Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Took me a while to get into the book, though it gets pretty much right into the story immediately. I think that confused me a bit. However, once I got further in I enjoyed it. The magic is pretty cool, seeing spirits through pieces of glass and travelling through the spirit paths.

Omg......... this book was amazing I flew threw the pages with Olympic speed I was hooked from the very first page. I found it full of twists and turns threw out and it kept me on the edge of my seat all the way threw  I would defiantly recommend this book if you like a good book to keep you reading threw the night hopefully you enjoy it as much as I did

Absolutely bewitching!

I don't usually enjoy post-war stories, but this sounded incredible so I had to request it. Orton does not disappoint!

A very sweet middle grade.

Thank you to the publisher for my eARC copy of this book. Unfortunately I didn’t love this book and therefore didn’t finish, I just didn’t connect with this one. Not for me, sorry.

I read this when I received an e-arc and definitely enjoyed it! I haven't read many middlegrade books but I definitely plan on reading more and this book 100% pushes me to!

This middle-grade fantasy adventure is exciting and more than a little scary – mirror magic, ‘rattlesticks’, war/Blitz trauma – so definitely not for the faint of heart!

The main character, Nona, lives with her Uncle Antoni (not actually her uncle, but he took her in when she was orphaned in the war), but from the very first page he is acting strangely. With magic and monsters at every turn, Nona has to try to rescue her uncle, herself, and pretty much everyone else along the way.

There is no escaping the tragedy in this story, but the author keeps the action moving instead of getting bogged down in the emotion, and so the focus becomes more about survival, love and hope – the realities of learning to continue living through grief – and the question of whether loss can make monsters of us all.

I didn’t find myself quite connecting with the character, perhaps because we only meet Nona and Antoni after the storyline is already underway, or because it isn’t clear whether some of the paranormal entities can be trusted, and so I found that I wasn’t quite as engaged with the story as I would have liked. That said, I LOVED Castor, and Nona grew on me as the story progressed.

This would be ideal for the older or very brave middle-graders… Minishine (8) would be scared stiff!

Magical book for kids and big kids alike! I really enjoyed getting into the story and I’m 30 so can you imagine how cool it would be for youngsters?!
I think this would be a great addition to any school library and an equally lovely bedtime story to read over a week or so at home with family.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my feedback.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for a review.

This was a cracking middle grade with a superb plot! Definitely one I will be recommending at work!

This was a beautiful story. It is magical and real & touches upon the beautiful truth that if you show someone kindness when they are hurting then you can truly change a life.

Nona is strong & fierce whilst also being the right balance of confident and insecure. Orphaned in the war, her adopted father Uncle Antoni cared for her and teaches her what it means to make beautiful pieces of art with glass. She keeps her own token, a half heart made of glass, close to her not realising how important it will be in shaping her destiny.

I loved Castor and could picture his smile very vividly while I was reading.

Brilliant middle grade book that could be enjoyed by anyone, especially as a class book for Year 5/6

A beautifully written story, set in the mysterious moors of Dartmoor post war, that mixes magic and moving on to create a wonderful folklore-ish tale.

Nona has been staying with her Uncle Antoni since she lost her family in the war. He works as a stained glass artist and his newest job brings them to a small church in Dartmoor. We soon find out there is more behind this commission then a simply replacement job. While her uncle seems to go into a trance and works without rest, Nona finds that she is in the middle of a dangerous situation between spirits of the world and an enemy darker then any force before. But hopefully with the new friends she makes and skills she learns, she can save everyone, even herself.

This is a gorgeous story, full of richly described places that truly evoke that folklore feel while also maintaining the creeping darkness from the enemy as the time runs out.
The characters were fascinating to read, the otherworldliness of both Alesea & Serafin were really brought to life in the book, the clear differences and innocence of how to deal with humans. Castor was the mix of both, stuck as an imp or a crow but wanting more.
Nona was a wonderful main character, her strength in the face of all she had lost and what she was prepared to do to stop that loss from happening again.

This book allows us to see the different and many ways people deal with grief and trauma in a digestible way through the use of magic and how the bonds we make with others can make all the difference in the end.

Thank you to Walker's Books and Netgalley for the early eArc of the book!

The opening chapter grabbed my attention, something that didn't happen again for the remainder of the book. After reading the initial chapter, I wanted to continue, but unfortunately the rest of the book fell flat for me, and I wasn't able to get back into it.

Kattherine Orton has done it again with her second book. I loved Nevertell and it is one of my go to recommends if you haven’t yet read it I highly recommend that you do.

