Scan barcode
A review by tokagelizard
Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Part of my world reading challenge: Japan. See all my reviews and follow my progress at https://YA-world-challenge.tumblr.com
Kokoro is yet again staying home from school, no longer able to face her 1st year of junior high, when the mirror in her bedroom begins shining. What she finds through the mirror is a mysterious castle and a masked child called the Wolf Queen. There are six other teenagers, and they are given the opportunity to search for the key to a room that will grant one wish. The castle is open from 9 to 5, which leads Kokoro to deduce... none of the other kids are attending school either.
What you get is not a pulse-pounding adventure as you might first expect when we’re suddenly pulled through a magic mirror. But rather, we have the castle giving these seven loners a chance to discover themselves and each other. Whereas in some books what might ensue is a bitter fight to claim the One Wish, in Lonely Castle the kids find that more than a magical boon, the solace and escape of the castle itself might be what they need. Slowly, with fragile trust, their stories emerge.
Aaaahh! This was so good! It gives a slow, oh-so-gentle build-up to carefully ripping your heart out and sewing it nicely back together. Very sweetly, though.
This was such a satisfying mystery, also. Especially if you’ve studied up on your fairy tales (though not necessary to enjoy the book), you can pick up the clues and as each little layer is pulled away and be saying yes, yes! I knew it! or be stunned in awe at the pieces you didn’t notice. I think it struck the perfect balance between not too obvious and not too convoluted that it makes your brain hurt. I love the way that everything tied together in the end.
Each of the character’s voices are unique with clear personalities. At times there is a little translation-induced clunkiness (though since I know Japanese and can recognize the speech patterns I might just be hyper-aware of it.) I thought the use of honorifics (very important to the relationships) was handled clearly in the English edition. My only nitpick was that some of the slang seemed off at times. It looks like maybe this was published for a UK audience first which might explain some of it, but, for example, he’s a dish was presented as young people’s slang. Personally, I would think of that as very old-fashioned (1950s era or so) unless the kids have revived it in the last 10 years and I haven’t noticed. So a couple times things like that gave me a ‘huh?’ moment and drew me out of the flow.
Overall, this was an honest, sensitive portrayal of struggling junior high school kids mixed with a unique mystery.
Kokoro is yet again staying home from school, no longer able to face her 1st year of junior high, when the mirror in her bedroom begins shining. What she finds through the mirror is a mysterious castle and a masked child called the Wolf Queen. There are six other teenagers, and they are given the opportunity to search for the key to a room that will grant one wish. The castle is open from 9 to 5, which leads Kokoro to deduce... none of the other kids are attending school either.
What you get is not a pulse-pounding adventure as you might first expect when we’re suddenly pulled through a magic mirror. But rather, we have the castle giving these seven loners a chance to discover themselves and each other. Whereas in some books what might ensue is a bitter fight to claim the One Wish, in Lonely Castle the kids find that more than a magical boon, the solace and escape of the castle itself might be what they need. Slowly, with fragile trust, their stories emerge.
Aaaahh! This was so good! It gives a slow, oh-so-gentle build-up to carefully ripping your heart out and sewing it nicely back together. Very sweetly, though.
This was such a satisfying mystery, also. Especially if you’ve studied up on your fairy tales (though not necessary to enjoy the book), you can pick up the clues and as each little layer is pulled away and be saying yes, yes! I knew it! or be stunned in awe at the pieces you didn’t notice. I think it struck the perfect balance between not too obvious and not too convoluted that it makes your brain hurt. I love the way that everything tied together in the end.
Each of the character’s voices are unique with clear personalities. At times there is a little translation-induced clunkiness (though since I know Japanese and can recognize the speech patterns I might just be hyper-aware of it.) I thought the use of honorifics (very important to the relationships) was handled clearly in the English edition. My only nitpick was that some of the slang seemed off at times. It looks like maybe this was published for a UK audience first which might explain some of it, but, for example, he’s a dish was presented as young people’s slang. Personally, I would think of that as very old-fashioned (1950s era or so) unless the kids have revived it in the last 10 years and I haven’t noticed. So a couple times things like that gave me a ‘huh?’ moment and drew me out of the flow.
Overall, this was an honest, sensitive portrayal of struggling junior high school kids mixed with a unique mystery.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Child death