Lady Victoria Mansfield, youngest daughter of the earl and countess of Fairmount, is destined for a charmed life. Soon she will be present... read full description
reviews
Sep 14, 2011
oliviasbooks
rated it: 
This could have been so good - and the beginning was indeed extremely promising: A young English Lady born into an alternative version of the Georgian era who is able to fly! A society which has chosen to shun gentryfolk with magical abilities, but embraces the "tainted blood" in commoners out of convenience. A gothic, prison-like boarding-school that is meant to un-magic the rich boarders, who represent a burden and a genetic embarrassment for their families. And finally ... a club of
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Oct 16, 2011
Small Review
rated it:
I had been anticipating this book all the way back to when it had a different cover, so I was very happy when I was asked if I would like a copy for review. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it, but I did not love it.
As a character girl, I had to subtract some stars because I just could not connect with the characters. They weren’t bad or annoying, but they never felt alive to me. When I did the WWMCD test (that’s the What Would the Main Character Do? Test) I find these chara More...
As a character girl, I had to subtract some stars because I just could not connect with the characters. They weren’t bad or annoying, but they never felt alive to me. When I did the WWMCD test (that’s the What Would the Main Character Do? Test) I find these chara More...
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Jan 23, 2012
Jacob
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I hesitate to rate the book because I didn't make it past the first chapter. For what it's worth, here's what ruined the book for me.
I am a fan of Regency-era books and the author seems not to have considered the period at all when setting her story in 1803 (just prior to Regency, really, but close enough for throwing hand grenades). Examples:
- Long-term fashions dictated by a secret cabal of nobles (secret cabals dictated fashion all the time, but never long term—this is how fads came More...
I am a fan of Regency-era books and the author seems not to have considered the period at all when setting her story in 1803 (just prior to Regency, really, but close enough for throwing hand grenades). Examples:
- Long-term fashions dictated by a secret cabal of nobles (secret cabals dictated fashion all the time, but never long term—this is how fads came More...
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Nov 29, 2011
Michelle
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In this fantasy take on Victorian England it is shameful for a member of the aristocracy to have magic abilities. So when it is discovered that Tory has magic, she is shipped off to a reform school that will “cure her.” If she is lucky she will be able to return to society and her family. At the school she discovers that not everyone is disgusted by their magic and some want to embrace their abilities for the good of England, not suppress them. [return][return]This was an interesting take on
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Mar 09, 2011
Reading Vacation's Mom
rated it: 
It would be so great to have a Merlin’s Mirror that lets you travel through time. In Dark Mirror, Tory gets to live that dream. Let me explain.
Tory is a royal in the 1800’s with the power of floating. I know that sounds really cool and all, but the royals look down on things like this. Tory is sent to Lackland, a school where she is taught to control her power. While I think the royals had good intentions, all the kids at Lackland seem to want out. Some want out right away, some want all the att More...
Feb 22, 2012
Arthur
rated it: 
Reading Level: Grade 7-9
16-year-old Lady Victoria Mansfield is looking forward to being presented at court and beginning her life as an eligible young lady. She already has her eyes on Edmond Harford, the heir to a large estate. Yes, Victoria has a wonderful future ahead of her...if she can keep her newly emerged ability to fly a secret.
Victoria's world crashes around her when her two-year-old nephew Jamie falls off the edge of a cliff during a large party on her family's More...
16-year-old Lady Victoria Mansfield is looking forward to being presented at court and beginning her life as an eligible young lady. She already has her eyes on Edmond Harford, the heir to a large estate. Yes, Victoria has a wonderful future ahead of her...if she can keep her newly emerged ability to fly a secret.
Victoria's world crashes around her when her two-year-old nephew Jamie falls off the edge of a cliff during a large party on her family's More...
Dec 16, 2011
Amy
rated it:
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Let me count the ways!
Tory was an amazing protagonist. She’s smart, strong, and yet still vulnerable. In the beginning she was so brainwashed by her society, that she didn’t even consider the idea that magic could be good.
The main idea of high society considering magic as disgraceful was very creative. I loved the short prologue that revealed why magic was decided to be a lower class thing. In most any book concerning magic, it is usually the cov More...
Tory was an amazing protagonist. She’s smart, strong, and yet still vulnerable. In the beginning she was so brainwashed by her society, that she didn’t even consider the idea that magic could be good.
The main idea of high society considering magic as disgraceful was very creative. I loved the short prologue that revealed why magic was decided to be a lower class thing. In most any book concerning magic, it is usually the cov More...
