Storm Glass

Wheeler (The Poisoner’s Enemy) opens the Harbinger series by laying a solid foundation of imaginative steampunk fantasy worldbuilding, rife with the influences of well-known young adult literature. In an alternate-historical setting live two 12-year-old girls, both alike in dignity and potential, who come from very different backgrounds. Cettie lives in the city hell called the Fells, a place inhabited by laborers and the poor, until a mysterious vice-admiral rescues her and spirits her away to his family. Sera is a sheltered, isolated princess of the realm, virtually held prisoner in the skybound manor of her parents. When the girls are told that their fates have been determined by forces beyond their control, they set out to make their own destinies, Cettie seeking training in her magical abilities and Sera learning to wield the power that comes with her wealth and status. Victorian sensibilities inform a beautifully told tale that’s populated by characters worthy of investment and accessible to readers of all ages. (June)