Anne Corlett has created an entire alternate universe within the theatre, which to an extent, the theatre world actually is for those of us who work, play and live within it! For me, reading this book was a reminder of the magical world that lies within the realms of the theatre world.

Rich with atmospheric intrigue and mystery, the author leads her reader into Juliet’s world and allows us to join her on her journey of discovery. Her path is not only one where she will discover who she is, which is what she initially sets out to do, but she will also discover where she came from and who she was actually meant to be – someone she never could have imagined.

When Juliet’s father dies (having already lost her mother, who isn’t even a memory to her), she discovers that her birth was registered in the Theatre District, a murky world that seems distant and dark, somewhere ‘other-worldly’ that she’s always understood is not a place to venture near. But now, it beckons and she cannot ignore its pull.

And so she decides that her cold and unkind step-mother no longer has any influence over her and that she will make her own way … towards the Theatre District and to finding out who her mother (who nobody ever speaks about) was. Because if you know where you came from, then you’ll have a clearer idea of where you’re going!

Almost as soon as she arrives she becomes enchanted with the magic of The Show that has been performed continuously for years and years, and regardless of circumstances, The Show must go on! And when she is told the story of The Moonshine Girl, she becomes intrigued, knowing that someone here must hold the key to the mystery of who her mother was. But although Juliet is naive, she knows that she should play her cards close to her chest and shouldn’t reveal all about herself too quickly to these new acquaintances she’s meeting, even though she secretly hopes that this is where she will find her place in the world. She’s well aware that the District has both a light and a dark side and that the people there are most certainly not always what or who they first appear to be.

The characterization is detailed and fascinating, and the concept of everyone in the district needing to wear masks (although I found this a little disturbing at first), plays such a major role in the perception of facade, truth and lies in theatre and in performance.

The plot is complex and intricate and is by no means a light read. It’s absorbing and draws you into another realm that is fantastical and beautifully imaginative. I can’t wait to return … yes, I’m waiting for a sequel!

I am always looking for something different and quirky in a book and was grateful for the opportunity from Black & White Publishing
and Tracy Fenton to be part of the blog tour for the wonderful The Theatre of Glass and Shadows. Set in an alternate London, where there is a separate theatre district, a place the outside world has no jurisdiction and offers a life of magic and enchantment. Juliet escapes to the District after the death of her father, seeking answers about her mother and herself, but once in she realises she has to be careful who she trusts.

I have lost my reading mojo recently, I just can’t seem to concentrate so books are taking me a long time to read. However, The Theatre of Glass and Shadows seems to have perked me up a bit with its enchanting world of The Show and the secrets within. The story focuses on Juliet, at nearly twenty her father has just died, and her stepmother has paid her to stay out of their lives. Searching her father’s study a she finds clues to her past and most importantly who her mother was. Juliet is fairly naive for twenty, leading a pretty closeted life, but with her father’s death she sees an opportunity to find out who she is. I loved being a voyeur as she went to the Theatre District, the enchantment of the show and those who follow it, and her own dream of being part of it like her mother. I felt that the Theatre District and The Show are an allegory for Juliet’s life; she is trying to find out who she is, searching for herself in the streets of the District and behind the many doors of the Theatre, meeting many dead ends until all the secrets and truths are revealed.

Reading The Theatre of Glass and Shadows was as enhanting and mystical as the Theatre itself. Anne Corlett has written an amazing layered plot, taking the reader on a journey with Juliet that tells not only her story, but the history of the Theatre and its architecture and the story of a murderer who leaves his victim in the river Thames. The writing was utterly compelling and it was this that helped get my mojo back, I found myself picking up the book more frequently, needing to find out what would be revealed next. I thought the combination of the magical juxtaposed with the murder investigations worked well, showing that no where and no one could completely keep away the reality of the world; it also gave an added frisson to the plot.

