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La Passe-Miroir #1-3
A Winter's Promise / The Missing of Clairdelune / The Memory of Babel
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
1466 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2020
16 people are currently reading
1652 people want to read
About the author
Christelle Dabos
18 books3,683 followersChristelle Dabos was born in 1980 on the French Riviera and grew up in a home filled with classical music and historical puzzles. More imaginative than cerebral, she begins to scribble her first texts on the benches of the faculty. Settled in Belgium, she intends to be a librarian when a disease occurs. Writing then becomes an escape from the medical machinery, then a slow reconstruction and finally second nature. Meanwhile, she enjoys the society of Plume d´Argent, a community of authors on the Internet. It was thanks to their encouragement that she decided to take on her very first literary challenge: to enter the First Youth Novel Contest. Great winner among the three finalists, Christelle Dabos has written 4 books in the "La Passe-Miroir" series.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 30, 2021
Here is my honest opinion,
I read the mirror visitor for the aesthetics and the world building. I liked the premise, with the rare world building, the diplomatic arranged marriage, and the cold-hearted Thorn. The first book was straight up MID. Again, I give it credit because it's the first book and there's so much to be talked about in the Mirror Visitor Universe.
The second book straight up POPPED OFF. When I tell you I was screaming, crying, smiling until my face hurt, I mean it. The second book actually added onto the characters personalities and I literally fell in love with them. The mystery made sense and added to the book's tension. The romance and dynamics between the character's was so good. And the ending?
TOP TEIR.
The third book was absolutely horrible. Okay, that's a stretch, but not really. ISTG that this book is just a spin off of the other two. Like, none of the character's from the first two books were even in it, right. And like we get mentions of them, but when I just spent so much of my time and anxiety on these characters, you would think that they would show up more and actually be talked about. And then, also, the whole diplomatic marriage romance stuff gets thrown out the window. Like no more politics from the pole or tension from Thorn and his family, now it's an entirely new world with half-ass characters and pointless mystery plots.
Don't even get me started with the forth book....
I read the mirror visitor for the aesthetics and the world building. I liked the premise, with the rare world building, the diplomatic arranged marriage, and the cold-hearted Thorn. The first book was straight up MID. Again, I give it credit because it's the first book and there's so much to be talked about in the Mirror Visitor Universe.
The second book straight up POPPED OFF. When I tell you I was screaming, crying, smiling until my face hurt, I mean it. The second book actually added onto the characters personalities and I literally fell in love with them. The mystery made sense and added to the book's tension. The romance and dynamics between the character's was so good. And the ending?
TOP TEIR.
The third book was absolutely horrible. Okay, that's a stretch, but not really. ISTG that this book is just a spin off of the other two. Like, none of the character's from the first two books were even in it, right. And like we get mentions of them, but when I just spent so much of my time and anxiety on these characters, you would think that they would show up more and actually be talked about. And then, also, the whole diplomatic marriage romance stuff gets thrown out the window. Like no more politics from the pole or tension from Thorn and his family, now it's an entirely new world with half-ass characters and pointless mystery plots.
Don't even get me started with the forth book....
June 12, 2021
I love this series more than words can tell. I'm only on the second book but I thank heavens it exists with every turn of the page. I was curious when I started reading the first book and fell in love at the end of it. Now I'm absolutely taken. It's the perfect company to curl up to at the end of a long day and curse me I'm a softie and the ya romance just does me in. Not to mention there's tons to relate in the protagonist's being a major klutz. Ugh, I've never written so many sentences at one go on Goodreads because I'm lazy and probably not a good reviewer but I just love this so much and am so grateful it exists, I'm going to scream. It's the only thing that has me smiling like a total idiot.
December 31, 2020
A rich imaginative book, the kind of story that stays with you long after you finished reading it.
January 4, 2021
I really liked the main character and the world-building. This is a really nice series to curl up with a tea in winter. The main character is flawed and the story-line is unpredictable. I especially liked the first book, the following books weren't as good, thought still enjoyable. The dynamics between Ophelia and Thorne were difficult, but somehow I liked these two flawed characters. The ending (book 4) was pretty confusing and not as stasifying as I expected.
