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Glass Town
A brilliantly rendered story about obsession and one man's attempt to unravel the mystery that destroyed his grandfather's life, set against a magical and intricately woven cityscape.
Steven Savile has been an international sensation, selling over half a million copies of his novels worldwide and writing for cult favorite television shows including Doctor Who, Torchwood, and Stargate. Now, he is finally making his US debut with Glass Town, a brilliantly composed novel revolving around the magic and mystery lurking in London.
In 1926, two brothers both loved Eleanor Raines, a promising young actress from the East End of London. But, along with Seth Lockwood, she disappeared, never to be seen again. Isaiah, Seth’s younger brother, refused to accept that she was just gone.
It has been seventy years since and the brothers are long dead. But now their dark, twisted secret, threatens to tear the city apart. Seth made a bargain with Damiola, an illusionist, to make a life size version of his most famous trick, and hide away part of London to act as a prison out of sync with our time, where one year passes as one hundred. That illusion is Glass Town. And now its walls are failing.
Reminiscent of Clive Barker’s Weaveworld and Neil Gaiman’s American Gods, Savile brings out the magic in the everyday. Glass Town is full of gritty urban landscapes, realistic characters, conflict, secrets, betrayals, magic, and mystery.
Steven Savile has been an international sensation, selling over half a million copies of his novels worldwide and writing for cult favorite television shows including Doctor Who, Torchwood, and Stargate. Now, he is finally making his US debut with Glass Town, a brilliantly composed novel revolving around the magic and mystery lurking in London.
In 1926, two brothers both loved Eleanor Raines, a promising young actress from the East End of London. But, along with Seth Lockwood, she disappeared, never to be seen again. Isaiah, Seth’s younger brother, refused to accept that she was just gone.
It has been seventy years since and the brothers are long dead. But now their dark, twisted secret, threatens to tear the city apart. Seth made a bargain with Damiola, an illusionist, to make a life size version of his most famous trick, and hide away part of London to act as a prison out of sync with our time, where one year passes as one hundred. That illusion is Glass Town. And now its walls are failing.
Reminiscent of Clive Barker’s Weaveworld and Neil Gaiman’s American Gods, Savile brings out the magic in the everyday. Glass Town is full of gritty urban landscapes, realistic characters, conflict, secrets, betrayals, magic, and mystery.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published December 5, 2017
25 people are currently reading
2291 people want to read
About the author
Steven Savile
247 books250 followersSteven Savile (born October 12, 1969, in Newcastle, England) is a British fantasy, horror and thriller writer, and editor living in Sala, Sweden.
Under the Ronan Frost penname (inspired by the hero of his bestselling novel, Silver) he has also written the action thriller White Peak, and as Matt Langley was a finalist for the People's Book Prize.
Under the Ronan Frost penname (inspired by the hero of his bestselling novel, Silver) he has also written the action thriller White Peak, and as Matt Langley was a finalist for the People's Book Prize.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
December 7, 2017
Glass Town by Steven Saville is one of those genre bending books that causes you to say "I don't normally read this type of book but...." It is a blend of psychological thriller, urban fantasy and magical realism but written in a way that is so utterly fascinating that you are drawn in and cannot stop reading until the very end.
In the story, the main character, Josh, has found a letter that tells of his grandfather's true love - not his grandmother - and of her disappearance. He, and we, learn of a Glass Town where time is nothing like our own and whose inhabitants certainly are not. There also is a marvelous rivalry and co-mingling of the two families, the Lockwoods and Raines, that is nothing short of brilliant. Yes, there is a LOT of information in the book and at times it appears that it isn't relevant - until it very much is and then you sit back and say, "ohhhhhh," in that aha moment kind of way. I LOVE books where the author stays ahead of me!!
I admit that I was a Saville fan going into the book. I could spot the episodes he wrote for on certain series and I've liked his other books. But this is a giant step forward. Regardless of your genre choice, this is a book I can wholeheartedly recommend to you. Enjoy!
In the story, the main character, Josh, has found a letter that tells of his grandfather's true love - not his grandmother - and of her disappearance. He, and we, learn of a Glass Town where time is nothing like our own and whose inhabitants certainly are not. There also is a marvelous rivalry and co-mingling of the two families, the Lockwoods and Raines, that is nothing short of brilliant. Yes, there is a LOT of information in the book and at times it appears that it isn't relevant - until it very much is and then you sit back and say, "ohhhhhh," in that aha moment kind of way. I LOVE books where the author stays ahead of me!!
I admit that I was a Saville fan going into the book. I could spot the episodes he wrote for on certain series and I've liked his other books. But this is a giant step forward. Regardless of your genre choice, this is a book I can wholeheartedly recommend to you. Enjoy!
November 11, 2017
Joshua Raines finds a letter that his grandfather had written confessing to being in love with another woman back in 1924 right before he passed away in 1994. That woman, Eleanor Raines had gone missing seventy years before that confession was written leaving a mystery that had yet to be solved. Joshua didn't have much of a memory of the letter since he was only eight when his grandfather passed but finding it has brought the past back to mind.
Back in 1926 Isaiah had fallen in love with Eleanor but wasn't the only one, his brother Seth Lockwood had also loved her and she and Seth both disappeared at the same time. Now Joshua will go on a journey to learn that the Glass Town had been created where time passes differently than in the real world, a hundred years would equal one in this realm and now the walls of the secret city are falling.
Glass Town by Steven Savile is an urban fantasy with a bit of a mystery edge to it as the character in our time is taken in with events that took place all those years ago and finds a fantasy world has existed. Unfortunately as interesting as this one sounded to me when picking it up once I got into reading the book it just never really grabbed me or completely gained my interest.
The pace in this one started off rather slowly to me with the writing being a bit denser than I usually like which didn't help me really get invested in this story at all. I will say there were some creative ideas that had potential but I just felt it kind of drag along and never really wow me as I read. I would also warn too that I was not expecting sexual activity at all from the synopsis so finding it took me rather by surprise. There was also a lot of language and some violence in this definitely adult fantasy. In the end though the style just wasn't for me but others may enjoy it.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Back in 1926 Isaiah had fallen in love with Eleanor but wasn't the only one, his brother Seth Lockwood had also loved her and she and Seth both disappeared at the same time. Now Joshua will go on a journey to learn that the Glass Town had been created where time passes differently than in the real world, a hundred years would equal one in this realm and now the walls of the secret city are falling.
Glass Town by Steven Savile is an urban fantasy with a bit of a mystery edge to it as the character in our time is taken in with events that took place all those years ago and finds a fantasy world has existed. Unfortunately as interesting as this one sounded to me when picking it up once I got into reading the book it just never really grabbed me or completely gained my interest.
The pace in this one started off rather slowly to me with the writing being a bit denser than I usually like which didn't help me really get invested in this story at all. I will say there were some creative ideas that had potential but I just felt it kind of drag along and never really wow me as I read. I would also warn too that I was not expecting sexual activity at all from the synopsis so finding it took me rather by surprise. There was also a lot of language and some violence in this definitely adult fantasy. In the end though the style just wasn't for me but others may enjoy it.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
December 5, 2017
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
In the 1920s, Seth and Isaiah Lockwood both loved Eleanor Raines, a young actress from the East End of London. However, Eleanor mysteriously disappeared never to be seen again. Isaiah, Seth’s younger brother, couldn't accept that she was just gone. It's been over seventy years and both men are dead, but now their secret threatens to destroy London. Seth made a deal with an illusionist to make a life size version of Glass Town, his most famous trick, in the city. Glass Town is a prison out of sync with time where every one hundred years on the outside equals only one year inside. And now, Seth's trick is collapsing.
Glass Town by Steven Savile is a totally enthralling, gritty historical urban fantasy with a great core mystery and compelling characters. The premise caught my attention right away and for the most part it live up to my expectations. I love that the author blends the world of 1920s and modern London so well. His descriptions of the setting and obsession of the characters are all wonderfully atmospheric, almost noirish even. My favorite unexpected element is the connection between this fantasy and Alfred Hitchcock's real life unfinished silent movie titled Number 13. My only real issue with the story is getting characters mixed up and having to backtrack a bit to review who was speaking and when.
