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Mirror Realm #2
The Lost Portal
For fans of Kendare Blake’s Goddess War series comes this second installment in a gripping YA fantasy series that follows a band of huntresses taking on a world of demons and gods.
For years, Hadley Caldwell kept humanity safe by hunting demons. But that came to an end when the Mirror Realm disappeared. Now her life is filled with bridesmaid dresses, family pressures, and—oh yeah—hosting ancient deities in her sleep. It’s not world-saving work, but if dream-hosting is all it takes to keep the gods happy, she’s willing to play along and leave her huntress days behind her. That is, until the gods demand something the Portal of Osiris.
The Portal was part of the Realm. It shouldn’t exist anymore. But the gods believe it does, and claim it holds the key to their salvation. The quest for the Portal takes Hadley and her band of huntress sisters on an enigmatic adventure to the sands of Egypt and beyond. But chasing a portal isn’t as easy as outrunning your past, and soon the only things Hadley knows for certain are that the gods can’t be trusted . . . and some portals should never be found.
Join Hadley, Alice, Olivia, and Soxie in this electrifying second book of the Mirror Realm series as they traverse the globe on an ancient scavenger hunt full of mystery, magic, intrigue, and sisterhood.
For years, Hadley Caldwell kept humanity safe by hunting demons. But that came to an end when the Mirror Realm disappeared. Now her life is filled with bridesmaid dresses, family pressures, and—oh yeah—hosting ancient deities in her sleep. It’s not world-saving work, but if dream-hosting is all it takes to keep the gods happy, she’s willing to play along and leave her huntress days behind her. That is, until the gods demand something the Portal of Osiris.
The Portal was part of the Realm. It shouldn’t exist anymore. But the gods believe it does, and claim it holds the key to their salvation. The quest for the Portal takes Hadley and her band of huntress sisters on an enigmatic adventure to the sands of Egypt and beyond. But chasing a portal isn’t as easy as outrunning your past, and soon the only things Hadley knows for certain are that the gods can’t be trusted . . . and some portals should never be found.
Join Hadley, Alice, Olivia, and Soxie in this electrifying second book of the Mirror Realm series as they traverse the globe on an ancient scavenger hunt full of mystery, magic, intrigue, and sisterhood.
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
344 pages, Paperback
Published October 8, 2024
2526 people want to read
About the author
Lenore Borja
4 books47 followersLenore Borja grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. She attended Arizona State University before moving to New York City to study acting at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. After a brief career as an actress, she spent several years working in executive search and human resources in New York and San Francisco. She now resides in Fort Collins, Colorado with her husband and two cats. When she’s not writing, she enjoys adventure travel and anything that gets the heart racing, whether it’s hiking, running, or getting lost in a good book.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 27, 2024
Gods and monsters and nightmares, oh my! The Lost Portal, a sequel to
The Last Huntress
, promises to be an epic quest. Lenore Borja returns us to the quartet of fierce huntresses: Alice, Soxie, Olivia, and Hadley. Amid affirmations of female friendship and explorations of family ties, these four women are all that stands between the Greek pantheon’s attempt to return to the world—or remake it in the process. The stakes are high—however, much like the first book, my reaction was more yawn than yay. I received a review copy of this book.
Spoilers for the first book but not for this one.
The Lost Portal follows Hadley this time, giving us a glimpse into her backstory: a grandfather and brother deep into a life of crime, a father who throws her brother out of the house, and a widening rift between brother and sister. Hadley has been determined to find sisterhood in her friends instead (a feeling I know all too well). Meanwhile, the gods won’t leave the huntresses alone. With the Mirror Realm destroyed, they have no way back into this world—but they can still plague the huntresses’ dreams. And they promise to do so forever unless the huntresses find for them the eponymous misplaced portal.
Look, I’m going to rip the Band-Aid off on this one: The Lost Portal does nothing to remedy my problems with The Last Huntress and indeed lacks much of the mythological charm that made the first book tolerable.
