This is a dark and twisted take on Cinderella.

Eleanor, or “Ella” as she’s often called, is an orphan who is being cared for by Lady Pembroke who was her mother’s employer. Mrs. and Mr. Pembroke become Eleanor’s guardians and Eleanor is treated to the softer side of life until Mrs. Pembroke dies. Eleanor is then told she must earn her keep by working tirelessly as a maid, and her life devolves into bleakness. She works tirelessly for crap wages, her clothes are rough and don’t fit, she has basically no belongings, she can barely walk down the street without being accosted several times by wondering hands, and her remaining guardian, Mr Pembroke, has become a creepy lecher who wants her to sit on his lap like the good old times. Life is BLEAK, and you can’t get through a single page without being reminded of it.

Then, a mysterious woman appears who offers Ella seven wishes. With magic wishes Ella can escape the bleakness! The only catch is that Ella has to give up her soul. Ella thinks that’s fair enough (souls are useless anyway) and makes the bargain. Then, instead of using a wish to escape the bleakness, she wishes for a pair of shoes. Bad things follow. Ella can’t believe it didn’t turn out well. She makes another thoughtless wish, and again, bad things happen. Ella can’t believe the woman with the demonic black eyes who asked for her soul isn’t a good person. She makes more bad wishes........you can probably guess where this is going.

I could barely finish this book. My biggest issue wasn’t even the never ending bleakness, it was the protagonist. She’s so wishy washy, and she makes so many bad decisions, that I didn’t even care what happened to her. Her love interest Charles isn’t any better. He’s kind and generous and gentle, but when he discovers his fiancé is being cruel to Ella, and Ella doesn’t want him to talk to his fiancé on her behalf, his response is basically, ‘Well, I guess I’m of no use then! Do you think I should still marry her?’ Eh, whatever Charles. You are useless!

I was hoping from the onset that by the end of the book, the women would’ve realized that while they didn’t hold a lot of power in this society individually, if they had banded together they could’ve changed their circumstances. Instead, Ella keeps telling herself she’s going to help her friends, but nothing really comes of it, and the older women in the household continue to turn a blind eye to the abuse of the younger ones instead of helping them. What a wasted opportunity.

I’m giving it two stars instead of one because the writing - sentence structure, grammar, world building, etc. is well-done, just tedious to get through.

This historical fantasy was like a slow, inevitable dive into darkness. A literal Faustian deal gives housemaid Eleanor access to seven wishes, each of which will chip away at her soul until nothing is left. Desperate to protect herself and the other maids from a lecherous employer while also entertaining visions of herself as a real, fabulous high society lady with silks and adventures, Eleanor accepts. She hopes she can use clever planning to make the most of her wishes without making the fatal seventh.

Alas, this gothic Cinderella tale was a brutal slog for me to get through. I'll do my best to be upfront about my subjective preferences without giving spoilers so that everyone can make an informed decision about picking it up. My problems were:

1. Pacing: I think the slow unfurling of each wish was intended to build tension, but the dread that settled on me was hard to shake.
2. Tone: There are a lot of moral reflections and contortions around Ella's actions because each wish results in harm to others. I can see that this approach makes the story thoughtful and complex, but I became impatient and frustrated that the same questions circled at each step with an obvious result lurking out of reach.
3. Resolution: I think it's not a spoiler to say that this has a bit of an open ending, and it's certainly not a pleasant one. I am a weakling who doesn't enjoy that kind of sap to my emotions, especially since the feeling of impending doom settled over me from the start of Ella's deal. A kind of sad anticipation lingered on my mind throughout.

Here's what I will say to close: If you like a gothic tale that's fraught and devious, this may appeal to you. If you want to ponder the way Victorian society boxed in women and the poor through class distinctions, emphasis on narrowly defined virtuous behavior, and few opportunities to change one's cruel circumstances, you will see the value in this tale. This is not a bad book, but I was miserable seeing Ella struggle and it just wasn't up my alley.

I was given a copy of The Shadow in the Glass by JJA Harwood by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is hard to review. I did enjoy it. The story was decent. The writing style was very readable. It had moments that I was very intrigued by. The author clearly knows a lot about the Victorian Era. I enjoyed little extra facts and bits thrown in that added good authenticity to the story. I just really didn't like Eleanor. I think that is kind of on purpose. I just thought she was so incredibly stupid. If you have all these wishes, she sure did waste them on dumb things. I did like the turn towards the end where the reader questions whether this is all in her head and that she is in fact a murderer. I wish that part had be how the book ended. I'm not sure how the digest the ending. It didn't really work for me. Saying all that, I did enjoy the story and would recommend it to people who want a gothic thriller. I'd read the author again.