Overall, if you're looking for an intriguing new historical fantasy to sink your teeth into, Steven Savile's new release comes with high marks from me. There are so many elements to enjoy with everything from classic film, gangsters, and to magic. I don't know about you, but that sounds like a great combination to me. If you like Neil Gaiman, Tim Powers, and possibly even Peaky Blinders, you may also enjoy Glass Town.
In the 1920s, Seth and Isaiah Lockwood both loved Eleanor Raines, a young actress from the East End of London. However, Eleanor mysteriously disappeared never to be seen again. Isaiah, Seth’s younger brother, couldn't accept that she was just gone. It's been over seventy years and both men are dead, but now their secret threatens to destroy London. Seth made a deal with an illusionist to make a life size version of Glass Town, his most famous trick, in the city. Glass Town is a prison out of sync with time where every one hundred years on the outside equals only one year inside. And now, Seth's trick is collapsing.
Glass Town by Steven Savile is a totally enthralling, gritty historical urban fantasy with a great core mystery and compelling characters. The premise caught my attention right away and for the most part it live up to my expectations. I love that the author blends the world of 1920s and modern London so well. His descriptions of the setting and obsession of the characters are all wonderfully atmospheric, almost noirish even. My favorite unexpected element is the connection between this fantasy and Alfred Hitchcock's real life unfinished silent movie titled Number 13. My only real issue with the story is getting characters mixed up and having to backtrack a bit to review who was speaking and when.
Overall, if you're looking for an intriguing new historical fantasy to sink your teeth into, Steven Savile's new release comes with high marks from me. There are so many elements to enjoy with everything from classic film, gangsters, and to magic. I don't know about you, but that sounds like a great combination to me. If you like Neil Gaiman, Tim Powers, and possibly even Peaky Blinders, you may also enjoy Glass Town.
May 23, 2018
3.25 stars. This is a hard book to rate. It's a book that requires thought, attention and dedicated reading time. If you're thinking "well that's how I always read" then I commend you.
Intensive Reading
For me I find myself (especially with e-books) reading in line-ups, before meetings, at lunch, etc. So my reading time is not always sitting in my chair at home with no distractions. I wish it was; but if I want to read 100+ books in a year I cannot limit it to just those dedicated moments. After the first 50 pages or so I came to realize that Glass Town was one of those books (like Lord of the Rings) that requires your full attention if you want to catch all the nuances, foreshadowing and smart little quips. I call this 'intensive reading' as it requires all of your attention and is a different kind of reading than a romance, teen or even light thriller (ie: Dan Brown) is.
The author
Steven Savile is a well known writer in the TV world having worked on Torchwood, Doctor Who and other sci-fi/fantasy shows. As I was already familiar with Savile's television work I was very excited to read his debut novel.
I think what Savile did with Glass Town is a bit extreme; in that he maybe got too excited about being able to provide every detail, thought and aspect of every moment of his story. Whereas in television he has dialogue and set notes at most (unless he's directing) so the tendency is to over explain, provide too much detail and potentially bore your reader.
Lagging at times
Glass Town really needed a sharp, hack and slash editor. It is an amazing story and would make a gorgeous movie or mini series (I'd love to see it over say 6 episodes). That's where this is a hard book to review or give a rating to. What do you do with a book that is so well thought-out including: good characterization, involved plot, clever twists and mind-bending timelines; but just not that engaging?
The answer for me was that I had to be wide awake and ready to read. I read before bed every night and this book was great for putting me to sleep, which was unfortunate as I'd have to re-read the next day. I read at lunch and found it was a bit intense to focus on in the middle of my work day (when I'm needing a break from thinking so hard). I also read after work and during commuting times. These times were the best to read Glass Town during as they are more focused reading. Unfortunately this limitation made it so that it took me a really long time to finish this book (by my standards). This resulted in me being tired of it before the end and almost skimming the last 50 pages (which is unfortunate as a lot of things happen).
Overall
If you are okay with an intense read and like thrillers with a mystical twist then I believe you will really enjoy this book. If you are more of a casual reader or someone who prefers 'easy' reads then this is probably not for you.
My hope is that in the future Savile can tighten up his writing. If he is able to do that then I believe I will adore his books as all the right things are there for Glass Town it was just a bit too overdone at times. I will definitely try another Savile book as the man is a genius when it comes to time bending, science fiction, mystical stories (which are some of my personal favourites)!
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
Intensive Reading
For me I find myself (especially with e-books) reading in line-ups, before meetings, at lunch, etc. So my reading time is not always sitting in my chair at home with no distractions. I wish it was; but if I want to read 100+ books in a year I cannot limit it to just those dedicated moments. After the first 50 pages or so I came to realize that Glass Town was one of those books (like Lord of the Rings) that requires your full attention if you want to catch all the nuances, foreshadowing and smart little quips. I call this 'intensive reading' as it requires all of your attention and is a different kind of reading than a romance, teen or even light thriller (ie: Dan Brown) is.
The author
Steven Savile is a well known writer in the TV world having worked on Torchwood, Doctor Who and other sci-fi/fantasy shows. As I was already familiar with Savile's television work I was very excited to read his debut novel.
I think what Savile did with Glass Town is a bit extreme; in that he maybe got too excited about being able to provide every detail, thought and aspect of every moment of his story. Whereas in television he has dialogue and set notes at most (unless he's directing) so the tendency is to over explain, provide too much detail and potentially bore your reader.
Lagging at times
Glass Town really needed a sharp, hack and slash editor. It is an amazing story and would make a gorgeous movie or mini series (I'd love to see it over say 6 episodes). That's where this is a hard book to review or give a rating to. What do you do with a book that is so well thought-out including: good characterization, involved plot, clever twists and mind-bending timelines; but just not that engaging?
The answer for me was that I had to be wide awake and ready to read. I read before bed every night and this book was great for putting me to sleep, which was unfortunate as I'd have to re-read the next day. I read at lunch and found it was a bit intense to focus on in the middle of my work day (when I'm needing a break from thinking so hard). I also read after work and during commuting times. These times were the best to read Glass Town during as they are more focused reading. Unfortunately this limitation made it so that it took me a really long time to finish this book (by my standards). This resulted in me being tired of it before the end and almost skimming the last 50 pages (which is unfortunate as a lot of things happen).
Overall
If you are okay with an intense read and like thrillers with a mystical twist then I believe you will really enjoy this book. If you are more of a casual reader or someone who prefers 'easy' reads then this is probably not for you.
My hope is that in the future Savile can tighten up his writing. If he is able to do that then I believe I will adore his books as all the right things are there for Glass Town it was just a bit too overdone at times. I will definitely try another Savile book as the man is a genius when it comes to time bending, science fiction, mystical stories (which are some of my personal favourites)!
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
August 23, 2017
This is a really interesting supernatural thriller with some killer ideas at work. The characters are well drawn, the evocation of old movie magic and modern London crime an excellent juxtaposition. It reminded me of something by Clive Barker or Ramsey Campbell, but with a uniquely Savile twist. Blisteringly paced, cleverly plotted and relentlessly inventive. Highly recommended.
April 9, 2021
Before I say anything else about this book, including anything positive, let me start by saying that this is one of the most sexist books I have ever read. I mean, I’m sure there are worse offenders out there, but they tend to be in genres that I don’t read, or occasionally books that I start but don’t finish. But this book, I kept hoping it would get better. Instead, it wasted every opportunity it had to not be sexist. I can barely believe that this book made it, unquestioned, past a production process that apparently included women in the publishing house. This is a book that has people in it, and then it has females it. Well, barely, apart from victims and/or objects. Even the “good” characters seem to view women this way. (And actually, some of the male characters could have been written as women — officer Genarro, magician Damiola, or even main protagonist Josh— with practically zero substantive change to the book, other than a vast improvement in female representation.)
Apart from all that, this is an okay book. It is interesting enough to keep one reading, to see if Josh will discover the secret of Glass Town and “save the girl” (who is apparently too stupid to save herself). I enjoyed the concept of the film studio taken out-of-time, and the use of film imagery and language married with demonic entities. It reminded me of something one might see on Doctor Who -- which is a a compliment, and also unsurprising considering the author has written for Doctor Who! The fusion of these concepts with religious ideas such as Hell did not always work, however, and was not fleshed out. The internal logic of how Glass Town was kept in limbo was also not always clear or consistent. The writing, generally, was fine. I am even giving an extra star for some of the good points.
