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Byrne House #1
Under Glass And Stone
Perfect for teen and adult fans of supernatural suspense, with a thrilling historical mystery that'll keep you guessing.Two disappearances, over a century apart...The truth waits inside Byrne House.
For five generations, Evelyn's family has lived in the same small brick house, shadowed by the mansion across the street. Her Nana filled her childhood with stories about Byrne tales of missing children, of lovers gone mad. The mansion loomed every night in her dreams. Even now, at seventeen, Evelyn watches the sprawling Victorian from her second-floor bedroom, unable to explain her obsession with a house she's never been inside.
Then one of the boys in her senior class disappears. Evelyn is the last person to see him--just a pale face in Byrne House's tower window.
The police don't believe her. Even her friends think she just imagined the face in the window. Only Alex--a handsome newcomer with his own ties to Byrne House--shares her suspicions. Alex believes that this latest disappearance is tied to the mansion's long-buried past. But there's more that Alex isn't telling her. Evelyn has no idea how far she'll have to go to find the answers. Or what she'll have to remember.
"A.N. Willis has captivated me yet again! Under Glass And Stone is an expertly-woven gothic romance with a mystery that kept me turning pages." Cheyanne Young, author of The Last Wish Of Sasha Cade
For five generations, Evelyn's family has lived in the same small brick house, shadowed by the mansion across the street. Her Nana filled her childhood with stories about Byrne tales of missing children, of lovers gone mad. The mansion loomed every night in her dreams. Even now, at seventeen, Evelyn watches the sprawling Victorian from her second-floor bedroom, unable to explain her obsession with a house she's never been inside.
Then one of the boys in her senior class disappears. Evelyn is the last person to see him--just a pale face in Byrne House's tower window.
The police don't believe her. Even her friends think she just imagined the face in the window. Only Alex--a handsome newcomer with his own ties to Byrne House--shares her suspicions. Alex believes that this latest disappearance is tied to the mansion's long-buried past. But there's more that Alex isn't telling her. Evelyn has no idea how far she'll have to go to find the answers. Or what she'll have to remember.
"A.N. Willis has captivated me yet again! Under Glass And Stone is an expertly-woven gothic romance with a mystery that kept me turning pages." Cheyanne Young, author of The Last Wish Of Sasha Cade
Kindle Edition
First published April 7, 2020
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About the author
A.N. Willis
16 books134 followersA.N. Willis writes gripping mysteries and paranormal suspense where the past never stays buried.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
July 17, 2020
I thought Under Glass And Stone was overall an interesting, fast-paced and well developed book that was just as spooky as the blurb promises it to be, to the point I barely could read it at night.
Before I dive deeper into why I'm giving this book only 3,5 starts, despite liking it quite fine, I want to point out that the biggest part of reasons why I didn't fully enjoy it is probably to blame on the fact that I clearly was part of the wrong target for this book, age-wise speaking.
In fact, I couldn't connect with the characters enough to get attached to them and I felt some of their dynamics with one another and approaches to various situations were too rushed, childish and made little sense.
Again, this is probably all on me, because I'm sure younger readers will find many ways to enjoy Evelyn, Alex and Milo's company more than I did.
I really loved the writing, it was really atmospheric and dark. The first chapter is a very well excecuted entry that immediately brings you into the story. Sadly, I can't say the same about many dialogues and descriptions. I found they fell a bit blandly sometimes, thing that brought some seriously anticlimatic vibes to scenes and interactions the author clearly meant to be perceived in another way.
The mystery/horror aspect remains the strongest point of the story and is also the thing I've loved the most about this book. There were moments I was really scared and it hasn't happened many times before, so bravo to the author for all the nightmares she's gonna cause with this cratfy, spooky and extremely entrertaining story.
ACTUAL RATINGS 3,5/5
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Woop woop, all aboard the spooky train!
August 4, 2021
Under Glass and Stone is a young adult Gothic mystery that is exceedingly well-plotted. Castle Heights is an area where most families can trace their roots to the time the town was completed and Byrne House is this looming spooky mansion that has a lot of painful history attached to it.
Milo Foster was on his way to meet his grandmother but the scream that pierces the air from Byrne House forces him to abandon his bike and rush into the house. It is an image that is going to haunt Evelyn in days to come as no one sees Milo again. Evelyn struggles to convince the police that Milo is still somewhere inside the huge gothic mansion with her own mother refusing to acknowledge her claims and believing it is her obsession with the house talking. Unexpected help comes in the form of Alex Evans with his own personal demons and connection to the old house.
The protagonists are 17 years old but thankfully the author has characterized them mostly with some sense and maturity which has been lacking in few YA books that I have read recently. The history of the house comes alive with the discovery of Ada Byrne’s letters to her sister Mary and this historical part was absolutely fascinating that I wished for more from Ada and her POV. The middle segment of the story veers a bit toward the teenage drama with a sampling of 3-way romance and jealousy but in all fairness, Byrne House with its labyrinthine tunnels and the mystery surrounding the hallucinations takes center stage soon, and the author hooks in the reader to offer a thumping ride. A.N Willis has worked wonders creating a creepy haunted feel with the description of Byrne House.
The romance between Alex and Evelyn was sweet and touching and the friendship between all of them filled with warmth, I loved how they join hands together to discover more about the intrigue that surrounds Byrne House. Alex was a fantastic character who had a streak of a daredevil to him but still had a sense of right and wrong. The fantasy element in the story adds to the anticipation of the thriller and the twisty plot had me reading this well into the night.
Highly recommended for fans of gothic mysteries with romance and suspense!
Mysterious 5 stars☔☔☔☔☔
Many thanks to Booksirens and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/, Goodreads, Amazon India, Medium.com, Facebook, and Twitter.
Milo Foster was on his way to meet his grandmother but the scream that pierces the air from Byrne House forces him to abandon his bike and rush into the house. It is an image that is going to haunt Evelyn in days to come as no one sees Milo again. Evelyn struggles to convince the police that Milo is still somewhere inside the huge gothic mansion with her own mother refusing to acknowledge her claims and believing it is her obsession with the house talking. Unexpected help comes in the form of Alex Evans with his own personal demons and connection to the old house.
The protagonists are 17 years old but thankfully the author has characterized them mostly with some sense and maturity which has been lacking in few YA books that I have read recently. The history of the house comes alive with the discovery of Ada Byrne’s letters to her sister Mary and this historical part was absolutely fascinating that I wished for more from Ada and her POV. The middle segment of the story veers a bit toward the teenage drama with a sampling of 3-way romance and jealousy but in all fairness, Byrne House with its labyrinthine tunnels and the mystery surrounding the hallucinations takes center stage soon, and the author hooks in the reader to offer a thumping ride. A.N Willis has worked wonders creating a creepy haunted feel with the description of Byrne House.
The romance between Alex and Evelyn was sweet and touching and the friendship between all of them filled with warmth, I loved how they join hands together to discover more about the intrigue that surrounds Byrne House. Alex was a fantastic character who had a streak of a daredevil to him but still had a sense of right and wrong. The fantasy element in the story adds to the anticipation of the thriller and the twisty plot had me reading this well into the night.
Highly recommended for fans of gothic mysteries with romance and suspense!
Mysterious 5 stars☔☔☔☔☔
Many thanks to Booksirens and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/, Goodreads, Amazon India, Medium.com, Facebook, and Twitter.
May 3, 2020
Thank you to the author for the review copy!
WOW, YOU GUYS! Going in, I thought I was getting an old house mystery plot, but what I got instead was an intricated plot weaved around engaging characters that I couldn't help but root for. I stayed up for over three hours reading this and I swore I didn't blink once.
Here's the breakdown: Evelyn lives across the street from the Bryne House, an old mansion that she's oddly felt ties to. After an incident with the owner, she witnesses a fellow classmate Milo going inside the house, only to never come back out. Reeling, she teams up with Alex, a relative of the Bryne family to figure out how Milo disappeared and what's causing the strange happenings shortly after.
Ok so, here is what I absolutely adored:
1. The letters from Ada, the wife of Walter Bryne written in the 1900s. These letters were so intriguing that I was almost disappointed when we were brought back to the present. In these letters, we discover who she was and how her husband declined into madness, therefore, providing Evelyn and Alex clues about the house and what happened in the past.
