Follow TV Tropes

Following

History Literature / IxiaAndSitia

Go To

OR

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* ''The Study of Magic'' (March/April 2024)

to:

* ''The Study of Magic'' (March/April (April 2024)
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Added the Valek side of the franchise

Added DiffLines:

There’s an Valek counterpart series in relation to the first trilogy which were publish due to high demand nearly 20 years after Yelena’s side of the story was explored.

* ''The Study of Poisons'' (April 2023)
* ''The Study of Magic'' (March/April 2024)
* ''The Study of Fire '' (September 2024)

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Freaky Friday and Stockholm Syndrome has been disambiguated.


* FreakyFriday: [[spoiler: Devlen and Ulrick.]]



%%* StockholmSyndrome
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Asskicking Leads To Leadership is the new name of the trope.


* TheAce: Commander Ambrose, the [[AsskickingEqualsAuthority ruler]] of Ixia. Ambrose came from an unknown northern family, ascended the military's ranks, overpowered ProfessionalKiller Valek and recruited him, and killed the entire royal family to assume power. Ambrose's power, honesty, and authority are so unquestioned that [[spoiler:when the villains attempt to reveal Ambrose was lying about being a man,]] they are disbelieved simply because Ambrose plays off the accusation as ridiculous.

to:

* TheAce: Commander Ambrose, the [[AsskickingEqualsAuthority [[AsskickingLeadsToLeadership ruler]] of Ixia. Ambrose came from an unknown northern family, ascended the military's ranks, overpowered ProfessionalKiller Valek and recruited him, and killed the entire royal family to assume power. Ambrose's power, honesty, and authority are so unquestioned that [[spoiler:when the villains attempt to reveal Ambrose was lying about being a man,]] they are disbelieved simply because Ambrose plays off the accusation as ridiculous.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* AddictiveMagic: Using BloodMagic is extremely addictive and very much evil, since it requires draining the victim and binding their soul to oneself.

Added: 1716

Changed: 1316

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Removing spoiler tag from trope name, removing word cruft, and adding context to the entry


* TheAce: Commander Ambrose, the [[AsskickingEqualsAuthority ruler]] of Ixia. Ambrose came from an unknown northern family, ascended the military's ranks, overpowered ProfessionalKiller Valek and recruited him, and killed the entire royal family to assume power. Ambrose's power, honesty, and authority are so unquestioned that [[spoiler:when the villains attempt to reveal Ambrose was lying about being a man,]] they are disbelieved simply because Ambrose plays off the accusation as ridiculous.



* CassandraTruth: Nobody believes Opal about Ulrick and Devlen switching

to:

* CassandraTruth: CassandraTruth:
** The villains of ''Poison Study'' are not believed when they reveal [[spoiler:Commander Ambrose is a woman.]]
**
Nobody believes Opal about Ulrick and Devlen switchingswitching bodies.



* FantasticDrug: Criollo, heavily implied to be real world chocolate. It is a useful tool for mages as it amplifies their magic, but it also leaves them vulnerable to mental attacks. In ''Poison Study'' Commander Ambrose is being mentally manipulated through the use of criollo.



* HeterosexualLifePartners: Ari and Janco

to:

* HeterosexualLifePartners: Ari and JancoJanco, Yelena's bodyguards.



* JourneyToTheCenterOfTheMind

to:

* JourneyToTheCenterOfTheMindJourneyToTheCenterOfTheMind: Yelena must save Commander Ambrose from a comatose state by venturing into his mind.



** And Valek, though Yelena usually recognises him.
* [[spoiler: AMatchMadeInStockholm: Opal ends up with Devlen, the guy who possessed her boyfriend, kidnapped and tortured her. What the hell?!]]

to:

** And Valek, though Yelena usually recognises recognizes him.
* [[spoiler: AMatchMadeInStockholm: Opal ends [[spoiler:ends up with Devlen, one of the guy men who possessed her boyfriend, kidnapped and tortured her. What her back in the hell?!]]''Study'' series.]] While this comes after ''significant'' CharacterDevelopment on [[spoiler:Devlen's part]] and after [[spoiler:Opal [[FreudianExcuse cured his crippling addiction to blood magic]]]], it can still be a jarring relationship ending.



