Name: The Shadow in the Glass: The Extraordinary Gothic Fairytale Debut of 2021
ISBN: 9780008368111

JJA Harwood

A deliciously gothic story of wishes and curses – a new dark fairy tale set against a Victorian backdrop full of lace and smoke.

The Shadow in the Glass: The Extraordinary Gothic Fairytale Debut of 2021

danielle bush

This book is a unique and dark twisted retelling of Cinderella with a bit of mystery and magic, and I loved every page of it.. I would have no idea that this book is the authors debut novel.. It drew me in from the first page and I flew through it.. I just had to know what was going to happen next with Ella, and how she was going to get what she wanted.. 
Ella is a wonderful character, you could feel how much she wanted her life to change, and how much she wanted to help the other women she worked with.. and how you should always be careful what you wish for.. 
I can't wait to see what this author writes next!

Jess Wragg

4.5⭐️

“Eleanor tried to be good, she tried to be kind, but she wanted so many things that she could feel them gnawing at her from the inside.”

If you were granted 7 wishes, but the price of using them all could cost you everything….what would you do? 

This is a very dark, gothic and twisted retelling of Cinderella. Ella is a maid working for a terrible master, who is granted a chance to change her life through 7 wishes. She has to weigh the consequences of her wishes, against what she wants most in life, is she willing to let people die for her own good fortune? 

This story is beautifully written, Hardwood creates a Victorian world of hardship, suffering and class privilege. The characters are complex, and the storyline surprising. 

It is not a face paced read, I found myself slowly drifting through the story, desperately trying to work out how the story would end. 

If you enjoy dark retellings, then this is a great read….however….there a some emotional triggers in this and I personally do not feel it is a YA read. 

⚠️ Trigger Warning - Rape, abortion, miscarriage, abuse ⚠️

Plot - 5/5
Character Development - 5/5
Pacing - 4/5 
Escapism Factor - 5/5
Emotional Connection - 4/5

The Shadow in the Glass: The Extraordinary Gothic Fairytale Debut of 2021

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