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Gothic Fairytales #2
Mirror, Mirror
Ever felt sorry for the "evil" stepmother? Maybe wondered about her side of things? This story is for you.
Trude Burgess only has eyes for one person.
Her entire life, she never loved anyone other than Viggo Calder. She watched as he courted the perfect lady, wooed and won her. And then...he lost that ideal love. Trude married him anyway...because his little girl needed a mother. And she would do anything to prove that her love is enough to make up for that tragic loss.
Viggo Calder has never truly seen her.
Though he married for convenience, his heart remains icy and untouched. He made the sacrifice for his daughter, but he spends his nights drinking and mourning. His new wife is sensitive and difficult, and sometimes he regrets ever marrying her at all. If only he could be with his beloved first wife again...
When a magic mirror is involved, they must both be careful with their wishes...
Trude Burgess only has eyes for one person.
Her entire life, she never loved anyone other than Viggo Calder. She watched as he courted the perfect lady, wooed and won her. And then...he lost that ideal love. Trude married him anyway...because his little girl needed a mother. And she would do anything to prove that her love is enough to make up for that tragic loss.
Viggo Calder has never truly seen her.
Though he married for convenience, his heart remains icy and untouched. He made the sacrifice for his daughter, but he spends his nights drinking and mourning. His new wife is sensitive and difficult, and sometimes he regrets ever marrying her at all. If only he could be with his beloved first wife again...
When a magic mirror is involved, they must both be careful with their wishes...
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2021
14 people are currently reading
561 people want to read
About the author
Ann Aguirre
82 books7,076 followersNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Ann Aguirre has been a clown, a clerk, a savior of stray kittens, and a voice actress, not necessarily in that order. She grew up in a yellow house across from a cornfield, but now she lives in Mexico with her family. She writes all kinds of genre fiction, but she has an eternal soft spot for a happily ever after.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
November 4, 2021
2.5* Not amongst my favourite Ann Aguirre stories. There are some interesting choices here, in this sort-of Sleeping Beauty retelling, but a lot of them felt flat to me and I wasn’t enamoured of the ‘evil dead wife’ plotline that it bought in to. The romance was lacklustre and a foregone conclusion, because it was never clear why the MCs cared for each other apart from enjoying sex, being old friends and living under a curse. It was creepy, and readable, but I was more interested in the ghost story than I was the love story and that tells you a lot. The absolute best part was the cameo from Mara and Njils from Bitterburn.
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November 4, 2021I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows the gothic nature of the series really well. It's perfectly slow and subdued until little things start popping up that show something is not quite right, gradually building to a final culmination at the end. It's pretty much everyday life for Trude over a few months as she throws herself into her new life as a stepmother and wife.
It wouldn't say any of it was particularly surprising as there's quite a lot of clues in the lead up, and everything is resolved without too much issue.
This book follows the gothic nature of the series really well. It's perfectly slow and subdued until little things start popping up that show something is not quite right, gradually building to a final culmination at the end. It's pretty much everyday life for Trude over a few months as she throws herself into her new life as a stepmother and wife.
It wouldn't say any of it was particularly surprising as there's quite a lot of clues in the lead up, and everything is resolved without too much issue.
November 2, 2021
2.5 stars
This was a unique spin on "Snow White" but it didn't get to me the way "Bitterburn" did - for some reason, it felt flat.
This was a unique spin on "Snow White" but it didn't get to me the way "Bitterburn" did - for some reason, it felt flat.
October 22, 2021
I received an Advanced Reader Copy in return for an honest review.
What if the evil step-mother in all those fairytales was really misrepresented and misunderstood? What if the step-mother was never really the evil one at all? Maybe we never really knew the truth to those stories, maybe now it is time to bring light to what really happened.
I love a well executed retelling of an old fairytale. In 'Mirror, Mirror', Ann Aguirre puts an interesting spin on Snow White. As with her first book in the 'Gothic Fairytales' series 'Bitterburn', Aguirre placed well known easter eggs, such as a play on the well known poisoned apple, through out the story.
Trude Burgess has loved Viggo Calder her entire life but he was always more interested in Lisabet. So much so it bordered on obsession. Viggo and Lisabet ended up married with a daughter and Trude thought she had lost her opportunity at happily ever after, that was until Lisabet died suddenly. Knowing that Viggo was devastated from his wife's death and only a third of the man he was, Trude agreed to marry him and raise his now eight year old daughter. The marriage was one of convenience but Trude was certain she could turn their friendship into more. Upon moving in with Viggo and Albie she realizes things were never what they appeared to be.
This story is technically a play on Snow White but so unique that it is it's very own story. You could remove the mention of the mirror, the evil-step mother, the 'seven dwarfs', and the poisoned apple and never think of Snow White. Aguirre has a way of developing worlds, characters, and storylines in such a way that you can see every detail in your mind. I loved Trude and her devotion, I grew frustrated with Viggo and his inability to see the truth, and I felt for Albie who always wanted to be loved but had no control over her life. There were parts of the story with tension so thick I felt true concern for the characters and there were sections that had me frightened for their lives.
