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lolocole's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
When they said Gothic Cinderella, they meant it. There is a menacing energy driving this book. It's coated with Ella's desperation, with impossible situations, with the claustrophobia of being a women with no resources but violence.
This book had me in a thrall- it was like the impulse to stare at a car crash. You know something horrible has happened, you know equally with the pit in your stomach that you don't actually want to see destruction, and you find your eyes glued to it anyway.
I am fascinated by the loose ends of this story.Was Ella the one murdering all along? Was there even a woman in the dark? Was murder even necessary for the wishes? Was there such thing as a soul? If not, was Ella's death/suicide at the end a result of guilty paranoia? Did she kill her mother? Why are the accounts of her as a child so cryptic and violent and disorienting? What happened to change the violent silent child? Did Mrs. Pembroke die as a result of magic? I am just reeling.
The fact that Ella was an unreliable narrator didn't really hit home until half of the book had flashed by. We were so deep in her head, feeling the injustices piled upon her and the girls she worked with that the increasing wild nature of her justifications for her actions felt like a startling revelation.
Being a woman is so scary.
This book had me in a thrall- it was like the impulse to stare at a car crash. You know something horrible has happened, you know equally with the pit in your stomach that you don't actually want to see destruction, and you find your eyes glued to it anyway.
I am fascinated by the loose ends of this story.
The fact that Ella was an unreliable narrator didn't really hit home until half of the book had flashed by. We were so deep in her head, feeling the injustices piled upon her and the girls she worked with that the increasing wild nature of her justifications for her actions felt like a startling revelation.
Being a woman is so scary.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Abortion, and Physical abuse
pointeshoebookworm's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.5
As a fairytale girlie, I specifically chose this book to be the first book I read in 2024. To start off the year with something that I would fall in love with and there many aspects of this book that were great. But it ultimately fell incredibly flat. As mentioned by many others, the insane amount of plot holes, the potential they had!! The open ending . . . what? I understand wanting to leave the ending open to interpretation, but considering the rest of the book, it just didn't work. Most importantly, the main character . . . how power hungry or fool heardy (or both) do you have to be in order to completely ignore the reality of your situation. How cold hearted do you have to be, to continue on despite the lethal cost of your choices.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Death, Sexual harassment, Drug use, Classism, Sexism, Physical abuse, Animal death, Child death, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual assault, and Rape
Minor: Homophobia
user8432's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Death
Moderate: Abortion, Pregnancy, and Child death
jo_d's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Started and finished this book in less than 24 hours it was so good.
Cinderella retelling: imagine if Ella Enchanted met Oliver Twist and was written by Mary Shelley. The book does a really good job of reverse character growth, and really ropes you into cheering for someone who by the end makes some horrible decisions that mean she justifies murder for the sake of personal gain
Had me at the edge of my seat the entire time and could hardly put it down. Excellent reworking of the classic tale in a completely different light. The themes of the corruption of power and the justification of horrid actions by someone who believes they deserve better is just *chefs kiss*
Cinderella retelling: imagine if Ella Enchanted met Oliver Twist and was written by Mary Shelley. The book does a really good job of reverse character growth, and really ropes you into cheering for someone
Had me at the edge of my seat the entire time and could hardly put it down. Excellent reworking of the classic tale in a completely different light. The themes of the corruption of power and the justification of horrid actions by someone who believes they deserve better is just *chefs kiss*
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Vomit, and Abortion
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, and Rape
Minor: Forced institutionalization and Injury/Injury detail
livetgjennomb_ker's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting, Murder, Abortion, Rape, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Blood, Classism, Misogyny, Death, and Death of parent
0ivy0's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Shadow in the Glass is a slow-pased, character-driven dark exploration of the Cinderella fairytale.
17 year old Eleanor was once brought up as a young lady, but now she's her step-father's maid. One fateful night she is given the offer of a lifetime - 7 wishes to change her life. The price? Her soul.
There was a great build up to the inciting incident - our main character, her desires, her environment and the people around her are laid out very well.