The switch in perspective from Alice to Hadley is a welcome change. However, it reminded me that we never really get to know the other huntresses all that much. Alice is fairly fleshed out having been the first book’s protagonist, though in this book her character is largely “sad girl vibes for David/Citheraeon, unsure about my mirror powers.” Hadley gets the protagonist treatment here and benefits. Olivia and Soxie? I dunno. Olivia likes animals and Soxie is … rich. Really, rich. Did you know Soxie has a lot of money? If you forget, the book will remind you every few paragraphs. That and she loves stiletto heels. Suffice it to say, these supposedly main characters are not as three-dimensional as I’d like.
The same goes, unfortunately, for the stakes and story in this book! I will give Borja some credit for changing up the setting and mixing in some actual history of Egypt. But even that is pretty thin and superficial. While the first book has a rich, multilayered approach to Greek mythology, this book has … a couple more Greek gods, and a tangential connection to Egypt, and that’s about it. There’s nothing here beneath the surface, and that’s disappointing.
Moreover, the little mythology carried over from the first book feels incredibly arbitrary now. The rules, such as they are, feel designed to facilitate the plot. Any narrative consistency around the nature of the Mirror Realm, the gods, Philautia’s dagger, etc., feels sacrificed in favour of the rule of cool—or at least the rule of convenience. While I love books that attempt to be creative with mythology and even play fast and loose with it—as the first book did, to its benefit—I need the worldbuilding to feel solid and, if not predictable per se, then logical. I need foreshadowing, not deus ex machinae. I need to feel like, when I get to the end of the book, everything was already there, just turned ninety degrees so I couldn’t see it until now. Not so with The Lost Portal, where it almost feels like Borja was making it up as she goes along, a DM barely ahead of the players.
Lastly, let’s talk about Hadley and the subplot with her brother. I really wanted to be onboard for the themes of reconciliation here. However, that shallow characterization strikes again: Caleb feels more like a caricature of a criminal element sibling than an actual, you know, person with complex feelings and motives. His dialogue feels cringey and cliché, and his behaviour is entirely motivated by plot. What should be one of this book’s most powerful features fizzles instead.
The Lost Portal tries to be intense and epic and thrilling but is really only a pale imitation, an echo of the elements someone thinks makes a book intense and epic and thrilling. This book is, unfortunately, an exercise in how intention and imagination alone cannot make for good storytelling.
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews.
Spoilers for the first book but not for this one.
The Lost Portal follows Hadley this time, giving us a glimpse into her backstory: a grandfather and brother deep into a life of crime, a father who throws her brother out of the house, and a widening rift between brother and sister. Hadley has been determined to find sisterhood in her friends instead (a feeling I know all too well). Meanwhile, the gods won’t leave the huntresses alone. With the Mirror Realm destroyed, they have no way back into this world—but they can still plague the huntresses’ dreams. And they promise to do so forever unless the huntresses find for them the eponymous misplaced portal.
Look, I’m going to rip the Band-Aid off on this one: The Lost Portal does nothing to remedy my problems with The Last Huntress and indeed lacks much of the mythological charm that made the first book tolerable.
The switch in perspective from Alice to Hadley is a welcome change. However, it reminded me that we never really get to know the other huntresses all that much. Alice is fairly fleshed out having been the first book’s protagonist, though in this book her character is largely “sad girl vibes for David/Citheraeon, unsure about my mirror powers.” Hadley gets the protagonist treatment here and benefits. Olivia and Soxie? I dunno. Olivia likes animals and Soxie is … rich. Really, rich. Did you know Soxie has a lot of money? If you forget, the book will remind you every few paragraphs. That and she loves stiletto heels. Suffice it to say, these supposedly main characters are not as three-dimensional as I’d like.
The same goes, unfortunately, for the stakes and story in this book! I will give Borja some credit for changing up the setting and mixing in some actual history of Egypt. But even that is pretty thin and superficial. While the first book has a rich, multilayered approach to Greek mythology, this book has … a couple more Greek gods, and a tangential connection to Egypt, and that’s about it. There’s nothing here beneath the surface, and that’s disappointing.