I am excited for the next installment of the Gothic Fairytales series but so sad to read it is the final installment. All things come in moderation and also must come to an end.
What if the evil step-mother in all those fairytales was really misrepresented and misunderstood? What if the step-mother was never really the evil one at all? Maybe we never really knew the truth to those stories, maybe now it is time to bring light to what really happened.
I love a well executed retelling of an old fairytale. In 'Mirror, Mirror', Ann Aguirre puts an interesting spin on Snow White. As with her first book in the 'Gothic Fairytales' series 'Bitterburn', Aguirre placed well known easter eggs, such as a play on the well known poisoned apple, through out the story.
Trude Burgess has loved Viggo Calder her entire life but he was always more interested in Lisabet. So much so it bordered on obsession. Viggo and Lisabet ended up married with a daughter and Trude thought she had lost her opportunity at happily ever after, that was until Lisabet died suddenly. Knowing that Viggo was devastated from his wife's death and only a third of the man he was, Trude agreed to marry him and raise his now eight year old daughter. The marriage was one of convenience but Trude was certain she could turn their friendship into more. Upon moving in with Viggo and Albie she realizes things were never what they appeared to be.
This story is technically a play on Snow White but so unique that it is it's very own story. You could remove the mention of the mirror, the evil-step mother, the 'seven dwarfs', and the poisoned apple and never think of Snow White. Aguirre has a way of developing worlds, characters, and storylines in such a way that you can see every detail in your mind. I loved Trude and her devotion, I grew frustrated with Viggo and his inability to see the truth, and I felt for Albie who always wanted to be loved but had no control over her life. There were parts of the story with tension so thick I felt true concern for the characters and there were sections that had me frightened for their lives.
I am excited for the next installment of the Gothic Fairytales series but so sad to read it is the final installment. All things come in moderation and also must come to an end.
November 13, 2021
A chilling Gothic Romance, so masterfully done, you'll be quaking for fear of Trude's marriage and life at the hands of a vengeful ghost one moment and burning up with the sizzling sex between her and her new husband, Viggo, the next.
I need to stress that this is a Gothic Romance--and while it is very chilling and well-written to make you doubt the narrator's sanity as well--it does (SPOILER) end in HEA. In tone, it is much darker than the previous novel in this series, Bitterburn. I loved Bitterburn, and while there were dark magical forces at play there, I never felt the main character was truly in danger or that the HEA was threatened. (If you've read Bitterburn, there will be some inside knowledge about characters and Easter eggs... some characters may even show up again!)
In this book, I did very much feel the threat against the main character of Trude. In fact, I had to take a few breaks from it because I was so overwhelmed by Trude's situation. I am not a thriller fan, however. I can't even watch horror movies. However, the writing is so well done and Aguirre made me love her characters so much that I had to find out what happens to them.
The Gothic elements of this dark fairytale are weaved into the retelling of Snow White, alongside gothic tropes of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights by Charlotte and Emily Bronte, respectively, and Henry James' The Turn of the Screw.
The madwoman (or ghost) in the attic.
Perhaps a madman?
The plain governess (aka stepmother in this book) come to look after a strange child.
A love that seems more obsession or madness.
Haunted and forbidding house.
Viggo's relationship with his first wife Lisabet (now dead) borders on the obsessive love between Cathy and Heathcliff. However, Trude (our main character) has also loved Viggo since they were children and has refused anyone else because of her love for him. After marrying him as a convenience (I do love a marriage of convenience trope!) to be mother to his daughter, Trude begins to wonder if she knows him at all, or if she too was blinded by love as he was towards Lisabet.
Aguirre takes pains to show how Trude and Viggo's love differs from Lisabet and Viggo's relationship. I don't want to give away more; however, know that theirs is a relationship (in the end) based on a love that is trusting and caring and deep. Throughout the story though, Trude calls Viggo on his less than stellar behaviour, and also her own.
There's this lovely bit at the end, which wraps up a bit like Jane Eyre, with a reflection on their relationship:
"We belong together, after traveling such a long and arduous road. Some would say it's the journey that matters, not the destination, and that happy endings are for other people, the beautiful and the special and the blessed.
But no.
Love is for everyone; it's not reserved for fairytale beauties. It's also for plain girls and silent men and people who don't fit the mold or the space they're meant to occupy. The world is brighter and better when we risk everything for it. Love finds a way; love abides."
I thought this was such a beautiful sentiment, and it made all the gut-wrenching scenes of the novel worth it. Lol.
Thank you, Ann Aguirre, for bringing Trude and Viggo together and their family. A supremely satisfying fairytale ending, indeed.
