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The Theatre of Glass and Shadows
Sometimes the greatest spectacle hides the darkest secrets . . .
In an alternate London, the city's Theatre District is a walled area south of the river where an immersive production - the Show - has been running for centuries, growing ever bigger, more sprawling and lavish. The Show is open to anyone who can afford a ticket but the District itself is a closed world; even the police have no jurisdiction within its walls.
Juliet's mother died when she was a baby. Brought up by her emotionally distant father and even more distant stepmother, she has never felt wanted. It's only when her father passes away that Juliet - now nineteen - learns her birth was registered in the District. Desperate to belong somewhere at last, she travels to London where she hopes to unearth the truth about her identity, her mother's death and her father's years of silence - and claim her birthright.
But in the District, there is only one central truth: the Show must go on. And in a world where illusions abound, and powerful men control the narrative, Juliet has no idea of just how far some will go to ensure certain stories are never told . . .
In an alternate London, the city's Theatre District is a walled area south of the river where an immersive production - the Show - has been running for centuries, growing ever bigger, more sprawling and lavish. The Show is open to anyone who can afford a ticket but the District itself is a closed world; even the police have no jurisdiction within its walls.
Juliet's mother died when she was a baby. Brought up by her emotionally distant father and even more distant stepmother, she has never felt wanted. It's only when her father passes away that Juliet - now nineteen - learns her birth was registered in the District. Desperate to belong somewhere at last, she travels to London where she hopes to unearth the truth about her identity, her mother's death and her father's years of silence - and claim her birthright.
But in the District, there is only one central truth: the Show must go on. And in a world where illusions abound, and powerful men control the narrative, Juliet has no idea of just how far some will go to ensure certain stories are never told . . .
400 pages, Hardcover
Published May 24, 2024
33 people are currently reading
542 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
January 7, 2024
A rich, imaginative and atmospheric novel set in an alternative mid-20th century England, where south London is taken up with a sprawling immersive theatre production that has been running non-stop for centuries. The premise is fantastic, the writing magical and the pacing just perfect. I highly recommend.
April 15, 2024
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via the publishers.
The Theatre of Glass and Shadows is a dark and spellbinding read full of mystery and intrigue.
Juliet has recently lost her father and has always been kept in the dark about her real mother and life before she can remember. She goes in search of discovering if her mother is really dead and where she came from and is certain that she came from the Theatre District where a show commences every hour of every day and has been going for centuries. When a performer takes her hand within one of the shows, Juliets life gets flipped upside down. She can finally be a part of something she's always longed for but there's a price to being part of the show - she cannot tell anyone, reveal herself as her character in the show or become close to anyone outside of it. As Juliet gets more involved in the show, she begins to suspect something is very off kilter, and her determination to discover the truth becomes a game of smoke and mirrors as well as cat and mouse....
The atmosphere of the theatre and the show is incredible and so atmospheric, giving dark undertones to the story. The mystery elements were very well woven, and I loved the contrast of characters and the mysteriousness of the performers.
From how the story ended, I have a sneaking suspicion that this won't be the last we see of the theatre district nor the end of Juliets story! And if I'm right, I honestly can't wait to read the next instalment.
If you love Caraval, this is definitely a book for you.
The Theatre of Glass and Shadows is a dark and spellbinding read full of mystery and intrigue.
Juliet has recently lost her father and has always been kept in the dark about her real mother and life before she can remember. She goes in search of discovering if her mother is really dead and where she came from and is certain that she came from the Theatre District where a show commences every hour of every day and has been going for centuries. When a performer takes her hand within one of the shows, Juliets life gets flipped upside down. She can finally be a part of something she's always longed for but there's a price to being part of the show - she cannot tell anyone, reveal herself as her character in the show or become close to anyone outside of it. As Juliet gets more involved in the show, she begins to suspect something is very off kilter, and her determination to discover the truth becomes a game of smoke and mirrors as well as cat and mouse....
The atmosphere of the theatre and the show is incredible and so atmospheric, giving dark undertones to the story. The mystery elements were very well woven, and I loved the contrast of characters and the mysteriousness of the performers.
From how the story ended, I have a sneaking suspicion that this won't be the last we see of the theatre district nor the end of Juliets story! And if I'm right, I honestly can't wait to read the next instalment.
If you love Caraval, this is definitely a book for you.
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May 18, 2024Unfortunately a DNF at around 40%. I thought this would be a 5 star when I started it, it had a fun fairy tale feel to it but then it just got so confusing. I kept going because the premise is amazing but it just didn’t get any better. I just didn’t know what was happening.
That could be a me problem and you may like it if you love a different take on a fantasy with fairytale elements. The writing style was good, just not my kinda book.
That could be a me problem and you may like it if you love a different take on a fantasy with fairytale elements. The writing style was good, just not my kinda book.
October 2, 2024
So disappointing. This narrative really went nowhere and did so very slowly. There was no mystery, magic, or intrigue to this at all (I had hoped for all three after reading other reviews). I either didn't like or couldn't find anything to admire in any of the characters, some of which were just plain boring. I just couldn't care for them. The concept itself is really interesting - an alternative London with a Theatre district that is virtually an independent state - but it's wasted. I struggled to finish this book, and it put my patience to the test.
Would I recommend this book? Nope, not at all. This was not for me, I'm sorry to say.
Would I recommend this book? Nope, not at all. This was not for me, I'm sorry to say.
December 14, 2025
3.5 🌟
I loved the aesthetic and the vibe of this book. It did however at times feel like it was dragging and not a lot was happening. The ending felt like it should’ve been a bit bigger but then again it matched the tone of the rest of the book so I cannot complain. It definitely doesn’t help that I’d stretched this out by a month - if I’d read it quicker I may have enjoyed it a bit more.
I loved the aesthetic and the vibe of this book. It did however at times feel like it was dragging and not a lot was happening. The ending felt like it should’ve been a bit bigger but then again it matched the tone of the rest of the book so I cannot complain. It definitely doesn’t help that I’d stretched this out by a month - if I’d read it quicker I may have enjoyed it a bit more.
January 15, 2024
Do you remember as a child when you believed in a bit of everyday magic? Maybe it was the Sunday Disney night program or when you believed MAYBE there was another world inside your wardrobe?
The Theatre of Glass and Shadow brings that magic! Emboldened with a thread of the excitement of Broadway, you can feel the energy and expectation in the Theatre District's Show.
The Show, is an ongoing, for centuries, program of dancing and mystery and acting and more that draw in the public of London for entertainment nightly. The district is a labyrinth of walksways and hallways and no show is ever the same, all controlled by The Director and Choreographer.
Our protagonist is suffering in a Cinderella type situation. Juliet years to learn more about her real mother as her stepmother treats her dreadfully. Following the death of her father she is pulled towards the Theatre District to find out more about her birth. What she finds is beautiful, complex and beguiling. When a performer offers his hand to her, the choice is hers to take it or walk away.
Join Juliet in the Theatre of Glass and Shadows, you will be bewitched and enchanted and leave wanting more!
.#black&whitepublishing #BlackandWhitePublishing #thetheatreofglassandshadow #annecorlett
The Theatre of Glass and Shadow brings that magic! Emboldened with a thread of the excitement of Broadway, you can feel the energy and expectation in the Theatre District's Show.
The Show, is an ongoing, for centuries, program of dancing and mystery and acting and more that draw in the public of London for entertainment nightly. The district is a labyrinth of walksways and hallways and no show is ever the same, all controlled by The Director and Choreographer.
Our protagonist is suffering in a Cinderella type situation. Juliet years to learn more about her real mother as her stepmother treats her dreadfully. Following the death of her father she is pulled towards the Theatre District to find out more about her birth. What she finds is beautiful, complex and beguiling. When a performer offers his hand to her, the choice is hers to take it or walk away.
Join Juliet in the Theatre of Glass and Shadows, you will be bewitched and enchanted and leave wanting more!
.#black&whitepublishing #BlackandWhitePublishing #thetheatreofglassandshadow #annecorlett
January 3, 2024
The Theatre of Glass and Shadow had a slow start for me, but after about 50 pages I got into the story. The idea of the Theatre District was fascinating, and it was fun to learn more about it as we followed Juliet's own journey of discovery. It was a novel with rich description, so you got a great sense of the detail in each scene. I also liked the mystery elements at first. However, I felt the story lost its way a little towards the end. After the slow start, the ending felt rushed as the author tried to tie off as many of the loose threads as possible, and with one reveal coming hot on the heels of another they began to loose impact. I nevertheless found it an enjoyable read and it was certainly a fresh idea that was mostly well presented. I am therefore giving it four stars. Recommended if you like magical realism with a darker, almost-thriller edge.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 1, 2024
A book set in an alternate London where an immersive and mysterious theatre production has taken over half of London, partially inspired by Punchdrunk? Of course I wanted to read this! I wasn’t disappointed. I really enjoyed following this story through its many twists and turns - although sometimes our protagonist could be a little too naïve, which tested my suspension of disbelief. But hey, she’s a dreamer. I’d love this to turn in to a series so that I could revisit the world of The Show.
I received an advance copy in return for an honest review - thank you to Netgalley and the publishers.
I received an advance copy in return for an honest review - thank you to Netgalley and the publishers.
January 22, 2025
This was a really entrancing and mystical read about an alternate reality London where an entire district of the city has been turned into an immersive theater experience. It reminded me a bit of The Night Circus, except the aesthetics were more "eerie mystical ballet" and less gothic. I really enjoyed it, though Corlett's first novel, A Space Between the Stars, being one of my all-time favorite books, still edges it out a bit for me.
I really liked Juliet as a character, mostly because she reminded me of the way I thought about the world when I was younger. She's constantly daydreaming about her dream scenario and what she hopes will happen, and I used to do that all the time at her age, as well. It's not something that a lot of books capture so specifically. The mystery and worldbuilding were also very intriguing, and I found myself flying through the pages at times.
