Interestingly enough, I didn’t realize this was a YA book when I started reading it. By the time I realized it, I was hooked.The beginning is a bit formulaic. The main character, Thomas Farrell, is an orphan. His adopted parents gave him a tiny room in the attic. He sleeps on a dog bed, cooks all the meals for the household, and is even given a chore of scraping up lichen on his birthday. His adopted mother won’t even speak directly to him, and only talks to him through his adopted sister.On his eleventh birthday, a man visits with a letter. The letter tells him he has inherited a place at Darkledun Manor, a school for gifted children. He also finds he has inherited a small glass ball containing a sleeping dragon (the serpent in the glass).So far, a lot like the beginning to Harry Potter. But only at first.When he and his sister Jessica get to school, at first everything seems normal. Then the strange happenings occur. It seems something sinister is afoot in the Manor. While investigating, Thomas and his friends discover Thomas’s Serpent ball has magical powers. It takes them to the ‘Other’ half of the school, inside a Hollow Hill Sidhe mound.Thomas and his friends learn more about the secret half of the school, all the while searching for clues about Thomas’s heritage.I won’t give away any more, but I will say I am breathlessly awaiting the sequel. This was a very fun and pretty quick read. But it very much reminded me of Harry Potter. Almost to the point where lots of things seemed a bit of a knock off. The further I got into the story, the more original it became but that knock off feeling is the reason I didn't give it 5 stars.Thomas is an orphan, raised by some uptight "English" parents. They do have a daughter Jessica that loves Thomas as if he were her real brother and they have a fun and kind relationship. When Thomas gets enrolled in Darkledun Manor he makes sure Jessica can come with. Thomas was given a glass marble type thing with a serpent that looks like a dragon suspended in it. This turns out to be a magical object that gives Thomas powers that belong to him as the heir to something special. (Trying not to give spoilers here)I did enjoy this. I think it would be a great read for those who loved the Harry Potter series. I think young boys and girls too would like this book.
What do You think about The Serpent In The Glass (2012)?
Good story - dragged a bit in a few places, but I'm interested enough to read the sequel.
—zmaniac
recommended by Ruth Ann Ventrello in Riehle Reading Group
—heheheheheh