*I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
I need to stress that this is a Gothic Romance--and while it is very chilling and well-written to make you doubt the narrator's sanity as well--it does (SPOILER) end in HEA. In tone, it is much darker than the previous novel in this series, Bitterburn. I loved Bitterburn, and while there were dark magical forces at play there, I never felt the main character was truly in danger or that the HEA was threatened. (If you've read Bitterburn, there will be some inside knowledge about characters and Easter eggs... some characters may even show up again!)
In this book, I did very much feel the threat against the main character of Trude. In fact, I had to take a few breaks from it because I was so overwhelmed by Trude's situation. I am not a thriller fan, however. I can't even watch horror movies. However, the writing is so well done and Aguirre made me love her characters so much that I had to find out what happens to them.
The Gothic elements of this dark fairytale are weaved into the retelling of Snow White, alongside gothic tropes of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights by Charlotte and Emily Bronte, respectively, and Henry James' The Turn of the Screw.
The madwoman (or ghost) in the attic.
Perhaps a madman?
The plain governess (aka stepmother in this book) come to look after a strange child.
A love that seems more obsession or madness.
Haunted and forbidding house.
Viggo's relationship with his first wife Lisabet (now dead) borders on the obsessive love between Cathy and Heathcliff. However, Trude (our main character) has also loved Viggo since they were children and has refused anyone else because of her love for him. After marrying him as a convenience (I do love a marriage of convenience trope!) to be mother to his daughter, Trude begins to wonder if she knows him at all, or if she too was blinded by love as he was towards Lisabet.
Aguirre takes pains to show how Trude and Viggo's love differs from Lisabet and Viggo's relationship. I don't want to give away more; however, know that theirs is a relationship (in the end) based on a love that is trusting and caring and deep. Throughout the story though, Trude calls Viggo on his less than stellar behaviour, and also her own.
There's this lovely bit at the end, which wraps up a bit like Jane Eyre, with a reflection on their relationship:
"We belong together, after traveling such a long and arduous road. Some would say it's the journey that matters, not the destination, and that happy endings are for other people, the beautiful and the special and the blessed.
But no.
Love is for everyone; it's not reserved for fairytale beauties. It's also for plain girls and silent men and people who don't fit the mold or the space they're meant to occupy. The world is brighter and better when we risk everything for it. Love finds a way; love abides."
I thought this was such a beautiful sentiment, and it made all the gut-wrenching scenes of the novel worth it. Lol.
Thank you, Ann Aguirre, for bringing Trude and Viggo together and their family. A supremely satisfying fairytale ending, indeed.
*I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
October 27, 2021
Okay. OKAY. We have a little cursed mirror, evil stepmother thing going on here and I am SO here for it. Just to be clear, though, Trude isn't evil. She adores Albie like she's her own and does her best for her even when things start getting hairy.
But let's back up a bit...Trude has loved Viggo FOREVER. He's it for her, so she was a teeny bit heartbroken when he married another woman and moved away from their small village. Then tragedy strikes and Trude steps in to become Viggo's wife and the mother of his young daughter. While she doesn't expect to be the love of his life (seeing as he had loved his first wife), she's determined to enjoy the life they can build together.
Except...things are weird at Casa Calder. Viggo swings hot and cold with her and Albie tells stories about her deceased mother that worry Trude to the bone. Then the mirror arrives - a gift from a dead woman - and things turn downright dark.
A few familiar faces, a twisted scheme that goes back years, heartache, happiness, and a whole lot of darkness hiding in the corners. *thumbs up*
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
But let's back up a bit...Trude has loved Viggo FOREVER. He's it for her, so she was a teeny bit heartbroken when he married another woman and moved away from their small village. Then tragedy strikes and Trude steps in to become Viggo's wife and the mother of his young daughter. While she doesn't expect to be the love of his life (seeing as he had loved his first wife), she's determined to enjoy the life they can build together.
Except...things are weird at Casa Calder. Viggo swings hot and cold with her and Albie tells stories about her deceased mother that worry Trude to the bone. Then the mirror arrives - a gift from a dead woman - and things turn downright dark.
A few familiar faces, a twisted scheme that goes back years, heartache, happiness, and a whole lot of darkness hiding in the corners. *thumbs up*
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
January 9, 2022
4.5 stars
I liked this book better than first one (Bitterburn). It was a unique take on Snow White, with a strongly written main character who was very likable with a sensible but compassionate nature. Good use of magic and appropriate for storyline without being completely out there. Strong romance without being over the top
I liked this book better than first one (Bitterburn). It was a unique take on Snow White, with a strongly written main character who was very likable with a sensible but compassionate nature. Good use of magic and appropriate for storyline without being completely out there. Strong romance without being over the top
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November 17, 2021DNF at 32% percent. Just not feeling it.
December 4, 2021
4.25-4.5 stars
October 23, 2021
Mirror, Mirror is another fabulous Ann Aguirre read. With a title like Mirror, Mirror and the mention of a stepmother, you might expect to read yet another fairytale retelling, but this book is so much better.