But from the get-go, it was very hard to push past such blatant and unexamined sexism. I was planning to list examples, but by the middle of the book there were already too many. It just infuses every aspect, every page. By the end, I was glad it was over.
** I received a Review Copy of this book via NetGalley **
Apart from all that, this is an okay book. It is interesting enough to keep one reading, to see if Josh will discover the secret of Glass Town and “save the girl” (who is apparently too stupid to save herself). I enjoyed the concept of the film studio taken out-of-time, and the use of film imagery and language married with demonic entities. It reminded me of something one might see on Doctor Who -- which is a a compliment, and also unsurprising considering the author has written for Doctor Who! The fusion of these concepts with religious ideas such as Hell did not always work, however, and was not fleshed out. The internal logic of how Glass Town was kept in limbo was also not always clear or consistent. The writing, generally, was fine. I am even giving an extra star for some of the good points.
But from the get-go, it was very hard to push past such blatant and unexamined sexism. I was planning to list examples, but by the middle of the book there were already too many. It just infuses every aspect, every page. By the end, I was glad it was over.
** I received a Review Copy of this book via NetGalley **
January 9, 2018
Mystery, magic, cinema, a hint of the 1920's, hell yes. I had no expectations going into this novel so maybe I was more easily pleased than I normally am, but whatever I enjoyed this. It's a slower paced book, but no where near plodding; it just draws you in.
December 6, 2017
Full review is here, on my blog.
This is going to be a rather difficult book to get my thoughts together about, because it is very in depth and such a huge idea that I found it often a little confusing, especially in the beginning. It’s a lot to take in. This is a fascinating story though, and the way that the mystery of Glass Town is revealed is through Joshua, the main character’s discovery of different pieces of the puzzle, was well done, in my opinion. It’s revealed slowly as the story moves on, as one would hope.
We start the story with the funeral of Boone Raines, who is Josh’s grandfather. He has left him a long letter from his great-grandfather Isaiah Raines, detailing his obsession with Eleanor Raines, an actress from the East End back in the 1920s. He and his brother Seth feuded over her, and something happened and she disappeared. Isaiah spent the rest of his life trying to find her, obsessed with her, even going so far as to marry her twin sister and taking the name Raines to be closer to her. After he died, he passed the mystery to Boone, who has now passed it to Josh.
So, curious about all this, Josh starts investigating, and finds that his world sort of goes crazy with all kinds of cinema related shenanigans from the 20s and beyond. He starts seeing film stars following him, and breaking into his house and whatnot, and it only gets crazier from there.
The blurb compares this book to American Gods, but if I were to compare it to one of Gaiman’s works, it’d absolutely be Neverwhere. It’s more reminiscent of a strange, deeply magical, sort-of hidden, dark, and rather creepy bit of London, rather than gods road-tripping across America. Given the setting, this book is very British just in general, obviously. Places, slang, et cetera. But, I digress.
As I said, I found it a little confusing right at the start, and it’s because some characters know and reference things that aren’t apparent to the reader right away, so, it’s a little overwhelming. Like, oh snap, the dweomers are failing! Uh, well, point one is this is an awesome use of the word dweomer, but what is a dweomer in this context? ;D
Anyway, once I got into it, it was a pretty fantastic and quite thrilling adventure with an antagonist who is pretty easy to hate, and protagonists who are easy to root for. I thought it was well written, fast-paced, and mysteriously fun. I liked Josh as a character, and wanted him to succeed. So, all told, it was a pretty great read.
I’d like to thank the author as well as St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley for the review copy of this book.
This is going to be a rather difficult book to get my thoughts together about, because it is very in depth and such a huge idea that I found it often a little confusing, especially in the beginning. It’s a lot to take in. This is a fascinating story though, and the way that the mystery of Glass Town is revealed is through Joshua, the main character’s discovery of different pieces of the puzzle, was well done, in my opinion. It’s revealed slowly as the story moves on, as one would hope.
We start the story with the funeral of Boone Raines, who is Josh’s grandfather. He has left him a long letter from his great-grandfather Isaiah Raines, detailing his obsession with Eleanor Raines, an actress from the East End back in the 1920s. He and his brother Seth feuded over her, and something happened and she disappeared. Isaiah spent the rest of his life trying to find her, obsessed with her, even going so far as to marry her twin sister and taking the name Raines to be closer to her. After he died, he passed the mystery to Boone, who has now passed it to Josh.
So, curious about all this, Josh starts investigating, and finds that his world sort of goes crazy with all kinds of cinema related shenanigans from the 20s and beyond. He starts seeing film stars following him, and breaking into his house and whatnot, and it only gets crazier from there.
The blurb compares this book to American Gods, but if I were to compare it to one of Gaiman’s works, it’d absolutely be Neverwhere. It’s more reminiscent of a strange, deeply magical, sort-of hidden, dark, and rather creepy bit of London, rather than gods road-tripping across America. Given the setting, this book is very British just in general, obviously. Places, slang, et cetera. But, I digress.
As I said, I found it a little confusing right at the start, and it’s because some characters know and reference things that aren’t apparent to the reader right away, so, it’s a little overwhelming. Like, oh snap, the dweomers are failing! Uh, well, point one is this is an awesome use of the word dweomer, but what is a dweomer in this context? ;D
Anyway, once I got into it, it was a pretty fantastic and quite thrilling adventure with an antagonist who is pretty easy to hate, and protagonists who are easy to root for. I thought it was well written, fast-paced, and mysteriously fun. I liked Josh as a character, and wanted him to succeed. So, all told, it was a pretty great read.
I’d like to thank the author as well as St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley for the review copy of this book.
January 9, 2018
When Steven Savile's Glass Town appeared on my doorstep it was my first time hearing about it; however, as soon as I read the synopsis, I decided it may be the book for me and dove right in.
The Result? Glass Town has left me feeling incredibly torn. On one side I enjoyed it. I found the premise unique, the mystery multilayered and suspenseful, and the characters complex. On the other side, however, it was too odd for my liking. Some parts left me flabbergasted and even churned my stomach.
Glass Town is built upon obsession as well as desire.
Obsession can be a dangerous thing - it can cause you to lose your grip on reality as well as your friends and family. There's something about it, however. Something you just can't resist. That's what Isaiah and his brother Seth discovered over 90 years ago in their respective quests for Eleanor Raines's love and attention. With obsession there's a winner as well as a loser, and Isaiah unfortunately lost; however, he never gave up and passed that obsession - that compulsion - to find Eleanor to generation after generation.
It amazed me how much Steven Saville could build upon two men's desires. He brought along mystery, the supernatural, and magic with it. The later of the three truly managed to fascinate me. I've also been curious about magic and the illusions a magician creates. The illusion in Glass Town is more complex than you'd ever imagine, and it shocked me how deep it ran. Additionally, throughout Glass Town I had so many questions: Where had they hidden Eleanor? How does one get into Glass Town? What was Seth's end game? Would Josh survive? These questions kept me hooked, turning page after page in search of answers. At sometimes I couldn't believe that so many events could be based on one person - someone who "existed" over 100 years ago. Was she really worth it? However, I guess that's the crazy thing about obsession - it doesn't depend on worth but desire.
Glass Town never settles on one POV. Over the course of the book a variety of POVs are introduced - Seth, Josh, Damiola, Julie, Taff, Eleanor, and Gideon. While each character comes from different backgrounds each are connected through obsession. For Seth, the man who started it all, his obsession with Eleanor may just break him. Seth is the ultimate villain. He's frightening as well as chilling and he always plays dirty. Josh, the great-grandson of Isaiah, is obsessed with solving the case, no matter at what cost. Josh's obsession was almost as large as Seth's, which I found surprising at time given the short timeline. I will say, however, that no character was incredibly well developed, nor did I ever truly forge a connection with any of them. Also, I wish there were more POVs from Eleanor's perspective. I would've loved to learn more about her as well as her time in the Glass Town.
Overall, Glass Town is a book I liked but didn't love. Some parts just didn't appeal to me; however, there was something about it that kept me reading. I suggest this to fans of magic and illusion.
