9781599904306

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Bloomsbury USA Childrens

On sale:

January 2010

Price:

$16.99

Format:

Hardcover

Size:

5.5 x 8.25 in

Pages:

240 pp

Ages:

12

Grades:

7


ISBN-13: 9781599904306

ISBN-10: 1599904306



Also Available

9781599905877

Paperback


Magic Under Glass

By Jaclyn Dolamore

Book Description

Introducing a lushly romantic fantasy debut with Gothic flair that will appeal to fans of Libba Bray… and Charlotte Brontë.

Nimira is a foreign music-hall girl forced to dance for pennies. When wealthy sorcerer Hollin Parry hires her to sing with a piano-playing automaton, Nimira believes it is the start of a new and better life. In Parry's world, however, buried secrets are beginning to stir. Unsettling below-stairs rumors swirl about ghosts, a madwoman roaming the halls, and Parry's involvement with a league of sorcerers who torture fairies for sport. Then Nimira discovers the spirit of a fairy gentleman named Erris is trapped inside the clockwork automaton, waiting for someone to break his curse. The two fall into a love that seems hopeless, and breaking the curse becomes a race against time, as not just their love, but the fate of the entire magical world may be in peril.

★““Dolamore successfully juggles several elements that might have stymied even a more experienced writer: intriguing plot elements, sophisticated characterizations, and a subtle boost of girl power; it’s the women of the tale who have ingenuity, courage, and the power to turn events.”— Booklist, starred review

"Sorcerers, fairies, ghosts, music, mystery, intrigue-what more could one ask for in a gothic-style fantasy romance? This well-written, engaging work will hold readers from beginning to end. No time period is stated, but the old-world feel will appeal to teens who like historical fiction as well as those who are taken by romance flavored with a bit of sorcery and magic."—VOYA

"I dislike most YA fantasy, but I didn't want to put down this novel. The writing flows well and seems mature, intelligent, and not condescending. The fantasy elements aren't silly like fantasy is sometimes, and some aspects-like the automaton-are unusual and intriguing. Nimira is easy to relate to, is emotionally realistic, and her world is believable. There were moments so striking that I shut the book in shock. A wide range of readers would enjoy it."—VOYA, Teen Reviewer

“Debut author Dolamore draws heavily on Jane Eyre and its themes of sexual and class prejudice for her plot, reshaping the source material with skill."—Publishers Weekly


“Libba Bray’s Gemma Doyle meets Sally Gardner’s The Red Necklace (2008), with a hint of Jane Eyre thrown in for good measure, in this vivid and rousing debut.”—Kirkus Reviews

 

“Mixed into this stunning debut novel are enough plot points to keep readers interested. With touches of steampunk, romance, fantasy, and mystery, there is a little something for everyone.”–School Library Journal

"The book offers plenty of romance and intrigue, and readers not quite ready for the weight of Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle trilogy may do well to start here."--BCCB