When you think of Gothic movies and stories a common element is a pervasive sense of doom. That feeling that an angry ghost is waiting for you around the corner... well, Aguirre does an excellent job evoking that emotion throughout the story.
But there is not just doom and gloom. There is an exciting romance between Trude and Viggo. The story is also full of suspense as you wonder if the villain might actually be Trude or perhaps Albie or Lisabet. You also meet an interesting cast of characters throughout the book.
Overall, this book is a unique take on the story of the magic mirror and you won't want to wait to see what happens.
When you think of Gothic movies and stories a common element is a pervasive sense of doom. That feeling that an angry ghost is waiting for you around the corner... well, Aguirre does an excellent job evoking that emotion throughout the story.
But there is not just doom and gloom. There is an exciting romance between Trude and Viggo. The story is also full of suspense as you wonder if the villain might actually be Trude or perhaps Albie or Lisabet. You also meet an interesting cast of characters throughout the book.
Overall, this book is a unique take on the story of the magic mirror and you won't want to wait to see what happens.
Read
May 10, 2022Trude has loved Viggo her whole life, but he marries a vain, cruel woman instead of her. Fast forward a decade or so, and the wife has sickened and died, leaving Viggo to care for his only daughter. He proposes a marriage of convenience to Trude, who jumps at the chance. When she arrives at his home, she discovers the family and house are being haunted by the late wife, up to almost the point of possession. She bonds with Viggo and his daughter, and works to rid the home of the evil late wife.
I struggled to finish this novel, and really only did because a bout of insomnia. There's something inert about the proceedings, and Trude's single-minded and self-effacing love for Viggo gets to be hard to stomach, especially because he's not quite interesting enough to be a himbo. I also got domestic abuse vibes off of their interactions sometimes because of how hot and cold he'd run, his jealousy and outbursts, but of course his behavior is all explained away by an evil dead woman. I really like Aguirre as a writer, but this, unfortunately, is a misfire.
I struggled to finish this novel, and really only did because a bout of insomnia. There's something inert about the proceedings, and Trude's single-minded and self-effacing love for Viggo gets to be hard to stomach, especially because he's not quite interesting enough to be a himbo. I also got domestic abuse vibes off of their interactions sometimes because of how hot and cold he'd run, his jealousy and outbursts, but of course his behavior is all explained away by an evil dead woman. I really like Aguirre as a writer, but this, unfortunately, is a misfire.
sampled-and-declined
November 1, 2021Girl gets ignored all her life by boy, boy marries another, but girl marries him once widowed anyway, then things happen and someone else is the bad stepmother. Not for me!
November 3, 2021
This was so much creepier and scarier than the first book in this series! It was basically a blend of fantasy romance and horror. That mirror was terrifying! Not to mention all the possession happening. I am a wimpy reader and had to really pace myself so I didn’t get too scared. Ann Aguirre put an interesting spin on Snow White, that’s for sure. While I was keen to get to the bottom of what was really happening in that house (or just yelling at Trude to get the hell out of there), Trude and Viggo’s romance fell by the wayside and I wasn’t as invested in their friends-to-lovers marriage of convenience, although they did have some really hot sex scenes. There were a few things surrounding the ghostly presence that didn’t completely add up to me. It’s possible the cleansing the house was going to inevitably be anticlimactic. I was just hoping for a little bit more nuance given how scary things had been up to that point. I do enjoy her kind of gothic fairytale retellings, even if this was scarier than I prefer. If you’re interested in romances with ghosts, this could be worth trying.
I loved getting to see Amarrah and Njål again! I did not remember the mirror appearing in Bitterburn and it’s going to feature in the next book in this series as well. Eep!
Character notes: Trude is a 28 year old white woman. Viggo is a 28 year old white export business owner. He has an 8 year old daughter named Albie. This is set in Kerkhof.
Content notes: ghost/possession, nightmares/night terrors (FMC and Albie), sleepwalking (Albie), missing child , vomit, past death of wife , corporal punishment by nanny, past child abuse (Lisabet locked Albie in the cupboard and told her she shouldn’t have been born), pregnancy, concern of miscarriage (treated by witch and baby is born health), family planning discussion, on page sex, alcohol, inebriation, mentions of past trauma (secondary character: Lisabet hurt Jaakko in some way but it’s not clear how), mention of suicidal ideation, cissexist language, ableist language, reference to maid being sexually harassed by last employer
I loved getting to see Amarrah and Njål again! I did not remember the mirror appearing in Bitterburn and it’s going to feature in the next book in this series as well. Eep!
Character notes: Trude is a 28 year old white woman. Viggo is a 28 year old white export business owner. He has an 8 year old daughter named Albie. This is set in Kerkhof.
