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nelsonseye's review
3.0
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.
strickenbylove's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
wonderer13's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
heameljon's review
4.0
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.
greymalkin's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
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.Nothing was a huge twist or shock, but that's not the point in gothic novels, the horror is in the dread and fear throughout the story.
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!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Alcoholism, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Torture
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