Scarlett St. Clair‘s Mountains Made of Glass is a captivating story that combines aspects of fairy tales, romance, sensuality, and high-stakes fantasy. With its beautiful style and darkly intriguing idea, the story transports readers to a world of curses, danger, and hesitant love. While the plot is certainly intriguing, a few small problems prevent it from being a flawless read, resulting in a decent four-star rating.
Mountains Made of Glass by Scarlett St. ClairSeries: Fairy Tale Retelling #1
Published: 11/28/2023 by Bloom Books
Format: Paperback, 215 pages
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Erotica, Fae, Magic, Novella, Retelling, Romance
ISBN-13: 9781728294865
Language: English
Audience: Adult
Shelve: Read 2024
Link to Goodreads
Rating:
"Could you love me?" he whispered. The question stole my breath and burned my lungs in the silence that followed. I wanted to answer, to whisper yes into the space between us, but I was afraid. All Gesela's life, her home village of Elk has been cursed. And it isn't a single curse―it is one after another, each to be broken by a villager, each with devastating consequences. When Elk's well goes dry, it is Gesela's turn to save her town by killing the toad that lives at the bottom. Except…the toad is not a toad at all. He is an Elven prince under a curse of his own, and upon his death, his brothers come for Gesela, seeking retribution. As punishment, the princes banish Gesela to live with their seventh brother, the one they call the beast. Gesela expects to be the prisoner of a hideous monster, but the beast turns out to be exquisitely beautiful, and rather than lock her in a cell, he offers Gesela a deal. If she can guess his true name in seven days, she can go free. Gesela agrees, but there is a hidden catch―she must speak his name with love in order to free him, too. But can either of them learn to love in time?
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Mountains Made of Glass ♦ Scarlett St. Clair
Opinion
The story’s innovative take on old fairy tale themes drew me in right away. Gesela, the protagonist, isn’t your usual damsel in distress. Her village’s unending string of curses has driven her into a role that requires bravery and sacrifice. When she is tasked with killing a toad in order to preserve her town, she discovers that the toad is actually an Elven prince, setting the tone for the nuanced, ethically difficult story that unfolds. The stakes rise swiftly when Gesela‘s deeds result in her exile and an unexpected encounter with the mysterious “beast,” an Elven prince cursed in his own way.
The relationship between Gesela and the beast is one of the novel’s most compelling elements. Their encounters are full of tension, sensitivity, and subtle chemistry. The beast’s offer—a chance at freedom if Gesela can guess and say his true name with love—creates an intriguing conundrum. The struggle is not only cerebral, but also intensely emotional, compelling both characters to confront their fears, wants, and potential for love. St. Clair excels at depicting the gradual progression of their love, making it appear natural and emotional.
The world-building is another gem. St. Clair depicts the doomed settlement of Elk and the spooky, mystical realm of the Elven princes in exquisite detail, creating a setting that is both otherworldly and realistic. The curses themselves are inventive and lend a sense of foreboding to the story, keeping me on the on edge.
However, the novel is not without flaws. The pace occasionally falters. The first several chapters are exciting, but the middle half lags a little when the focus changes to the developing romance. Furthermore, numerous plot issues, particularly the motivations of the Elven princes, might have been addressed more thoroughly. These underdeveloped features make some portions of the plot feel less devastating than they may have been.
Conclusion
Despite these minor flaws, Mountains Made of Glass tells an emotionally powerful and fascinating story that will appeal to fans of dark romance and fairy tale retellings. Gesela is an engaging protagonist, while the beast is a sophisticated, captivating antagonist. Their path to love and redemption makes for a fascinating book. If you’re seeking for a novel that combines the whimsical with the eerie, this is the one to read. It’s a story that lingers, making you want to discover more of Scarlett St. Clair‘s storytelling magic.
Fairy Tale Retelling – Series
| Mountains Made of Glass (#1) | Apples Dipped in Gold (#2) |
| No title yet (#3) | more to come… |
this review was also published at:
| Goodreads | Amazon |
| StoryGraph | Reedsy |
| BookBub |