The only reason I took a star off my rating for this is because the actual explanation of what was happening felt a little far-fetched at the end and strained at my suspension of disbelief. Even so, I was generally along for the ride and would happily have spent more time in the Theatre District.
I really liked Juliet as a character, mostly because she reminded me of the way I thought about the world when I was younger. She's constantly daydreaming about her dream scenario and what she hopes will happen, and I used to do that all the time at her age, as well. It's not something that a lot of books capture so specifically. The mystery and worldbuilding were also very intriguing, and I found myself flying through the pages at times.
The only reason I took a star off my rating for this is because the actual explanation of what was happening felt a little far-fetched at the end and strained at my suspension of disbelief. Even so, I was generally along for the ride and would happily have spent more time in the Theatre District.
May 20, 2024
Full of intrigue and darkness, this is a story of mystery and illusion. Juliet’s story seems unremarkable at first until she finds out about her links to the Theatre district and sets out to discover her history and heritage.
Slow to get going, i thought the uncovering of the darkness behind the scenes of the show was cleverly written. I thought the descriptions of the theatre world were detailed and imaginative and gave the feeling of never quite knowing what was happening.
As Juliet learnt more of the secrets it became obvious that the darkness was threatening to spill into danger and I enjoyed seeing her eyes open to the illusion.
May 28, 2024
This book follows Juliet, her mother died when she was a baby and she was brought up by her emotionally distant father and cold step mother. Juliet has never felt loved. When her father passes away, she learns her birth was registered in the District and, desperate with the promise this new knowledge offers, travels to London. Here she hopes to unearth the truth about her mother’s death and her father’s years of silence-and finally belong.
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I enjoyed getting to know Juliet, and all the other characters.
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I enjoyed getting to know Juliet, and all the other characters.
November 9, 2025
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
It’s giving “The Night Circus”. That is what comes to mind when reading “The Theatre of Glass and Shadows” - both a valid and an unfair comparison.
The Theatre District in an alternate London in the 20th century is one big, roofed theatre hosting a show that has been running 24/7 for centuries. The Show, as it is called, is a net of intertwining stories and performances, playing out in connected buildings, rooms etc. throughout the District - an immersive experience during which chosen members of the audience get to interact with some of the performers. (It’s much more complicated and mysterious than that, but I don’t want to spoil the experience.)
Unlike “The Night Circus”, this book has a significant plot. We follow Juliet who enters the world of The District in search of information about her dead mother who seemed to be connected to The Show. What Juliet finds, at first, seems to be everything she wished for, but there are secrets hiding behind the shifting walls and the elusive staff of The Show, and in a place made of smoke and mirrors, the truth is hard to find.
I really loved the idea for this story. The immersive effect, the pull of the mystery, the dangerous undercurrent of illusion, lies and manipulation - it’s all very intriguing, and the threads come together at the end.
Corlett’s language is highly descriptive and captivating, even if not as whimsical or magical as it could’ve been. Then again, this isn’t some glittering fairytale. And I loved that, too: the more we find out, the darker things become, and I found my early, tingling sense of unease justified.
If only I had liked the main character! Juliet quickly turns from a caring step-sister into a self-centred, entitled and very naive 19yo who keeps making brash decisions left and right. I rolled my eyes at her. I wanted to slap her. I just didn’t like her.
Together with some uneven pacing, a few convenient plot holes and the fact that it takes some real staying power to want to understand the workings of The Show, I can’t give this more than 3.5 stars. However, I will recommend “The Theatre of Glass and Shadow” to anyone enjoying a truly immersive read and an unusual fantasy concept. And I did have a good time reading it, so I'm rounding up to 4 stars.
It’s giving “The Night Circus”. That is what comes to mind when reading “The Theatre of Glass and Shadows” - both a valid and an unfair comparison.
The Theatre District in an alternate London in the 20th century is one big, roofed theatre hosting a show that has been running 24/7 for centuries. The Show, as it is called, is a net of intertwining stories and performances, playing out in connected buildings, rooms etc. throughout the District - an immersive experience during which chosen members of the audience get to interact with some of the performers. (It’s much more complicated and mysterious than that, but I don’t want to spoil the experience.)
Unlike “The Night Circus”, this book has a significant plot. We follow Juliet who enters the world of The District in search of information about her dead mother who seemed to be connected to The Show. What Juliet finds, at first, seems to be everything she wished for, but there are secrets hiding behind the shifting walls and the elusive staff of The Show, and in a place made of smoke and mirrors, the truth is hard to find.
I really loved the idea for this story. The immersive effect, the pull of the mystery, the dangerous undercurrent of illusion, lies and manipulation - it’s all very intriguing, and the threads come together at the end.
Corlett’s language is highly descriptive and captivating, even if not as whimsical or magical as it could’ve been. Then again, this isn’t some glittering fairytale. And I loved that, too: the more we find out, the darker things become, and I found my early, tingling sense of unease justified.
If only I had liked the main character! Juliet quickly turns from a caring step-sister into a self-centred, entitled and very naive 19yo who keeps making brash decisions left and right. I rolled my eyes at her. I wanted to slap her. I just didn’t like her.
Together with some uneven pacing, a few convenient plot holes and the fact that it takes some real staying power to want to understand the workings of The Show, I can’t give this more than 3.5 stars. However, I will recommend “The Theatre of Glass and Shadow” to anyone enjoying a truly immersive read and an unusual fantasy concept. And I did have a good time reading it, so I'm rounding up to 4 stars.
May 27, 2024
Review first published to my blog: https://www.pagetostagereviews.com/20...
I did not feel an instant connection to our protagonist, but as Juliet ventures on her single-minded mission for the truth we start to understand her. Her naivety, her curiosity, and her carelessness as her search for answers turns more desperate and dangerous. And, let's be honest, it's difficult for a character to not be overshadowed by a setting when it's one as otherworldly as the District.
One of the reasons I moved to London (many, many years ago) was for the wealth of theatre I'd have on my doorstep. And while I've seen some fantastic productions and performers throughout the years, nothing comes close to the spectacle of the show within this book. It sounds absolutely wondrous and I wish it was possible to see it with my own eyes. It's no surprise it has had such an avid following throughout the centuries and even people who've never been, like Juliet, are dazzled from far away. As soon as she steps foot in the District and experiences her first show, I was sold too.
Author Anne Corlett cleverly lifts the curtain on the District just enough for readers to be just as swept away by the impossible as the audiences attending the show. She hooks them in with the promise of revealing what's truly happening backstage, without giving everything away at once. It keeps readers on their toes just as much as Juliet, when she's navigating the hidden passageways and doors that make up the the theatre's intricate foundations.
Theatre of Glass and Shadows is exciting, dangerous, and completely engrossing. It's as much the story of the District as it is that of Juliet; the secrets of the show connected to Juliet's past in more ways than one. I was utterly enthralled, particularly when we meet key players, such the enigmatic Director and some of the performers. That's when murmurs of the truth start to ripple throughout the pages, keeping readers on the edge of their seat as it cascades into the explosive finale. It's absolutely magical.
I did not feel an instant connection to our protagonist, but as Juliet ventures on her single-minded mission for the truth we start to understand her. Her naivety, her curiosity, and her carelessness as her search for answers turns more desperate and dangerous. And, let's be honest, it's difficult for a character to not be overshadowed by a setting when it's one as otherworldly as the District.
One of the reasons I moved to London (many, many years ago) was for the wealth of theatre I'd have on my doorstep. And while I've seen some fantastic productions and performers throughout the years, nothing comes close to the spectacle of the show within this book. It sounds absolutely wondrous and I wish it was possible to see it with my own eyes. It's no surprise it has had such an avid following throughout the centuries and even people who've never been, like Juliet, are dazzled from far away. As soon as she steps foot in the District and experiences her first show, I was sold too.
Author Anne Corlett cleverly lifts the curtain on the District just enough for readers to be just as swept away by the impossible as the audiences attending the show. She hooks them in with the promise of revealing what's truly happening backstage, without giving everything away at once. It keeps readers on their toes just as much as Juliet, when she's navigating the hidden passageways and doors that make up the the theatre's intricate foundations.
Theatre of Glass and Shadows is exciting, dangerous, and completely engrossing. It's as much the story of the District as it is that of Juliet; the secrets of the show connected to Juliet's past in more ways than one. I was utterly enthralled, particularly when we meet key players, such the enigmatic Director and some of the performers. That's when murmurs of the truth start to ripple throughout the pages, keeping readers on the edge of their seat as it cascades into the explosive finale. It's absolutely magical.
November 26, 2025
Book five of my 12 advent books from A Box of Stories. I went in completely blind, without checking reviews/ratings etc.
3.5 stars.
Juliet has lived her adult life outside the mysterious theatre district. After her father's death, she travels back to where she was born to find some sense of belonging and to discover both the secrets of the district and of her mother, who used to perform there.
Full of intrigue and secrets, the author describes the district beautifully and I enjoyed the descriptions when Juliet was exploring the area and later during her performances. You get the sense of Juliet's need to belong there, but occasionally she came across as very naive. Her relationship and her sudden closeness to Ethan just seemed forced, and although this is explained a bit later, it just seemed a bit far fetched.
The story didn't unravel the way I expected and it was an easy read. It wasn't a higher rating, as for me, it just wasn't as magical as I'd hoped it to be.
3.5 stars.
Juliet has lived her adult life outside the mysterious theatre district. After her father's death, she travels back to where she was born to find some sense of belonging and to discover both the secrets of the district and of her mother, who used to perform there.
Full of intrigue and secrets, the author describes the district beautifully and I enjoyed the descriptions when Juliet was exploring the area and later during her performances. You get the sense of Juliet's need to belong there, but occasionally she came across as very naive. Her relationship and her sudden closeness to Ethan just seemed forced, and although this is explained a bit later, it just seemed a bit far fetched.
