Glass Heart

August 1, 2012
Exploring new magical abilities that include the power to resurrect the dead is a game to Wren, but when she meets Fiona and Bay, suddenly magic turns deadly serious. Desperate to learn more about the power she began to use in series opener Cold Kiss (2011), Wren presses her mother for help. Unfortunately, secrecy, shame and pain keep her from teaching Wren or her younger sister, Robin, about the possibilities and responsibilities inherent in their newfound magic. Frustrated, Wren pushes everyone away, including Gabriel, the boy who knows everything about her. Looking to her new friends, who have abilities of their own, Wren begins leading a secret life full of spells and excitement. But while Fiona seems mostly fun and frivolous, Bay is dark and dangerous. Wren discovers just how bad it is when Bay begins threatening the ones she loves most. Tropes and cliches abound in this sequel. Readers will quickly grow tired of Robin's temper tantrums and their mother's ineffective parenting. The twin mysteries surrounding Wren's and Gabriel's fathers fail to pay off when revealed. The one saving grace is Wren. She manages to be at once a simple teenage girl in love and the wielder of immense magical power. Despite the overly familiar storylines, Wren is completely believable and endearing. A mixed bag of magic and romance. (Paranormal romance. 13 & up)

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January 1, 2013

Gr 9 Up-Teens who enjoyed Cold Kiss (HarperCollins, 2011), a surprisingly contemplative, sad reflection on first love and sudden death, will likely find this sequel to be just as engaging. From the dizzying excitement of flying to the marvel of creating a beautiful snowfall, Wren Darby is finally beginning to enjoy her growing supernatural abilities. Her power is the one thing that she can't share with her best friends. Her boyfriend, Gabriel, who can read minds, is uncomfortable with her talents, driving her toward the dangerous, magical duo Bay and Fiona. Wren also has to deal with her younger sister, who is just coming to terms with her own secret powers. As Wren engages with Bay and Fiona in spite of Gabriel's warnings, she soon realizes that she may be getting in over her head and just might lose Gabriel in the process. However, with the help of her friends and family, she learns that magic isn't the only thing that makes her special. Garvey's lively writing exhibits pleasing emotion and dazzling imagery. However, teens who have not read the first book might be a little lost in this one.-Krista Welz, The North Bergen Public Library, NJ

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2013
Wren's ([cf2]Cold Kiss[cf1]) carelessness with her magical abilities causes a rift with boyfriend Gabriel. She falls in with other teen magic users even more irresponsible than herself but is overwhelmed when one of them harms Gabriel. The complex dynamics of Wren's gifted family--with her long-absent father now returned--enliven this story about bad influences, consequences, and knowing when to ask for help.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)