Moreover, the little mythology carried over from the first book feels incredibly arbitrary now. The rules, such as they are, feel designed to facilitate the plot. Any narrative consistency around the nature of the Mirror Realm, the gods, Philautia’s dagger, etc., feels sacrificed in favour of the rule of cool—or at least the rule of convenience. While I love books that attempt to be creative with mythology and even play fast and loose with it—as the first book did, to its benefit—I need the worldbuilding to feel solid and, if not predictable per se, then logical. I need foreshadowing, not deus ex machinae. I need to feel like, when I get to the end of the book, everything was already there, just turned ninety degrees so I couldn’t see it until now. Not so with The Lost Portal, where it almost feels like Borja was making it up as she goes along, a DM barely ahead of the players.
Lastly, let’s talk about Hadley and the subplot with her brother. I really wanted to be onboard for the themes of reconciliation here. However, that shallow characterization strikes again: Caleb feels more like a caricature of a criminal element sibling than an actual, you know, person with complex feelings and motives. His dialogue feels cringey and cliché, and his behaviour is entirely motivated by plot. What should be one of this book’s most powerful features fizzles instead.
The Lost Portal tries to be intense and epic and thrilling but is really only a pale imitation, an echo of the elements someone thinks makes a book intense and epic and thrilling. This book is, unfortunately, an exercise in how intention and imagination alone cannot make for good storytelling.
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews.
October 9, 2024
The first book was a great read and the second book is everything the first was with a lot more of the good stuff! It was great to learn more about the world, the characters. and seeing how their relationships have changed! Especially Hadley! This book's point of view was from Hadley and it was nice to get to know her and learn more about her personal struggles and challenges! It will be interesting to see who we will learn more about in the next book! Thank you Book Sparks and Lenore Borja For sharing this book with me!
October 11, 2024
“‘Of course I’m afraid to die,’ she retorted. ‘That's part of being a mortal. But I’m also a huntress, and it's my job to protect other mortals.’”
After saving the human race from certain doom and preventing Alice’s soul from being claimed by Hades in The Last Huntress, Alice, Soxie, Hadley, and Olivia thought their dealings with the supernatural were over. The Mirror Realm was destroyed and Hades defeated, but Zeus’s parting gift of Cithaeron’s soul has left them feeling as if a debt is waiting to be paid. The huntresses are now also visited by the gods in their dreams, tormented every night as they are given a new task: find the Portal of Osiris and save the connection between their world and the land of the gods. With pressure from restless deities and threats of torture beyond the grave, the huntresses must travel to Egypt to find the lost portal before their timer runs out.
The Lost Portal, compared to its precursory novel The Last Huntress, sustained a more practical sequence of events that added a level of maturity to the tone of the story. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect out of this book, but I was pleasantly surprised by Borja’s inclusion of Egyptian mythology alongside her traditional Greek mythology. As someone who was once dead-set on becoming an Egyptologist, I find that most books that attempt to incorporate Egyptian culture and mythology fail at making it seem authentic. Borja, however, was able to seamlessly weave together both fact and fiction and blur the lines of reality for the reader. There was a remarkable cinematic feeling to The Lost Portal, making the novel hard to put down as I traveled through time with the huntresses. I enjoyed seeing into Hadley’s mind as opposed to Alice’s, and I appreciated the closure Borja included for the reader regarding both Alice’s relationship with David and Hadley’s relationship with her brother. As for the ending, I found the conclusion to be a bit unrealistic. The sudden change in the role of the gods left the story feeling a bit incomplete, almost as if the resolution was too simple. Despite that, I truly enjoyed the blend of fantasy and historical fiction in The Lost Portal, and it certainly earned its spot on my bookshelf.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank Lenore Borja and Sparkpress for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
After saving the human race from certain doom and preventing Alice’s soul from being claimed by Hades in The Last Huntress, Alice, Soxie, Hadley, and Olivia thought their dealings with the supernatural were over. The Mirror Realm was destroyed and Hades defeated, but Zeus’s parting gift of Cithaeron’s soul has left them feeling as if a debt is waiting to be paid. The huntresses are now also visited by the gods in their dreams, tormented every night as they are given a new task: find the Portal of Osiris and save the connection between their world and the land of the gods. With pressure from restless deities and threats of torture beyond the grave, the huntresses must travel to Egypt to find the lost portal before their timer runs out.