The story didn't unravel the way I expected and it was an easy read. It wasn't a higher rating, as for me, it just wasn't as magical as I'd hoped it to be.
May 17, 2024
The Theatre Of Glass And Shadows is a smoke and shadows story of an imagined Theatre District in the heart of London. It runs on secrets and speculations. There are fans who have their own theories about the place, how the show is structured, and how to be a closer part of it.
Juliet has always believed that her life should mean more. That she deserves to be loved and welcomed. So when she discovers a connection to the Theatre Dustrict on her father’s death, she tries to find a place to belong. But she gets involved in something much bigger, something much darker, and fatal.
I liked this story. It took me a while to get into it but after the first 100 pages, I found myself reaching for the book and trying to see what happened to Juliet. It has a slow start and things feel disjointed to begin with but once it clicks, it plays out smoothly.
I think the highlight for me was the theatre district itself. With its numerous rooms, dark passages, seceret doors, and mysterious characters, it was very atmospheric. It made me want to live it and experience it.
My biggest let down was Juliet’s character. She was exasperating. I wanted to give her a good shake to see good sense and see the people for who they were.
The suspense is nice. Its slightly predictable but the scale is enormous and impressive. I feel this book had a lot of potential. With a little polish and a faster narrative, it would have grabbed another star from me.
For now, it is 3.5 💫 It is perfect for fans of dark academia, secret society tropes, and immersive theatre. If that sounds like you, give it a go.
Juliet has always believed that her life should mean more. That she deserves to be loved and welcomed. So when she discovers a connection to the Theatre Dustrict on her father’s death, she tries to find a place to belong. But she gets involved in something much bigger, something much darker, and fatal.
I liked this story. It took me a while to get into it but after the first 100 pages, I found myself reaching for the book and trying to see what happened to Juliet. It has a slow start and things feel disjointed to begin with but once it clicks, it plays out smoothly.
I think the highlight for me was the theatre district itself. With its numerous rooms, dark passages, seceret doors, and mysterious characters, it was very atmospheric. It made me want to live it and experience it.
My biggest let down was Juliet’s character. She was exasperating. I wanted to give her a good shake to see good sense and see the people for who they were.
The suspense is nice. Its slightly predictable but the scale is enormous and impressive. I feel this book had a lot of potential. With a little polish and a faster narrative, it would have grabbed another star from me.
For now, it is 3.5 💫 It is perfect for fans of dark academia, secret society tropes, and immersive theatre. If that sounds like you, give it a go.
June 2, 2024
The Theatre of Glass and Shadows is a unique and fascinating premise, based in an an alternate London. A long running immersive theatre show which holds dark secrets and a young woman searching for the truth about her identity.
The author has created a captivating story, however I did get a little lost part way through and some of the characters could have been developed a little more.
However, I did love the idea of this book and enjoyed the plot twist.
This was nearly a 4 star read but just fell short for me.
The author has created a captivating story, however I did get a little lost part way through and some of the characters could have been developed a little more.
However, I did love the idea of this book and enjoyed the plot twist.
This was nearly a 4 star read but just fell short for me.
May 14, 2024
A wonderfully written story of mystery and finding a place to belong in the world. The descriptions of the show and the theatre district are majestic and the underlying storyline is compelling to the last page. The writing gave me strong Cecelia Ahern vibes with that real world crossover into a utopian world feel. Would highly recommend and can’t wait for its big release.
July 11, 2025
Honestly couldn't finish. Such a shame when all the early reviews are essentially sponcon lol
June 17, 2025
Read as part of a book group buddy-read.
Not my usual genre.
This gave me Cinderella vibes.
Main character annoyed me a bit, but that may have been to do with what she was dealing with and the need for escapism. She did come across a bit of a dreamer.
It almost felt like the district needed people like her in order to function, resulting in exploitation of younger women and teens.
I liked how the Theatre District was described and how the people were.
Not my usual genre.
This gave me Cinderella vibes.
Main character annoyed me a bit, but that may have been to do with what she was dealing with and the need for escapism. She did come across a bit of a dreamer.
It almost felt like the district needed people like her in order to function, resulting in exploitation of younger women and teens.
I liked how the Theatre District was described and how the people were.
April 13, 2024
It was the book title that drew my attention to the book, and then when I read the blurb it made me think of Hotel Magnifique by Emily J Taylor and Daughter Of The Burning City by Amanda J Foody. So, I had high expectations for the book. When the cover was revealed, I wasn’t initially sure whether I loved the book cover or not. I felt that I wanted it to have more colour and then after reading the book I actually wondered if it should have been black and white to represent the darkness and light within the theatre district. Having fully read the book I grew to love the cover as it is. The cover actually fits the book very well, in my mind the blue is perfect for the magical whimsy of the theatre district and the white marionette/paper cut out ballerinas represent the performers the director controls. Then there are the other items that are within the book. The cover would definitely make me want to pick the book up from a book store shelf, so it fits its purpose well.
Juliet has always felt like an outsider even within her own family. Her father didn’t spend a great deal of time with her and it’s clear her step mother Clare does not consider her to be part of her family. In fact, it was her stepmother Clare that ended Juliet’s time at Miss Abbeline’s school where she was able to indulge in her passion for dance. Clare had informed Stephen, Juliet’s father that Juliet needs to learn practical skills that would enable her to get a job rather than concentrating on dance. Despite this coldness from her stepmother, Juliet has always loved and spent time with her step siblings. So, when Stephen Grace dies it soon becomes apparent that Juliet’s stepmother wants her as far away from herself and her two step sisters as possible, coming up with a legal document for Juliet to sign away any future rights to any money in the family estate in exchange for a one-off lump sum of money. Clare is also quick to suggest a temporary job vacancy she has heard about that she considers suitable for Juliet saying it would be ideal until Juliet decides what she wants to do with her life now.
When the chance arises Juliet goes searching in her father’s study for clues to who her mother was & a birth certificate. She finds a black ribboned mask, a necklace a photo, and a key. Later Clare, her stepmother reveals she couldn't get a copy of Juliet’s birth certificate when she needed one for her college application and says all she received was a letter, which says Juliet was born in the theatre district. The theatre district is basically like its own contained town so it keeps its own records and has also its own rules etc. When Clare gives Juliet money to go purchase a suitable black dress for her father’s funeral, Juliet puts her plan to learn about her mother and her past into action and heads to the theatre district.
Juliet desperately wants to 'fit in' to be 'part of a family again' as she believes she once was part of the theatre district and belongs there. From donning a black mask at the theatre district entrance on her first visit Juliet feels drawn to the district and show. Then Juliet meets Eugene, an avid “follower” (A follower is someone who has become enthralled, enchanted and almost addicted to going to visit the district and keep going back to the show).
It’s via Eugene telling Juliet that we the readers learn about the “ballot” where followers take part to win tickets to the show. If you don’t win tickets via the ballot the other option is to purchase them. Eugene wins tickets for the show in the ballot, and exclaims that Juliet has brought him luck and insists she accompanies him, saying it will be his honour to take her to her first show. Not everything as it seems in the theatre district, especially within the show, like the silver ornaments on the tree branches that Juliet touches on her first visit, it has an elderly man smiling man on one side and then on the other side the elderly man transforms into a gnome like thing that has a puckered face. Once Juliet visits the district and sees her first show it’s like she is on a rollercoaster ride that she just can’t get off. Within the show there are numerous subtle lies and tricks woven with elements of truth, all creating an amazing ever-changing illusion. No matter what happens, whatever is going on, even if someone is hurt or injured the show must go on, no one & nothing is more important than the show.
There are so many different characters caught up within the magic, promise of The Theatre District. I immediately adored Juliet and was instantly intrigued by both her story and that of the Moonshine Girl. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the history, intricacies and hierarchy at the Theatre District, it was complicated yet totally captivating which made the book difficult to put down.
I really enjoyed learning about the show, and all the different people that were part of it. The residents of the theatre district are split into four main categories: Principals – who have scripted loops to perform in House of Doors
Itinerants – who have scripted loops that are performed on the streets
Nomads – who have no formal scripted activity
Ancillaries – who carry out tasks not related to the show
and are all those that are not nomads, itinerants or principals, so bartenders, street performance, fortune tellers & stagehands. I loved the history of the stagehands and kind of wish there had been chance to learn even more.
I was fascinated with the concept of the Wanderers randomly appeared and chose someone to bestow attention on and who gift little charms/tokens (there's 7 to collect but it's rare for someone to be able to get all of them) & show you individual attention & show secret things, and rarity they show you 'a private scene' (hard to describe) They are all over the district. Tend to appear when someone is doing something they shouldn't.
The character of The Shadow Man an is mysterious, seemingly caring yet with a scary dangerous edge to him. The Shadow Man eloquently draws Juliet further and further into the tangled web of the show within the theatre district. He plays on Juliet’s emotional state after the recent death of her father and her blind fascination with her own history and how it entwines with the history of the show itself. It’s only when she has almost cut off her new friends Eugene and Sally, that she realises that she is in perhaps over her head and she has discovered dark secrets that could end her own life, she needs help and fast! I loved the quote about Juliet’s state of mind that it was like a kaleidoscope.
I really loved how the book was played out, there’s the main part which is where Juliet is dealing with the death of her father, her step mother’s simmering hostility and then the letters about the theatre district, and Juliets discovery of her history with the theatre district and the show within it. Then there are the other parts I totally adored were about the theatre district and the actual show. I enjoyed Eugene educating Juliet about the district, and him being a “follower”, explaining how they have their own rooms within the district with their notes on the show. He introduces her to other followers, Macy, Jan, and Esme who immediately dislikes Juliet and later becomes her rival. It’s via Eugene that Juliet meets Sally and Anna who end up renting her a room to live in within the precincts. The precincts are quite run down, on the outskirts of the district so still sought after. The precincts are also dangerous as apparently there is a killer on the loose, murdering young females and dumping them in the nearby river.