April 4, 2023
This review will be about the entire quartet!
Upon having arrived at the series' end, the words that must take precedence are: thank you. Even if there is nothing or no one on the receiving end of this addressal that I write, I simply say it because I have no where else to put my gratitude. Growing up, I loved to read. I loved reading so much it was consciously integrated into my identity -- the, maybe, tertiary source of how I knew myself, even. I was a part of the subculture, when I was young, that engaged with Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, Shadowhunters, John Green, the 5th Wave, Mara Dyer, Heroes of Olympus, Hunger Games, Divergent, etc... I loved to read and I did it all the time. It has been many years since then.
Up until this past week, the amount of books/stories I have read for myself, by my own accord (leisurely and/or by choice), in between now and then could be counted on one hand. And even though these readings may have caused joy or excitement in me, sometimes even erring on great, none of them ever quite redeemed that era of my formative years that I grew out of. Even though I enjoyed some of these stories, still that tangible feeling of departure so characteristic of my formative love of reading remained for the most part elusive. This duration of my relationship to reading has finally arrived here, to the present moment: reading The Mirror Visitor has allowed to me to remember what it is to love to read.
All this to say, no matter how flawed these books are (which I can definitely recognize that they are), what they did for me in this regard will always superimpose onto, and otherwise retain jurisdiction over, my thoughts and opinions. These books offered me, in reading them, something more than mere receptive passivity -- something much more experiential; they offered me that very pleasant and charming undertaking of escapism I seldom experience with fiction in current. Even if it comes as a trade-off for sustained craft, substance, or compulsion. I can recognize the series' flaws. But they matter little to me. I loved these books anyway.
To address the quartet's major faults as a whole: it mishandles the way it crafts reader's expectations. This is to say, while the direction of the series' course is evidently planned, it doesn't always feel that way. And while there are many examples I could bring up to illustrate this claim, I'll spare an exhaustive list. The author, essentially, generates tensions and suspenses for the reader that she either never pays off or does extremely weakly. The biggest I problem I have of all the times that she does this has to do with her latter handling of important of characters from the first half of the series. Archibald, Gail, and Fox are very weakly strung along past the Missing of Clairdelune just for their presence in the finale to have very little gravity. The extent to which Dabos maintained the split-up state of the primary characters introduced in the first two books as the rest of the story progressed really surprised me. I would have thought that by the Storm of Echoes, Thorn and Ophelia would not still be on their own, that we would have pivoted/transitioned to a full reunification. There are a couple of other things in which their function is lost on me; the ending of the series had a knack for negating the meaning of certain creative choices that could have amounted to more significant reverberations, or at least seemed like they were going to: the nature of Victoria (her power/ability, including so many chapters from her perspective), developing tension in Thorn's relationship to his aunt while having them separated (why do we never see them reunite for all that Thorn went through in his understanding of their relationship?), Ophelia's infertility. Most of all, where the story leaves us, more than being mad or upset by, I just simply don't understand from an authorial and creative standpoint. How does the ending serve the story or its readers? What is the purpose of its lack of resolve? The story ends with something still needing to be done, offering promise in lieu of closure.
Criticism acknowledged, there is SO much that these books do well, so much that is so great about them. Here is its best strengths in my eyes, what I love and appreciate most. The most frontal aspect of these books, that quickly allowed me to become enamored with them, was its writing. I imminently fell in love this series' writing style upon embarking on A Winter's Promise. The articulate yet whimsical -- sometimes even poetic -- writing style retained so much allure for me when the plot and characters had yet to. The writing itself, that is, drove my investment in Ophelia's fate, and sustained my fascination of what was to happen to her. The language comprising these books I found to be extremely sensible but in such a way that did not sacrifice any magic: the wording enchanted the setting, world, and series of events, employing a charm and excitability in what unfolded. I was never not captivated by the almost sobering effect of the diction, authenticating and appraising a fantastical world so different from our own.
