Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore

Title: Magic Under Glass	Loved it	Graded
Author: Jaclyn Dolamore
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Elements: Steampunk
Series: Book 1 of a proposed series

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.

I loved this book, the story and its characters. It had such an easy-going pace and reading it was a really relaxing experience.

Nimira is a 'trouser girl'* who runs from working in a dance troupe for a better work opportunity, even though it involves a mysterious stranger and a haunted automaton. The conditions of Nimira's previous working situation isn't detailed out, but just hinted at enough so as not to scare the little kiddies.

I loved Nimira and her narration. She was very likeable, soft spoken and her mannerisms were very ladylike and polite. It was just so gentle compared to the narration of some other books. The supporting characters were likeable, though they weren't as fleshed out as I wanted.

Her new master Hollins, seemed like a perfect master, catering to all of Nimira's needs that at some times it became decidedly uncomfortable. It was reminiscent of adult romance books, yet without a lot of sexual tension because the love interest, Erris, hasn't gotten used to his new skin, so to speak. *snicker*

Because he's a fairy in an automaton's body! Ahh, I crack myself up sometimes. -___-"

Somehow, for all that I love about this book, it just didn't live up to its full potential. While the world building and plot were amazingly detailed, there was just so much that could have been shown rather than just hinted at. I hope that can be rectified in future books, because I really want to know more about the characters and especially the world they live in.

About the cover: There's a controversy brewing over how the cover doesn't depict the actual story. Nimira is dark/ golden skinned whereas the girl on the US cover is undeniably Caucasian, perhaps with a tan. Honestly, I support Magic Under Glass. The fact that it had that cover escaped my mind, because I was more absorbed in the story. That's not to say that I don't think it was misleading and insulting to other races, because it is.

Bloomsbury may have a point that it may sell more books if the cover depicts a white girl. However, so far it seems to be brewing some negativity for Magic Under Glass as people are choosing NOT to buy Magic Under Glass because of the cover.

While the cover plays a huge part in selling a book, I urge you. If you are interested in Magic Under Glass, buy it. Buy it for the story, not the cover. Do not fault Jaclyn Dolamore for this. Don't spam Amazon with one star reviews just to punish Bloomsbury. As she is a debut author, it is unlikely that she has the impact to request for a different cover. Honestly, I can't see a way that you can boycott Bloomsbury without boycotting Magic Under Glass and Jackie.

As the public and as the readers, we do have the impact to change this. So if you do have an issue with it, spread the word to everyone you know, maybe even Justine Larbalestier (author of Liar, published by Bloomsbury).

*A 'trouser girl' is a derogatory term used by the locals to describe foreign music hall girls, due to the fact that they wear trousers while performing.