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Glass Girls
In this “electrifying” debut (Kathryn Harlan), a former child medium is called home to help protect her niece from possession, forcing a reckoning with the traumas of her past and the magic she left behind.
When thirty-four-year-old Alice Haserot learns she’s pregnant, she isn’t sure if she wants to keep the baby. Long estranged from her family, Alice is haunted by memories of her own abusive mother. Not only that, but her lineage is burdened by a curse, one that she’s almost managed to convince herself she no longer believes Girls for the gifts, boys for the grave.
Alice’s gift—channeling ghosts—has often felt like its own curse. Is she willing to risk passing on a similar fate to a daughter, or one even worse to a son? Amidst this internal reckoning Alice’s sister Bronwyn tracks her down. One of Bronwyn’s daughters is possessing the other and she delivers an ultimatum to come home to free them, or I’ll tell our mother where you are.
When Alice agrees, she finds herself once again caught up in the life she tried to escape sixteen years before and the night she’s tried her hardest to forget. And as the haunting escalates to dangerous proportions, Alice must decide whom to trust, how far she will go to end the curse, and if she’s willing to risk motherhood given all her family legacy entails. For lovers ofMexican GothicandWeywardcomes a darkly captivating debut about family, female autonomy, and the bonds that endure across lifetimes.
When thirty-four-year-old Alice Haserot learns she’s pregnant, she isn’t sure if she wants to keep the baby. Long estranged from her family, Alice is haunted by memories of her own abusive mother. Not only that, but her lineage is burdened by a curse, one that she’s almost managed to convince herself she no longer believes Girls for the gifts, boys for the grave.
Alice’s gift—channeling ghosts—has often felt like its own curse. Is she willing to risk passing on a similar fate to a daughter, or one even worse to a son? Amidst this internal reckoning Alice’s sister Bronwyn tracks her down. One of Bronwyn’s daughters is possessing the other and she delivers an ultimatum to come home to free them, or I’ll tell our mother where you are.
When Alice agrees, she finds herself once again caught up in the life she tried to escape sixteen years before and the night she’s tried her hardest to forget. And as the haunting escalates to dangerous proportions, Alice must decide whom to trust, how far she will go to end the curse, and if she’s willing to risk motherhood given all her family legacy entails. For lovers ofMexican GothicandWeywardcomes a darkly captivating debut about family, female autonomy, and the bonds that endure across lifetimes.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published June 24, 2025
29 people are currently reading
11189 people want to read
About the author
Danie Shokoohi
1 book39 followersDanie Shokoohi (she/they) is a devoted listener of pod-dramas, an avid tarot reader, and queen of making too many playlists. She lives in Paris, France.
She holds an MFA in fiction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She works as the Managing Editor at Half Mystic Press, which makes her fall in love with writing again every day.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 21, 2025
My review of Glass Girls is published at .
Ghosts of the past are not so easily eluded in Glass Girls, the debut novel by author Danie Shokoohi, a midwestern Gothic tale of a family with inherited supernatural powers. But these magical gifts come at a cost, and the price is highest for the unfortunate male members of the Glass family.
The protagonist of Glass Girls, Alice Haserot, has decided to leave magic—and her dysfunctional family—behind, adopting a new name and creating a new life for herself. After many years of estrangement, a visit from her sister, Bronwyn, forces Alice to confront ghosts of the past, both literal and figurative, and decide whether to reengage with a family that has left her feeling haunted and traumatized. To make matters worse, an unexpected pregnancy raises the stakes even higher for Alice, who must ponder whether sins of the past will repeat themselves with another generation.
Danie Shokoohi’s prose is tight and polished throughout Glass Girls, an excellent vehicle for telling this subtly creepy Gothic story. Shokoohi is especially effective at conveying Alice’s family trauma, alternating between the present-day narrative and flashbacks to different points from her childhood. While Bronwyn is a diviner, capable of finding anything or anyone if she can follow their trail of energy, Alice has the rare ability to serve as a medium with the dead. As a child, Alice’s mother took full advantage of her gifts, earning profit and notoriety along the way.
The first part of Glass Girls is overly dominated by exposition, telling rather than showing the reader key plot points and relationship backstories. Although the tension builds up nicely by the end of the novel, I was hoping for stronger horror elements, especially earlier in the book, to accentuate the sense of dread.
Notwithstanding these minor quibbles, Glass Girls is an impressive debut that offers a fresh twist on classic paranormal storytelling. Danie Shokoohi’s novel is recommended for fans of modern Gothic fiction.
Ghosts of the past are not so easily eluded in Glass Girls, the debut novel by author Danie Shokoohi, a midwestern Gothic tale of a family with inherited supernatural powers. But these magical gifts come at a cost, and the price is highest for the unfortunate male members of the Glass family.
The protagonist of Glass Girls, Alice Haserot, has decided to leave magic—and her dysfunctional family—behind, adopting a new name and creating a new life for herself. After many years of estrangement, a visit from her sister, Bronwyn, forces Alice to confront ghosts of the past, both literal and figurative, and decide whether to reengage with a family that has left her feeling haunted and traumatized. To make matters worse, an unexpected pregnancy raises the stakes even higher for Alice, who must ponder whether sins of the past will repeat themselves with another generation.
Danie Shokoohi’s prose is tight and polished throughout Glass Girls, an excellent vehicle for telling this subtly creepy Gothic story. Shokoohi is especially effective at conveying Alice’s family trauma, alternating between the present-day narrative and flashbacks to different points from her childhood. While Bronwyn is a diviner, capable of finding anything or anyone if she can follow their trail of energy, Alice has the rare ability to serve as a medium with the dead. As a child, Alice’s mother took full advantage of her gifts, earning profit and notoriety along the way.
The first part of Glass Girls is overly dominated by exposition, telling rather than showing the reader key plot points and relationship backstories. Although the tension builds up nicely by the end of the novel, I was hoping for stronger horror elements, especially earlier in the book, to accentuate the sense of dread.
Notwithstanding these minor quibbles, Glass Girls is an impressive debut that offers a fresh twist on classic paranormal storytelling. Danie Shokoohi’s novel is recommended for fans of modern Gothic fiction.
March 20, 2025
I received an arc of this through my job, which did not affect my review.
I was so immediately drawn into this story. A haunting story about family, trauma, the ties that bind us to each other, and what we owe others. I was rooting for Alice, for Bronwyn and her daughters, even as the story broke my heart and then slowly started to stitch it back together. Out in June, and I highly recommend!
I was so immediately drawn into this story. A haunting story about family, trauma, the ties that bind us to each other, and what we owe others. I was rooting for Alice, for Bronwyn and her daughters, even as the story broke my heart and then slowly started to stitch it back together. Out in June, and I highly recommend!
June 28, 2025
There is nothing like the feeling of reading a book by a debut author and having it turn out to be one of the best books you’ve read in its genre in ages.
Glass Girls is about 30% family drama, 30% witch fantasy, 30% ghost horror, and 10% psychological thriller, all crafted into a compelling story that immediately drew me in and truly didn’t let me go until the last page.
I often bemoan books for being too slow or for having uneven pacing, but Danie Shokoohi obviously understood the assignment because this book has a great sense of urgency, of propulsion, in the way the story is told and the manner in which it unfolds. There is a purpose for every inch of page and no filler, making for an immersive and vibrant read. Even though there is some non-linear timeline stuff that happens, it sometimes varies in how it happens and when it happens, which greatly appealed to me as a reader because it made exposition feel more organic and less planned out.
The humanity in these characters and the events that have made up their lives will hurt your heart and make you long for resolution as much as they do. I became deeply invested in what happened to the characters in this book. I highly recommend it. 5⭐️
I was provided a copy of this title by the author and publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
File Under: 5 Star Review/Ghost Fiction/Horror/Occult Horror/Paranormal Horror/Psychological Thriller/Witch Fiction/Women’s Fiction
Glass Girls is about 30% family drama, 30% witch fantasy, 30% ghost horror, and 10% psychological thriller, all crafted into a compelling story that immediately drew me in and truly didn’t let me go until the last page.
I often bemoan books for being too slow or for having uneven pacing, but Danie Shokoohi obviously understood the assignment because this book has a great sense of urgency, of propulsion, in the way the story is told and the manner in which it unfolds. There is a purpose for every inch of page and no filler, making for an immersive and vibrant read. Even though there is some non-linear timeline stuff that happens, it sometimes varies in how it happens and when it happens, which greatly appealed to me as a reader because it made exposition feel more organic and less planned out.
