Magic Under Glass

by Jaclyn Dolamore

Book Overview

When a wealthy sorcerer hires Nimira to sing with a mysterious piano-playing automaton, Nimira believes it will be the start of a better life. But at the sorcerer's estate, rumors swirl about ghosts,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1599904306
• ISBN13: 9781599904306
• Release Date: January 2010
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
• Length: 225 Pages
• Weight: 0.79 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.8" x 8.7"
• Age Range: 12 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 7 to 12

Customer Reviews

A beautiful escape from reality

Nimira is nothing more than a show girl in a cheap theatre, being paid pennies and fed food not worth eating to sing and dance for men who have nothing better to do at night. One night a mysterious man named Mr. Parry comes to Nimira and hires her to sing, accompanying an automaton--a life size mechanical doll--who plays the piano. Every other girl who he has hired has run away screaming, saying that the doll was haunted. Nimira doesn't believe such things... or does she? She realizes once she starts practicing with him that he is definitely more than a doll. She begins to communicate with him... and soon realizes that she loves him. But how can she set him free from his prison? Nimira starts trying to uncover the secrets that are surrounding her in this strange house--a wife who is supposed to be dead, a sorcerer who has more control than he should, and a missing fairy prince who may just be trapped inside of a piano playing doll. review: Magic Under Glass was an amazing and breathtaking adventure, a parallel universe with a story that I'd love to live in and experience again and again. I really cannot think of the words to describe how much I fell in love with this book and it's characters! Jaclyn has found the perfect way create a story that is both plot driven and character driven. The plot was fast, but not too fast. It was steady enough to keep up with, but fast enough to keep you reading. And the characters... goodness they were so special. Every single one of them, even the ones I hated (with a passion). The characters were instantly real people to me, and they became hugely important. The love between Nimira and her automaton is painful but sweet, and utterly romantic. I would have read this book in one sitting if I had not been interrupted. It instantly draws you in at the first page, and holds you captive until the last. The writing was detailed and descriptive and made all the words feel beautiful and sensual, like you're drinking chocolate or breathing perfume while you read. Ultimately this was a beautiful escape from reality, and I am desperate for the sequel. Content: no sexual content, and appropriate language (not overdone or overused, I think there was one foul word used only once or twice). Recommendation: Ages 14+ to anyone who wants a fast enchanting romance worth dying for.

Sparkling and lively

When her mother died and father fell into debt, Nimira set off for the big city, hoping to make her fortune as a dancer. She is just managing to get by when the sorcerer Hollin Parry appears and makes her an offer she finds difficult to refuse: to work for him, singing with a fairy-made, life-size automaton. Nimira's new life is better than she could believe, but when she discovers that a fairy named Erris is actually trapped within the automaton, her life is put in grave danger as she is ensnared with a tangled web of lies and secrets that could threaten the peace between two races. Magic Under Glass is a sparkling and intriguing read. Nim is a lively and spunky heroine who is smart, charming, and resourceful, and Dolamore's fantastical world is brimming with magic and adventure. There are a few different cultures within the pages of Magic Under Glass, and Dolamore portrays them and their differences very well. It would be interesting to explore that aspect of the story a little more, which Dolamore will hopefully do in a sequel. The characters were quite varied: from intelligent but imprisoned Erris, imposing Hollin Parry with his many secrets, a formidable housekeeper, and a mysterious madwoman. They, along with whispered secrets and murderous plots and villains, make the novel quite entertaining, and keep the book moving briskly. Magic Under Glass is a wonderful example of lovely, spirited storytelling, and an all around fun and lightly romantic fantasy read.

