Storm Glass was a cool fantasy novel that followed the lives of two young girls who came from very different parts of the fantasy world created in the book. Sera was a princess and lived on a floating manor in the sky and Cettie was practically homeless and living with the poor in the world down below.

The fantasy world created was quite fascinating. Although there are many modern inventions such as zephers, which are like flying spaceships, the time period seemed to emulate the 1800's with fancy dresses and balls, but also the poverty that you would expect in a Dicken's novel. There were also magical Mysteries that people studied, which added to the fantasy element.

The characters were interesting. I found them to be a bit younger than I typically read about. I read a lot of young adult novels, but in this story the two main characters were only 12 years old. I did find them interesting though. Cettie and Sera were both inquisitive young girls that had a lot of integrity. There were many injustices against the poor and rather than be a spoiled little girl, Sera, the princess, wanted to fight for the rights of the poor.

The plot was okay. It certainly wasn't predictable, at no point did I know where this book was going. But I expected a better plot, but the book was more about the world building then the events. I think the plot could have been more interesting and been done better. It was slow-moving and at times lost my interest. I did not see how the two girls stories were related for the majority of the novel.

It was full of very good world building and if it were to become a series I would be interested to see where it goes. As a stand alone it falls a little flat though. The plot could have been done much better, but the world building was so fascinating that I continued reading. This would not be at the top of my list for young adult fantasy, but I wouldn't count it out because the world building was so cool.

A big thank you to 47North, Jeff Wheeler, and NetGalley for an ecopy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

This is a creative young adult, steampunk, regency fantasy full of politics and drama. The two main characters, Cettie and Sara, are captivating in their own ways making me even more excited for Mirror Gate (the second book in this series), which comes out August 28, 2018!

Cettie is and orphan and has always lived on the ground, far away from the rich beautiful homes in the sky where the wealthy dwell. Mr. Fitzroy meets Cettie and is overtaken by her situation and brings her to his home to raise her among the clouds. Sera is a princess and the skies are all that she has known her whole life.

I think Mrs. Pullman is trying to contend with Umbridge here so I'm really intrigued for Mirror Gate where more of the "Mysteries" will be uncovered.

I talked about this book on my podcast, Gamestack. I'll attach an itunes link, but the show is also availalbe on dozens of other podcasting services including Spotify, as well as Youtube and Twitch.

Storm Glass is set in a Dickensian world where the the wealthy live in manors magically suspended in the sky by means of something called the 'mysteries", something only the sky-dwellers are privy to learn and understand. The unfortunate, impoverished people live below in "the Fells", where their short lives are marked by hard work, hunger, and meager means. This duality is explored through two characters: Seraphin Fitzempress, heir to the throne, who is kept isolated from everyone by her father and battles loneliness as a result; and Cettie Pratt, a girl who lived in the Fells with a negligent guardian until she meets Vice Admiral Fitzroy, who agrees to take her to his sky manor when she pleaded with him to take her away from her miserable home—only to have to contend with his Keeper of the House, Mrs. Pullman, who wants Cettie back in the Fells where she belongs.

I was completely enchanted with this novel. The story is told alternately from Cettie and Seraphin's points of view, and it was easy to see the similarities between the two girls, despite how different their lives were. I enjoyed reading about both of them, though I must admit I was most sympathetic to Cettie—it was hard not to be, since she definitely had a harder life than Seraphin.

There are many things that happened in the story regarding the Mysteries (not to mention, people involved in the girls lives) that I would love to discuss in this review, but since these things aren't referenced in the blurb, I feel like it would be bordering on spoiling to talk about these things in detail. That's a crying shame, too, because oh my goodness these things are some of the best portions of the book! Suffice to say that a LOT of things happened that were (depending on the event in question) exciting, frightening, and even heartbreaking.

I am thrilled beyond measure that Storm Glass is the first in a series of books, because I can't wait to visit this captivating world again.

This is the first time I've read a book written by Jeff Wheeler, but it definitely won't be the last!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves reading young adult fantasy... and I hope you'll love it as much as I did!

