Nimira is a music-hall performer forced to dance for pennies to an audience of leering drunks. When wealthy sorcerer Hollin Parry hires her to do a special act - singing accompaniment to an exquisite piano-playing automaton, Nimira believes it is the start of a new life. In Parry's world, however, buried secrets stir. Unsettling below-stairs rumours abound about ghosts, a mad woman roaming the halls, and of Parry's involvement in a gang of ruthless sorcerers who torture fairies for sport. When Nimira discovers the spirit of a dashing young fairy gentleman is trapped inside the automaton's stiff limbs, waiting for someone to break the curse and set him free, the two fall in love. But it is a love set against a dreadful race against time to save the entire fairy realm, which is in mortal peril.
While it may take a little while to find your footing in this novel, it is definitely one that you will run through as soon as soon as you do. Set in a world that's almost the same as ours (but not quite), Magic Under Glass is a fast and engaging read.
When I first picked up this book I merely assumed it was set in historical England or somewhere similar, and it would all just be the usual historical romance affair (just with fairies). What I got instead was a whole different world where the cities had different names and sorcerers walking down the street were no big deal. At the same time, it was all still very similar to what we knew (this book was definitely not a fantasy novel) and Jaclyn Dolamore has done a great job integrating the two together. Nimira was also no fragile Victorian lady, and I enjoyed her character a lot.
The romance between Erris and Nimira is also very sweet. There's no crazy passion fueled embraces (its set in a time when everyone was prim and proper remember?) or devotions of undying love which are usually found in a lot of books of this genre. Don't worry though, there's just something between the two characters that makes their love seem just as "awww" worthy as any Bella and Edward.
The ending I admit was a little rushed and unfinished. While I know this is the first in a series of books, I think each novel itself needs to feel complete in itself, and that unfortunately hasn't happened here. The showdown with the villain too was a bit undramatic despite being a realistic ending.
Overall, I really enjoyed Magic Under Glass and I cannot wait until the next book in the series is released!
When I first picked up this book I merely assumed it was set in historical England or somewhere similar, and it would all just be the usual historical romance affair (just with fairies). What I got instead was a whole different world where the cities had different names and sorcerers walking down the street were no big deal. At the same time, it was all still very similar to what we knew (this book was definitely not a fantasy novel) and Jaclyn Dolamore has done a great job integrating the two together. Nimira was also no fragile Victorian lady, and I enjoyed her character a lot.
The romance between Erris and Nimira is also very sweet. There's no crazy passion fueled embraces (its set in a time when everyone was prim and proper remember?) or devotions of undying love which are usually found in a lot of books of this genre. Don't worry though, there's just something between the two characters that makes their love seem just as "awww" worthy as any Bella and Edward.
The ending I admit was a little rushed and unfinished. While I know this is the first in a series of books, I think each novel itself needs to feel complete in itself, and that unfortunately hasn't happened here. The showdown with the villain too was a bit undramatic despite being a realistic ending.
Overall, I really enjoyed Magic Under Glass and I cannot wait until the next book in the series is released!
Overall: ♥♥♥♥
Published: December 22nd, 2009 by Bloomsbury Publishing
Source: Library
I've heard so much about this one and read so many great reviews I think I'm going to have to check it out! Thanks for the fab review x
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