Stealing Glass

Stealing Glass is the story of two dreamers: a street thief who has seen too much, yet manages to retain her love of all things beautiful, and even empathise with those a world away. A prince returned from exile, bound to his father rather than his people; who once knew love and had it ripped away because of his crown. The writer captured, perfectly, the story of Vanya and Dimitri, of two completely irreconcilable worlds.

It's no Cinderella story, but all fantasy, fantasy romance, fairytale retelling lovers etc etc should immediately get their hands on a copy of this gorgeous story. Tal is far from a kingdom where happily-ever-afters can occur, and I really adore the world that Liv Strom has built up. This is a corrupt monarchy where secrets and manipulations run deep, even when it comes to those trusted ones. Everyone has something to fight for.

This was a daring, fast-paced story that flawlessly weaved royalty, magic, binds and betrayals together. From the very start, we are sucked into the enthralling world of Vanya, Lumi and binding sigils, then brought to the palace which is essentially the core of rotting. Liv Strom may liken this to a Cinderella retelling, but she did a fantastic job of completely nullifying any coincidences and tying everything into a seamless, believable whole. Everything comes together; what goes around comes around, and words cannot express how fervent my support for Vanya was at the very end (with those amazingly ruthless streaks coming out? GO VANYA!).

I appreciated how tall, dark and handsome Dimitri was a fully three-dimensional character, too. If Strom ever came up with a prequel with him, I would be all over that. His whole character development arc was done really well with no fast-forwards, and the insights into his character rounded out the story wonderfully.

Overall, the most stunning aspect of this story was how sex was more than just sex. As Vanya and Dimitri progressed towards it, sex became a sort of sharing; a freedom, even, to seek themselves in each other. I loved how, though they never were able to fully carry it out, Vanya found confidence through having Dimitri so close. Which is simultaneously why I'm so utterly heartbroken by the cliffhanger ending... I finished this masterpiece in two days, and I'm eagerly looking forward to Claiming Glass!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

If you are a Romantasy lover, I highly recommend reading this piece!

There was so much dimensions to the characters that I feel sad that it’s over!
From the moment it started, you are sucked into novel. It’s fast paced and keeps you on your toes.

This refashioned cinderella fairy tale is an adventure in its own right.
Stealing Glass is a thrilling adventure describing Vanya, an orphaned teenager being forced to steal riches to pay off her mothers debt.
She is sent on an impossible mission to infiltrate a royal family for reasons hidden from her, but with her and her sisters life depending on success.

The story is well written and fast paced with an enemies to lovers romance and a fiesty female main character.
I am eagerly awaiting the sequel.

I couldn’t put this book down and read it in 2 sittings.

The world created was described so well that I could imagine it vividly.

And the character development was on point! Vanya and Dimitri’s story was just so well done. I loved the slow burn and appreciated that their attraction to each other was well fleshed out, not insta love and not even reliant on physical appearance; as a lot of books can be. It made it all that more relatable. Not only their love story, but their own personal development was endearing to see play out over the course of the story. Their personalities didn’t just evolve; they developed for a reason and the reasons were clearly laid out.

I don’t want to write spoilers but something happens toward the end, If you know you know, which had better reverse itself!!!

My one slight gripe was that there was a lot of inner monologue. A lot of telling vs showing and that was a bit frustrating for me personally.

Having said this, I really look forward to reading the next instalment and see where the story goes from here!

Interesting take on Cinderella story. Instead of one hero we have 2 sisters tweens, instead of stepmother we we have cruel stepfather and one cruel sister. In this take few have magic most of them are belong to the nobel and royal casts. The common are without magic, neglected and rebellion is carried into evry corner. The prince is in grief on his murdered son from his childhood lover need to married political marriage to a princess from another country. Both don't want to do so. The tweens look very similar to this princess , however Lumi had been attacked and has a scar on her face so vanya has to imitates the disappered Helia . This rouse supported by part of the noble that want to take the crown... to this cautic plot we introduced to strange different magic abilities... I really can't wait for the next book.

Posted to Goodreads (link attached)
Posted 10/5/2023 at 11:05 pm EST

Thank you to Net Galley and Victory Editing for this ARC of Stealing Glass by Liv Storm!
This book is 1 of 2.
4.5 out of 5
Cinderella meets a dystopian society.
Vanya is a poor girl growing up in a town where poor means you are used and spit out without so much as a second thought. Just across the bridge are the nobles and the prince.
By a twist of fate (and maybe some good fortune from the goddess or family bloodline) Vanya finds herself impersonating the princess set to marry the crown prince.
As Vanya falls more for Dimi she also discovers something more in herself….she has magical power inside of her. This power proves that she is more than just the poor girl everyone thought she was. She has some seriously powerful descendants. Vanya is set to discover that there is more than meets the eyes to not just her sister but also to Dimi.
The book leaves you on a serious cliff hanger and leaves you desperate to know what happens next.
Every girl secretly wants to be a seriously badass princess and this book delivers on a girls fantasy to be just that.
Thank you again for this ARC!

Stealing Glass by Liv Strom is a fantasy romance that flips the script on traditional fairytales. Meet Vanya, a spirited street thief, and Dimitri, a dark prince, in a corrupt kingdom full of secrets and magic.

Strom's storytelling is captivating, whisking readers into the vivid world of Tal. The romance between Vanya and Dimitri is a slow-burning connection that goes beyond physical attraction.