The book is split into 7 parts rather than chapters, which can be a little difficult when you're like me and only like to stop reading at the end of a chapter, but means you end up reading more of the book than you realise.
I was engaged the whole time when reading, wondering what would happen and hoping for the best. Because of the slow nature and character-driven plot, I really felt I understood the protagonist and the choices she made. I enjoyed the life-like nature of how the plot unfurled, it wasn't all good, nor was it all bad and the characters didn't feel like characatures.
There is a romance element to the plot which I absolutely loved, the yearning was brilliantly written and enthralling. I also loved the unreliable narrator element, and questions that were left unanswered by the end of the book.
I originally picked this up because I adored The Thorns Remain and, although I didnt enjoy it as much, I was not disappointed. In both The Shadow In The Glass and The Thorns Remain, I was completely sucked in and forgot I was reading- JJA Harwood is an instant read for me now.
17 year old Eleanor was once brought up as a young lady, but now she's her step-father's maid. One fateful night she is given the offer of a lifetime - 7 wishes to change her life. The price? Her soul.
There was a great build up to the inciting incident - our main character, her desires, her environment and the people around her are laid out very well.
The book is split into 7 parts rather than chapters, which can be a little difficult when you're like me and only like to stop reading at the end of a chapter, but means you end up reading more of the book than you realise.
I was engaged the whole time when reading, wondering what would happen and hoping for the best. Because of the slow nature and character-driven plot, I really felt I understood the protagonist and the choices she made. I enjoyed the life-like nature of how the plot unfurled, it wasn't all good, nor was it all bad and the characters didn't feel like characatures.
There is a romance element to the plot which I absolutely loved, the yearning was brilliantly written and enthralling. I also loved the unreliable narrator element, and questions that were left unanswered by the end of the book.
I originally picked this up because I adored The Thorns Remain and, although I didnt enjoy it as much, I was not disappointed. In both The Shadow In The Glass and The Thorns Remain, I was completely sucked in and forgot I was reading- JJA Harwood is an instant read for me now.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape
ssmijuat's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abortion and Rape
crystalsparkles's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
There’s a quote on the cover from Katie Lowe that says ‘A gothic twist on Cinderella that is truly exquisite’ - I would say that there’s definitely an element of Rumpelstiltskin in there. But in all, not a happily ever after kind of story.
Was somewhat frustrated by the ending, but I suppose it’s because we’re all used to things tied off neatly in a bow at the end of our stories, and it’s not happening here.
It was dark & twisted and messy.
I’d put this in the murder mystery or psychological thriller section if it didn’t have a fairy godmother.
Was somewhat frustrated by the ending, but I suppose it’s because we’re all used to things tied off neatly in a bow at the end of our stories, and it’s not happening here.
It was dark & twisted and messy.
I’d put this in the murder mystery or psychological thriller section if it didn’t have a fairy godmother.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Blood, Death of parent, Violence, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Drug use, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, and Rape
Minor: Religious bigotry and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
rachaelvo4's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The ending was expected but also disappointing nonetheless. After awhile I just thought Eleanor was irritating but she is a great character to analyze, I do understand that she had so much going on w her circumstance, and it’s hard to have self control when you’re given the option between your greatest dreams and living hell. She does not deserve any of the love that Charles gave her. I love the historical time period accuracy. The relationship w the characters was a little hard to see how they reflected on the main character, felt like it was mostly to give more storylines and keep plot moving. Probably wouldn’t read again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Car accident, Death of parent, Rape, Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Animal death, Body horror, Violence, Blood, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, and Classism
daturaa's review
Take a shot for every time Ella mentions she has wishes. The author repeatedly raises the stakes only to dismantle them by bringing up that Ella has wishes that can save her from anything and everything— Once these are available to her, I'm not exaggerating when I say the author has to remind you in every. single. paragraph.
Interesting premise, but it gets watered down.
Interesting premise, but it gets watered down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual harassment, and Incest