The humanity in these characters and the events that have made up their lives will hurt your heart and make you long for resolution as much as they do. I became deeply invested in what happened to the characters in this book. I highly recommend it. 5⭐️
I was provided a copy of this title by the author and publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
File Under: 5 Star Review/Ghost Fiction/Horror/Occult Horror/Paranormal Horror/Psychological Thriller/Witch Fiction/Women’s Fiction
June 29, 2025
In the realm of horror, family dysfunction is not an unusual theme. Ghosts and haunted houses may be stand-ins for trauma or violence in the past. Danie Shokoohi’s debut novel, GLASS GIRLS, joins the ranks of authors exploring both the metaphysical and the familial with a story of abuse, recovery and magic.
Isabeau and her older sister, Bronwyn, live in a camper with their mother, Gisele. Gisele supports them with her Tarot card readings and instructs them in the ways of their inherited magic. Their life is hard but not without some beautiful and loving moments. When Gisele meets Frank, a man she saw in her own future, the three settle with him in a suburban home, and he becomes the caring father the girls never had. As the sisters come into their own gifts --- a tracking ability for Bronwyn and mediumship for Isabeau --- Gisele ramps up her efforts to mold and train them, which are generally harsh, cruel and abusive. Things get even worse, especially for Isabeau, when her brother, Killian, is born.
The women in the Glass family are at the mercy of a terrible curse: Male children die before their 19th birthdays, and no magic or endeavors can save them. Gisele saw her four brothers die, and she never intended to have a son. However, the ultrasound was wrong, and the third daughter she was planning for turned out to be a boy. After Killian was born, Gisele was inconsolable. So Isabeau and Bronwyn, along with Frank, do their best to raise Killian with love and care. As it becomes increasingly apparent that Isabeau is an incredibly strong medium, Gisele creates a terrible plan to ensure that Killian will live forever, sharing a life and a body with his sister.
All of the action in the home that Isabeau and Bronwyn call the “Little House” takes place over 10 years ago. Today, Isabeau is Alice, and she has been totally estranged from her family for years. She lives with her boyfriend, Eli, himself dealing with trauma, who knows almost nothing about her past (or even a huge secret she is currently keeping from him) and with whom she is excited to build a future. When Bronwyn shows up, Alice is dragged back into the dark depths of her childhood and the pain she suffered at the hands of her mother and with the death of her brother. But Bronwyn needs her, and Alice cannot ignore her sister’s desperation or sorrow at having lost a teenage daughter. To save Bronwyn’s other daughter, and to rebuild a relationship with Bronwyn, Alice leaves Eli and returns to the Little House to confront the ghosts --- actual and metaphoric --- that live there.
Shokoohi’s narrative moves between the two timelines, revealing Alice’s past even as readers see the consequences in the present. Every character in this book is deeply hurting, which makes for an emotionally challenging read. There is violence, child abuse, death, eating disorders, self-harm and more, all of which Shokoohi takes on without blinking. The magic is less clearly articulated as the Glass family works with herbs, crystals and incantations that come across as somewhere between Wiccan practices, old-fashioned Spiritualism, and New Age beliefs.
Horrific but not scary, GLASS GIRLS is a powerfully told story and a promising debut. It’s a psychologically interesting tale of loss and suffering, as well as second chances, forgiveness and healing.
Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman
Isabeau and her older sister, Bronwyn, live in a camper with their mother, Gisele. Gisele supports them with her Tarot card readings and instructs them in the ways of their inherited magic. Their life is hard but not without some beautiful and loving moments. When Gisele meets Frank, a man she saw in her own future, the three settle with him in a suburban home, and he becomes the caring father the girls never had. As the sisters come into their own gifts --- a tracking ability for Bronwyn and mediumship for Isabeau --- Gisele ramps up her efforts to mold and train them, which are generally harsh, cruel and abusive. Things get even worse, especially for Isabeau, when her brother, Killian, is born.