Nov 13, 2011
Suzy
rated it:
I read DARK MIRROR by M.J. Putney. I have never been a huge fan of fantasy but I loved this book. This book definitely fits the definitions of fantasy. It has magic, the characters are true to themselves once they reveal and found out that they have magic, and the motivation to learn more about their magic makes sense in the context. I found myself flying through this book, I just had to know what happens next. It is set in 1803 where anyone who is in high society can not let their magic leak o
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Oct 09, 2011
What I thought was going to be a straight forward historical romance, turned out to be much more. This magical novel starts with an excellent and tight prologue that perfectly sets the reader on course for the story and continues well into the first chapter.
Lady Victoria Mansfield, or Tory for short, is a likeable character. She is sweet and nice; however she seems a tad boring, flat. She's a sensible character without any major flaws, which makes it hard to connect with her and make More...
Lady Victoria Mansfield, or Tory for short, is a likeable character. She is sweet and nice; however she seems a tad boring, flat. She's a sensible character without any major flaws, which makes it hard to connect with her and make More...
Jul 27, 2011
Coranne (Short and Sweet)
rated it:
I have been reading about this book for months, and I finally sat down to read it. Dark Mirror has gotten great reviews online. After the last historical paranormal book I read and the disappointing experience I had, I was excited to redeem myself. This book didn't start well for me. The first two chapters were incredibly rushed and I felt as though I was being told things that happened the character rather than reading a story. I stuck with the story, hoping it would turn around. It did t
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Jul 13, 2011
Aubrey
rated it:
Well, I picked this book up at Sam's Club thinking "Good price AND if it's being sold mass-market it must be pretty good right?"
Wrong.
It's not like this was the worst thing I've ever read before, certainly not, I just didn't like it. Which in truth is a shame because the concept is just so intriguing. It was hard to finish, and even harder to enjoy. There characters felt two dimensional and shallow, there wan't nearly enough description setting up the time perio More...
Wrong.
It's not like this was the worst thing I've ever read before, certainly not, I just didn't like it. Which in truth is a shame because the concept is just so intriguing. It was hard to finish, and even harder to enjoy. There characters felt two dimensional and shallow, there wan't nearly enough description setting up the time perio More...
Jun 06, 2011
Christy
rated it:
This is a great YA read.
Tory grew up just about as privileged as one can get, her parents were the most known and respected pair in all of her English countryside, until it is revealed that Tory possess evil within her. Tory has magic running through her blood, since magic runs in families Tory knows she received it from her mother.
Being sent away to Lackland Abbey seems like the end of the world for Tory. She has to leave everything she knows behind, given almost every More...
Tory grew up just about as privileged as one can get, her parents were the most known and respected pair in all of her English countryside, until it is revealed that Tory possess evil within her. Tory has magic running through her blood, since magic runs in families Tory knows she received it from her mother.
Being sent away to Lackland Abbey seems like the end of the world for Tory. She has to leave everything she knows behind, given almost every More...
Mar 20, 2011
Felicia
rated it:
I was immediately interested the moment I first saw the blurb of this book-fantasy, history, romance all in a YA novel? Of course I had to read it! It has one of my favourite premises, where the girl, Tory (Lady Victoria) has an exceptional gift (except, well, in this case magic is frowned upon and known by all instead of being a secret), gets sent to a new boarding school away from home, where she meets new people, gaining friendships and love, and also discover the extents of her own magic. I
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Mar 16, 2011
Novel
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Early 19th century British society, a magical school and time travel combine in M.J. Putney’s Dark Mirror – the story of a society lady sent away to a school for mages, after her power is exposed and shames her high ranking family in 1800s England. But what Tory discovers at this school — meant to “cure” her of her magic — is more than she ever could have imagined.
At Lackland Abbey, Tory discovers that this reform school for mages may actually hold the key to embracing her power — an More...
At Lackland Abbey, Tory discovers that this reform school for mages may actually hold the key to embracing her power — an More...
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Mar 14, 2011
Judy & Marianne from
rated it:
BEST BOOK RATING!
“And gentlemen in England now abed / Shall think themselves accursed they were not here.”
Sixteen year old Lady Victoria “Tory” Mansfield had dreams of her debut, meeting and dancing with eligible gentlemen and making a worthy match like her brother and sister before her. In one brief moment of courage she couldn’t regret, all those dreams came crashing down. What could it have been like for such a young and innocent lady to suddenly lose everything that More...
