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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 against another edition
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
mallory10100's review
i didn’t like the main character and found the plot very confusing at times. i struggled with the time jumps unlabelled mid-chapter and didn’t like how the main character was so weirdly in love with her missing-possibly-dead twin sisters husband.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Gaslighting, Death, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Racial slurs
thebakerbookworm's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-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
3.0
This was a good thriller, with a lot of twists and turns you don't see coming and an eerie setting of an old gothic house in Edinburgh. I do think it relied a little too much on trauma for some of the twists, so please be wary of the content warnings.
It's told from the perspective Cat, who is estranged from her missing twin sister and her sister's husband. I liked how we slowly learn about what's happened in the past and the relationships between these three characters. As soon as I thought I had one thing figured out, I learned something new that threw a wrench in everything.
I enjoyed listening to the audio, especially with the narrator's Scottish accent, though I have to admit that for the first few chapters, I thought she was saying "Maryland" instead of "Mirrorland"...once I finally realized what she was saying, everything made more sense lol.
The narration does switch between present and past pretty often, and also between reality and the fantasy world of Mirrorland that the girls created. With the audio, it was sometimes difficult to notice either switch, and I found myself getting confused about what was happening when and if certain things were actually happening or just their imagination. Maybe these distinctions were clearer in the print book.
Thanks to Libro.fm, Simon & Schuster Audio, and the author for my ALC!
It's told from the perspective Cat, who is estranged from her missing twin sister and her sister's husband. I liked how we slowly learn about what's happened in the past and the relationships between these three characters. As soon as I thought I had one thing figured out, I learned something new that threw a wrench in everything.
I enjoyed listening to the audio, especially with the narrator's Scottish accent, though I have to admit that for the first few chapters, I thought she was saying "Maryland" instead of "Mirrorland"...once I finally realized what she was saying, everything made more sense lol.
The narration does switch between present and past pretty often, and also between reality and the fantasy world of Mirrorland that the girls created. With the audio, it was sometimes difficult to notice either switch, and I found myself getting confused about what was happening when and if certain things were actually happening or just their imagination. Maybe these distinctions were clearer in the print book.
Thanks to Libro.fm, Simon & Schuster Audio, and the author for my ALC!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Incest and Rape
madarauchiha's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
3.75
❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 my about / byf / CW info carrd: uchiha-madara 💜 💙 💚 💛 🧡 ❤️
It's a standard who dunnit mystery with plenty of plot twists and a great pay off. I greatly dislike the incest plot, but it worked well enough.
Content warnings:
medium self harm, pedophilia, incest, drug overdose,
major racism about magical non existent tribes, child abuse, mouth trauma, blood, dental trauma, scars , guns, stalking, paranoia, suicide, incest, domestic abuse, abuse, manipulation, unhealthy relationships, marital infidelity, child abuse, gaslighting, NSFW, suicide threats, suicide, medical scenarios, death, murder,
About the incest warning. Major spoilers.
the 'bluebeard' character is actually the grandfather. The grandfather is also their father, having imprisons one of his adult twin daughter and raped them off screen, impregnating her at least once. The incest / csa is not depicted explicitly but it is implied and confirmed to have happened. The plot is focus more on the current day, as the grandfather is long since dead.
It's a standard who dunnit mystery with plenty of plot twists and a great pay off. I greatly dislike the incest plot, but it worked well enough.
Content warnings:
medium self harm, pedophilia, incest, drug overdose,
major racism about magical non existent tribes, child abuse, mouth trauma, blood, dental trauma, scars , guns, stalking, paranoia, suicide, incest, domestic abuse, abuse, manipulation, unhealthy relationships, marital infidelity, child abuse, gaslighting, NSFW, suicide threats, suicide, medical scenarios, death, murder,
About the incest warning. Major spoilers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Grief, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Violence
kamin8882's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
WOW !! If I could give this book 10 stars I would !! When I finished this book (just a few minutes ago) my heart was beating fast, I had tears in my eyes, and I am so so so happy I received this book to read from Netgalley and Scribner books!
El and Cat are Mirror Twins, exact reflections of each other. They feel each others pain, dreams, nightmares and are always together. When they are younger, they dream up Mirrorland....a magical place with pirates, clowns, cowboys and Indians....a place to escape. Mirrorland is with them until the very end, never really leaving their hearts. Something very horrible and traumatic happens, that causes them to completely stop talking or seeing each other....until El comes up missing and Cat goes home to figure out what happened to her sister. She knows in her heart she it not dead, now she just has to prove it. Little does she know she will be going on another adventure with the help of her sister. (thats all I will say to not spoil anything- its sooo good) The twists and turns in this book are unlike nothing I've ever read !!
