A Face Like Glass

A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge is an imaginative fantasy with impeccable world-building. In the land of Caverna, the people lack the ability to change their facial expression, and so Facemaking is a craft, along with making magical wines, cheeses, perfumes, and other goods. Everything changes when a young girl who can control her face is found in the tunnels, and a plot full of danger and scheming erupts as Caverna’s court rushes to make this ability and its bearer their own. Everything is not quite what it seems in Caverna, and that is a lesson protagonist Neverfell must find out the hard way as intrigue and deception begin to flourish around her. Yet, in spite of all the action and complex plotting, the heart of the book really is in presenting the world of Caverna, in building an atmosphere and drawing readers into its magic. Fantasy fans will adore this book, but readers looking for more emphasis on plot rather than on a richly imagined world may find the pacing of the story a bit slow.