%%* OurGhostsAreDifferent

to:

%%* OurGhostsAreDifferent* OurGhostsAreDifferent: Souls can be bound into people's bodies through the use of BloodMagic. They can also be put back into their bodies even if their bodies are meant to die, but that turns people into TheSociopath.



* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: In ''Poison Study,'' Yelena is beset on all sides by people who dislike her for one reason or another (mostly because they're evil, though - everyone good quickly becomes a friend, even though she's a convicted murderer). Every single one of these people (provided they're male) will at one point attempt to rape her. Even the two random {{Mook}}s who chase her through the castle and never get close enough to touch her are overheard discussing how much they'll enjoy drawing out her rape so they can savor her terror.

to:

* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil:
**
In ''Poison Study,'' Yelena is beset on all sides by people who dislike her for one reason or another (mostly because they're evil, though - everyone good quickly becomes a friend, even though she's a convicted murderer). Every single one of these people (provided they're male) will at one point attempt to rape her. Even the two random {{Mook}}s who chase her through the castle and never get close enough to touch her are overheard discussing how much they'll enjoy drawing out her rape so they can savor her terror.terror.
** The Bloodrose clan's plan to control Opal is to [[spoiler:baby trap her via blood magic and raping her repeatedly.]]



* SheIsTheKing: [[spoiler:Commander Ambrose is actually a woman, but presents as male. Only Yelena is privy to this secret.]]



* ShownTheirWork: Maria V. Snyder learned how to make glass objects for ''Fire Study'' and then later based an entire trilogy off her glassblower character, who can solve various problems with her glassmaking ability/knowledge. Naturally, this requires a major problem where only a glassmaker could solve it.

to:

* ShownTheirWork: Maria V. Snyder learned how to make glass objects for ''Fire Study'' and then later based an entire trilogy off her glassblower character, who can solve various problems with her glassmaking ability/knowledge. Naturally, [[ThisLooksLikeAJobForAquaman this requires required a major problem where only a glassmaker could solve it.]]



* [[spoiler:SurprisePregnancy: Yelena discovers she's pregnant at the end of ''Shadow Study'' after realizing she forgot to take her birth control potion.]]

to:

* [[spoiler:SurprisePregnancy: Yelena SurprisePregnancy: [[spoiler:Yelena discovers she's pregnant at the end of ''Shadow Study'' after realizing she forgot to take her birth control potion.]]



* ThouShaltNotKill: Only Valek is allowed to kill people in Ixia. Even those who kill in self-defense are supposed to be sentenced to death.

to:

* ThouShaltNotKill: Only Valek is allowed to kill people in Ixia. Even those who kill in self-defense are supposed to be sentenced to death. This is how Yelena ended up sentenced to death in ''Poison Study''.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Trope deprecated per TRS


* {{Transgender}}: [[spoiler:Commander Ambrose. Added complication: it turns out not so much that he's a man in a woman's body so much as TwoSiblingsInOne. His mother's spirit entered his body when she died/he was born, and both of them live on in him.]]

Added: 275

Changed: 233

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Moved non-YMMV tropes from YMMV. Commenting out a few ZC Es.


* {{Cliffhanger}}: At the end of ''Shadow Study'' Yelena still doesn't [[spoiler:have her magic back]]...and then realizes that [[spoiler:she's pregnant.]]



* OurGhostsAreDifferent

to:

* %%* OurGhostsAreDifferent



* RapeAsBackstory

to:

* ProfessionalKiller: Valek's former profession, and arguably still his job after the Commander's takeover of Ixia. Killing isn't his only job as he also serves as TheSpymaster, but it is something he's called upon to do quite a bit.
%%*
RapeAsBackstory



* SdrawkcabName

to:

* %%* SdrawkcabName



* ShowDontTell: Maria V. Snyder's style is occasionally a bit awkward, and sometimes veers into this.



* SoulJar

to:

* %%* SoulJar



* StockholmSyndrome

to:

* %%* StockholmSyndrome
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


The books so far consist of three trilogies, two of which are completed:

to:

The books so far consist of three trilogies, two of which are completed:
trilogies:
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
That's a bit obsolete, and no spoilers in the description.