This book was breathtaking. I am a huge fan of thrillers- especially the ones that leave you wanting more with every page, not wanting to even put the book down to go to sleep and this was all of that!! This book made me sad, happy, anxious, nervous, relieved, all of the emotions one can experience. The whole book has you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next and then you are completely surprised!! It was such an amazing way of showing how people use their imaginations to mask the truth.
Luckily, I was also able to get my hands on the audiobook. The narrator was Scottish which was great because the book takes place in Scotland! Perfect touch to the perfect book!! If you are looking for your next favorite book this one is it!! Did I mention this is Carole Johnstone's DEBUT NOVEL!! WHATTT!!! It was incredible !! LOVE LOVE LOVED IT !!
Thank you to Netgalley and Scribner books for sending me an advanced copy of Mirrorland in exchange for an honest review. I look forward so much to reading all her books too come!!
El and Cat are Mirror Twins, exact reflections of each other. They feel each others pain, dreams, nightmares and are always together. When they are younger, they dream up Mirrorland....a magical place with pirates, clowns, cowboys and Indians....a place to escape. Mirrorland is with them until the very end, never really leaving their hearts. Something very horrible and traumatic happens, that causes them to completely stop talking or seeing each other....until El comes up missing and Cat goes home to figure out what happened to her sister. She knows in her heart she it not dead, now she just has to prove it. Little does she know she will be going on another adventure with the help of her sister. (thats all I will say to not spoil anything- its sooo good) The twists and turns in this book are unlike nothing I've ever read !!
This book was breathtaking. I am a huge fan of thrillers- especially the ones that leave you wanting more with every page, not wanting to even put the book down to go to sleep and this was all of that!! This book made me sad, happy, anxious, nervous, relieved, all of the emotions one can experience. The whole book has you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next and then you are completely surprised!! It was such an amazing way of showing how people use their imaginations to mask the truth.
Luckily, I was also able to get my hands on the audiobook. The narrator was Scottish which was great because the book takes place in Scotland! Perfect touch to the perfect book!! If you are looking for your next favorite book this one is it!! Did I mention this is Carole Johnstone's DEBUT NOVEL!! WHATTT!!! It was incredible !! LOVE LOVE LOVED IT !!
Thank you to Netgalley and Scribner books for sending me an advanced copy of Mirrorland in exchange for an honest review. I look forward so much to reading all her books too come!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Stalking, and Toxic relationship
thecatladybooknook_penny's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
4.0
While I really enjoyed this book, I'm not sure the typical fast-paced thriller lover will give this book enough of a shot before setting it down. It is marketed as a thriller, but it feels more like a mystery/fantastical/slow-burn story with a few thrilling elements. It's very dark and tense; very gothic in feel.
If you like dark, slow-burn stories with a few twists; if you like fantasy and imaginary play, I think you'll like this. Even those who read literary fiction may even like this if they also enjoy mystery/thrillers.
Cat and El (mirror twins) have a very vivid imagination as children, encouraged by their mother, which lends very heavily to the fantastical elements. There are even times where Cat as an adult leans in to what she knew as a child which made the house seem to take on a life of its own. When I first started reading this, I was slightly confused, but I'm used to reading 1000 page fantasy novels. I was willing to ride it out and see where this story would go. I'm really glad I did.
There were some moments in the story where Cat would be narrating the story and she goes back to a childhood memory as a flashback of sorts which can be a little confusing for some because you aren't told "this is flashback, and okay now, we're back to real time". I didn't mind that once I saw the author using that technique more and more. The writing style was simple without being overly simplistic and was easy to read and imagine what was happening within the story. A really good debut novel!
I highly recommend this book for the type reader I described above. Thank you to Netgalley and Scribner books for this free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
If you like dark, slow-burn stories with a few twists; if you like fantasy and imaginary play, I think you'll like this. Even those who read literary fiction may even like this if they also enjoy mystery/thrillers.
Cat and El (mirror twins) have a very vivid imagination as children, encouraged by their mother, which lends very heavily to the fantastical elements. There are even times where Cat as an adult leans in to what she knew as a child which made the house seem to take on a life of its own. When I first started reading this, I was slightly confused, but I'm used to reading 1000 page fantasy novels. I was willing to ride it out and see where this story would go. I'm really glad I did.
There were some moments in the story where Cat would be narrating the story and she goes back to a childhood memory as a flashback of sorts which can be a little confusing for some because you aren't told "this is flashback, and okay now, we're back to real time". I didn't mind that once I saw the author using that technique more and more. The writing style was simple without being overly simplistic and was easy to read and imagine what was happening within the story. A really good debut novel!
I highly recommend this book for the type reader I described above. Thank you to Netgalley and Scribner books for this free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Rape, Self harm, and Incest
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