The women in the Glass family are at the mercy of a terrible curse: Male children die before their 19th birthdays, and no magic or endeavors can save them. Gisele saw her four brothers die, and she never intended to have a son. However, the ultrasound was wrong, and the third daughter she was planning for turned out to be a boy. After Killian was born, Gisele was inconsolable. So Isabeau and Bronwyn, along with Frank, do their best to raise Killian with love and care. As it becomes increasingly apparent that Isabeau is an incredibly strong medium, Gisele creates a terrible plan to ensure that Killian will live forever, sharing a life and a body with his sister.
All of the action in the home that Isabeau and Bronwyn call the “Little House” takes place over 10 years ago. Today, Isabeau is Alice, and she has been totally estranged from her family for years. She lives with her boyfriend, Eli, himself dealing with trauma, who knows almost nothing about her past (or even a huge secret she is currently keeping from him) and with whom she is excited to build a future. When Bronwyn shows up, Alice is dragged back into the dark depths of her childhood and the pain she suffered at the hands of her mother and with the death of her brother. But Bronwyn needs her, and Alice cannot ignore her sister’s desperation or sorrow at having lost a teenage daughter. To save Bronwyn’s other daughter, and to rebuild a relationship with Bronwyn, Alice leaves Eli and returns to the Little House to confront the ghosts --- actual and metaphoric --- that live there.
Shokoohi’s narrative moves between the two timelines, revealing Alice’s past even as readers see the consequences in the present. Every character in this book is deeply hurting, which makes for an emotionally challenging read. There is violence, child abuse, death, eating disorders, self-harm and more, all of which Shokoohi takes on without blinking. The magic is less clearly articulated as the Glass family works with herbs, crystals and incantations that come across as somewhere between Wiccan practices, old-fashioned Spiritualism, and New Age beliefs.
Horrific but not scary, GLASS GIRLS is a powerfully told story and a promising debut. It’s a psychologically interesting tale of loss and suffering, as well as second chances, forgiveness and healing.
Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman
June 26, 2025
From the moment I saw author Danie Shokoohi discussing Glass Girls in a social media interview, I was captivated. The premise sounded utterly fascinating, and I immediately headed to NetGalley to request a digital review copy. Given it was release day, I didn't hold out much hope for approval, so imagine my surprise when my request was almost instantly granted!
Glass Girls truly delivers on an intriguing concept. As a fan of witchy tales, I was drawn in by the unique curse at its heart: a family where each girl is born with a special gift, its power inversely proportional to how early it manifests, while the boys are tragically fated to die before their nineteenth birthday. Be prepared for some heavy themes, as the narrative touches on childhood trauma, abuse leading to PTSD, violence, tragedy, and grief.
While I genuinely enjoyed the story at its core, the execution proved to be a bit chaotic for my taste. The frequent jumps between timelines often lacked the smooth transitions needed to keep me fully oriented, leading to moments of confusion. One particular point that continually pulled me out of the narrative was Alice's self-reference. The book explicitly states Isabeau isn't "killed off" until Alice is an adult, yet the younger self consistently refers to herself as Alice. This inconsistency felt like it undermined the very premise of the character's transformation.
Glass Girls had so much potential to be a five-star read, but its organizational structure ultimately held it back. Despite these narrative bumps, I still found it to be a good read and would recommend it, especially for those who appreciate unique takes on witchcraft and don't mind a less linear storytelling approach.
+++I was given a copy of this DRC in an exchange for an honest review+++
I want to thank #danieshokoohie #Netgalley #Zando and #gillianflynnbooks for allowing me to read this amazing DRC. I truly feel honored to have had the privilege to read and review it.
Glass Girls truly delivers on an intriguing concept. As a fan of witchy tales, I was drawn in by the unique curse at its heart: a family where each girl is born with a special gift, its power inversely proportional to how early it manifests, while the boys are tragically fated to die before their nineteenth birthday. Be prepared for some heavy themes, as the narrative touches on childhood trauma, abuse leading to PTSD, violence, tragedy, and grief.
While I genuinely enjoyed the story at its core, the execution proved to be a bit chaotic for my taste. The frequent jumps between timelines often lacked the smooth transitions needed to keep me fully oriented, leading to moments of confusion. One particular point that continually pulled me out of the narrative was Alice's self-reference. The book explicitly states Isabeau isn't "killed off" until Alice is an adult, yet the younger self consistently refers to herself as Alice. This inconsistency felt like it undermined the very premise of the character's transformation.