The third trilogy, narrated by Yelena [[spoiler: with some chapters from Valek's perspective]]:

to:

The third trilogy, narrated mostly by Yelena [[spoiler: with some chapters from Valek's perspective]]:Yelena:



* ''Dawn Study'' (forthcoming)

to:

* ''Dawn Study'' (forthcoming)
Study''

Added: 547

Removed: 613

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* [[AllMenAreRapists All Bad Guys Are Rapists,]] to the point where it gets rather excessive. In ''Poison Study,'' Yelena is beset on all sides by people who dislike her for one reason or another (mostly because they're evil, though - everyone good quickly becomes a friend, even though she's a convicted murderer). Every single one of these people (provided they're male) will at one point attempt to rape her. Even the two random {{Mook}}s who chase her through the castle and never get close enough to touch her are overheard discussing how much they'll enjoy drawing out her rape so they can savor her terror.


Added DiffLines:

* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: In ''Poison Study,'' Yelena is beset on all sides by people who dislike her for one reason or another (mostly because they're evil, though - everyone good quickly becomes a friend, even though she's a convicted murderer). Every single one of these people (provided they're male) will at one point attempt to rape her. Even the two random {{Mook}}s who chase her through the castle and never get close enough to touch her are overheard discussing how much they'll enjoy drawing out her rape so they can savor her terror.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
per Trope Repair Shop, Jerkass Facade is being cut in favor of Hidden Heart Of Gold / Jerk With A Heart Of Gold.


* CruelToBeKind: Valek. It is strongly hinted that he cultivates a reputation of [[spoiler: brutally murdering all magically-gifted children so that their parents will get them smuggled out of the country before someone else does]].



* JerkassFacade: Valek. It is strongly hinted that he cultivates a reputation of [[spoiler: brutally murdering all magically-gifted children so that their parents will get them smuggled out of the country before someone does]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Added image.

Added DiffLines:

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ixia_study.png]]

Changed: 35

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
trope was renamed


* [[spoiler: {{Transsexual}}: Commander Ambrose. Added complication: it turns out not so much that he's a man in a woman's body so much as TwoSiblingsInOne. His mother's spirit entered his body when she died/he was born, and both of them live on in him.]]

to:

* [[spoiler: {{Transsexual}}: Commander {{Transgender}}: [[spoiler:Commander Ambrose. Added complication: it turns out not so much that he's a man in a woman's body so much as TwoSiblingsInOne. His mother's spirit entered his body when she died/he was born, and both of them live on in him.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* Not yet published:
** ''Dawn Study''

to:

* Not yet published:
**
''Dawn Study''
Study'' (forthcoming)

Added: 18

Removed: 19

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* ''Night Study''



** ''Night Study''
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* WrongContextMagic: Yelena is a kind of mage not seen for centuries. Not surprisingly, people are confused when, for example, her attempt to push someone over in a lesson causes them to simply lay down.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* MakingLoveInAllTheWrongPlaces: Yelena and Valek occasionally like to get it in on in places such as a prison cell (while hiding from soldiers who are searching for them, no less) and the war room of the Commander's castle.

to:

* MakingLoveInAllTheWrongPlaces: Yelena and Valek occasionally like to get it in on in places such as a prison cell (while hiding from soldiers who are searching for them, no less) and the war room of the Commander's castle.

Added: 156

Changed: 19

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* MakingLoveInAllTheWrongPlaces: Yelena and Valek occasionally like to get in on in places such as a prison cell (while soldiers are searching for them, no less) and the war room of the Commander's castle.

to:

* MakingLoveInAllTheWrongPlaces: Yelena and Valek occasionally like to get it in on in places such as a prison cell (while hiding from soldiers who are searching for them, no less) and the war room of the Commander's castle.


Added DiffLines:

* [[spoiler:SurprisePregnancy: Yelena discovers she's pregnant at the end of ''Shadow Study'' after realizing she forgot to take her birth control potion.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* MakingLoveInAllTheWrongPlaces: Yelena and Valek occasionally like to get in on in places such as a prison cell and the War Room of the Commander's castle.

to:

* MakingLoveInAllTheWrongPlaces: Yelena and Valek occasionally like to get in on in places such as a prison cell (while soldiers are searching for them, no less) and the War Room war room of the Commander's castle.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* MistakenForGay: Valek by the seamstress, of the "married to the job" variety.

to:

* MistakenForGay: Valek by Dilana the seamstress, of the "married to the job" variety.



