Magic Under Glass

Reader reviewed by Ruthie

It took me awhile to get interested in this book. Once I did however, I found myself thoroughly enjoyed. This was a great fantasy with a modern twist. The ending seemed to lead on to what I hope will be a good sequel. I have high hopes for it. What slowed me down in the beginning, I don't know but hopefully the same won't happen in the future.

Reader reviewed by Misty (Book Rat)

Nimira is a "trouser girl" singing and dancing for her living in Lorimar
when she is approached by powerful sorceror Hollin Parry.  Hollin wants
to hire her to sing with the accompaniment of a life-sized, piano
playing automaton he owns.  His offer promises to change Nimira's life
drastically for the better -- but there is a catch.  Every other woman
he has hired has run away, terrified of the automaton, which they insist
is alive.  Nimira takes the job, refusing to be afraid of an automaton,
but when it comes alive for her, she finds herself in the center of a
story of a fairy prince trapped in a wooden body, and a dangerous man
who wants the prince dead -- and she must find a way to put things to
rights.







When I won this book from WillowRaven of  Red House Books, I was
excited because I had seen it around and thought it sounded cute, but I
figured it'd be a throw-away read.  A cute little story about a fairy
prince and the human girl who can save him, aww isn't that nice, the
end.  I didn't think I would find myself very invested in the story or
the characters, and I didn't think I would be late coming back from my
lunch break at work because I wanted to finish the chapter...



So Magic Under Glass surprised me.  I actually genuinely liked it.  Not
unreservedly, but more than I expected to for sure.  Nimira is an
engaging heroine, and I absolutely loved how she communicated with the
fairy prince/automaton.  I also liked that things weren't completely
easy for her in her feelings or her decision making, and that her
foreign background wasn't dismissed, but there was some social/racial
tension and some wistfulness for home.  It added a layer of authenticity
and depth to the story, so that even though it wasn't a main issue by
any means, it helped paint the scene.



It's a very fast-paced book with a nice blend of feistiness, romance,
magic and culture.  The drawbacks for me were few, but they are big
enough that they deserve a mention:

1. There is a blurb on the cover saying "For fans of Libba Bray and
Charlotte Bronte" which amused me to no end at first.  I assumed it was
just because of the time-period of the book, and I was like, "Charlotte
Bronte?  Really?  They're just going to throw that out there?"  But when
I got further into the book, I realized why that comparison was made. 
There is a strong resemblance to Jane Eyre in certain aspects of the
book, which I can't go into without being completely spoilery. 
It didn't bother me much, and if you haven't read Jane Eyre, it won't
bother you at all, but I am sure there are those of you who are going to
read this and be a little pissed that it has a rip-off feel at times.

2. I felt the first 1/2 was better than the 2nd.  Now, to be fair, I
read a proof copy, so I don't know how mine differed from the finished
version.  But for me, with the ARC, the first 1/2 was gripping and fast
in an enjoyable way, and really captivating.  I liked the set-up of the
world and getting to know Nimira, and everything flowed really well.  In
the second 1/2, I felt like the snowball was rolling a little too
fast.  I wanted better pacing, more of a chance to absorb what was going
on and let everything develop.  The second 1/2 wasn't bad by any means,
but compared to the first, it felt like a little bit of a rush job.



Those 2 caveats aside, I really enjoyed this book. It was the light, fun
read I expected, but with a little more oomph than I'd hoped for, and
that's a good thing.  If there is more coming (if this turns out to be a
series, which it will, if the rumor mill is right) I will certainly
pick up book 2, and I look forward to reading more from Dolamore in the
future.

Originally posted: http://bookrat-misty.blogspot.com/2010/04/magic-under-glass-by-jaclyn-dolamore.html

Reader reviewed by Crystal F

A
beautiful story of a girl who goes from dancing in a show to being a
woman set to sing with an automaton while living in a wealthy man's
home. I loved the fantasy world mixed with real world aspect of it. It
sounds like it's historical, yet there is wizardry and fairies mixed
in. A very well-developed world that I look forward to exploring more
in future books.



The love story is also beautiful. I like how it shows how one can fall
in love with someone for who they are not what they are - Nimira was
able to look past the fact that Erris is an automaton. And Erris' love
for Nimira was lovely too.



I liked Nimira's character, she is strong and even when she is a
dancer, she remember who she is and knows that she will have a better
life. She never compromises herself and I appreciated the
self-confidence she showed. But she wasn't without weakness either, she
was a great balance of being a young woman.



The plot kept this book moving along with the characters and it is a wonderful book to spend an afternoon with.

Reader reviewed by The Brain Lair

Who knew I would enjoy the story of a trouser girl, a sorcerer with no backbone, and an automaton?



Magic Under Glass combines a little Jane Eyre, in the form of a wife who is supposed to be crazy, with some magic realism. Nimira dances in a show that barely keeps her fed. Dolamore gives the impression that "trouser girls" are the lowest forms of dancers but somehow Hollin Parry is able to see something more in Nimira and offers her a job. She thinks about what her mom would think if she were still alive and decides she would be better off facing the unknown than staying with the troupe.