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zenzi2read's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
Minor: Suicide
brandilovesbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Mirrorland is an incredibly complex story. Cat returns to her childhood home when her twin sister has gone missing. She receives clues that force her to remember her life before. Each clue not only leads her to a place full of memories, but also a page of her sister's journal. Her memories are full of colorful imaginings. These include people, a witch, Bluebeard the Pirate, the Toothy Fairy, a girl named Mouse, a pirate crew, clowns, and more. "Perhaps everyone’s childhood memories are the same: part truth, part fantasy. But this house and our mother and her stories turned our imagination into a melting pot, a forge. A cauldron. And, I’m beginning to realize, I can trust nothing that came out of it." The plot is full of unexpected twists.
I almost stopped reading when the climax happened with 25% of the book left to read. I'm glad I persisted. The twists kept coming until the very end.
I almost stopped reading when the climax happened with 25% of the book left to read. I'm glad I persisted. The twists kept coming until the very end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Incest
cphunter's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
5.0
My first 5 stars! I absolutely loved this book. It was so so well written (I only have one very minor criticism, which is that there is a French character whose mix of English and French was…unusual) and the twists were so well executed.
The story drew me in with confusion and then there were so many well placed clues and reveals that I was enthralled.
The story drew me in with confusion and then there were so many well placed clues and reveals that I was enthralled.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Incest, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, and Alcohol
jla's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Libby audiobook. I did not expect to like this book. There's a fantasy, gothic element that I was worried I would find annoying, but it added to the creepy suspense. Kat isn't very likeable, and is an unreliable narrator. The lives of all the children in this book were horrific.
This book could have ended at 94% and I would have been perfectly happy. The last 6% I would say took away about 0.5 stars. It made sense, but I'm not sure I preferred that ending.
TW- child abuse, neglect, domestic abuse, suicide
This book could have ended at 94% and I would have been perfectly happy. The last 6% I would say took away about 0.5 stars. It made sense, but I'm not sure I preferred that ending.
TW- child abuse, neglect, domestic abuse, suicide
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Suicide, Domestic abuse, and Suicide attempt
britt_coin's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Impeccably imaginative and tragic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Murder, Child abuse, and Violence
emmie_reads's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
keirahelena_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Incest, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism and Suicide
kate_reads_books's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.75
This book was an interesting reading 'journey' for me. I was so close to not finishing this book. I found part one of the book veryyyyy slow. I had to really focus to stay engaged and found the story hard to follow, this isn't a problem I usually have. The descriptions of 'Mirrorland' were sometimes hard for me to picture and understand but this may be because I struggled to remain focused in the first half of the book.
But part two. Wow. Once the story sped up and got interesting, it got REALLY interesting. And the twists! Many I didn't see coming.
There are some very graphic scenes depicting death in this story as well as other distressing content so please beware & read trigger warnings. It could easily be distressing to read for some.
I really enjoyed this book, not as much as I was expecting as the claims and blurb hyped it up for sure, but I'm definitely glad I stuck with it and finished it as I did almost quit reading this one in the early stages.
But part two. Wow. Once the story sped up and got interesting, it got REALLY interesting. And the twists! Many I didn't see coming.
There are some very graphic scenes depicting death in this story as well as other distressing content so please beware & read trigger warnings. It could easily be distressing to read for some.
I really enjoyed this book, not as much as I was expecting as the claims and blurb hyped it up for sure, but I'm definitely glad I stuck with it and finished it as I did almost quit reading this one in the early stages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Murder, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Incest, and Rape
meastoyles's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Incest, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Death and Murder
anna_mayes's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Mirrorland by Carole Johnstone
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“‘Because stealing someone else’s air is how you breathe.”
I love love LOVE this book!! I was slightly confused for a majority of this book, but I honestly don’t care because it all came together in the end and was amazing! Carole Johnstone is incredibly creative and wrote an original plot that sucked me in. Mirrorland and the old house are also characters in this story. Quite complex ones at that. I wanted to be in the house and Mirrorland, but I soon became scared of them. There were moments that sent chills up my spine. I wanted to know the ending, but I also didn’t want it to end. The ending pulls everything together and shows how powerful the imagination can be. I feel like Mirrorland also discusses how different individuals respond to trauma. El and Cat are mirror twins, but their responses to trauma are vastly different. One blocks it out, while the other remembers everything vividly. I stumbled across this book on Goodreads and I’m glad I did because it was spectacular. I got my copy from the library, but I honestly might buy one so that I can reread it!
I could go on and on, but I’ll just leave it at that! If you’re reading this, then I recommend Mirrorland for you.
CW: Murder, Suicide, Abuse, Child Abuse, Sexual Assault
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Suicide, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault