The Glass Magician by Caroline Stevermer

The Glass Magician, by Caroline Stevermer

MacMillan-Tor/Forge - April 2020
Fantasy
E-book

Hrs:min /  Page count:
Awards and Honors if applic.
Thank source if applicable

* I received this digital ARC courtesy of MacMillan-Tor Forge, via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. This does not influence the following opinions which are my own.

A fun cross-genre book combining elements of YA, historical fantasy, and murder-mystery. 

Set in the New York of the early 1900's, society is divided into Solitaires - non-magical people, and Sylvestri - magical people. Thalia - a solitaire, is a successful stage magician with a popular show. Her partner is the man who cared for her and raised her after she was orphaned.

One night the act goes wrong, and she nearly dies - a sudden manifestation of magical ability is all that saved her. It turns out that she is not a solitaire after all, but a trader - a sylvestri. The arrival of these new abilities puts her in danger from Manticores - beasts who feast on uncontrolled magic and those who have it.  Around this same time that Thalia discovers her magic, her fiercest rival is killed while performing an act that the two rivals had been competing for.  The man who is her business partner and who raised her, is now accused of murder. Her only hope for survival is to learn how to control her new magical abilities before the manticores catch her; and her partner's only hope lies with Thalia, as only she can clear his name while he is jailed. 

Overall this is a good story. The characters are likable, and the mystery helped propel the reader through the story. But while Stevermer does a fairly good job of blending multiple genres into one tale, in doing so she seems to have missed shining too brightly in any single one of them. 

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review: THE SEVEN DEATHS OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE, by Stuart Turton

THE SEVEN DEATHS OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE, by Stuart Turton

HarperCollins - 2018
Digital copy provided by publisher in exchange of an honest review. 

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

One of the most unique books that I have ever had the pleasure to read! Turton has taken pieces of the literary style book and shuffled them into a highly original and entertaining story

This book has an identity crisis.  I mean that in the best possible way. First of all, let's look at the name.  If you are going to read the book, you have to find it.  Depending where you buy the book, Evelyn may have "7 ½" deaths instead of "Seven".  Here in Canada, HarperCollins published it as "Seven". 

Next, and more importantly, is the genre and mood of the book. The setting gives it a somewhat "Agatha Christie style" Murder-Mystery feel to it, as it definitely presents a mystery, and it certainly has elements of modern Thrillers to it with its jaw-dropping revelations and plot twists. With the time-loop aspect, it also has a tiny bit of Sci-Fi in its make-up too. If you are not a fan of time-loop/time-travel, not to worry, you can still enjoy this book as it only loops through a single day, and the protagonist simply experiences it from different points of view. 

Aiden Bishop is attending a party at Blackheath Estate, owned by the Hardcastle family.  Evelyn Hardcastle is doomed to be killed at the culmination of the party, during a burst of fireworks. Aiden Bishop is doomed to witness it happen.  Trapped in a time-loop, Aiden's only hope of escaping is to solve the murder and present his proof to the mysterious figure who is his captor, who will then set him free.  But there is someone who will do whatever it takes to prevent Aiden's escape. 

I cannot for the life of me, wrap my mind around what the writing process must have been like for this book! I thoroughly enjoyed every page. 

Happy Reading,

Christine