My immediate thoughts upon finishing reading The Theatre of Glass and Shadows had an amazing, intricate plot & characters I quickly adored, and it immediately grabbed me and kept me firmly hooked until the very end. I loved it all, the history, hierarchy and mystical aspects as well as the darkness and betrayal. There really is so much going on in this book. I feel like I could talk forever about this book. It’s difficult not to reveal too much about the book but I really don’t want to spoil the reading experience for anyone else.
Summing up, the book is really well written, the descriptions so detailed that you can visualise them. The plot is intricate and really takes you on a mysterious, magical, whimsical trail. Theres a few red herrings thrown in, the amazing back story and history of the show, the district and its inhabitants, from its almost invisible stagehands to its most sought after performers like the Moonshine Girl and the Girl in the Silve Shoes. Then there are all the politics and rules about which family the Director comes from and the different ways the families rule and run the district and the show.
Juliet has always felt like an outsider even within her own family. Her father didn’t spend a great deal of time with her and it’s clear her step mother Clare does not consider her to be part of her family. In fact, it was her stepmother Clare that ended Juliet’s time at Miss Abbeline’s school where she was able to indulge in her passion for dance. Clare had informed Stephen, Juliet’s father that Juliet needs to learn practical skills that would enable her to get a job rather than concentrating on dance. Despite this coldness from her stepmother, Juliet has always loved and spent time with her step siblings. So, when Stephen Grace dies it soon becomes apparent that Juliet’s stepmother wants her as far away from herself and her two step sisters as possible, coming up with a legal document for Juliet to sign away any future rights to any money in the family estate in exchange for a one-off lump sum of money. Clare is also quick to suggest a temporary job vacancy she has heard about that she considers suitable for Juliet saying it would be ideal until Juliet decides what she wants to do with her life now.
When the chance arises Juliet goes searching in her father’s study for clues to who her mother was & a birth certificate. She finds a black ribboned mask, a necklace a photo, and a key. Later Clare, her stepmother reveals she couldn't get a copy of Juliet’s birth certificate when she needed one for her college application and says all she received was a letter, which says Juliet was born in the theatre district. The theatre district is basically like its own contained town so it keeps its own records and has also its own rules etc. When Clare gives Juliet money to go purchase a suitable black dress for her father’s funeral, Juliet puts her plan to learn about her mother and her past into action and heads to the theatre district.
Juliet desperately wants to 'fit in' to be 'part of a family again' as she believes she once was part of the theatre district and belongs there. From donning a black mask at the theatre district entrance on her first visit Juliet feels drawn to the district and show. Then Juliet meets Eugene, an avid “follower” (A follower is someone who has become enthralled, enchanted and almost addicted to going to visit the district and keep going back to the show).
It’s via Eugene telling Juliet that we the readers learn about the “ballot” where followers take part to win tickets to the show. If you don’t win tickets via the ballot the other option is to purchase them. Eugene wins tickets for the show in the ballot, and exclaims that Juliet has brought him luck and insists she accompanies him, saying it will be his honour to take her to her first show. Not everything as it seems in the theatre district, especially within the show, like the silver ornaments on the tree branches that Juliet touches on her first visit, it has an elderly man smiling man on one side and then on the other side the elderly man transforms into a gnome like thing that has a puckered face. Once Juliet visits the district and sees her first show it’s like she is on a rollercoaster ride that she just can’t get off. Within the show there are numerous subtle lies and tricks woven with elements of truth, all creating an amazing ever-changing illusion. No matter what happens, whatever is going on, even if someone is hurt or injured the show must go on, no one & nothing is more important than the show.
There are so many different characters caught up within the magic, promise of The Theatre District. I immediately adored Juliet and was instantly intrigued by both her story and that of the Moonshine Girl. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the history, intricacies and hierarchy at the Theatre District, it was complicated yet totally captivating which made the book difficult to put down.
I really enjoyed learning about the show, and all the different people that were part of it. The residents of the theatre district are split into four main categories: Principals – who have scripted loops to perform in House of Doors
Itinerants – who have scripted loops that are performed on the streets
Nomads – who have no formal scripted activity
Ancillaries – who carry out tasks not related to the show
and are all those that are not nomads, itinerants or principals, so bartenders, street performance, fortune tellers & stagehands. I loved the history of the stagehands and kind of wish there had been chance to learn even more.
I was fascinated with the concept of the Wanderers randomly appeared and chose someone to bestow attention on and who gift little charms/tokens (there's 7 to collect but it's rare for someone to be able to get all of them) & show you individual attention & show secret things, and rarity they show you 'a private scene' (hard to describe) They are all over the district. Tend to appear when someone is doing something they shouldn't.
The character of The Shadow Man an is mysterious, seemingly caring yet with a scary dangerous edge to him. The Shadow Man eloquently draws Juliet further and further into the tangled web of the show within the theatre district. He plays on Juliet’s emotional state after the recent death of her father and her blind fascination with her own history and how it entwines with the history of the show itself. It’s only when she has almost cut off her new friends Eugene and Sally, that she realises that she is in perhaps over her head and she has discovered dark secrets that could end her own life, she needs help and fast! I loved the quote about Juliet’s state of mind that it was like a kaleidoscope.
I really loved how the book was played out, there’s the main part which is where Juliet is dealing with the death of her father, her step mother’s simmering hostility and then the letters about the theatre district, and Juliets discovery of her history with the theatre district and the show within it. Then there are the other parts I totally adored were about the theatre district and the actual show. I enjoyed Eugene educating Juliet about the district, and him being a “follower”, explaining how they have their own rooms within the district with their notes on the show. He introduces her to other followers, Macy, Jan, and Esme who immediately dislikes Juliet and later becomes her rival. It’s via Eugene that Juliet meets Sally and Anna who end up renting her a room to live in within the precincts. The precincts are quite run down, on the outskirts of the district so still sought after. The precincts are also dangerous as apparently there is a killer on the loose, murdering young females and dumping them in the nearby river.
My immediate thoughts upon finishing reading The Theatre of Glass and Shadows had an amazing, intricate plot & characters I quickly adored, and it immediately grabbed me and kept me firmly hooked until the very end. I loved it all, the history, hierarchy and mystical aspects as well as the darkness and betrayal. There really is so much going on in this book. I feel like I could talk forever about this book. It’s difficult not to reveal too much about the book but I really don’t want to spoil the reading experience for anyone else.
Summing up, the book is really well written, the descriptions so detailed that you can visualise them. The plot is intricate and really takes you on a mysterious, magical, whimsical trail. Theres a few red herrings thrown in, the amazing back story and history of the show, the district and its inhabitants, from its almost invisible stagehands to its most sought after performers like the Moonshine Girl and the Girl in the Silve Shoes. Then there are all the politics and rules about which family the Director comes from and the different ways the families rule and run the district and the show.
May 21, 2024
4.5 stars
They say that the world’s a stage and when it comes to immersive theatre, that statement’s pretty true.
I first experienced participative performance in New York when I saw Sleep No More and it was such a fantastic – albeit surreal – feeling that I just couldn’t wait to do it again! I even got mistaken for a performer at secret cinema (I know – you’re shocked)!
Anne Corlett has taken this bizarre theatrical experience and juxtaposed it with the gothic streets of an alternate London’s Theatre District; alleyways and secret passages amongst cobbled streets and mysteries.
It’s almost lyrical in its prose and wonderfully engaging, especially if you’re a fan of theatre and love to get involved. In the wings lies a murder mystery, featuring rival factions and clashing jurisdiction, but the main stage reveals a truly spectacular performance. Orphan Juliet takes us with her on her journey of self-discovery trying to find out what really happened to her mother, and participating in the show to get closer to her past.
Elements of London’s history are warped and changed to really expose and confuse us; just as we are vulnerable when wearing a mask and wondering deserted streets searching for performer and secrets, these choices help to isolate the reader. Nothing is what it seems…
It is quite a niche story, but if you close your eyes and open your mind, this is a magical story that asks us to make sure we really are sure we want the truth before we go in search of the answers.
They say that the world’s a stage and when it comes to immersive theatre, that statement’s pretty true.
I first experienced participative performance in New York when I saw Sleep No More and it was such a fantastic – albeit surreal – feeling that I just couldn’t wait to do it again! I even got mistaken for a performer at secret cinema (I know – you’re shocked)!
Anne Corlett has taken this bizarre theatrical experience and juxtaposed it with the gothic streets of an alternate London’s Theatre District; alleyways and secret passages amongst cobbled streets and mysteries.
It’s almost lyrical in its prose and wonderfully engaging, especially if you’re a fan of theatre and love to get involved. In the wings lies a murder mystery, featuring rival factions and clashing jurisdiction, but the main stage reveals a truly spectacular performance. Orphan Juliet takes us with her on her journey of self-discovery trying to find out what really happened to her mother, and participating in the show to get closer to her past.
Elements of London’s history are warped and changed to really expose and confuse us; just as we are vulnerable when wearing a mask and wondering deserted streets searching for performer and secrets, these choices help to isolate the reader. Nothing is what it seems…
It is quite a niche story, but if you close your eyes and open your mind, this is a magical story that asks us to make sure we really are sure we want the truth before we go in search of the answers.