Relatedly, I thought the world-building qualities of the Mirror Visitor to be of its most novel feats, of the most fresh and excitable items to offer readers. I. Loved. This world. The power system and world-design truly gave rise to a sense of wonderment in me. Though the apparent scope of the world far exceeded that which we got to know in the course of the books, the portion we were exposed to I found to be fully-realized and genuinely thoughtful. There were not only multiple, unique branches of power, but accompanying cultures, politics, and conventions. How coordinated powers and societies informed each other, further, as designed by Dabos, was genuinely interesting. The variable distinctions of arcs' cultures and powers not only fostered legitimate intrigue by providing the promise of bountiful terrain to explore, but felt extremely cohesive; severe suspension of disbelief was not required to engage with this world, as the variability and vastness of the world authentically felt sensible. The Anima power was. SO. COOl. (Recognizing souls in objects, animating the items that populate our environments -- especially through relationship, READING an object's past through the people that have owned it, mirror travelling!!!!!!) And so was that of the Pole. (A rivalry forged over centuries of appealing to Farouk's desire to understand his book fueled by illusion, illusions that emulate falsified society, illusions that reach the nervous system to affect the brain and then the body/physicality, the last of a clan that can see through illusion!!!) And of Babel too. (Branching and societal recognition between the different sense-gifts, the startling insight (and power) offered by heightened sense!!!) And even LandmArk! I truly just thought everything was so creative while still being compelling. She was able to stretch and push the capacities of her power-system for her characters to be able to achieve stellar feats while never exceeding her means. (In my opinion, at least. Again, I am willing a trade-off of soundness for fun.)
Less minute than the writing style itself, Dabos's knack for structuring her individual books I thought was well-done. That is, her tendency to break down the singular installments into a fairly formal structuring worked really well for me. Dividing each individual installment into its uniques conflicts that, again, tended to take on overt structures, propelled my reading. The conflicts and/or hurdles characterized each book, and while reading, were easily recognizable and followable (ex: Ophelia's servitude disguise, her Babelian schooling). Individual books were defined well in this way as respective bodies of work.
I had a genuine love for the characters of these books. I thought Dabos succeeded in defining full, realized, and whole personalities, in turn accommodating them with marking characteristics. Nearly everyone was flawed in such a lovable way. The tendency toward imperfection, especially through which seeded endearing growth and change, in these books' characters made for a very gratifying investment as a reader engaging with the story. Characterizations were consistent and natural. The cultivation of everyone's change took on a well-paced and well-developed movement; characters were stretched and challenged such that most of our key players underwent organic yet rewarding headway that readers were allowed witness (again, for me). I love Archibald. I love Rosaline. I love Berenilde. I love Thorn. I love Octavio. I love Hildegarde. I even love Ophelia's family, Ambrose, and Elizabeth. And I loved Ophelia! Getting to watch her navigate her surroundings and environment, and exponentially evolve, was such a treat. No matter what Ophelia encountered as her storyline wove and ebbed, that consistent from the start was her unwavering aptitude for confrontation. Even if it was quiet or slight or went unrecognized, she was brave. Always. Right from the start. Even before she reached her zenith in power, agency, and authority, she was just always, always brave. And in turn braved the world, no matter her positionality in relation to it -- any lack of power, authority, or knowledge never informed her interpersonal inclinations. Nor did the stakes of what she faced, even as they ascended with no end in sight. Her self alone determined her decisions, alone guided her actions. Never did she change herself nor accommodate for exterior forces. Rather, she commanded conformity in what she ventured. Best of all, in doing all of this, she failed. She failed often. But in her failure, endured. Following a character like that was rewarding and commendable.