Content notes: ghost/possession, nightmares/night terrors (FMC and Albie), sleepwalking (Albie), missing child , vomit, past death of wife , corporal punishment by nanny, past child abuse (Lisabet locked Albie in the cupboard and told her she shouldn’t have been born), pregnancy, concern of miscarriage (treated by witch and baby is born health), family planning discussion, on page sex, alcohol, inebriation, mentions of past trauma (secondary character: Lisabet hurt Jaakko in some way but it’s not clear how), mention of suicidal ideation, cissexist language, ableist language, reference to maid being sexually harassed by last employer
July 7, 2025
Perfection, thy name is Ann Aguirre. MIRROR, MIRROR is a spicy feminist fairytale that turns the wicked stepmother trope on its head. Trude has been in love with Viggo since they were children, and he used to love her too, until he fell for their friend, Lisabet, instead, and the other cruel, beautiful little girl stole him away for good.
But when Lisabet dies, Viggo marries Trude. And when she comes home to the man she has been in love with her whole life and his beautiful lonely young daughter, it seems as if she's finally getting the family she has always longed for. Dreams really do come true.
Except... Viggo holds her at a distance, sleeping with her-- sometimes using her roughly-- but never telling her that he loves her. And Albie, the daughter, is babyish and cunning, affectionate one minute and oddly cruel the next. And then, the mirror arrives...
I just loved this book from start to finish. The lush prose, the slow pacing, the build-up of the household and how it was expanded into a claustrophobic, creepy little world, and the quiet, loving strength of the heroine. It was all magnificently done. I read the first book in this series of standalones, BITTERBURN, and liked it, but didn't love it. That book walked so this book could fucking fly, and the little call-out to the previous book was so well done.
Honestly, no notes. Between this and THE THIRD MRS. DURST, Aguirre kills it at fairytale retellings and gothic romances. It looks like there was supposed to be a third book in this trilogy, a standalone Bluebeard retelling (gender-swapped! OMG!) but it seems as if it might have been dropped. That's heartbreaking if true. I know that her witchy books are her best-sellers right now, so I get why she's attending to those, but I'm also praying to every god I know that she'll write another fairytale.
Jesus, this was good.
5 stars
But when Lisabet dies, Viggo marries Trude. And when she comes home to the man she has been in love with her whole life and his beautiful lonely young daughter, it seems as if she's finally getting the family she has always longed for. Dreams really do come true.
Except... Viggo holds her at a distance, sleeping with her-- sometimes using her roughly-- but never telling her that he loves her. And Albie, the daughter, is babyish and cunning, affectionate one minute and oddly cruel the next. And then, the mirror arrives...
I just loved this book from start to finish. The lush prose, the slow pacing, the build-up of the household and how it was expanded into a claustrophobic, creepy little world, and the quiet, loving strength of the heroine. It was all magnificently done. I read the first book in this series of standalones, BITTERBURN, and liked it, but didn't love it. That book walked so this book could fucking fly, and the little call-out to the previous book was so well done.
Honestly, no notes. Between this and THE THIRD MRS. DURST, Aguirre kills it at fairytale retellings and gothic romances. It looks like there was supposed to be a third book in this trilogy, a standalone Bluebeard retelling (gender-swapped! OMG!) but it seems as if it might have been dropped. That's heartbreaking if true. I know that her witchy books are her best-sellers right now, so I get why she's attending to those, but I'm also praying to every god I know that she'll write another fairytale.
Jesus, this was good.
5 stars
October 30, 2021
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Mirror, Mirror is the perfect gothic tale! It draws a lot from Snow White, but it’s not a retelling by any means. Here, our protagonist is Trude, the stepmother – how’s that for a twist?
Trude marries Viggo, her unrequited love since childhood, to save him from fading away with despair over the death of his first wife, Lisabet. Little Snow White – here named Albina, or Albie – is a hellion a lot of the time, which seems the result of some haunting by her dear departed mother.
In fact, Lisabet’s nasty spirit appears to loom over the entire household. Matters quickly go from bad to worse when a hideous-looking mirror arrives at the house and spellbinds Viggo and Albie.
Trude resolves to do whatever she can to save her new family from evil. She often questions if she is just blinded by unrequited love for Viggo, but she must try to at least save Albie, an “innocent” child. Is Albie truly innocent, or is there too much of her mother in her? Is Viggo really worth the bother? Can anyone defeat the chilling miasma that lies, dank and suffocating, in the very walls of their family home?
I’ve said it before, I’m not a huge fan of fairy tale retellings, unless they’re very well done. Mirror, Mirror is exquisite. It is not necessary to have read Bitterburn, the previous story in this series, before reading Mirror, Mirror. However, my enjoyment of Mirror, Mirror increased tremendously with the thread that carried through from Bitterburn – I think I even cheered aloud! Conversely, reading Mirror, Mirror first will likely inspire you to then pick up Bitterburn – so it’s a win either way. Happy spooky reading!