Glass Girls had so much potential to be a five-star read, but its organizational structure ultimately held it back. Despite these narrative bumps, I still found it to be a good read and would recommend it, especially for those who appreciate unique takes on witchcraft and don't mind a less linear storytelling approach.
+++I was given a copy of this DRC in an exchange for an honest review+++
I want to thank #danieshokoohie #Netgalley #Zando and #gillianflynnbooks for allowing me to read this amazing DRC. I truly feel honored to have had the privilege to read and review it.
June 17, 2025
Isabeau was once a child medium in a family of witches, but she ran away from her past and changed her name to Alice. Now, she lives a privileged life with a normal boyfriend, but her life is upended when her sister finds her and threatens her so that she will return home and help deal with the ghost of her niece. Alice and Bronwyn must confront their past and shared trauma in order to save Bronwyn’s still-living daughter.
I really enjoyed reading this thriller. It’s a combination of paranormal, horror, and mystery as well, and balances all the genres well. A key theme in this book is trauma and the way it impacts us when we are older, as is seen by the quote from Bessel van der Kolk, psychologist and author of The Body Keeps the Score in the opening of the novel. This is the best-written debut novel I’ve read in a long time.
The novel goes between reflective descriptions of the pasts of the girls in the novel and the trauma they endured at the hands of their mother, Gisele, and tense plot-focused sections. I think it did a great job of highlighting how someone who is traumatized can be utterly transported from their everyday life by intrusive flashbacks. Although Gisele does horrible things to her children and grandchildren, you can easily see how the generational curse and her own mothering warped her into behaving the way that she did. She’s certainly not likeable — I’m actually not sure I’d say any of the adult characters in this novel are likeable, so if that is a turn off for you I’d advise staying away — but you do eventually understand why she turned out the way she did.
This novel is very potentially triggering with graphic descriptions of child abuse and of self-harm, so that is also something to be wary of. I thoroughly enjoyed the novel regardless, though, and I don’t believe any of the descriptions were excessive. Sometimes authors shy away from fully showing the horrors of the things they are writing about, and that was not the case in this book.
Glass Girls will be published by Gillian Flynn Books on June 24th. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advance reader’s copy.
I really enjoyed reading this thriller. It’s a combination of paranormal, horror, and mystery as well, and balances all the genres well. A key theme in this book is trauma and the way it impacts us when we are older, as is seen by the quote from Bessel van der Kolk, psychologist and author of The Body Keeps the Score in the opening of the novel. This is the best-written debut novel I’ve read in a long time.
The novel goes between reflective descriptions of the pasts of the girls in the novel and the trauma they endured at the hands of their mother, Gisele, and tense plot-focused sections. I think it did a great job of highlighting how someone who is traumatized can be utterly transported from their everyday life by intrusive flashbacks. Although Gisele does horrible things to her children and grandchildren, you can easily see how the generational curse and her own mothering warped her into behaving the way that she did. She’s certainly not likeable — I’m actually not sure I’d say any of the adult characters in this novel are likeable, so if that is a turn off for you I’d advise staying away — but you do eventually understand why she turned out the way she did.
This novel is very potentially triggering with graphic descriptions of child abuse and of self-harm, so that is also something to be wary of. I thoroughly enjoyed the novel regardless, though, and I don’t believe any of the descriptions were excessive. Sometimes authors shy away from fully showing the horrors of the things they are writing about, and that was not the case in this book.
Glass Girls will be published by Gillian Flynn Books on June 24th. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advance reader’s copy.
June 24, 2025
Glass Girls was so deliciously feminine and witchy - I loved every second of it.
In Glass Girls we follow Alice (formerly known as Isabeau) and her sister Bronwyn. Their childhood is harsh at the hands of their mother Gisele, but still their lives are full of magic. Though the girls know no other witches, the Glass women are all blessed with gifts. As a counterbalance it is the Glass boys pay the price - none of them make it past the age of 19. As an Oracle, Gisele sees many different futures for them all. But she doesn’t see Killian. Killian is the light of their lives, but with his death everything changes.