2. The writing. It flowed so easily and the pacing was perfection. Image quality and originality were 10/10
3. The characters felt YA without it being "too YA" if that makes any sense? In some books, you can almost feel like the authors think teenagers are stupid and careless without a brain in their head to make intelligent decisions. Willis does teens well in her book by giving them flaws and limitations, but also heart, empathy, and brains.
4. The romance. It was well-done IMO and was not the center of the plot.
What I disliked:
1. I'm not sure this can even count as a dislike, but I wanted more of Ada's letters :D
This book shows me that I need to stray off the paved path a little more often and stray into new territory. I cannot wait to read the second installment.
WOW, YOU GUYS! Going in, I thought I was getting an old house mystery plot, but what I got instead was an intricated plot weaved around engaging characters that I couldn't help but root for. I stayed up for over three hours reading this and I swore I didn't blink once.
Here's the breakdown: Evelyn lives across the street from the Bryne House, an old mansion that she's oddly felt ties to. After an incident with the owner, she witnesses a fellow classmate Milo going inside the house, only to never come back out. Reeling, she teams up with Alex, a relative of the Bryne family to figure out how Milo disappeared and what's causing the strange happenings shortly after.
Ok so, here is what I absolutely adored:
1. The letters from Ada, the wife of Walter Bryne written in the 1900s. These letters were so intriguing that I was almost disappointed when we were brought back to the present. In these letters, we discover who she was and how her husband declined into madness, therefore, providing Evelyn and Alex clues about the house and what happened in the past.
2. The writing. It flowed so easily and the pacing was perfection. Image quality and originality were 10/10
3. The characters felt YA without it being "too YA" if that makes any sense? In some books, you can almost feel like the authors think teenagers are stupid and careless without a brain in their head to make intelligent decisions. Willis does teens well in her book by giving them flaws and limitations, but also heart, empathy, and brains.
4. The romance. It was well-done IMO and was not the center of the plot.
What I disliked:
1. I'm not sure this can even count as a dislike, but I wanted more of Ada's letters :D
This book shows me that I need to stray off the paved path a little more often and stray into new territory. I cannot wait to read the second installment.
April 8, 2020
Old homes hold more than just quaint or gothic appeal. They have sat for decades, or possibly centuries, collecting the whispers of the past inside their walls. What if you could glimpse that past?
Evelyn lives with nightmares and a haunting connection to Byrne House, the mansion across the street from her humble abode. One day the former owner dies and her close friend disappears inside the mansion trying to help him. With the arrival of the mysterious Alex , they both set on a path to solve the disappearance of Evelyn's friend and unravel the dark secrets of Bryne House's past.
This was suspenseful, intriguing and also slightly sad. The author did a great job of unraveling the plot to keep you on your toes with just the right amount of sinister floating in the air. This read more like a who-dunnit novel for me and I spent a good bit of my reading changing my opinion. The letters from Ada were my favorite part from Bryne House past. It added a beautiful element of anticipation as the clues in modern time unfolded.
I do have one drawback on an aspect of the plot but due to spoilers I won't mention it here. I can say that I would've liked more in-depth background information on the cause of everyone's "issue". Possibly more looks into the nightmares that plagued Evelyn too.
I'm pleased to have had the opportunity to review this for an honest and unbiased opinion. Recommend for young adult readers of the suspenseful and supernatural.
Evelyn lives with nightmares and a haunting connection to Byrne House, the mansion across the street from her humble abode. One day the former owner dies and her close friend disappears inside the mansion trying to help him. With the arrival of the mysterious Alex , they both set on a path to solve the disappearance of Evelyn's friend and unravel the dark secrets of Bryne House's past.
This was suspenseful, intriguing and also slightly sad. The author did a great job of unraveling the plot to keep you on your toes with just the right amount of sinister floating in the air. This read more like a who-dunnit novel for me and I spent a good bit of my reading changing my opinion. The letters from Ada were my favorite part from Bryne House past. It added a beautiful element of anticipation as the clues in modern time unfolded.
I do have one drawback on an aspect of the plot but due to spoilers I won't mention it here. I can say that I would've liked more in-depth background information on the cause of everyone's "issue". Possibly more looks into the nightmares that plagued Evelyn too.
I'm pleased to have had the opportunity to review this for an honest and unbiased opinion. Recommend for young adult readers of the suspenseful and supernatural.
February 26, 2020
I recieved this free ebook ARC for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book. It had suspense, twists and some supernatural things going on. The characters in the story are relatable and I couldn't put the book down. It kept me on the edge of my seat and couldn't wait to find out who was behind it all(I did not figure it out and was shocked). I will read more by this author and will be looking out for the next in this series. Definitely worth the read and you will be hooked.
June 28, 2020
Thank you to BookSirens for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
I really enjoyed this novel! YA gothic isn't as commonly (or well) done as I want it to be, so this was a great surprise.
Willis really knows how to write atmosphere. Those first few chapters sucked me in. We've got a protagonist, Evelyn, who isn't sure if her obsession with Byrne House is madness or memory. Then one day, her best friend goes missing, even though she last saw him from inside the house's window. We have other gothic staples: an old family with a dark secret, underground labyrinths and creepy doorways, a hundred year old unsolved crime, a mad scientist, and even some incest. I particularly enjoyed how Evelyn also solves the mystery by uncovering letters penned by the woman who married into the Byrne family a hundred years ago. Very, very gothic!
My main issue is with the predictable romance. We have a semi love triangle (I say semi because it's obvious who Evelyn will end up with) between two boys: the mysterious, scarred bad boy who is new in town and Evelyn's sweet best friend. Whenever the focus shifted too much on the romance, I wanted to fast forward to the mystery instead.
Do note that this is a contemporary novel, not a historical one. I was surprised when the vibes became too contemporary after the middle point—cellphones, parties, drugs, detectives. At one point we started solving mysteries with the whole Scooby gang, which is more of a YA trope, so I can't really fault it.
Lastly, I wish the author set up more foreshadowing and clues for her end villain. They really made sense, and I didn't trust her red herrings at all. But I still felt like some subplots were unresolved and it would have been more impactful if she dropped hints way earlier. More hints too, not just one cryptic conversation or two.
TL;DR pretty enjoyable! I recommend this to someone who wants a spooky gothic story but without too much darkness and violence. Definitely good for a YA or younger audience.
I really enjoyed this novel! YA gothic isn't as commonly (or well) done as I want it to be, so this was a great surprise.
Willis really knows how to write atmosphere. Those first few chapters sucked me in. We've got a protagonist, Evelyn, who isn't sure if her obsession with Byrne House is madness or memory. Then one day, her best friend goes missing, even though she last saw him from inside the house's window. We have other gothic staples: an old family with a dark secret, underground labyrinths and creepy doorways, a hundred year old unsolved crime, a mad scientist, and even some incest. I particularly enjoyed how Evelyn also solves the mystery by uncovering letters penned by the woman who married into the Byrne family a hundred years ago. Very, very gothic!
My main issue is with the predictable romance. We have a semi love triangle (I say semi because it's obvious who Evelyn will end up with) between two boys: the mysterious, scarred bad boy who is new in town and Evelyn's sweet best friend. Whenever the focus shifted too much on the romance, I wanted to fast forward to the mystery instead.
Do note that this is a contemporary novel, not a historical one. I was surprised when the vibes became too contemporary after the middle point—cellphones, parties, drugs, detectives. At one point we started solving mysteries with the whole Scooby gang, which is more of a YA trope, so I can't really fault it.
Lastly, I wish the author set up more foreshadowing and clues for her end villain. They really made sense, and I didn't trust her red herrings at all. But I still felt like some subplots were unresolved and it would have been more impactful if she dropped hints way earlier. More hints too, not just one cryptic conversation or two.
TL;DR pretty enjoyable! I recommend this to someone who wants a spooky gothic story but without too much darkness and violence. Definitely good for a YA or younger audience.
February 29, 2020
**I received an ARC through BookSirens in exchange for an honest review**
For me, this book was hard to rate and I'm not entirely sure why. But I want to start with the positives.
