The Girl with Glass Feet by Ali Shaw reads as a fairly tale without the happily ever after.
We meet Ida, a young woman who stares into the eyes of a pure white creature in a bog while on vacation, and subsequently begins to turn to glass. That’s right, glass. The transformation starts as a sliver on her toe and quickly progresses to both her feet at which point she decides to head back to the island to try and find an answer, hopefully a cure.
Back on the island, she meets Midas, a young man who has lost all feeling, all emotion. As Ida completes her cold change to glass, she helps Midas warm as a person and get in touch with his inner emo. Let the violins begin…
This novel is Shaw’s first – a fact that can’t be ignored. The book read like a college graduate trying their best to write something deeply meaningful and falling short. I repeatedly wanted to scream – Stop trying so hard!!! Having started and stopped several short stories/potential novels myself, I empathized while still gritting my teeth to finish. His descriptions are gorgeous – there is no doubt that he’s a talented writer. He just doesn’t understand the notion of quitting while you’re ahead. Such an intriguing premise, a stunning idea would perhaps have been more successful as a short story. The entire middle of the narrative is completely unnecessary.
Despite pages of pointless descriptions of snow and ice, you’ll keep reading to find out what happens to Ida – or at least I did. I actually look forward to Shaw’s next attempt – he has the potential to really write something amazing one day.
Star Rating – 2/5
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