I was thoroughly impressed (and a little surprised) by this debut! I was expecting a thriller with a side of family drama, but I was surprised by how eerie this ended up being. I loved Shokoohi’s immersive storytelling and her writing style. It was so easy to get lost in the magic and I felt like I was at The Little House with Bronwyn and Beau. This was such a great blend of supernatural horror, sisterhood/family trauma, and witchy magic. I can’t wait to reread this come fall.
Thank you so much to Zando and Netgalley. I look forward to reading from this author again in the future!
In Glass Girls we follow Alice (formerly known as Isabeau) and her sister Bronwyn. Their childhood is harsh at the hands of their mother Gisele, but still their lives are full of magic. Though the girls know no other witches, the Glass women are all blessed with gifts. As a counterbalance it is the Glass boys pay the price - none of them make it past the age of 19. As an Oracle, Gisele sees many different futures for them all. But she doesn’t see Killian. Killian is the light of their lives, but with his death everything changes.
I was thoroughly impressed (and a little surprised) by this debut! I was expecting a thriller with a side of family drama, but I was surprised by how eerie this ended up being. I loved Shokoohi’s immersive storytelling and her writing style. It was so easy to get lost in the magic and I felt like I was at The Little House with Bronwyn and Beau. This was such a great blend of supernatural horror, sisterhood/family trauma, and witchy magic. I can’t wait to reread this come fall.
Thank you so much to Zando and Netgalley. I look forward to reading from this author again in the future!
June 27, 2025
Thank you @zandoprojects #gillianflynnbooks #partner for the gifted copy of this ebook!
I was instantly drawn into the haunting vibe of Glass Girls by Danie Shokoohi. This is a complex, paranormal gothic horror story rooted in a long, twisted family history of supernatural powers and magic...and it didn’t take much more to hook me.
The Glass family is as cursed as they are captivating. Alice, our main character, bolted out of town years ago, desperate to leave her past behind because who really wants to live that creepy ghosty life? New name, new life, no magic. But of course, the past doesn’t stay buried, because that that would be boring, especially when her sister Bronwyn shows up and drags her right back into the shadows she tried to escape. And if that wasn’t enough, a surprise pregnancy has everyone questioning what kind of power the next generation will carry. 👀
This book was creepy, eerie, haunting, and even a little emotional which surprised me. It’s incredibly well written. I can’t believe it’s a debut! My only minor hiccup was that a couple of the timeline jumps threw me off now and then, but honestly, that could’ve just been me trying to devour it too quickly because I was so into it.
If you’re a fan of paranormal horror, messy family drama, and are already leaning into your witchy fall era, add this one to your list. You’ll be creeped out in the best way. 🌒✨
I was instantly drawn into the haunting vibe of Glass Girls by Danie Shokoohi. This is a complex, paranormal gothic horror story rooted in a long, twisted family history of supernatural powers and magic...and it didn’t take much more to hook me.
The Glass family is as cursed as they are captivating. Alice, our main character, bolted out of town years ago, desperate to leave her past behind because who really wants to live that creepy ghosty life? New name, new life, no magic. But of course, the past doesn’t stay buried, because that that would be boring, especially when her sister Bronwyn shows up and drags her right back into the shadows she tried to escape. And if that wasn’t enough, a surprise pregnancy has everyone questioning what kind of power the next generation will carry. 👀
This book was creepy, eerie, haunting, and even a little emotional which surprised me. It’s incredibly well written. I can’t believe it’s a debut! My only minor hiccup was that a couple of the timeline jumps threw me off now and then, but honestly, that could’ve just been me trying to devour it too quickly because I was so into it.
If you’re a fan of paranormal horror, messy family drama, and are already leaning into your witchy fall era, add this one to your list. You’ll be creeped out in the best way. 🌒✨
June 8, 2025
In the publisher’s note, they say that Glass Girls is a fresh take on the family of female witches and ghosts story, and I definitely agree. The writing in this book is absolutely stellar; the immersive, visceral descriptions bring you right into the story and keep you there. The book deals with childhood trauma through storytelling that moves from past to present, sometimes intermingled and not clearly labeled. There are moments with multiple points of view as well, but it was still easy enough to follow. The story includes vivid scenes of poltergeist activity, self-mutilation, and abuse/violence, and it felt much darker than advertised. That being said, if you can handle a dark book that really leans more into horror than thriller, and you like paranormal stories, I’d recommend picking this up. I couldn’t put it down and was even brought to tears at the end. I’ll be adding it to my collection of witchy stories. TW: child abuse
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 18, 2025
I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning: This novel contains depictions of childhood trauma, self-harm, abuse, and intense supernatural violence.
