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mandikaye's reviews
941 reviews
The Mirror House Girls by Faith Gardner
challenging
fast-paced
4.5
This was a quick read—I tore through it in one sitting—but it left a mark. The Mirror House Girls is one of those quietly unsettling stories that creeps up on you and doesn't let go.
The story follows Winona, who, after a deep personal loss, finds herself renting a room in the strange and idyllic Mirror House. At first, it seems like a fresh start. A group of girls, a charismatic leader, a so-called path to healing. But the deeper she gets, the more off it all feels—until it’s clear this isn’t just a self-improvement community. It’s a cult.
Faith Gardner does an incredible job exploring cult dynamics—not with big dramatic flourishes, but through slow, believable shifts. The portrayal of the girls’ gradual acceptance of the cult’s rules and language is both disturbing and heartbreakingly real. You can see exactly how it happens. The longing for belonging. The craving for structure. The manipulation wrapped in kindness. It’s all there, and it’s done with care.
Simon Spellmeyer, the group’s leader, is quietly terrifying in the way many real-world cult figures are: calm, controlled, charismatic. And the house itself—Mirror House—is both cozy and suffocating at once, which adds to the creeping sense of dread.
It’s brutal at times, emotionally heavy, and very hard to put down. A powerful, unsettling look at the psychology of coercion and what it means to be vulnerable.
This one will stick with me.
Smoke and Scar by Gretchen Powell Fox
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I really loved this one. The dual POV between Elyria and Cedric was so well done—their voices were distinct, and their chemistry? A romance that simmers. I was fully invested from the start.
One of my favorite parts was Elyria and Kit’s friendship. It’s not often we get to see deep, platonic relationships written with so much care, but Powell nailed it. They haven’t seen each other in 25 years because of a shared grief over Kit’s brother, and that emotional distance is handled so thoughtfully. Kit has every right to be angry, and Elyria knows it—but that doesn’t stop her from stepping in to protect Kit anyway. Their bond feels real and raw, and watching them reconnect was just… so good.
And can we talk about the trope flip? A centuries-old fae war hero as the FMC and a human man on a revenge mission? Yes. Inject it into my soul. It’s a fun reversal that adds so much texture to the story—and their dynamic.
Also, we’ve got deadly magical trials, a mysterious prophecy, high-stakes betrayal, and a world that feels ancient, lived-in, and just the right kind of dangerous. Gretchen Powell Fox really knows how to build tension and make you feel every moment.
Also, we’ve got deadly magical trials, a mysterious prophecy, high-stakes betrayal, and a world that feels ancient, lived-in, and just the right kind of dangerous. Gretchen Powell Fox really knows how to build tension and make you feel every moment.
Go read this. Now. You won’t regret it.