Mirrors and Mysteries

Fairy Tales of the Magicorum #9

by Christina Bauer

Rapunzel meets Jane Eyre in this fairy tale romance!

Grayson Eyre has left her old life behind. She’s no longer stuck serving Lady R, a sadistic Rapunzel from the Lowood clan of elves. Instead, Grayson now teaches at the Thornfield home for shifter orphans. Even better, her boss is none other than the sexy alpha, Dex.

It’s all good until a mysterious witch, Jocasta, appears in a nearby tower, demanding that Dex and Grayson discover the true nature of all Rapunzels. If not, Lady R will return to claim Grayson… and Thornfield will be wiped out by the evil Prism Master. Can Dex and Grayson discover the truth in time? And what will it mean for their growing attraction?

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 29, 2022

About the author

Christina 'CEE BEE' Bauer thinks that fantasy books are like bacon: they just make life better. All of which is why she writes young adult romance novels that feature demons, dragons, wizards, witches, elves, elementals, and a bunch of random stuff that she brainstorms while riding the Boston T. Oh, and she includes lots of humor and kick-ass chicks, too. Christina lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby. She loves to connect with her fans at ChristinaBauerAuthor.com.

ANGELBOUND ORIGINS
About a quasi (part demon and part human) girl who loves kicking butt in Purgatory's Arena
1. Angel bound
2. Scala
3. Acca
4. Thrax
5. The Dark Lands
6. The Brutal Time
7. Armageddon
8. Quasi Redux
9. Clockwork Igni
10. Lady Reaper
11. Reaper Games
12. Angry Gods

ANGELBOUND OFFSPRING
The next generation takes on Heaven, Hell, and everything in between
1. Maxon
2. Portia
3. Zinnia
4. Rhodes
5. Kaps
6. Mack
7. Huntress
8. Gage
*This is a finished series

ANGELBOUND LINCOLN
Events of Angelbound from Lincoln's POV
1. Duty Bound
2. Lincoln
3. Trickster
4. Baculum
5. Angelfire

ANGELBOUND XAVIER TRILOGY
The story of the Archangel Xavier
1. Archenemy
2. Archnemesis
3. Archangel

FAIRY TALES OF THE MAGICORUM
Modern fairy tales with sass, action, and romance
1. Wolves And Roses

2. Moonlight And Midtown

3. Slippers And Thieves

4. Shifters And Glyphs

5. Bandits And Ball Gowns

6. Fire And Cinder

7. Fairies And Frosting

8. Towers And Tithes
9. Mirrors And Mysteries
10. Rapunzels And Powers

DIMENSION DRIFT
Dystopian adventures with science, snark, and hot aliens
1. Scythe
2. Umbra
3. Alien Minds
4. ECHO Academy
*This is a completed series

PIXIELAND DIARIES
The story of sassy pixie, Calla, and her elf crush, Dare
1. Pixieland Diaries
2. Calla
3. Dare
*This is a completed series

BEHOLDER
Where a medieval farm girl discovers necromancy and true love
1. Cursed
2. Concealed
3. Cherished
4. Crowned
5. Cradled
*This is a completed series

VAMPIRES OF THE DAEMONVERSE
Adult fantasy written under my pen name, CEE BEE
1. Violins and Vampires
2. Veils and Vampires
3. Vixens and Vampires
4. Valor and Vampires

Reviews

[The Book Junkie Reads . . . · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hello all, we are back. Grayson and Dex cannot seem to catch a break. They are tasked with finding answers to questions or losing everything. We find and ending to one pair to move on to another pair in the Fairy Tales of the Magicorum. Christina Bauer have such a fantastic imagination and she brings it all to life on the pages of the various stories she gives. You feel a connection with the characters and places. I am ready for the next couple and the next adventure in the Magicorum. I just may need to go back to the beginning and start all over with the stories that lead us to this point.

