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Shadow Mirror (Walk #2)

4.21 of 5 stars 4.21 · rating details · 346 ratings · 46 reviews

Unsettling. There's no better word to describe Miranda Barnes's ability to hear the cries of the dead, feel the wind move her hair when they run by, and - dare she look into a mirror - see the reflection of a ghostly woman behind her. There's only one person to turn to for support: Etienne. As sexy as he is mysterious, Miranda can't help but be drawn to him. He believes he...more

Paperback, 352 pages

Published March 18th 2010 by Speak

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YA Novels of 2010

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2010 YA novels (part 2)

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Apr 14, 2010 Kaia rated it 5 of 5 stars

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I love a good ghost story. I don’t love it when a book isn’t clearly marked as a sequel. However, that is the fault of neither Shadow Mirror nor Richie Tankersley Cusick, so I’ll let it slide. Just know you’ll want to read Walk of the Spirits first, if you’re interested in Shadow Mirror.

Miranda Barnes has the ability to hear and see the dead. Lately she’s been seeing the ghostly reflection of a woman whenever she looks in a mirror. These visions worsen...more I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I love a good ghost story. I don’t love it when a book isn’t clearly marked as a sequel. However, that is the fault of neither Shadow Mirror nor Richie Tankersley Cusick, so I’ll let it slide. Just know you’ll want to read Walk of the Spirits first, if you’re interested in Shadow Mirror.

Miranda Barnes has the ability to hear and see the dead. Lately she’s been seeing the ghostly reflection of a woman whenever she looks in a mirror. These visions worsen after a visit to Belle Chandelle, a nearby plantation house that her aunt and mother are renovating into a bed and breakfast. With the help of her friends — including sexy and mysterious Etienne — she works to solve the mystery behind the haunting of Belle Chandelle.

Despite being a sequel, Shadow Mirror stands on its own really well. Aside from a few small missing details, it was very easy to slip into the story. Cusick’s fantastic characters smooth the way. I would have liked just a little more personality out of Miranda, but she’s a very likeable and relatable character. Her internal struggles — both with her ability to see ghosts, and her double crush on Etienne and Gage — ring true. They feel like real teenage problems (which is impressive in the case of the former) and while they have a great deal of importance in her life, they’re never melodramatic.

In fact, somehow Cusick depicts very complex relationships and friendships within Miranda’s sphere of friends without ever making them unbelievable. There’s the sort of love triangle going on between Miranda, Etienne, and Gage, the question of old relationship vs. potential new relationship for Miranda’s friend Ashley, and the issue of Miranda and Etienne having sex for the first time. All of it is handled with great skill and taste. Better yet, nobody but nobody is a walking stereotype. For example, despite being a popular cheerleader, Ashley is a very sweet girl who you can bet would never spend her time tormenting outcasts. If you’re frustrated with some of the relationship trends in YA these days, you might want to give Shadow Mirror a try just for that.

The ghost story plot itself turns out to be pretty simple, and actually I really appreciated that. With southern ghost stories, especially those that take place on plantations, there’s a tendency to tread the same old ground and be really predictable. The nature of the mystery here meant I wasn’t way ahead of the characters in solving it.

Cusick’s writing is interesting. She uses a fair amount of dashes, italics, ellipses, and other similar tricks, but usually only when describing Miranda’s “haunting.” So the effect is generally a good one, giving a strong feeling of Miranda’s disorientation and the way her world fragments when this is going on.

Unfortunately this leaks over into other places occasionally, meaning sometimes the prose gets a little frustrating. As well, the strength of the friendship between Miranda and her friends has its own frustrations if you haven’t read the first book. I got a very strong sense of their background together – and was occasionally irritated that I hadn’t read Walk of the Spirits. Especially since I was missing little details that I desperately wanted to know.

