Girl in the Glass - Zoe Brooks

“I will have to say it: 'I am Anya and I am nothing'. I will look down at the floor as I say it, so that I don't see the smile on my aunt's face, so she won't see the defiance in my eyes. She will get her victory. She always wins these battles. I know it, she knows it. But one day, one day she will not.”

Anya, orphaned at a young age lives under the harsh rules of her Aunt along with Eva, her Shadow. Her aunt efficient in her punishments takes it too far and Anya needs to break free. But does she have that inner strength, is she really able to escape? Living in a desert landscape where she is treated as a slave, Anya longs to be cherished. Punished for the final time by having to have an arranged marriage to a brutish man, Anya and Eva make their escape.

Despite the harsh environment of the desert, they make it across to the neighboring town. There, they change their names and Anya sadly thinks that maybe she is nothing after all. With all the hardships thrown at them - poverty, lack of food, no home - they succeed only for it to be threatened. Will Anya ever feel that she belongs and more importantly, be loved and cherished?

A remarkable and captivating story, Anya's plight to leave her Aunt's ferocity behind and start a new life is so absorbing. Told from the young girl's point of view, Brooks has created a character who shows such determination and courage despite being so mistreated that it is inspiring. The other people met are just as well defined and add so much depth and realism to this novel.

Although Brooks is not explicit in where the story is set, it does not detract from Anya and Eva's plight. I really enjoyed this and read it in less than a day. I didn't identify with the characters as such but it didn't matter as they all combined to make a fascinating story. Brooks style and language is easy and flows seamlessly from one chapter to the next. As the first in a trilogy, Girl in the Glass left me with some questions - what happened to Frank, the man they met in the forest and is her Aunt looking for her? All of which I'm sure will be answered in Love of Shadows, due to be published in summer 2012. I look forward to it. A recommended read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for review. The opinions expressed here are my own and I am not required to give a positive critique.