The Lost Portal, compared to its precursory novel The Last Huntress, sustained a more practical sequence of events that added a level of maturity to the tone of the story. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect out of this book, but I was pleasantly surprised by Borja’s inclusion of Egyptian mythology alongside her traditional Greek mythology. As someone who was once dead-set on becoming an Egyptologist, I find that most books that attempt to incorporate Egyptian culture and mythology fail at making it seem authentic. Borja, however, was able to seamlessly weave together both fact and fiction and blur the lines of reality for the reader. There was a remarkable cinematic feeling to The Lost Portal, making the novel hard to put down as I traveled through time with the huntresses. I enjoyed seeing into Hadley’s mind as opposed to Alice’s, and I appreciated the closure Borja included for the reader regarding both Alice’s relationship with David and Hadley’s relationship with her brother. As for the ending, I found the conclusion to be a bit unrealistic. The sudden change in the role of the gods left the story feeling a bit incomplete, almost as if the resolution was too simple. Despite that, I truly enjoyed the blend of fantasy and historical fiction in The Lost Portal, and it certainly earned its spot on my bookshelf.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank Lenore Borja and Sparkpress for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
September 29, 2024
After saving the human race from certain doom and preventing Alice’s soul from being claimed by Hades, the huntresses thought their dealing with the supernatural was over. The Mirror Realm was destroyed and Hades defeated, but Zeus’s parting gift of Cithaeron’s soul left them feeling as if a debt was waiting to be paid. Alice, Soxie, Hadley, and Olivia are visited by the gods in their dreams, tormented every night as they are given a new task: find the Portal of Osiris and save the connection between their world and the land of the gods. With pressure from restless deities and threats of torture beyond the grave, the huntresses must travel to Egypt to find the lost portal before their timer runs out.
Although I enjoyed the plot of The Last Huntress, I found the first book in the Mirror Realm Series to be a bit fast paced. The Lost Portal however sustained a more practical sequence of events that added a level of maturity to the tone of the novel. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect out of this book, but I was pleasantly surprised as Borja began including Egyptian mythology alongside her traditional Greek mythology. As someone who was once dead-set on becoming an Egyptologist, I find that most books that attempt to incorporate the culture and mythology fail at making it sound authentic. Borja, however, was able to seamlessly weave together both fact and fiction and blur the lines of reality for the reader. There was a remarkable cinematic feeling to The Lost Portal, making the novel hard to put down as I traveled through time with the huntresses. I enjoyed seeing into Hadley’s mind as opposed to Alice’s, and I appreciated the closure Borja included for the reader regarding both Alice’s relationship with David and Hadley’s relationship with her brother. As for the ending, I found the resolution to be a bit unrealistic. After the gods were chasing and threatening the huntresses for the whole novel, I found it a bit hard to believe that they were suddenly content with not having the Portal of Osiris. Despite all that, I still truly enjoyed the blend of fantasy and historical fiction in The Lost Portal, and it certainly earned its spot on my bookshelf.
Although I enjoyed the plot of The Last Huntress, I found the first book in the Mirror Realm Series to be a bit fast paced. The Lost Portal however sustained a more practical sequence of events that added a level of maturity to the tone of the novel. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect out of this book, but I was pleasantly surprised as Borja began including Egyptian mythology alongside her traditional Greek mythology. As someone who was once dead-set on becoming an Egyptologist, I find that most books that attempt to incorporate the culture and mythology fail at making it sound authentic. Borja, however, was able to seamlessly weave together both fact and fiction and blur the lines of reality for the reader. There was a remarkable cinematic feeling to The Lost Portal, making the novel hard to put down as I traveled through time with the huntresses. I enjoyed seeing into Hadley’s mind as opposed to Alice’s, and I appreciated the closure Borja included for the reader regarding both Alice’s relationship with David and Hadley’s relationship with her brother. As for the ending, I found the resolution to be a bit unrealistic. After the gods were chasing and threatening the huntresses for the whole novel, I found it a bit hard to believe that they were suddenly content with not having the Portal of Osiris. Despite all that, I still truly enjoyed the blend of fantasy and historical fiction in The Lost Portal, and it certainly earned its spot on my bookshelf.
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September 19, 2024Thank you to Net Galley for an e-arc!
I didn't realized that this was a sequel when I requested, I was so blindsided by how cool the title and description was.