June 30, 2024
“There are all sorts of stories - well, fragments of stories really - about some people being let in in some way. That the Show is just the tip of the iceberg, with the real mysteries hidden below the surface…”
Luminous, breathtaking, and beguiling, The Theatre of Shadows is a mesmerising story that I never wanted to end. Set in an alternative London, the story follows 19-year-old Juliet who is searching for answers following her father’s death. She grew up feeling unwanted and unloved, raised by her distant father and stepmother after her mother’s death when she was just a baby. Her father refused to talk about her mother, leaving their past shrouded in secrets that seem destined to remain hidden. But when two detectives turn up asking questions, Juliet is determined to uncover the truth about her mother and her past. After discovering that her birth was registered in the Theatre District, she travels to London hoping to finally uncover the truth. But the Theatre District is a place of stories and illusion, where the only truth is ‘the Show must go on’. And, as Juliet is about to discover, there are some who will do anything to make sure that happens…
“As she crossed the river, the feeling of almost and so close was like electricity, sparking through her. This was every Christmas, every birthday, every magical thing that only happened to other people, all rolled together, and she could hardly breathe with the press of it inside her.”
Take a bow, Anne Corlett. A lush dreamscape, this was one of the best books I’ve read this year. It has that perfect combination of lyrical, poetic prose and page-turning momentum that you rarely find. There is also a quiet intensity to the story that tells you there is something sinister bubbling beneath the surface, of dark secrets hidden alongside the fairytales and fantasies told in the Theatre District. Ms. Corlett is a masterful storyteller and dreamweaver, expertly spinning together the gossamer threads of this intricately woven tale and the storytelling is so pitch-perfect that it actually unfolds like a piece of theatre that I could see in vivid technicolour. I loved the darkly mysterious aspect of this story and how I didn’t see some of the twists coming before they pulled the rug from under me. I was captivated, held in Corlett’s thrall from beginning to end as I devoured this glorious tale.
“The whole place was a dense, multi-layered tapestry... The various loops wove together to create a complex narrative, with a few main strands running through it all.”
At the heart of this book are two things: Juliet, and the Theatre District. Juliet is a flawed but realistic heroine who I was rooting for at every step. Her story is so heartrending that you can’t help but want her to find happiness and a place to belong after always feeling on the outside of her own family. But, while Juliet and the other characters are richly drawn and compelling, it is the Theatre District that feels like the star of the show. Cloaked in mystery, myth and secrets, the Theatre District is a glamorous tableau where hopes and dreams come true and magic and stories are embedded into every crevice. It is like a character in its own right, and Corlett made it come alive with spellbinding imagery that made me want to live inside this magical place she had created. The secretive nature of the real identity of its cast, its inner workings and the Show itself, along with the black masquerade mask that they require everyone to wear, adds to the enigmatic atmosphere that pervades it. There is a magnetism that is impossible to resist and from the moment she arrives, Juliet feels like she has finally found her home. Like her, I was enchanted by this unusual but also desperate to unlock the secrets it was hiding. This is a story ripe for an adaptation and I can imagine watching it over the festive period surrounded by the twinkling lights on the Christmas tree. So, I’m going to need someone to make it ASAP.
Glittering, soulful, haunting and evocative, this magnificent novel is one you won’t forget and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Luminous, breathtaking, and beguiling, The Theatre of Shadows is a mesmerising story that I never wanted to end. Set in an alternative London, the story follows 19-year-old Juliet who is searching for answers following her father’s death. She grew up feeling unwanted and unloved, raised by her distant father and stepmother after her mother’s death when she was just a baby. Her father refused to talk about her mother, leaving their past shrouded in secrets that seem destined to remain hidden. But when two detectives turn up asking questions, Juliet is determined to uncover the truth about her mother and her past. After discovering that her birth was registered in the Theatre District, she travels to London hoping to finally uncover the truth. But the Theatre District is a place of stories and illusion, where the only truth is ‘the Show must go on’. And, as Juliet is about to discover, there are some who will do anything to make sure that happens…
“As she crossed the river, the feeling of almost and so close was like electricity, sparking through her. This was every Christmas, every birthday, every magical thing that only happened to other people, all rolled together, and she could hardly breathe with the press of it inside her.”
Take a bow, Anne Corlett. A lush dreamscape, this was one of the best books I’ve read this year. It has that perfect combination of lyrical, poetic prose and page-turning momentum that you rarely find. There is also a quiet intensity to the story that tells you there is something sinister bubbling beneath the surface, of dark secrets hidden alongside the fairytales and fantasies told in the Theatre District. Ms. Corlett is a masterful storyteller and dreamweaver, expertly spinning together the gossamer threads of this intricately woven tale and the storytelling is so pitch-perfect that it actually unfolds like a piece of theatre that I could see in vivid technicolour. I loved the darkly mysterious aspect of this story and how I didn’t see some of the twists coming before they pulled the rug from under me. I was captivated, held in Corlett’s thrall from beginning to end as I devoured this glorious tale.
“The whole place was a dense, multi-layered tapestry... The various loops wove together to create a complex narrative, with a few main strands running through it all.”
At the heart of this book are two things: Juliet, and the Theatre District. Juliet is a flawed but realistic heroine who I was rooting for at every step. Her story is so heartrending that you can’t help but want her to find happiness and a place to belong after always feeling on the outside of her own family. But, while Juliet and the other characters are richly drawn and compelling, it is the Theatre District that feels like the star of the show. Cloaked in mystery, myth and secrets, the Theatre District is a glamorous tableau where hopes and dreams come true and magic and stories are embedded into every crevice. It is like a character in its own right, and Corlett made it come alive with spellbinding imagery that made me want to live inside this magical place she had created. The secretive nature of the real identity of its cast, its inner workings and the Show itself, along with the black masquerade mask that they require everyone to wear, adds to the enigmatic atmosphere that pervades it. There is a magnetism that is impossible to resist and from the moment she arrives, Juliet feels like she has finally found her home. Like her, I was enchanted by this unusual but also desperate to unlock the secrets it was hiding. This is a story ripe for an adaptation and I can imagine watching it over the festive period surrounded by the twinkling lights on the Christmas tree. So, I’m going to need someone to make it ASAP.
Glittering, soulful, haunting and evocative, this magnificent novel is one you won’t forget and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
April 29, 2024
4.5 stars
Thanks to Black & White Publishing for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
Ooooh this draws you in from the very first sentence. I opened it and knew I would be hooked, unable to part with it until I'd finished it.
Juliet was an intriguing characters; mysterious, a bit put out, but she comes into her own once she enters the District, she begins to shine. There are many, many other characters, family, friends, strangers, real, historical, fiction - I won't go into all of them in this review. But you've got goodies and baddies and those who straddle both. People who lie and hide, the selfish and selfless, the hidden, the ones in the spotlight .They all work together and whilst some have smaller roles than others, and some bigger, I don't think any were surplus to the story, they all worked marvellously with Juliet.
It's well paced, slow enough to give time to the story, settings, and characters, but quick enough to thrill. Some bits were faster than others, some slightly slower. But overall it balances out nicely. It does go a bit slower in the middle. That's not necessarily a bad thing. It's a time for explanations, a time for scene setting, and character introduction, history telling etc. So it's not always really action heavy, it's not that kind of book. There's almost a horror element in that sense of quiet, of something creeping up, of tension, which I wasn't expecting but was pleasantly surprised about.
There's enough of real London for it to be recognisable to the reader, but with an added spark which reminds us that all is not what it appears.
It's not all red herrings and whatnot like a thriller has, but there are certainly some twists and surprises that I didn't see coming.
This is the book you red when you want to believe in magic, when you want to remember that feeling magic gave you as a child. It reminded me of Stephanie Garber's Caraval series about it, which I also loved.
It's intriguing, entertaining, interesting, uncomfortable, frightening, wary, confusing, topsy-turvy, magical, dark, mysterious, immersive, atmospheric - there's not enough adjectives. It really looks at the idea of belonging to a person or a place, and how not belonging can impact your overall life and character.
I believe this is Anne's second book, and so it isn't her debut, but even for a second book it is very expertly crafted and I think she'll do well with it, and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for her future works.
The only, I don't way to say negative because it isn't a negative as such, but for me, I felt the ending was slightly rushed. It was a good ending and it worked and I liked it, but the rest of the story is so drawn and enticing, then it suddenly all wraps up and ends, so personally I'd have liked maybe an extra 20 pages or so just do draw the ending out a little bit more.
Is there potential for a sequel? Possibly. It's all wrapped up nicely and if this is a standalone book then fine, you won't feel short changed. But if she wanted to develop it further, I could see ways that would be possible.
I don't usually do star ratings as they annoy me, but for me, this is a 4.5 star book, maybe even a 4.75. If the ending was stretched out just a smidgen more it would have been a perfect 5 star read. But I will still recommend this to friends, family, and readers. It is a really fabulous book with some great writing and I really enjoyed it.
Thanks to Black & White Publishing for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
Ooooh this draws you in from the very first sentence. I opened it and knew I would be hooked, unable to part with it until I'd finished it.
Juliet was an intriguing characters; mysterious, a bit put out, but she comes into her own once she enters the District, she begins to shine. There are many, many other characters, family, friends, strangers, real, historical, fiction - I won't go into all of them in this review. But you've got goodies and baddies and those who straddle both. People who lie and hide, the selfish and selfless, the hidden, the ones in the spotlight .They all work together and whilst some have smaller roles than others, and some bigger, I don't think any were surplus to the story, they all worked marvellously with Juliet.
It's well paced, slow enough to give time to the story, settings, and characters, but quick enough to thrill. Some bits were faster than others, some slightly slower. But overall it balances out nicely. It does go a bit slower in the middle. That's not necessarily a bad thing. It's a time for explanations, a time for scene setting, and character introduction, history telling etc. So it's not always really action heavy, it's not that kind of book. There's almost a horror element in that sense of quiet, of something creeping up, of tension, which I wasn't expecting but was pleasantly surprised about.
There's enough of real London for it to be recognisable to the reader, but with an added spark which reminds us that all is not what it appears.
It's not all red herrings and whatnot like a thriller has, but there are certainly some twists and surprises that I didn't see coming.
This is the book you red when you want to believe in magic, when you want to remember that feeling magic gave you as a child. It reminded me of Stephanie Garber's Caraval series about it, which I also loved.