I enjoyed Shadow Mirror a great deal and hope Cusick writes another story about Miranda. Ghosts aside, I actually really want to know what happens next in the lives of Miranda and her friends. And I don’t say that very often about fictional people. In the meantime, I’ve ordered Walk of the Spirits and another book by Cusick. Now if only shipping to Sweden didn’t take so gosh darn long!(less)

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Apr 30, 2013 Breesc23 rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: series

I enjoyed this book better than the first book, but I have to rate it lower, as even the things I did enjoy wasn't really enjoyable because they weren't fully developed enough for me to... enjoy them

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE

The supernatural in this series is... juvenile. Or, at least the development of it is. Granted, this ghost story was better than the first one, and a little bit creepy, but it was still blah. Just when it was getting good, it seemed to rush to the end, as if the author had a limit o...more

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Apr 29, 2013 Elissa rated it 3 of 5 stars

So, back to the grind with these guys! Miranda hits the ground running in this book, there is no easing into this story, she's just thrown right into it immediately. The motley crew is back, which always adds some fun, but this time there is some discord amongst all of them.

Miranda really hasn't grown character wise, she is still greatly annoying and the way she acts with Gage and Etienne is greatly bothersome to me. She can't seem to make her mind up and it just gets tiresome.

The story in gener...more

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Jun 09, 2012 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars

i read shadow mirrior first,and i've yet to read the 1st book in the series, although i really want to!
overall,i really liked this book.it was funny and i wish i had a group of friends like the one in this book!
however,there were some problems with this.
i was sick,so sick,of the way richie tankersley cusick wrote in this book.
it was.like this.sometimes.throughout.the book.
and i got tired of reading these little fragments.
i wanted to scream "just write a whole sentence!!'
and i wasn't all that cra...more i read shadow mirrior first,and i've yet to read the 1st book in the series, although i really want to!
overall,i really liked this book.it was funny and i wish i had a group of friends like the one in this book!
however,there were some problems with this.
i was sick,so sick,of the way richie tankersley cusick wrote in this book.
it was.like this.sometimes.throughout.the book.
and i got tired of reading these little fragments.
i wanted to scream "just write a whole sentence!!'
and i wasn't all that crazy about the main character.it's like her friends were all funny but miranda was kind of boring.i noticed she usually sat back and didn't say much while the rest of the group was joking around.
and i just expected more when it came to the ghosts in this book.like it turned out to be kids stuck in the mirror who just needed to be placed in their mothers arms.
&then miranda gets stuck in the mirror and i'm just like that isn't possible!
i just think that if you're going to do something with ghosts,you need to think of something better.
&am i the only one who thinks miranda made the wrong choice?!
gage was so sweet and i was disappointed when she got with ettiene.but of course the girl always chooses the guy who's been with a lot of girls.i didn't really believe that ettiene wouldn't break her heart,that he woudldn't dump her like all the other girls he's been with.
with gage,i would have believed that he would always treat her right and love her.
then again..i didn't really think miranda was good enough for gage.
&her grandpa told ettiene to help miranda.but he didnt.at all.
&the whole "you're the only one who can bring miranda back from the mirrior" was stupid. because it wasnt like her and etienne had this great connection or sumthin.
i dint really see a happily ever after between miranda and etienne because of his past and the fact that i didnt think he truly cared for miranda in a way that would last forever.
at some points the way this author wrote was beyond frustrating.it was like it was designed to get on a persons nerves.
the mirror thing was completely impossible and pretty much stupid.the whole ghost thing led to her putting a blanket around the children and handing them to their mother.thats what the book led to.&i swear i thought miranda was gunna get sick from what the children had.because she was touching them and everything.i mean,how is it possible that you wouldnt get sick?
basically,this author had no real grasp on the ghost concept.
(less)

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Oct 13, 2011 Regina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010-before

i LOVE this series and this was a good solid sequel.