Under Glass and Stone had a very good sense of mystery. I loved Ada's letters - I really got a feel for her character through them. I think I would've loved seeing more of the book through her POV.
I felt like Alex Evans was the most fleshed-out character. I got to learn quite a bit about him from other characters and different situations found in the book.
I chose this book based on the description - and I feel as though it delivered. At first I wasn't thrilled that it was Part 1, but it's only supposed to be a duology so I'm okay with that.
That said, I feel like...I didn't connect with the book. I feel like the book is a lot of telling, and not very much SHOWING. I didn't really connect or relate to any of the other characters. They all seemed like shadows - including Evelyn. I was told in the book that she was obsessed with Bryne house, but I never really SAW it. Her mother was only around to overreact - I've read other books with overprotective and overbearing parents that seemed to display it better than here. Mostly I read that Evelyn was afraid of how her mom would react - I didn't SEE her mom reacting very much (unless it was at an inopportune moment). Then the rest of the time, her mom was at work.
Silvia, her jerk boyfriend Jake, and Ms Foster, and Milo, were just in the background. They only came alive through Evelyn, and since she is also a shadow character, she didn't have enough substance to make them ALIVE. I didn't get a complete sense of ANY of these people. Jake was the only one who had some character changes at the end.
I want to have a spoiler free review, but I have to say that the fantasy element present in this book stood out too much. It didn't meld with the story. It was an excellent storyline, it was just jarring because when it was introduced, it didn't seem to fit in. I had trouble feeling a sense of urgency or atmosphere. I was also confused about how the area Evelyn lived in was laid out - Bryne house has a maze...is it just on a giant plot of land? Is it on a cliff? I don't understand how it connects (or stands out from) their neighborhood. I don't even remember where they LIVE (state? city? made up area??).
That was my overall problem with the book: I can't really seem to REMEMBER it very well. It slid off my mind as fast as I read it. What stuck with me was Ada. I would've enjoyed alternate chapters from her POV. I think that would've made up for a lot of Evelyn's blankness.
Definitely not wild about the cover. Covers are pretty important to me. I do choose based off them AS WELL AS plot. But maybe it's my general disinterest in plaid shirts. I'm not saying redesign it completely, but maybe take out the girl. Or dress her in something different.
This book did have a resolution which I was grateful for. Obviously since there's a second one, there will be more that occurs. I'll admit I'm a little stumped what the plot will be because I wasn't left with too many unanswered questions.
Under Glass and Stone did keep me interested and kept me reading. I will want to read the second one. If you're asking yourself if you should pick it up, I say, Why not? Make up your own mind.
For me, this book was hard to rate and I'm not entirely sure why. But I want to start with the positives.
Under Glass and Stone had a very good sense of mystery. I loved Ada's letters - I really got a feel for her character through them. I think I would've loved seeing more of the book through her POV.
I felt like Alex Evans was the most fleshed-out character. I got to learn quite a bit about him from other characters and different situations found in the book.
I chose this book based on the description - and I feel as though it delivered. At first I wasn't thrilled that it was Part 1, but it's only supposed to be a duology so I'm okay with that.
That said, I feel like...I didn't connect with the book. I feel like the book is a lot of telling, and not very much SHOWING. I didn't really connect or relate to any of the other characters. They all seemed like shadows - including Evelyn. I was told in the book that she was obsessed with Bryne house, but I never really SAW it. Her mother was only around to overreact - I've read other books with overprotective and overbearing parents that seemed to display it better than here. Mostly I read that Evelyn was afraid of how her mom would react - I didn't SEE her mom reacting very much (unless it was at an inopportune moment). Then the rest of the time, her mom was at work.
Silvia, her jerk boyfriend Jake, and Ms Foster, and Milo, were just in the background. They only came alive through Evelyn, and since she is also a shadow character, she didn't have enough substance to make them ALIVE. I didn't get a complete sense of ANY of these people. Jake was the only one who had some character changes at the end.
I want to have a spoiler free review, but I have to say that the fantasy element present in this book stood out too much. It didn't meld with the story. It was an excellent storyline, it was just jarring because when it was introduced, it didn't seem to fit in. I had trouble feeling a sense of urgency or atmosphere. I was also confused about how the area Evelyn lived in was laid out - Bryne house has a maze...is it just on a giant plot of land? Is it on a cliff? I don't understand how it connects (or stands out from) their neighborhood. I don't even remember where they LIVE (state? city? made up area??).
That was my overall problem with the book: I can't really seem to REMEMBER it very well. It slid off my mind as fast as I read it. What stuck with me was Ada. I would've enjoyed alternate chapters from her POV. I think that would've made up for a lot of Evelyn's blankness.
Definitely not wild about the cover. Covers are pretty important to me. I do choose based off them AS WELL AS plot. But maybe it's my general disinterest in plaid shirts. I'm not saying redesign it completely, but maybe take out the girl. Or dress her in something different.
This book did have a resolution which I was grateful for. Obviously since there's a second one, there will be more that occurs. I'll admit I'm a little stumped what the plot will be because I wasn't left with too many unanswered questions.
Under Glass and Stone did keep me interested and kept me reading. I will want to read the second one. If you're asking yourself if you should pick it up, I say, Why not? Make up your own mind.
February 22, 2020
I loved it. I didn't put it down unless I had to. A fast paced,nail biter with twists you won't see coming. I found myself so immersed with the characters that my heart pounded along with them.This is the first book I have read by this author, but it won't be the last. If you enjoy supernatural stories with lots of tension and suspense, you will love Under Glass and Stone. I received this book as an ARC and this is my honest review.
March 23, 2020
What I Loved:
Under Stone and Glass was such an amazing story with a well-written plot and I loved all of it. I was blown away by the story of the house. A.N. Willis wove such an intricate story in such an amazing way, I was absolutely captivated.
How I Felt:
The characters give a young adult feel to this story, however, it’s perfect for adults. Evelyn, our main character, is a high school student plagued by terrible dreams that feel more like memories of the house across the street. Everyone thinks she is obsessed with the house and needs to move on. She’s such a determined character and knows deep down that something is not right. She meets Alex and quickly finds that she’s infatuated with him, but also that he may hold secrets that she needs to know. Alex was a great character. He’s a bit about breaking the rules, but also wants to do the right thing. It was a nice mix for his character that kept me wondering what his motives were.
The house this story circulates around is creepy and intriguing and filled with secrets that just didn’t stop coming. A.N. Willis did an amazing job describing the Byrne House. It was such an integral part of the story and her descriptions made the story flow well and feel so real. This house had such an amazing creep factor. It’s like the perfect haunted house, but I’m not sure anyone really wants to go there! It was a great setting for this story.
The story starts with the discovery of the body of the owner of Byrne House by the housekeeper. Evelyn sees this through her bedroom window and then see her friend go inside to try to help. He doesn’t come out though. The police searched the house and don’t find him. They are convinced he left on foot, but Evelyn knows that’s not true. Distraught about her friend’s disappearance into a house she knows has some connection to her and her past, she is determined to discover what happened to him on her own. She meets Alyx, a boy who seems to know a lot about the Byrne House and its secrets. He seems to agree with her that her friend is truly missing. Together they try to unravel the secrets of this house and uncover more than they could have ever expected.
The plot of Under Glass and Stone was so well constructed. I felt like every revelation along the way was timed just right. There was a fair amount of suspense and anticipation, which I loved. There were times where I literally covered the pages to give myself a moment before I moved on! The secrets that were discovered were mind-blowing. I felt like I continued to be surprised over and over again, making this such a thrill to read.
Overall, I absolutely loved reading this book. This is the first book in the series, and I cannot wait for the second! The characters were easy to connect with, the story was beautifully written, and the plot was filled with twists. This thriller was everything I wanted it to be, and I loved it.
To Read or Not To Read: I would recommend Under Glass and Stone to readers that enjoy a spooky thriller with a touch of paranormal aspects.
I was provided an advanced reader's copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
This review will post to my blog on 3/27/20. All of my reviews can be found at https://shejustlovesbooks.com/
Under Stone and Glass was such an amazing story with a well-written plot and I loved all of it. I was blown away by the story of the house. A.N. Willis wove such an intricate story in such an amazing way, I was absolutely captivated.
