I love a good novel with darkness and shadows and this was just perfect. There's something about theatres and backstage that is creepy and very dark and this novel brought that out. The author creates a lovely world that creeped me out but I really wanted to stay there. Recommended!

I loved this book as much as I knew I would. It is dark, and mysterious but magical all at the same time. This story feels like the best historical fiction but at the same time it is dystopian too, It has a whole host of brilliant characters that help create an atmosphere and depth of warmth. The speed of this story, and the ever evolving storyline make the story come alive as you feel like you are in the whirlwind of the theatre and part of the story.

Thank you Black and white publishing and NetGalley for this ARC of The Theatre of Glass and Shadows by Anne Corlett

This story set in an alternative timeline to ours is in opinion a dystopian love letter to London and in specific the Theatre scene. As a big fan of the West `end I have to say that `I was engrossed in this story from line 1. Juliet is an unforgettable character, and Anne really does a great job with her story, both back and present. I agree that it had Caravel vibes and in its dystopian'ness Ben Abramovitch'es Rivers of London feels too.

This having said- To compare The Theatre of Glass and Shadows to any other book would be doing it a grave injustice. Even though there were moments where I felt the pace of the story was slow, It didn't deter me from this book. To my knowledge it's a standalone, but were it to become.a series of book- I wouldn't be mad at it.

Loved this book, and I can't recommend this highly enough.

Somewhat in the shadows of another book

It seems hugely unfair when an author’s well written book cannot help but remind a reader (well, this one) of another book with some similarities which set the bar almost out of reach for this kind of unreal fictional world which however creates that reality. My convoluted introduction refers to The Night Circus.

This certainly had some similarities, a world of performance with a dark heart, and that performance world creates its obsessive audience, both within its own pages, and with its own readers. So, unfortunately, though I had read The Night Circus some years ago, I found myself yearning for IT, slipping into my past reading self, and somewhat critically observing this one.

Set in some kind of alternative world, in London, in the 1950’s, but with a kind of Gothic feel which associates with Victorian times, this is about a theatre world, primarily dance, which has apparently existed for some centuries, creating its own tribes, both of insiders – performers and stagehands, legacy families and financial backers, - and outsiders, the obsessed audience members, many of whom yearn and scheme to be taken to the inside, as sometimes happens, according to legend

The theatre world ‘Theatre District’ is a pretty closed and mysterious community. There has always been some kind of dark past about it, a feel which might almost be described as ‘Masonic’ as if this rather louche world has friends in high places, since though there have been rumours of unsavoury crimes, even perhaps murder, attempts to find the criminal or criminals within that world, founder. There are long established laws which prevent outsiders, even outsider organisations such as the Met, investigating.

Central character in this, whose story we follow is Juliet, an unhappy young woman, something of a Cinderella. Her mother died when she was very small, her father is cold, and has remarried, her stepmother is critical and unloving. There was a mystery about her mother’s death, and, many years later, a policeman who has been suspicious about many things to do with the Theatre District, comes calling. Juliet embarks on her own investigations, and becomes someone who falls under the spell of the magical Theatre District.

That created, invented world is certainly alluring, and immersive, just not as completely as I’d hoped, and somewhere along the way it fell down for me in the balance between plot – particularly the final series of dramatic reveals – and character. Perhaps it overstayed its welcome in the twisty twiny corridors and secret rooms, and needed a little more depth and detail to the performance stories of the various characters of the theatre piece. There was a great sense of place, the structure of that physical world, but not so much of the storyline and the characters of the shows themselves

I struggled with this book. I have read a few dystopian novels but it is not one of my normal genres. However the summary sounded good. It began well and promising. However by the time Juliet got to the theatre district, it began to get slightly confusing and unfortunately I didn't find it improved the further I read.

I appreciate some will love it and there is nothing particularly wrong with this nov, I just think it isn't the book for me.

When I first started to read this book I found it exciting and fascinating.

