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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
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
soundlysmitten's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The Shadow in the Glass tells the story of a young, mistreated maid in Victorian era London who seizes a dubious opportunity to improve her station in life. It’s loosely based on ‘Cinderella,’ but besides the main character’s diminutive and status—along with a few corresponding symbols which appear at the beginning and end—the narrative takes a large departure from the classic fairytale. In this retelling, instead of accepting a gift bestowed by her fairy godmother, Eleanor makes a Faustus-like deal with a mysterious ‘black-eyed woman’ only she can see. In exchange for seven wishes, Eleanor signs her soul away to the creature. As she needn’t deliver until the last wish is made, she intends to stop at the sixth. But Eleanor’s wishes always result in complications she thinks she needs more to fix.
Although this is listed as a fantasy, to me the story felt more like a cross between a historical novel with Gothic elements and a psychological thriller with supernatural factors at play. It’s more harrowing than thrilling, though. While I’d say it’s medium paced, long sections and spots where the writing gets dense can actually make it feel pretty slow.
Told in third-person from Eleanor’s point of view, it isn’t always clear what is or isn’t real. She’s experienced quite a bit of trauma by the time we meet her and the limitations of her life have her feeling claustrophobic. Some people might interpret Eleanor as an entitled character, but I don’t think it’s fair to imply she doesn’t deserve better. Of course she does. No one deserves to endure the twisted conditions she and her co-workers must. So personally, I’d say Eleanor starts out with good reason to feel bitter. If not for the life she almost had, for all the other loss she’s experienced, and for the torment of working in Mr. Pembroke’s household. It can surely be said that Eleanor goes on to make some selfishly cruel, misguided decisions. But as I mentioned, she’s a desperate and deluded protagonist… and each wish she makes corrupts her character further.
While I understand the dire environment the author sought to create, it was difficult to read through all of the instances of physical and sexual abuse. Women turning against women is also not something I enjoy reading about. Honestly, I think violence might taint every part of this story. Even the romance, as the love interest is oh so distraught to find Eleanor being abused in a position he arranged, but all he does is get her in trouble and leave her there…
As you might have guessed, this is not a book with a neat, feel good resolution. Although I mostly prefer to read HEAs, I don’t think I would have minded the conclusion if it had been fleshed out further. But towards the end, some of the events that play out seem a bit too convenient. And worse, we are left with a number of essential questions.All throughout the story, the author drops little hints that Eleanor herself may have a history of violent behavior. And multiple times, the night after a wish is ‘granted,’ Eleanor wakes up in a disheveled state, suggesting her involvement in carrying out said wish. For a while, I thought the black-eyed woman might just be a figment of Eleanor’s imagination—a way for Eleanor to distance herself from the brutal acts she commits. And although the ending makes it seem as if the black-eyed woman is indeed real, it still isn’t clear whether the woman has been carrying out the wishes on Eleanor’s behalf, possessing others to do so, or goading Eleanor to take matters into her own hands.
The only other criticism I have is about Eleanor’s self-talk regarding the wishes. Her decision making process is so repetitive. Every time, she starts by says she’s not going to make another wish—she is NOT—because the last time she did, something terrible happened. Then she flips her position and says no, that wasn’t really a consequence of the wish—it can't be. And she needs to make another wish right now because: insert justification. Maybe that’s a more realistic thought process than I’d like to believe. But I found it rather annoying…
All the same, with themes of desire, greed, power, and revenge, this is an intriguing read on the consequences of flirting with evil. It’s a much darker narrative than I typically like to get lost in, so I can’t say I loved it. And I probably won’t be giving it a re-read. But it is captivating and I’m sure it’s *the* book for somebody else out there.
Although this is listed as a fantasy, to me the story felt more like a cross between a historical novel with Gothic elements and a psychological thriller with supernatural factors at play. It’s more harrowing than thrilling, though. While I’d say it’s medium paced, long sections and spots where the writing gets dense can actually make it feel pretty slow.
Told in third-person from Eleanor’s point of view, it isn’t always clear what is or isn’t real. She’s experienced quite a bit of trauma by the time we meet her and the limitations of her life have her feeling claustrophobic. Some people might interpret Eleanor as an entitled character, but I don’t think it’s fair to imply she doesn’t deserve better. Of course she does. No one deserves to endure the twisted conditions she and her co-workers must. So personally, I’d say Eleanor starts out with good reason to feel bitter. If not for the life she almost had, for all the other loss she’s experienced, and for the torment of working in Mr. Pembroke’s household. It can surely be said that Eleanor goes on to make some selfishly cruel, misguided decisions. But as I mentioned, she’s a desperate and deluded protagonist… and each wish she makes corrupts her character further.