I was completely enhanted by The Theatre of Glass and Shadows, with its maze of streets and the magical Show itself. Juliet was a compelling character, a young woman trying to find out the truth about her mother and her own place in thw world. As well as the light of the magic, there was the darkness of the murders and the machinations of those behind the show, the backers and director. This is a captivating and bewitching novel, you can’t help but be drawn into this world of smoke and mirrors, and I didn’t want to leave. Simply stunning.

A book set in an alternate London where an immersive and mysterious theatre production has taken over half of London, partially inspired by the brilliant theatre company Punchdrunk? Of course I wanted to read this! I wasn’t disappointed. I really enjoyed following this story through its many twists and turns - although sometimes our protagonist could be a little too naïve, which tested my suspension of disbelief. But hey, she’s a dreamer. I’d love this to turn in to a series so that I could go back to the world of The Show.

I received an advance copy in return for an honest review - thank you to Netgalley and the publishers.

Many thanks to Anne Corlett, the publishers, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book, which was published on 24th May.

Juliet has never fitted in with her family. Her father, Stephen, is extremely withdrawn and distant; her stepmother Claire focuses on Juliet's stepsisters and has nixed Juliet's dreams of dancing professionally in favour of a secretarial course. Following Stephen's death, Juliet uncovers some mysterious objects and a partial birth certificate that leads her to believe that she was born in the Theatre District. The District is known for its sprawing, never-ending, fantastical Show that attracts obessive Followers who speculate on the meaning of every detail. Juliet believes that she just needs to bring herself to the attention of the Show's Director, and the District will welcome her back with open arms to the life that should rightfully have been hers.

I thought that I would love this book, and there were elements that I really liked, but overall, I was disappointed. The descriptions of the Show, the District's unexpected architecture, and the theories conjured up by the Show's Followers were all really entertaining and reminded me of the magical elements in Erin Morgernstern's works. The plot was also filled with unexpected twists and turns, and it kept me guessing.

However, I didn't really like the reveal towards the end and the resolution of the plot – it was overblown, and gave one character the quality and power of an evil genius (although it was difficult to see how they could have manipulated everything). Also, while I don't normally mind unlikable characters, Juliet grated on me. She's both insecure and narcissistic, and much of her interior monologue revolves around hoping that someone will recognise how special she is. The novel is also very slow-moving at the start, although the narrative picks up speed as it progresses.

If you like Erin Morgenstern's work, you may enjoy this, but I'm not sure that I would recommend it widely.

The Theatre of Glass and Shadows is a magical otherworldly book full of mystery and intrigue. The Theatre District was fabulous and interesting and mysterious and very very strange .I loved all the characters especially Juliet who just wanted to belong .The ending was excellent .Many thanks to NetGalley for my ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Black and White Publishing for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

TW: parental abuse, neglect, murder

Set in an alternate London where a section of the city was turned into an independent area called the Theatre District centuries ago, a performance named The Show never truly ends- but it’s only accessible to those with a ticket and the laws of London mean nothing there. Her distant father and cruel stepmother have raised Juliet and she knows nothing about her dead mother. When she is nineteen, her father passes away and things about Juliet’s early life come to light, including that she was born in the Theatre District. Determined to find out where she came from, how her mother died and the secrets her father kept hidden, Juliet travels to London and visits the Show. She hopes to find a place where she belongs and it soon becomes apparent that her mother was a performer and that Juliet might have been a short-lived star too. Juliet- whose dreams have been crushed by her stepmother in favour of her half-sisters- is convinced she can take her mother’s place. In the District, however, there are no clear answers as the Show is constantly being performed, and the secretive performers and illusion keep the past well hidden in the labyrinth of actors, dancers and weaving walkways. Juliet discovers that the District, and those who live within, are subject to the whims of powerful men known as the Director, the Shadow Man and the Choreographer- men who don’t want the past to come out and will do anything to suppress it.

This is a slow-burn mystery set in a world that feels like something from a fairytale, even in its darkest moments. The atmosphere reminded me so much of ‘The Night Circus’ but it gradually grew into something larger, filling centuries from the aftermath of the 1666 Great Fire of London up to the modern day. I like Juliet as a character even if she is a little naive and too trusting once she gets inside. The gradual reveals were really well written, the suspicion of the outside world and the intense, almost frightening secrecy of the performers added an excellent atmosphere. You genuinely do feel lost in another world, the descriptions are so vivid even if in some aspects the characters outside of roles weren't deeply developed. I enjoyed this book, it was original and very different.