The writing in this novel is exceptionally strong, marked by immersive and visceral prose that pulls the reader into a haunting narrative and refuses to let go. Structured with shifts between past and present, the story maintains clarity even as it layers its timelines and perspectives.
While marketed more as a thriller, the tone and content of the book are decidedly rooted in horror, with vivid portrayals of poltergeist phenomena and emotional and physical trauma. The darker themes are handled with weight and intensity, making for a deeply affecting reading experience.
For readers drawn to paranormal fiction with a psychological edge, this novel is a compelling and emotionally resonant entry. Its powerful conclusion leaves a lasting impression, earning it a place among the more memorable contemporary "witchy" narratives.
Content Warning: This novel contains depictions of childhood trauma, self-harm, abuse, and intense supernatural violence.
The writing in this novel is exceptionally strong, marked by immersive and visceral prose that pulls the reader into a haunting narrative and refuses to let go. Structured with shifts between past and present, the story maintains clarity even as it layers its timelines and perspectives.
While marketed more as a thriller, the tone and content of the book are decidedly rooted in horror, with vivid portrayals of poltergeist phenomena and emotional and physical trauma. The darker themes are handled with weight and intensity, making for a deeply affecting reading experience.
For readers drawn to paranormal fiction with a psychological edge, this novel is a compelling and emotionally resonant entry. Its powerful conclusion leaves a lasting impression, earning it a place among the more memorable contemporary "witchy" narratives.
June 22, 2025
Glass Girls has so much going on in the best way. Thanks to Shokoohi’s storytelling, the mythologies around witches - at least in the Glass family - as well as ghosts and poltergeists, are interesting and easy to follow. Glass Girls primarily follows the story of Beau (or Alice, as she’s primarily known) and Bronwyn, sisters and witches, through surviving the curse which afflicts the Glass family, not to mention the generational trauma which presents as abuse at the hands of their mother. On top of that, Glass Girls is an effectively scary ghost story, as Alice (and later her niece) are haunted by earth-bound spirits by virtue of their innate powers as mediums. The relationship between Alice and her boyfriend was the only one that felt a little flat - but I think that may be because the blood-bound relationships were so much more complex and interesting, and it did not detract from my enjoyment of the book. #NetGalley
July 1, 2025
Gisele Glass and her two daughters, Bronwyn and Isabeau, are all witches. Their family is cursed that all males will die by the time they’re nineteen. When their brother Killian dies at the age of ten, Gisele uses a spell that binds Killian to Isabeau so that he can continue to “live.” Thus begins the saga of the Glass Girls.
This book is mesmerizing and haunting to say the least. The story of Bronwyn and Isabeau and their abusive mother Gisele is one not only of witches but of a family saga spanning decades. I found the book to be dark and haunting but also emotional and filled with turmoil. The relationship between the sisters is not good as they haven’t seen one another in years. Isabeau’s desire to save Bronwyn’s daughter from possession is a key element of the story and maybe the most fearsome part. If you like haunting stories about witches, then you’ll love Glass Girls.
I recommend Glass Girls. Read it and let me know what you think - I’d love to discuss!
This book is mesmerizing and haunting to say the least. The story of Bronwyn and Isabeau and their abusive mother Gisele is one not only of witches but of a family saga spanning decades. I found the book to be dark and haunting but also emotional and filled with turmoil. The relationship between the sisters is not good as they haven’t seen one another in years. Isabeau’s desire to save Bronwyn’s daughter from possession is a key element of the story and maybe the most fearsome part. If you like haunting stories about witches, then you’ll love Glass Girls.
I recommend Glass Girls. Read it and let me know what you think - I’d love to discuss!