(The second book in the series, Mirror Gate, will be released on August 28, 2018.)

I received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of 47North via Netgalley.

Every new installment in this series sweeps me away, I love it! The vividness that the author creates along with identifying with his characters is always a please that experience.

Floating cities? Skyships? Etiquette lessons? Storm Glass intrigued me as soon as I saw the description. Sadly, I just couldn’t click with any of the characters, and I found the plot a little lacking…

The concepts in Storm Glass are pretty cool, with floating estates that hover over the slum-city on the ground. The wealthy live in the sky, with a sort of steampunk Regency setting, while the poor live on the ground, in a generic fantasy city. Cettie, one of our protagonists, is rescued from this life by enigmatic nobleman Fitzroy, who takes her to live on his estate in the sky – her story follows how she adjusts to this life. Our other protagonist is Sera, a princess who hates being told what to do. Now, I have no problem with trope-y characters as long as they are used to do something original, but these two never seemed to break out of their roles as ‘fish-out-of-water’ and ‘doesn’t-understand-her-role-as-princess’. Beyond that, I could not explain the plot to you. There wasn’t really any overarching thread of plot – just these two girls going about their business.

The main thing that slightly bugged me about this story was that it couldn’t seem to decide if it was YA or MG, and therefore it missed the mark on both. The protagonists are young girls, both around the age of 12, but Sera’s story in particular felt more like she was meant to be a wilful 16. I found that the majority of the characters were a little too flat to connect with, from the almost painfully heroic Fitzroy, to the moustache-twirlingly evil Mrs Pullman. Fitzroy was like The Perfect Dad™, and Mrs Pullman started coming after Cettie the second she stepped into the building. It’s hard to build tension when you have such over-the-top good and evil.

I also felt as though many things were under-explained in terms of the world-building. Cettie, as an outsider to floating society, would have been the perfect reader conduit to explain the workings of the world. Why are there cities in the sky? How do they stay up? How did this society develop? How do the sky ships work? And yet every single question she asks is hand-waved away with: ‘The Mysteries’. Yep, that’s right, the magic system is called ‘The Mysteries’ and no, we are not allowed to know what they are. Presumably at least one of Cettie or Sera will be introduced to them in later books, but for now, the reader is left utterly in the dark with them. It’s like the opposite of info-dumping.

This was quite frustrating when it came to the ghosts, which don’t appear to be part of the Mysteries. Cettie attracts ghosts. But how and why is not explained, and nor is whether these are dead-people ghosts or malevolent-spirit ghosts. Mrs Pullman can control them, but how? Honestly, this book raised more questions than it answered, but in a frustrating way that made me think that it was an omission, rather than intentional. Another slightly weird thing was the heavy focus on debt as a plot-point. This was like a fable about not getting into debt. If you get into debt, your floating estate starts to sink. Again, how? If this had been explained further (perhaps it’s a system like in Mun Mun?), then this could have been very engaging. But as it stands, it kind of just comes off as moralising.

I really wanted to like this. In a way, if it were reworked to have less discussion of debt and politics, it could be quite engaging as an MG flight-of-fancy, but as it stands, it has none of the charm it needs to capture the attention of a younger audience. Older audiences I think will be disappointed, as I was, with the lack of nuance and character development. I think that there will be people who love it for the setting – I’m just not one of them. Only two stars from me.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

This is a surprise to me because I have loved, every other book by Jeff Wheeler I have read, but I really couldn't get into this one. The story didn't grab me and neither did the characters, which is disappointing but it happens. I'll be waiting patiently for the next series he comes up with.

First, let me tell you something that I think is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!

Even though this book was just released on June 19th, the sequel, Mirror Gate, is going to be released on August 28th! How awesome is that? One of the things I hate most about reading a good series is having to wait a year or more for the next book to be released. Thank you so much, Jeff Wheeler, for taking your readers into consideration and not making us wait on the edge our seats for who knows how long to see what happens next!

Something else that is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING: THIS BOOK!

I wasn't aware that the author of this series also wrote the Legends of Muirwood series. I actually won one of the Muirwood books in a giveaway on GoodReads, and I just never got around to reading them. I will now! This book is based on some aspects of the world in the Muirwood series, just very far into the future.