Mirror, Mirror is the perfect gothic tale! It draws a lot from Snow White, but it’s not a retelling by any means. Here, our protagonist is Trude, the stepmother – how’s that for a twist?
Trude marries Viggo, her unrequited love since childhood, to save him from fading away with despair over the death of his first wife, Lisabet. Little Snow White – here named Albina, or Albie – is a hellion a lot of the time, which seems the result of some haunting by her dear departed mother.
In fact, Lisabet’s nasty spirit appears to loom over the entire household. Matters quickly go from bad to worse when a hideous-looking mirror arrives at the house and spellbinds Viggo and Albie.
Trude resolves to do whatever she can to save her new family from evil. She often questions if she is just blinded by unrequited love for Viggo, but she must try to at least save Albie, an “innocent” child. Is Albie truly innocent, or is there too much of her mother in her? Is Viggo really worth the bother? Can anyone defeat the chilling miasma that lies, dank and suffocating, in the very walls of their family home?
I’ve said it before, I’m not a huge fan of fairy tale retellings, unless they’re very well done. Mirror, Mirror is exquisite. It is not necessary to have read Bitterburn, the previous story in this series, before reading Mirror, Mirror. However, my enjoyment of Mirror, Mirror increased tremendously with the thread that carried through from Bitterburn – I think I even cheered aloud! Conversely, reading Mirror, Mirror first will likely inspire you to then pick up Bitterburn – so it’s a win either way. Happy spooky reading!
November 30, 2021
This Stepmother's not evil or misunderstood: A lovely gothic empowering romance
This is the second book in Ann Aguirre's gothic fairytale retellings. Unlike the first, Bitterburn, which was at times slow and clunky, I immediately fell under the spell of Mirror, Mirror. Trude was such a fully realized character. I felt her pain, her yearning, her sadness, and her strength. At the age of 7, she fell completely in love with Viggo, she "imprinted on him". He, however, only had eyes for the beautiful, vain, and cruel Lisabet.
After Lisabet's death, Trude takes control of her life and offers herself in marriage to Viggo. She knows there might never be love on his side, but simply being with him, having a real marriage and becoming stepmother to his young daughter, Albie, will be more than enough for her. Or so she thinks.
Arriving at Viggo's house, Trude soon realizes there's a darkness that has tainted many parts of the house, affecting lonely, Albie, the most. Trude resolves to be her mother in true, and make the home happy. Even Viggo, who was distant and thin when she arrived, improves. Alas, the happiness is short lived because the eponymous cursed mirror arrives. It seems Lisabet's vengeful spirit would rather her family suffer than be happy. Trude must be strong because she knows love should be generous, not obsessive or selfish.
I loved the story in whole, it's emotional, empowering, has great love scenes, and a wonderful heroine. Plus Ann Aguirre describes love and family in the best way. The ending was absolutely perfect. It is loosely connected to Bitterburn, where the Mirror and a third act character first appeared, but it is a standalone.
This is the second book in Ann Aguirre's gothic fairytale retellings. Unlike the first, Bitterburn, which was at times slow and clunky, I immediately fell under the spell of Mirror, Mirror. Trude was such a fully realized character. I felt her pain, her yearning, her sadness, and her strength. At the age of 7, she fell completely in love with Viggo, she "imprinted on him". He, however, only had eyes for the beautiful, vain, and cruel Lisabet.
After Lisabet's death, Trude takes control of her life and offers herself in marriage to Viggo. She knows there might never be love on his side, but simply being with him, having a real marriage and becoming stepmother to his young daughter, Albie, will be more than enough for her. Or so she thinks.
Arriving at Viggo's house, Trude soon realizes there's a darkness that has tainted many parts of the house, affecting lonely, Albie, the most. Trude resolves to be her mother in true, and make the home happy. Even Viggo, who was distant and thin when she arrived, improves. Alas, the happiness is short lived because the eponymous cursed mirror arrives. It seems Lisabet's vengeful spirit would rather her family suffer than be happy. Trude must be strong because she knows love should be generous, not obsessive or selfish.
I loved the story in whole, it's emotional, empowering, has great love scenes, and a wonderful heroine. Plus Ann Aguirre describes love and family in the best way. The ending was absolutely perfect. It is loosely connected to Bitterburn, where the Mirror and a third act character first appeared, but it is a standalone.
July 31, 2022
This is like a 4.7, because, while I loved it, it’s not quite at the level of Bitterburn. I adored Trude, who has a huge heart and lots of common sense! I love a heroine who knows how to handle shit. And even more, she didn’t let Viggo get away with his bullshit and stood up for herself.
Viggo was not as loveable as Njall, but that was the curse’s fault. I was worried I’d feel vicariously rejected by Viggo, but he was pretty sweet and loving when the curse didn’t make him into a grumpy turd. I loved the jealousy over Petter and the cuddling and hair stroking.