It's intriguing, entertaining, interesting, uncomfortable, frightening, wary, confusing, topsy-turvy, magical, dark, mysterious, immersive, atmospheric - there's not enough adjectives. It really looks at the idea of belonging to a person or a place, and how not belonging can impact your overall life and character.
I believe this is Anne's second book, and so it isn't her debut, but even for a second book it is very expertly crafted and I think she'll do well with it, and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for her future works.
The only, I don't way to say negative because it isn't a negative as such, but for me, I felt the ending was slightly rushed. It was a good ending and it worked and I liked it, but the rest of the story is so drawn and enticing, then it suddenly all wraps up and ends, so personally I'd have liked maybe an extra 20 pages or so just do draw the ending out a little bit more.
Is there potential for a sequel? Possibly. It's all wrapped up nicely and if this is a standalone book then fine, you won't feel short changed. But if she wanted to develop it further, I could see ways that would be possible.
I don't usually do star ratings as they annoy me, but for me, this is a 4.5 star book, maybe even a 4.75. If the ending was stretched out just a smidgen more it would have been a perfect 5 star read. But I will still recommend this to friends, family, and readers. It is a really fabulous book with some great writing and I really enjoyed it.
April 14, 2025
This book is difficult for me to rate. I started it 3 times, the third time stuck, but it still leaves me with mixed feelings.
I enjoyed the idea behind it. I wanted to be taken away into a whimsical world, into a world of theater and theater-magic. I wanted to enjoy this aspect of it for a few chapters, before being plunged into the darkness behind it.
But I stumbled upon my first problem quite early: the main character. Juliet and I could not connect. I like her backstory, I understand, what she struggles with, but she gives me nothing. I would've enjoyed her as a character, if she had one trait that I could identify her with besides "I am nobody and I want to be special so bad". All she wanted throughout all of this was to belong, which I understand, but she brought nothing to the table. Not one quality that stuck with me, that made her interesting or likable.
So it was kind of a drag to follow her through the story. And then the theater district. As I mentioned before, I liked the idea behind it. I wanted to be swooped away by it. But it was anxiety inducing from the start and there was not one moment, where I wanted to be there, where I wanted to see the magic happen. I was uncomfortable the whole time and thought the whole time, that Juliet should just leave it behind. If that was the intention of the book, then it did a great job, but unfortunately it was sold to me from a different angle, which was quite disappointing.
It was also quite predictable who the "big bad" would be.
I liked the book more in the second half, but I gotta say, chapter 24 is my enemy. It made me so uncomfortable. I'll put into a spoiler why:
Paired with this sentence:
...not a great combo. Never a combo I like to read.
The ending was okay. I liked it but it wasn't spectacular. It gave a bit of character to Juliet, which she desperately needed, and a lot of side-characters got to shine. Unfortunately it mixed in a message about girls / women being suppressed without that topic being mentioned AT ALL throughout the story. It felt like an afterthought, which is very unfortunate in my opinion, since ... it shouldn't be an afterthought. If the book wants to pick up this topic and if the book wants to have a message for the reader, it shouldn't pop up in the last chapters, while not being mentioned before, imo.
That was just very disappointing.
After finishing the review, I had to change my ratings. It's more and more a 2/5 instead a 3/5. Overall a big disappointment that was okayish to read.
I enjoyed the idea behind it. I wanted to be taken away into a whimsical world, into a world of theater and theater-magic. I wanted to enjoy this aspect of it for a few chapters, before being plunged into the darkness behind it.
But I stumbled upon my first problem quite early: the main character. Juliet and I could not connect. I like her backstory, I understand, what she struggles with, but she gives me nothing. I would've enjoyed her as a character, if she had one trait that I could identify her with besides "I am nobody and I want to be special so bad". All she wanted throughout all of this was to belong, which I understand, but she brought nothing to the table. Not one quality that stuck with me, that made her interesting or likable.
So it was kind of a drag to follow her through the story. And then the theater district. As I mentioned before, I liked the idea behind it. I wanted to be swooped away by it. But it was anxiety inducing from the start and there was not one moment, where I wanted to be there, where I wanted to see the magic happen. I was uncomfortable the whole time and thought the whole time, that Juliet should just leave it behind. If that was the intention of the book, then it did a great job, but unfortunately it was sold to me from a different angle, which was quite disappointing.
It was also quite predictable who the "big bad" would be.
I liked the book more in the second half, but I gotta say, chapter 24 is my enemy. It made me so uncomfortable. I'll put into a spoiler why:
Paired with this sentence:
...not a great combo. Never a combo I like to read.
The ending was okay. I liked it but it wasn't spectacular. It gave a bit of character to Juliet, which she desperately needed, and a lot of side-characters got to shine. Unfortunately it mixed in a message about girls / women being suppressed without that topic being mentioned AT ALL throughout the story. It felt like an afterthought, which is very unfortunate in my opinion, since ... it shouldn't be an afterthought. If the book wants to pick up this topic and if the book wants to have a message for the reader, it shouldn't pop up in the last chapters, while not being mentioned before, imo.
That was just very disappointing.
After finishing the review, I had to change my ratings. It's more and more a 2/5 instead a 3/5. Overall a big disappointment that was okayish to read.
May 23, 2024
This is, in my opinion, an stunning book and may very well be my book of the year.
We follow Juliet as she tries to unravel her past and follow her dreams in a highly detailed (and utterly credible) alternate version of London, in which an area called The District is, in effect, a self governing, self policing theatre where 'The Show' runs all day and all night. Highly dedicated fans called Followers busily try to work out the secrets that they think lurk behind the storylines and the lines between the real truth and the fiction become increasingly blurred.
Juliet is wonderful as the central character. Her father has just died as the story opens and her stepmother, with whom she has never bonded, just wants her out of the house. She follows the trail of her father to The District hoping to find more about her past and her birth mother, and, she believes, take her rightful places amongst the Elite Performers of the show.
The truth of her past however, is far murkier and The District hides many secrets. Juliet is believable, she is no screaming 'girly' girl nor does she think that she can work it all out on her own. She befriends Followers and Performers alike and all of these are beautifully drawn and it is easy to picture them and fill in their back stories. This, of course, is the aim of The District - tell part of a story and let the audience work out the rest as they wish and adopt whatever version feels right to them.
The shadowy, murky truth is revealed very slowly, as we, along with Juliet, slowly piece together the evidence and learn more about the inner workings of the Show.
The title of the book suits the story perfectly, there are many 'glass' areas within the story, both literal and metaphorical and there are certainly plenty of shadows. There is much interesting imagery as people are sometimes viewed through shards of mirror and glass which perhaps serves to demonstrate how easy it is for us to see what we want (or perhaps need) to see by defining our viewpoint.
I also enjoyed the well developed history of The District and the little 'extracts' from (fictional) texts at the end of some chapters which gave more insight into this version of London. Quite why and how the divergence from the real world happened is never explained nor does it need to be. I think that it would have been easy for the author to get bogged down in linking the world of her story to our reality but I am glad that she avoided the temptation to do so as I think that it would have detracted and distracted from the tale she wanted to tell.
If I had any criticism it is that the end is a little rushed, and, unless a sequel is planned, could have been tidier and a little more told about what happens to the main characters after the denoument. But then perhaps that is just all part of the Show!
The book is genre defying, fantasy, mystery, coming of age, maybe even romance. Read it and choose for yourself.
I am immensley grateful to Black and White publishing for a review copy and for letting me enjoy such a wonderful and different story. I cannot recommend this highly enough.
We follow Juliet as she tries to unravel her past and follow her dreams in a highly detailed (and utterly credible) alternate version of London, in which an area called The District is, in effect, a self governing, self policing theatre where 'The Show' runs all day and all night. Highly dedicated fans called Followers busily try to work out the secrets that they think lurk behind the storylines and the lines between the real truth and the fiction become increasingly blurred.
Juliet is wonderful as the central character. Her father has just died as the story opens and her stepmother, with whom she has never bonded, just wants her out of the house. She follows the trail of her father to The District hoping to find more about her past and her birth mother, and, she believes, take her rightful places amongst the Elite Performers of the show.
The truth of her past however, is far murkier and The District hides many secrets. Juliet is believable, she is no screaming 'girly' girl nor does she think that she can work it all out on her own. She befriends Followers and Performers alike and all of these are beautifully drawn and it is easy to picture them and fill in their back stories. This, of course, is the aim of The District - tell part of a story and let the audience work out the rest as they wish and adopt whatever version feels right to them.
The shadowy, murky truth is revealed very slowly, as we, along with Juliet, slowly piece together the evidence and learn more about the inner workings of the Show.
The title of the book suits the story perfectly, there are many 'glass' areas within the story, both literal and metaphorical and there are certainly plenty of shadows. There is much interesting imagery as people are sometimes viewed through shards of mirror and glass which perhaps serves to demonstrate how easy it is for us to see what we want (or perhaps need) to see by defining our viewpoint.
I also enjoyed the well developed history of The District and the little 'extracts' from (fictional) texts at the end of some chapters which gave more insight into this version of London. Quite why and how the divergence from the real world happened is never explained nor does it need to be. I think that it would have been easy for the author to get bogged down in linking the world of her story to our reality but I am glad that she avoided the temptation to do so as I think that it would have detracted and distracted from the tale she wanted to tell.
If I had any criticism it is that the end is a little rushed, and, unless a sequel is planned, could have been tidier and a little more told about what happens to the main characters after the denoument. But then perhaps that is just all part of the Show!
The book is genre defying, fantasy, mystery, coming of age, maybe even romance. Read it and choose for yourself.
I am immensley grateful to Black and White publishing for a review copy and for letting me enjoy such a wonderful and different story. I cannot recommend this highly enough.
