Book Review - A SHATTERING OF GLASS by Deck Matthews

(Title: A Shattering of Glass / Author: Deck Matthews / Publisher: Self-Published / Publication Date: October 15, 2019)


The Riven Realm series has become a real comfort read for me over the past year.  It's the perfect fantasy series because the books are not that long (around 180-190 pages), yet the amount of action and intrigue is so economically packed into each book despite the lightness in page count.  This third book in the series continues the trend of moving the story forward significantly while adding a new plot twist that throws things on its head.

A SHATTERING OF GLASS continues the story of familiar characters Caleb Rusk, Corporal Avendor Tarcoth, and Sage Carvesh Tarne, as they continue to pursue the truth about what is causing the mysterious deaths in and around Taralius.  To make matters worse, just as the leaders from the various towns are beginning to converge for a special council, an assassin strikes down a prominent Abbott.  The assassin leaves behind a calling card identifying them as potentially being part of a notorious organization called the White Glove.  If the White Glove is indeed operating in the area at such a critical time where so many leaders are in one place, it could have disastrous consequences to say the least.

Meanwhile Shade, who was introduced in the previous book Dust of the Darkness, has embarked on her own personal mission to acquire a mysterious object that will assist in her vanquishing some enemies of the past (and quite possibly the present).  Her role in the events taking place in the story is still to be determined, but this adds an element of suspense and mystery that really takes center stage in this book.  

Oh and there's also the issue of the shadowbeasts that continue to terrorize the local villages, slaughtering many of the residents in the night.  Did I mention that there's a lot going on in these books?  The stakes couldn't be higher for all of these characters as they battle demons, plague, political enemies, assassins, and all matter of foes, both human and supernatural.  Set against the backdrop of a land teetering on the edge of chaos, A SHATTERING OF GLASS signifies a true turning point in this series, and one that had me reading this entire book in just two days.

I continue to be impressed with Deck Matthews and The Riven Realm series.  The world of Varkas is such a multi-layered one that is slowly revealing its secrets as the story progresses.  Just when I think I have an understanding of the nature of things, Deck Matthews throws a curve ball at me and creates another mystery that has me scratching my head.  This is a good thing by the way.

I thought it was a brave choice to feature Shade as the more prominent MC in book 3.  That's not to say that the others took a backseat in any way, but it allowed for a fresh viewpoint and story line that added to the already compelling plot from the first two books in this series.  There are still the same issues and problems present in the main story arc, but Shade being thrown into the mix makes you feel like things are eventually going to converge into a wonderful home stretch and finish in the upcoming books.

Another thing that stands out for me regarding this series and was once again proven in A SHATTERING OF GLASS, is how much the characters persist in the face of almost insurmountable odds.  I've mentioned before what an inspirational character Caleb is and he has come such a long way from the uncertain and tentative young boy he was in First of Shadows.  So the characters really make this a series worth checking out and I also must point out how much the tight dialogue contributes to them being very real and relatable to the reader.  

I feel like a broken record from my previous reviews but I really do like this series a lot and feel like it just keeps getting better and better.  You really should take the time to read these books if you enjoy fantasy in the same vein as Terry Brooks and David Eddings.  There's all of the same wit and adventure with a slight dark streak that makes it a bit more gritty.  I highly recommend diving into this series.  It should be on everyone's radar in my opinion.  I'm really looking forward to the forthcoming books to see what happens next!

(My Rating: 9.5/10)