How I Felt:
The characters give a young adult feel to this story, however, it’s perfect for adults. Evelyn, our main character, is a high school student plagued by terrible dreams that feel more like memories of the house across the street. Everyone thinks she is obsessed with the house and needs to move on. She’s such a determined character and knows deep down that something is not right. She meets Alex and quickly finds that she’s infatuated with him, but also that he may hold secrets that she needs to know. Alex was a great character. He’s a bit about breaking the rules, but also wants to do the right thing. It was a nice mix for his character that kept me wondering what his motives were.
The house this story circulates around is creepy and intriguing and filled with secrets that just didn’t stop coming. A.N. Willis did an amazing job describing the Byrne House. It was such an integral part of the story and her descriptions made the story flow well and feel so real. This house had such an amazing creep factor. It’s like the perfect haunted house, but I’m not sure anyone really wants to go there! It was a great setting for this story.
The story starts with the discovery of the body of the owner of Byrne House by the housekeeper. Evelyn sees this through her bedroom window and then see her friend go inside to try to help. He doesn’t come out though. The police searched the house and don’t find him. They are convinced he left on foot, but Evelyn knows that’s not true. Distraught about her friend’s disappearance into a house she knows has some connection to her and her past, she is determined to discover what happened to him on her own. She meets Alyx, a boy who seems to know a lot about the Byrne House and its secrets. He seems to agree with her that her friend is truly missing. Together they try to unravel the secrets of this house and uncover more than they could have ever expected.
The plot of Under Glass and Stone was so well constructed. I felt like every revelation along the way was timed just right. There was a fair amount of suspense and anticipation, which I loved. There were times where I literally covered the pages to give myself a moment before I moved on! The secrets that were discovered were mind-blowing. I felt like I continued to be surprised over and over again, making this such a thrill to read.
Overall, I absolutely loved reading this book. This is the first book in the series, and I cannot wait for the second! The characters were easy to connect with, the story was beautifully written, and the plot was filled with twists. This thriller was everything I wanted it to be, and I loved it.
To Read or Not To Read: I would recommend Under Glass and Stone to readers that enjoy a spooky thriller with a touch of paranormal aspects.
I was provided an advanced reader's copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
This review will post to my blog on 3/27/20. All of my reviews can be found at https://shejustlovesbooks.com/
July 28, 2020
"The day Milo Foster disappeared, no one could say what he'd been doing up in the tower."
I would describe this book as a YA gothic mystery. It was full of suspense and atmosphere, with different mysteries playing out side by side.
The story follows Evelyn, who has lived opposite Byrne House her entire life. The spooky mansion featured predominantly in the tales her Nana used to tell and Evelyn still has a slight obsession with the place. When her friend goes missing after being spotted inside the mansion, Evelyn teams up with the mysterious new boy, Alex, to discover the truth.
I liked how quickly the book started, with the opening sentence giving me goosebumps. The atmosphere and anticipation builds quickly and while I intended to only read a few chapters before bed, the plot sucked me in. I loved the letters from Ada and found them so heartbreaking. I wanted to learn more about her background before moving into Byrne House and more about her relationship with Mary.
The romance was...meh. It was obvious who Evelyn would choose, so I felt the love triangle was unnecessary. Also, some of the secondary characters felt a bit one-dimensional. However, the book was fast paced and I repeatedly changed my mind about who was the villain. The ending seemed well thought through and I liked that each character's motivations were made clear.
I'm looking forward to Doors of Gold and Rust.
March 30, 2020
⚜Book Review⚜
📚 Under Glass and Stone by @morningcoffeeforwriters
✴This is a fantastic book for YA!
✴ It has that teenage love, suspense and mystery.
✴This book will take you book to your teen years, and you'll remember all your heartbreaks.
✴ There are 2 different time periods being used, current generation trying to understand and figure out what exactly happened with there ancestors. And why are there mysterious metal doors in everyone's basements?
✴ I would definitely let my 11 year even read this one, it's full of young love, and some mystery. Also a great read for adults!
Thank you @morningcoffeeforwriters for the ARC. Publication date April, 7th 2020
✴ Description from #goodreads: Two disappearances, over a century apart...the truth waits inside Byrne House.
For five generations, Evelyn's family has lived in the same small brick house, shadowed by the mansion across the street. Her Nana filled her childhood with stories about Byrne House: tales of missing children, of lovers gone mad. The mansion loomed every night in her dreams. Even now, at seventeen, Evelyn watches the sprawling Victorian from her second-floor bedroom, unable to explain her obsession with a house she's never been inside.
Then one of the boys in Evelyn's junior class disappears. Evelyn is the last person to see him--just a pale face in Byrne House's tower window.
The police don't believe her. Even her friends think she just imagined the face in the window. Only Alex--a mysterious newcomer with his own ties to Byrne House--shares her suspicions. Alex believes that this latest disappearance is tied to the mansion's dark past. But Evelyn has no idea how far she and Alex will have to go to find the answers. Or what she'll have to remember.
#underglassandstone #booksaremylife #booksforlife #bookslover #booksarelife #bookstoread #booksaddict #reviewer #bookreviewer #booksofinsta #bookstack #booksbooksbooks #bookstagrammers #booksofinstagram #booksofig #books📚 #bookstagramer #bookslovers
📚 Under Glass and Stone by @morningcoffeeforwriters
✴This is a fantastic book for YA!
✴ It has that teenage love, suspense and mystery.
✴This book will take you book to your teen years, and you'll remember all your heartbreaks.
✴ There are 2 different time periods being used, current generation trying to understand and figure out what exactly happened with there ancestors. And why are there mysterious metal doors in everyone's basements?
✴ I would definitely let my 11 year even read this one, it's full of young love, and some mystery. Also a great read for adults!
Thank you @morningcoffeeforwriters for the ARC. Publication date April, 7th 2020
✴ Description from #goodreads: Two disappearances, over a century apart...the truth waits inside Byrne House.
For five generations, Evelyn's family has lived in the same small brick house, shadowed by the mansion across the street. Her Nana filled her childhood with stories about Byrne House: tales of missing children, of lovers gone mad. The mansion loomed every night in her dreams. Even now, at seventeen, Evelyn watches the sprawling Victorian from her second-floor bedroom, unable to explain her obsession with a house she's never been inside.
Then one of the boys in Evelyn's junior class disappears. Evelyn is the last person to see him--just a pale face in Byrne House's tower window.
The police don't believe her. Even her friends think she just imagined the face in the window. Only Alex--a mysterious newcomer with his own ties to Byrne House--shares her suspicions. Alex believes that this latest disappearance is tied to the mansion's dark past. But Evelyn has no idea how far she and Alex will have to go to find the answers. Or what she'll have to remember.
#underglassandstone #booksaremylife #booksforlife #bookslover #booksarelife #bookstoread #booksaddict #reviewer #bookreviewer #booksofinsta #bookstack #booksbooksbooks #bookstagrammers #booksofinstagram #booksofig #books📚 #bookstagramer #bookslovers
February 17, 2020
"Night doesn't last forever. But Ada can no longer remember the sun."
Under Glass And Stone is a fast paced, creepy book that will give you chills.
Evelyn has always been fascinated by the Byrne House across the street. Growing up, she has heard whispered stories of the horrors that happened there. She feels intrinsically tied to the house without understanding why. When her best friend goes missing inside the house and the police refuse to listen to her, she decides to take matters into her own hands to find him, and to uncover the mysteries that have always haunted her about Byrne House.
The story is fast paced and action packed - sometimes, in my opinion, too fast paced. Our heroine is quickly in love with a boy she hardly knows, she never hesitates to dive into dark tunnels, and always speaks her mind - even when it's frustratingly not to her benefit.
The story was, however, genuinely creepy. I had to stop reading late last night because I was starting to feel paranoid about reading in the dark, pausing to listen to the creaking of my house and wondering if someone else was there.
Under Glass And Stone is a quick read, but a satisfying one, with enough scares to keep me up at night.
I received an advance review copy for free in exchange for an honest review.
