Through a Dark Glass
by Barb Hendee
Synopsis:
On her seventeenth birthday, Megan of Chaumont discovers she’ll be sold as a bride to the brutish Volodane family-within hours. Her father grants only that she may choose which one of the ruthless, grasping lord’s three sons she weds:
Rolf, the eldest: stern, ambitious, and loyal?
Sebastian, the second son: sympathetic, sly, and rebellious?
Or Kai, the youngest: bitter, brooding, and proud?
As shy, horrified Megan flees the welcome dinner for her in-laws-to-be, she finds an enchanted mirror that will display how her life unrolls with each man, as if she were living it out in a breath. But there is no smooth “happily ever after” in her choices.
Deaths and honors, joys and agonies, intrigues and escapes await her in a remote, ramshackle keep, where these rough but complex men reveal one side and then another of their jagged characters-and bring forth new aspects of Megan, too. But the decisions of one teenaged marriage-pawn reverberate much farther than any of them have guessed.
Review:
Megan is given the choice to marry one of three brothers. A magic mirror shows her what her life would be like and the consequences of each decision. But the choice isn’t easy, as each choice leads to a domino effect of different outcomes.
Through a Dark Glass is an unique fantasy with the feel of a dark, fairy tale. The first choice of suitors was so vivid and in-depth, I had forgotten that it was only one of 3 stories. So, I was surprised when the next one came along. I was afraid it’d be a bit like Groundhog Day; but it was fantastic storytelling with vivid characters. Each of Megan’s decisions affected the next decision she made. So, while there were similarities, the outcomes were very different at times. It was like a Choose Your Own Adventure book, where each choice leads to a different path. It was captivating and led to a wide range of emotions and surprises. I’m a fan of Barb Hendee’s novels, and this is no exception. I look forward to the next in this exciting series.