Having managed to get my hands on the first book, I can say I was happy to have the second right on hand.
These books were entirely enjoyable, and made me nostalgic for being a teen and reading the likes of Alexandra Bracken and Kendare Blake, even faintly of Cassandra Clare, well into the night, and the exhaustion never setting in the morning afterwards due to satisfaction of finishing the books all in one go.
The world was atmospheric and lively, and we get delve into it even more in this second entry. I like learning more about the world, more about the characters. and seeing their relationships change and evolve. It's kind of wild how your perception changes as you grow older, because if I was reading this as a teen, I think I would be all over the main "ship", but as an adult I find it...less appealing. I'm not a fan of this sort of LI anymore, and I kind of feel gross reading about relationships between really cool, really strong girls and these pseudo-bad boys who are really kind of emotionally abusive?
All in all, love a good found family. Love a strong, ass-kicker (not to say that non-ass-kicking female characters aren't strong!) fmc. Love a good, atmospheric, moody YA.
I didn't realized that this was a sequel when I requested, I was so blindsided by how cool the title and description was.
Having managed to get my hands on the first book, I can say I was happy to have the second right on hand.
These books were entirely enjoyable, and made me nostalgic for being a teen and reading the likes of Alexandra Bracken and Kendare Blake, even faintly of Cassandra Clare, well into the night, and the exhaustion never setting in the morning afterwards due to satisfaction of finishing the books all in one go.
The world was atmospheric and lively, and we get delve into it even more in this second entry. I like learning more about the world, more about the characters. and seeing their relationships change and evolve. It's kind of wild how your perception changes as you grow older, because if I was reading this as a teen, I think I would be all over the main "ship", but as an adult I find it...less appealing. I'm not a fan of this sort of LI anymore, and I kind of feel gross reading about relationships between really cool, really strong girls and these pseudo-bad boys who are really kind of emotionally abusive?
All in all, love a good found family. Love a strong, ass-kicker (not to say that non-ass-kicking female characters aren't strong!) fmc. Love a good, atmospheric, moody YA.
October 7, 2024
"The Lost Portal" picks up the thrilling adventure of Alice and her fellow Huntresses as they embark on yet another perilous mission to save the world. This time, they must uncover hidden pieces of an ancient puzzle that holds the key to unraveling the mystery behind their quest. Each clue brings them closer to discovering the true purpose of their journey, and with every step, the stakes grow higher.
While the first book was told exclusively from Alice’s perspective, book two introduces a refreshing change. The narrative shifts to Hadley, giving us a deeper look into her personal struggles and challenges. This shift in focus offers a more nuanced exploration of the dynamics within the group, as we not only witness Hadley’s internal battles but also see the others facing their own individual turmoil.
I hope the upcoming books in the series will continue this narrative pattern, allowing us to dive into the perspectives of the other Huntresses. This rotating point of view would give readers the opportunity to get to know each character as intimately as we've come to understand Alice and Hadley, adding layers to their personalities and enriching the overall story.
While the first book was told exclusively from Alice’s perspective, book two introduces a refreshing change. The narrative shifts to Hadley, giving us a deeper look into her personal struggles and challenges. This shift in focus offers a more nuanced exploration of the dynamics within the group, as we not only witness Hadley’s internal battles but also see the others facing their own individual turmoil.
I hope the upcoming books in the series will continue this narrative pattern, allowing us to dive into the perspectives of the other Huntresses. This rotating point of view would give readers the opportunity to get to know each character as intimately as we've come to understand Alice and Hadley, adding layers to their personalities and enriching the overall story.
October 7, 2024
"The Lost Portal" continues the exhilarating journey of Alice and the Huntresses as they take on another high-stakes mission to save the world. This time, their task is to uncover fragments of an ancient puzzle, crucial to unraveling the mystery that drives their quest. With each clue they find, the true meaning of their mission comes into sharper focus, and the tension mounts with every step they take.
While the first book centered on Alice’s perspective, the second installment offers a refreshing change. The spotlight shifts to Hadley, giving readers a more in-depth look at her personal challenges. This shift allows for a richer exploration of the group dynamics, as we not only follow Hadley’s internal struggles but also witness the turmoil affecting the other Huntresses.
