The Shadow in The Glass by J.J.A. Hardwood

“It takes a good deal of magic to grant a wish, and magic has its price. All things do.”

This is a dark, magical and gothic twist on Cinderella where her "fairy godmother" offers wishes... at a price.

First and foremost I personally couldn't stand Ella. She's entitled, stuck up and pretentious. The charm of the original Cinderella is she is so sweet and kind and loving, where as this Ella isn't. I felt bad for her because her situation isn't great but couldn't like her or root for her.

She falls in love with her "Prince Charming" who is her Master's son long before any ball. He was okay granted the first time we meet him he has a fiancee, but has always cared for Ella.

The best part of the book was the magic. It is wrapped up in these mysterious seven wishes where the true nature of them isn't fully divulged. Personally, I wish at the end of the book we got more of an explanation but the author chose not to fully flesh it out.

I wanted more out of this story than I got. The magic was a plus but not caring about the main character made this kind of a slog to get through.