May 23, 2024
In an alternate London, the mysterious Theatre District on the south bank of the Thames has been captivating audiences for centuries with its never-ending Show. Demand for tickets to gain entry to the ever more elaborate event never waivers, despite the expense, and its Followers long to be party to what goes on behind the scenes. But the walled-in District keeps its secrets close - even from London's police force.
Ninteen-year-old Juliet has never known her mother. Brought up by her distant father, who refused to tell her about the woman who gave birth to her, she has always felt unwanted. When he dies, Juliet discovers by chance from her cold step-mother that she was born in the District, and she heads to London for a new start, hopeful she will finally find a place to belong. But while Juliet manages to gain entrance to the world the public never sees, things are not quite as she thought in the District. The Show must go on, and some are expected to sacrifice more than others to keep its dark secrets.
In The Theatre Of Glass And Shadows, Anne Corlett takes the concept of immersive theatre and weaves a spellbinding story that draws you deep into the underbelly of a mid-twentieth century London subtly, but distinctly, different to our own. Corlett's London is one deprived of the influence of Shakespeare, whose brilliance was stifled in the shadow of the extravagant Show in Lambeth. The south bank of the river is now dominated by the enclave of the Theatre District, that has grown to epic proportions underneath the expansive glass dome that looks across the Thames towards a war-scarred St. Paul's Cathedral.
The story follows Juliet's search for the truth about her origins, and Corlett incorporates delicious themes of family, friendship, romance and belonging into her quest. And this is not the only mystery to be solved, as there are multiple threads of shocking secrets to be uncovered about the District, and the shady bargains that have been made to ensure its survival, all fed by the murky motivations of ambition, passion, and jealousy - including a beautifully wrought storyline about murdered young women that recalls the grisly history of Jack the Ripper.
The District oozes Gothic vibes, and is so vividly imagined that you can almost taste it. As Juliet moves within its multiple levels, negotiating winding passageways, secret rooms, and halting dead ends front of house and behind the scenes, Corlett uses symmetry and reflection to brilliant effect both within the setting, and in the layers of the story. Juliet is pulled in two directions, torn between a life within the District and one outside, and there are many illusions to be shattered before she can find her true path.
I loved this book from compelling start to gripping finish, absolutely enthralled by Corlett's writing and imagination. There is intriguing scope for a sequel, which I really hope she decides to write, because I am nowhere near ready to let go of this world and these characters yet. The Show must go on!
Ninteen-year-old Juliet has never known her mother. Brought up by her distant father, who refused to tell her about the woman who gave birth to her, she has always felt unwanted. When he dies, Juliet discovers by chance from her cold step-mother that she was born in the District, and she heads to London for a new start, hopeful she will finally find a place to belong. But while Juliet manages to gain entrance to the world the public never sees, things are not quite as she thought in the District. The Show must go on, and some are expected to sacrifice more than others to keep its dark secrets.
In The Theatre Of Glass And Shadows, Anne Corlett takes the concept of immersive theatre and weaves a spellbinding story that draws you deep into the underbelly of a mid-twentieth century London subtly, but distinctly, different to our own. Corlett's London is one deprived of the influence of Shakespeare, whose brilliance was stifled in the shadow of the extravagant Show in Lambeth. The south bank of the river is now dominated by the enclave of the Theatre District, that has grown to epic proportions underneath the expansive glass dome that looks across the Thames towards a war-scarred St. Paul's Cathedral.
The story follows Juliet's search for the truth about her origins, and Corlett incorporates delicious themes of family, friendship, romance and belonging into her quest. And this is not the only mystery to be solved, as there are multiple threads of shocking secrets to be uncovered about the District, and the shady bargains that have been made to ensure its survival, all fed by the murky motivations of ambition, passion, and jealousy - including a beautifully wrought storyline about murdered young women that recalls the grisly history of Jack the Ripper.
The District oozes Gothic vibes, and is so vividly imagined that you can almost taste it. As Juliet moves within its multiple levels, negotiating winding passageways, secret rooms, and halting dead ends front of house and behind the scenes, Corlett uses symmetry and reflection to brilliant effect both within the setting, and in the layers of the story. Juliet is pulled in two directions, torn between a life within the District and one outside, and there are many illusions to be shattered before she can find her true path.
I loved this book from compelling start to gripping finish, absolutely enthralled by Corlett's writing and imagination. There is intriguing scope for a sequel, which I really hope she decides to write, because I am nowhere near ready to let go of this world and these characters yet. The Show must go on!
May 12, 2024
Somewhat in the shadows of another book
It seems hugely unfair when an author’s well written book cannot help but remind a reader (well, this one) of another book with some similarities which set the bar almost out of reach for this kind of unreal fictional world which however creates that reality. My convoluted introduction refers to The Night Circus.
This certainly had some similarities, a world of performance with a dark heart, and that performance world creates its obsessive audience, both within its own pages, and with its own readers. So, unfortunately, though I had read The Night Circus some years ago, I found myself yearning for IT, slipping into my past reading self, and somewhat critically observing this one.
Set in some kind of alternative world, in London, in the 1950’s, but with a kind of Gothic feel which associates with Victorian times, this is about a theatre world, primarily dance, which has apparently existed for some centuries, creating its own tribes, both of insiders – performers and stagehands, legacy families and financial backers, - and outsiders, the obsessed audience members, many of whom yearn and scheme to be taken to the inside, as sometimes happens, according to legend
The theatre world ‘Theatre District’ is a pretty closed and mysterious community. There has always been some kind of dark past about it, a feel which might almost be described as ‘Masonic’ as if this rather louche world has friends in high places, since though there have been rumours of unsavoury crimes, even perhaps murder, attempts to find the criminal or criminals within that world, founder. There are long established laws which prevent outsiders, even outsider organisations such as the Met, investigating.
Central character in this, whose story we follow is Juliet, an unhappy young woman, something of a Cinderella. Her mother died when she was very small, her father is cold, and has remarried, her stepmother is critical and unloving. There was a mystery about her mother’s death, and, many years later, a policeman who has been suspicious about many things to do with the Theatre District, comes calling. Juliet embarks on her own investigations, and becomes someone who falls under the spell of the magical Theatre District.
That created, invented world is certainly alluring, and immersive, just not as completely as I’d hoped, and somewhere along the way it fell down for me in the balance between plot – particularly the final series of dramatic reveals – and character. Perhaps it overstayed its welcome in the twisty twiny corridors and secret rooms, and needed a little more depth and detail to the performance stories of the various characters of the theatre piece. There was a great sense of place, the structure of that physical world, but not so much of the storyline and the characters of the shows themselves
It seems hugely unfair when an author’s well written book cannot help but remind a reader (well, this one) of another book with some similarities which set the bar almost out of reach for this kind of unreal fictional world which however creates that reality. My convoluted introduction refers to The Night Circus.
This certainly had some similarities, a world of performance with a dark heart, and that performance world creates its obsessive audience, both within its own pages, and with its own readers. So, unfortunately, though I had read The Night Circus some years ago, I found myself yearning for IT, slipping into my past reading self, and somewhat critically observing this one.
Set in some kind of alternative world, in London, in the 1950’s, but with a kind of Gothic feel which associates with Victorian times, this is about a theatre world, primarily dance, which has apparently existed for some centuries, creating its own tribes, both of insiders – performers and stagehands, legacy families and financial backers, - and outsiders, the obsessed audience members, many of whom yearn and scheme to be taken to the inside, as sometimes happens, according to legend
The theatre world ‘Theatre District’ is a pretty closed and mysterious community. There has always been some kind of dark past about it, a feel which might almost be described as ‘Masonic’ as if this rather louche world has friends in high places, since though there have been rumours of unsavoury crimes, even perhaps murder, attempts to find the criminal or criminals within that world, founder. There are long established laws which prevent outsiders, even outsider organisations such as the Met, investigating.
Central character in this, whose story we follow is Juliet, an unhappy young woman, something of a Cinderella. Her mother died when she was very small, her father is cold, and has remarried, her stepmother is critical and unloving. There was a mystery about her mother’s death, and, many years later, a policeman who has been suspicious about many things to do with the Theatre District, comes calling. Juliet embarks on her own investigations, and becomes someone who falls under the spell of the magical Theatre District.
That created, invented world is certainly alluring, and immersive, just not as completely as I’d hoped, and somewhere along the way it fell down for me in the balance between plot – particularly the final series of dramatic reveals – and character. Perhaps it overstayed its welcome in the twisty twiny corridors and secret rooms, and needed a little more depth and detail to the performance stories of the various characters of the theatre piece. There was a great sense of place, the structure of that physical world, but not so much of the storyline and the characters of the shows themselves
July 20, 2024
Anne Corlett has created an entire alternate universe within the theatre, which to an extent, the theatre world actually is for those of us who work, play and live within it! For me, reading this book was a reminder of the magical world that lies within the realms of the theatre world.
Rich with atmospheric intrigue and mystery, the author leads her reader into Juliet’s world and allows us to join her on her journey of discovery. Her path is not only one where she will discover who she is, which is what she initially sets out to do, but she will also discover where she came from and who she was actually meant to be – someone she never could have imagined.
When Juliet’s father dies (having already lost her mother, who isn’t even a memory to her), she discovers that her birth was registered in the Theatre District, a murky world that seems distant and dark, somewhere ‘other-worldly’ that she’s always understood is not a place to venture near. But now, it beckons and she cannot ignore its pull.
And so she decides that her cold and unkind step-mother no longer has any influence over her and that she will make her own way … towards the Theatre District and to finding out who her mother (who nobody ever speaks about) was. Because if you know where you came from, then you’ll have a clearer idea of where you’re going!