I don’t normally love children in romance books, so Albie was a bit much for me. As a former foster parent who has struggled to love children who want to push you away at every turn, it felt too real and not romantic. But that’s a personal thing.
Much like Bitterburn, this did not feel like a novella at all! Aguirre really knows how to pack a lot of punch into a short book.
Viggo was not as loveable as Njall, but that was the curse’s fault. I was worried I’d feel vicariously rejected by Viggo, but he was pretty sweet and loving when the curse didn’t make him into a grumpy turd. I loved the jealousy over Petter and the cuddling and hair stroking.
I don’t normally love children in romance books, so Albie was a bit much for me. As a former foster parent who has struggled to love children who want to push you away at every turn, it felt too real and not romantic. But that’s a personal thing.
Much like Bitterburn, this did not feel like a novella at all! Aguirre really knows how to pack a lot of punch into a short book.
November 11, 2021
This is a retelling of a classic tale but with a twist. The "evil stepmother" isn't evil, in fact she loves the child dearly and would do anything for her. Albina, AKA Albie, is an 8 year girl who has been deprived of motherly love and Trude comes in to fix that.
But it starts with the girls father, Viggo, and Trude the girl who has been in love with him since she was 8 years old and they were best friends.
Viggo is recently widowed and Trude saw her opportunity. Wed the man she has loved for forever and get her chance to show him he needs her at the very least. She enmeshed herself in his family and home easily enough but there is something sinister lurking and won't let go of them.
Trude knows that they are worth the battle she must face and while it was rough at times she endured.
This is more of a suspenseful type of read than a romance but it does have a happy ending!
But it starts with the girls father, Viggo, and Trude the girl who has been in love with him since she was 8 years old and they were best friends.
Viggo is recently widowed and Trude saw her opportunity. Wed the man she has loved for forever and get her chance to show him he needs her at the very least. She enmeshed herself in his family and home easily enough but there is something sinister lurking and won't let go of them.
Trude knows that they are worth the battle she must face and while it was rough at times she endured.
This is more of a suspenseful type of read than a romance but it does have a happy ending!
April 27, 2025
Trude has been in love with Viggo since she was 8, but he was always obsessed with Lisabet and then married her. Five years later Lisabet dies, and he is left with a young daughter and depressed. His business is suffering. Trude offers a marriage to help with his daughter and her father offers money to help with the business. Trude intend to make this a real marriage. But there are strange things making happening that make father and daughter moody and turn hot and cold. Then a mirror arrives from his dead wife.
This is very loosely based on aspects of Snow White and told by the step-mother who is not the evil person in the story. This story is tied to the first in this series by the appearance of Mara and Njils near the end. I liked Mara’s story a little better. Supposed to be a third volume but doesn’t show up anywhere yet. Hope that it gets written.
This is very loosely based on aspects of Snow White and told by the step-mother who is not the evil person in the story. This story is tied to the first in this series by the appearance of Mara and Njils near the end. I liked Mara’s story a little better. Supposed to be a third volume but doesn’t show up anywhere yet. Hope that it gets written.
October 30, 2021
Just finished this wonderful gothic tale! I have found here all I crave for in this genre: mistery, haunting atmosphere, suspence, obsessions and fears.
There is foremost a very passionate story of love, not only love for a man but also unselfish love for the others. I really liked the character of Trude who doubts of her own sanity sometimes but never gives up the others, never falters when she must choose for the best course of actions for everybody.
A tale where you find hidden traces of Snow-white, Rebecca and a bit of The turn of the screw... or at least I have felt, recalled these tales while reading this book.
A perfect book for Halloween time but also for anyone in a romantic mood.
Can't wait for the next tale of this serie!
There is foremost a very passionate story of love, not only love for a man but also unselfish love for the others. I really liked the character of Trude who doubts of her own sanity sometimes but never gives up the others, never falters when she must choose for the best course of actions for everybody.
A tale where you find hidden traces of Snow-white, Rebecca and a bit of The turn of the screw... or at least I have felt, recalled these tales while reading this book.
A perfect book for Halloween time but also for anyone in a romantic mood.
Can't wait for the next tale of this serie!
January 3, 2022
Excellent gothic story. The Snow White references were more easter eggs than the actual fairytale, but I didn't mind once I realized that I should stop looking for the fairytale. If anything this is a fairytale retelling of Rebecca or Jane Eyre, with the "young woman gets married to someone and enters house with mysterious and creepy things going on".
I liked the main character and enjoyed the way that she didn't always fall into the annoying tropes of lazier books.
I've been very much enjoying this series and look forward to the third one!
I liked the main character and enjoyed the way that she didn't always fall into the annoying tropes of lazier books.