The Result? Glass Town has left me feeling incredibly torn. On one side I enjoyed it. I found the premise unique, the mystery multilayered and suspenseful, and the characters complex. On the other side, however, it was too odd for my liking. Some parts left me flabbergasted and even churned my stomach.
Eleanor Raines.
That was her name.
My obsession.
The object of my desire. I was going to say affection, but there was nothing remotely affectionate about it. Desire is a much better word. Less wholesome. Desire speaks of dark places, of yearning, sweat. - pg. 1
Glass Town is built upon obsession as well as desire.
Obsession can be a dangerous thing - it can cause you to lose your grip on reality as well as your friends and family. There's something about it, however. Something you just can't resist. That's what Isaiah and his brother Seth discovered over 90 years ago in their respective quests for Eleanor Raines's love and attention. With obsession there's a winner as well as a loser, and Isaiah unfortunately lost; however, he never gave up and passed that obsession - that compulsion - to find Eleanor to generation after generation.
It amazed me how much Steven Saville could build upon two men's desires. He brought along mystery, the supernatural, and magic with it. The later of the three truly managed to fascinate me. I've also been curious about magic and the illusions a magician creates. The illusion in Glass Town is more complex than you'd ever imagine, and it shocked me how deep it ran. Additionally, throughout Glass Town I had so many questions: Where had they hidden Eleanor? How does one get into Glass Town? What was Seth's end game? Would Josh survive? These questions kept me hooked, turning page after page in search of answers. At sometimes I couldn't believe that so many events could be based on one person - someone who "existed" over 100 years ago. Was she really worth it? However, I guess that's the crazy thing about obsession - it doesn't depend on worth but desire.
Glass Town never settles on one POV. Over the course of the book a variety of POVs are introduced - Seth, Josh, Damiola, Julie, Taff, Eleanor, and Gideon. While each character comes from different backgrounds each are connected through obsession. For Seth, the man who started it all, his obsession with Eleanor may just break him. Seth is the ultimate villain. He's frightening as well as chilling and he always plays dirty. Josh, the great-grandson of Isaiah, is obsessed with solving the case, no matter at what cost. Josh's obsession was almost as large as Seth's, which I found surprising at time given the short timeline. I will say, however, that no character was incredibly well developed, nor did I ever truly forge a connection with any of them. Also, I wish there were more POVs from Eleanor's perspective. I would've loved to learn more about her as well as her time in the Glass Town.
Overall, Glass Town is a book I liked but didn't love. Some parts just didn't appeal to me; however, there was something about it that kept me reading. I suggest this to fans of magic and illusion.
December 8, 2017
Review to come soon...Glass Town is one complex town, but so intriguing. This is a story that involved a love triangle that happened back in the 1920’s between a woman and the two brothers who loved her deeply. For one it was truly love and the other it became an obsession. This obsession led him to betray his brother and the woman he loved and he imprisoned her in a town that no one know about. Time moves differently there, for a year inside Glass Town, is one hundred years out in the world around it. This feud between brothers has carried on from generation to generation. Now begs the question, will the feud ever end? And who will it be that finally takes a stand and ends it?
Our main character Josh has found a letter that his grandfather wrote detailing his love for Eleanor, and her disappearance. With this comes a chain of events that is suspenseful and thrilling and even dark and scary at times. Family ties are supposed to strong, but when there is betrayals between family members, it is hard to know who to trust and what to trust. And with Josh’s family, he hasn’t ever really know a whole lot about them. He didn’t know about some of them to begin with. But, Josh stayed strong, both for his mother and his sister. He went through a lot, and most would have just given up, it wasn’t his fight to begin with. But that wasn’t Josh and I admired that about him. Now as for his cousin Seth, he was the epitome of evil. There was something off from the beginning. And as the story went along, it all came out to. A lot of the side characters were really good in this too. I just loved Josh’s mother, she was just the sweetest thing.
The setting was vividly described and it felt like you were right there with John through it all. Especially the parts about the Glass City, was a fascinating world that Saville created. Magic and spells, and the set of an Alfred Hitchcock movie being the back drop for the town. With the magic starting to fade, and the truth about the town coming out and magical creatures appearing in the real world looking like old movies stars, the suspense built and all led up to a pretty intense ending. I’m not much a science fictions reader, but this had more of a urban/dark fantasy vibe to it, that I really enjoyed and I think that other that enjoy the the genre will as well.
Overall, this was a gritty and dark world, with family betrayals from the past and the present. It was thrilling and kept me guessing on what the Glass Town really was. I am curious to see what Saville has in store for us in Coldfall Wood that comes out next year.
![”Jenea’s]()
Our main character Josh has found a letter that his grandfather wrote detailing his love for Eleanor, and her disappearance. With this comes a chain of events that is suspenseful and thrilling and even dark and scary at times. Family ties are supposed to strong, but when there is betrayals between family members, it is hard to know who to trust and what to trust. And with Josh’s family, he hasn’t ever really know a whole lot about them. He didn’t know about some of them to begin with. But, Josh stayed strong, both for his mother and his sister. He went through a lot, and most would have just given up, it wasn’t his fight to begin with. But that wasn’t Josh and I admired that about him. Now as for his cousin Seth, he was the epitome of evil. There was something off from the beginning. And as the story went along, it all came out to. A lot of the side characters were really good in this too. I just loved Josh’s mother, she was just the sweetest thing.
The setting was vividly described and it felt like you were right there with John through it all. Especially the parts about the Glass City, was a fascinating world that Saville created. Magic and spells, and the set of an Alfred Hitchcock movie being the back drop for the town. With the magic starting to fade, and the truth about the town coming out and magical creatures appearing in the real world looking like old movies stars, the suspense built and all led up to a pretty intense ending. I’m not much a science fictions reader, but this had more of a urban/dark fantasy vibe to it, that I really enjoyed and I think that other that enjoy the the genre will as well.
Overall, this was a gritty and dark world, with family betrayals from the past and the present. It was thrilling and kept me guessing on what the Glass Town really was. I am curious to see what Saville has in store for us in Coldfall Wood that comes out next year.
November 22, 2017
A captivating novel from a veteran author. I was engaged from start to finish. It's gritty, there is magic and mystery, what isn't to love? Plus, there is nothing I enjoy more than a taut story that doesn't waste any time, and this has that in spades. Highly recommended!
April 29, 2018
This is an atmospheric urban fantasy that centers around the disappearance of an actress named Eleanor, who vanished during the filming of Hitchcock's first movie, in London, in 1924. The novel opens in the present day with the main character, Joshua, discovering a letter left to him by his recently deceased grandfather. The letter introduces Joshua to the mystery of Eleanor's disappearance, her connection to his family, and the obsession that has consumed the lives of both Joshua's great-grandfather and his grandfather. The day of his grandfather's funeral, Joshua interrupts a creepy monster ransacking his house and the race is on to figure out the secret of the magic at play before Josh ends up being murdered by the same monsters that have been plaguing his family for generations.
Pros: There's interesting magic based on cinematic elements. I liked the atmosphere of the book a lot; dark, creepy, a bit unsettling. The history of 1920's cinema in London, as the basis for the inciting event, was different and interesting to me. The monsters were scary. While I saw one reviewer called it slow, I thought the pace was fine. The book was fairly short, took place over a matter of days, and the story wrapped up in one volume. The author is a London-based TV writer who has written for Dr. Who and Torchwood among others and while this book is darker than both of those, and contains no humor, it gives you a bit of an idea of the tone.
Cons: The point-of-view jumped around. It was mostly from Joshua's viewpoint but there were random chapters from other character's viewpoints and it made it seem choppy to me. Despite nominally being about Eleanor, there really weren't any women characters with any agency. I tend to be fairly easy going about stuff like that, but one character and scene in particular was over the top. Most of the magic was a bit hand-wavy. Again, I thought the explanations were fine for the story, I appreciated the gestalt of the magic, but the particulars didn't always make sense to me.
Be aware, there are some intense sex scenes involving succubi. I'll leave whether that's a pro or con up to the reader.
Overall, I found it to be a quick read that I enjoyed well enough. I wasn't blown away, but I don't regret spending the time on it.