To understand this series, you don't need to read the other series first. However, now that I've become so interested in Cettie and her world, I definitely want to read the Muirwood series. The author's other series, Kingfountain, also looks really good!

Something that irked me a bit was that Cettie was so quick to leave the kids and Joses in the Fells. She was so concerned with their welfare but asked to leave She knew Joses was likely in jail and their guardian is a drunk who doesn't feed them, you would think that she would be more concerned about making sure that would be alright. This was just a little detail that made me scratch my head. It didn't detract from the story, though.

The author did an excellent job at world building and character development! I really like Cettie and Sera, and of course, Fitzroy! Sera's dad really pissed me off, though! He is a total assbutt! (Sorry, I've been watching way too much Supernatural.)

This book had so many twists and turns. I couldn't put it down, and I loved the ending! I am so happy that I have the sequel so that I can start reading it right now!

the author stated that this series will have 5 books. Since the first 2 are the only ones listed on GoodReads, it might be a while before I get to see what happens next, so it's a great time to catch up on some of his other work.

I received a copy of this book from the publishers, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book.

The world in which this story is set is so different from anything I have read. The commoners live below, but the powerful and rich live above them in the clouds. If someone who lives above loses favour or money their home could crash and land on the population below.

The story is about 2 girls who are complete opposites, yet want the same things. Cettie is from the Fells which is below and gets rescued from her circumstances by someone from above. She is really smart and just wants to be part of the family that rescued her, however, there is someone how will do anything in their power to stop that from happening. The other girl is Sera who is in line to possibly be Empress one day. She is completely sheltered and is a little unruly in her father's eyes. A scandal happens that could cause her to either be shunned by society or lead to her being Empress sooner than expected.

Both of the girls are relatable and likeable. There is quite a bit of magic/magical realism as there are Mysteries that make things happen. One of the Mysteries is what keeps the places above from crashing to the land below (The Fells). Cettie wants to learn the Mysteries and even manages to help her guardian discover a secret of the Mystery of Wind.

This is a really well crafted book and I look forward to reading the next one.

Jeff Wheeler is quickly becoming one of my favorite fantasy writers. I could not put this down and read late into the night. Storm Glass verges upon but doesn't cross over into steampunk or dystopian. The society is divided between the wealthy and the struggling laborers and desperately poor. The economy is powered by the Mysteries, an unexplained force that is behind law, art and literature and the sciences. Cetti is an orphan struggling to survive in the Fells. She is rescued from neglect and starvation by Brant Fitzroy who serves the Mystery of Wind. Taken into his family who live on an estate that hovers above the Fells, she realizes that she has the ability to sense the Mysteries. However, there are people and forces that resent her new position and seek to destroy her.
I read an advanced readers copy of Storm Glass courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book and will look forward to reading the sequel which will be released in August, I believe.

I enjoyed Storm Glass, but felt it was written for younger readers. It's from the perspective from a princes and a girl who lives in the slump. Both girls are struggling with their identity. I liked the characters. Though the character development was minimal. The magical world was great. I like the idea of floating manors. The plot didn't really grip me. It was an enjoyable read, but I'm not sure if I'd read the second book of the series. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in return for a honest review.

I was totally excited to get this title after reading the blurb and seeing the cover! The concept was completely different from other books in this genre and I excitedly drove right into the story after I downloaded it.
Unfortunately, my momentum slowed with every chapter and I never really felt the connection that I was expecting from this book.

I did not connect with the characters and the story did not seem to go anywhere. I ended up not finishing the book but I don't think that it was completely atrocious and plan to finish it at some p[oint. I hope at which point, I will enjoy it much more!


Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Two girls, two worlds. One poor beyond measure, learning that love and hope and good things do exist in the world while fighting the evil. The other richer than she can imagine, but bored and yearning for more than life is giving her. Storm glass is about a world of mysteries that the reader uncovers as the two girls do, as each of them fight the evils presented with them and learn the true meaning of family.

