This is a dark, Gothic take on the classic tale of Cinderella and I really enjoyed the way Harwood leaned into the horror tones of the story. Here, Cinderella isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty in order to get what she wants. The central exploration of the consequences and costs of getting what you want is fascinating and I love the gorier aspects of the story. However, I never really connected with Ella that much and despised the wish-washy nature of her love interest. For a tale about the cost of independence and survival, I felt like Ella actually remained quite a passive character, particularly in terms of the abusive situations.

I've tried to read this a couple of times now, because the concept sounds like my cup of tea. I really like fairy tale retellings, and I love Faustus style stories too. But unfortunately I just could not get into this story.

I think my main problem is the pacing. It's just all over the place. What starts out strong, with plenty of tension and dark atmosphere as we see our protagonist living in an environment that can only be described as hellish. She then meets a mysterious woman with no eyes asking for a soul in exchange for seven wishes. However it just all gets messy from here on out. We never get any real motivation or back story about who this mysterious woman is or what her motives are and the world doesn't really have any depth to it in terms of world building and description. Also there are a number of loose ends that are never really explained or expanded on, with the plot preferring to meander and introduce a rather underwhelming love interest. However, it's certainly the right side of dark retelling for me. It clearly takes a lot of inspiration from both history and also the original fairy tales that are so wonderfully grim and gory. There are hints of this gritty underworld, that if pushed further, really could have made this brilliant.

Eleanor is also a difficult protagonist to warm too, and again her motives are difficult to understand. She doesn't seem to care about the plight of others at all, rather trying too hard to be overly nice in one scene then being awful again in another. It was just confusing. However, I also saw so much potential brimming under the surface. Potential for a truly magnificent morally grey character that could walk that thin line between good and evil. However, she just isn't developed enough for this.

So much potential, full of dark moments that hark back to the original fairy tales, but it needed a lot more fine tuning to really pack a punch. However, I'll look out for more from this author in the future.

A dark Cinderella! well that had me sold. I enjoyed the concept of this book, I am a fan of dark retellings of fairy tales. It’s interesting see other views of the classic tales. Of course our main character is Ella. She was likeable enough but I couldn’t connect with her. It was very dark but it was lacking something I couldn’t identify. It was enjoyable enough to read, I just had difficulties getting into it and felt it dragged a little.

This Cinderella retelling didn't quite work for me but I'm sure another reader will appreciate it much more. I won't be reviewing the book as it was a personal response.

A gorgeously deep tale perfect for getting lost in during the holidays. I couldn't put this down and look forward to more writing from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me access an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

It didn’t work for me, maybe I’m tired of fairytale being Rehashed but this one didn’t work.

I have to say I’m in the minority as many fellow reviewers liked it a lot, so give it a go snd see what you think.

I really liked this and found it a quick and gripping read. The main character of Ella was written well and there was a clear character development over the course of the novel as the wishes took affect and how the choices she made affected her. I wish that the ending had been a little better as the final chapter kind of was a let down and i wish it had ended less ambigiously. I know why they did it but it was just weak when the rest of the novel was so strong.

A really great alternative to the classic fairytale everyone knows and loves of Cinderella. Dark and twisted and I think would appeal to many readers of any age but mainly YA. A really different take on reading

I am learning that I am not a period-piece kind of gal. Or maybe I'm just not into stupid, boring protagonist. Or a rehash of tired stories. Or plots that get dragged along endlessly for no apparent reason. So, this book was not my cup of tea. It appears that there are so many others who DID enjoy it, and I am thrilled for them.

My unease with this book has nothing to do with the author's ability to write eloquently, because they do. Perhaps I might seek them out in the future, but this book was torture.

Thank you so much for letting me check it out!

A darkly gothic and bleak spin on the tale of Cinderella, we follow Eleanor (or Ella) in Victorian London - as she falls from riches to rags, and tries to protect herself from her lecherous stepfather.

This was atmospherically written and excellently suspenseful. I enjoyed the very dark take on the tale, where Ella is granted seven wishes - at a cost.

Unfortunately I found it repetitive in places, and the pacing was off here and there, but the ending was fast-paced and unexpected. Am always here for a morally grey character, especially one who will do whatever it takes to protect herself and her friends.

Big thanks to the author, to Netgalley, and to Harper Voyager for the e-ARC!

A completely new way to look at the Cinderella story!

This book is filled with eerie, atmospheric, gothic fairytale vibes and Harwood has created some fantastic characters based around the tale of Cinderella.

The Shadow in the Glass was an intense story with twists and turns at every corner. I loved Harwood's style of writing and I'm excited to see what she writes next.

A brilliant debut gothic Victorian story, full of mystery and intrigue.
Eleanor was an interesting character, always trying to do the right thing whether to better herself or protect those she considered dear. I was intrigued to see what she’d wish for, as it’s obviously not as easy as you’d think to make the wish worthwhile.
The supporting characters added colour to the story and I liked seeing how the relationships between them and Eleanor changed as she grew.

Perfect for fans of Erin Morgenstern and Alix E Harrow. If you love fantasy with a gothic twist, this one is for you

Unfortunately I had to DNF this one. There were so many triggering things included in the plot (especially one particular scene that I just couldn't continue with) and it was not what I expected going in at all. I couldn't connect with the heroine, I detested pretty much every other character and in the end it just became a chore to get through.

