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

 

 

Title: The Shadow in the Glass

Author: J.J.A. Harwood

Pages: 414

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Release Date: 18th March 2021

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

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 to decide whether it’s one she’s willing to pay it.

 

Goodreads | Storygraph | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Bookshop

 

 

 

 

 

My Review:

 *I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Harper Collins UK and NetGalley*

 

 

Since Ella's adopted mother died, she has gone from a lady in training to working as a maid for her guardian/adopted father.

Ella finds refuge in the library, sneaking in to read books in the middle of the night.

Then, one night, Ella encounters a woman who offers her seven wishes, but there is a price to pay.

Will Ella use the wishes?

Can she have the life she dreams of?

 

The concept of the book intrigued me, especially the Cinderella aspect, but, unfortunately, I ended up being disappointed.

Ella was a protagonist who I felt sorry for in the beginning, but as the book went on, I found it harder to sympathise with her and began to find her a bit annoying.

My favourite characters were probably Aoife and Leah, who worked as maids with Ella.

The historical setting was interesting, and it had an impact on Ella's life as well as the other women in the book.

The plot was enjoyable to begin with, but as the book went on, I found myself liking it less. I lost interest at one point and did consider stopping reading. Nothing that happened particularly shocked me, and I didn't feel invested in Ella enough to care about what happened to her.

The writing style was easy to follow, but while the premise for this book intrigued me, it didn't live up to its potential.

 

Overall, this was an okay, mixed read.

 

Review - The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

 

 

Title: The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea

 

Author: Axie Oh

 

Pages: 337

 

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

 

Release Date: 22nd February 2022

 

 

Blurb from Goodreads: 

 

Deadly storms have ravaged Mina’s homeland for generations. Floods sweep away entire villages, while bloody wars are waged over the few remaining resources. Her people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curses them with death and despair. In an attempt to appease him, each year a beautiful maiden is thrown into the sea to serve as the Sea God’s bride, in the hopes that one day the “true bride” will be chosen and end the suffering.

Many believe that Shim Cheong, the most beautiful girl in the village—and the beloved of Mina’s older brother Joon—may be the legendary true bride. But on the night Cheong is to be sacrificed, Joon follows Cheong out to sea, even knowing that to interfere is a death sentence. To save her brother, Mina throws herself into the water in Cheong’s stead.

Swept away to the Spirit Realm, a magical city of lesser gods and mythical beasts, Mina seeks out the Sea God, only to find him caught in an enchanted sleep. With the help of a mysterious young man named Shin—as well as a motley crew of demons, gods and spirits—Mina sets out to wake the Sea God and bring an end to the killer storms once and for all.

But she doesn’t have much time: A human cannot live long in the land of the spirits. And there are those who would do anything to keep the Sea God from waking…

Goodreads | Storygraph | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Bookshop

My Review:

 *I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley*

 

 

Mina lives with her family in a small coastal village. Every year, a young woman is picked as the Sea God's bride, a sacrifice in a bid to ease the devastating storms caused by the Sea God.

The girl chosen as the next Sea God's bride is Shim Cheong, Mina's brother Joon's love. On the night that Cheong is taken out to the sea, Mina follows, jumping into the sea first.

Mina finds herself in the Spirit Realm alongside ghosts and creatures, some of whom don't want Mina to find the Sea God or break the curse that keeps him asleep.

With only one month to wake the Sea God before she will be unable to leave the Spirit Realm, will Mina succeed?

 

The premise for this book really intrigued me, but I was also slightly hesitant to read it - I tend to have unpopular opinions and was worried I wouldn't like it - but I ended up being glad that I gave it a chance.

Mina was a likeable and relatable protagonist who loved her family and helped others. I enjoyed the glimpses of her life at home that were scattered throughout the book, as well as seeing how Mina reacted in the different situations she was put in while in the Spirit Realm.

I liked a lot of the side characters and the relationships Mina had with them. I would be interested to find out more about them all.

The mythology was interesting, as was the setting of the Spirit Realm.

The plot was fast paced and held my attention throughout. There were several times when I was surprised by something that happened, which doesn't happen very often in YA nowadays.

The writing style was easy to follow, and I would be interested in reading another book by the author, as well as reading this one again at some point.

 

Overall, this was an enjoyable, unique read that I would recommend.

March TBR

 

  

 

Rogue: Untouched by Alisa Kwitney

The Near Witch by V.E. Schwab

 

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

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

What are you planning to read in March?

Can't-Wait Wednesday - One For All

  

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a feature hosted at Wishful Endings where people showcase an upcoming book they are looking forward to.

 

This week I'm anticipating . . . 

Title: One for All

 

Author: Lillie Lainoff

 

 Pages: 400

 

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

 

Release Date: 8th March 2022

 

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 

An OwnVoices, gender-bent retelling of The Three Musketeers, in which a girl with a chronic illness trains as a Musketeer and uncovers secrets, sisterhood, and self-love.

Tania de Batz is most herself with a sword in her hand. Everyone in town thinks her near-constant dizziness makes her weak, nothing but “a sick girl”; even her mother is desperate to marry her off for security. But Tania wants to be strong, independent, a fencer like her father—a former Musketeer and her greatest champion.

Then Papa is brutally, mysteriously murdered. His dying wish? For Tania to attend finishing school. But L’Académie des Mariées, Tania realizes, is no finishing school. It’s a secret training ground for a new kind of Musketeer: women who are socialites on the surface, but strap daggers under their skirts, seduce men into giving up dangerous secrets, and protect France from downfall. And they don’t shy away from a swordfight.

With her newfound sisters at her side, Tania feels for the first time like she has a purpose, like she belongs. But then she meets Étienne, her first target in uncovering a potential assassination plot. He’s kind, charming, and breathlessly attractive—and he might have information about what really happened to her father. Torn between duty and dizzying emotion, Tania will have to lean on her friends, listen to her own body, and decide where her loyalties lie…or risk losing everything she’s ever wanted.

This debut novel is a fierce, whirlwind adventure about the depth of found family, the strength that goes beyond the body, and the determination it takes to fight for what you love.

 

 

 

 

Why I'm Anticipating This Book:

 

 Female Musketeers + Own Voices + the protagonist has chronic illness?

Sign me up!