What I'll finally say in terms of what I liked about these books will touch on the plot-workings and the gritty world-machinations by way of which the central conflict transpired. Aerargyrum. The Horn of Plenty. The Family Spirits. The true conflict and substance of this story was shrouded in mystery for most of its course. Revealing the reality of the world in which our characters lived was essentially the storyline's conclusion; the main conflict of the Mirror Visitor was understanding the nature of existence, the orchestration that not only befell but determined Thorn's and Ophelia's and everyone's livelihood. There is an extensive amount of shortcomings in Dabos's authorial endeavor, her effort to construct a compelling, entertaining, and unique story. The plot-workings and mechanics, in tandem to the means by which all was conveyed, was ... messy. Not devoid of confusion, convolution, arbitrariness, abstraction. But from that, essentially, narrative disarray emerges things I can really appreciate -- some purchase in the fictive chaos and clutter. Over the gradual span of assimilating Ophelia's and Thorn's own process of piecing together their reality, there were some things that genuinely struck me.
Dabos retained just enough clever ideation and conceptual play in her macrocosmic components to result in, for me, pressing analogy. That is, even though the mechanics of her world are not watertight (she alone seemed to have a working grasp on her inverted dual-dimensions), there were still many moments in which the connections she envisaged for her fictive world enabled in me a genuine investment in what she was trying to say. With, again, a secure logistical grasp still elusive, I thought the way in which she pushed the thematic matter of her world-machinations to be in part compelling; in her play with the concept of inversion and balance and exchange and dimensional-duality, there resulted some genuinely stimulating ramifications. Mirror travel's role/function in inter-dimensional relation and insight was truly clever to me! Metaphors of personal and/or inner disconnect, asymmetry, and imbalance made to be able to be utilized in material instrumentation was another really cool concept; the idea of our own contradictions and multitudes made to be a fuel for real power and consequence, imagined as a matter disposable for exploitation, was genuinely cool. This fiction fashioned these concepts in ways that if, at least didn't land with maximal meaning, were highly imaginative in their own right. Further, I authentically bought into the gravity of this thick state of the world having kickstarted with a miracle; I found genuine weight in Eulalia's desire for peace, having come out the circumstances she was subject to, along with the effort she underwent and agency she enacted to achieve her desperate vision for a solution. I even like that the story of A Mirror Visitor is told backwards. The story that we follow is a submersion into an already very full and very whole other episode far set in motion; our characters' existence is a byproduct of the makings of an already actualized story -- of whom's transpiration is incrementally unfurled, its own beginning and duration and end. This story is about uncovering, essentially, another story. The characters in whom's stories we readers participate are even characters in their own universe, their lives consequences of someone else's tale. And I think thats just such a cool idea. Further, I really appreciated the posture of our antagonizer; Eulalia is truly redeemable in my eyes, even as the sole actant for the world's state -- as she herself was her own victim, and repentance, to her aspirations. I find it so thematically rich that the world's irritant was not a super genius, nor a powerful being, nor supernatural, nor truly evil in nature. Her most defining trait, that affected how she was to estrange reality, was that she was an author. Someone who wanted to create, someone who was inclined for control over her creation, someone who wrote realities, brought new matter into being through authorial propagation. That that disposition affected power was something I really love. All this to say, don't get me wrong. There's still a lot I don't understand about the dimensions' relation, and how their relation works. But there was just enough that did resonate from the whole of the system to produce in my response to it a modicum of favor.
Upon having arrived at the series' end, the words that must take precedence are: thank you. Even if there is nothing or no one on the receiving end of this addressal that I write, I simply say it because I have no where else to put my gratitude. Growing up, I loved to read. I loved reading so much it was consciously integrated into my identity -- the, maybe, tertiary source of how I knew myself, even. I was a part of the subculture, when I was young, that engaged with Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, Shadowhunters, John Green, the 5th Wave, Mara Dyer, Heroes of Olympus, Hunger Games, Divergent, etc... I loved to read and I did it all the time. It has been many years since then.
Up until this past week, the amount of books/stories I have read for myself, by my own accord (leisurely and/or by choice), in between now and then could be counted on one hand. And even though these readings may have caused joy or excitement in me, sometimes even erring on great, none of them ever quite redeemed that era of my formative years that I grew out of. Even though I enjoyed some of these stories, still that tangible feeling of departure so characteristic of my formative love of reading remained for the most part elusive. This duration of my relationship to reading has finally arrived here, to the present moment: reading The Mirror Visitor has allowed to me to remember what it is to love to read.