While I understand the dire environment the author sought to create, it was difficult to read through all of the instances of physical and sexual abuse. Women turning against women is also not something I enjoy reading about. Honestly, I think violence might taint every part of this story. Even the romance, as the love interest is oh so distraught to find Eleanor being abused in a position he arranged, but all he does is get her in trouble and leave her there…
As you might have guessed, this is not a book with a neat, feel good resolution. Although I mostly prefer to read HEAs, I don’t think I would have minded the conclusion if it had been fleshed out further. But towards the end, some of the events that play out seem a bit too convenient. And worse, we are left with a number of essential questions.
The only other criticism I have is about Eleanor’s self-talk regarding the wishes. Her decision making process is so repetitive. Every time, she starts by says she’s not going to make another wish—she is NOT—because the last time she did, something terrible happened. Then she flips her position and says no, that wasn’t really a consequence of the wish—it can't be. And she needs to make another wish right now because: insert justification. Maybe that’s a more realistic thought process than I’d like to believe. But I found it rather annoying…
All the same, with themes of desire, greed, power, and revenge, this is an intriguing read on the consequences of flirting with evil. It’s a much darker narrative than I typically like to get lost in, so I can’t say I loved it. And I probably won’t be giving it a re-read. But it is captivating and I’m sure it’s *the* book for somebody else out there.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Violence
Minor: Animal death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual content, and Vomit
madarauchiha's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 my about / byf / CW info carrd: uchiha-madara 💜 💙 💚 💛 🧡 ❤️
If you're expecting a blow by blow, connect the dots retelling of Cinderella, this isn't really it. This is more a dark, fictional historical fantasy story that kind of has similarities to Cinderella.
The writing is quite pretty so far. The detail in environments is pretty but not overwhelming. At times it does feel like traumaporn / torture porn. There is something like a payoff to it, but it may not please everyone.
Honestly I hate the presence / use of ingrained societal misogyny and patriarchal systems in fantasy. For one it just feels unimaginative on the typically white authors part. That they cannot imagine any other type of social setting but the one that white people have created and enforced and benefit from.
And often it's a cheap, overused tactic to cause trouble for the mc or the cast of characters, especially when something else could be the cause of impulsion or difficulty to overcome. This book has that. So far the writing does make me forgive it enough to continue reading it. The plot twist of faustian deals soothes having a misogynistic social background. So far, anyhow.
I'm conflicted on the fairy godmother parts as I do loathe when mental illness is misrepresented is this manner. It was an interesting twist on the godmother character, making them into a darker Faustian specter.
I kind of question the ending because it reminds me of tolkien's use of master and servant, and how the servant character should remain a servant to the master character always, because that's how things should be, oi guvnah! And all that.
Content warnings:
minor single use of the anti Rromani g slur, human trafficking, unsanitary, poisoning, emetophobia, abortion, rape?, sexual harassment, blood, body horror, catholicism, religious bigotry,
medium emetophobia, death, orphaning / parental death, pregnancy, sexual harassment, child abuse, amputation, gore, drowning, alcohol, animal death, alcohol abuse,
major misogyny, victim blaming, parental death, orphaning, death, gore, animal death, police, child death, abuse, pregnancy, menstruation, abortion, police,
If you're expecting a blow by blow, connect the dots retelling of Cinderella, this isn't really it. This is more a dark, fictional historical fantasy story that kind of has similarities to Cinderella.
The writing is quite pretty so far. The detail in environments is pretty but not overwhelming. At times it does feel like traumaporn / torture porn. There is something like a payoff to it, but it may not please everyone.
Honestly I hate the presence / use of ingrained societal misogyny and patriarchal systems in fantasy. For one it just feels unimaginative on the typically white authors part. That they cannot imagine any other type of social setting but the one that white people have created and enforced and benefit from.
And often it's a cheap, overused tactic to cause trouble for the mc or the cast of characters, especially when something else could be the cause of impulsion or difficulty to overcome. This book has that. So far the writing does make me forgive it enough to continue reading it. The plot twist of faustian deals soothes having a misogynistic social background. So far, anyhow.
I'm conflicted on the fairy godmother parts as I do loathe when mental illness is misrepresented is this manner. It was an interesting twist on the godmother character, making them into a darker Faustian specter.
I kind of question the ending because it reminds me of tolkien's use of master and servant, and how the servant character should remain a servant to the master character always, because that's how things should be, oi guvnah! And all that.