* RealWomenDontWearDresses: Yelena personifies this trope. She dismisses the other girls at the beginning of ''Magic Study'' as being silly for wearing flowery Sitia clothing, and won't even trade in her uniform for more comfortable and practical skirts (in Sitia skirts are more practical because its so hot and humid there). She says that her hair -- after a (forced) makeover -- makes her look "soft," and she even finds Cahil's compliments to her insulting. Makes you wonder why guys go after her.

to:

* RealWomenDontWearDresses: Yelena personifies this trope. She dismisses the other girls at the beginning of ''Magic Study'' as being silly for wearing flowery Sitia Sitian clothing, and won't even trade in her uniform for more comfortable and practical skirts (in Sitia skirts are more practical because its so hot and humid there). She says that her hair -- after a (forced) makeover -- makes her look "soft," and she even finds Cahil's compliments to her insulting. Makes you wonder why guys go after her.

Added: 866

Changed: 35

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


The books so far consist of two trilogies:

to:

The books so far consist of three trilogies, two trilogies: of which are completed:



* ''Fire Study'''

to:

* ''Fire Study'''
Study''


Added DiffLines:

The third trilogy, narrated by Yelena [[spoiler: with some chapters from Valek's perspective]]:
* ''Shadow Study''
*Not yet published:
** ''Night Study''
** ''Dawn Study''


Added DiffLines:

The third trilogy continues Yelena and Valek's story.


Added DiffLines:

* AssassinOutclassin: Ambrose and Valek met when the previously-unbeatable Valek was contracted to kill him. Ambrose won the fight, carved the letter C into Valek's chest, and declared that Valek now worked for him. Valek promised to work for him if Ambrose got him close enough to assassinate the king.
** Valek tells Yelena at one point in ''Magic Study'' that Commander Ambrose remains the only person capable of defeating him in a knife fight.


Added DiffLines:

* HeterosexualLifePartners: Ari and Janco


Added DiffLines:

* MakingLoveInAllTheWrongPlaces: Yelena and Valek occasionally like to get in on in places such as a prison cell and the War Room of the Commander's castle.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* [[AllMenAreRapists All Bad Guys Are Rapists,]] to the point where it gets rather excessive. In ''Poison Study,'' Yelena is beset on all sides by people who dislike her for one reason or another (mostly because they're evil, though - everyone good quickly becomes a friend, even though she's a convicted murderer). Every single one of these people (provided they're male) will at one point attempt to rape her. Even the two random {{Mook}}s who chase her through the castle and never get close enough to touch her are overheard discussing how much they'll enjoy drawing out her rape so they can savor her terror.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Spy Couple was voted to redirect to Agents Dating. Zero Context Examples and bad entries are being removed.


* SpyCouple: Valek and Yelena.

Added: 159

Changed: 92

Removed: 159

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* [[spoiler: AMatchMadeInStockholm: Opal ends up with Devlen, the guy who possessed her boyfriend, kidnapped and tortured her. What the hell?!]]



* SdrawkcabName



* CrapsackOnlyByComparison: The majority of people consider their country to be a much better place to live. It is strongly hinted that [[spoiler: a lot of people are allowed to escape from one to the other if the other country will suit them better.]]

to:

* CrapsackOnlyByComparison: The majority of people consider their country to be a much better place to live. It is strongly hinted that [[spoiler: a lot of people are allowed to escape from one to the other if the other country will suit them better.]]better]].



* [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/UsefulNotes/ForTheLoveOfMany ForTheLoveOfMany]]: [[spoiler: The Bloodrose clan is polygamous, in the "creepy old dude marries every female and impregnates her" way.]]
* FreakyFriday: [[spoiler: Devlen and Ulrick]].

to:

* [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/UsefulNotes/ForTheLoveOfMany ForTheLoveOfMany]]: UsefulNotes/ForTheLoveOfMany: [[spoiler: The Bloodrose clan is polygamous, in the "creepy old dude marries every female and impregnates her" way.]]
* FreakyFriday: [[spoiler: Devlen and Ulrick]].Ulrick.]]