I hope the series continues to embrace this pattern, with future books offering the perspectives of the remaining Huntresses. This rotating viewpoint would provide a deeper connection to each character, allowing us to know them as well as we've come to know Alice and Hadley, adding complexity and depth to the story.
While the first book centered on Alice’s perspective, the second installment offers a refreshing change. The spotlight shifts to Hadley, giving readers a more in-depth look at her personal challenges. This shift allows for a richer exploration of the group dynamics, as we not only follow Hadley’s internal struggles but also witness the turmoil affecting the other Huntresses.
I hope the series continues to embrace this pattern, with future books offering the perspectives of the remaining Huntresses. This rotating viewpoint would provide a deeper connection to each character, allowing us to know them as well as we've come to know Alice and Hadley, adding complexity and depth to the story.
October 10, 2024
Love this book! Very different from The Last Huntress, but seamless with the storyline, the universe and the maturation of the characters. The relationships between Hadley, Alice, Olivia, and Soxie are complex, authentic, unpredictable, and funny. I was laughing out loud at their back-and-forth banter, and the personalities of the gods were unexpected and super entertaining. But the feel of this second book in the series is more mature. Hadley's struggle with her brother and memories associated with her family are nuanced and emotional. That's what's so great about this book. The same incredibly creative and imaginative fantasy elements are there, new and enhanced, but we also get deep, introspective character development. This book meets all expectations for the genre but offers even more. The storytelling pushes the reader to embrace a variety of experiences, from excitement, sadness, suspense, love, and forgiveness. Can't wait for the next book!
October 12, 2024
Two years ago I read the first book in this series, The Last Huntress, and I enjoyed it. I'm happy to say that I really enjoyed the second book, The Lost Portal, as well! I once again found myself completely wrapped up and absorbed in the story. It was nice being back with these characters. I still adore the bond between Hadley, Alice, Olivia, and Soxie. I enjoyed getting more of a glimpse at/getting to know some of the gods and goddesses. The Lost Portal takes us on a grand adventure full of magic and mystery. It was quite fun to read, and I loved the Egypt setting. The author did such a good job with the writing and keeping me pulled in. I still find the whole mirror realm thing to be so intriguing! I'm looking forward to continuing on with this series and seeing where it goes!
October 15, 2024
If you love YA fantasy books that feature gods and demons then you have come across this book right here. We follow Hadley who is a huntress and she has to find this certain portal for the gods. The gods think it still exists and claims it holds the key to their salvation. But there might be some portals that shouldnt be opened. What was even more exciting was going through Egypt and going through their mythology which has always been fascinating to me in the first place so I really enjoyed that touch to the story. It definitely was a fun read and got to see it through Hadley's point of view. You know you can never go wrong with a fantasy book!
Thank you to Booksparks and Lenore Borja for the gifted copy in exchange for a review.
Thank you to Booksparks and Lenore Borja for the gifted copy in exchange for a review.
October 22, 2024
Hadley misses the mirror realm and the purpose she felt as a Huntress, but the gods are not done with them yet. They are sent on a quest that takes them to the pyramids of Egypt, searching for the lost portal before the gods destroy them in their dreams. The danger is greater, and the whole novel is a race against time, leaving the reader just as breathless as the girls. All along, mixed in with the adventure theme is another about family and friends and dealing with one's past. I really enjoyed the way the mythology was intertwined with the modern world.
Thank you to Booksparks for my review copy.
Thank you to Booksparks for my review copy.
October 9, 2024
I loved the first book in the Mirror Realm series and couldn't wait to read the second. Lenore Borja has done it again, creating a fast-paced adventure with plenty of unexpected twists and turns that leaves you breathlessly turning the pages to find out what happens. I love the sisterhood at the heart of this series and the bond between friends who have become found-family. This series is perfect for readers who love fantasy grounded in the real world and features themes of self-discovery, forgiveness, and trusting others to help you when you need it. 5 stars, and I highly recommend!
October 21, 2024
Disclaimer: I'm the author so this review is a thousand percent biased. But I'm writing it anyway, mainly because Hadley—the FMC—would kill me if I didn't. (Alice got her review for The Last Huntress, so it's only fair!) So if you like YA fantasy books with kick@$$ girl squads, Greek & Egyptian mythology, and loads of adventure, (with some family drama and a dash of romance mixed in) this story is for you!
