THE GLASS WITCH

A debut fantasy offers elements of intrigue, suspense, and romance.

The Ringlands is a world divided into four seasonal realms. But Jädrich, the Winter king, has broken the ancient pact that ensured the progression from one season to another, wreaking havoc on the people of every realm. For more than a century, there have been regular cycles of Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Aveline—a unique, shape-shifting Summer-Winter hybrid called “the Glass Witch” for her icy appearance and magical ability—barely survives alone in a cave atop Summer’s only snow-capped mountain. Then the rulers of Spring, Summer, and Autumn demand her help to restore the natural progression of the seasons by dealing with Winter’s cruel king once and for all (“Winter needs a new Lord”). In order to get close enough to assassinate him, she becomes a contestant in a reality TV type competition to be his bride and Winter’s queen. But while the people of the three warmer realms—and Aveline—are creatures of flesh and blood, Winter folks are made of pure ice animated by magic. Aveline’s cover story is flimsy; her independent spirit and lack of familiarity with Winter customs make her behavior seem outlandish; and her feelings toward the enigmatic Jädrich become increasingly complicated as they get to know each other. Will she be able to carry out her mission before her true form is discovered? Raztresen’s original tale delivers a richly imagined fantasy world, intriguing characters, and lush, descriptive writing. Aveline’s cat-and-mouse relationship with the king plays cleverly on romance tropes, but here the stakes are life, death, and the fate of the world. Most of the story is told from Aveline’s point of view, with shifts to the perspectives of other characters as the various plot threads intertwine. The weather factors could be construed as climate change metaphors, and the Winter people’s origin story and religion include quasi-Christian and mythical symbolism, with a sacrificed goddess, ritual meals, and prophecies of resurrection. A few questions are left unanswered, such as why a species that doesn’t sleep has bedrooms and beds? In addition, the ending seems abrupt, with significant plot points left unresolved but no clear hints of a sequel.

A striking and inventive fantasy that will leave readers wanting more.