I love immersive theatre & the setting was interesting as the story was set up in an alternative London.

It is a mysterious world that Anne Corlett has set up, which did indeed contain many mysteries with a complex plot and large cast of characters. I was hooked, but ultimately I found it was just a little too long and confusing with a very rapid ending.

DNF at 25% ugh, this reminded me of Caraval and I'm not a fan of it. I may give it a go on audio if it comes out

Ooooh this draws you in from the very first sentence. I opened it and knew I would be hooked, unable to part with it until I'd finished it.

Juliet was an intriguing characters; mysterious, a bit put out, but she comes into her own once she enters the District, she begins to shine. There are many, many other characters, family, friends, strangers, real, historical, fiction - I won't go into all of them in this review. But you've got goodies and baddies and those who straddle both. People who lie and hide, the selfish and selfless, the hidden, the ones in the spotlight .They all work together and whilst some have smaller roles than others, and some bigger, I don't think any were surplus to the story, they all worked marvellously with Juliet.

It's well paced, slow enough to give time to the story, settings, and characters, but quick enough to thrill. Some bits were faster than others, some slightly slower. But overall it balances out nicely. It does go a bit slower in the middle. That's not necessarily a bad thing. It's a time for explanations, a time for scene setting, and character introduction, history telling etc. So it's not always really action heavy, it's not that kind of book. There's almost a horror element in that sense of quiet, of something creeping up, of tension, which I wasn't expecting but was pleasantly surprised about.

There's enough of real London for it to be recognisable to the reader, but with an added spark which reminds us that all is not what it appears.

It's not all red herrings and whatnot like a thriller has, but there are certainly some twists and surprises that I didn't see coming.

This is the book you red when you want to believe in magic, when you want to remember that feeling magic gave you as a child. It reminded me of Stephanie Garber's Caraval series about it, which I also loved.

It's intriguing, entertaining, interesting, uncomfortable, frightening, wary, confusing, topsy-turvy, magical, dark, mysterious, immersive, atmospheric - there's not enough adjectives. It really looks at the idea of belonging to a person or a place, and how not belonging can impact your overall life and character.

I believe this is Anne's second book, and so it isn't her debut, but even for a second book it is very expertly crafted and I think she'll do well with it, and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for her future works.

The only, I don't way to say negative because it isn't a negative as such, but for me, I felt the ending was slightly rushed. It was a good ending and it worked and I liked it, but the rest of the story is so drawn and enticing, then it suddenly all wraps up and ends, so personally I'd have liked maybe an extra 20 pages or so just do draw the ending out a little bit more.

Is there potential for a sequel? Possibly. It's all wrapped up nicely and if this is a standalone book then fine, you won't feel short changed. But if she wanted to develop it further, I could see ways that would be possible.

I don't usually do star ratings as they annoy me, but for me, this is a 4.5 star book, maybe even a 4.75. If the ending was stretched out just a smidgen more it would have been a perfect 5 star read. But I will still recommend this to friends, family, and readers. It is a really fabulous book with some great writing and I really enjoyed it.

I enjoyed the concept of this book and the mystery had me engaged. However, I found that at times the plot became overly complex which made it feel like an effort to get through and took you out of the mystery and character development. I would be intrigued to see how it the story continued in a series and whether this over complication reduces as you continue on or whether it just become confusing or full of plot holes.
I like Juliet and the mystery of the bodies and the setting of the book means that I would give he book a go if it is part of a series but would likely hold off on recommending until i read more to see how it progresses. Or would need to provide a cheat sheet for new readers.

Oh wow, I was fully immersed and fully engaged in "The Theatre of Glass and Shadows" by Anne Corlett. Set in an alternative world where London has an enclosed theatre area with a long-running show, this ticked so many boxes for me. Corlett is able to conjuresup a whole world, probably due to her love of Punch Drunk theatre which creates theatrical settings in which audiences are fully interacting and participating. I totally got the obsession about the fans and their urge to return time and again. Theatre can be addictive! Whilst it was essential to the plot, some of the magic was lost when we went "behind the scenes" when Juliet joined the cast. However the mystery of the bodies in the river counteracted this. Like Stephanie Garber's Caraval, may there be more in the series! 4.5 rounding up to 5.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via the publishers.

