UnCovered
review by Amanda Vigue, ACLS Egg Harbor Township Branch
Every Cinderella fan
knows that dreams are really wishes waiting to come true. But what about
nightmares? Does evil exist in the form of a shape-shifting demon or does
it dwell deep within one’s psyche, thriving on fear and desperation? The Shadow in the Glass, by J.J.A. Harwood, explores the dark side of fairy
tales, where anything is possible – for a perilous price.
Eleanor Hartley was
orphaned at a young age. When her stepmother died, Ella was forced to become a
servant in her adopted home. Her predatory guardian, long corrupted by lust and
brandy, lurks around every corner waiting to ruin every young lady in his
employ. Ella knows that she will be next. Determined to escape, Ella sneaks off
to the library at night. There, lost in the pages of Dr. Faustus, Ella
encounters a mysterious woman with hollow eyes who knows all of her secrets.
Instead of turning a pumpkin into a carriage and mice into horses, Ella’s fairy
godmother offers her seven wishes in exchange for her soul.
Of course, changing her
fate is a complicated and dangerous affair, especially in Victorian London. In
true thriller fashion, Ella is haunted by a series of deaths that may be linked
to her tragic past. With each wish, Ella is further ensnared in a web of
crime and passion. This story does not end happily ever after. In fact, it
might not end at all.