffWheeler #MustRead
Great story! Jeff Wheeler is a fantastic world-builder. Can’t wait for the sequel.