The Theatre of Glass and Shadows is a dark and spellbinding read full of mystery and intrigue.
Juliet has recently lost her father and has always been kept in the dark about her real mother and life before she can remember. She goes in search of discovering if her mother is really dead and where she came from and is certain that she came from the Theatre District where a show commences every hour of every day and has been going for centuries. When a performer takes her hand within one of the shows, Juliets life gets flipped upside down. She can finally be a part of something she's always longed for but there's a price to being part of the show - she cannot tell anyone, reveal herself as her character in the show or become close to anyone outside of it. As Juliet gets more involved in the show, she begins to suspect something is very off kilter, and her determination to discover the truth becomes a game of smoke and mirrors as well as cat and mouse....
The atmosphere of the theatre and the show is incredible and so atmospheric, giving dark undertones to the story. The mystery elements were very well woven, and I loved the contrast of characters and the mysteriousness of the performers.
From how the story ended, I have a sneaking suspicion that this won't be the last we see of the theatre district nor the end of Juliets story! And if I'm right, I honestly can't wait to read the next instalment.
If you love Caraval, this is definitely a book for you.

For centuries the areas south of the Thames around Southwark and Lambeth were dangerous hotspots of vice, beyond the law. Author Anne Corlett has created an alternative present-day London, where the South Bank is also effectively outside the law; it is home to a theatre/performance space which, over the centuries has grown and continually pushes out its boundary walls. This is an immersive theatre, and Corlett is highly influenced by the work of Punchdrunk Theatre who have an enormous international following; they produce shows of great size and complexity, creating new worlds in which one can wonder at will, mesmerised by sound, light and aromas, and in which one may well be drawn in to a scene for just one audience member alone.
But Corlett’s theatre has a darker side – people disappear, bodies are found, and the police go no further than the entrance gates. It is to this territory that her heroine is attracted, drawn by the mystery of her late father and his possible involvement in the Theatre. In this world of performance, make-believe and pretence, no-one is quite who they seem to be; allies or enemies – impossible to tell.
Anne Corlett’s book brings the world of immersive theatre very much alive to the printed page. It will be an eye-opener to many, a familiar evocation to those already smitten, and to all a stimulating read.

It was the book title that drew my attention to the book, and then when I read the blurb it made me think of Hotel Magnifique by Emily J Taylor and Daughter Of The Burning City by Amanda J Foody. So, I had high expectations for the book. When the cover was revealed, I wasn’t initially sure whether I loved the book cover or not. I felt that I wanted it to have more colour and then after reading the book I actually wondered if it should have been black and white to represent the darkness and light within the theatre district. Having fully read the book I grew to love the cover as it is. The cover actually fits the book very well, in my mind the blue is perfect for the magical whimsy of the theatre district and the white marionette/paper cut out ballerinas represent the performers the director controls. Then there are the other items that are within the book. The cover would definitely make me want to pick the book up from a book store shelf, so it fits its purpose well.

Juliet has always felt like an outsider even within her own family. Her father didn’t spend a great deal of time with her and it’s clear her step mother Clare does not consider her to be part of her family. In fact, it was her stepmother Clare that ended Juliet’s time at Miss Abbeline’s school where she was able to indulge in her passion for dance. Clare had informed Stephen, Juliet’s father that Juliet needs to learn practical skills that would enable her to get a job rather than concentrating on dance. Despite this coldness from her stepmother, Juliet has always loved and spent time with her step siblings. So, when Stephen Grace dies it soon becomes apparent that Juliet’s stepmother wants her as far away from herself and her two step sisters as possible, coming up with a legal document for Juliet to sign away any future rights to any money in the family estate in exchange for a one-off lump sum of money. Clare is also quick to suggest a temporary job vacancy she has heard about that she considers suitable for Juliet saying it would be ideal until Juliet decides what she wants to do with her life now.