What I love most is that way that Christina gets you involved in the world of fairy tales and classics with spins from the current world around us. I love the relatability of the characters and their circumstances.

[Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

E-ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

Mirrors and Mysteries is the 9th book in the Fairy Tales of the Magicorum series, a fantasy series that mixes the modern world that we are used to with the fairy tales we all know and love. Members of the Magicorum are all either a shifter, a faerie, or a witch, and every member of the Magicorum is destined to follow a fairy tale template- i.e. they will follow the fate and story of a certain fairy tale character, although some choose to fight that destiny rather than follow it. Mirrors and Mysteries follows Dex, a shifter and future Brutus, and Grayson, future Vita and shifter who may have something else hiding in her, as they run from Lady R, the current Rapunzel, and discover who they are meant to be and what else hides beneath them.

I will preface this review by saying that this book was my introduction to Christina Baur and this particular series, so I have not read the rest of the series (yet) and that may inform my review. However, I did enjoy this book quite a bit. It was a fun reimagining of both Rapunzel and Jane Eyre that shows a darker side of both. The melding of fantasy world with the modern one was done quite easily and did not feel awkward as urban fantasy sometimes does. The magic does not take itself too seriously, which I say as a compliment as it never felt too heavy or complicated. There were lots of twists and reveals in this book which give it some depth and keep the story moving. I also greatly enjoyed the artwork in the book and how it expanded the world.

The writing in this book did sometimes feel a bit simplistic, perhaps. The characters did a lot of actions but did not seem to feel much, and I would have liked to see into their minds and inner worlds a bit more and get to know them better. This is also a small criticism, but I did notice a few typos in the book that sometimes confused the meaning on the sentence- for example, one sentence where 'you' was switched out for 'him'.

All in all, this was a cute and fun novella. It was a fairly short and light read, which I do mean as a compliment. This book would be great for anyone looking for a fun and easy to read fairy tale imagining, and I am absolutely interested in reading the rest of the series ad finding out how Dex and Grayson's story concludes.

[Westveil Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was granted complimentary eARC access to Mirrors and Mysteries by Christina Bauer as part of my participation in a blog tour for this title with XPresso Book Tours. Thank you to all involved in affording me this opportunity! My thoughts are my own and my review is honest.

I've been a big fan of Bauer's writing for a couple of years now, and when I reviewed Towers and Tithes last year I fell in love with this story arc in particular. I absolutely could not wait to keep reading! I was under the impression that this arc would be a duology within the Magicorum series, not sure why, but I'm delighted to find that there's another piece of the puzzle coming. Give me more!

Greyson is free, but all is not well. Dex is blind and there are still plenty of fires to put out. This book follows Greyson and Dex as they hop through magic mirrors trying to figure out who's behind the big, sinister operation that's working to keep them apart (among other goals,) and why. They need to know the truth behind Rapunzels, and that good old human classic Greyson loves so much, Jane Eyre, seems to have something to do with it.

As with all of the books in their series, this was a quick and easy read that really doesn't have any dull moments. With that said, much like the previous book in the storyline, this feels much more mature than I'm used to Christina Bauer books feeling. We do get appearances by characters like Ella, a classic bubbly, impulsive teenaged Bauer girl, but Greyson and Dex feel older. Most characters in these books go up against the world at one point or another, but it has changed these characters at some point. If you're here for bubbly Ella or characters like the ones you'll find in Angelbound or Pixieland Diaries, this arc that started with Towers and Tithes isn't for you. If you're a fan of slightly older, more gritty and honest styles of fairytale retelling fantasy (like those written by Mercedes Lackey,) these books are your ideal next read!

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mirrors and Mysteries is the ninth book in the Fairy Tales of the Magicorum series and just as enchanting and thrilling as all the others before it. In Mirrors and Mysteries, Grayson and Dex’s stories are all wrapped up.

Grayson has finally been released from her service with Lady R. Lady R has been holding Grayson captive in a place called Bartlebee in a wooden cottage on stilts, an enchanted river that runs underneath the house.