This book takes you into the secretive theatre district in post war London
What’s real and what’s part of the show - there’s only one central truth - the show must go on
Loved following the main character Juliet’s journey
Such an immersive and magical read
Thanks @consummatechaos @bwpublishing & @netgalley for the magical read

Filled with intrigue, tension and theatre magic, The Theatre of Glass and Shadows kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end.

Juliet arrives at the secretive, yet spectacular Theatre District with only a letter claiming her birth was registered in its exclusive walls. While anyone can enter the District and watch a show - for a price - only those born within it can live and work there. For Juliet, who has always loved to dance, and feels adrift following the death of her father, it offers a sanctuary, a home, and answers to questions she has about her birth and the death of her mother. But nothing inside the District is straightforward, with every moment scripted and stage managed to cater for its paying audience, and Juliet quickly discovers that the homecoming she seeks might not fit the script.

The Theatre District is full of intricate world building, dazzling stories, and dark secrets. I loved how immersive this story was, Juliet is both a member of the District, and given a tantalising glimpse of its backstage world, but also on the outside, surrounded by friends trying to piece the storyline together, and questioned by police offers who believe the District is using its unique legal position to hide its involvement in local crimes.

Just like the Show itself, The Theatre of Glass and Shadows is filled with tension, twists and misdirects, with a dazzling cast of characters I was disappointed to leave behind.

Just like the Theatre, this book can be described as full of shadows and mysteries.

I liked the book and I think it has a lot of potential, but something just wasn't right for me, and I didn't feel as immersed in the story as I hoped. However, the story itself is very interesting, following Juliet, a 20-years old girl (because she's really childish at times), trying to discover more about her past as well as to become a part of the theater district. She manages to sneak to London after her father's death, and then meets the Followers, a group that's so passionate about finding all about how the show runs and the district many attractions. I liked this group so much and they felt so authentic, for me they were the best characters in this book. Now, Juliet isn't there to be just a simple, amazed spectator, she wants to be part of the show. She wants to feel like she belongs somewhere. And so, she'll begin searching for a way in, but when she finds it, she also discovers that the things may not be as they seem.

I was quite intrigued and finished the book pretty fast, so while it didn't feel as magical as I hoped, it is still a very good book.

In tempered glass and smoky shadows lies the Theatre District where things are not as they seem and where truth and lies merge. This immersive theatre complex has been beguiling visitors for centuries but once its secrets are uncovered there’s no going back and yet for Juliet Grace her time there has only just begun.

A life filled with indifference has made Juliet wary but deep down she knows that, with her father’s death, the life she has known is over and as the overwhelming lure of the theatre calls her into its depths so she hopes for answers to her questions and that her heart’s desire will be fulfilled. Beautifully immersive, this view of an altogether different London emerges, and as the story starts to pull so the fragments of your imagination get carried along until you’re part of the scenery, watching as the dance unfolds and as each character emerges so you begin to question where the truth ends and the lies begin.

It’s been a long time since I was gorgeously immersed in an alternate world of a clever author’s imagination but The Theatre of Glass and Shadows fulfilled a need I didn’t know I had and I absorbed every word with as much anticipation as if I was a voyeur in this land of shimmering glass and deep, dark shadows. Richly atmospheric, and utterly absorbing, The Theatre of Glass and Shadows is a beautifully imagined world which I hope we can visit again.

The Theatre of Glass and Shadows is a unique and fascinating premise, based in an an alternate London. A long running immersive theatre show which holds dark secrets and a young woman searching for the truth about her identity.

The author has created a captivating story, however I did get a little lost part way through and some of the characters could have been developed a little more.

However, I did love the idea of this book and enjoyed the plot twist.

This was nearly a 4 star read but just fell short for me.