This is somewhere between 2.5 and 3 for me. Low end because the writing was not my favorite. I felt like the author did a lot of “telling” - it made me, as a reader, feel like the author assumed we (readers) would be stupid. Maybe this book is suppose to be for an audience who doesn’t pick up on things easily, but even if I was 16, I think I would still feel almost insulted by this writing style. Give the reader a little credit, ya know? Needless to say, it wasn’t for me.

What DID work for this book was the premise. The world building and the plot were not bad at all. The ending was a little rushed, but not horrible. The split world, one in the sky, one on the ground, separated by class and money- it’s really intriguing. It seems like this is the first of a series and the author does set it up that there’s plenty of material and world building left that I could see the reader still learning new things by the 3rd book or however long it will be. I think the idea behind this book is really strong, but someone should have told him he was being too obvious.

I used to be an avid reader of YA Fantasy. Like that’s all I read. For years. I burned myself out on it. The tropes of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and dystopian novels became rote and tedious and I just. couldn’t. take. any. more. So I was a little hesitant to pick up Storm Glass. I know what they say about books and covers, but the cover art really drew me in.

In the world of Storm Glass, there is magic known as Mysteries. The wealthy’s homes are among the clouds, held aloft by this mysterious power. The poor live below, held down by the strictures and corruption of their society.

Cettie is a orphan living in destitution in the underworld known as the Fells. Starving and mistreated, Cettie tries to care for the other children in her foster mother’s home. When an admiral crosses her path, Cettie sees her chance to escape. To her delight, the admiral agrees to try to adopt her and she moves in the family’s lavish manor in the sky.

Sera is a princess, born to someday be a ruler. Her strict parents keep her protected and control her every move. Strong-willed Sera chafes against their rules, her boundless curiosity and sense of right and wrong going against her parents’ values.

The world of Storm Glass is definitely immersive. This is the first book in a series, so it felt a little like the pilot episode of a series: a lot of setup and introduction, enough action to get the ball rolling, but nothing earth-shattering. I felt it ended a little abruptly. It didn’t feel like a cliff-hanger so much as a convenient stopping place.

If you love fantasy worlds and steampunk elements, then this is one you should check out.

I enjoyed Storm Glass more than I thought I would when I first started. For whatever reason, I’m not aboard the young adult fantasy train right now, which is a shame, because there’s plenty of young adult fantasy I want to read, but I’m hesitant to go into it until I’m in the right mood! Still, I received this from NetGalley in exchange for a review, so a reading and a review it will get!

Imagine, if you will, a Regency England in which the rich live in floating manors and the poor live in the Fells, down below on the ground. Oh, and there are airships (obviously there are airships). This is the world Jeff Wheeler has us visit in Storm Glass. If you’re rich enough, you learn one of the four schools of Mysteries—Wind, War, Law, or Thought—which are kind of an arcane cross of magic and actual science. If you’re not rich, well, typically your parents are going to sell your deed (read: indentured servitude) and you’re not going to have any control over your destiny. So, you know, typical world with a fantasy twist.

Cettie has only ever known life in the Fells. Cettie can see ghosts. One day, her life changes forever: Vice Admiral Brant Fitzroy agrees to try to adopt her. From then on, Cettie will live in his floating manor of Fog Willows and want for noth—wait, sorry, no, that’s not right. Cettie tries to settle into Fog Willows, but there is an antagonist (the evil Mrs. Pullman), not to mention the whole of society frowning at Fitzroy’s scandalous eccentricity. Meanwhile, the other half of the narrative follows Sera Fitzempress, a second precocious 12-year-old, one who stands to inherit the empire if her father doesn’t get his way and who has a penchant for beneficence that will probably get her in trouble.

At the centre of this story, I suppose, is the premise that life is horribly unfair, and that once you realize this, you can do one of two things: you can lean into it, embrace the unfairness, and do your best to “get yours”; or, you can work to try to level the playing field, even if that makes things harder for you along the way. People who take the former tack are not necessarily “evil” but might be misguided; likewise, those who try for the latter aren’t inherently “good” but may have good intentions. Both Cettie and Sera must learn to navigate this unfair world and start making choices for themselves in terms of how they want to interact with it.