The book's pace is as swift as a thief in the night, weaving together royalty, magic, and betrayals in a seamless narrative. Strom's cliffhanger ending leaves you eagerly anticipating the sequel.

Stealing Glass is a magical ride filled with charm, mystery, and a touch of humor. Perfect for fantasy romance enthusiasts, this book will steal your heart... like Vanya stole the crown.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC!

This was such a wonderful and enjoyable read!!!! I loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre. Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Stealing Glass by Liv Strom
Book 1 - Tales of Bones and Roses
༘Spoiler free ༘

⭐️ 4.25/5

🌶️ 2/5 (the tension in this book without being explicit was top tier for me)
YA, Fantasy, Romance

Dual POV (FMC&MMC)

➳ fairytale retelling
➳ rebellion
➳ forced proximity
➳ magic
➳ training

✨ Be kind, for tomorrow will be a better day. ✨
A must-read cinderella retelling with a cunning protagonist willing to risk it all to protect her family, and those less fortunate. With writing and world-building that will captivate your attention, and make you feel as though you are a part of the story.

We’re introduced to Vanya and Lumi, impoverished orphaned twin sisters willing to steal and risk it all to protect each other and finally be free of the debts they owe to their stepfather. After a failed jewellery heist, Vanya is tasked with stealing the glass crown from a royal ball.

Vanya is clever, and though this is a cinderella retelling, she’s the sort of character who knows when to opt for practical leather boots over slippers for a speedy retreat.

We meet Dimitri, a crowned prince with secrets of his own, who complicates Vanya’s mission. Each character we meet along this journey is multifaceted and complex with their own individual motives and allegiances.

This book was riveting, the plot was well written and injected the perfect level of foreshadowing for eagle eyed viewers. Reading this felt natural, and in truth, I wasn’t able to put it down.

LIKES:
⋆ Hand drawn map included as well as an overview of the characters, important historical figures, locations and magic system prior to the first chapter
⋆ the author seamlessly immerses readers into Vanya’s world. It is a rare thing to find an author who can seamlessly integrate world-building into their writing without overwhelming readers, Liv Strom succeeds.
⋆ i fell in love with the characters, and felt moved by their plights.
⋆ Vanya & Dimitri really moved me, and i look forward to seeing where the next book takes them.

DISLIKES:
⋆ i loved the magic system, and would have loved for that to have been even more deeply interwoven in the story… though i believe that may be the plot for the next book
⋆ the cliffhanger at the end is both a like and dislike, i love that i'm already on the edge of my seat for the next book.
⋆ i would have appreciated a bit more of a deep dive into the antagonists/villains of the story

**Fantasy Scoring**

World-building ➷ ✅
Foreshadowing ➷ ✅
Plot ➷ ✅
Relationships ➷ ✅

Vanya embarks on a perilous mission to secure her and her sister's freedom, leading her to an audacious plan to steal the coveted glass crown and settle their debts with their stepfather. However, when circumstances take an unexpected turn, Vanya must assume the identity of the princess intended to wed Prince Dimitri, all in a desperate bid to protect her sister's life. Who can Vanya actually trust in the city of the dead, Tal?

“Stealing Glass” by Liv Strom is a Cinderella story but with twists. I like the changes to the classic Cinderella story. The gritty and dark setting of the city, the pretend princess being a thief who is daring and brave, and Dimitri being on a mission for revenge are some of my favorite parts. I especially like the twists at the end that I did not see coming. I cannot wait for book two in the series. 5 out of 5 stars, perfect.

This was such an enjoyable and fun read for me. While it identifies as a Cinderella re-telling it really is so much more than that. Set in the City of the Dead, full of political scheming, magic and secret plots. Liv Strom does an amazing job of creating a beautifully immersive world with great characters and an interesting plot to keep the reader guessing. Overall, I would highly recommend to anyone who is a fantasy or folk-tale fan.

Pros:
- Well developed characters -likeable protagonists and multi-sided villains. The main character Vanya in particular was a stand out. Vanya does not fall into the trope of a strong female lead having to be a warrior or brash to be strong. She is strong in her softness and idealism while also being witty and smart. An easy character to connects with and root for.
- Worldbuilding: This is an immersive book that really sinks you into the darkness of the city of Tal. and pulls you into each scene the way every fantasy reader wants. The magic system is intriguing and seems well thought out.
- Pacing: The central plot and storyline is compelling and the pacing of the book moves quick enough to keep the reader hooked without feeling rushed. I finished this book in 1 day because I simply could not put it down.

Cons:
- More details on magic! My only 1 real call out for this book is I want to know more about the magic systems and city of the Dead. What does the "City of the Dead" actually mean, I want to know more about the spirits, how people can connect to the dead etc. We do get snippets of explanations of the magic system, however I found myself wanting to know more about how it works. Hoping more to come in the 2nd book.

Rarely am I hooked on a book from the very first line but this one grabbed me from the word go.

You can truly feel the atmosphere of this books setting and every character, no matter how small, has presence and is interesting.

The main characters have their flaws but are extremely entertaining and I found myself wanting to know every little detail about them.

The twists were exciting and I never found myself bored while reading this book. If anything I’d have liked it to last a lot longer and am eagerly awaiting the sequel.

Highly recommend this book for lovers of fantasy and romance. If I could give it 10 stars I absolutely would!

Thank you to the author Liv Strom and NetGalley for providing this ARC.