The Shadow in the Glass by J.J.A Harwood

Synopsis
Once upon a time Ella had wished for more than her life as a lowly maid.

Now forced to work hard under the unforgiving, lecherous gaze of the man she once called stepfather, Ella’s only refuge is in the books she reads by candlelight, secreted away in the library she isn’t permitted to enter.

One night, among her beloved books of far-off lands, Ella’s wishes are answered. At the stroke of midnight, a fairy godmother makes her an offer that will change her life: seven wishes, hers to make as she pleases. But each wish comes at a price and Ella must decide whether it’s one she’s willing to pay…

Review
The Shadowin the Glass is the deliciously dark debur novel from J.J.A Harwood. This adult fantasy read combines the basic story of Cinderella with a touch of Goethe’s Faust woven in. Eleanor, known as Ella, had a promising future, ward of Mr and Mrs Pembroke, she was educated and lived the life of luxury. When Mrs Pembroke dies Ella finds herself below stairs, working as a maid to earn her keep, all vestiges of her old life gone. Her sanctuary is in the library at night, the books taking her away from her troubles, when one night her wishes to change her life are answered. Seven wishes are offered in return for her soul after the last wish is granted, an offer Ella jumps at only to learn that magic comes with dire consequences. Just how basly does she want a new life, and if she is willing to pay the price for it.

The Shadow in the Glass has the wonderful darkness and gothic feel of the origional fairytales from the Brothers Grimm, mixed with Goethe’s Faustian bargain with the devil. J.J.A Harwood really turns the traditional fairytale on its head with this book. Ella is obviously inspired by Cinderella, but instead of the wicked step-mother, there is the lecherous Mr Pembroke who terrorises the young maids, with many having to leave finding themselves pregnant. There is also the so called fairy godmother in this book, that is far from the motherly, soft and fairy like character we are use to. This fairy godmother may look motherly at first sight but her eyes are completely black and sinister looking. I also loved the idea of the wishes and magic coming at a cost, and as Ella finds out the consequences are severe, so her happiness comes at the cost of others. The darkness of this book is matched by the gloomy setting of Granborough House, looking worn and tired like it’s owner, a place past its best. J.J.A Harwood also refelects the dark nature of the story in the smog and dirt of London’s streets and the poor and homeless who live along side the rich. By having this gloomy atmosphere through every aspect of the book, J.J.A Harwood maintains that sense of the gothic, the sinister, and disturbing feel of the book.

The central character of Ella is one that I loved, and I really wanted her life to work out even though at my heart I knew this was never going to end well. After her mother’s death, Mrs Pembroke raises Eleanor to be a lady, to be educated and taught how to behave in society with the hope of a good marriage. It is a long way to fall to now be a servant, working with those who once served her. What makes Ella such a wonderful character is how she adapts to this, cares for her fellow maids, always wanting to protect them from the lecherous Mr Pembroke, putting herself in danger to secure ther safety. She tries to be a moral person as well, wanting to do the right thing especially after seeing the devestation her wishes cause. She deperatly tries to use them sparingly, or even not at all, hoping to out play her chilling fairy godmother and keep her soul intact. I did have sympathy for her situation, wanting her to be happy and get her life back, but the undercurrent of malevolence and the always watchful fairy godmother really unsettled me; I was almost reading through my fingers, not wanting to know how the book ended, but also knowing I had to.

The Shadow in the Glass is a disturbing and atmospheric gothic fairytale, full of tension and twists and turns. Ella plays the perfect tragic heroine, a good person at heart but wanting to get her old life back. I loved how this book turned the traditional fairtytale in its head, with a wicked guardian rather than stepmother and a fairy godmother you would never want to meet. In my opinion, this is dark magical fantasy at its best, chilling, captivating and very disturbing.

I would like to thank Harper Voyager and Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for the invitation to be part of this blog tour in return for my honest review.