April 5, 2025
I was shocked to see this was a debut author and then dismayed that I didn't have the rest of her ouevre to work through immediately after closing this book! This taut novel explores family trauma: what we owe the people we love who we have wronged. And it does so in such a compelling way--exploring the various talents of the women and how it wreaks havoc upon their lives. All of this, propelled by a fantastically alluring plot, makes this a must read for both mystery and witchcraft fans. And if you're both? You're in for a treat and some sleepless nights!
This advanced reader's novel was provided by the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
This advanced reader's novel was provided by the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
June 14, 2025
A woman must use her long lost gifts to save her niece from a poltergeist – spooky! Not my typical genre, but as part of my internal Gillian Flynn Books imprint challenge, I simply had to pick it up. The writing in this book is really beautiful, and I loved the conversation around family bonds and healing after trauma. I can’t vouch for the validity of any of the witchy stuff, but I enjoyed those topics as well. Would recommend picking it up if it sounds like it'd interest you!
*Thank you to NetGalley and Zando for exchanging an e-ARC of this book for an unbiased review.
*Thank you to NetGalley and Zando for exchanging an e-ARC of this book for an unbiased review.
July 1, 2025
I recieved this book as part of a giveaway.
This was an absolute page turner. Could not put it down. Finished it in one go at midnight, which was not a good idea. Loved the premise, loved the magic world building. I really hope this is the first novel in the series because I would love to know more about the other witches and how it worked. The gifts were so creative in how they were utilised. I was fascinated by Gisele and how she used the tarot cards, even though I was furious at her the whole way. It was genuinely spooky. I was definitely emotionally invested in all the character. Absolutely fantastic.
This was an absolute page turner. Could not put it down. Finished it in one go at midnight, which was not a good idea. Loved the premise, loved the magic world building. I really hope this is the first novel in the series because I would love to know more about the other witches and how it worked. The gifts were so creative in how they were utilised. I was fascinated by Gisele and how she used the tarot cards, even though I was furious at her the whole way. It was genuinely spooky. I was definitely emotionally invested in all the character. Absolutely fantastic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2025
Glass Girls has a lyrical, emotional style that captures the pain and beauty of its characters’ journeys. Danie Shokoohi writes with honesty and sensitivity, especially around themes of trauma and friendship. However, the pacing felt uneven, and some parts of the story lost momentum. A thoughtful read, though it didn’t fully come together for me..
Thanks to NetGalley and Zando publishing for the ARC.
Glass Girls is available June 24, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Zando publishing for the ARC.
Glass Girls is available June 24, 2025
June 30, 2025
"It is almost always better to live with the gift than to deny it... it is a vile thing to sacrifice your specialness for the sake of the ordinary nothings that walk around in the outside world."
"It is madness, my little loves, to buckle to the whims of a world that prioritizes happiness over power."
"It is madness, my little loves, to buckle to the whims of a world that prioritizes happiness over power."
June 24, 2025
Exceptional, beautiful and everything I could ask for.
June 23, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a gifted copy of this novel.
I absolutely love the premise behind this novel and found myself reading it rather quickly. I am amazed that this is a debut with a plot this strong and unique, as the author blends a great mix of supernatural elements with a traditional horror. I do believe this book is described as a thriller by some, but I am in the camp that a lot of the elements that bring dread in the reader are more akin to a horror novel. This novel also explores some deeper topics, such as complicated family relationships, which I believe assisted in the development of the characters. The pacing did feel a bit uneven at times when comparing to the more “drastic” scenes in the book, but honestly because I was invested in the plot itself I wasn’t as bothered by this as I typically would be. I definitely recommend giving this one a read!
I absolutely love the premise behind this novel and found myself reading it rather quickly. I am amazed that this is a debut with a plot this strong and unique, as the author blends a great mix of supernatural elements with a traditional horror. I do believe this book is described as a thriller by some, but I am in the camp that a lot of the elements that bring dread in the reader are more akin to a horror novel. This novel also explores some deeper topics, such as complicated family relationships, which I believe assisted in the development of the characters. The pacing did feel a bit uneven at times when comparing to the more “drastic” scenes in the book, but honestly because I was invested in the plot itself I wasn’t as bothered by this as I typically would be. I definitely recommend giving this one a read!
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