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A review by meglikesamystery
The Mirror House Girls by Faith Gardner
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was my first Faith Gardner book, and I’m definitely a fan. I can’t wait to read more by her!
This one was a slow burn that I found hard to put down. I tend to be drawn to culty reads, and this one did not disappoint. This wasn’t your typical religious cult story. This felt unique yet realistic, and really blurred the lines of what a cult can look like.
This is a truly horrifying story of how one man, Simon, was able to brainwash and control a group of women by meticulously preying on their weaknesses, vulnerabilities and the overall human need to belong.
At first, this really didn’t feel like a cult, which makes it believable that some people find themselves in these situations. You feel some empathy for those who are sucked into it and you can almost understand why these women found comfort and a sense of family within the walls of the Mirror House. I found myself caring about these women and found it incredibly frustrating to see them get sucked further into Simon’s web.
Simon was absolutely horrid and repulsive, but yet you can see how his methods could make the women crave his attention and acceptance. His manipulation was so calculated and often subtle at first, which I felt made his character even more frightening.
Overall, I enjoyed this one and finished it in just a couple of days. I did have an alternate ending in my head that I was hoping for, however. Make sure you read the epilogue!
If you enjoy cultish, psychological thriller vibes, I recommend adding this one to your TBR! Thank you to Faith Gardner, Mirror House Press and NetGalley for providing me with this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
This one was a slow burn that I found hard to put down. I tend to be drawn to culty reads, and this one did not disappoint. This wasn’t your typical religious cult story. This felt unique yet realistic, and really blurred the lines of what a cult can look like.
This is a truly horrifying story of how one man, Simon, was able to brainwash and control a group of women by meticulously preying on their weaknesses, vulnerabilities and the overall human need to belong.
At first, this really didn’t feel like a cult, which makes it believable that some people find themselves in these situations. You feel some empathy for those who are sucked into it and you can almost understand why these women found comfort and a sense of family within the walls of the Mirror House. I found myself caring about these women and found it incredibly frustrating to see them get sucked further into Simon’s web.
Simon was absolutely horrid and repulsive, but yet you can see how his methods could make the women crave his attention and acceptance. His manipulation was so calculated and often subtle at first, which I felt made his character even more frightening.
Overall, I enjoyed this one and finished it in just a couple of days. I did have an alternate ending in my head that I was hoping for, however. Make sure you read the epilogue!
If you enjoy cultish, psychological thriller vibes, I recommend adding this one to your TBR! Thank you to Faith Gardner, Mirror House Press and NetGalley for providing me with this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Addiction, Suicide