“And gentlemen in England now abed / Shall think themselves accursed they were not here.”
Sixteen year old Lady Victoria “Tory” Mansfield had dreams of her debut, meeting and dancing with eligible gentlemen and making a worthy match like her brother and sister before her. In one brief moment of courage she couldn’t regret, all those dreams came crashing down. What could it have been like for such a young and innocent lady to suddenly lose everything that More...
Mar 12, 2011
Nina
rated it:
(Disclaimer, I got this for free)
I LOVED this. I literally read it in about 3 hours. I love the protagonist, who feels very real. She goes through a remarkably sympathetic journey from hating her gifts to slowly embracing them and I feel like I understand her motivations along the way. At no point did I want her to stop whining, which is unusual for me:)
Meanwhile the world M.J. Putney builds is truly FANTASTIC. Both the regency era and the 1940s worlds are beautifully and sparsel More...
I LOVED this. I literally read it in about 3 hours. I love the protagonist, who feels very real. She goes through a remarkably sympathetic journey from hating her gifts to slowly embracing them and I feel like I understand her motivations along the way. At no point did I want her to stop whining, which is unusual for me:)
Meanwhile the world M.J. Putney builds is truly FANTASTIC. Both the regency era and the 1940s worlds are beautifully and sparsel More...
Mar 09, 2011
Sarah-Greenbeanteenqueen
rated it:
This book was interesting. There were things I liked and things I didn't like, which made reading it a bit annoying because I kept going back and forth on how I felt about it.
I liked that the summary on the back really only covers the first few chapters, but at the same time this bugged me a bit. We're thrown right into the story without much world building or character development and in just a few chapters Tory has discovered her magic powers, revealed them and is being shipped of More...
I liked that the summary on the back really only covers the first few chapters, but at the same time this bugged me a bit. We're thrown right into the story without much world building or character development and in just a few chapters Tory has discovered her magic powers, revealed them and is being shipped of More...
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Mar 01, 2011
Chibineko
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I'd picked this book out of the vine options because it sounded interesting, but I'll be honest and say that I wasn't expecting to be all that wowed by it. I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised when I found myself getting quickly drawn into the world that M.J. Putney created here.
The book is set in a world where magic exists, but it's only for the commoners. It's considered unthinkable for a person of noble birth to have magic "tainted" blood & any who are discovered More...
The book is set in a world where magic exists, but it's only for the commoners. It's considered unthinkable for a person of noble birth to have magic "tainted" blood & any who are discovered More...
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Feb 22, 2011
Elizabeth
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This book was a very good start to a new series. The story is a coming of age novel set in England in the 1800's with a special twist there is magic a foot and not everyone is supposed to use it. The English nobles are strictly forbidden to use magic. It has been set that any noble child caught using magic will be sent to Lackland Abbey to be cured and have all magical taint removed from them. Tory (Lady Victoria) the heroine of this book finds out that she has magic and must be sent to Lac
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Feb 09, 2011
Rachel
rated it:
I won this book on Goodreads First Reads, so I was totally psyched. Hopefully, that didn't disrupt my judgement of the book. I quite enjoyed the plot as I haven't read anything about mages and the like in a while. Putney did a good job of creating a magical England. I felt that sometimes the book moved too fast for it's own good, but other times it felt sluggish. I was surprised by some of the twists in the plot, as I felt she had a strong plot line without some of the other things (I won't say
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Feb 01, 2011
Jan
rated it:
I'll confess up front that I was a bit worried that this new YA novel from romance writer M. J. Putney would be full of bodice ripping, rippling pecs and other romance novel tropes. But I was pleasantly surprised to encounter a satisfying romance/fantasy that kept the pages turning.
The novel toggles back and forth in time between the early 1800's and the beginning of WWII. It is set in the town of Lackland, home of a boarding school for wayward sons and daughters of the British ari More...
The novel toggles back and forth in time between the early 1800's and the beginning of WWII. It is set in the town of Lackland, home of a boarding school for wayward sons and daughters of the British ari More...
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Aug 11, 2011
Rai
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I'm torn. I either love this book... or I hate it. I can't decide.
At first I really enjoyed it. It puts a great spin on alternative history, where magic is common... which is detrimental to the upper class who have condemned magic for being so common.
Unfortunately, Lackland introduced some annoying inconsistencies. Without going through them all, I became most saddened by that. Our main character, who was at first interesting, became rather one dimensional and GREATLY exceede More...