I am very grateful to NetGalley, the Publisher and Author for this ARC.

I liked this book but I wanted to love it. I felt like it should have enchanted me more than it did. It reminded me of books like the Night Circus and Caraval, but it didn’t quite capture the magic in the same way those books did.

I felt a big part of this was that I just didn’t believe in the character. She came up with this big stories about where she came from but I just didn’t believe them. It felt like she was being swept up by her own imagination whereas in books that do this well, I would have been swept along with her.

I did like the idea of the theatre district and an everlasting play though. I really loved the way everything was secretive and complex and how the fans in the book were shown to really be following it and trying to track it all. I could see how fun it would be to follow along and discuss it endlessly.

I wanted to love this more than I did, but it was still a really good story.

In The Theatre of Glass and Shadows, by Anne Corlett, we follow 20-year-old Juliet Grace as she gets to know the Theatre District, an independent borough of London bordering Lambeth.

Inside the district’s walls, there’s always entertainment on offer, whether that’s an encounter with a roaming performer, a play at one of the plentiful smaller theatres, or The Show – a never-ending production which runs day and night at the sprawling House of Doors, where actors, dancers, and singers repeat the same scenes in different spaces until the time is ripe for them to move on to the next part of their characters’ stories.

Following her father’s death, Juliet comes to the district to see what she can discover about the mother she never knew, who lived and worked there. A trained ballerina herself, Juliet gains a coveted small part in The Show, but continually runs into dead ends on her fact-finding mission. What’s more, it seems that a serial killer is operating locally, and the police are circling the district despite their lack of jurisdiction.

Not unlike the Theatre District itself, The Theatre of Glass and Shadows has something for all sorts, making for a sophisticated novel with plenty of layers to sink your teeth into.

The mystery of Juliet’s heritage, and the cold indifference of her stepmother, Clare, will appeal to those who like Gothic fairytale vibes – an aspect of this novel I especially appreciated. At the same time, seeing Juliet escape the stultifying life Clare’s planned out for her as a secretary or mother’s help, and experience genuine warmth from people for the first time in her life, is uplifting.

Habitual crime fiction readers have the police investigation into the unsolved murders to pique their interest. Fans of fantasy and/or alternate history are likely to enjoy the detailed world-building, including extracts from a history book that, with an air of authority and authenticity, outlines the area’s development over the course of centuries.

Relatedly, the features of the district, how it operates, and who pulls the strings, are well-described and thought-through, with incidental details contributing to its believability. While aspects such as being picked out of the crowd for a private scene, collecting tokens in pursuit of an unknown prize, and the treasures one might find in the unofficial memorabilia museum (housed by the pub) captured my imagination, the district is far from a utopia unaffected by the world at large.

For instance, the place would grind to a halt without its stagehands or hospitality workers, but of course, they live in the down-at-heel housing of the outer district, unlike the top performers, who live in secure private quarters close to the heart of the action. Additionally, the Second World War sounds like it was much the same in this alternate world, and proved a challenge for the district and The Show.

The idea of The Show enthralled me. I pictured it as a kind of in-person, interactive soap opera, where the same set of scenes played out over and over, until such time as it could be surmised that anyone who wanted to know the latest developments would have got to see them, and anyone who loved particular scenes so much they made repeat visits had had sufficient fill.

I’d have liked to read more details about the storylines – maybe from the mouth of Juliet’s lovely new friend, Show enthusiast Eugene – but then again, this way it retained its aura of mystery, and with all its history and interconnections (both on- and off-stage), even a summary of the most recent, major storylines might well spiral out into a separate book in itself!

The Theatre of Glass and Shadows is imaginative, expansive, and full of mystery.