All this to say, no matter how flawed these books are (which I can definitely recognize that they are), what they did for me in this regard will always superimpose onto, and otherwise retain jurisdiction over, my thoughts and opinions. These books offered me, in reading them, something more than mere receptive passivity -- something much more experiential; they offered me that very pleasant and charming undertaking of escapism I seldom experience with fiction in current. Even if it comes as a trade-off for sustained craft, substance, or compulsion. I can recognize the series' flaws. But they matter little to me. I loved these books anyway.
To address the quartet's major faults as a whole: it mishandles the way it crafts reader's expectations. This is to say, while the direction of the series' course is evidently planned, it doesn't always feel that way. And while there are many examples I could bring up to illustrate this claim, I'll spare an exhaustive list. The author, essentially, generates tensions and suspenses for the reader that she either never pays off or does extremely weakly. The biggest I problem I have of all the times that she does this has to do with her latter handling of important of characters from the first half of the series. Archibald, Gail, and Fox are very weakly strung along past the Missing of Clairdelune just for their presence in the finale to have very little gravity. The extent to which Dabos maintained the split-up state of the primary characters introduced in the first two books as the rest of the story progressed really surprised me. I would have thought that by the Storm of Echoes, Thorn and Ophelia would not still be on their own, that we would have pivoted/transitioned to a full reunification. There are a couple of other things in which their function is lost on me; the ending of the series had a knack for negating the meaning of certain creative choices that could have amounted to more significant reverberations, or at least seemed like they were going to: the nature of Victoria (her power/ability, including so many chapters from her perspective), developing tension in Thorn's relationship to his aunt while having them separated (why do we never see them reunite for all that Thorn went through in his understanding of their relationship?), Ophelia's infertility. Most of all, where the story leaves us, more than being mad or upset by, I just simply don't understand from an authorial and creative standpoint. How does the ending serve the story or its readers? What is the purpose of its lack of resolve? The story ends with something still needing to be done, offering promise in lieu of closure.
Criticism acknowledged, there is SO much that these books do well, so much that is so great about them. Here is its best strengths in my eyes, what I love and appreciate most. The most frontal aspect of these books, that quickly allowed me to become enamored with them, was its writing. I imminently fell in love this series' writing style upon embarking on A Winter's Promise. The articulate yet whimsical -- sometimes even poetic -- writing style retained so much allure for me when the plot and characters had yet to. The writing itself, that is, drove my investment in Ophelia's fate, and sustained my fascination of what was to happen to her. The language comprising these books I found to be extremely sensible but in such a way that did not sacrifice any magic: the wording enchanted the setting, world, and series of events, employing a charm and excitability in what unfolded. I was never not captivated by the almost sobering effect of the diction, authenticating and appraising a fantastical world so different from our own.
Relatedly, I thought the world-building qualities of the Mirror Visitor to be of its most novel feats, of the most fresh and excitable items to offer readers. I. Loved. This world. The power system and world-design truly gave rise to a sense of wonderment in me. Though the apparent scope of the world far exceeded that which we got to know in the course of the books, the portion we were exposed to I found to be fully-realized and genuinely thoughtful. There were not only multiple, unique branches of power, but accompanying cultures, politics, and conventions. How coordinated powers and societies informed each other, further, as designed by Dabos, was genuinely interesting. The variable distinctions of arcs' cultures and powers not only fostered legitimate intrigue by providing the promise of bountiful terrain to explore, but felt extremely cohesive; severe suspension of disbelief was not required to engage with this world, as the variability and vastness of the world authentically felt sensible. The Anima power was. SO. COOl. (Recognizing souls in objects, animating the items that populate our environments -- especially through relationship, READING an object's past through the people that have owned it, mirror travelling!!!!!!) And so was that of the Pole. (A rivalry forged over centuries of appealing to Farouk's desire to understand his book fueled by illusion, illusions that emulate falsified society, illusions that reach the nervous system to affect the brain and then the body/physicality, the last of a clan that can see through illusion!!!) And of Babel too. (Branching and societal recognition between the different sense-gifts, the startling insight (and power) offered by heightened sense!!!) And even LandmArk! I truly just thought everything was so creative while still being compelling. She was able to stretch and push the capacities of her power-system for her characters to be able to achieve stellar feats while never exceeding her means. (In my opinion, at least. Again, I am willing a trade-off of soundness for fun.)
