BOOK NOOK; The Shadow in the Glass by JJA Harwood

 "All the colour and softness would be leached out of her. It had already started. Wasn't she always tired, always sore, always cold?  How long had it been since she'd crept down to the library and let her imagination carry her away?  What if she forgot how to do it - what if one day she she would never be able to escape, not even in her own head?"

Isn't that the dread of all bookworms - that one day the books will fail to offer the escapism that bookworms, who are usually introverts, crave and need to thrive?  It doesn't bear thinking about and it's enough to make one shudder!  

It is just one of the themes explored in this fantastic novel, Shadow in the Glass, which explores the concept of what would happen if Cinderella's fairy-godmother came from a dark place?  What if she granted wishes, not to bring about a happy ever after, but more of a Faustian deal, where one's very soul is bartered and up for grabs?

I have read lots of fairytale re-tellings, but never one like this, where all the benevolence of the popular story is flipped into subversive malevolence.  It tells the story of Eleanor, an orphan who works in service in a large crumbling old house.  There she lives in the poorest of conditions, while surrounded by decaying wealth and nobility.  She works hard and dreams of escaping into a more luxurious life, as she tries to avoid the lecherous master of the house, who is notorious for impregnating staff and then sacking them without a reference.  

It would seem that the odds are stacked against Eleanor and her dreams are all she will ever have, until late one night she creeps into the forbidden library and finds an enchanted book,  which releases a dark specter who offers to grant Eleanor seven wishes.  She can wish for anything she likes, the only stipulation being that she must ask out loud for her wish to be granted. But there's a catch - if she uses the seventh wish, she will lose her soul.

Determined never to make all seven wishes, Eleanor embarks on a magical journey to improve her life and the life of her friends.  Because how much trouble can a little bit of self-improvement and social climbing cause? All she wants is a safe house to live in, a warm bed to sleep in and plenty of hot food and pretty clothes.  It's not too much to ask for. Or is it?

This book explores how far one impoverished young woman will go to better her lot in life and create her own wealth, once she discovers that the wealth must come from somewhere and that there is always a price to pay for it.  It is a dark, atmospheric fairytale with all the staples of Cinderella - a pair of glass slippers, a luxurious ball, a handsome prince and a clock striking midnight - but there the similarities end.  JJA Harwood has succeeded in creating a completely fresh new version, with a satisfyingly Gothic twist to the tale. 

Shadow in the Glass is a wonderful trickster novel, best read in a library at midnight - or at least tucked into bed with a candle burning beside you as you read.  Enjoy and be careful what you wish for!

Marie x