I've been very much enjoying this series and look forward to the third one!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 30, 2021
A new spin on the evil stepmother story, from her side, Mirror, Mirror is a fascinating story with a very wicked person that is not the stepmother, a magic mirror, and Trude, a determined lady that never stopped loving and looking out for her man and his little daughter. As things go from bad to worse, Trude is determined to find a way to make her home a happy one, despite the evil lurking throughout the house. I loved the way everything turned out and I think Trude felt it was all worth it in the end. There will be one more tale in the Gothic Fairytale series and I look forward to reading it.
October 29, 2021
A Spooky Fairytale Romance
Ann Aguirre brings us Mirror, Mirror: the perfect retelling of Cinderella from the step mother's perspective for Halloween.
Trude has loved Viggo since she was a child, but Viggo only ever had eyes for the perfect and cruel Lisbet. Trude watches as he marries Lisbet and moves on with his perfect life with his perfect wife far from the small town they grew up in. Until one day Lisbet is no more, and Trude gets her chance to be Viggo's wife.
But something is not right in Viggo's house, and Viggo's daughter cries in the night that her mother is whispering to her. A mute man walks the house. The nurse warns that a happy ending won't be hers and then the mirror arrives...
Please note I received an ARC for an honest review.
Ann Aguirre brings us Mirror, Mirror: the perfect retelling of Cinderella from the step mother's perspective for Halloween.
Trude has loved Viggo since she was a child, but Viggo only ever had eyes for the perfect and cruel Lisbet. Trude watches as he marries Lisbet and moves on with his perfect life with his perfect wife far from the small town they grew up in. Until one day Lisbet is no more, and Trude gets her chance to be Viggo's wife.
But something is not right in Viggo's house, and Viggo's daughter cries in the night that her mother is whispering to her. A mute man walks the house. The nurse warns that a happy ending won't be hers and then the mirror arrives...
Please note I received an ARC for an honest review.
December 27, 2022
First person present tense single POV. Not the greatest romance because of the premise and the way the plot plays out, but a decent book overall and it held my attention. This was a fun subversion of the evil stepmother trope! To be honest it's kind of fascinating from a gender swap perspective—this story would be soooo romantic if it were the hero who was so devoted to the heroine and the reader only finds out towards the end. Like it IS romantic that she’s so devoted to him, but since the story is told from her perspective it doesn’t have the same impact.
December 28, 2022
So I think I enjoyed Mirror, Mirror more than Bitterburn. Although Beauty and the Beast retellings are usually my preference, this was a very effective retelling of Snow White. It was quite creepy in places and there were definitely some rather stressful scenes. The “defeat” of the villains was well handled (I liked seeing Mara and Nils) and the “secret” of Viggo’s “past” made a lot of sense (though it and its resolution were kind of sad). I also liked the nods to the original fairytale. I’ve added the final book in the trilogy (Widow of Wildwood) to my TBR.
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October 24, 2021As a subscriber to the authors email list I got the opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Dnf at 26% but it’s probably me. I looooved Strange Love and liked Bitterburn. I like retellings and so I looked forward to this one. I’m a bit sensitive to scary things happening to children and I didn’t feel connected to the characters or storyline. So I put it down. Maybe just not for me or me right now.
Dnf at 26% but it’s probably me. I looooved Strange Love and liked Bitterburn. I like retellings and so I looked forward to this one. I’m a bit sensitive to scary things happening to children and I didn’t feel connected to the characters or storyline. So I put it down. Maybe just not for me or me right now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2021
Slow start but gathers steam
This one took me a bit too get into. It took several chapters to feel out the story. But I loved Bitterburn so I had hoped that it would be worth sticking with it. And I was definitely rewarded.
The book reminds me of a snowball. It starts small and unassuming. Then starts gathering speed and size and by the end it's flying. I may have just conflated a few ideas there. But this is a fairy tale retelling after all. And I really enjoyed it.
This one took me a bit too get into. It took several chapters to feel out the story. But I loved Bitterburn so I had hoped that it would be worth sticking with it. And I was definitely rewarded.
The book reminds me of a snowball. It starts small and unassuming. Then starts gathering speed and size and by the end it's flying. I may have just conflated a few ideas there. But this is a fairy tale retelling after all. And I really enjoyed it.
October 22, 2021
I received and ARC copy of Mirror Mirror from in return for a review! This story was a fun quick read, and it was a great retelling of an old fairytale. I was so worried about the characters that it did stress me out a bit though 😂. Buuuut I loved that it tied in with Bitterburn, and I’m excited to read the next book in the series!
November 19, 2024
4 stars. Unique and interesting retelling of Snow White from the perspective of the step-mother. The themes of love and beauty were interesting. I liked the historical romance (with spice) laced with fantastical elements. It was an interesting setting. I hope the third one of the trilogy appears sooner rather than later.
November 10, 2021
Steamy fairytale retelling with the stepmother as the heroine. I really liked Trude and her calm capability, how she quickly grew to love Albina and helped the family heal.
Quibble: I wish the climax had been a little less Mara and a little more Trude.
Quibble: I wish the climax had been a little less Mara and a little more Trude.
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