Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - かがみの孤城

If you like a careful build up to an explosive ending, Lonely Castle In The Mirror is for you. We mainly follow Kokoro, a 7th grade girl in Tokyo who has dropped out of middle school due to bullying. One day her bedroom mirror glows and she finds she can pass through it into a castle. Along with six other middle schoolers who are going through their own stuff, she’s given a task to be completed by the end of the school year.
The beginning moved slowly and I got confused by the passage of time. I was often taken out of the story somewhat by the characters’ choices and what they focused on. I understand this is likely due to the translation or broader cultural differences so I let it slide and kept going. And I’m glad I did. Although way everything came together was somewhat predictable (I also gave it a pass because it’s YA) it was a touching ending, and I can only imagine how much more moving it would be for a reader the age of the characters or an adult who struggled at that age, too. It deals with some tough stuff, but with care. I’m glad I saw it through to the end. Four and a half taters 🥔🥔🥔🥔🍠/🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔

Content Warnings

moonlitreading_'s review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

“I thought I could never be like everyone else. I was just a loser. So it made me so happy when you guys made friends with me, like you would with anyone.”

Seven strangers who are all in junior high suddenly have their mirrors turn into portals to a castle and are told whoever finds the wishing key and the wishing room will have their wish granted.

Lonely Castle in the Mirror was an interesting read for me. It's melancholy with a bit of mysteriousness to it. I think it was really beautiful. It gave light on how kids/younger teens deal with mental illness and how it affects them. As my reading progressed, I got to know these kids, their experiences, and their struggles. These kids who've lost hope for themselves found each other and became friends. The last 1/3 or so was what really made me enjoy this book because of the plot twists and revelations.

Thank you Edelweiss and Erewhon for my copy.

Content Warnings

a_h__'s review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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