My thanks to HarperCollins UK for the ARC but unfortunately this one did not work for me at all.

I loved the world-building in this book. It was a gothic fairytale with interesting characters and accessible writing. It doesn't blow your mind in its story and writing, but it was certainly good fun.

This was a great fantasy story. I love fairytale retellings and this story had a great version of one of my favourite classics.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollinsUK for granting my wish for this!

The Shadow in the glass follows Eleanor ‘Ella’ who after her mother’s death is taken in as a ward by the Pembrokes. Following the death of Mrs Pembroke, Ella is relegated more to a housemaid than a ward and lives along with her fellow house staff under the yolk of Mr Pembroke who presents a danger to them all.

After things take a turn for the worst, Ella is granted 7 wishes by her fairy godmother with a caveat. After the fulfilment of her 7th and final wish, Ella must give her fairy godmother her soul.

This is where the resemblance to Cinderella ends. Based in 19th century London, this story explores the circumstances for the average working woman at this time. It’s filled with sexual predators, heartbreak, abortion, miscarriage and much more that really underlines how difficult it was in this society to be a woman.

Whist extremely well written, it deviates so much from Cinderella and the author has truly made this retelling her own. Even the sub-genre of retelling falls spectacularly short when you get to the nitty gritty of Victorian London. The characters were all delightful and I especially loved Charles, he was really unexpected for me so I was pleasantly surprised by his personality.

I felt so much for the maids at the house and honestly the worst part is that it’s historically accurate. I did find Ella to be a little whiny and annoying but that’s more a personal preference than a critique of the book. The epilogue was both perfect and extremely frustrating. I thought it was excellently done but I really hate an open ending. Things just feel really unfinished for me in many respects so I would definitely be up for a sequel, though I doubt I’ll ever re-read this.

All in all this was a frustrating yet enjoyable read.

This book had the premises of being great, however it dragged out and didn’t manage to actually “add” anything to the Faustian theme in its re-telling. The main character was not only shallow, she was also very unloveable, and silly. I suppose that is the point ah Faustus, however I feel like I didn’t feel the emotions that I have experienced with other retellings.
All in all I still enjoyed this book, however I was simply expecting more.

As a lowly housemaid, Eleanor lives in fear of her employer, Mr Pembroke. One night, when her fears are at their greatest, a mysterious black-eyed woman comes to her aid.

I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Set in Victorian London, Eleanor has lived in Granborough House for most of her life. She was the daughter of Mrs Pembroke's lady's maid, until Eleanor's mother died. Because of the close friendship, the Pembrokes became Eleanor's guardians.
Mrs Pembroke doted on her, and trained her to be a young lady. But when she passed away, everything fell apart. Mr Pembroke went into debt, dismissed most of the household staff, and relegated Eleanor to being a housemaid.

Three years later, and Eleanor has watched her home fall into disrepair. She has watched her fellow housemaids battered and bruised, as they are forced into sexual relationships with the violent Mr Pembroke. She has watched her friends fall pregnant, and get thrown into the gutter when they can't hide it.
Now that Eleanor is sixteen, and Mr Pembroke's latest victim has gone, he turns his gaze on her.

This is a dark gothic story that is loosely based on Cinderella.
This is most clearly alluded to at the beginning, with an over-worked servant girl and a "fairy godmother" entity; and at the end. The rest of the story is completely original.
It takes a very unforgiving insight into the life of women in Victorian times. They have no freedom, and little wealth of their own. There are very strict rules of decorum, and the maids are under pressure to represent their house in only positive ways. No one cares which gentleman is involved, but a whiff of rumour or pregnancy will see the maids thrown out without reference or chance of honest income ever again.

We follow Eleanor, as she tries to rise above poverty, so she can get away from Mr Pembroke, and hopefully take her friends with her. She had a brief glimpse of what life is like for the upper class, and she would do anything to get it back - not for the pretty dresses, but for the security it would offer her.
Eleanor is always sensible of her position throughout the book, she knows how precarious things are, and knows how even if she became rich, it would still legally belong to her guardian, the vile Mr Pembroke.

The black-eyed woman appears early in the story, summoned by the strength of Eleanor's need. She offers her seven wishes, in return for her soul.
Eleanor agrees, but quickly learns that each wish carries a terrible price.

This was darker than I expected from a "Cinderella retelling", but I really enjoyed it.
It took a while to get into, but once I worked out what type of book this was, I was definitely up for the ride.

The horrible treatment that Eleanor and her friends endured seemed brutally real, and despite Eleanor's best intentions, there were several parts in the book where it felt she had no way out of her situation.
The black-eyed woman was always happy to answer her call; but Eleanor put up a good fight, trying not to use the wishes, unless absolutely necessary.

I thought the author did an excellent job of keeping you guessing about... well, everything.
The wishes don't get granted by magic; they use other people, they use murder and mayhem, but get the required result. Which is only to be expected from a black-eyed woman...
There's just enough evidence to support the demon being real; just as there's evidence that she's not.

The pacing did occasionally dip, mainly when Eleanor was transitioning to a new role. It slowed down, and I did wonder where the story was heading.

Overall, this is a great debut, and I look forward to reading more of the author's work.

When Ella finds a book in the library of her masters house, something strange happens. A woman appears and offers her seven wishes for her soul. Expect there's a catch that Ella doesn't realise until her second spell is cast. Although this books synopsis intrigued me I felt let down i didn't connect with the main character at all.