After returning home a friend of Grayson helps her get a job teaching at the Thornfield home for shifter orphans. Grayson loves teaching and being with all the pups but when she meets the hot and sexy alpha she is smitten. I can just see Grayson at their first meeting. I see Grayson being left speechless when she lays eyes on the hot shifter man! Her heart must be fluttering, racing so fast it is about to beat right out of her chest.

Yeah, well, I don’t think Dex is fairing much better as his wolf wants to be let out to have free reign with Grayson. But Dex must play it safe as he doesn’t want to scare Grayson away and lose her forever.

Grayson thought she was free from Lady R but once again she makes her appearance in her life and starts barking out orders for her and Dex. She tells them they must find everything they can out about all Rapunzels life Templates or she will return to claim Grayson once again.

I have sorely enjoyed reading each and every one of the books in the Fairy Tales of the Magicorum series especially Grayson and Dex’s story. I just love the shifter pups. I love the magic between Grayson and Dex.

I love reading every book that Christina Bauer writes she knows how to put the right magical touch on each story and character. I never seem to get tired of any of them and am always looking for and waiting for the next book.

As always I highly recommend any book that Christina Bauer has written but at the moment I would like to suggest that you pick up a copy of Mirrors and Mysteries for a magic adventure. But I do believe you need to at least read Towers And Tithes the eighth book in the Fairy Tales of the Magicorum series before reading Mirrors and Mysteries as I do think you would like to start where Grayson and Dex’s story began in order to understand their story more.

[Red Ink Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mirrors and Mysteries (Book 9, Fairy Tales of the Magicorum) - Christina Bauer



I was given a copy of this book by the publisher in order to provide an honest review.



Christina Bauer is an American author who writes many fantasy stories. Besides the “Angelbound Origin” and the “Angelbound Offspring series she has also written the “Pixieland Diaries” and the “Beholder” series plus many more.



Dex is a wolf shifter but he is also the Alpha that guards Wulfhelm and protects the precious Mir

Grayson has been kept prisoner since she was a little girl by the evil Lady R and the loathsome Prism Master. They have hidden the truth from her all these years – she is really a wolf shifter and something else – something powerful.

As soon as Grayson comes into her own and realises who she truly is – together her and Dex can protect Wulfhelm and restore it to it’s former glory, protect their pack and each other.

Like any journey to uncover the truth there are obstacles on the way but if they don’t lose sight of their goal – they might just be able to pull this off, even with the meddling of Lady R and the Prism Master.



“Mirrors and Mysteries” was a surprisingly delightful read – given that I hadn’t read any of the other books in the series I thought this could be hard to follow. But it read well as a stand-alone book, but the way it was left I definitely want to read the next one! The way the character of Grayson was written, the author was able to make the reader feel sympathy for her. Oh but Dex, I swear he is your typical misunderstood, dark and mysterious sexy main character – and I love it!

[anie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dex is blinded by Lady R and thrown into the woods. Luckily his shifter magic is still there so he can find his way back home. Grayson is free from Lady R and in search of a job and finds herself at Thornfield as a teacher for young pups. With Dax as her boss, they start to spend a lot of time together and get to know each other and the sparks just fly. :)

But the mystery is still not solved. With Jocasta demanding that they find the true nature of Rapunzels. There is also a bit of a Jane Eyre template thrown into the mix. :)

I just love Dax in Mirrors & Mysteries. Even though he is blind and the fate of his home depends on him finding his Vita, he is still so compassionate with her and patient. You can just feel his affection for her.

Grayson is being thrown into a completely new environment. She is finally free, but the voice of Lady R is still in her head. It takes a lot of bravery for her to overcome it and believe in herself. I loved finding out about her heritage with her.