When the chance arises Juliet goes searching in her father’s study for clues to who her mother was & a birth certificate. She finds a black ribboned mask, a necklace a photo, and a key. Later Clare, her stepmother reveals she couldn't get a copy of Juliet’s birth certificate when she needed one for her college application and says all she received was a letter, which says Juliet was born in the theatre district. The theatre district is basically like its own contained town so it keeps its own records and has also its own rules etc. When Clare gives Juliet money to go purchase a suitable black dress for her father’s funeral, Juliet puts her plan to learn about her mother and her past into action and heads to the theatre district.
Juliet desperately wants to 'fit in' to be 'part of a family again' as she believes she once was part of the theatre district and belongs there. From donning a black mask at the theatre district entrance on her first visit Juliet feels drawn to the district and show. Then Juliet meets Eugene, an avid “follower” (A follower is someone who has become enthralled, enchanted and almost addicted to going to visit the district and keep going back to the show).

It’s via Eugene telling Juliet that we the readers learn about the “ballot” where followers take part to win tickets to the show. If you don’t win tickets via the ballot the other option is to purchase them. Eugene wins tickets for the show in the ballot, and exclaims that Juliet has brought him luck and insists she accompanies him, saying it will be his honour to take her to her first show. Not everything as it seems in the theatre district, especially within the show, like the silver ornaments on the tree branches that Juliet touches on her first visit, it has an elderly man smiling man on one side and then on the other side the elderly man transforms into a gnome like thing that has a puckered face. Once Juliet visits the district and sees her first show it’s like she is on a rollercoaster ride that she just can’t get off. Within the show there are numerous subtle lies and tricks woven with elements of truth, all creating an amazing ever-changing illusion. No matter what happens, whatever is going on, even if someone is hurt or injured the show must go on, no one & nothing is more important than the show.

There are so many different characters caught up within the magic, promise of The Theatre District. I immediately adored Juliet and was instantly intrigued by both her story and that of the Moonshine Girl. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the history, intricacies and hierarchy at the Theatre District, it was complicated yet totally captivating which made the book difficult to put down.

I really enjoyed learning about the show, and all the different people that were part of it. The residents of the theatre district are split into four main categories: Principals – who have scripted loops to perform in House of Doors
Itinerants – who have scripted loops that are performed on the streets
Nomads – who have no formal scripted activity
Ancillaries – who carry out tasks not related to the show
and are all those that are not nomads, itinerants or principals, so bartenders, street performance, fortune tellers & stagehands. I loved the history of the stagehands and kind of wish there had been chance to learn even more.

I was fascinated with the concept of the Wanderers randomly appeared and chose someone to bestow attention on and who gift little charms/tokens (there's 7 to collect but it's rare for someone to be able to get all of them) & show you individual attention & show secret things, and rarity they show you 'a private scene' (hard to describe) They are all over the district. Tend to appear when someone is doing something they shouldn't.

The character of The Shadow Man an is mysterious, seemingly caring yet with a scary dangerous edge to him. The Shadow Man eloquently draws Juliet further and further into the tangled web of the show within the theatre district. He plays on Juliet’s emotional state after the recent death of her father and her blind fascination with her own history and how it entwines with the history of the show itself. It’s only when she has almost cut off her new friends Eugene and Sally, that she realises that she is in perhaps over her head and she has discovered dark secrets that could end her own life, she needs help and fast! I loved the quote about Juliet’s state of mind that it was like a kaleidoscope.

