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jillmlong's review
2.0
I thought I would love this book but I didn't. I think it is because there are so many different genres woven into the story. If the author had stuck to one genre I would have liked it better.
rmarcin's review against another edition
4.0
Mirrorland is a creepy tale of twin sisters, El and Cat. When El is presumed dead after her sailboat sinks, Cat returns to "the Mirror House". She dreads returning to the house where she and her twin lived with their mother and grandfather. She hasn't been back in 12 years. She returns to find Ross, El's husband, grieving. As she moves through the house, she relives the fantasy of Mirrorland created by the twins, remembering all the characters and the secrets.
Cat is convinced that El is alive, but the evidence doesn't support her theory. As Cat receives sinister notes and clues, she isn't sure what to believe.
This is a novel filled with dark secrets-and it also has a nod to "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption" by Stephen King.
Cat is convinced that El is alive, but the evidence doesn't support her theory. As Cat receives sinister notes and clues, she isn't sure what to believe.
This is a novel filled with dark secrets-and it also has a nod to "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption" by Stephen King.
goldbs's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
livres_de_bloss's review
3.0
What a strange book…
This started out very slowly, was very confusing, and a lot more ‘piratey’ than I was expecting. Once we got to part two though, my engagement increased significantly.
While a much better second half, this book had one too many “twists” that got more and more outlandish as time went on.. The story has enough “gotchas” by the time we . Everything thereafter just felt implausible and kind of silly.
The characters were all pretty awful. The truth about the was appalling.
If the beginning had been edited a bit more and a few of those “twists” cut out, this could have been a five star book. The writing is well done, the pacing is pretty good, and the latter half a engaging read.
This started out very slowly, was very confusing, and a lot more ‘piratey’ than I was expecting. Once we got to part two though, my engagement increased significantly.
While a much better second half, this book had one too many “twists” that got more and more outlandish as time went on.
Spoiler
Ellice orchestrating her death and framing Ross, the shock of El being alive, and Mouse being a third sister spun this completely off the deep-end for me.Spoiler
saw Ross convicted.The characters were all pretty awful. The truth about the
Spoiler
grandfatherSpoiler
Speaking of, I also don’t understand why Mouse had to be the third sister. If the grandfather had also fathered Mouse with the Witch as the mother, surely the DNA thread would still work? While horrific, I just think that would have been a better explanation than the tired “third twin” trope.If the beginning had been edited a bit more and a few of those “twists” cut out, this could have been a five star book. The writing is well done, the pacing is pretty good, and the latter half a engaging read.
staystitchy's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you so much to Scribner and Simon and Schuster for sending me this ARC for a review. This book will be published on April 20!
I love stories about twins and this is one a hell of a story! Mirrorland is actually very scary! It’s the kind of story that weasels it way so far into your brain you can’t shake it off. It’s also the kind of book that will give you whiplash, keep you guessing and rethinking even after you’ve finished it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The first part is a little slow and there’s a lot to learn about these twins, but I promise it’s worth it. Carole Johnstone just goes and throws a little something something in there and bam I was completely hooked. I even found myself reading pages twice because I just couldn’t believe what was happening. This is sure to be a major hit and I would LOVE to see it adapted as a film or tv series.
I love stories about twins and this is one a hell of a story! Mirrorland is actually very scary! It’s the kind of story that weasels it way so far into your brain you can’t shake it off. It’s also the kind of book that will give you whiplash, keep you guessing and rethinking even after you’ve finished it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The first part is a little slow and there’s a lot to learn about these twins, but I promise it’s worth it. Carole Johnstone just goes and throws a little something something in there and bam I was completely hooked. I even found myself reading pages twice because I just couldn’t believe what was happening. This is sure to be a major hit and I would LOVE to see it adapted as a film or tv series.
beastreader's review
4.0
This book is right up my reading wheelhouse. Thus the reason I was really excited to read it. I would classify this book as a psychological thriller but it was more on the milder side for me. Why I say this is because the first third of the story, I felt like I was more just kind of in the action of reading the book but not nothing was grabbing me and making me engaged with it. The pacing and intensity did pick up the further I got into the story. Something changed and the latter half of the story was a different vibe. I was into it and could not stop reading.
Mirrorland sounded like both a nightmare and intriguing place. It is no wonder that El and Cat were torn about Mirrorland. It was filled with an evil pirate, Blackbeard, and Clown to name a few but it also had good people like Mouse.
Now that El is missing, Cat will be forced to revisit Mirrorland. She will have to confront her fears if she wants to learn the truth about what happened to her sister. I will tell you that I did not see how this story was going to play out until the author wanted me to. This is so refreshing as it has been a while since I have been stumped about the plot of the story. It is hard to believe that this book is Carole Johnstone's debut novel. She already is showing she is a force to be reckoned with her debut novel, Mirrorland!
Mirrorland sounded like both a nightmare and intriguing place. It is no wonder that El and Cat were torn about Mirrorland. It was filled with an evil pirate, Blackbeard, and Clown to name a few but it also had good people like Mouse.
Now that El is missing, Cat will be forced to revisit Mirrorland. She will have to confront her fears if she wants to learn the truth about what happened to her sister. I will tell you that I did not see how this story was going to play out until the author wanted me to. This is so refreshing as it has been a while since I have been stumped about the plot of the story. It is hard to believe that this book is Carole Johnstone's debut novel. She already is showing she is a force to be reckoned with her debut novel, Mirrorland!
nicjohnston's review
3.0
Mirrorland is a smart debut. Twisty and well written, it has some of the most tense plotting and dialogue that I’ve come across in quite some time. It really does grab you such that you need to unravel the whole tale over a couple of chunky sittings.
It does however have some flaws. The first third is a little heavy with tales of childhood ‘games’, which later have context but initially come across as bordering on magical realism (which isn’t for me). Once I had a grip of where we were headed, I enjoyed the book a lot more. It also maybe takes the plot and it’s journey a couple of steps too far, but the ending very much brings the strands together.
It is a hugely enjoyable read and very sure footed. A rounded up 3.5*
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for an advanced copy in consideration of an honest review.
It does however have some flaws. The first third is a little heavy with tales of childhood ‘games’, which later have context but initially come across as bordering on magical realism (which isn’t for me). Once I had a grip of where we were headed, I enjoyed the book a lot more. It also maybe takes the plot and it’s journey a couple of steps too far, but the ending very much brings the strands together.
It is a hugely enjoyable read and very sure footed. A rounded up 3.5*
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for an advanced copy in consideration of an honest review.
sarah_u's review
3.0
3.5 ⭐️ probably would've been better reading instead of listening to the audiobook
kyndrawr's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
4.5