Under Glass And Stone is a fast paced, creepy book that will give you chills.
Evelyn has always been fascinated by the Byrne House across the street. Growing up, she has heard whispered stories of the horrors that happened there. She feels intrinsically tied to the house without understanding why. When her best friend goes missing inside the house and the police refuse to listen to her, she decides to take matters into her own hands to find him, and to uncover the mysteries that have always haunted her about Byrne House.
The story is fast paced and action packed - sometimes, in my opinion, too fast paced. Our heroine is quickly in love with a boy she hardly knows, she never hesitates to dive into dark tunnels, and always speaks her mind - even when it's frustratingly not to her benefit.
The story was, however, genuinely creepy. I had to stop reading late last night because I was starting to feel paranoid about reading in the dark, pausing to listen to the creaking of my house and wondering if someone else was there.
Under Glass And Stone is a quick read, but a satisfying one, with enough scares to keep me up at night.
I received an advance review copy for free in exchange for an honest review.
March 1, 2020
I received an advance copy of Under Glass and Stone and found it to be a truly hair-raising page turner that you'll have a hard time putting down. I'm normally not a YA reader, but found the book had a wealth to offer in terms of the relationships and intrigue...much more than I expected and plenty enough to keep me engaged as a reader. Each character is unique and I found myself wanting to learn more about each one. Often times characters can seem superficial or cookie cutter, but in UGAS the personalities had depth and evolved over the course of the book which maintained suspense. If you are a fan of books that are slightly creepy, provide thrilling twists and turns and have creative plot points, this one is for you. A magical, suspenseful ride from start to finish!
June 23, 2021
I got a copy of this for free.
I loved the setting, premise, paranormal elements and the mystery from the past. Especially Ada's letters!
It's very easily read, with short chapters. The plot arc was good, maybe a little too predictable.
But overall good YA book! At times the characters were behaving very much like teens, as they are. The mentions of Snapchat, Tumblr and WhatsApp just made me feel older, hahah. I'm sure I would have loved this book 10 years ago.
I loved the setting, premise, paranormal elements and the mystery from the past. Especially Ada's letters!
It's very easily read, with short chapters. The plot arc was good, maybe a little too predictable.
But overall good YA book! At times the characters were behaving very much like teens, as they are. The mentions of Snapchat, Tumblr and WhatsApp just made me feel older, hahah. I'm sure I would have loved this book 10 years ago.
July 26, 2020
Extremely excellent!!!
When I read the write up about this book I just knew I had to buy it to read. Little did I know then how much I was going to enjoy this book. And now I am sad having to wait for the next one to come out. Extremely well written I just couldn't put it down. You will love this book. Two thumbs way up.
When I read the write up about this book I just knew I had to buy it to read. Little did I know then how much I was going to enjoy this book. And now I am sad having to wait for the next one to come out. Extremely well written I just couldn't put it down. You will love this book. Two thumbs way up.
August 29, 2021
3.5/5 ⭐️
Stars off for mAgiCk crystals. 🙄 That’s not how minerals work.
Stars off for mAgiCk crystals. 🙄 That’s not how minerals work.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
June 22, 2020*I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review*
The premise of this book holds great promise, but it is never quite fulfilled.
At first, I put it down to being a YA novel, but then realised that was a disservice to the genre: I still re-read Susan Cooper's 'The Dark Is Rising' annually; I would happily pick up Elizabeth George Speare's 'The Witch of Blackbird Pond' or Joan Aiken's books again; I adored Madeleine L'Engle's books as a child - and still do; Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials still holds me in thrall.
This story of Evelyn and her friends has all the elements of a gripping story: mystery, the supernatural, a bunch of bored teenagers on summer holiday. I was looking forward to being drawn into a world of delicious chills, where nothing was quite as it seemed.
But somehow, despite these elements, the book fell curiously flat. Instead of being drawn into the world, most of my mind was occupied with wondering *why* I wasn't being drawn in. There were flashes: some of the epistolary chapters pulled me in briefly, and the end did some of the heavy lifting for the rest of the book, but neither could carry it.
The problem, I felt, was that the world-building and character development were lacking. I had a sketchy idea of where Evelyn lived, and the fact that it is a real place in Littleton, CO doesn't mean that one can just name it, but evoke no sense of place or history. Where did the kids hang out? What was the weather like? When you live somewhere, so much is evoked by the everyday things that you do, the places you love, the little familiar idiosyncrasies. We got none of that or the Gold Rush history - just X's house, Y's house, etc., so there was never a rooted world in which this story unfolded. In addition, none of the characters moved from two dimensional to three: they felt simply like pieces on a board to advance the plot. Again, it's the little things: conversations, what they do that's them, not just related to the plot, how they feel. There was far too little dialogue that showed character or built relationship; it was all utilitarian in service of the plot. I didn't particularly care about any of the characters.
Far too much of the story was told, not shown.
This is minor, but I was also irritated by the lack of appropriate Victorian language in the letters and the misuse of words through the book, such as 'appraise' (assess the value of) for *apprise* (to inform) and the use of 'kneeled' for the more standard 'knelt'. That's the copy editor in me.
Having said all that, given the imagination of the premise, and knowing that we are all in process, I would hope to see the writer develop to inhabit that fully.
The premise of this book holds great promise, but it is never quite fulfilled.
At first, I put it down to being a YA novel, but then realised that was a disservice to the genre: I still re-read Susan Cooper's 'The Dark Is Rising' annually; I would happily pick up Elizabeth George Speare's 'The Witch of Blackbird Pond' or Joan Aiken's books again; I adored Madeleine L'Engle's books as a child - and still do; Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials still holds me in thrall.
This story of Evelyn and her friends has all the elements of a gripping story: mystery, the supernatural, a bunch of bored teenagers on summer holiday. I was looking forward to being drawn into a world of delicious chills, where nothing was quite as it seemed.
But somehow, despite these elements, the book fell curiously flat. Instead of being drawn into the world, most of my mind was occupied with wondering *why* I wasn't being drawn in. There were flashes: some of the epistolary chapters pulled me in briefly, and the end did some of the heavy lifting for the rest of the book, but neither could carry it.
The problem, I felt, was that the world-building and character development were lacking. I had a sketchy idea of where Evelyn lived, and the fact that it is a real place in Littleton, CO doesn't mean that one can just name it, but evoke no sense of place or history. Where did the kids hang out? What was the weather like? When you live somewhere, so much is evoked by the everyday things that you do, the places you love, the little familiar idiosyncrasies. We got none of that or the Gold Rush history - just X's house, Y's house, etc., so there was never a rooted world in which this story unfolded. In addition, none of the characters moved from two dimensional to three: they felt simply like pieces on a board to advance the plot. Again, it's the little things: conversations, what they do that's them, not just related to the plot, how they feel. There was far too little dialogue that showed character or built relationship; it was all utilitarian in service of the plot. I didn't particularly care about any of the characters.
Far too much of the story was told, not shown.
This is minor, but I was also irritated by the lack of appropriate Victorian language in the letters and the misuse of words through the book, such as 'appraise' (assess the value of) for *apprise* (to inform) and the use of 'kneeled' for the more standard 'knelt'. That's the copy editor in me.
Having said all that, given the imagination of the premise, and knowing that we are all in process, I would hope to see the writer develop to inhabit that fully.
April 15, 2020
(3.75 stars) Under Glass and Stone is a well written and plotted novel that I enjoyed reading. The author has been able to create a level of menace that is present throughout the book and is crafted into the foundation of the main mystery. The plot moves at a good pace and kept me entertained, with the supernatural elements being not only spooky but highly interesting as well. Our main characters, Evelyn and Alex were well thought out and multifaceted, however, there are times where they fall into cliche, and other times irritating territory, which made me face palm a few times. This is also a novel that relies on the troupe of a lack of communication to get our main characters to the end game which, although explained, I did find a bit preposterous. I also think that there could have been some further character development which would have made some of the reveals more interesting and surprising to the reader. However, I will admit that there is an expected second book in this series so I may get my wish in later novels.
