Enjoyable first book of a series set in WWI England. It had many unique themes: stained glass artistry, gay relationships, suffrage movement, marriage in its various forms, classism and of course the lead up to the killing of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Sophie.

The different family interactions came together nicely, even the fairly convoluted marriage pact 2.0 involving different siblings yet achieving the same financial goals fitted into the larger plot with ease.

Overall, I'm not entirely sure Alice's relationship with a married man would've been so easily accepted by her once-estranged aunt and vicar husband not to mention how easily one of her mother's friends was won over...but it moved the story along and opened the doors for other characters' plots to develop.

Looking forward to the future trajectory of the Alice, Edmund, and Victor characters.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this eCopy to review

A sweeping love story following Alice Dalton and Edmond Cutler, will they ever find true happiness and a meeting of artistic minds or will they be doomed to heartbreak.

Alice and Edmond both leave their families after being forced to marry each other. Edmond marries Dora who he is infatuated with but their marriage is far from happy. Fed up of being used as a bartering chip Alice runs away to live with her Aunt after the proposed marriage to Edmond falls through.

Alice finds fulfilment in village life, when Edmond is commissioned to produce 2 stained glass windows she becomes his apprentice. Unexpectedly, she loves the work and becomes friends with Edmond. Can they follow their hearts and love each other?

A moving story full of beautiful characters and settings

This book is absolutely amazing. It is one of those books that once you start it you just can’t put it down. I read it in one day.
The first book in the hearts of glass series about Alice Dalton whose titled parents in need of money push her into a marriage of a rich family only to find out on the day that she was to become engaged to this man that she discovers him in a compromising relationship with her brother.
From this point her world as she knows it changes beyond recognition which sets her on a path that will eventually bring her her heart’s desires.

I'm sorry to describe the reading experience of the Artist's Apprentice as not as enjoyable as I expected. To my mind, there is a general lack of creating an atmosphere, surroundings, colours, sounds of the period. The dialogues sound like from any time, and the plot line is predictable. I respect the work of the author, I'm sure there will be other readers to enjoy the book, it just did not work for me, and this is not a universal standard. Many thanks to the author and the publisher. All opinions are mine.

This was a good book for its time period. It’s a nice romantic story. I did think it started a little slow but it eventually picked up. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next one.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

I found this book a little blah... The time period of the book is one that I was not too fond of, and found that many of the nuances in the book were falling flat for me. The plot itself was a good story and there were a few twists that I did not expect.

The Artist's Apprentice
By: Clare Flynn

4 Stars

This is a new author for me, but I was very impressed. This book had an awsome story line along with an amazing set of characters.
Alice's parents have her set to be married off, not once, but 3 separate times before she takes off on her own to control her own future. She gets a job, and what she never thought she wanted becomes the one thing she thrives for. Love.

I really enjoyed this story. The history and drama. The scandal and the forbidding romance. It was a very written story. The only complaint is that it ended too quickly. It almost felt like it just ended mid page. I hope and think this just is a smooth transition for the next book.

Overall, this is a great story, and I can't wait to read the next book.

*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*


Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Reviews

A well written historical book set during world war one. Following the story of a young woman who wants to follow her dreams but it's hard in a world where duty, money and class jeopardise her dreams.

Really enjoyed this story with different storylines for each sibling involved in the Dalton/Cutler family. Shown storylines about homosexuals, arranged marriages for money and status. Great book onto the next as want to know what happens to Alice, Edmund, Victor and all the other people you come to adore! Was lovely to see estranged families brought together. The writing of the author is so captivating that you feel as if you are in the era that she describes, also great insight into stain glass making !

I am not sure how i feel abot this book. Was the locestory good, yes. Where the characters likeable, some choices they made rubbed me the wrong way. But I am still glad i read this book
Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

Thank you for the chance to read this ARC in return for my honest opinion

Unfortunately I chose the second book in the series and started to read that before this one. I quickly realised my mistake but it meant I had learnt of some of book 1 before I had had chance to read it.

I found the book a bit slow. but well written and exploring the different relationships between the characters and their lives.

I was fascinated by the stained glass aspect of the book and look forward to reading further

It is a love story very well told. The scenario is the UK from 1908 to 1914. Familiar conflicts generate problems. The parent's interests are not necessarily the same as that of their kids. A light introduction of discussion about World War I is present. How the various personages deal with the conflicts is very different from how conflicts are dealt with today.

