Magic under glass (bk. 1)

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. Look out for the follow-up to this book, Magic Under Stone, out next year!

nimira Is A Foreign Music-hall Girl Forced To Dance For Mere 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.

publishers Weekly

back Home, 17-year-old Nimira Was The Daughter Of An Honored Artist, But In Lorinar She’s Just An Exotic Singer In A Music Hall, Hating The Smoky, Cutthroat City. When The Sorcerer Hollin Parry Offers Her A Luxurious Life In Return For Singing With His Piano-playing Automaton, She Accepts Immediately. Hollin’s Country Estate Is Splendid But Unwelcoming, And Hollin, Though Attractive, Is A Man With Secrets. Having Heard Rumors, Nimira Is Not Entirely Surprised When The Automaton Begins To Stare At Her And Make Noises That Have Nothing To Do With The Piano. She Learns That The Automaton Is Actually Erris, A Lost Fairy Prince, And Nimira Faces Both Personal And Political Challenges As She Attempts To Release Erris From His Clockwork Enchantment. 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. Nimira Is Not As High-minded As Jane, And Her Apotheosis Is Not As Sweet, But Hints Of A Sequel Indicate That Readers May Learn More About Nimira In The Future. Ages 12–up. (jan.)

Overview: Jaclyn Dolamore was homeschooled in a hippie sort of way and spent her childhood reading as many books as her skinny nerd-body could lug from the library and playing elaborate pretend games with her sister Kate. She skipped college and spent eight years drudging through retail jobs, developing her thrifty cooking skills and pursuing a lifelong writing dream. She has a passion for history, thrift stores, vintage dresses, David Bowie, drawing, and organic food. She lives with her partner and plot-sounding-board, Dade, and two black tabbies who have ruined her carpeting. A wealthy sorcerer's invitation to sing with his automaton leads seventeen-year-old Nimira, whose family's disgrace brought her from a palace to poverty, into political intrigue, enchantments, and a friendship with a fairy prince who needs her help.