Pros: There's interesting magic based on cinematic elements. I liked the atmosphere of the book a lot; dark, creepy, a bit unsettling. The history of 1920's cinema in London, as the basis for the inciting event, was different and interesting to me. The monsters were scary. While I saw one reviewer called it slow, I thought the pace was fine. The book was fairly short, took place over a matter of days, and the story wrapped up in one volume. The author is a London-based TV writer who has written for Dr. Who and Torchwood among others and while this book is darker than both of those, and contains no humor, it gives you a bit of an idea of the tone.
Cons: The point-of-view jumped around. It was mostly from Joshua's viewpoint but there were random chapters from other character's viewpoints and it made it seem choppy to me. Despite nominally being about Eleanor, there really weren't any women characters with any agency. I tend to be fairly easy going about stuff like that, but one character and scene in particular was over the top. Most of the magic was a bit hand-wavy. Again, I thought the explanations were fine for the story, I appreciated the gestalt of the magic, but the particulars didn't always make sense to me.
Be aware, there are some intense sex scenes involving succubi. I'll leave whether that's a pro or con up to the reader.
Overall, I found it to be a quick read that I enjoyed well enough. I wasn't blown away, but I don't regret spending the time on it.
December 18, 2017
I have vomit in my mouth.
If you're a feminist, do not read this book. If you are a woman who values yourself as any kind of human being with thoughts, dreams, or intelligence, you probably shouldn't read this either.
There's a reason why most of the books I read are by female authors, or male authors already vetted by reviewers I trust. This book was sent to me unsolicited by the publisher, and the premise sounded fantastic, so I thought I would try it.
That was a mistake.
I'm going to direct you to another review here on Goodreads because it encompasses all I feel and words it better than I probably ever could: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
But I will say this. This is one of the most sexist, misogynistic books I have ever read. I'm not sure this author has ever spent any time around women, and if he has, he's never looked at them as anything but sex objects there for males to desire. In this Glass Town, women are seen only through the male gaze, and they are there for men to fuck and ogle. That's it. And it's a shame, because the premise and the storytelling held a lot of promise. But I was so fucking offended on behalf of every woman in the world, that I could not read further. This book is GROSS.
If you're a feminist, do not read this book. If you are a woman who values yourself as any kind of human being with thoughts, dreams, or intelligence, you probably shouldn't read this either.
There's a reason why most of the books I read are by female authors, or male authors already vetted by reviewers I trust. This book was sent to me unsolicited by the publisher, and the premise sounded fantastic, so I thought I would try it.
That was a mistake.
I'm going to direct you to another review here on Goodreads because it encompasses all I feel and words it better than I probably ever could: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
But I will say this. This is one of the most sexist, misogynistic books I have ever read. I'm not sure this author has ever spent any time around women, and if he has, he's never looked at them as anything but sex objects there for males to desire. In this Glass Town, women are seen only through the male gaze, and they are there for men to fuck and ogle. That's it. And it's a shame, because the premise and the storytelling held a lot of promise. But I was so fucking offended on behalf of every woman in the world, that I could not read further. This book is GROSS.
October 1, 2021
I enjoyed reading this book a lot. But I gave this a four star. When I was reading there was some patches where I got bored. Other than that, a great book to read.
December 2, 2017
**ARC provide by author for an honest review**
Glass Town is a psychological thriller by Steven Savile that will keep you on your toes with each turn of the page. Set in the London of both present day and the roaring twenties, Josh is faced with quite a predicament after his grandfather’s death. A Glass Town? Or rather a city that never gains time, a minute in Glass Town is days out in the real world. A letter tells of his grandfather’s one true love, not Josh’s grandmother, but her sister Eleanor and her mysterious disappearance. Eleanor is spotted multiple times in the real world after Josh’s grandfather’s death, is she apart of this Glass Town? She would be over 100 now, but her appearance mimics how she looked the day she disappeared.
A few key players also have ties to Glass Town and it’s orgins: Damiola, a magician who’s magic glass is the key to Glass Town, will Josh uncover the secret after the magician shows him the way to protect both his century old secret and Josh’s family? Seth Lockwood, Josh’s long lost cousin, who we find out as the story goes on why exactly they are long lost, and not in a good way. Officers Julie and Taff, one who succumbs to the tricks of Seth Lockwood, and the other who fights alongside Josh to make everything right in both worlds.
I loved the history and the suspense that this novel brought to the table. An interesting read to say the least. It had a bit of drama, suspense, and psychological aspects that kept you wondering what was going to happen next. I had moments of oh no! and moments that took my breath away. I give it a solid four stars.
December 2, 2017
Noir Crime with a side of Paranormal Horror
This was a hard-to-categorize read - and that's not a bad thing. It's challenging; much of the central mystery and the mechanics of the magic that does crop up isn't explained until very late in the story, so there's high tension, but also a good amount of confusion to start with. I found the initial pages fascinating and almost dizzying; I couldn't really follow what was going on, but there was enough there for me to keep trying.
It's classified as Urban Fantasy, but I'm more familiar with the YA romance variant, and this is not at all like that. It's more like a gritty crime thriller, with underworld crime bosses, a dingy, dreary and dangerous end of London, and horrifically unnatural monsters/demons committing graphic murders. This is adult fiction in multiple senses of the word; explicit, violent, with deliberately transgressive sex and language that intensifies the violence (it's not erotica; sexual scenes are brief and hopefully not titillating). If anything, it feels closer to noir film tradition, with a side of paranormal horror. It also bears some resemblance to the Jonathan Norris & Mr. Strange style of adult fantasy. Magic or paranormal aren't particularly beautiful, alluring or empowering, but they're there, they're real, and they're taking lives.
It's not a genre or style that I would generally choose to read, given just how dark it is, but it's a very well executed book, a fascinating departure from anything I've come across in the past, and a wonderful genre-defying piece of entertainment for fans of grittier media. I'd give it about a 3.5/5 for personal entertainment, 4.5/5 for quality and execution.
This was a hard-to-categorize read - and that's not a bad thing. It's challenging; much of the central mystery and the mechanics of the magic that does crop up isn't explained until very late in the story, so there's high tension, but also a good amount of confusion to start with. I found the initial pages fascinating and almost dizzying; I couldn't really follow what was going on, but there was enough there for me to keep trying.
It's classified as Urban Fantasy, but I'm more familiar with the YA romance variant, and this is not at all like that. It's more like a gritty crime thriller, with underworld crime bosses, a dingy, dreary and dangerous end of London, and horrifically unnatural monsters/demons committing graphic murders. This is adult fiction in multiple senses of the word; explicit, violent, with deliberately transgressive sex and language that intensifies the violence (it's not erotica; sexual scenes are brief and hopefully not titillating). If anything, it feels closer to noir film tradition, with a side of paranormal horror. It also bears some resemblance to the Jonathan Norris & Mr. Strange style of adult fantasy. Magic or paranormal aren't particularly beautiful, alluring or empowering, but they're there, they're real, and they're taking lives.
It's not a genre or style that I would generally choose to read, given just how dark it is, but it's a very well executed book, a fascinating departure from anything I've come across in the past, and a wonderful genre-defying piece of entertainment for fans of grittier media. I'd give it about a 3.5/5 for personal entertainment, 4.5/5 for quality and execution.
December 16, 2017
Have you ever picked up a book not really knowing what to expect, then were completely blown away? That was me with this book, and since it just came out I didn't have a lot to go on. I honestly didn't even know what genre to call it (and really still don't!) but I think that was part of what made this novel so good. Glass Town by Steven Savile combines urban fantasy, part thriller, part magical realism, and part old Hollywood glamour to create an engaging, unique plot with new and inventive concepts.
This story follows main character Josh Raines as he attempts to piece together a decades-long family obsession. After his grandfather passes away and leaves him a note detailing some of the family history, Josh has to figure out what really happened so long ago and if there's a chance of making it right. You see, Josh's great-grandfather's girlfriend Eleanor Raines mysteriously disappeared, and he believed that a prominent family in town, the Lockwoods, had something to do with it. Throw in an extraordinary feat by a magician and you're left with Glass Town, a realm trapped in time and space, hidden away from the outside world, where Eleanor has been trapped all these years. Josh soon discovers Glass Town and the truth about what happened, but can he outsmart the still-present Lockwoods and make right the mistakes made that caused the men in his family to obsess for so long?