The main villain of the piece avoids falling into the pantomime villain trap and has some interesting motivations, but there is a little room to give them more page time which may have made the mystery element solvable to the reader without making it obvious. The way in which the "who and why" elements are done show promise, with clues well hidden in what could be classed as a Christie fashion, I just found that the lack of attachment that I had to these characters meant that I wasn't as invested as perhaps I could have been. The remaining cast are well done and their interactions with our main group do make for some tense scenes as well as masking some of the clues and providing some red herrings. Not going to lie, I prefer Milo - just saying.
I do think however, that one of the let downs for me was the love triangle and indeed the love interest that develops - it felt unnecessary and I wasn't that invested in this element of the characters relationships.
All in all this is a good book, it is well written and the plot is done well, successfully balancing both supernatural and mystery elements. I think this series as a whole shows promise. I am interested to see where the rest of this series goes and I will be looking out for the sequel.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The main villain of the piece avoids falling into the pantomime villain trap and has some interesting motivations, but there is a little room to give them more page time which may have made the mystery element solvable to the reader without making it obvious. The way in which the "who and why" elements are done show promise, with clues well hidden in what could be classed as a Christie fashion, I just found that the lack of attachment that I had to these characters meant that I wasn't as invested as perhaps I could have been. The remaining cast are well done and their interactions with our main group do make for some tense scenes as well as masking some of the clues and providing some red herrings. Not going to lie, I prefer Milo - just saying.
I do think however, that one of the let downs for me was the love triangle and indeed the love interest that develops - it felt unnecessary and I wasn't that invested in this element of the characters relationships.
All in all this is a good book, it is well written and the plot is done well, successfully balancing both supernatural and mystery elements. I think this series as a whole shows promise. I am interested to see where the rest of this series goes and I will be looking out for the sequel.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 6, 2020
This dark-intriguing, dangerous, and unsettling, fast-paced, story took off like a bullet. I was caught from page one like a little caged animal running around trying to figure out, what was happening next? These awesome characters; especially Evelyn and Alex led me all through this great adventure. But there is one question that kept bothering me all through this story. Why doesn't anyone remember anything that has happened? That kept me reading and wondering. And, another thing that had me puzzled was, What did Reginald Byrne write on the walls before he died?Could it be part of the mystery? It took a skillful author to keep me wondering that way. And, the biggest question of all is, could everything going on be tied in with the Byrne House? If so, why? That is what made this story so intriguing and kept me on my toes all the way to the end of the novel.
I also loved the way the story, UNDER GLASS AND STONE, by A. N. Willis, opened with someone suddenly disappearing and Evelyn, being intrigued by the whole thing, was trying to figure out who it was when she saw a figure from the tower window of the Byrne House. Then she found out later who it was because of the bicycle that had been left on the sidewalk. See, that had me even asking the question, (Why?) When Evelyn headed toward the Mansion next door to investigate the problem, she happened to bump into someone else, who happened to be there investigating the same problem. That part was very good.
Excitement building! The plot thickens! Will Evelyn try to figure the mystery out by herself? Or will she need help from someone else? Or run to the police with it? As I delved deeper into the story, twists and turns develop, and Evelyn gets kidnapped. Is a dark secret hiding in the Byrne House? What about the clue that was found? What kind of secret could it be holding? Who can be trusted? What will happen next? A story that you will not soon forget. Great read! Can't wait to read more of her work!!
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I also loved the way the story, UNDER GLASS AND STONE, by A. N. Willis, opened with someone suddenly disappearing and Evelyn, being intrigued by the whole thing, was trying to figure out who it was when she saw a figure from the tower window of the Byrne House. Then she found out later who it was because of the bicycle that had been left on the sidewalk. See, that had me even asking the question, (Why?) When Evelyn headed toward the Mansion next door to investigate the problem, she happened to bump into someone else, who happened to be there investigating the same problem. That part was very good.
Excitement building! The plot thickens! Will Evelyn try to figure the mystery out by herself? Or will she need help from someone else? Or run to the police with it? As I delved deeper into the story, twists and turns develop, and Evelyn gets kidnapped. Is a dark secret hiding in the Byrne House? What about the clue that was found? What kind of secret could it be holding? Who can be trusted? What will happen next? A story that you will not soon forget. Great read! Can't wait to read more of her work!!
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 7, 2020
Enjoyable read but many plot holes...
I enjoyed this story for its pooling of the historical past and weaving it into the present around Bryne House. As soon as Alex was introduced into the story I wanted to see him paired with Evelyn. It was always clear that she and Milo would only ever be friends, from her prospective. The mystery was intriguing only until the crystal substance was revealed, then it became entirely predictable, but I still wanted to finish the story to learn the outcome. The writing was good; the plot holes unfortunate.
There were several plot holes, and plot holes always diminish the story.
-When Alex and Evelyn were being chased in the tunnels, she drops the flashlight and it goes out. Why didn't Alex pull his smartphone from his back pocket and use the flashlight feature? Instead he's fumbling around on the floor for the flashlight. As for the dropped flashlight, it's dropped at least two different times in the book, and neither time does the bulb go out. Really? Any time I've ever dropped a conventional flashlight the bulb needs to be replaced, but they just find it and it turns back on.
-Evelyn drops the backpack as they're escaping through the tunnels after being under Jake's house. It contains both their smartphones, the mirror and the only key to Bryne House, but two chapters later, Alex pulls out the key to Bryne House to go there. The backpack had not been found yet and a big point had been made that there was only the one key remaining, so where did Alex get the key?
-Finally, when Evelyn and Jake were strapped to the table in the lab, Evelyn was released, she fought with Denise, he was under the spell of the mirror, and she and Jake could escape, why did they not strap Denise to the table instead of wrapping his wrists with a big elastic band that he could get out off and come after them?
Many plot holes, but entirely clean of any typos.
I enjoyed this story for its pooling of the historical past and weaving it into the present around Bryne House. As soon as Alex was introduced into the story I wanted to see him paired with Evelyn. It was always clear that she and Milo would only ever be friends, from her prospective. The mystery was intriguing only until the crystal substance was revealed, then it became entirely predictable, but I still wanted to finish the story to learn the outcome. The writing was good; the plot holes unfortunate.
There were several plot holes, and plot holes always diminish the story.
-When Alex and Evelyn were being chased in the tunnels, she drops the flashlight and it goes out. Why didn't Alex pull his smartphone from his back pocket and use the flashlight feature? Instead he's fumbling around on the floor for the flashlight. As for the dropped flashlight, it's dropped at least two different times in the book, and neither time does the bulb go out. Really? Any time I've ever dropped a conventional flashlight the bulb needs to be replaced, but they just find it and it turns back on.
-Evelyn drops the backpack as they're escaping through the tunnels after being under Jake's house. It contains both their smartphones, the mirror and the only key to Bryne House, but two chapters later, Alex pulls out the key to Bryne House to go there. The backpack had not been found yet and a big point had been made that there was only the one key remaining, so where did Alex get the key?
-Finally, when Evelyn and Jake were strapped to the table in the lab, Evelyn was released, she fought with Denise, he was under the spell of the mirror, and she and Jake could escape, why did they not strap Denise to the table instead of wrapping his wrists with a big elastic band that he could get out off and come after them?
Many plot holes, but entirely clean of any typos.
June 30, 2020
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Book Sirens for an honest review.
This book was more of a 2.5 for me.
The description of this book drew me in. I love the idea of it. I'm not convinced the book delivered for me however.
I had a very hard time connecting with the characters. Evelyn didn't have much of a personality for me. She seemed to be just a vehicle to move the story along. Her main stand out point for me was that she liked vintage clothes. I think this was an attempt to convey that she's unique and quirky, but there wasn't anything else for a reader to go on with her character. We were told she was obsessed with Byrne House, but we didn't really see that.
Evelyn also had herself embroiled in a love triangle. I could have gone without that since her relationship with Milo was barely built-up. There was no way you could root for 'Team Milo' since there was no background for it.
I really enjoyed the plot. I like the idea of the mirror, and I was into the storyline about Ava/Walter told through the letters and the visions she saw in the mirror. Honestly, I may have preferred a book entirely about that. The motivations that drove those characters made more sense than the motivations that drove the 'villains' in Evelyn's timeline. I actually feel like they were more fleshed out and more dimensional than Evelyn & crew.