I loved this second book in the series. The romance got steamier and the love triangle between Gage, Miranda and Etienne becomes even more apparent as the two vie for her attentions. Personally i am rooting for Etienne even tho Gage is a total sweetie.Cause,Etienne is so HOT. He gives out this smooth mysterious bad boy yet vulnerable deep down vibe that chicks dig. Im pretty sure the author is Miranda lean towards him more than Gage. There's no...more

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Jul 18, 2011 Megan B. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, 4-stars

Miranda and the gang are back for more ghosts, mysteries, romance and trouble. Miranda's mother and Aunt Teeta are renovating the old, haunted house, Belle Chandelle. As soon as Miranda gets near the house, her senses are assulted by the present and the past. When Miranda is inside the house she hears children, and when she looks into mirrors, she does not see herself- but some other woman.

The whole book centers around the mystery of who the children and woman are, and how Miranda is supposed t...more

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Nov 28, 2010 She Known As Jess BlogSpot rated it 5 of 5 stars

Review Posted on Blog: http://sheknownasjess.blogspot.com/

Oh dear, I really had to keep my calm hat on during some of these chapters, eeep, and try to keep my girly squeaks to a minimum. Babe don't be showing yourself in my mirror, phew, so glad I don't have those sort of skills.

I looked at this book as it sat on my shelf; I bought it awhile ago with a bunch of other novels so it was only now that this book was to be read off my list. As soon as I began I felt the thrill of adventure dancing un...more

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May 07, 2010 Debbie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Debbie by: http://www.thestorysiren.com/2009/10/books-to-pine-for-26.html

I give this one 3.5 stars.
I first saw this book mentioned on The Story Siren's blog and it grabbed my attention so I was happy when I just happen to wander into the YA section of my library and there it was. I did not realize this was the second book in what I guess will be a series following Miranda. So I may be missing some nuances in the character interactions that developed in the first book. Still I really enjoyed it and didn't have much trouble following the story. Miranda's ability was fa...more

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Mar 28, 2010 Alexa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, 2010-reads, own

I enjoyed Shadow Mirror as much as Walk of the Spirits! First, I gotta quickly mention the romance. There is sort of a love-triangle. If you read the other book, then you know who it involves. I can understand why it's such a hard decision for Miranda! *sigh*
Anyway, like in the other book, we learn more history about St. Yvette. This time the Belle Chandelle plantation. Miranda has to figure out how to help three spirits trapped within a mirror. Her friends are there to help as well, and there e...more

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Jul 26, 2010 Hally rated it 5 of 5 stars

Definitely a good read. I found it a lot more enjoyable than the first book, "Walk of the Spirits," since the characters are more developed.

Cusick did a great job at showing typical high school problems without it getting tedious. And I love the dialogue among the characters. It was just simply hilarious. I found myself laughing out loud a couple of times.

The plot was intriguing yet actually pretty simple, and I liked the twist. It sent a chill down my back.

I liked the bond between Etienne and...more

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Jun 01, 2011 Hatsune Miku rated it 5 of 5 stars

Did you like Walk of the spirits? Well if you did, you have to read Shadow Mirror. The story continues, as Miranda helps the spirit of a dead soldier. As she gets closer to her friends, she gets closer to Etienne, and farther from Gage! As things heat up, will Miranda get closer, and more drawn in to her fate if she ignores it, and what will happen with Gage, and Etienne? Read Shadow Mirror, if you want to find out!!! XD

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Apr 02, 2011 Jeannie rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 13, 2013 Brianna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, paranormal-romance, ghosts

this was pretty good follow up to the first book. Seems like there was more relationship drama in this one and the ending was left wide open, so either you can think what you want or maybe the author is planning on coming back with more books like LJ smith did with her. But it was pretty good. I hope everything gets solve for everybody. I wish there was another book.

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Mar 25, 2012 Sandy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Love these characters and this second story with them is possibly better than the first...I can't decide...they are both so good! I love the mystery and ghosts and just all around love Cusick's way of writing!! I wish the publishers would buy a third book with these characters!