When I first started reading this book, I got very strong Night Circus vibes. I love that book so I was eager to see how this one would go with the mysterious Theatre District where the Show has been going on for centuries, and how Juliet goes on an adventure there to find the truth about her mother, father, and own past that she can't quite remember. Sadly, among the magic of the Show, there is also darkness and shadows. It was very intriguing, especially when Juliet got to the Theatre area and met the Followers that help her find the answers about the Moonshine Girl and other performers that were larger than life and lived in the hidden side. I liked all the searching for secrets and hidden doors to the stage in the district. Add in a murderer who may or may not be killing girls that mysteriously turn up alive again, and it was a good story. The ending was a bit rushed with all the revelations of what was going on with the deaths and Director and Juliet's past. I think I would have enjoyed more in depth history of the Theatre District and the deals made so long ago. I want to know if there is really a bit of magic involved or if it was all illusions and dark secrets.

I really enjoyed 'The Theatre of Glass and Shadows' by Anne Corlett but, the ending lost it for me slightly, dropping my star rating by one. I loved the fantasy World of the district of which parallels can be drawn with Erin Morgenstern's 'Night Circus'. The difference here, however, is that The Show must go on, no matter what. A deadly and dark tale that I was completely absorbed in until the resolution of the book when a new and crucial character is introduced towards the end. The ending lost something for me but, I was compelled by the Moonshine Girl plus, The Girl in the Silver Shoes and their story throughout the novel. An interesting nod to Jack the Ripper with the Night Versions and their quiet end. An interesting read where not everything is as it seems

Juliet looked away. “Another time.”
“Well, if you change your mind, you know where we are.” Anna said, getting up and walking out of the room, leaving Juliet with an ache of loneliness.
Juliet waited until she heard Anna leave before heading downstairs to make a sandwich, which she found she couldn't eat. As she was washing up, she heard the front door open, then voices and footsteps on the stairs. A few seconds later, Sally walked into the kitchen, followed by a little crowd of people. Macy was there, and Jan, and some other followers Juliwt vaguely recognised.
Macy gave Juliet a lite wave. “Hello, stranger.”
Anna squeezed through the door behind them. “Our usual table was occupied,” she said. “There was outrage. We decided to come home instead.” She gave her housemate a slightly lidded look. “So you don't need to drag yourself to the Shipping News. We brought the Shipping News to you.”
Juliet could feel the back of her neck growing clammy.
Keep yourself apart.
There was a thudding from the hallway, and Eugene appeared, followed by another man, both carrying chairs.
“Well done,” Sally said. “If anyone else turns up, they'll have to sit on the floor.” :||

All Juliet has ever wanted is to feel loved, to know where she came from and hopefully unpick the secrets around her upbringing. But when you come from glass and shadows they won't give up their mysteries easily, in order to find out what happened in the past she must give the Theatre her all. But will she lose herself to the feeling it gives her, be upstaged by her mother's memory, fall in love with the artistry she always craved or will history repeat itself. Only time will tell..

Okay, I’m going to get right to the point, this is not something I would usually read. This genre is hit or miss for me but after suffering a really bad migraine attack (which unfortunately made me take a while to read it) I couldn't put it down. This whole world opened up before me and it was like, it made sense but it shouldn't have. There were so many threads being woven and so many hints and flickers or recognition I couldn't pinpoint that by the end I was so shocked even I was left feeling distrust😂
All I kept thinking was this would make such an epic movie. I know they would miss bits out but omg.. It was magical!

Thank you so much to Anne Corlett, black and white publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book x