Glass Town really did surprise me in the best of ways. The characters were beautifully written, and the concepts were so unique. It was very refreshing to see that there are still some really good new ideas in fiction out there! It was creepy with a touch of romance, a fair amount of murder, and a lot of magic. The plot was surprisingly easy to understand as well, considering how elaborate the idea behind Glass Town is. I have to mention that the cover is gorgeous as well! I only really had 2 small issues with this book. First, it was a little bit slow and dragged in some places. And second, there were some really graphic and gruesome sex scenes (if you can call it sex since a ghost/monster is involved!) that seemed a little much to me. Otherwise, this is a really unique read that puts some great new twists on the old concepts of magic and corruption. I could see this being an absolutely fantastic movie!
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Thanks so much to St. Martin's Press for sending me a copy to review!
This story follows main character Josh Raines as he attempts to piece together a decades-long family obsession. After his grandfather passes away and leaves him a note detailing some of the family history, Josh has to figure out what really happened so long ago and if there's a chance of making it right. You see, Josh's great-grandfather's girlfriend Eleanor Raines mysteriously disappeared, and he believed that a prominent family in town, the Lockwoods, had something to do with it. Throw in an extraordinary feat by a magician and you're left with Glass Town, a realm trapped in time and space, hidden away from the outside world, where Eleanor has been trapped all these years. Josh soon discovers Glass Town and the truth about what happened, but can he outsmart the still-present Lockwoods and make right the mistakes made that caused the men in his family to obsess for so long?
Glass Town really did surprise me in the best of ways. The characters were beautifully written, and the concepts were so unique. It was very refreshing to see that there are still some really good new ideas in fiction out there! It was creepy with a touch of romance, a fair amount of murder, and a lot of magic. The plot was surprisingly easy to understand as well, considering how elaborate the idea behind Glass Town is. I have to mention that the cover is gorgeous as well! I only really had 2 small issues with this book. First, it was a little bit slow and dragged in some places. And second, there were some really graphic and gruesome sex scenes (if you can call it sex since a ghost/monster is involved!) that seemed a little much to me. Otherwise, this is a really unique read that puts some great new twists on the old concepts of magic and corruption. I could see this being an absolutely fantastic movie!
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Thanks so much to St. Martin's Press for sending me a copy to review!
January 12, 2018
A story of magic and fantasy, suspense and murder, contained in dual settings of London 1924 and 1994. Two brothers (Seth Lockwood and Isaiah Raines) are in love with the same woman (Eleanor Raines) who mysteriously disappears along with Seth during the filming of Alfred Hitchcock’s debut Number 13 (which never saw completion). The vanishing act was cleverly orchestrated by the illusionist/magician Damiola, who was deceived into performing under gangster Seth Lockwood’s evil trickery and guise. The outerworld of Glass Town is a prison for Eleanor - time is not as it seems - a year lived in Glass Town is a hundred lived outside its invisible shield. Trickery, deception, mob gang leaders, demonic conjurings, obsessions, secrets, good, evil all come into play as Isaiah's great-grandson, Josh, is at the center of the story trying to solve the disappearances and murders to avenge his family and their history.
September 23, 2017
I received this ARC copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. So thank you netgalley and publishers.
This story is about an obsession and one man's attempt to unravel the mystery that destroyed his grandfather's life, set in a magical and intricately woven cityscape.
The synopsis is as follows :
In 1926, two brothers both loved Eleanor Raines, a promising young actress from the East End of London. But, along with Seth Lockwood, she disappeared, never to be seen again. Isaiah, Seth’s younger brother, refused to accept that she was just gone.
It has been seventy years since and the brothers are long dead. But now their dark, twisted secret, threatens to tear the city apart. Seth made a bargain with Damiola, an illusionist, to make a life size version of his most famous trick, and hide away part of London to act as a prison out of sync with our time, where one year passes as one hundred. That illusion is Glass Town. And now its walls are failing.
Reminiscent of Clive Barker’s Weaveworld and Neil Gaiman’s American Gods, Savile brings out the magic in the everyday. Glass Town is full of gritty urban landscapes, realistic characters, conflict, secrets, betrayals, magic, and mystery.
This was an interesting book, I had mixed feelings, I enjoyed it but I felt it was just a bit too slow for me at first.. 4 stars.
This story is about an obsession and one man's attempt to unravel the mystery that destroyed his grandfather's life, set in a magical and intricately woven cityscape.
The synopsis is as follows :
In 1926, two brothers both loved Eleanor Raines, a promising young actress from the East End of London. But, along with Seth Lockwood, she disappeared, never to be seen again. Isaiah, Seth’s younger brother, refused to accept that she was just gone.
It has been seventy years since and the brothers are long dead. But now their dark, twisted secret, threatens to tear the city apart. Seth made a bargain with Damiola, an illusionist, to make a life size version of his most famous trick, and hide away part of London to act as a prison out of sync with our time, where one year passes as one hundred. That illusion is Glass Town. And now its walls are failing.
Reminiscent of Clive Barker’s Weaveworld and Neil Gaiman’s American Gods, Savile brings out the magic in the everyday. Glass Town is full of gritty urban landscapes, realistic characters, conflict, secrets, betrayals, magic, and mystery.
This was an interesting book, I had mixed feelings, I enjoyed it but I felt it was just a bit too slow for me at first.. 4 stars.
December 31, 2017
Cue the Action
Steve is a pal of mine so let's get that out of the way. I have heard him talk about Glass House as something special, something he had labored over and was proud of. I eagerly awaited its release so i could see for myself.
What we have here is a crime novel, a family drama, and a supernatural yarn all freshly wrapped together so it feels new. The tropes are upended and he has found new ways to intrigue us with mysteries and the sesrch for eternal love, and eternal freedom.
This is a good, solid read with strong internal logic making everything feel right. If there is anynflaw is that Josh's famiky is under-developed, notably his sister Lexi. It would have deepened tuujbgs a bit and raised the stakes. But, that is a mere quibble.
Steve is a pal of mine so let's get that out of the way. I have heard him talk about Glass House as something special, something he had labored over and was proud of. I eagerly awaited its release so i could see for myself.
What we have here is a crime novel, a family drama, and a supernatural yarn all freshly wrapped together so it feels new. The tropes are upended and he has found new ways to intrigue us with mysteries and the sesrch for eternal love, and eternal freedom.
This is a good, solid read with strong internal logic making everything feel right. If there is anynflaw is that Josh's famiky is under-developed, notably his sister Lexi. It would have deepened tuujbgs a bit and raised the stakes. But, that is a mere quibble.
February 24, 2018
3 1/2 Stars
Glass Town is a standalone novel written by Steven Savile (you may recognize the name from the credits of Doctor Who, Torchwood, or Stargate). It’s about a young man who inherits a mystery from his father, who inherited it from his own father. The mystery? Eleanor Raines’ disappearance. The elder Raines’ (yes, you read the name correctly) never got over her going missing, and he passed the obsession down through the generations. Now it is Josh’s turn to try and figure out the puzzle left for him.
.For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
Glass Town is a standalone novel written by Steven Savile (you may recognize the name from the credits of Doctor Who, Torchwood, or Stargate). It’s about a young man who inherits a mystery from his father, who inherited it from his own father. The mystery? Eleanor Raines’ disappearance. The elder Raines’ (yes, you read the name correctly) never got over her going missing, and he passed the obsession down through the generations. Now it is Josh’s turn to try and figure out the puzzle left for him.
.For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
February 8, 2018
I know a book is going to be really bad for me when it can't capture my interest AND I do what I need to do to rush through it as quickly as possible. That was Glass Town. The premise of the book is what kept me involved because I knew that it had to have some big finish and then it fell flat for me. Definitely had a feel of more hype than substance to me.
April 5, 2018
Very slow beginning- like painfully slow. I wanted to DNF in the first 50 pages. I’m glad I didn’t because the action really got going and there were some decent reveals and interesting bits- particularly towards the end. This book is right in the middle for me, but I don’t hate it.
August 20, 2024
There are some interesting ideas here, and the book starts well, but unfortunately it rapidly heads downhill. The problem is that it's surprisingly clumsily written for an (allegedly) experienced writer. It just doesn't convince - the characters never come to life and they behave in implausible ways. There are also far too many extended dialogs between characters that go on far too long.
I don't like to be mean about a book, but I think you should avoid this one.