I'm not sure if I'll read the next book. It depends on who is in it since my favorite part of this book involved the characters from the past and not so much Evelyn.
This book was more of a 2.5 for me.
The description of this book drew me in. I love the idea of it. I'm not convinced the book delivered for me however.
I had a very hard time connecting with the characters. Evelyn didn't have much of a personality for me. She seemed to be just a vehicle to move the story along. Her main stand out point for me was that she liked vintage clothes. I think this was an attempt to convey that she's unique and quirky, but there wasn't anything else for a reader to go on with her character. We were told she was obsessed with Byrne House, but we didn't really see that.
Evelyn also had herself embroiled in a love triangle. I could have gone without that since her relationship with Milo was barely built-up. There was no way you could root for 'Team Milo' since there was no background for it.
I really enjoyed the plot. I like the idea of the mirror, and I was into the storyline about Ava/Walter told through the letters and the visions she saw in the mirror. Honestly, I may have preferred a book entirely about that. The motivations that drove those characters made more sense than the motivations that drove the 'villains' in Evelyn's timeline. I actually feel like they were more fleshed out and more dimensional than Evelyn & crew.
I'm not sure if I'll read the next book. It depends on who is in it since my favorite part of this book involved the characters from the past and not so much Evelyn.
April 6, 2020
✏ First of all, I was given an ARC of this book in an exchange for an honest review 💭💭💭 but all thoughts and opinions are mine.
✏ For anyone that will read it or has read it it reminded me of an other series but for mush younger ages "The three detectives" , only there are two here.
✏ In the beginning, I will not lie, it was hard to keep reading it. I think after I got to the middle of this book it started to get more interested, and I finally got engrossed in to the story. The first half was a little boring for my age at least, after it became more adult or ya adult. Although I think I would have really enjoyed it at my early teens or genuinely in that period of my life.
✏ It gave me the chills actually. My heart was fast pacing in enough parts of this book. I am writing this review having just finished the book.
✏It was frightening in some parts. 😵
✏Happy end, not for anyone thought.
I was actually sad for the "bad " character. It wasn't actually his fault, in my opinion was a victim And the characters from the past.
✏The writer gave to all the characters specially the bad ones a way to explain themselves, and feel empathy for them. At the end all of them ( mainly those from the past) had a desperate,self distractive side and bad choices to their life. Really sad.
✏It is interesting, how the book was enough by itself and didn't need any "love-spice" to become more appealing.
✏ I guess the lesson from that is not go to old houses 😂😂
✏ For anyone that will read it or has read it it reminded me of an other series but for mush younger ages "The three detectives" , only there are two here.
✏ In the beginning, I will not lie, it was hard to keep reading it. I think after I got to the middle of this book it started to get more interested, and I finally got engrossed in to the story. The first half was a little boring for my age at least, after it became more adult or ya adult. Although I think I would have really enjoyed it at my early teens or genuinely in that period of my life.
✏ It gave me the chills actually. My heart was fast pacing in enough parts of this book. I am writing this review having just finished the book.
✏It was frightening in some parts. 😵
✏Happy end, not for anyone thought.
I was actually sad for the "bad " character. It wasn't actually his fault, in my opinion was a victim And the characters from the past.
✏The writer gave to all the characters specially the bad ones a way to explain themselves, and feel empathy for them. At the end all of them ( mainly those from the past) had a desperate,self distractive side and bad choices to their life. Really sad.
✏It is interesting, how the book was enough by itself and didn't need any "love-spice" to become more appealing.
✏ I guess the lesson from that is not go to old houses 😂😂
April 3, 2020
I was thrilled when A.N.Willis put out the request for ARC readers for her upcoming paranormal mystery, UNDER GLASS AND STONE. I was even more thrilled when she agreed to let me read it! I'd read her sci-fi series THE THIRTEENTH WORLD at the beginning of the year as part of my 'Read more Sci-fi and Indie' goal (and she's both indie and sci-fi, so, win-win).
Absolutely no disappointment in this book. Her writing is clean and descriptive, and I was immediately swept into the story from the first page. I could not guess the conclusion, or how things tied together, which is exactly what you want in a mystery. The key paranormal elements were just so different and new- I really wish I could say more, as it's an interesting subject, but I really liked reading into it blind, so I'm staying silent. Which means, you're ALL just gonna have to read it.
For THE THIRTEENTH WORLD, I heavily lauded the female friendships and familial relationships. But in this one, the lead female MC interacts with predominantly male characters, and her familial relationships were intentionally strained and lacking. And, I loved it. Between her two series, Willis wrote vastly different lead characters with complex and varied histories and backstories, and all of them (MCs and secondary) successfully draw you in. I found her varied males refreshing, too: there was a balance of friend and more and questionable and absent and forgiven.
There were some unanswered questions, which I anticipate will be answered in the follow up. But, there's a follow up!
Solid four stars.
Absolutely no disappointment in this book. Her writing is clean and descriptive, and I was immediately swept into the story from the first page. I could not guess the conclusion, or how things tied together, which is exactly what you want in a mystery. The key paranormal elements were just so different and new- I really wish I could say more, as it's an interesting subject, but I really liked reading into it blind, so I'm staying silent. Which means, you're ALL just gonna have to read it.
For THE THIRTEENTH WORLD, I heavily lauded the female friendships and familial relationships. But in this one, the lead female MC interacts with predominantly male characters, and her familial relationships were intentionally strained and lacking. And, I loved it. Between her two series, Willis wrote vastly different lead characters with complex and varied histories and backstories, and all of them (MCs and secondary) successfully draw you in. I found her varied males refreshing, too: there was a balance of friend and more and questionable and absent and forgiven.
There were some unanswered questions, which I anticipate will be answered in the follow up. But, there's a follow up!
Solid four stars.
July 13, 2020
This book is really close to my heart. (As it should be, since I'm the author!) And since this book is all about secret histories and hidden truths, I wanted to share a little bit about this novel's backstory with all of you.
I started Under Glass And Stone (though by a different title) back in 2011. I have always loved writing, but I never thought of myself as a fiction writer until I decided to try drafting a novel. That early result had many of the same characters, but much of the plot was completely different. For instance, the book didn't start with a disappearance at all. The story needed a lot of work, and I set the project aside to work on my YA sci-fi manuscript, The Corridor. While The Corridor ended up being my first book to reach publication, I never stopped thinking about Evelyn and Alex's story. I decided to give it another go, and I rewrote the entire book. Then, a couple of years later, I rewrote the whole plot again! (All this in between writing lots of other novels too, some published, some soon to come, some languishing in the back corners of my hard drive).
I definitely feel that Under Glass And Stone was worth all the work and the wait. I hope you do too!
I started Under Glass And Stone (though by a different title) back in 2011. I have always loved writing, but I never thought of myself as a fiction writer until I decided to try drafting a novel. That early result had many of the same characters, but much of the plot was completely different. For instance, the book didn't start with a disappearance at all. The story needed a lot of work, and I set the project aside to work on my YA sci-fi manuscript, The Corridor. While The Corridor ended up being my first book to reach publication, I never stopped thinking about Evelyn and Alex's story. I decided to give it another go, and I rewrote the entire book. Then, a couple of years later, I rewrote the whole plot again! (All this in between writing lots of other novels too, some published, some soon to come, some languishing in the back corners of my hard drive).
I definitely feel that Under Glass And Stone was worth all the work and the wait. I hope you do too!
March 18, 2020
Sometimes, old houses hold more memories and secrets than are evident at first glance. Evelyn has always felt drawn to Byrne house, but she has no idea why. She has nightmares about it, her mom refuses to talk about it, and her grandmother could only tell her stories about it in hushed tones throughout her childhood. When Evelyn’s friend Milo disappears, having been last seen by her in the tower window of Byrne house, she does not know what to think. Soon, descendants of the Byrne family come to town, including a boy named Alex, and Evelyn’s world shifts on its axis. She and her friends find themselves at the center of a mystery that is over one hundred years in the making. This is an enjoyable selection for fans of gothic young adult fiction. The characters are recognizable and consistent, caught up in the dramatic and dastardly events that overtake their town. Told through a combination of current events and historical ones, the story unfolds in an increasingly compelling way. While pieces of the plot are predictable, the story itself demands ongoing attention. Heavy metaphor weighs down the introduction, but it soon gives way to more active language as the story progresses. Each character has an important role to play, and the ultimate resolution is one that ties up many loose ends. This is a enjoyably gripping story for readers who are not squeamish or averse to peril.