The Theatre of Glass and Shadows by Anne Corlett is stunning tale that takes the reader on a thrilling adventure in a beautifully imagined alternative London where mystery and intrigue is the order of the day and danger lurks behind every hidden door.
Julia's mother has always been a mystery, she died when Julia was just a baby and her father has always been close lipped about their family history. When he dies nineteen year old Julia finds a cache of hidden objects that seem to point to her origins being in the Theatre District , a walled district in the middle of the city which has its own rules and secrets. A vast immersive production known only as "The Show " has been running for centuries featuring a rotating cast of performers from a select pool of families who keep their identities secret and are known only by their character names such as The Shadow Man or The Girl in the Silver Shoes, and Juliet begins to wonder if she might actually belong to one of these families, especially following her first visit to the Show where she is surrounded by sights and smells that seem to trigger her memories. It is not all magic and glitter in the district however, it seems that over the course of the last couple of decades young girls have been dying in a range of tragic and mysterious circumstances. The police have no jurisdiction within the Theatre District but a determined detective who has been trying to crack the case for years thinks that Juliet may offer him his best chance yet. As she tries to uncover the truth about her origins she may uncover a secret that could bring the whole District to its knees.
The worldbuilding in this book is absolutely captivating, reading it felt like being transported to another time and place, the descriptions of the Theatre District were simply magical, it did feel like being behind the scenes of a working production, but somehow also more. I was completely drawn in to the story and definitely found myself rooting for Juliet as she struggled to find out the truth about her family. There were plenty of twists and turns along the way which made me reluctant to set the book down, instead I kept saying just one more chapter, which is always a good sign. If I had to pinpoint an issue it would be that the ending felt a little rushed and seemed to tie things up in a way that suggests the author does not plan to revisit this world , which is a shame as I think it has plenty more to offer.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

This is, in my opinion, an stunning book and may very well be my book of the year.

We follow Juliet as she tries to unravel her past and follow her dreams in a highly detailed (and utterly credible) alternate version of London, in which an area called The District is, in effect, a self governing, self policing theatre where 'The Show' runs all day and all night. Highly dedicated fans called Followers busily try to work out the secrets that they think lurk behind the storylines and the lines between the real truth and the fiction become increasingly blurred.

Juliet is wonderful as the central character. Her father has just died as the story opens and her stepmother, with whom she has never bonded, just wants her out of the house. She follows the trail of her father to The District hoping to find more about her past and her birth mother, and, she believes, take her rightful places amongst the Elite Performers of the show.

The truth of her past however, is far murkier and The District hides many secrets. Juliet is believable, she is no screaming 'girly' girl nor does she think that she can work it all out on her own. She befriends Followers and Performers alike and all of these are beautifully drawn and it is easy to picture them and fill in their back stories. This, of course, is the aim of The District - tell part of a story and let the audience work out the rest as they wish and adopt whatever version feels right to them.

The shadowy, murky truth is revealed very slowly, as we, along with Juliet, slowly piece together the evidence and learn more about the inner workings of the Show.

The title of the book suits the story perfectly, there are many 'glass' areas within the story, both literal and metaphorical and there are certainly plenty of shadows. There is much interesting imagery as people are sometimes viewed through shards of mirror and glass which perhaps serves to demonstrate how easy it is for us to see what we want (or perhaps need) to see by defining our viewpoint.

I also enjoyed the well developed history of The District and the little 'extracts' from (fictional) texts at the end of some chapters which gave more insight into this version of London. Quite why and how the divergence from the real world happened is never explained nor does it need to be. I think that it would have been easy for the author to get bogged down in linking the world of her story to our reality but I am glad that she avoided the temptation to do so as I think that it would have detracted and distracted from the tale she wanted to tell.

If I had any criticism it is that the end is a little rushed, and, unless a sequel is planned, could have been tidier and a little more told about what happens to the main characters after the denoument. But then perhaps that is just all part of the Show!

The book is genre defying, fantasy, mystery, coming of age, maybe even romance. Read it and choose for yourself.

I am immensley grateful to Black and White publishing for a review copy and for letting me enjoy such a wonderful and different story. I cannot recommend this highly enough.

Thank you NetGalley and Black & White Publishing for this eCopy to review

The Theatre of Glass and Shadows was an interesting read, but like the maze that is the theatre district I felt the story lost its way a little and was quite slow in places. Juliet leaves her step mother's house on the death of her father and moves to the theatre district in London to find what happened to her mother and hopefully find somewhere she belongs. Initially she is swept up with the glamour and magic of the district but on gaining a job there she finds it increasing dark and dangerous. Who are all the dead girls? Who can be trusted?

The ending was a big twist that I did not see coming

I have reviewed The Theatre of Glass and Shadows by Anne Corlett for book recommendation and selling site LoveReading.co.uk. I’ve chosen the book to feature as a Liz Pick of the Month for June. Please see link to the site for the full review.