Less minute than the writing style itself, Dabos's knack for structuring her individual books I thought was well-done. That is, her tendency to break down the singular installments into a fairly formal structuring worked really well for me. Dividing each individual installment into its uniques conflicts that, again, tended to take on overt structures, propelled my reading. The conflicts and/or hurdles characterized each book, and while reading, were easily recognizable and followable (ex: Ophelia's servitude disguise, her Babelian schooling). Individual books were defined well in this way as respective bodies of work.
I had a genuine love for the characters of these books. I thought Dabos succeeded in defining full, realized, and whole personalities, in turn accommodating them with marking characteristics. Nearly everyone was flawed in such a lovable way. The tendency toward imperfection, especially through which seeded endearing growth and change, in these books' characters made for a very gratifying investment as a reader engaging with the story. Characterizations were consistent and natural. The cultivation of everyone's change took on a well-paced and well-developed movement; characters were stretched and challenged such that most of our key players underwent organic yet rewarding headway that readers were allowed witness (again, for me). I love Archibald. I love Rosaline. I love Berenilde. I love Thorn. I love Octavio. I love Hildegarde. I even love Ophelia's family, Ambrose, and Elizabeth. And I loved Ophelia! Getting to watch her navigate her surroundings and environment, and exponentially evolve, was such a treat. No matter what Ophelia encountered as her storyline wove and ebbed, that consistent from the start was her unwavering aptitude for confrontation. Even if it was quiet or slight or went unrecognized, she was brave. Always. Right from the start. Even before she reached her zenith in power, agency, and authority, she was just always, always brave. And in turn braved the world, no matter her positionality in relation to it -- any lack of power, authority, or knowledge never informed her interpersonal inclinations. Nor did the stakes of what she faced, even as they ascended with no end in sight. Her self alone determined her decisions, alone guided her actions. Never did she change herself nor accommodate for exterior forces. Rather, she commanded conformity in what she ventured. Best of all, in doing all of this, she failed. She failed often. But in her failure, endured. Following a character like that was rewarding and commendable.
What I'll finally say in terms of what I liked about these books will touch on the plot-workings and the gritty world-machinations by way of which the central conflict transpired. Aerargyrum. The Horn of Plenty. The Family Spirits. The true conflict and substance of this story was shrouded in mystery for most of its course. Revealing the reality of the world in which our characters lived was essentially the storyline's conclusion; the main conflict of the Mirror Visitor was understanding the nature of existence, the orchestration that not only befell but determined Thorn's and Ophelia's and everyone's livelihood. There is an extensive amount of shortcomings in Dabos's authorial endeavor, her effort to construct a compelling, entertaining, and unique story. The plot-workings and mechanics, in tandem to the means by which all was conveyed, was ... messy. Not devoid of confusion, convolution, arbitrariness, abstraction. But from that, essentially, narrative disarray emerges things I can really appreciate -- some purchase in the fictive chaos and clutter. Over the gradual span of assimilating Ophelia's and Thorn's own process of piecing together their reality, there were some things that genuinely struck me.