* [[RoomFullOfCrazy Journal Full Of Crazy]] Reyad had one where he wrote down every single thing Yelena had done to piss him off since they met, and how he planned to punish her for all of them. Slowly and painfully.

to:

* [[RoomFullOfCrazy Journal Full Of of Crazy]] Reyad had one where he wrote down every single thing Yelena had done to piss him off since they met, and how he planned to punish her for all of them. Slowly and painfully.



* MasterOfDisguise: [[spoiler: Devlen]].
** And Valek, though Yelena usually recognises him.

to:

* MasterOfDisguise: [[spoiler: Devlen]].
Devlen.]]
** And Valek, though Yelena usually recognises him. him.
* [[spoiler: AMatchMadeInStockholm: Opal ends up with Devlen, the guy who possessed her boyfriend, kidnapped and tortured her. What the hell?!]]



* MoreThanMindControl: [[spoiler: Done on the Commander via Criollo]].

to:

* MoreThanMindControl: [[spoiler: Done on the Commander via Criollo]]. Criollo.]]



* PoisonAndCureGambit: Valek poisons Yelena with Butterfly's Dust, a poison that will kill her within 48 hours [[PhlebotinumDependence if she doesn't get daily doses of the antidote.]] [[spoiler: He's lying, any symptoms of the poison come from her addiction to the "cure"]].

to:

* PoisonAndCureGambit: Valek poisons Yelena with Butterfly's Dust, a poison that will kill her within 48 hours [[PhlebotinumDependence if she doesn't get daily doses of the antidote.]] antidote]]. [[spoiler: He's lying, any symptoms of the poison come from her addiction to the "cure"]]."cure".]]



* RealWomenNeverWearDresses: Yelena personifies this trope. She dismisses the other girls at the beginning of ''Magic Study'' as being silly for wearing flowery Sitia clothing, and won't even trade in her uniform for more comfortable and practical skirts (in Sitia skirts are more practical because its so hot and humid there). She says that her hair -- after a (forced) makeover -- makes her look "soft," and she even finds Cahil's compliments to her insulting. Makes you wonder why guys go after her.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Commander Ambrose comes off as a horribly strict, evil man for killing the royal family, calling for the execution of magic users, forcing everyone into uniforms and rigid roles, etc. However, the Commander isn't 100% unreasonable, and has some darned good reasons for doing what he does AND being against magic.

to:

* RealWomenNeverWearDresses: RealWomenDontWearDresses: Yelena personifies this trope. She dismisses the other girls at the beginning of ''Magic Study'' as being silly for wearing flowery Sitia clothing, and won't even trade in her uniform for more comfortable and practical skirts (in Sitia skirts are more practical because its so hot and humid there). She says that her hair -- after a (forced) makeover -- makes her look "soft," and she even finds Cahil's compliments to her insulting. Makes you wonder why guys go after her.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Commander Ambrose comes off as a horribly strict, evil man for killing the royal family, calling for the execution of magic users, forcing everyone into uniforms and rigid roles, etc. However, the Commander isn't 100% unreasonable, and has some darned good reasons for doing what he does AND being against magic. magic.
* SdrawkcabName



* [[spoiler: Transsexual: Commander Ambrose. Added complication: it turns out not so much that he's a man in a woman's body so much as TwoSiblingsInOne. His mother's spirit entered his body when she died/he was born, and both of them live on in him]].

to:

* [[spoiler: Transsexual: {{Transsexual}}: Commander Ambrose. Added complication: it turns out not so much that he's a man in a woman's body so much as TwoSiblingsInOne. His mother's spirit entered his body when she died/he was born, and both of them live on in him]].him.]]



* WillfullyWeak: Valek and the Commander most likely could have had magical ability, but both chose to suppress the hell out of it. [[spoiler: Later, Opal does the same thing]].

to:

* WillfullyWeak: Valek and the Commander most likely could have had magical ability, but both chose to suppress the hell out of it. [[spoiler: Later, Opal does the same thing]].thing.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* EverythingsBetterWithChocolate: Criollo (i.e. chocolate) becomes the TrademarkFavoriteFood of everyone who tries it. However, this trope is subverted when [[spoiler: it turns out that repeated heavy consumption of the dessert lowers one's mental shields. A lot]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* [[spoiler: Transsexual: Commander Ambrose. Added complication: it turns out not so much that he's a man in a woman's body so much as a SplitPersonality. His mother's spirit entered his body when she died/he was born, and both of them live on in him]].

to:

* [[spoiler: Transsexual: Commander Ambrose. Added complication: it turns out not so much that he's a man in a woman's body so much as a SplitPersonality.TwoSiblingsInOne. His mother's spirit entered his body when she died/he was born, and both of them live on in him]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Moved to YMMV page.