I don't like to be mean about a book, but I think you should avoid this one.
September 4, 2019
Originally published online at BORG.com.
The ideas and situations in Steven Savile’s new novel Glass Town could hardly be more enticing: In 1922 Alfred Hitchcock began, but did not finish, a film called Number 13. One of the sought-after lost films of Hitchcock, little is known but some film stills and production information, leaving an opening to take the film as a linchpin for a noir mystery. Savile takes that film and several fascinating ideas and blends them into what becomes a horror story that incorporates compelling visuals from many possible sources: Dead Again, Laura, Vertigo, Portrait of Jennie, Hugo, The Illusionist, The Prestige, and even an element of Tron. The story doesn’t quite live up to all its antecedents, but it provides some interesting concepts for genre readers willing to dabble in a story full of sex, violence, and grotesque horror along the way.
The grand ideas ultimately are in need of a more refined and pared down plot and possibly a more compelling lead character–Josh is a descendant of a line of men who spent their lives infatuated with a lost actress who appeared in the Number 13. On Josh’s grandfather’s death he is reeled into a world of his own family connections and a history that he learns about and shares with us along the way as he, too, becomes infatuated with the missing actress and the interworkings of his family, tied into a well-known crime lord. But we never learn much about Josh and why we should care about him. Early London cinema and 1990s London don’t quite come through visibly, and the lack of more detailed world building results in a story that could be about a Boston or Chicago or Irish mob family as opposed to the familiar Victorian London of so many classic Gothic novels. We encounter many bleak and unsavory characters and over-the-top situations–the kind of grotesque fantasy of a Clive Barker movie instead of what could have been a more accessible mainstream mystery interweaving the aura of magicians, the historical authority you might find in a Connie Willis novel, or the command of the details of early film technologies you might find in a Kim Newman story.
Yet many great ideas come into play. Josh uncovers and meets a lost and long-dead magician who was able to pull off the ultimate spectacle–hiding an entire town in a glass lens. An evil ancestor of Josh used the magician to trap the actress he was so fascinated with in this world, a world where a day in this Glass Town can equal a week in the real world. The story’s bad guy can even manipulate characters within the films of the silent era to do his bad deeds in our world, and we first meet the famed actress as a ghost as she attempts to find a secret talisman of glass in Josh’s home. Much of the imagery is excellent–a walking and moving actress straight from the beginnings of filmmaking appearing in your living room, incorporating the flickering image of old film as she moves about.
Savile even incorporates concepts of the silent era into his magical concepts, but we’re not provided enough background of why they’re important to the era, like Rushes, Reels, and Negatives. All could use some explanatory, even minimal backstory and context. And we want more Hitchcock, more tie-ins to the production, but we do get to see a glimpse of the lost film as Savile envisions it through Josh’s eyes.
We’re left with what is primarily a creepy, slasher flick horror story closer to The Ring: theatrical ghosts manipulated as slaves, Silent Era comedians shambling as a singular disfigured ghoul, and not enough payoff with the missing actress every man seems to long for, like we feel about Gene Tierney’s character in the noir classic Laura. It’s good stuff, but could be greater, and you could see an ambitious screenwriter carving the story back to what’s best about it for a future feature film.
Great ideas, and sure to find an audience among horror fans but probably too dark for a wider audience, Glass Town is available now.
The ideas and situations in Steven Savile’s new novel Glass Town could hardly be more enticing: In 1922 Alfred Hitchcock began, but did not finish, a film called Number 13. One of the sought-after lost films of Hitchcock, little is known but some film stills and production information, leaving an opening to take the film as a linchpin for a noir mystery. Savile takes that film and several fascinating ideas and blends them into what becomes a horror story that incorporates compelling visuals from many possible sources: Dead Again, Laura, Vertigo, Portrait of Jennie, Hugo, The Illusionist, The Prestige, and even an element of Tron. The story doesn’t quite live up to all its antecedents, but it provides some interesting concepts for genre readers willing to dabble in a story full of sex, violence, and grotesque horror along the way.
The grand ideas ultimately are in need of a more refined and pared down plot and possibly a more compelling lead character–Josh is a descendant of a line of men who spent their lives infatuated with a lost actress who appeared in the Number 13. On Josh’s grandfather’s death he is reeled into a world of his own family connections and a history that he learns about and shares with us along the way as he, too, becomes infatuated with the missing actress and the interworkings of his family, tied into a well-known crime lord. But we never learn much about Josh and why we should care about him. Early London cinema and 1990s London don’t quite come through visibly, and the lack of more detailed world building results in a story that could be about a Boston or Chicago or Irish mob family as opposed to the familiar Victorian London of so many classic Gothic novels. We encounter many bleak and unsavory characters and over-the-top situations–the kind of grotesque fantasy of a Clive Barker movie instead of what could have been a more accessible mainstream mystery interweaving the aura of magicians, the historical authority you might find in a Connie Willis novel, or the command of the details of early film technologies you might find in a Kim Newman story.
Yet many great ideas come into play. Josh uncovers and meets a lost and long-dead magician who was able to pull off the ultimate spectacle–hiding an entire town in a glass lens. An evil ancestor of Josh used the magician to trap the actress he was so fascinated with in this world, a world where a day in this Glass Town can equal a week in the real world. The story’s bad guy can even manipulate characters within the films of the silent era to do his bad deeds in our world, and we first meet the famed actress as a ghost as she attempts to find a secret talisman of glass in Josh’s home. Much of the imagery is excellent–a walking and moving actress straight from the beginnings of filmmaking appearing in your living room, incorporating the flickering image of old film as she moves about.
Savile even incorporates concepts of the silent era into his magical concepts, but we’re not provided enough background of why they’re important to the era, like Rushes, Reels, and Negatives. All could use some explanatory, even minimal backstory and context. And we want more Hitchcock, more tie-ins to the production, but we do get to see a glimpse of the lost film as Savile envisions it through Josh’s eyes.
We’re left with what is primarily a creepy, slasher flick horror story closer to The Ring: theatrical ghosts manipulated as slaves, Silent Era comedians shambling as a singular disfigured ghoul, and not enough payoff with the missing actress every man seems to long for, like we feel about Gene Tierney’s character in the noir classic Laura. It’s good stuff, but could be greater, and you could see an ambitious screenwriter carving the story back to what’s best about it for a future feature film.
Great ideas, and sure to find an audience among horror fans but probably too dark for a wider audience, Glass Town is available now.
February 21, 2018
~ Introduction ~
I don't really ever read thrillers because they are not my thing. I do like mysteries but there's just something I really can't get into with thrillers. This book is classified as a thriller. The synopsis of this book was what interested me in it, to begin with. I wanted to know what was going to happen. I thought that the magic system would be interesting. Sadly, once I got into this book I realized that it was not what I wanted.
I will say that the beginning was interesting. The letter from Josh's great-grandfather to his grandfather was a really great way to start. I wanted to know more about his "love" for Eleanor. As the novel went on we never got any more of his perspective. It would have been great to get more of it. This book has a great idea behind it. I just do not believe that it was executed in a good way at all. I'll discuss those reasons below.
~ Pacing ~
This is meant to be a thriller but was slow in the scenes that should have been thrilling. There are only a couple of scenes that even felt "thrilling." The actions scenes needed to be quickened a bit.
~ Characters ~
Most of the characters were two dimensional and were not that interesting. The only character that was developed was Josh, but he even wasn't developed enough. He was just as bland a character as all of the others. His motivations are unclear and quite frankly didn't seem real. It only seemed like he was even trying to figure out the mystery because of the plot. He was even asked by multiple characters about why he was even doing everything and he never really had an answer.
The villain in this story was evil just to be evil. We never got any of his motivations to act in the way he did. For instance, why is he obsessed with Eleanor? I don't know probably because she's pretty. Not that he even says it himself.
Don't even get me started on Eleanor. She's basically an object for the men of the Lockwood family to obsess about like a brand new shiny toy.
~ Scenes ~
There are some pretty messed up scenes in this book that make it a very adult read. Two of them are sexual scenes that are gory and quite horrifying to listen to. This is one of the only ways horror is actually brought into the novel and it's pretty awful to listen to. I was not expecting for these graphic scenes when I went into this book and it was not a style that I enjoyed in the slightest. I know I would have never listened to this book if I went in knowing about these scenes. They were just disgusting. Also, the language is vulgar. This is definitely not for children.