PS. Thanks for your support and for giving this series a try. I'm beyond grateful. Happy reading!
PS. Thanks for your support and for giving this series a try. I'm beyond grateful. Happy reading!
November 22, 2024
Borja does it again!! The Lost Portal was a seamless transition from The Last Huntress! This time we get to know Hadley Caldwell. She’s no stranger to demon hunting but she is also is battling demons in her own past. This book is full of beautiful imagery, exciting encounters with the past and a look into the heart of who Hadley really is. The Lost Portal is an exciting sequel that will leave you wanting more! I can’t wait to see what Borja has for us next!!
October 10, 2024
Lenore Borja brings us a fast-paced, riveting sequel that launches us into the bold realms of gods, yet also grounds us in the quiet warmth of love. It's a potent mix of action, excitement, suspense and a whole lot of heart. Brilliant and creative, Lenore Borja’s imagination is as endless as the Mirror Realm itself.
December 30, 2024
interesting read
January 17, 2025
The Lost Portal is book 2 in the Mirror Realm series. In the first installment, we followed Alice as she became a Huntress and learned about her powers, the mirror realm, and these other girls that share the duty of protecting their realm and human existence.
This installment in the series shifts focus to Hadley, offering a new perspective within the unique world established in the first book. The premise—a group of four girls gifted powers by Greek deities to combat demons through mirrors—remains somewhat intriguing. The sisterhood among the hunters and the Greek mythology elements are also still compelling, though this book, like the first, struggles with pacing and cohesion. I really struggled to be engaged throughout the book. I had a hard time wanting to pick it up, but also really feeling immersed in the story.
The plot centers on Hadley and the girls searching for a portal to appease gods haunting their dreams. While the story builds on the fascinating mix of Greek and Egyptian mythology and supernatural concepts introduced earlier, it doesn’t fully deliver on its potential. Much like the first book, the narrative feels disjointed at times, with slow-moving sections and plot holes that interrupt the flow. Transitions between dreams and reality are particularly unclear, making the story harder to follow. The plot was interesting and a good continuation but it felt like there were big pieces missing to make things work correctly for the story to progress, like sections had been edited away that were necessary.
That said, Hadley’s perspective brings fresh character dynamics and I appreciate learning more about the background of the other characters that seemed a bit thrown-in in that last book. The mix of mythology and world-building remains an interesting highlight, though it leaves me wanting more depth and explanation.
Overall, while it’s enjoyable to revisit this imaginative world, this installment feels less engaging than its predecessor. Fans of the series may still find value in Hadley’s story, but the pacing and gaps in the plot make it just an okay addition.
This installment in the series shifts focus to Hadley, offering a new perspective within the unique world established in the first book. The premise—a group of four girls gifted powers by Greek deities to combat demons through mirrors—remains somewhat intriguing. The sisterhood among the hunters and the Greek mythology elements are also still compelling, though this book, like the first, struggles with pacing and cohesion. I really struggled to be engaged throughout the book. I had a hard time wanting to pick it up, but also really feeling immersed in the story.
The plot centers on Hadley and the girls searching for a portal to appease gods haunting their dreams. While the story builds on the fascinating mix of Greek and Egyptian mythology and supernatural concepts introduced earlier, it doesn’t fully deliver on its potential. Much like the first book, the narrative feels disjointed at times, with slow-moving sections and plot holes that interrupt the flow. Transitions between dreams and reality are particularly unclear, making the story harder to follow. The plot was interesting and a good continuation but it felt like there were big pieces missing to make things work correctly for the story to progress, like sections had been edited away that were necessary.
That said, Hadley’s perspective brings fresh character dynamics and I appreciate learning more about the background of the other characters that seemed a bit thrown-in in that last book. The mix of mythology and world-building remains an interesting highlight, though it leaves me wanting more depth and explanation.
Overall, while it’s enjoyable to revisit this imaginative world, this installment feels less engaging than its predecessor. Fans of the series may still find value in Hadley’s story, but the pacing and gaps in the plot make it just an okay addition.
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