* NightmareFuel: Yelena and Opal have some pretty awful dreams about their past experiences.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
moved to namespace

Added DiffLines:

Maria V. Snyder's books take place in the neighboring countries of Ixia and Sitia. Sitia has lots of magic users. Ixia has been [[KlingonPromotion taken over by the Commander]], who DoesNotLikeMagic (for good reason).

The books so far consist of two trilogies:
The "Study" series, narrated by Yelena:
* ''Poison Study''
* ''Magic Study''
* ''Fire Study'''

The "Glass" series, narrated by Opal:
* ''Storm Glass''
* ''Sea Glass''
* ''Spy Glass''

In ''Poison Study'', BoxedCrook Yelena is offered the job of the [[FourStarBadass Commander's]] food taster. She accepts it and is trained by TheSpymaster Valek in the identification of poisons. She also picks up some self-defense skills and sneakiness, makes some friends, discovers the Commander's deepest secret, falls in love with Valek, and eventually finds out that she can do magic and was originally kidnapped from neighboring Sitia. At the end of the book, she flees to [[MagicalLand Sitia]], where she later [[WizardingSchool studies magic]] and learns how to use her skills as an [[OurSoulsAreDifferent Soulfinder]]. She eventually becomes the liasion between the two countries.

The "Glass" series picks up four years after the end of ''Fire Study'' with Opal Cowan, the [[ChekhovsSkill glassmaker]] from that book. She's studying at the Keep in Sitia, but is known as a [[IneptMage "one-trick wonder"]] because the only magic she can do is to insert magic into her glass creations. This talent turns out to be [[LethalHarmlessPowers bigger and more useful than she knows.]]