A gothic retelling of Cinderella??? Count me in!
I absolutely loved this Cinderella retelling. It was darker than I expected from a fairytale retelling, but that gothic aspect made it very unique. Elenor's character was very well written, in my opinion, and I felt like the author did an excellent job of forming her character. I loved the suspense created each time Elenore used a wish and the anticipation of the final wish built and built. Al in all, if you like fairytale retellings with a dark twist, this is perfect!
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC in return for an honest review

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this ARC.

Ella is a ward turned house maid after her care taker passes away. She is left with the evil husband who preys on young girls. This wasn't your typical romantic save me story. Ella had to fight for everything that has happened in her life. She discovers a book that binds her soul for wishes in return and takes the opportunity- but we all know that magic always comes with a price.

This story was dark and unique, but wasn't a favorite of mine. I didn't particularly like Charles and Ella together and the way Ella started acting after a while was kind of annoying. I do however like how it ended. It fit with the whole dark aesthetic of the book.

#TheShadowintheGlass #NetGalley
A solid read for those who enjoy a retelling. Thank you the NetGalley and the publisher for the E-arc copy of this novel.

I adore retellings with a twist so this book was right up my alley. The twist which I sort of knew was coming from the blurbs was still dark and intense that it took me off guard. I can't wait for the publication of this book!

As a lover of fairytale retellings, I was super excited to have been approved for an ARC of this one. And while it wasn’t terrible, it also didn’t blow me out of the water. Perhaps it could’ve been restructured a bit to make the plot flow a bit better. I did enjoy the main character though!

Honestly, I went in expecting to love this even though fairy tale retellings have always been extremely hit or miss with me - and unfortunately this one turned out to be a miss. There was nothing wrong with this novel, it just wasn't for me. The writing style was easy to read; easy to imagine this 'world' in my mind as the story unfolded. I almost feel like this would have been better (for me personally) if it was a novella instead. There was just too much "nothing" happening for me to truly enjoy this book. Still, I would absolutely give the author another try in the future.

This story is supposed to be a retelling of Cinderella, and it might be only if Tim Burton was making it. If you were looking for the Disney version this is not your book. This story is very dark and almost gothic like. The main character Ella, is very naive, trained to be a lady but doesn’t have the street smarts to survive as a maid. Honestly though, I’m sure that would be me in her position too. 😅 As a reader you so want her to beat the evil and have a happy ending, but she really sucks at making wishes and it’s hard to see her go through all she goes through. The plot was definitely interesting though, and I like the characters. The ending had me a little confused, I’m not sure if that’s the way it’s supposed to be or if they left it open for a sequel. I hope it’s for a sequel because I want to know what happens after the ending. 🤞🏻😬 Overall, if you are in the mood for a dark story that may or may not have a happy ending this is probably the book for you.

Book Review for The Shadow in the Glass
Full review for this title will be posted at: @cattleboobooks on Instagram!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Shadow in the Glass.

I love fairytale retellings but each one has left me disappointed but this premise was intriguing so I was looking forward to reading it.

Sadly, I was left disappointed once again.

After losing her mother and patron, Ella is forced into a life of service by the man of the house, a lech who, not surprisingly, abuses the maids working for him.

Ella is an unlikable and unsympathetic heroine. She whines and complains about the life she should have had if the lady of the house hadn't died, as if she was entitled to wealth and privilege because the lady promised to take care of her, and now is angry and resentful that the man of the house did not fulfill the promise his late wife made.

Ella is shockingly naive considering her station in life and all she has dealt with in her young life. She can read and write but possesses no streets smarts whatsoever.

When she makes a deal with the devil, she is shocked to discover her wishes must be paid in blood, even though she is an avid reader and knows what a deal with the devil is like.

She talks constantly about making a wish, not making a wish, saving her friends in service who is danger of being molested, yet phrases her wishes poorly.

This part reminded me of an X-Files episode where Mulder meets a jinn and is promised three wishes but he learns soon that phrasing is the key and you can never win with a jinn.

Charles is our typical nitwit Prince Charming. Bland, boring, and powerless. What a catch.

I can't tell you how many times he calls Ella an 'angel' but it was too many times.

The narrative is bogged down with meaningless filler; Ella's mundane tasks of the day, getting coal, picking up food, polishing the silverware and furniture.

The author does a great job describing the dirt and grime of London but it soon got to be too much. How many times do I have to read about the grit and sooty of an industrial city and pickpockets roaming the streets and Ella's dishpan hands?

It takes Ella forever to make her lame wishes and she spends the last half of the story doing the usual boring tasks a lady of "leisure" with no power does: writing letters to find a patron, stalking Charles, and trying to figure out how to help her friends, which comes to nothing.

Ella does locate a friend and offer her shelter but the reprieve for Liza doesn't last long.