Dabos retained just enough clever ideation and conceptual play in her macrocosmic components to result in, for me, pressing analogy. That is, even though the mechanics of her world are not watertight (she alone seemed to have a working grasp on her inverted dual-dimensions), there were still many moments in which the connections she envisaged for her fictive world enabled in me a genuine investment in what she was trying to say. With, again, a secure logistical grasp still elusive, I thought the way in which she pushed the thematic matter of her world-machinations to be in part compelling; in her play with the concept of inversion and balance and exchange and dimensional-duality, there resulted some genuinely stimulating ramifications. Mirror travel's role/function in inter-dimensional relation and insight was truly clever to me! Metaphors of personal and/or inner disconnect, asymmetry, and imbalance made to be able to be utilized in material instrumentation was another really cool concept; the idea of our own contradictions and multitudes made to be a fuel for real power and consequence, imagined as a matter disposable for exploitation, was genuinely cool. This fiction fashioned these concepts in ways that if, at least didn't land with maximal meaning, were highly imaginative in their own right. Further, I authentically bought into the gravity of this thick state of the world having kickstarted with a miracle; I found genuine weight in Eulalia's desire for peace, having come out the circumstances she was subject to, along with the effort she underwent and agency she enacted to achieve her desperate vision for a solution. I even like that the story of A Mirror Visitor is told backwards. The story that we follow is a submersion into an already very full and very whole other episode far set in motion; our characters' existence is a byproduct of the makings of an already actualized story -- of whom's transpiration is incrementally unfurled, its own beginning and duration and end. This story is about uncovering, essentially, another story. The characters in whom's stories we readers participate are even characters in their own universe, their lives consequences of someone else's tale. And I think thats just such a cool idea. Further, I really appreciated the posture of our antagonizer; Eulalia is truly redeemable in my eyes, even as the sole actant for the world's state -- as she herself was her own victim, and repentance, to her aspirations. I find it so thematically rich that the world's irritant was not a super genius, nor a powerful being, nor supernatural, nor truly evil in nature. Her most defining trait, that affected how she was to estrange reality, was that she was an author. Someone who wanted to create, someone who was inclined for control over her creation, someone who wrote realities, brought new matter into being through authorial propagation. That that disposition affected power was something I really love. All this to say, don't get me wrong. There's still a lot I don't understand about the dimensions' relation, and how their relation works. But there was just enough that did resonate from the whole of the system to produce in my response to it a modicum of favor.
January 16, 2025
I have never written a review for a book, but I immediately had to once I finished this series.
I’ve read all 4 books and I LOVED it.
When I was debating whether to read the quartet or not I saw a lot of negative reviews, but I’m glad I ended up reading it. There are a few key points:
1) The characters are so well written and all have such a unique characteristic. I am not usually into fantasy thrillers but the characters brought so many different twists
2) I think that all 4 books really linked with each other and I liked the shift we have from book 1-2 and 3-4. I finished the series in two weeks and couldn’t even put the book down. The characters development was portrayed really well especially through Ophelia who is the young female protagonist.
3) the PLOT TWISTS are to die for. Every book brought in different aspects and I found myself on the edge of my seat (especially in book 3).
SPOILER!!!
4) The ending of the last book - many said it was open ended and they didn’t like it, but I disagree!!! If you read close enough, we are subtly given an ending with how she “goes through the mirror - a little more than that even.” That last part clearly tells me that she is able to reach the horn of plenty and get back to Thorn but also close the ‘other’ situation. I must admit towards the ending it did get a bit confusing but I found that the more I read the easier it was to link back and connect.
I could go on and on but I really think that if you are interested in reading this book, then make sure you read all of them. You definitely won’t regret it!!!!
I’ve read all 4 books and I LOVED it.
When I was debating whether to read the quartet or not I saw a lot of negative reviews, but I’m glad I ended up reading it. There are a few key points:
1) The characters are so well written and all have such a unique characteristic. I am not usually into fantasy thrillers but the characters brought so many different twists
2) I think that all 4 books really linked with each other and I liked the shift we have from book 1-2 and 3-4. I finished the series in two weeks and couldn’t even put the book down. The characters development was portrayed really well especially through Ophelia who is the young female protagonist.
3) the PLOT TWISTS are to die for. Every book brought in different aspects and I found myself on the edge of my seat (especially in book 3).
SPOILER!!!
4) The ending of the last book - many said it was open ended and they didn’t like it, but I disagree!!! If you read close enough, we are subtly given an ending with how she “goes through the mirror - a little more than that even.” That last part clearly tells me that she is able to reach the horn of plenty and get back to Thorn but also close the ‘other’ situation. I must admit towards the ending it did get a bit confusing but I found that the more I read the easier it was to link back and connect.