It's the ninth book in the series, that I just love. Every few books there is a new romance and new magical template with a lot of new twists and turns. I loved reading it and couldn't put it down until the end. :) And now I can't wait for the next book. It's a quite short and quick read, but nonetheless totally awesome. :)

Thank you Xpresso Book Tours for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Mrs. Kenyon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grayson is glad she no longer has to serve Lady R. Her new position has her teaching shifter orphans at Thornfield. Not only does she get to mold young minds, her boss is Dex, the sexy alpha. Because of fairy tale life templates, things must go sideways. Enter Jocasta, a witch that demands Dex and Grayson learn the truth about Rapunzels. Will they be able to uncover the answer or will Grayson have to return to Lady R’s dominion. As Grayson and Dex work closely together, will they come to terms with their feelings?

Mirrors and Mysteries is the ninth book in the Fairy Tales of the Magicorum series. Goodreads says that this is the last book in the Dex and Grayson story, but it is not! Bauer tells us in the author’s note at the beginning that she needed another book to explore everything with these characters and as readers make it to the end of the story they will be content with anticipation that there is more to come. I enjoyed learning more background on these characters even as information about others was sprinkled throughout. A fun, quick read that will have readers looking for more.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grayson has escaped Lady R for the moment and becomes a teacher at Wulfheim. Dex comes home to Wulfheim blind from something Lady R did. There are hints of Jane Eyre and the continuing story of Rapunzel.
Dex is a wolf shifter and cares for many young abandoned wolf shifters.
Grayson learns more about her past and who she is meant to be.
The storyline both makes progress and feels like no progress is made because Grayson and Dex will still need to face off with the Prism Master and Lady R in order to find a happy ever after. The author admits upfront that this book is only a stepping stone.
The book suggests more intimacy than I remember seeing in past books in the Magicorum series. It is at the end of the book and feels a bit like the author throwing the reader what she views as a bone since she feels she can’t resolve the storyline yet.
I haven’t connected as much with the other main characters after Bryar Rose’s set of three stories.
I’m not sure why that is, but I like the Magicorum series and will continue to check in to see where the series goes from here.
Thanks to the author for providing a copy of Mirrors and Mysteries through Netgalley for review.

[Chrissie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing the tale of Grayson and Dex in this installment, we follow them as they try to untangle the Rapunzel fairy tale life template with two others in the hopes of learning how to defeat the Prism Master and Lady R.

The story of these characters in the Fairy Tales of the Magicorum series is still my favorite so far. Grayson is still timid and unsure of herself, but we see her confidence grow as she learns more about her past and her powers. Dex has patience and treats Grayson like she belongs, regardless of where their relationship is heading. One thing I will say is that these characters fall in love so fast.

For me, the sad part was learning Jocasta's role in the tales and the ending she believed she deserved for a decision made by Lady R.

Christina really is stepping up her writing with each new installment in this series and I'm excited to read the conclusion of these beloved characters' stories! Also, who will we get to read about next? Which fairy tale template will the next set of books follow?

#fairytaleretelling #talesofthemagicorum #christinabauer #2022newrelease #mustreadfairytaleretelling #mirrorsandmysteries #bookreview

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable and quick read for the next adventures of Dex and Grayson. Dex knows what Grayson is to him, but she has been torn down deeply by Lady R and the Prism Master to believe she is ugly and worthless. Grayson finds comfort teaching at the school, but has unfinished business. Dex is cursed by Lady R but it does not stop him from trying to save Wulfhelm and the orphans who seek sanctuary there. Dex and Grayson have to discover the truth behind the Rapunzel fairy tales to save Wulfhelm from the Prism Master, who have been pulling the strings behind Wulfhelm’s diminished protection barrier. They have to learn and understand the past in order to save the future and those they care for. But the sacrifice of one is not something either want, but finding another way when the decision has been decided is difficult. Time and options are running out, for the Prism Master sends his final plans in motion.
I received this novel from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Lenni Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mirrors and Mysteries was not Bauer's best work, as it was quite cringe-worthy and not properly detailed. The first book was much better, and I have high hopes that the next one will recover the quality of the series.