Content warnings:
minor single use of the anti Rromani g slur, human trafficking, unsanitary, poisoning, emetophobia, abortion, rape?, sexual harassment, blood, body horror, catholicism, religious bigotry,
medium emetophobia, death, orphaning / parental death, pregnancy, sexual harassment, child abuse, amputation, gore, drowning, alcohol, animal death, alcohol abuse,
major misogyny, victim blaming, parental death, orphaning, death, gore, animal death, police, child death, abuse, pregnancy, menstruation, abortion, police,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Vomit, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Gore, Alcoholism, and Animal death
Minor: Religious bigotry, Trafficking, Body horror, and Blood
inkslinger's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
'The Shadow in the Glass' by JJA Harwood has all the classic Gothic atmosphere of Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart, delivered in the wrappings of an elegant, dark modern fairytale.
Putting a delightfully morbid twist on the age old Cinderella story, the book follows a lowly maid named Eleanor.. 'Ella'.. as she struggles in the wake of loss. Having fallen into service after the passing of the only person who looked out for her after her mother's death, Ella's left with a licentious man who she once called stepfather.
Secreting herself away in the late Mistress' library whenever she can manage, Ella escapes through the stories tucked along the shelves. One night, a fairy godmother hears her pleas and makes her an offer that will change her life immeasurably. Ella gets seven wishes, but each comes at a price.. and the cost is steep.
Honestly, the retelling is such a strong story on its own that it was easy to forget its origins. Though there are obvious connections like the main character's nickname and a distinctive detail at the very end of the book, it just doesn't really read like a Cinderella story unless you go in looking to match things up.
From a presentation standpoint, if I hadn't known the premise.. the fairy godmother and evil stepfather are almost unrecognizable. I was so caught up in the familial logistics and the defining traits of the author's creations.. that for much of the book if the synopsis hadn't told me who these people were, I probably wouldn't have seen the correlation until the end.
The storytelling is gritty and magnificent. From the opening pages, there's an undercurrent of something bad on the horizon. It isn't spelled out right away, but like a classic Poe story.. your instincts pick it up and you can just feel the tension building with dreadful slowness. You can see what lies in the road ahead once things get going and it feels like it just might swallow you whole.
There's something special about an author who can make you feel like you're slowly marching to your own end, while simultaneously keeping your hope alive that just maybe you'll be wrong. That someone or something will avert the crisis in your path.
Harwood has just such a gift. If you're a fan of eerie Gothic tales, don't miss this one. Since it's only her debut novel, I'll be eagerly watching to see what else she might have up her proverbial sleeve.
(I received this title as an ARC, but also purchased a copy. All opinions are mine and freely given.)
Putting a delightfully morbid twist on the age old Cinderella story, the book follows a lowly maid named Eleanor.. 'Ella'.. as she struggles in the wake of loss. Having fallen into service after the passing of the only person who looked out for her after her mother's death, Ella's left with a licentious man who she once called stepfather.
Secreting herself away in the late Mistress' library whenever she can manage, Ella escapes through the stories tucked along the shelves. One night, a fairy godmother hears her pleas and makes her an offer that will change her life immeasurably. Ella gets seven wishes, but each comes at a price.. and the cost is steep.
Honestly, the retelling is such a strong story on its own that it was easy to forget its origins. Though there are obvious connections like the main character's nickname and a distinctive detail at the very end of the book, it just doesn't really read like a Cinderella story unless you go in looking to match things up.
From a presentation standpoint, if I hadn't known the premise.. the fairy godmother and evil stepfather are almost unrecognizable. I was so caught up in the familial logistics and the defining traits of the author's creations.. that for much of the book if the synopsis hadn't told me who these people were, I probably wouldn't have seen the correlation until the end.
The storytelling is gritty and magnificent. From the opening pages, there's an undercurrent of something bad on the horizon. It isn't spelled out right away, but like a classic Poe story.. your instincts pick it up and you can just feel the tension building with dreadful slowness. You can see what lies in the road ahead once things get going and it feels like it just might swallow you whole.
There's something special about an author who can make you feel like you're slowly marching to your own end, while simultaneously keeping your hope alive that just maybe you'll be wrong. That someone or something will avert the crisis in your path.
Harwood has just such a gift. If you're a fan of eerie Gothic tales, don't miss this one. Since it's only her debut novel, I'll be eagerly watching to see what else she might have up her proverbial sleeve.
(I received this title as an ARC, but also purchased a copy. All opinions are mine and freely given.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Murder, and Sexism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, and Miscarriage
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, and Violence
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