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The Shadow in the Glass: The Extraordinary Gothic Fairytale Debut of 2021 Kindle Edition
A deliciously gothic story of wishes and curses – a new dark fairy tale set against a Victorian backdrop full of lace and smoke.
‘Deliciously dark’
Woman Magazine
Once upon a time Ella had wished for more than her life as a lowly maid.
Now forced to work hard under the unforgiving, lecherous gaze of the man she once called stepfather, Ella’s only refuge is in the books she reads by candlelight, secreted away in the library she isn’t permitted to enter.
One night, among her beloved books of far-off lands, Ella’s wishes are answered. At the stroke of midnight, a fairy godmother makes her an offer that will change her life: seven wishes, hers to make as she pleases. But each wish comes at a price and Ella must decide whether it’s one she’s willing to pay…
A smouldering, terrifying new spin on Cinderella – perfect for fans of Laura Purcell and Erin Morgenstern.
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherHarperVoyager
- Publication dateMarch 18, 2021
- File size1.7 MB
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From the Publisher


Editorial Reviews
Review
‘Deliciously dark’
Woman Magazine
‘A gothic twist on Cinderella that is truly exquisite. Chilling and beautiful – I devoured it in one sitting’
Bestselling author Katie Lowe
‘A thought-provoking take on a classic’
SFX
‘An impresive debut’
Dundee Courier
About the Author
JJA Harwood is an author, editor and blogger. She grew up in Norfolk, read History at the University of Warwick and eventually found her way to London, which is still something of a shock for somebody used to so many fields.
When not writing, she can be found learning languages, cooking with more enthusiasm than skill, wandering off into clearly haunted houses and making friends with stray cats. THE SHADOW IN THE GLASS was her debut novel.
Product details
- ASIN : B08DK2WKN6
- Publisher : HarperVoyager
- Accessibility : Learn more
- Publication date : March 18, 2021
- Language : English
- File size : 1.7 MB
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 414 pages
- ISBN-13 : 978-0008368111
- Page Flip : Enabled
- Best Sellers Rank: #511,868 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #631 in Gaslamp Fantasy (Books)
- #2,178 in Historical Fantasy (Kindle Store)
- #2,947 in Historical Fantasy (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

JJA Harwood is an author, editor and blogger. She grew up in Norfolk, read History at the University of Warwick and eventually found her way to London, which is still something of a shock for somebody used to so many fields.
When not writing, she can be found learning languages, cooking with more enthusiasm than skill, wandering off into clearly haunted houses and making friends with stray cats. THE SHADOW IN THE GLASS is her debut novel.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book well-written and engaging, with one review noting it's fantastic for the first 100 pages. Moreover, the pacing receives positive feedback, with one customer describing it as an amazing Gothic novel. Additionally, the tone is appreciated, with one review highlighting its dark fairytale style. However, the character development receives criticism, with several customers noting that the main character is not sympathetic.
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Customers find the book readable, with one mentioning that the first 100 pages are fantastic.
"...end. It is a dark fairytale. Not Sunshine or Rainbows. Worth a read." Read more
"The first 100 pages are fantastic, but then the heroine becomes delusional...." Read more
"This book started well, telling the tale of a Cinderellaesque character living a miserable life as a maid where she is mistreated and constantly..." Read more
"Great book, definitely some twists from the original that I didn't expect. Can't wait to read the author's other book!" Read more
Customers enjoy the pacing of the book, with one describing it as a suspenseful fairy tale and another noting it's an amazing Gothic novel.
"I liked this book but did not like the ending. It is a fantasy book. I am glad that I live in this world. A young girl struggles and looses." Read more
"Well written. Had a hard time putting it down. Suspenseful fairy tale similar to Grimm’s. Would recommend to adults who like thrillers!" Read more
"Although the premise seemed intriguing, the Dr. Faustus storyline blended sloppily with the fairy tale aspects and the hint that it's really just a..." Read more
"one of the best cinderella retelling..." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's tone, with one describing it as a dark fairytale.
"...As I read more, I knew how this would end. It is a dark fairytale. Not Sunshine or Rainbows. Worth a read." Read more
"Certain elements are done quite well. I love the dark tone and the descriptive details that made me feel immersed in the setting...." Read more
"Dark, captivating, heartbreaking..." Read more
Customers praise the writing quality of the book.
"This book is very well done...." Read more
"Well written. Had a hard time putting it down. Suspenseful fairy tale similar to Grimm’s. Would recommend to adults who like thrillers!" Read more
"Well Written but Unremittingly Bleak..." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the character development in the book, with several noting that the main character is not sympathetic, while one customer mentions that the protagonist's moralizing and self-delusion become tiresome.
"The first 100 pages are fantastic, but then the heroine becomes delusional...." Read more
"This is a Cinderella type tale with no prince. The heroine has a horrible life being treated cruelly by those around her...." Read more
"...However, the main character is not sympathetic and details about her past that would have helped me understand her motivation are never fully..." Read more
"This books is so nauseating. The main character is annoying...." Read more
Reviews with images

