Review by Elizabeth C. Bunce
Caroline Stevermer’s acclaimed historical fantasy work now includes a tale of turn-of-the-twentieth century New York City and its magical elite. In The Glass Magician a stage magician discovers there’s much more to her identity—and her talents—than she ever realized.
Thalia Cutler is a natural-born stage magician. Trained in the craft by her late father and his lifelong friend, now her manager, Thalia and her tricks entertain crowds on the East Coast vaudeville circuit. But this is not exactly the 1905 East Coast of our world; this is an alternate historical America where people with real magic live alongside the Solitaires, or mundane folk. Well, not quite alongside: the wealthy Traders are the elite and powerful upper crust of society, barely deigning to acknowledge the Solitaires; and the solemn Silvestri keep to themselves, literally communing with nature.
joins 2011’s 
and 2013’s 
about the nation of Welce, where every citizen feels a kinship to one of the five elements, thanks in part to random blessings drawn by strangers at their birth. The sweela are drawn to the element of fire, and 
, etc.), to her Twelve Houses high fantasies (
, etc.), to the recent urban fantasy Shifting Circle novels (
, etc.), Shinn’s series consist of separate standalone stories linked by characters and worldbuilding—not one-long-novel-in-five-parts, although there may be an overarching series plot, as well. But it’s her worldbuilding that makes Shinn such a standout fantasy series writer. The worlds are rich, deep, unique, and immediately accessible. Shinn has said that Elemental Blessings was originally planned as a single book, but it was so obviously destined from its conception to be a classic Shinn five-volume series (we hope and assume!). Like many of Shinn’s worlds, Welce has a special sort of magic tied to the land within its borders. Not only do Welchins identify with the elements (the elay relate to air; the coru to water; the hunti to wood; and the torz to earth), but some possess an even stronger connection, sensing and even manipulating the elements around (and sometimes even within) them.
, a high fantasy adventure about a thief on the run who stumbles into a Renaissance era revolution. 
, by Suzanne Collins, 2009 Newbery winner 
by Neil Gaiman, and 2012 Eisner winner 
by Vera Brosgol. Elizabeth is one of only a handful of writers to have two books on Oprah’s Kids Reading List. Her first novel, 
is the fantasy noir sequel to 
, 
