The Crystal Facade (A Fantasy Adventure) [NOOK Book]

I wanted to know what would happen next!

A sequel to "The Quest for Nobility," this book takes places several months after the first book ends. As with the first book, the connections between Earth and Otharia are fascinating and make for a good backdrop to the tale. There is quite a number of characters to keep up with in this novel, but the majority of the main characters are developed well enough to help the reader keep track of what is going on. Although I would recommend reading these stories in order, this book could really stand alone as well, as enough information is shared about the characters to allow a new reader to keep up.

The plot has four main storylines that initially seem somewhat separate, but are actually interwoven. They are tied together in the end, and an epilogue leaves the story wide open for another follow-up book. The continuity of the various threads was solid, and the overall pacing of each thread worked well. One thing I would have preferred, however, would have been to have the various storylines more evenly spaced in the story. Coming back to each of the threads at slightly shorter, more regular intervals would have made it easier for me to better keep up with everything that was going on.

Overall, another engaging fantasy novel that provides a great bridge between the first novel, and the novel to come. Entertaining throughout, this is a good fantasy read that bridges the world of Otharia with that of Earth.

Full review at MotherLode blog

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Fast-paced, action-packed science fantasy adventure - highly recommended!

In this sequel to "The Quest for Nobility," the stakes are raised even higher. Darius, now the Duke of Telkur, and his sister Dyla - now Darius's First Counselor - along with her boyfriend Eclasius "Eclair" Jortac are convinced that there is more to the situation on Earth than meets the eye. Sir Henry "Blackheart" Hanover looks too much like Grand Duke Vogdo for it to be a coincidence, and they still don't know why Earth was quarantined in the first place. To make things more urgent, Dyla has been having visions that leave her feeling afraid and unsettled, and the latest one has ended with the looming face of Blackheart. She and Eclair decide that they must go back to Earth to discover the truth, and to take Cat Spencer back as well. Darius decides, while they are away, that he will do his best to help stop the civil war in Beckson Duchy - a decision that is helped along by his attraction to Cristaline, the beautiful daughter of Duke Urias. Tyrian, who is a close friend to all three of them, and affianced to Trinity, Dyla and Darius's cousin, has his own role to play as he tries to infiltrate the Red Alliance.

A fast-paced and exciting book, I spent much of it alternately yelling at the characters for doing ridiculous things and at the authors for putting the characters through such distress. It was highly engrossing and, in a rare change of pace, even better than the first book. Because I was editing it at the same time I was reading it, I took a few days to get through it, but it wasn't for lack of interest. Anyone who enjoys science fantasy adventure should enjoy this second book in the Otharian series - don't miss it!

Debra and David: double the authors, double the greatness.

Storyline: The Crystal Façade is book two (really, it could actually standalone) in a fantasy series that I can only hope continues until the end of time. Or at least until I can't stands it no mo'!
The Crystal Façade picks up the story six months after the first adventures on Otharia and Earth. Dyla has been having increasingly disturbing visions of Sir Blackheart and know that until she goes back to Earth to finish the quest they started, these visions will never go away. The glamour has worn off Otharia for Cat and all she wants to do is to go back home to Earth and start living a normal life - teaching her students and archeology-ing - again.
Together Cat, Dyla and Éclair, the very powerful telepath, make the trip back to Earth. After they leave, the conspiracy doesn't seem to stop weaving out of control. Darius must figure out who is trying to kill him and prevent an evil power from taking over Otharia.
Grammar/Spelling: I noticed some minor issues with punctuation and grammar. I also noticed an odd twist to an old saying (Perhaps it's due to the differences between Earthlings and Otharians?): "She was a beautiful, headstrong, young woman who seemed to attract men to her like flies to the fire." I have always heard it stated as, "like moths to the flame." This phrasing did nothing to detract from the story at all - just something that I noticed and thought it was worth mentioning.
Character Development: The Crystal Façade is fairly well-written and developed. Even though it is book two, the characters were flushed out well enough that it was easy to follow the storyline. Of course, now I must read the FIRST book so that I can get the ENTIRE story. Geez! Thanks guys! Like I don't have ENOUGH books to read! I kid, I kid!
Darius is the new lady-loving young Duke of Telkur (Well, he's always loved ladies, so that part isn't new, per se.) and he might have met his match with the beautiful, spit-fire Crystaline. He decides to prove his mettle by saving her from kidnappers. (At least attempting to!)
Éclair is the strongest telekinetic that has ever been born in Otharia and, because of that, he is also one of the youngest teachers at the Otharian Institute for Paranormal Studies. His techniques have been ill-received by the older teachers and staff, so his decision to take the trip back to Earth is met with very little resistance on their part.
Writing Style: The Crystal Façade is unique because it runs in parallel timelines on Earth and Otharia to keep the action moving along and the reader quite entranced.
The trip to Earth should have been an easy, in and out expedition, but of course, it's not. Cat, Dyla and Éclair are being followed and harassed by Blackheart's goons while searching for Merlin's cave; while back on Otharia, we have kidnappings, coercions, secret societies and even a rebellion.
Nothing is ever simple, is it?
Continuity: I noticed no issues with continuity.
Overall Rating: 4- I really enjoyed Debra Martin and David Small's fantasy collaboration, The Crystal Façade. I can promise I'll be buying the first one - unless *ahem* for some other reason I get a copy - and will be able to highly review and recommend it as well!
The Crystal Façade is a distinctive and exciting journey into the fantasy genre and I can only hope that there are many more great trips to Otharia!
The story had some minor adult situations and language, so I would give it a PG-13.

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