Any YA book that starts off with arson and mass murder deserves (at the very least) an honourable mention, with extra points if it’s set in a dazzling fantastical world amidst royalty, secrecy, and magic powers. Did we mention there’s sort of kind of a love triangle happening? Sort of. It’s cool.

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A dark, compelling page-turner rife with mystery and deceit, Burning Glass lays the groundwork for what could shape up to be a magnificent YA trilogy, and separates author Kathryn Purdie as not just a new voice for teens but a writer to watch out for. Gorgeously-written and wonderfully-paced, Purdie leaves readers enchanted with the story, its setting, and its characters. One of the best (certainly not the best aspect of the book, but one of them) things about the story is that the love triangle is a natural extension of the plot, not a necessary evil that must be endured to get to the end of the book. Sonya feels what those around her are feeling, and because she’s not exactly good at the whole Auraseer thing, she’s frequently swept up in tides of emotion (even physical pain) that have nothing (or everything) to do with her. But this book’s greatest strengths are also its weaknesses: Sonya spends too much time practising inaction, while the plot moves along without (and even against) her. Sometimes it feels like she’s standing in the way of the story’s development, most of the story’s meat seems to happen to and because of other characters, while she’s trying to get a hold of herself. Still, other authors have taken the “emotional mess of a main character,” angle and done worse with it. Actually, Sonya’s character— why she is the way she is— makes sense, given her history and her powers. The author spends a lot of time developing the wallowing, waffling protagonist so that at certain points of the book, other key players read like vapid clichés, despite their potential to be so much more. But if you can get past that and delve into the heart of the book, Burning Glass might just be the tale you’ve been waiting to read.

Overall, Burning Glass deserves a 3.5 star rating. It can stand on its own but as the first in a planned trilogy, it promises great things to come.

Curious to check out Burning Glass? Click here to get yourself a copy!