December 2, 2020
Sometimes, old houses hold more memories and secrets than are evident at first glance. Evelyn has always felt drawn to Byrne house, but she has no idea why. She has nightmares about it, her mom refuses to talk about it, and her grandmother could only tell her stories about it in hushed tones throughout her childhood. When Evelyn’s friend Milo disappears, having been last seen by her in the tower window of Byrne house, she does not know what to think. Soon, descendants of the Byrne family come to town, including a boy named Alex, and Evelyn’s world shifts on its axis. She and her friends find themselves at the center of a mystery that is over one hundred years in the making. This is an enjoyable selection for fans of gothic young adult fiction. The characters are recognizable and consistent, caught up in the dramatic and dastardly events that overtake their town. Told through a combination of current events and historical ones, the story unfolds in an increasingly compelling way. While pieces of the plot are predictable, the story itself demands ongoing attention. Heavy metaphor weighs down the introduction, but it soon gives way to more active language as the story progresses. Each character has an important role to play, and the ultimate resolution is one that ties up many loose ends. This is a enjoyably gripping story for readers who are not squeamish or averse to peril.
January 9, 2023
Under Glass and Stone is a well-written young adult mystery.
Evelyn can see the mysterious mansion, Byrne House, from her bedroom window. After years of what others call an obsession, Evelyn is presented with a reason to investigate the truth of the property’s history. When the owner passes away, Evelyn’s friend, Milo, dashes inside to help the scared housekeeper, only to not come back out.
Determined to find Milo, and satiate the disturbed thoughts and dreams she’s suffered since her childhood, Evelyn teams up with a Byrne family relative, Alex, discovering far more than either anticipated.
I found the characters believable people, especially the teens. I often come across YA characters who are too much of a stereotype or caricature of teenagers, and so irritating to read. Their actions, and relationships felt natural and honest. I’m looking forward to continuing the story with them in book two.
I absolutely adored the letters, and further details about the Victorian/Edwardian characters, especially Ada. It was fascinating to learn the history of the town, and Byrne House in particular, even though it is rather sad. The two timelines throughout the story fit together seamlessly, and added wonderfully intricate layers to the mystery.
A. N. Willis has done a fantastic job, and I’m sure I’m going to enjoy delving into more stories.
Evelyn can see the mysterious mansion, Byrne House, from her bedroom window. After years of what others call an obsession, Evelyn is presented with a reason to investigate the truth of the property’s history. When the owner passes away, Evelyn’s friend, Milo, dashes inside to help the scared housekeeper, only to not come back out.
Determined to find Milo, and satiate the disturbed thoughts and dreams she’s suffered since her childhood, Evelyn teams up with a Byrne family relative, Alex, discovering far more than either anticipated.
I found the characters believable people, especially the teens. I often come across YA characters who are too much of a stereotype or caricature of teenagers, and so irritating to read. Their actions, and relationships felt natural and honest. I’m looking forward to continuing the story with them in book two.
I absolutely adored the letters, and further details about the Victorian/Edwardian characters, especially Ada. It was fascinating to learn the history of the town, and Byrne House in particular, even though it is rather sad. The two timelines throughout the story fit together seamlessly, and added wonderfully intricate layers to the mystery.
A. N. Willis has done a fantastic job, and I’m sure I’m going to enjoy delving into more stories.
February 27, 2020
This book was a fast paced supernatural, scare/thriller novel. It was a book that I couldn't convince myself to put down as each turn of the page lead to something new and exciting.
I so not normally go for the 'scary book', I definitely prefer a fantasy or sci-fi genre of book, however this was very well written. Due to my innate 'scardy-catness' I did not read this book in the dark and once night fell, every light was on, just in case!
I didn't like how quickly the relationships developed, I though that they needed a bit more fleshing out. But as the story was so fast paced, I could understand why the author chose to write the relationship development in that way.
The characters are relateable and you could easily see yourself being friends with or knowing someone like Evelyn, which just makes you that much move involved with the story.
If you like thrillers, twists, unexpected turns, this is the story for you, if you want to try something outside your normal 'reading comfort zone' then this is also the book for you!
I will be keeping an eye out for more written by A. N. Willis in the future!
**I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily**
I so not normally go for the 'scary book', I definitely prefer a fantasy or sci-fi genre of book, however this was very well written. Due to my innate 'scardy-catness' I did not read this book in the dark and once night fell, every light was on, just in case!
I didn't like how quickly the relationships developed, I though that they needed a bit more fleshing out. But as the story was so fast paced, I could understand why the author chose to write the relationship development in that way.
The characters are relateable and you could easily see yourself being friends with or knowing someone like Evelyn, which just makes you that much move involved with the story.
If you like thrillers, twists, unexpected turns, this is the story for you, if you want to try something outside your normal 'reading comfort zone' then this is also the book for you!
I will be keeping an eye out for more written by A. N. Willis in the future!
**I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily**
June 25, 2020
I received the arc of this book from Book Sirens for free instead of an honest review.
A.N. Willis' Under Glass and Stone is a YA fictional mystery novel provided to me by Book Sirens for an honest review in return. This story is about Evelyn. She lives in a small town in front of a huge mansion, Byrne House. A place she has always been obsessed with since childhood. A place regarding which she has countless nightmares. However she is never allowed to explore the place. She is not even allowed to visit. What is the mystery regarding this place?
This is a fantasy thriller with such mysterious plot. The story is quite fascinating and plot driven. There are many secrets which lie deep within Byrne House. Will Evelyn and her friends be able to solve them? Read the story to discover all the secrets.
For an in dept review, check out my blog: https://thetravelfreak2000.wordpress....
I personally loved the book very much and it kept me captivated throughout. Also, the element of mystery is justly added. This is a fast paced book and hence I finished it very fast.
A.N. Willis' Under Glass and Stone is a YA fictional mystery novel provided to me by Book Sirens for an honest review in return. This story is about Evelyn. She lives in a small town in front of a huge mansion, Byrne House. A place she has always been obsessed with since childhood. A place regarding which she has countless nightmares. However she is never allowed to explore the place. She is not even allowed to visit. What is the mystery regarding this place?
This is a fantasy thriller with such mysterious plot. The story is quite fascinating and plot driven. There are many secrets which lie deep within Byrne House. Will Evelyn and her friends be able to solve them? Read the story to discover all the secrets.
For an in dept review, check out my blog: https://thetravelfreak2000.wordpress....
I personally loved the book very much and it kept me captivated throughout. Also, the element of mystery is justly added. This is a fast paced book and hence I finished it very fast.
August 31, 2020
I received an advance copy of this novel from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review and all I can say is what a thrill ride! I loved this book from start to finish, I read it in one fell swoop. The Byrne House has loomed across the street for all of Evelyn's life and her grandmother's idea of suitable bedtime stories about missing children, did nothing to reassure her. The house haunts her but it's not until one day when her friend Milo enters the mansion to help the old man who lives there, only to vanish without trace, that Evelyn realises that she must do something. Nobody believes her, the police, her mum, her friends, everyone thinks she's making it up so one night she decides to check out the grounds and meets Alex. Alex also has a strange connection to the house...
The story twists and turns with some real surprises jumping out. Under Glass and Stone is the first book in a duology and I have already added the second book, Doors of Gold and Rust, to my wishlist as I really NEED to know what happens in the end. A.N.Willis has a real gift for writing and her talent to enclose her reader in a creepy, gothic plot is undeniable. Highly recommended.
The story twists and turns with some real surprises jumping out. Under Glass and Stone is the first book in a duology and I have already added the second book, Doors of Gold and Rust, to my wishlist as I really NEED to know what happens in the end. A.N.Willis has a real gift for writing and her talent to enclose her reader in a creepy, gothic plot is undeniable. Highly recommended.
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