Beautiful Debut - I'm looking forward to the next installment

Jaclyn Dolamore's debut novel is a quick and engaging read that left me me wanting more. Not only did the slim volume end much to quickly, Dolamore's unique plot line and characters stayed with me even after I finished the last line. First off, I'm still a bit in awe of the cover art. I thought it was gorgeous when I first saw it on Jackie's website and when I saw the arc, but it was nothing compared to the bound version when I saw it in the bookstore. It definitely is eye catching! I was intrigued by the mention of an automaton as I read the plot summary for the novel. I wanted to know how Dolamore would pull off this interesting love story and how the more magical elements would play into the story. I will say that I did find the explanation of the magical elements of the plot line a bit lacking. I'm hoping that an additional installment will bring some of unexplained details to light. I liked the idea of sorcerers and fairies, but wanted to know more about them. I think may have been the epic fantasy geek in me shining through... I longed for Magic to be a few hundred more pages long with lots of detail about these magical elements. Dolamore has succeeded in writing a wonderful debut novel! I will definitely be reading her next novel(s). And I am so excited to see the next book's cover!

Unique and Impressive

Magic Under Glass was impressive, unique, and an overall amazing debut novel. From the first page I was pulled into the original world Dolamore had created and Magic Under Glass was really hard to put down. I wanted to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. There was so much mystery and suspense, by the middle of the novel I couldn't put it down. Nimira's fight to save Erris was amazing and their love for each other was heartbreaking. It was a forbidden romance at it's best. Not only was Erris a fairy prince, but he was trapped inside an automaton that belonged to the man Nimira was working for. Automaton's are something I've never read about before, so I wasn't sure what to expect at first. The world where Nimira lived in Magic Under Glass was completely original and so different from anything I've ever read about before. The characters and settings were amazing and well developed with no stone left unturned. I was completely submerged in Nimira's world and when I finished reading it only made me anxious to read more by Jaclyn Dolamore- maybe a sequel to Magic Under Glass? Now to anyone who's read the novel you can understand the significance of the title and cover. For me that was one of the creepiest parts of the novel. I could hardly believe anyone could be as cruel as Hollin's father had been to the faeries and other creatures. I've read quite a few faerie books especially lately, and Magic Under Glass stands out from the others, not that it's better, it's just different. People knew about faeries in this world, but they couldn't coexist with people like the evil Smollings who wanted to kill all the faeries or go to war with them rather than live in peace. Hating the bad characters and liking the good ones was very easy in Magic Under Glass, there was a thick line dividing them and the evil characters were extremely easy to dislike. By the end of the novel I was rooting for Nimira, Erris, and the rest of the characters on their side as they fought against the "bad guys". Creative, unique, and addictive, Magic Under Glass was a debut novel unlike any other. It was a quick read, not only because it was just 200 pages, but because it's one I read quickly, unable to put it down. I'd highly recommend this to anyone. Rating; Plot: 10/10 Characters: 9.5/10 Ending: 9.5/10 Enjoyment: 10/10 Cover: 9.5/10 -- Overall: 48.5/50= 97%

An enchanting and highly original young adult fantasy from a very talented debut author.

Seventeen-year-old Nimira had to leave her home and make her own way in the world after her mother died and her father lost the family's fortune. She now lives in Lorinar, where she performs in a music hall and wishes for a better life. When Hollin Parry, a mysterious sorcerer, offers her a job singing with his piano-playing automaton, she eagerly accepts the opportunity. There are rumors that the automaton is haunted but Nimira ignores them, desperate to leave her life in the music hall behind. Hollin Parry's estate is lovely, a welcome change from the bustling city she lived in. But it is also a place full of secrets. The biggest of which is that the automaton is not haunted, but contains the trapped spirit of Erris, a fairy prince. As Nimira falls in love with Erris and attempts to free him from the curse, she is caught up in more danger than she expected. Magic Under Glass is a wonderfully original fantasy from debate author Jaclyn Dolamore. The world she has created is very unique. It is reminiscent of the Victorian era with a bit of steam punk mixed in. If you love young adult fantasy and are looking to read something different and original, be sure to give this book a try. You won't be disappointed! I am very much looking forward to reading more by this talented new author. Disclosure: Review copy provided by publisher.