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 Fantasy is a genre that doesn't always work for me. If the world-and-character-building aren't thorough enough - or, in some cases, if they're so detailed, they end up being overwhelming - I probably won't enjoy it. If the writing is too descriptive and too wordy - or if it's too plain and straightforward - I won't be able to get fully immersed in the story. Then there's also the pacing, the setting, the fantastic elements such as magic or supernatural creatures, and of course, the plot line itself. So many things that could go wrong! That being said, I am thrilled to report that The Glass Casket didn't miss a single mark! McCormick Templeman's latest novel is the perfect combination of a tragic love story and a gorgeously imagined, skilfully weaved, often times completely shocking fantasy tale, sprinkled with elements of horror and macabre. I absolutely loved it and it's definitely one of my top five favorite books I've read this month. 
 "One bleak morning in the eye of winter, five horses and five riders thundered into the remote mountain village of Nag's End. Without ceremony or respect for local custom, they charged through the square and up the steep alpine trail that lay just beyond. Hazarding the rocky terrain, they wove their way between snow-shrouded pines, climbing ever until they reached the icy plateau of Beggar's Drift - a place, it was said, that the Goddess had forsaken." 
 With these words, starts the magical tale of love and sacrifice, family secrets and dark prophecies, deception and revenge. 
 The Glass Casket had me glued to its pages from the opening lines. I loved everything - or almost everything - about it, from the isolated and creepy snow-covered setting, wonderfully charismatic characters, to the completely absorbing and unpredictable plot line. This book has so much going for it! It's filled with unique and highly imaginative elements, such as different kinds of witches, magical and cultural rituals, local superstitions and folk tales, unstoppable evil. There's also mystery, family drama, passion and thoroughly bone-chilling, brutal murders. The thing I loved the most about it, though, is Templeman's writing style. The story reads more like a classic fairy tale than your typical fantasy novel. The dialogues are very sharp and full of sparkling chemistry (especially the interactions between Rowan and Tom, and Rowan and Jude), the descriptions - evocative and rich. Overall, though, the prose has a vibe of vagueness and fogginess that sort of requires you to suspend your disbelief, stop questioning every development and just take things at face value. And honestly, I thought that worked really well here, adding to the mysterious atmosphere and creepiness of the tale. 
 As far as the pacing is concerned, The Glass Casket is not a very fast-paced book and I'm afraid some readers will find it too slow for their taste. Personally, I didn't mind that at all. To be honest, I loved the fact that the author took time setting the atmosphere and slowly building the tension. And the build-up really is amazing! Once we reach the tipping point (which is about 1/3 of the way), things start happening fast, and they are sure to send a cold chill down your spine and make your toes curl! Templeman is not one to hold back. She is not afraid to kill-off characters - even the important ones - and she often does it in a beautifully cruel style. I loved that about this book - the fact that you could never predict what will happen next, who will be the next victim of the mysterious, blood-thirsty beast. 
 The mystery plays a great part in this story. From beginning to end, this book had me wrecking my brain for answers. I had no idea what was really going on, no clue as to who the evil culprit was and what their motivations were (even though, at one point, I was suspicious of literally every single character in the story - including the heroine herself!). Templeman did a fantastic job keeping me intrigued and guessing, and I am not ashamed to admit that I was completely clueless most of the time. The plot line was very well thought out - intricate and complex - and made for an entertaining guessing game. 
 All in all, McCormick Templeman's The Glass Casket is an amazingly imaginative book. Well-plotted, inventive, dramatic, and absolutely dazzling, it's a gorgeously dark fairy tale that will keep you enchanted and intrigued all the way through. If you're craving an engaging, atmospheric mystery set against a well-developed medieval-ish background and filled with different kinds of magic and otherwordly creatures, this should be your next pick.