I could go on and on but I really think that if you are interested in reading this book, then make sure you read all of them. You definitely won’t regret it!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2022
Recently became my favorite series. If you like fantasy and want a series to read I highly recommend. I’m in love with the characters and the world that was built. Christelles’ writing is so compelling and exciting that I wish she wrote more books. The series isn’t perfect and if you want something to read that’s simple I wouldn’t recommend these books. Personally I am obsessed with this series and I read through them so fast I was hooked.
February 14, 2021
Omg wow... it took me a little while to get into the book as I don’t normally read fantasy... but once I got the hang of the characters I purchased all the books Asap!!! What a stunning read!!! I highly recommend this series
May 3, 2023
Picked up the first book in the series for a 12-year-old daughter after seeing positive reviews. She didn't get into it at all--but then she likes to pick her own books--but then I ended up reading not only the first book but all three books in the trilogy. Very imaginative world and characters one cares about and wants to see through the arc of the story. Must be one of the oddest romances in YA fiction, no in any fantasy fiction. Not sure I'd exactly recommend it for an adult reader, but like I said I read the entire series, and I'd definitely recommend it to any YA who like fantasy.
January 31, 2022
- a winters promise 4 part series - love love love kinda reminded me of alanna with the style and story telling but i really loved the idea of this sometimes its hard to follow since its so imaginative but it was still super interesting i wish they spend more time with the romance of the mains but the tension was awesome even if the male lead was SUPER overshadowed by the second male lead
April 19, 2022
I've loved this series so far! Perhaps not the most challenging read but a very entertaining one. The characters are intriguing and complicated and there have been many twists and turns I haven't anticipated. Ophelia's powers are much more interesting than they seem at first and I've really liked watching her romance with Thorn unfold.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2024
I liked the book a lot, but then when i looked back on it, it was actually just: we love the man and nothing else. I think that Ophelia could have been so much more interesting if she sai what she thought instead of listening to the awful words of her man.
May 1, 2021
I loved this series!
December 21, 2021
Exquisite novels! I'm utterly obsessed.
January 21, 2022
I loved the world building and the main character. The plot was a little slow.
June 26, 2022
Le tome 1 et 3 mon vraiment déçue... manque d'actions et l'histoire devient vraiment difficile à lire ... le tome 2 par contre est génial ! Mon préféré de cette série !
February 1, 2023
Having finished reading the series, was very disappointed. Ruined the amazing world building and potential of all the characters.
March 14, 2023
It was pretty dang wild there by the end, but ultimately I had fun and didn't want to put it down.
February 5, 2024
Omg I loved these books they are some of my favourite books ever. Some of the first longish fantasy books I have truly just read because I wanted to know what was going to happen
February 27, 2024
plot heavy, romance is aight. world building is amazing and story and characters are interesting
March 12, 2024
I LOVE this book, a little more than that even. This is my absolute favorite book series. It is filled with suspense, amazing characters, and a great storyline with each book as well as the series. This series has growing characters who still stay true to themselves, awkward moments which form into a complex amazing storyline, and growing emotions of good and bad. The growing romance between Ophelia and Thorn caught me in edge and I could not stop reading the series. .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2024
Book 1 was very good. Not the best fantasy world but definitely not the worst. Have started book 2 and it is just as enjoyable.
August 2, 2024
I just couldn't get into this series. I read the first book & half the second. It just wasn't worth my time.
January 17, 2025
loved the world building <3
April 8, 2025
loved em
June 19, 2022
Beautiful series
March 19, 2025
My Rating System
⭐ Did not enjoy the story and was poorly written
⭐⭐ Story was okay, but poor editing/writing
⭐⭐⭐ Liked the story
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Liked the story and recommend it. Would not likely read again
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Loved the story, fantastically written, would recommend and would read again.
⭐ Did not enjoy the story and was poorly written
⭐⭐ Story was okay, but poor editing/writing
⭐⭐⭐ Liked the story
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Liked the story and recommend it. Would not likely read again
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Loved the story, fantastically written, would recommend and would read again.
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