Ella is not clever, wily or intelligent and the story lacks magic, suspense, urgency and interesting, complex characters.

The Shadow in the Glass had potential had it chosen not to be a retelling but leaned toward the macabre and magical.

The Shadow in the Glass is a dark retelling of Cinderella set in 19th century London. This version of the story brings in elements of Faust, where Ella makes a deal with a demon rather than a fairy godmother.
After Eleanor's mother dies, she is taken in by Mrs. Pembroke and raised as her daughter, alongside her son Charles. After Mrs. Pembroke's death, Mr. Pembroke makes Eleanor a housemaid and strips her of any inheritance and privileges. Mr. Pembroke is a lecherous man and many housemaids have fallen victim to him. Eleanor spends her nights in the library reading about places she has never seen and dreams of what her life would have been if Mrs. Pembroke had never died. One night while reading The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, a fairy godmother appears and makes a bargain with Eleanor, seven wishes for her soul.
I enjoy a fairytale retelling, but this one never really landed for me. The whole time I felt like the story was rushing towards some terrible ending, but the pacing was too slow for me. I knew it would not end well for Eleanor, but we still had to get through all seven wishes for that to happen and the repetitiveness of that dragged on.
I also felt like the characters were not as fleshed out as I wanted them to be. Charles seemed to just be a stand-in for Prince Charming, and there could have been so much more potential with him. Aoife and Daisy as well were missing something.
Eleanor, herself also lacked depth as a character, there were hints at her darker nature but none of that was explored more fully. The hints of the gaps in her memories about her childhood. were never fully explained and just left me puzzled. There was an opportunity to go into her greed and need for power, but the author seemed to shy away from fully making her a villain in her own story. But she was also never given a redemption arc, so it just felt half-hearted.
This book gets pointed for the setting and the concept. I love the idea of Cinderella making a Faustian deal, I just wished it leaned into the darkness of Ella's motivates a bit more.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley

Meet Eleanor, the ward of the Pembrooke family, taken in by Mrs. Pembrooke when her parents passed away. At one time, their estate was well-kept and filled with happiness, but once Mrs. Pembrooke passed the family fortune dwindled quickly and their son, Charles, stopped returning home.

At 14, Eleanor was demoted from lady to maid and left feeling abandoned by her remaining surrogate family. Now at 17, life becomes more troubling as Mr. Pembrooke begins to show interest in Eleanor after another maid he’s impregnated is dismissed.

Left with little options while she nervously awaits Charles first return home in years Eleanor makes a questionable deal that could leave her without a soul.

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Eternal optimist that I am, I was really holding out until the end for Eleanor’s happy ending. This book consistently kept me on my toes. Every time I thought something terrible would happen it didn’t, every time I assumed things would work out they didn’t!

I struggled with Charles, it was hard to understand how little he could do about he and Eleanor’s situation. It seemed odd that once she came into money she still wasn’t able to marry him with Mr. Pembrooke’s blessing. It seemed like Mr. Pembrooke was motivated by more than petty revenge. Perhaps he’d felt envious of Eleanor’s relationship with his wife?

I enjoyed how steadfast Charles was about his love for Eleanor once the pregnancy occurred. I almost expected him to move on but he defied all assumptions.

I was disappointed that we didn’t get a glimpse of what happened to Eleanor after she dove into the unknown. I wondered what happened to Leah, Daisy and Aoife. I wanted to know more about Eleanor’s early years with the Pembrookes.

I thought perhaps Eleanor would become one of the shadows hovering around the black-eyed woman. Or perhaps that when your soul was taken you became the new black-eyed woman....

Understand that none of these questions minimized my enjoyment of the story. If anything they prove how invested I’d become in the characters and their resulting lives. I wanted to know more about them, their motivations, pasts and futures.

I think what I took away, the moral of the story, is that there are no easy wishes without consequences. Even for people who have struggled and should be saved.

I would recommend this book to friends that are fans of gothic, horror or mystery.

This book was offered to me through NetGalley, the resulting review is my own.

Thank you NetGalley, Author JJA Harwood, and HarperVoyager for giving me a free arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
4.5 stars
This book is a dark retelling of the fairytale Cinderella and the story of Goethe's Faust.
Ella was a housemaid in the house of her lecherous stepfather and desired for another life! One day she was in the library and came across a special book that brings Ella's fairy godmother to grant Ella seven wishes to use as she desired in exchange for her soul. But as each wish is granted, the price is something Ella must consider if it is something she is willing to pay.
This book was very good for a debut novel. The world building was not really the focus. The tone gave the reader a sense of Victorian London. The characters were really well developed and drew me into their world. Ella was good intensions at the beginning of the story. She just wanted escape the life she believed she did not deserve. But as time and wishes were granted, her intensions became bent and tried to cover up the unforeseen outcomes from the wishes. I really did not like her stepfather. He gave me really icky feelings. Charles was not overly developed, but felt kind of flat for me. The romance between them seemed to be based on their childhood memories and not really who they were in the present. The writing and use of language was used well. I enjoyed how the author did not go into too much detail in regards to the bedroom scenes, which kept it within the YA range. The book was a little slow at times, which made it run a little long. The ending felt a little rushed, but satisfying. Overall, I enjoyed this book and look forward to more books by this author.