Almost as soon as she arrives she becomes enchanted with the magic of The Show that has been performed continuously for years and years, and regardless of circumstances, The Show must go on! And when she is told the story of The Moonshine Girl, she becomes intrigued, knowing that someone here must hold the key to the mystery of who her mother was. But although Juliet is naive, she knows that she should play her cards close to her chest and shouldn’t reveal all about herself too quickly to these new acquaintances she’s meeting, even though she secretly hopes that this is where she will find her place in the world. She’s well aware that the District has both a light and a dark side and that the people there are most certainly not always what or who they first appear to be.
The characterization is detailed and fascinating, and the concept of everyone in the district needing to wear masks (although I found this a little disturbing at first), plays such a major role in the perception of facade, truth and lies in theatre and in performance.
The plot is complex and intricate and is by no means a light read. It’s absorbing and draws you into another realm that is fantastical and beautifully imaginative. I can’t wait to return … yes, I’m waiting for a sequel!
Rich with atmospheric intrigue and mystery, the author leads her reader into Juliet’s world and allows us to join her on her journey of discovery. Her path is not only one where she will discover who she is, which is what she initially sets out to do, but she will also discover where she came from and who she was actually meant to be – someone she never could have imagined.
When Juliet’s father dies (having already lost her mother, who isn’t even a memory to her), she discovers that her birth was registered in the Theatre District, a murky world that seems distant and dark, somewhere ‘other-worldly’ that she’s always understood is not a place to venture near. But now, it beckons and she cannot ignore its pull.
And so she decides that her cold and unkind step-mother no longer has any influence over her and that she will make her own way … towards the Theatre District and to finding out who her mother (who nobody ever speaks about) was. Because if you know where you came from, then you’ll have a clearer idea of where you’re going!
Almost as soon as she arrives she becomes enchanted with the magic of The Show that has been performed continuously for years and years, and regardless of circumstances, The Show must go on! And when she is told the story of The Moonshine Girl, she becomes intrigued, knowing that someone here must hold the key to the mystery of who her mother was. But although Juliet is naive, she knows that she should play her cards close to her chest and shouldn’t reveal all about herself too quickly to these new acquaintances she’s meeting, even though she secretly hopes that this is where she will find her place in the world. She’s well aware that the District has both a light and a dark side and that the people there are most certainly not always what or who they first appear to be.
The characterization is detailed and fascinating, and the concept of everyone in the district needing to wear masks (although I found this a little disturbing at first), plays such a major role in the perception of facade, truth and lies in theatre and in performance.
The plot is complex and intricate and is by no means a light read. It’s absorbing and draws you into another realm that is fantastical and beautifully imaginative. I can’t wait to return … yes, I’m waiting for a sequel!
May 27, 2024
Juliet looked away. “Another time.”
“Well, if you change your mind, you know where we are.” Anna said, getting up and walking out of the room, leaving Juliet with an ache of loneliness.
Juliet waited until she heard Anna leave before heading downstairs to make a sandwich, which she found she couldn't eat. As she was washing up, she heard the front door open, then voices and footsteps on the stairs. A few seconds later, Sally walked into the kitchen, followed by a little crowd of people. Macy was there, and Jan, and some other followers Juliwt vaguely recognised.
Macy gave Juliet a lite wave. “Hello, stranger.”
Anna squeezed through the door behind them. “Our usual table was occupied,” she said. “There was outrage. We decided to come home instead.” She gave her housemate a slightly lidded look. “So you don't need to drag yourself to the Shipping News. We brought the Shipping News to you.”
Juliet could feel the back of her neck growing clammy.
Keep yourself apart.
There was a thudding from the hallway, and Eugene appeared, followed by another man, both carrying chairs.
“Well done,” Sally said. “If anyone else turns up, they'll have to sit on the floor.” :||
All Juliet has ever wanted is to feel loved, to know where she came from and hopefully unpick the secrets around her upbringing. But when you come from glass and shadows they won't give up their mysteries easily, in order to find out what happened in the past she must give the Theatre her all. But will she lose herself to the feeling it gives her, be upstaged by her mother's memory, fall in love with the artistry she always craved or will history repeat itself. Only time will tell..
Okay, I’m going to get right to the point, this is not something I would usually read. This genre is hit or miss for me but after suffering a really bad migraine attack (which unfortunately made me take a while to read it) I couldn't put it down. This whole world opened up before me and it was like, it made sense but it shouldn't have. There were so many threads being woven and so many hints and flickers or recognition I couldn't pinpoint that by the end I was so shocked even I was left feeling distrust😂
All I kept thinking was this would make such an epic movie. I know they would miss bits out but omg.. It was magical!
Thank you so much to Anne Corlett, black and white publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book x
“Well, if you change your mind, you know where we are.” Anna said, getting up and walking out of the room, leaving Juliet with an ache of loneliness.
Juliet waited until she heard Anna leave before heading downstairs to make a sandwich, which she found she couldn't eat. As she was washing up, she heard the front door open, then voices and footsteps on the stairs. A few seconds later, Sally walked into the kitchen, followed by a little crowd of people. Macy was there, and Jan, and some other followers Juliwt vaguely recognised.
Macy gave Juliet a lite wave. “Hello, stranger.”
Anna squeezed through the door behind them. “Our usual table was occupied,” she said. “There was outrage. We decided to come home instead.” She gave her housemate a slightly lidded look. “So you don't need to drag yourself to the Shipping News. We brought the Shipping News to you.”
Juliet could feel the back of her neck growing clammy.
Keep yourself apart.
There was a thudding from the hallway, and Eugene appeared, followed by another man, both carrying chairs.
“Well done,” Sally said. “If anyone else turns up, they'll have to sit on the floor.” :||
All Juliet has ever wanted is to feel loved, to know where she came from and hopefully unpick the secrets around her upbringing. But when you come from glass and shadows they won't give up their mysteries easily, in order to find out what happened in the past she must give the Theatre her all. But will she lose herself to the feeling it gives her, be upstaged by her mother's memory, fall in love with the artistry she always craved or will history repeat itself. Only time will tell..
Okay, I’m going to get right to the point, this is not something I would usually read. This genre is hit or miss for me but after suffering a really bad migraine attack (which unfortunately made me take a while to read it) I couldn't put it down. This whole world opened up before me and it was like, it made sense but it shouldn't have. There were so many threads being woven and so many hints and flickers or recognition I couldn't pinpoint that by the end I was so shocked even I was left feeling distrust😂
All I kept thinking was this would make such an epic movie. I know they would miss bits out but omg.. It was magical!
Thank you so much to Anne Corlett, black and white publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book x
June 22, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Black and White Publishing for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.
TW: parental abuse, neglect, murder
Set in an alternate London where a section of the city was turned into an independent area called the Theatre District centuries ago, a performance named The Show never truly ends- but it’s only accessible to those with a ticket and the laws of London mean nothing there. Her distant father and cruel stepmother have raised Juliet and she knows nothing about her dead mother. When she is nineteen, her father passes away and things about Juliet’s early life come to light, including that she was born in the Theatre District. Determined to find out where she came from, how her mother died and the secrets her father kept hidden, Juliet travels to London and visits the Show. She hopes to find a place where she belongs and it soon becomes apparent that her mother was a performer and that Juliet might have been a short-lived star too. Juliet- whose dreams have been crushed by her stepmother in favour of her half-sisters- is convinced she can take her mother’s place. In the District, however, there are no clear answers as the Show is constantly being performed, and the secretive performers and illusion keep the past well hidden in the labyrinth of actors, dancers and weaving walkways. Juliet discovers that the District, and those who live within, are subject to the whims of powerful men known as the Director, the Shadow Man and the Choreographer- men who don’t want the past to come out and will do anything to suppress it.
This is a slow-burn mystery set in a world that feels like something from a fairytale, even in its darkest moments. The atmosphere reminded me so much of ‘The Night Circus’ but it gradually grew into something larger, filling centuries from the aftermath of the 1666 Great Fire of London up to the modern day. I like Juliet as a character even if she is a little naive and too trusting once she gets inside. The gradual reveals were really well written, the suspicion of the outside world and the intense, almost frightening secrecy of the performers added an excellent atmosphere. You genuinely do feel lost in another world, the descriptions are so vivid even if in some aspects the characters outside of roles weren't deeply developed. I enjoyed this book, it was original and very different.
TW: parental abuse, neglect, murder
Set in an alternate London where a section of the city was turned into an independent area called the Theatre District centuries ago, a performance named The Show never truly ends- but it’s only accessible to those with a ticket and the laws of London mean nothing there. Her distant father and cruel stepmother have raised Juliet and she knows nothing about her dead mother. When she is nineteen, her father passes away and things about Juliet’s early life come to light, including that she was born in the Theatre District. Determined to find out where she came from, how her mother died and the secrets her father kept hidden, Juliet travels to London and visits the Show. She hopes to find a place where she belongs and it soon becomes apparent that her mother was a performer and that Juliet might have been a short-lived star too. Juliet- whose dreams have been crushed by her stepmother in favour of her half-sisters- is convinced she can take her mother’s place. In the District, however, there are no clear answers as the Show is constantly being performed, and the secretive performers and illusion keep the past well hidden in the labyrinth of actors, dancers and weaving walkways. Juliet discovers that the District, and those who live within, are subject to the whims of powerful men known as the Director, the Shadow Man and the Choreographer- men who don’t want the past to come out and will do anything to suppress it.
This is a slow-burn mystery set in a world that feels like something from a fairytale, even in its darkest moments. The atmosphere reminded me so much of ‘The Night Circus’ but it gradually grew into something larger, filling centuries from the aftermath of the 1666 Great Fire of London up to the modern day. I like Juliet as a character even if she is a little naive and too trusting once she gets inside. The gradual reveals were really well written, the suspicion of the outside world and the intense, almost frightening secrecy of the performers added an excellent atmosphere. You genuinely do feel lost in another world, the descriptions are so vivid even if in some aspects the characters outside of roles weren't deeply developed. I enjoyed this book, it was original and very different.
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