Review Detail

Ever read one of those books that you want to savor, afraid if you rush you'll miss some of the magic?

Magic Under Glass is one of those books.

It's the story of Nimira, a music hall girl, who is hired by wealthy sorcerer Hollin Parry to sing accompaniment to a mysterious piano-playing automaton.

Nimira thinks this will be the start to a better life. But once she's at Parry's mansion, she hears rumors of ghosts, a madwoman, and Parry's involvement with a league of sorcerers who hate fairies. Then she finds the automaton is really the spirit of a fairy that is trapped by dark magic. Nimira vows to do anything she can to release the automaton from the curse. She has much going against her including a powerful sorcerer who has his own secrets. In the meantime she needs to do something fast or else not only will she fail to break the curse but put the whole magical realm at risk of war.

I loved this book! Dolamore creates an awesome world filled with fairies, magical creatures, and a story of two unlikely lovers set in a magical world. The book's images are lush and rich. Reading this fantasy is like nibbling on a yummy treat. You don't want to rush as you want to enjoy each vivid detail. And Dolamore does an excellent job of doing just that with such details as Parry's garden, her colorful gowns, to the shimmering wings of fairies.

Nimira's story unfolds when she leaves the cheap music hall for a better life only to find her new one not without challenges. Her spunk and attempts to help the automaton grow as she falls in love. At first I wondered how Nimira could fall in love with an automaton then I read more and found it not so unbelievable after all.

Kudos to one great read with a truly magical world that I hope to visit again!