I think that’s where Storm Glass piqued my interest: agency. Cettie and Sera both have it, though Sera’s is severely curtailed in how she can exercise it. In both cases, however, the two protagonists are their own people. Plenty of characters tell Cettie what she should do, how she should think or behave—but she always resolves to do what she believes is right. I like that, even when it means she makes a mistake.

That’s where Storm Glass doesn’t quite come through for me, though: mistakes. Or maybe more accurately, just “the stakes”. Now, Wheeler threatens us with pretty high stakes, to be sure, for both girls. I love Mrs. Pullman as an antagonist: she is so delightfully convinced of her own rectitude that it doesn’t even cross her mind that what she is doing is wrong. I’m less enamoured with Sera’s father—he seems too one-dimensionally cruel. Both threaten their respective charges with harsh consequences. But just when the going gets tough, the climax of the book hits, and everything seems to wrap up too soon. I guess I was hoping for a bit more struggle, a bit more hardship, a need to be more clever.

Another dimension that didn’t bother me too much but might bother some people is the vagueness of the magic system here. The Mysteries refer both to knowledge that one learns in school as well as aptitude for various forms of magic. It’s largely based on force of will, it seems—Cettie is able to exercise some elements of it, despite having never been initiated into the Mysteries—but there isn’t much time spent on developing how this works any further. I actually like that Wheeler doesn’t bog down the book with a lot of exposition; we get precious little explanation of the political system, or the way the Mysteries work in conjunction with the rest of society—you have to do a lot of filling in between the lines. And I’m fine with that. Still, this attitude applied to the magic system means that we’re basically in a situation where magic can do whatever the plot needs (and maybe that’s why I’m dissatisfied with how the story resolves).

Overall, this is what I’d deem a competent fantasy novel. It ticks a lot of the right boxes. I enjoyed it, enjoyed the energy, liked the climax, stayed interested. It hasn’t stuck with me. I’m not sure I’d read a sequel. Your mileage, as always, will vary.

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Storm Glass by Jeff Wheeler does not disappoint his fans. We are introduced to this world with floating manors of the wealthy while the poor and sick live down below. There are many Mysteries in this world that one will learn during school. The world is viewed through two different perspectives of Cettie and Sera. Through both of the girls we see the corruption of the rich and of the desperation poor down. The story is truly engaging. While reading both views I wanted to learn more about these Mysteries and the truth behind them. I was drawn in instantly on how this world worked and could easily imagine the floating manors with dirty cities down below. Wheeler has such a way with words to really make you connect with the words on the pages. He draws you in with the curiosity of his characters, bringing out questions of your own. I would have found the beginning a little slow if I was not familiar with his writing. His attention to details create can be a little depth for some people. However, this writing is necessary and beneficial to really connect with his books. I knew there would be twists and turns throughout this novel and this one was amazing. The ending, oh my, just you wait!


In Storm Glass, Cettie and Sera are the main characters. Both of the girls feel like they don’t belong but have very curious minds. I absolutely adore both of these characters. Cettie of the Fells is such a sweet and caring girl. She lived in the Fells, the city below the floating manor known as Fog Willows. She was passed from guardian to guardian while fighting ghosts of her past. Cettie was rescued by Vice Admiral Fitzroy and brought to Fog Willows. While at Fog Willows, Cettie is faced with multiple challenges and tries to overcome in order to keep her new life. She is smart and a fast learner. With the help of Fitzroy’s youngest daughter, Anna, Cettie soon finds comfort in her new life, even with the presence of the ghosts that have followed her. Every time I was reading from Cettie’s point of view, I wanted her to succeed. I truly felt her pain and wanting of acceptance into Fitzroy’s family. She struggles consistently but she never gives up.