~ Magic System ~
This was one of the aspects of the book that I had been looking forward to. I really wanted to know what was going on with the Glass Town. The idea of having it work with the old silent movies was a fantastic idea but it was not really explained too well. Also, the use of the missing Alfred Hitchcock movie Thirteen was really cool. We just ever got enough of it at all.
It really is interesting to set part of the novel in 1920s England and the others in 1990s. I wanted to see more of the 1920s because it would have helped flesh out the plot a lot more. This has one of the most interesting premises that I have heard in quite some time for a thriller but it just didn't work.
~ Narration ~
The best part of this audiobook was the narration. Steve West's narration creates a chilling atmosphere that matches the Glass Town and its inhabitants perfectly. He helps create the eerie setting of this novel. I'm glad that I listened to it instead of just reading it because it's the only reason I didn't outright hate it. I'm only giving it two stars because of the narration.
I don't recommend this book.
*I received this book for free for an honest review*
I don't really ever read thrillers because they are not my thing. I do like mysteries but there's just something I really can't get into with thrillers. This book is classified as a thriller. The synopsis of this book was what interested me in it, to begin with. I wanted to know what was going to happen. I thought that the magic system would be interesting. Sadly, once I got into this book I realized that it was not what I wanted.
I will say that the beginning was interesting. The letter from Josh's great-grandfather to his grandfather was a really great way to start. I wanted to know more about his "love" for Eleanor. As the novel went on we never got any more of his perspective. It would have been great to get more of it. This book has a great idea behind it. I just do not believe that it was executed in a good way at all. I'll discuss those reasons below.
~ Pacing ~
This is meant to be a thriller but was slow in the scenes that should have been thrilling. There are only a couple of scenes that even felt "thrilling." The actions scenes needed to be quickened a bit.
~ Characters ~
Most of the characters were two dimensional and were not that interesting. The only character that was developed was Josh, but he even wasn't developed enough. He was just as bland a character as all of the others. His motivations are unclear and quite frankly didn't seem real. It only seemed like he was even trying to figure out the mystery because of the plot. He was even asked by multiple characters about why he was even doing everything and he never really had an answer.
The villain in this story was evil just to be evil. We never got any of his motivations to act in the way he did. For instance, why is he obsessed with Eleanor? I don't know probably because she's pretty. Not that he even says it himself.
Don't even get me started on Eleanor. She's basically an object for the men of the Lockwood family to obsess about like a brand new shiny toy.
~ Scenes ~
There are some pretty messed up scenes in this book that make it a very adult read. Two of them are sexual scenes that are gory and quite horrifying to listen to. This is one of the only ways horror is actually brought into the novel and it's pretty awful to listen to. I was not expecting for these graphic scenes when I went into this book and it was not a style that I enjoyed in the slightest. I know I would have never listened to this book if I went in knowing about these scenes. They were just disgusting. Also, the language is vulgar. This is definitely not for children.
~ Magic System ~
This was one of the aspects of the book that I had been looking forward to. I really wanted to know what was going on with the Glass Town. The idea of having it work with the old silent movies was a fantastic idea but it was not really explained too well. Also, the use of the missing Alfred Hitchcock movie Thirteen was really cool. We just ever got enough of it at all.
It really is interesting to set part of the novel in 1920s England and the others in 1990s. I wanted to see more of the 1920s because it would have helped flesh out the plot a lot more. This has one of the most interesting premises that I have heard in quite some time for a thriller but it just didn't work.
~ Narration ~
The best part of this audiobook was the narration. Steve West's narration creates a chilling atmosphere that matches the Glass Town and its inhabitants perfectly. He helps create the eerie setting of this novel. I'm glad that I listened to it instead of just reading it because it's the only reason I didn't outright hate it. I'm only giving it two stars because of the narration.
I don't recommend this book.
*I received this book for free for an honest review*
January 19, 2018
Mystery. Magicians. Classic films. Alternate realities. Feuding families. When I read the synopsis for Glass Town it immediately went on my To Read List. But it was a huge disappointment and not a book I would recommend to anyone.
O the misogyny! Ugh. Just ugh.
I wanted to love this book. I expected to get swept away to a 1920s London filled with a complex mystery and a heart rending love story. But...no. Instead, it’s just about Josh, the protagonist, suddenly deciding he has to solve the mystery of this decade-long family feud. He has basically zero motivation for doing so and he’s able to do so with ridiculous ease. The letter! The key! The map! He stumbles from one clue to the next in a matter of moments. No.
Josh is so one dimensional I did not care about him in the slightest. The mystery at the heart of the story is in the background so I really had no feeling whatsoever about why it was important at all. The pacing is frantic, there are very creepy man-made monsters (and even creepier sex), and did I mention the misogyny?
O the misogyny! Ugh. Just ugh.
I wanted to love this book. I expected to get swept away to a 1920s London filled with a complex mystery and a heart rending love story. But...no. Instead, it’s just about Josh, the protagonist, suddenly deciding he has to solve the mystery of this decade-long family feud. He has basically zero motivation for doing so and he’s able to do so with ridiculous ease. The letter! The key! The map! He stumbles from one clue to the next in a matter of moments. No.
Josh is so one dimensional I did not care about him in the slightest. The mystery at the heart of the story is in the background so I really had no feeling whatsoever about why it was important at all. The pacing is frantic, there are very creepy man-made monsters (and even creepier sex), and did I mention the misogyny?
December 26, 2017
*I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
DNF @ 13%
I don't know what I was expecting when I picked up this book, but it wasn't what I got.
So, I have to say I think the writing is well done and there is a very interesting story here which I was only just able to break the surface of, but it isn't for me.
Something about the writing just doesn't fit with me and the pacing--- while not slow, does feel weird to me. I also was confused on the setting while reading. One minute the characters are at a funeral, the next a bar --so I assume the funeral is over, but next chapter is the wake which had me oh so confused.
So, while the mystery of Glass Town and the dynamics of a family feud revolving around one women may really appeal to people and keep them interested, the feud actually annoyed me and the mystery couldn't hold me through the strange set-up.
DNF @ 13%
I don't know what I was expecting when I picked up this book, but it wasn't what I got.
So, I have to say I think the writing is well done and there is a very interesting story here which I was only just able to break the surface of, but it isn't for me.
Something about the writing just doesn't fit with me and the pacing--- while not slow, does feel weird to me. I also was confused on the setting while reading. One minute the characters are at a funeral, the next a bar --so I assume the funeral is over, but next chapter is the wake which had me oh so confused.
So, while the mystery of Glass Town and the dynamics of a family feud revolving around one women may really appeal to people and keep them interested, the feud actually annoyed me and the mystery couldn't hold me through the strange set-up.
May 19, 2018
It's tough to define the genre for this book, which I think in some way goes to explain the fact that the reviews are so mixed. There are elements of fantasy, supernatural, horror, and thriller, yet to class it as any one of those would be doing it an injustice.
Joshua Raines swears he's just seen the woman his grandfather used to obsess about. And it wasn't an old woman, it was exactly the same young woman he's seen images of. It's not long before Joshua is following in his grandfathers obsessive footsteps, a path that leads him into a world of magic. A path that leads him to Glass Town.
If you like your fiction dark and magical, then this is the book for you. Savile has created an amazing world, hidden within the hustle and bustle of modern London.
Joshua Raines swears he's just seen the woman his grandfather used to obsess about. And it wasn't an old woman, it was exactly the same young woman he's seen images of. It's not long before Joshua is following in his grandfathers obsessive footsteps, a path that leads him into a world of magic. A path that leads him to Glass Town.
If you like your fiction dark and magical, then this is the book for you. Savile has created an amazing world, hidden within the hustle and bustle of modern London.
November 30, 2017
I have mixed feelings about this book. First – I love the story premise. The novel is well written. The characters Josh and Julie are likeable. My rating must hover somewhere between “It’s ok” and “I like it”. I am sure there is an audience for Glass Town. Unfortunately, I had to force myself to finish the novel, not because it was bad but because I just never could get into it. I wish I could say more positive or negative but I simply have a neutral view of it. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for supplying me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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