This book suffered at times from a lack of detail, and suffered at other times from too much detail. For example, Bauer wrote this book as a combination of Rapunzel, Jane Eyre , and "Brutus and Vita." A lot of times there was extra explanation to justify the elements of Jane Eyre thrown into this story, when an explanation wasn't necessary. The lack of detail played in during one of the biggest plot twists of the story; it was such a huge leap - there was no foreshadowing or clues to guide the reader to that revelation. I understand the feeling of not wanting to give away a twist, but you also can't just throw a twist in there with no build-up to support it.

Am I looking forward to the next book? Yes. The slow-burn romance has been killing me and I can't wait for more romance between Dex and Greyson to bloom. There are also many loose ends that I can't wait to see get tied up. I think that Bauer will find a unique way to do so.

[Ronni Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again we are reunited with Dex (Brutus), and Grayson, his Vita. Despite suffering the aftereffects of a spell from Lady R that has left Dex without vision, his senses are more than enough to compensate.

Grayson has appeared at Thornfield to assume the role of teacher. While there she learns more of her past and is able to unlock certain memories that were trapped within.

We also learn the truth of Jocasta, Lady R and Grayson's relationship with the both of them. Grayson has a hard time denying her inner wolf, as she is constantly battling her lack of self esteem, and therefore her true worth to Dex.

This was a fabulous edition to the series and I can't wait to see where Christina takes us next!

[Sue Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mirrors and Mysteries by Christina Bauer.
Fairy Tales of the Magicorum Book 9.
Grayson Eyre has left her old life behind. She’s no longer stuck serving Lady R, a sadistic Rapunzel from the Lowood clan of elves. Instead, Grayson now teaches at the Thornfield home for shifter orphans. Even better, her boss is none other than the sexy alpha, Dex. It’s all good until a mysterious witch, Jocasta, appears in a nearby tower, demanding that Dex and Grayson discover the true nature of all Rapunzels. If not, Lady R will return to claim Grayson… and Thornfield will be wiped out by the evil Prism Master. Can Dex and Grayson discover the truth in time? And what will it mean for their growing attraction?
A great read. I do love this series. 4*.

[Irishbookmammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mirrors and Mysteries has a fun premise, Rapunzel meets Jane Eyre is certainly eye-catching, and the blend of fairytale twists with romance is creative. I liked the set-up at Thornfield and the mix of shifters, witches, and reimagined lore. There are definitely some entertaining moments and plenty of energy in the story.

That said, the writing style didn’t always work for me. It felt a bit over-the-top at times, with more drama than depth, and I struggled to connect fully with the characters. The plot also jumped around in places, which made it harder to stay immersed. I think fans of the series will enjoy being back in this world, but as a standalone read it felt uneven.

A solid 3 stars: imaginative and fast-paced, but not quite my style.

[Danni Phantom Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This world of fairy tales and classics with a spin is where I want to be! I love these stories and what they bring to the fantasy world of magicorum! I highly recommend this fantasy twist with a slow burn romance for fantasy lovers everywhere! I do wish some twist and turns had a better explanation but It gets to the point and still comes out great!

Thank you to Netgalley and Monster House Books for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always on board to ride with Christina. Her books are fantastic, exciting, magical and all around fun! I absolutely adore fairytale retellings and when they're done with such precision and art they are so much fun to read.

[Christine Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christina Bauer series

I have read all the books in this and related series. Love them all. They were fast reads for me as I thought would I might miss something when I put the book down and came back.

[Monster House Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strap in for a twisty ride with lots of romance, action, and pups. As in, there are lots of little wolf pups running around and being adorable. You're welcome.

[Anna Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this one down. I think this is becoming my favorite series of Ms. Bauer's. While you may not see her other characters from the series, they do get mentioned. It has strong characters and ones who grow into being a strong character.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.