What a lovely storyline and so well written, the story of Alice Dalton and her scheming, thoughtless family. It took a tragedy to drive her away from her family home to an aunt she didn’t know existed and into the arms of a man she never thought to ever see again. So enjoyed this book and looking forward to reading the next book in the series The Artists Wife. My thanks as always to NetGalley and to Storm Publishing for the early read

A very interesting book that I really enjoyed reading. There were lots of different things going on - arranged marriages, homosexuality, domestic violence, sexual harassment, bullying, the women’s suffragette movement and the art. That makes this book sound terrible, but it all came together in a really good way. Edmund and Alice had a lot to deal with, but realistically that was life back then. My only issue was that there is quite obviously a second part to the story and this one finished right in the middle of something. I will definitely be reading the second book because I need to know what happened!

Oh man I’m so torn. On one hand I really enjoyed this book. On the other, I felt that so much of the book was wasted on the building up of the families and the backstory of Edmund and Alice. About 40 percent of this book was the history.
I did love Alice’s wild and free spirt. Her choices to live as she wanted, unbound by convention. And honestly the second half of the book endeared it to me.
Definitely worth a read, and I will be reading the second book in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Totally captivating, this book had me hooked from the start. Hard to believe how restricted both men and women were in this age, bound by convention and family requirements, but I loved how this story brought all of this history to life with such amazing characters. The descriptions of artistry really brought the stroy alive.

In Clare Flynn's evocative novel, The Artist's Apprentice, readers are transported to pre-World War I England, where the protagonist, Alice Dalton, defies societal expectations to pursue her passion for art. As Alice and Edmund Cutler, both escaping the constraints of their privileged backgrounds, navigate the complexities of love and personal integrity, Flynn seamlessly weaves in historical elements, such as the suffragette movement and the Arts and Crafts era. The intricate narrative, enriched by Flynn's vivid characters and meticulous attention to detail, explores themes of rebellion, sacrifice, and the pursuit of artistic ambition. The Artist's Apprentice is a captivating tapestry of love, art, and societal change that resonates beyond its historical setting, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.

Oh yes, yes, yes!!! How I love amazingly written books. This is the first book I have read by Clare Flynn, but I will definitely dive into the other ones and I can not wait till the 2nd book in this Series.

The characters were so well-formed and layered that you are instantly drawn into the story. The build-up to the love story between Alice and Edmund was great. I liked the ‘surprise’ meeting between them and their shared passion for craft. I loved how their complicated past let them grow into strong-formed characters. I felt deeply for them as they try to get out of some horrible situations. That said, although I felt sorry for Edmund…I don’t like cheaters and I guess that was the only downside of the story. Alice her aunt will be one of my favourite characters, you can't not love aunt Eleanor. Clare also did an amazing job with creating characters that you would like to smack in the face of worse. The setting of pre-WWI was truly captivating. I enjoyed the subplot of The suffragette movement. I normally don't like books where the author overly throws in politics or annoys the reader with their own personal beliefs and agendas (even if I agree). Clare, however, weaved the discrimination against women and the discussion of it perfectly in. She brought history alive and because of the dialogue and personal growth of both characters you just keep on flicking those pages. What I loved most about it is that women can find the strength within and stand up for their beliefs. Which made me think about this Era and about young women that are still in situations where other people dictate what they have to do. So Clare made me think without throwing it in my face and I genuinely love it when an author is capable of doing so. The pace was very good and the storyline was engaging.
A definitely recommended book if you love historical fiction, romance and the fight for women to have equal rights.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, NetGalley, and Storm Publishing for this ARC.

A captivating tale of two artists who are both forced into unwanted marriages prior to WWI. Against the backdrop of the woman's suffrage movement and the dislike of marriage for dynastic purposes, two young people go about their lives creating their art, steering clear of unwanted marital associations until a horrid event occurs within both families and Alice Dalton bows to the will of her abusive father who would see her married to enhance his financial aspects. As horror strikes both Alice's family and that of her affianced, both the artistic streaks in both Alice and Edmund find one another in a love affair almost too perfect to be believable. Amongst the horrors of family heartbreaks and the determination and desire to create life as both Alice and Edmund wish it to be, the pair of lovers find love among family secrets and the world of stain=glass and courage to stand up for one's own beliefs. As Alice turns to the woman's suffrage movement to help aid an ailing heart and Edmund adheres to the duties of a life he created, the two find their way toward one another in some of the most unlikely circumstances. Five Stars all around. I want to thank the Net Galley for offering me a copy of The Artist's Apprentice to enjoy and read. I highly recommend it for all who enjoy a good historical romance. Inside the immersive setting and world of stained-glass art and the perils of family duties arise a few very believable characters which I simply had to keep reading about until the end. Thank you, Net Galley, for the opportunity to experience a new author and a great historical fiction romance.

The Artist's Apprentice is a brilliant novel by Clare Flynn.
I found this novel an interesting one. Especially as it was set in the war era which I find interesting. The author's writing is brilliant and easy to follow and the novel had a great cast of characters. A brilliant novel that I highly recommend.
❤️ Thank you to netgalley, storm publishing and the author for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.