At first I really enjoyed it. It puts a great spin on alternative history, where magic is common... which is detrimental to the upper class who have condemned magic for being so common.
Unfortunately, Lackland introduced some annoying inconsistencies. Without going through them all, I became most saddened by that. Our main character, who was at first interesting, became rather one dimensional and GREATLY exceede More...
Jun 09, 2011
Liza
rated it:
3.5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this story which, although written by Mary Jo Putney, was more time travel than romance. As a fan of Connie Willis I never tire of time travel concerning England in the early 1940s, and Putney did not disappoint.
The complaints I have are not very serious, and since the novel was just plain fun to read, I forgave a lot of them. For example, Putney never explains why magical teenagers are called upon to save England when surely there are magi More...
I thoroughly enjoyed this story which, although written by Mary Jo Putney, was more time travel than romance. As a fan of Connie Willis I never tire of time travel concerning England in the early 1940s, and Putney did not disappoint.
The complaints I have are not very serious, and since the novel was just plain fun to read, I forgave a lot of them. For example, Putney never explains why magical teenagers are called upon to save England when surely there are magi More...
May 02, 2011
Lacey
rated it:
Hmm, this was a very interesting book, the concept itself was unique and kept me interested throughtout the entire book. Though there were some slow parts there were alot more fast paced parts to make up for it. I'm glad I took a chance on this book because if I hadn't I would have never met Tory, who is one heck of a girl, she's everything I strive to be...perhaps more journeys with her will rub off on me? Huh? Guess not it was worth a shot...
Summary:
This is about a girl More...
Summary:
This is about a girl More...
Mar 03, 2011
Amanda
rated it:
As a fan of both young adult fiction and historical fiction, I absolutely love it when the two genres find the opportunity to come together. Dark Mirror by M.J. Putney is one such opportunity and, from beginning to end, this enchanting novel manages to deliver exciting action, great character development and a twisty, unexpected plot that offers multiple layers.
Dark Mirror tells the story of young Lady Victoria (or, Tory) Mansfield, the daughter of a noble British family. All she's ev More...
Dark Mirror tells the story of young Lady Victoria (or, Tory) Mansfield, the daughter of a noble British family. All she's ev More...
Jan 21, 2011
Krystal
rated it:
A friend received an ARC at ALA midwinter and sent this book my way. I am glad that she did. Lady Victoria Mansfield is exiled from her family when it is discovered she is a mage. At Lackland, the school nobles send their mageling children for the "cure," Tory learns that her magic just might not be a curse but a tool given to her to help save Britain for invading forces, both in her time and beyond.
Tory is spunky and likable; she both loathes the fact that she has magic, sin More...
Tory is spunky and likable; she both loathes the fact that she has magic, sin More...
Mar 29, 2011
slayra
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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May 25, 2011
Briony
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This book drove me absolutely bonkers. It was one of those books that I felt the language and characters were flat and cliché but the plot somehow made me continue to read.
When I read the jacket blip, I was already bit apprehension. The main character’s name sounded like a rip-off from a Jane Austen novel. However, I was willing to give it a shot but the beginning of the book furthered my apprehension. The prologue had no significant connection with the rest of the book, and Putney’s More...
When I read the jacket blip, I was already bit apprehension. The main character’s name sounded like a rip-off from a Jane Austen novel. However, I was willing to give it a shot but the beginning of the book furthered my apprehension. The prologue had no significant connection with the rest of the book, and Putney’s More...
Feb 25, 2011
Chelsey
rated it:
Given that I'm not the biggest fan of WWII fiction, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. While starting off a little slow for me, it soon grabbed me and just would not let go. I was reading this every spare moment I had the last few days.
Lady Victoria Mansfield, better known as Tory, was a remarkable character for me. I loved that she adapted so quickly to the drastic changes in her life, with little drama. She handles her new roommate exceptionally, taking everything in stride More...
Lady Victoria Mansfield, better known as Tory, was a remarkable character for me. I loved that she adapted so quickly to the drastic changes in her life, with little drama. She handles her new roommate exceptionally, taking everything in stride More...
Mar 06, 2011
Jenny
rated it:
M.J. Putney’s YA debut takes place in regency England where there magic in the world which is commonly used by the lower classes but is shunned by the elite and upper class. When Lady Victoria Mansfield accidentally reveals her powers, her father is quick to protect the family reputation and sends her off to Lackland Abbey, a reform school for privileged children. There they learn to suppress their magical abilities and hopefully one day be able to return to their families.
The reaso More...
The reaso More...