A Dark Fractured Fairytale
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2021Format: KindleVerified PurchaseThe author takes the story of Cinderella and puts it into a different setting.
Then spins a tale with twists and turns. I felt sorry for Eleanor because she
is trapped by the constraints of society and class (She is really naïve as a
17 year old, but I think people that did care about her has tried to shield
her from the harshness of life; I wonder if they themselves had struck a
deal too with the woman featured in this novel). She has good intentions
at first, but I wonder if she is just worn down/believes that she deserves
what she gets until she has enough. As I read more, I knew how this would
end. It is a dark fairytale. Not Sunshine or Rainbows. Worth a read.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2023Format: KindleVerified PurchaseThe first 100 pages are fantastic, but then the heroine becomes delusional. The twist is not great, and the protagonist’s moralizing and self-delusion get old. The book is also about 100 pages too long.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2024Format: KindleVerified PurchaseI liked this book but did not like the ending. It is a fantasy book. I am glad that I live in this world. A young girl struggles and looses.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2021Format: KindleVerified PurchaseThis book is very well done.
There's not much I can say about it that doesn't spoil things, because the mood is unexpected, and I think the pacing of unexpected directions is a big part of what's good about the book, so sort of SPOILERS:
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I suppose it's kind of like Bojack Horseman, with a slow build that starts veering left. This book similarly plays with your empathy and leaves you wondering what to think of most of the characters. I wasn't expecting that going in; this book is one of those that's hard to fit squarely in a typical genre slot, so I think many of the bad reviews are by people who were looking for a light romance or a fantasy story or something. But more explanation in advance would impact the flow of the reader's reactions, a lot like how the goofy cartoonishness of the first few episodes of Bojack make the descent that much more surprising.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2021Format: KindleVerified PurchaseThis is a Cinderella type tale with no prince. The heroine has a horrible life being treated cruelly by those around her. After about 150 pages, I skipped to the end to see if she ever escaped the dreadful life she was a victim of and she didn’t. If you like extremely depressing novels, this is for you.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2021Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseCertain elements are done quite well. I love the dark tone and the descriptive details that made me feel immersed in the setting. However, the main character is not sympathetic and details about her past that would have helped me understand her motivation are never fully revealed, which was frustrating. It was just okay.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2022Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseHardwood explores the dark version of the Cinderella trope.
Seventeen year old Eleanor Rose Hartley is a maid in Grandbough House.
While in the library, Ella finds a book, and summons a mysterious woman who grants Ella seven wishes for a price.
In the plot, Hardwood mentions the play: Faust
- Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2021Format: KindleVerified PurchaseThis book started well, telling the tale of a Cinderellaesque character living a miserable life as a maid where she is mistreated and constantly under threat. One day her slightly scary maybe evil fairy godmother shows up and grants her 7 wishes in exchange for her soul. Our maid Ella accepts with visions of how she can get out of her situation and create a new life for herself. Only she doesn't. She continues to stay in the miserable house as a maid...why? The story fell apart there for me as Ella, instead of wishing for a wonderful, safe new home for herself, continues to stay in the place where she is constantly under threat. Is she stupid? I don't know and after reading a bit more I stopped caring. I couldn't finish the book. For me this was a waste of time.
Top reviews from other countries
- BuyerReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 3, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Dark, gripping fairytale
Format: KindleVerified PurchaseI wasn’t sure what to expect, but found myself unable to put this book down. Beautifully written, clever plot and some very strong characters. Totally gripping and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I will definitely be looking out for future novels by this author.
- Tarah MillerReviewed in Canada on January 13, 2022
2.0 out of 5 stars Very bleak
Format: KindleVerified PurchaseI really could not like this book. The plot sounded great and when I heard that it was a dark retelling of Cinderella, I was very intrigued. However it is not a dark retelling of Cinderella, the story is very bleak, the main character drones on about her misfortunes and I found her very annoying, and I found many of the characters insufferable. In my opinion, not a good read. I couldn’t wait to be done.
- CorinneReviewed in the United Kingdom on April 26, 2021
2.0 out of 5 stars This is not a re-telling of Cinderella.
Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseI’m an avid reader that devours books. This I really struggled with. It’s sold as a dark re-telling of Cinderella, in my personal opinion - it isn’t. It is very dark, but lacked for me in too many ways. It felt like a ‘chore’ to read and the main character Eleanor ‘Ella’ was not likeable so I wasn’t rooting for her. I felt that too many questions were left unanswered and the ending was flat. Not for me but we all read differently so if you’re intrigued by it then give it a chance.
CorinneThis is not a re-telling of Cinderella.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 26, 2021
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- NaTReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 30, 2022
2.0 out of 5 stars Unfinished ending
Format: KindleVerified PurchaseBook is described as a dark Cinderella remake - nothing like Cinderella. This book was hard to read and the ending left the whole story open. Didn’t enjoy it and the main character was not likeable, not sure if this was the intention.