Ying is betrothed to Prince Zhang and has been confined to her rooms for three months leading up to her marriage, without explanation. She has heard rumours about seven previous empresses who went missing shortly after marriage, making her wonder if she’ll suffer the same fate.
On the day before Ying’s marriage she sees unusual things inside the mirrors of the Imperial Palace, reflections that don’t act as they should. She discovers an entire world inside the mirrors and starts to fall for the Mirror Prince, a reflection of her fiance, Zhang, who is unlike her cold and reserved husband-to-be. The barrier between these two worlds starts to break down and a war is on the horizon. Unless Ying fulfils a prophecy that will close the barrier.
There is beautiful world building and the mythical beasts inspired by Chinese folklore in this book. Every chapter is fast paced with action-packed scenes making it an immediate page-turner. The push and pull of the blossoming romance between Ying and Zhang had me hooked and the twists had me guessing until I, like Ying, had no idea who to trust.
However, I felt that parts of the book were rushed because there were too many plot elements and character functions crammed in that weren’t explored thoroughly. Regardless, I still found this a delightful read, especially if you’re looking for a fantasy novel that has plenty of twists and turns with an enemies to lovers romance.
Reviewed by Ruth Freitas
Age Guide 13+
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ABOUT THE AUTHORKeshe was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and migrated to Australia when she was two years old. She currently lives in Naarm (Melbourne) with her partner, two kids, and an ice cream-obsessed cat named Wasabi.
She won the 2020 Perito Prize, the 2021 Yarra Literature Prize, the 2021 Rachel Funari Prize for Fiction, the 2022 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards Prize for an Unpublished Manuscript, and the 2023 Uncharted Magazine Thrilling Contest.
Her debut young adult fantasy novel, THE GIRL WITH NO REFLECTION, was an instant #1 Sunday Times bestseller.
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