This is another beautiful atmospheric tale which is set in the aftermath of WWII. Nonas family has been killed in the Blitz and asa lone surviver she has found refuge and comfort in the company of her ‘uncle’ a stained glass artisan. The only thing he has left of her family home is a shard of glass from a mural.

Nona hears him talking to a lady with a melodic voice as thus the journey begins!

Glassheart has it all in one book and I promise it will not disappoint. Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for the ARC I am very grateful

Absolutely stunning, almost lyrical writing from Katherine Orton. I adored this fast paced adventure and read it in one sitting. Perfect for a winters afternoon,

Set just after the Second World War, Glassheart is the story of eleven year old Nona who, having lost her family in the Blitz, is adopted by Antoni, a former pilot who has also lost his family in the war. Antoni makes stained glass and is teaching Nona the craft. When the book opens, they are given a job repairing the windows in a church on Dartmoor. It soon becomes clear that this job is more magical than ordinary. I really enjoyed this book. The writing is superb. The descriptions and scene setting instantly transported me to misty Dartmoor as I was reading. It has a brave and compassionate heroine in Nona, and some super spooky enemies in The Soldier and his rattlesticks. All in all, a perfect read for a dark and stormy winter's night.

Mysterious activity in the night and an unknown voice in the stained glass workshop warn eleven year old Nona that something very strange is about to disrupt the new life she and Uncle Antoni have established in the aftermath of the war. Insisting they leave immediately for a job in Devon that Nona knows nothing about, she is alarmed that Antoni is not his usual self, and her concern grows when she sees the bombed out, dilapidated church on which they are to install the glass. More worrying still is that inside the church is warm, beautiful and fully equipped with beds and all manner of food for more people than just Nona and Uncle Antoni, and that the only inhabitant appears to be a mischievous shape shifting creature, one minute an imp and the next a crow, called Castor. Through this new companion she discovers that Uncle Antoni is under an enchantment so that he has no idea his work is to seal an umbrafell, a place that links worlds, to protect the spirit world and indeed Nona herself from impending danger.
This is a magical and exciting adventure story with a richly depicted imaginary world and memorable characters. A race against time drives the narrative, creates suspense and generates an atmosphere of real menace, alleviated with touches of humour arising from the interactions of Castor and Nona in their developing friendship. The theme of loss runs through the novel, as Nona and Castor have been orphaned by the war, Uncle Antoni cannot speak about his wartime experiences, and the loss of a child is the root cause of the central problem. A thoroughly absorbing page-turner of a novel, this book will stay in my memory for a long time.

Very much enjoyed this. An unusual, engrossing fantasy that reminded me of The Giant Under The Snow. Really interested to read whatever this author decides to do next.

I enjoy Katharine Orton's writing but I always struggle to connect to her characters and I am unsure why. Saying that I did like this story it just isn't going on my re-read list.

This was a really sweet and magical middle grade set in the aftermath of World War 2. It follows our heroine Nova who is destined to fight a great evil and it was really great to watch as she grew throughout the book and realised her own power. I also really loved her relationship with her Uncle and the theme of found family. Overall I gave this 3 out of 5 stars.

A brave and endearing main character
Nona’s character was wonderfully written and I really enjoyed her growth throughout the story. Although she’s struggling to cope with the trauma of the war and the loss of her family, she remains strong and brave and shows a lot of compassion to the people she meets on her journey. She’s definitely a main character that a lot of young readers will identify with.

An enchanting setting
The story takes place in Dartmoor, whose enchanting landscape is portrayed vividly and beautifully in the book. Dartmoor is an area rich in lore and legends and the author did a wonderful job at translating its magical atmosphere into her story.

Prose and plot
The author wonderfully weaves in magic with the harsh realities of post war life. The story is well-balanced, with the right mix of magic, fun and adventure, and a thoughtful exploration of deeper themes such as grief and trauma. The story is also quite action packed and full of rich and atmospheric descriptions that will definitely draw readers into the story.

Themes explored in the book
The story deals with themes such as the loss of loved ones, grief and trauma, and does so with a lot of gentleness and compassion. Through the relationship between Nona and Antoni, her adoptive uncle, the book also looks at found families. The message that family is more than just blood, and that family can mean different things to different people, is one that will surely resonate with a lot of readers. I personally really liked how these themes were handled in the book.

My final thoughts
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It’s full of magic and adventure and Nona is a main character that a lot of younger readers will definitely connect with.