I swear, I have a talent for picking up books that become part of a series. It seems as though nearly every book I’ve read has at least one companion to it. If you think I’m exaggerating, you should see my bookshelf. PLENTY of series, not so many stand-alones. Either I have a talent, or too many authors are writing series.
There is that lovely moment of getting to the end of a good book and realizing the story doesn’t end there- there’s MORE! Another book! Then there’s also a feeling of sadness and desperation realizing you don’t currently OWN that next book- particularly painful if its not even published yet! I followed Harry Potter and A Series of Unfortunate Events from nearly the beginning- that’s a large portion of my life waiting for the next book.. But at the ending of the first book, sometimes there’s that moment of aww, shit crap! because the book didn’t wrap up nicely like you’d been expecting. Now you have to commit yourself to the next book and possibly the next next book or even the next next next, etc book. There’s that moment when you’re nearing the end, counting the pages, reading faster to finish and you realize that you’re not getting all the answers on that last page and it kind of destroys the end of that book, knowing in someway you’re going to be dissatisfied.
Magic Under Glass was one of those books where I had that aww, shit crap! moment.
“Sometimes, before you make any plans or resolutions, before you declare your heroic intent to persevere, you just have to cry.”
― Jaclyn Dolamore, Magic Under Glass
Nimira left her home after the death of her mother and in the wake of her father’s growing debts to a different land, Lorinar, hoping to make it as a performer. Her mother was a dancer in the court of Tiansher and she wants to follow in her footsteps, however, Lorinar does not prize these “trouser girls” as they did in her homeland. At the beginning of the novel, as she is singing and dancing in the music-hall, she notices a well-dressed, handsome stranger watching her from the back of the room. He shortly introduces himself as A. Hollin Parry and he has come to hire someone to sing with his piano-playing automan. Nimira accepts the post and travels with Parry to Vestenveld, his family estate. She begins to hear strange tales about the place: reports of a madwoman roaming the halls, the automan being haunted- already driving off a few other hired singers- and strange details surrounding the death of Parry’s young wife.
Parry seems to be falling in love with Nim, meanwhile she realizes that the automan isn’t what he seems. Parry is a magician and has secrets to keep. The “bad guy” in the book is his fellow magician, Smollings, who was his late father’s best friend. Smollings is not above blackmail and possibly murder to get what he wants. The Magician’s Council has been dealing with Fairy wars for the past ten years and there may yet be a lost Fairy prince. There are those who would keep him safe, and those who would jump at the chance to get rid of him.
The back of the book suggests that fans of Bronte and Libba Bray would find the novel intriguing. There is a clear homage to Jane Eyre within the pages of Magic Under Glass. It’s not quite as dark as A Dark and Terrible Beauty, but it seems set around the same time period. I like the “scenery” of the novel- you do get a feel for this Victorian era alternate world. Nim is a delightful heroine and narrator- haughty on the outside but insecure and determined inside. Smollings is quite detestable as well. Parry keeps himself well hidden from the audience and I had conflicting feelings about him. I thought the other characters were quite well-done. Be aware- not everything comes nicely resolved at the end so, like me, you’ll have to get Magic Under Stone to find out if Nim’s biggest problem gets solved and how.
And now, for Amber House.
I looked up and imagined the generations of my ancestors standing in the windows, looking back at me. If my mother had her way, I would be the last to remember them. The last one to hear the echoes of their voices.
— Kelly Moore, Tucker Reed & Larkin Reed, Amber House
This book is one of those where I felt the acute pain of knowing that I don’t OWN the next installment, it’s not even published yet! To make matters worse, I can’t find a publication date! And it’s billed as a trilogy, so that means TWO more books!! Ahhh, the agony! I got wrapped into this one pretty quickly. Finished it in less than a day.
It begins, “I was almost sixteen the first time my grandmother died.” The story is clearly set in contemporary times- references to cell phones, tattoos and lack of Internet! But there is a clear fantasy/paranormal theme here. Sarah Parsons, 15, of Seattle, is our narrator. She comes with her family- glamorous, cold, mother, Anne, and her delightfully charming, autistic, five-year-old brother, Sammy- to Maryland for her grandmother’s funeral. The estate, Amber House, is the oldest in the state (over 350 years old), and has been in her family since the beginning, though this is the first time Sarah has seen it. Full of historical treasures, and the epitome of architecture, everyone seems to know more about this house and her past than Sarah does. As she starts to uncover more about the house, she finds herself drawn to two boys: Richard, the-senators-son, who is charming, handsome and wealthy, and Jackson, her-grandmother’s-caretaker’s-grandson, who is guarded, intriguing, and puzzling.
Her mother has plans to sell Amber House and auction off all of its treasures before returning home to Seattle. There is a recent riff between Sarah’s parents and her father had moved to Baltimore to work at Johns Hopkins. The book really looks at relationships- particularly the relationship between Sarah and her mother- which isn’t a great one. As Sarah comes to explore more of the house, she doesn’t understand why her mother seems so bent on remaining apart from it. As the story progresses, she begins to see “echoes” of her family’s past- even that of her mother. Sarah is on a quest to understand what tragedies have shaped the history of Amber House. Eventually, it becomes imperative in order to save someone she loves.
I must say, I REALLLLLLLY enjoyed this book. It’s going in the favorites list. I stayed up far too late last night to finish it and I’m paying for that today, but it was worth it. There is so much history in the house, and glimpses of other times, that you really become connected to nearly all the occupants of Amber House. The ending is such a trip. I did not foresee things turning out the way they did, in a good way! There are so many layers to this, that I’ve started reading it again, so I can appreciate all of the pieces of the puzzle dropped along the way. This could absolutely function as a stand-alone, but I’m dying to see how it will be revisited in the second book, Neverwas.
My favorite character is Sammy, such a fun little guy who knows far more than he’s given credit for. I enjoyed changing my opinion of Sarah’s mother along with Sarah. I loved seeing these other strong women of bygone days who had their own adventures and tragedies on the property. Sarah is a good narrator and I would hope that the next book is narrated by Jackson, because I’m dying to get inside his head. Really, truly, surprised by this book in the best way. GO READ IT!
In The Book Stacks 