Sera is born into wealth. As the only daughter to the favored son of the Emperor, Sera is held to a very high expectation. Separated from everybody she can only rely on her governess, Huglide, for companionship. Sera has such a curious mind, mostly about the life of the people who live in the empire. She must learn all of the Mysteries if one day she plans to be empress. Unable to apply these lessons into real situations Sera acts out and continues to day dream. When her father is named Prince Regent, her world becomes more strict. I loved reading about Sera and how she truly cares for the empire’s well being. We see her resolve and commitment to one day become a true and fair empress. When reading from Sera’s point of view, you truly feel her loneliness and cannot wait for her to reach out and connect with other people.


Final Thoughts

Overall, Storm Glass by Jeff Wheeler was a fantastic book. I have enjoyed his writing and how captivating of a story teller he is. He truly finds a way to illustrate his worlds and create long lasting lovable characters. This book was no different. His twists and turns makes his books exciting and engaging. Storm Glass was written very well and kept you wanting more. I absolutely adored Cettie and Sera and cannot wait to see how much they grow over this series. I highly recommend this book for those who love mysteries, fantasy, and curiously smart characters.

Going into this I only saw positive reviews, so my attention was immediatly grabbed. The whole mysteries thing was really interesting to me.
I enjoyed it enough, and it was nice to read from the perspective of two young girls. However the plot didn’t really grip me. I am looking forward to the next installment though, since I do want to go back to this world.

Thank you to Jeff Wheeler, 47North, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for allowing me the extreme pleasure of access to an advanced reader copy of “Storm Glass: The Harbinger Series, Book 1” for an honest review.

I have to admit that before three months ago I did not even know who Jeff Wheeler was, but I have been on a blitzkrieg of amazing proportion since Amazon put several of his books on sale and I snagged this on NetGalley. In those months I read the entirety of King Fountain, Muirwood, and Mirrowen falling deeper and deeper in love with everything Jeff Wheeler writers about, how he writes it, and the path that he takes us on for each new voyage of the characters.

The Harbinger series, and its beginning with Storm Glass, is not different. Again, we are introduced to strong, powerful, and very different women, set on two different kinds of paths to find out who they are and what their entire world actually is about. The world building around them, and their very different society (and society placements in social structure) is intricately detailed down to the smallest things, taking my breath away all the time and making me have to pause and think about how he reframes something from our world into these.

I could hardly put this down, and it was madness not to be able to just devour the whole trilogy in 3-4 days (which I’d done with all five previous trilogies), and instead to take my time and now start looking forward to the second in this series when it is published in the future. I can’t wait to read this and buy it for those who always will!

I really wanted to enjoy Storm Glass - it had such a unique concept and I love the juxtaposition of two heroines from different backgrounds coming together. However, I just couldn't get into this world. Although the writing is well done, I felt that this was intended for more of a middle grade audience than young adult. Cettie is a tough cookie, but it felt almost too perfect that she would be adopted by a well-meaning Lord. Then there’s Sera, a literal princess, who somehow came out okay despite having two awful parents. With lots of fantasy tropes predictably happening, I lost my interest along the way.

4 stars

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the author's Kingfountain book series, so am really pleased that he's started another series to savor. The author does a good job of worldbuilding and once again creates interesting characters that the reader can get invested in.

The world is divided into the rich and privileged that have access to what makes the world work, called The Mysteries, and live in the sky in soaring manors. The poor live below the floating manors in the dark, dirty city. They have menial jobs, if they are lucky, and most have almost no food and live in squalor.

Cettie is an orphan living in horrible conditions with many other children in a home with a negligent foster mother. They are not fed or cared for by their guardian. One night the home is raided and Cettie is taken in by an admiral that says he wants to adopt her. He takes her to live with him in his sky manor, but as you can imagine, his family wants nothing to do with her and actively try to get her kicked back down into the city below.

Sera Fitzempress is a princess born into power and money. Her father is deemed the next heir to the king, who is in poor health. Her father is a horrid man and treats Sera with contempt and his wife with open hostility. There is no love in their house. Sera wants nothing more than to experience life and help the needy. She yearns to meet Cettie and talk with her to find out about the rest of the world.

Both girls must overcome obstacles in their efforts to change their lot in life. This is a very good book in what is certain to be an entertaining and intriguing book series. I can't wait to read the next book. I recommend you start this series now.