Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz is lauded for its atmospheric storytelling and complex characters, captivating readers with a dark, Victorian-era fantasy. Positive feedback highlights the richly woven plot and intricate details. Some readers, however, find the pacing slow and the narrative occasionally overwhelming. Overall, it’s a mesmerizing, though sometimes dense, gothic tale.

Readers who relish atmospheric historical fiction with a touch of dark fantasy, akin to The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, will be captivated by Splendors and Glooms. This novel's rich Victorian-era setting and intricate plot appeals to fans of Coraline by Neil Gaiman and His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman.

Splendors and Glooms follows Clara Wintermute, who, after losing her siblings to cholera, becomes enchanted and turned into a puppet by the sinister magician Grisini. Lizzie Rose and Parsefall, Grisini's helpers, uncover his dark past and flee. They are summoned by Cassandra, who seeks to rid herself of the dangerous phoenix-stone. Clara battles Grisini's control to free herself and the others.

Mysterious / Dark / Suspenseful / Fantastical / Emotional

- Splendors and Glooms was awarded a Newbery Honor in 2013, highlighting its distinguished contribution to American children's literature.
- The book is often praised for its rich, atmospheric setting in Victorian London, which adds a gothic flair to the narrative.
- Laura Amy Schlitz spent about six years researching and writing Splendors and Glooms, drawing inspiration from classic folklore and fairy tales.

**Clara Wintermute**  
The only surviving child of the Wintermute family, Clara is delicate in appearance and harbors a deep sense of guilt for her siblings' deaths, while longing to dance and find happiness.

**Lizzie Rose**  
A kind-hearted young girl who works for Grisini, Lizzie Rose is known for her reddish hair and empathetic nature, making her supportive and optimistic despite her hardships.

**Parsefall**  
A small and thin boy in Grisini’s care, Parsefall is skilled with puppets and protects himself with an ill-tempered demeanor, masking his troubled past and vulnerability.

**Gaspare Grisini**  
An aged and selfish puppet master who serves as the antagonist, manipulating those around him to satisfy his own ambitions while masking his true intentions with artistic skill.

**Cassandra**  
A secondary antagonist, Cassandra is frail and possesses the phoenix-stone, her complex motives and past regrets highlighting her struggle between her desires and the consequences of her actions.

**Dr. Wintermute**  
Clara’s father, representing the constraints of Victorian society, who must reconcile his past grievances to reestablish familial harmony and recognize what he truly values.

**Mrs. Pinchbeck**  
A character symbolizing the lower classes with a tendency for theatricality, she provides comedic relief through her over-the-top interactions, playing into societal stereotypes of the era.

Laura Amy Schlitz

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Splendors and Glooms Summary and Study Guide

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Splendors and Glooms Background

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “Fog”

Prologue-Part 1, Chapter 10

Splendors and Glooms Prologue-Part 1, Chapter 10 Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Chapters 11-19

Splendors and Glooms Part 1, Chapters 11-19 Summary & Analysis

Part 1: “Fog”- Part 2: “Ice”

Part 1, Chapter 20-Part 2, Chapter 30

Splendors and Glooms Part 1, Chapter 20-Part 2, Chapter 30 Summary & Analysis

Part 2: “Ice”

Part 2, Chapters 31-41

Splendors and Glooms Part 2, Chapters 31-41 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapter 42-Epilogue

Splendors and Glooms Part 2, Chapter 42-Epilogue Summary & Analysis

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Character Analysis

Splendors and Glooms Character Analysis

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Splendors and Glooms Important Quotes

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