!!These books provide examples of:
* [[spoiler: AMatchMadeInStockholm: Opal ends up with Devlen, the guy who possessed her boyfriend, kidnapped and tortured her. What the hell?!]]
* AristocratsAreEvil: The reason why the Commander slaughtered the royal family and took over Ixia in the first place.
* TheArtfulDodger: Heck, those kids start their own guild of this.
* AscendedExtra: Opal.
* SdrawkcabName
* BadassNormal: Valek, at least most of the time. He undergoes BadassDecay when he begins to act as Yelena's sidekick.
* BigBookOfWar: The Commander lives by a personal code and requires everyone in Ixia to do so as well. It could best be described as "tough but fair."
* BlowYouAway: The Stormdancers.
* TheClan: There are eleven of them in Sitia.
* CassandraTruth: Nobody believes Opal about Ulrick and Devlen switching
* ColdBloodedTorture
* CrapsackOnlyByComparison: The majority of people consider their country to be a much better place to live. It is strongly hinted that [[spoiler: a lot of people are allowed to escape from one to the other if the other country will suit them better.]]
* CurseEscapeClause: The dying king attempted to curse Valek, which didn't work because Valek is immune to magic. It landed on his knife instead, leaving it permanently bloody. "Makes a nice trophy, though."
* CynicismCatalyst: Opal and Kade both have one (Tula and Kaya) hanging over their psyches.
* DarkAndTroubledPast
* TheEmpath: Leif.
* EnergyAbsorption: Turns out [[spoiler: Opal]] can do this to someone else and drain their magic ''entirely'' if [[spoiler: (a) they throw their entire power at her during an attack, and (b) she's defending herself using glass by taking control of their SummonMagic creatures]].
* EverythingsBetterWithChocolate: Criollo (i.e. chocolate) becomes the TrademarkFavoriteFood of everyone who tries it. However, this trope is subverted when [[spoiler: it turns out that repeated heavy consumption of the dessert lowers one's mental shields. A lot]].
* FailedASpotCheck: Opal; [[spoiler: she notices that Ulrick has become (a) more amorous, and (b) ''refuses to blow any glass'', yet somehow completely ignores that both of these actions are out of character for him. See example below for why]].
* [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/UsefulNotes/ForTheLoveOfMany ForTheLoveOfMany]]: [[spoiler: The Bloodrose clan is polygamous, in the "creepy old dude marries every female and impregnates her" way.]]
* FreakyFriday: [[spoiler: Devlen and Ulrick]].
* IdiotBall: Opal, so very, very much. She notices when something is wrong and then promptly continues to ignore it and head straight into trouble ''anyway.'' This never gets any better. If she were in a horror movie she'd be dead within the first 15 minutes.
* JerkassFacade: Valek. It is strongly hinted that he cultivates a reputation of [[spoiler: brutally murdering all magically-gifted children so that their parents will get them smuggled out of the country before someone does]].
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: [[spoiler: Devlen, particularly in book 3 of ''Glass.'']]
* [[RoomFullOfCrazy Journal Full Of Crazy]] Reyad had one where he wrote down every single thing Yelena had done to piss him off since they met, and how he planned to punish her for all of them. Slowly and painfully.
* JourneyToTheCenterOfTheMind
* KnowledgeBroker: The local kids set up a guild of these.
* LimitedWardrobe: Everyone in Ixia has to wear a uniform denoting their station.
* MasterOfDisguise: [[spoiler: Devlen]].
** And Valek, though Yelena usually recognises him.
* MildlyMilitary: Ixian culture post-Commander.
* MindRape: [[spoiler: First Magician Roze Featherstone]] is frighteningly adept at this.
* MistakenForGay: Valek by the seamstress, of the "married to the job" variety.
* MoreThanMindControl: [[spoiler: Done on the Commander via Criollo]].
* NightmareFuel: Yelena and Opal have some pretty awful dreams about their past experiences.
* NoSell: Valek is immune to magic.
* OrphanageOfFear: Where Yelena grew up.
* OurGhostsAreDifferent
* ParentalAbandonment: Averted.
* PerfectPoison: Averted.
* PlayingWithFire: Yelena can't do this. Others can. It's a problem.
* PoisonAndCureGambit: Valek poisons Yelena with Butterfly's Dust, a poison that will kill her within 48 hours [[PhlebotinumDependence if she doesn't get daily doses of the antidote.]] [[spoiler: He's lying, any symptoms of the poison come from her addiction to the "cure"]].
* ThePowerOfBlood: Used by Warpers.
* RapeAsBackstory
* RealWomenNeverWearDresses: Yelena personifies this trope. She dismisses the other girls at the beginning of ''Magic Study'' as being silly for wearing flowery Sitia clothing, and won't even trade in her uniform for more comfortable and practical skirts (in Sitia skirts are more practical because its so hot and humid there). She says that her hair -- after a (forced) makeover -- makes her look "soft," and she even finds Cahil's compliments to her insulting. Makes you wonder why guys go after her.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Commander Ambrose comes off as a horribly strict, evil man for killing the royal family, calling for the execution of magic users, forcing everyone into uniforms and rigid roles, etc. However, the Commander isn't 100% unreasonable, and has some darned good reasons for doing what he does AND being against magic.
* SecretKeeper: Yelena knows the Commander's (see spoiler space below).
* SerialKiller: Ferde.
* ShownTheirWork: Maria V. Snyder learned how to make glass objects for ''Fire Study'' and then later based an entire trilogy off her glassblower character, who can solve various problems with her glassmaking ability/knowledge. Naturally, this requires a major problem where only a glassmaker could solve it.
* SiblingRivalry: Yelena and Leif.
* SoulJar
* SpeaksFluentAnimal: Yelena, especially to her horse Kiki.
* SpyCouple: Valek and Yelena.
* StockholmSyndrome
* SuccessionCrisis: Cahil.
* ThoseTwoGuys: Ari and Janco.
* ThouShaltNotKill: Only Valek is allowed to kill people in Ixia. Even those who kill in self-defense are supposed to be sentenced to death.
* TortureCellar
* [[spoiler: Transsexual: Commander Ambrose. Added complication: it turns out not so much that he's a man in a woman's body so much as a SplitPersonality. His mother's spirit entered his body when she died/he was born, and both of them live on in him]].
* TheUnfavourite: Ulrick.
* WillfullyWeak: Valek and the Commander most likely could have had magical ability, but both chose to suppress the hell out of it. [[spoiler: Later, Opal does the same thing]].
----

Top