I really loved how the book was played out, there’s the main part which is where Juliet is dealing with the death of her father, her step mother’s simmering hostility and then the letters about the theatre district, and Juliets discovery of her history with the theatre district and the show within it. Then there are the other parts I totally adored were about the theatre district and the actual show. I enjoyed Eugene educating Juliet about the district, and him being a “follower”, explaining how they have their own rooms within the district with their notes on the show. He introduces her to other followers, Macy, Jan, and Esme who immediately dislikes Juliet and later becomes her rival. It’s via Eugene that Juliet meets Sally and Anna who end up renting her a room to live in within the precincts. The precincts are quite run down, on the outskirts of the district so still sought after. The precincts are also dangerous as apparently there is a killer on the loose, murdering young females and dumping them in the nearby river.

My immediate thoughts upon finishing reading The Theatre of Glass and Shadows had an amazing, intricate plot & characters I quickly adored, and it immediately grabbed me and kept me firmly hooked until the very end. I loved it all, the history, hierarchy and mystical aspects as well as the darkness and betrayal. There really is so much going on in this book. I feel like I could talk forever about this book. It’s difficult not to reveal too much about the book but I really don’t want to spoil the reading experience for anyone else.

Summing up, the book is really well written, the descriptions so detailed that you can visualise them. The plot is intricate and really takes you on a mysterious, magical, whimsical trail. Theres a few red herrings thrown in, the amazing back story and history of the show, the district and its inhabitants, from its almost invisible stagehands to its most sought after performers like the Moonshine Girl and the Girl in the Silve Shoes. Then there are all the politics and rules about which family the Director comes from and the different ways the families rule and run the district and the show.

I loved the setting of this book. I even enjoyed the mystery. I found the history a bit complex for the story. The story felt like an endless maze.

Another compulsive read from an author who seems to do no wrong. I absolutely devoured this one… You will want to clear your afternoon to read this one straight through!

Set in an alternative London, where the mysterious Theatre District is run by its own rules and has a highly sought after show running constantly.
Growing up in an average household with his father and stepmother, Juliet yearns to be a dancer. After the death of her father, Juliet finds clues about his past and this leads her to the Theatre District and to uncover mysteries and secrets.
This world is a wonderful one, and despite my heart racing and leaping whilst reading this book, I still wanted to find myself in the theatre district and in her world. This world is exciting and vivid and miraculous - not that I’d want this in real life - but Anne Corlett makes you want to be there.

Okay, so I really enjoyed this book! So beautifully written and set in my favourite place, Victorian London, albeit in an alternate reality.

This was such an original premise that did also have me comparing it in parts to The Bone Season series by Samantha Shannon. Julie is such a likeable character and I was fully engrossed in her story. I was just as desperate to find out about her family tree as she is.

I would have preferred if the Theatre District was better described because, at times, it felt a bit empty, kind of like an afterthought, or maybe that was the authors intention? That Juliets story was at the forefront.

Either way, a very enjoyable read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book with no obligation to review.

A low 4 for me. I did quite enjoy this but not as much as I expected. It is not as immersive or detailed as the Night Circus but Juliet's story is good and the other characters are reasonably well drawn.

I could not really visualise the District, there seemed to be just a lot of empty, dusty rooms rather than anything extravagant and mesmerising. I was not immersed and swept away as I had hoped to be. There is a little mystery about who is/was who and who is a goodie or a baddie but it's not that hard to guess.

Quite enjoyable though but a bit flat and underwhelming.

Rounding up to 4 ⭐


I absolutely LOVED the district, and the show, which must always go on.
Finding out how it worked, the behind the scenes, to be honest, the rest of the book felt like an interruption at times from that magical scene setting.
Julie seemed incredibly innocent, and trusting of anything that was told, or not told to her.
It was lovely to see her character grow as the book progressed.
A nice bit of darkness spices things up.
If there's more books set in this world, I'm definitely here for them.

Sometimes the greatest spectacle hides the darkest secrets..

This was so good!! The writing was beautiful and so detailed, I can't imagine how long this book took to write.

Some parts had me a little confused and I felt a little windswept from taking a lot in at certain parts but they eventually all made sense in the end.

I really enjoyed this world and was fascinated by it.

I rated this 3.5 stars!