First of all, I picked this book up thinking it was going to be a stand alone and I would get a nice complete story. Instead I was left on a major cliffhanger and I NEED to know what happens next. The Shadow in the Glass was such an interesting twist to Cinderella, no prince, no stepsisters, no fairy godmother.. Instead there is a moderately wealthy man and his awful father, some fellow maids, and a demon "granting" wishes. While the story was definitely interesting and held my attention, there was a lot of times where I felt it was moving verrryyyyy slowly, and then it would move really fast, and then verrryyyy slow again. It also kept bringing characters back that hadn't been seen in 100 pages, for about 2 paragraphs and then they would disappear again which was odd. Also every time the main character went into town, the way it was being described was as if she was trying to push through a peak season Disneyland sized crowd at a crappy swap meet and I just kept thinking "really? There are that many people on the street harrassing her? Every time?" and I just found it odd. Otherwise though I found the characters to be interesting and well written, and the cliff hanger definitely left me pining for the next book.

"She would drown herself in words, sink into the vanilla-smell of the binding, replace her blood with ink. She'd feast on the worlds and make herself anew."

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The Shadow in the Glass bills itself as a re-telling of the classic Cinderella fairy tale but it's so much more than that. It's dark and twisted and has all the elements of a true Grimm's fairy tale. Eleanor is an orphan taken in by a well-to-do family as a child and loved as one of their own until her foster mother dies. Ella is in her early teens and is relegated down into house staff to languish under the never-ending work of maintaining the grand old house. She is worked to the bone and terrified by the prospect that her employer and former foster father is preying upon the girls in his employ and that she might be next.

Ella is educated beyond her station but has no way out of the miserable life laid before her, until she comes upon a book in the library. A papercut mixes blood and her desperation manifesting a haunting apparition of a woman offering her 7 wishes in exchange for her soul. Young Eleanor thinks she can out smart this ghostly benefactor by accepting the deal and just not using that final wish. As she begins to make her wishes, she realizes there is a terrible price to be paid with each one beyond just her soul.

This story is dark and haunting. You feel for Ella at every turn, she is desperately trying to make her life and the lives of her friends better but the choices she makes get her (and them) in hotter and hotter water with each one. I loved the blend of gothic Victorian London with the dark magic of this mysterious woman. We didn't get much of a story of what was behind the magic, I think that would have bumped it up to five stars for me but it was still a fabulous story to get lost in.

I am not sure that I agree with comparisons to Cinderella, yes Ella had a good life until her "mother" died and then she is thrust into servitude and a dreadful existence, but for me that is where the Cinderella story ends. Her handsome "Prince" allows her to remain in this terrible place even though he had the ability to take her out of it. he is aware of her treatment by his fiancee but takes his own good time doing anything about it. Cinderella didn't get multiple wishes and her fairy god mother didn't require restitution in the form of someone's life. But the main question about this book is what was real and what was imagined. Did Ella make a deal with the devil or was she responsible for making her wishes come true? The reader is left to ponder that question until the end, which yes, she did drop her slipper, but otherwise the ending was pretty unsatisfying. It was a very creative story and I found it interesting that the author had been envisioning the book ever since she was 17 years old. I think I might have liked it more if the Cinderella thing had been downplayed, it created an expectation that I did not see fulfilled.

Oh dear. This book had potential, but the main character, Eleanor, was annoying, whiney, and selfish, and not in an interesting way. I'm not opposed to reading about morally gray characters, but make them interesting, at least. Eleanor's love interest, Charles, was a big bore. Their attraction didn't feel organic and passionate, but forced. The cover is pretty, though. Overall, I will not be recommending this book.

In this Faustian tale, a young woman who aspires to the good life relies on a bargain with a demon--seven wishes in exchange for her soul. But while the wishes come true, most of them are accomplished by the woman herself, unknowingly murdering those in her way to achieving her goals. I'm not sure what the point of the tale is, other than perhaps you should do your murdering on your own, consciously, and do a better job of covering it up. Perhaps the demon was not real, and we are party to the woman's hallucinations, which makes the book a bit more interesting--who is real? What characters and events are actually real? The characters are all rather stock-in-trade eighteenth or early nineteenth century figures, and my final reaction was just "meh."