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May 03, 2013 Kristen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: suspense-ghost-story, young-adult

Definitely young adult book and a good ghost story but not gory. I loved the dialogue among the teenagers, especially the bickering between Parker and Roo. Roo's snarky and quippy one liners and comebacks were hilarious. I would have loved some additional description of the southern atmosphere, bayou, plantation flashbacks etc... I would recommend reading the first book before this one, I was missing some of the history between the kids and felt a little lost.

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Jun 25, 2012 Abbi Thomas rated it 4 of 5 stars

A great ghost story set in the deep south! I loved this book and its prequel, walk of spirits. Both are mysteries that aren't very predictable. In the midst of all the ghosts, Miranda is trying to adjust to life in the new town. Also contains a great teen romance factor.

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Jan 24, 2013 Amanda rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-books-i-read

You know screaming while in te hospital waiting area is extremely frowned upon, but I couldn't help myself!!! This book was amazing!!! With Etienne and Miranda and the boat, OMG! I have no idea if there is a third one but if there s she better not end up with Gage. Oh and what about Gage and Etienne, totally did not see that coming. Over all awesome read.

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Jun 02, 2011 Rebekah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Really loved this story, which follows Miranda Barnes and her friends once more as Miranda's "gift" to help spirits springs a new challenge for her. I loved the characters and how in this (the 2nd book) we get to see more of their faults and issues, plus more romance.

The dynamics between the characters is awesome and all I can say is I wish I had friends like these.

In this installment, Miranda keeps getting visions of something gruesome after she visits an old plantation. And the spirits keep t...more

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May 19, 2010 Jenifer rated it 1 of 5 stars

This is not a YA book. Maybe the characters are teens, but it's an adult book with adult themes. I mean really!!! The pacing was SLLOowwww! This book could have been 100 pages shorter and been better for it. TERRIBLE!!

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Mar 31, 2010 Jessy rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: given-up-on

Please stop talking about the "servants" at a plantation in the South. They were slaves, and at a certain point, your ghost-seeing protagonist is going to have to acknowledge that.
I think I'm putting this one down.

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Mar 14, 2010 Alex rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, romance, fantasy

this book was great! a very nice second to the first
i was wondering though if there mite be a third? does anyone know cuz this book got me so into the characters and i don't want it to end :(

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Jan 16, 2013 Gabrielle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Miranda see's spirits in the mirror and she tries to help them. Then she herself gets trapped and her friends have to help her. Its a must read if you read the first one.

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Sep 05, 2011 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Love , love , loved this book! I want to be in this book! I hope she writes more of these. This one and it's prequel need to be made into movies. the characters are so tangible, I really felt like they were real people , like I could bump into them on the street. It was suspenseful and heartbreaking and funny all at the same time. I laughed out loud several times and teared up as well. That doesn't happen often for me over a teen read. Also beautiful rich imagery. I felt like I was watching a mo...more

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May 22, 2012 Temara rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book and I give it 5 stars! I would love to see a 3rd book! I want more Etienne!

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Mar 09, 2013 Mara rated it 5 of 5 stars

I think this is the first book where the sequel is actually WAY better than the original.

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Mar 02, 2013 Carter rated it 5 of 5 stars

Once again A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!!! Read the first and second in less than one day

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Aug 03, 2011 Sydney rated it 4 of 5 stars

It was a good sequel but there are still some big questions left unanswered.

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Mar 19, 2011 Celeste rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: wish-there-was-a-sequel

can't believe cusick's ending the series.... it disheartening.

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Jan 26, 2011 Laura Brumbaugh added it

I love these books, i hope she writes more

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Mar 22, 2013 Keyth Grice rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am so loving this author!!!

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About Richie Tankersley Cusick

Richie Tankersley Cusick is the bestselling young adult author of over 25 titles, including two adult horror titles, "Scarecrow" and "Blood Roots". Her popularity grew at the height of the horror/YA boom in the late 80's/early 90's, particularly with books like "Lifeguard" , "Trick or Treat" and "Teacher's Pet", just to name a few, allowing her to keep company on the bestseller paperback lists wit...more

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Shadow Mirror (Walk #2)

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