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lostinbookswithmel's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book was a little odd to me. The whole first 40-50% was a lot of staring and yearning, which gave a lot of Twilight vibes. Then it took a hard turn into sexually traumatic experiences.
The last half seemed more focused on the smut, which I thought was very soon considering what the FMC went through at the time. I didn’t agree with some of the choice words used there when it was supposed to be a romantic moment.
***** SPOILER BELOW******
It left off with the cliff hanger of the FMC left back in the very place that leads to sexually traumatic events. It just left me feeling very icky in these areas. There was an author’s note in the beginning.
The last half seemed more focused on the smut, which I thought was very soon considering what the FMC went through at the time. I didn’t agree with some of the choice words used there when it was supposed to be a romantic moment.
***** SPOILER BELOW******
It left off with the cliff hanger of the FMC left back in the very place that leads to sexually traumatic events. It just left me feeling very icky in these areas. There was an author’s note in the beginning.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
auntieerrica's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Initially, I wasn’t sure about The Other Side of the Mirror, but once I got past the character introductions, info dumps, and trauma memories, I started to enjoy it. The action and ‘down the rabbit hole’ feel is what I expected and ended up liking the most about this book. We have some typical fae and fantasy tropes and a couple of predictable plot points, but overall, I liked the story, and the ending was great, which left me wanting the sequel sooner rather than later.
I want her best friend from the human world to be in the sequel!
I would have preferred to see more creativity and no info dump when she gets to the fae wilds in the beginning, but other than that, I highly recommend it for a quick and fun fantasy, romantasy, fae book.
Oh, and the spice? I was worried for a long while that there wouldn’t be any, and then how could this be called a romantasy? But when it happens, it HAPPENS.
4.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you NetGalley, City Owl Press, and Dana Evyn for the ARC!
eleina's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
caseyundercovers's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
**Thank you to NetGalley and Owl City Press for this ARC ebook in exchange for my review. All opinions and commentary are my own**
Do you like a Mary Sue main character? Do you like insta-love? Fated mates? Weak world building? Predictable twists? Massive amounts of exposition and info dumping? No? Me either.
But I did like the banter between the lead characters, the magic, and the overall story of The False King. I'm not a spice reader, but it's here if you're into that.
There was potential. It just could have been done so much better. I felt like there was nothing new about this story. So many pieces felt like they had been borrowed from other stories, 50 Shades, Beauty and the Beast, Outlander, The Vampire Diaries, Twilight, etc. Maybe that's just me. Also, once they bond/fall in love, everything goes from banter to mushy, and it was super cringe.
I nearly DNF'ed this book early on when big dummy main character says she is closed off from everyone, but just bonded with some random dude the day before over their love for matcha lattes and then immediately the next day tells him where her spare key is to let himself into her apartment.
I doubt I'd continue with the series, but I do have a question. Wtf happened to Quinn's story? Was she a fae or not? I'm disappointed.
Do you like a Mary Sue main character? Do you like insta-love? Fated mates? Weak world building? Predictable twists? Massive amounts of exposition and info dumping? No? Me either.
But I did like the banter between the lead characters, the magic, and the overall story of The False King. I'm not a spice reader, but it's here if you're into that.
There was potential. It just could have been done so much better. I felt like there was nothing new about this story. So many pieces felt like they had been borrowed from other stories, 50 Shades, Beauty and the Beast, Outlander, The Vampire Diaries, Twilight, etc. Maybe that's just me. Also, once they bond/fall in love, everything goes from banter to mushy, and it was super cringe.
I nearly DNF'ed this book early on when big dummy main character says she is closed off from everyone, but just bonded with some random dude the day before over their love for matcha lattes and then immediately the next day tells him where her spare key is to let himself into her apartment.
I doubt I'd continue with the series, but I do have a question. Wtf happened to Quinn's story? Was she a fae or not? I'm disappointed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Death, and Death of parent
c8_19's review
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? No
1.0
I should have put this down immediately after the MC gave a total stranger her spare key in chapter two because it was quickly downhill from there. Like, this girl really had the audacity to casually grant access to her apartment to someone she'd only met 24 hours before but then, when she gets back home and senses something is "off," starts thinking about how her dad, with his military background and heightened survival skills, had taught her all about self-defense and how to have her wits about her at all times. So, obviously she'll be fine. Um, really? Really?? Any credibility I could have given her was immediately gone, and she did nothing to earn it back from there on.
The rest of the plot was a whole bunch of cliches, insta-love, and very transparent "twists." Thought this would be like Holly Black's The Folk of the Air trilogy but was severely let down.
The rest of the plot was a whole bunch of cliches, insta-love, and very transparent "twists." Thought this would be like Holly Black's The Folk of the Air trilogy but was severely let down.
brennadonahue's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Spicy!
captainbella's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Absolutely loved this book. I can't wait for the next one. Super easy to read and I really enjoyed the characters, the plot and the Sass.
Not 5 star because there were a couple bits that could have been written better, the timings felt a little skewed.like the monologue acting like they had gained weeks of knowledge or formed the strongest of friendships in just a couple days. or sometimes the dialogue being a little forced to give more information than necessary (rather than letting some things be inferred).
Great spice.
Loved the mortal/fae world cross over.
Going on the favourites shelf when I get a physical copy
Not 5 star because there were a couple bits that could have been written better, the timings felt a little skewed.
Great spice.
Loved the mortal/fae world cross over.
Going on the favourites shelf when I get a physical copy
betwixt_the_pages's review
5.0
Rating: 4.5/5 Penguins (rounded up)
Quick Reasons: I refuse....I REFUSE, to believe that's how this ended; screaming, sobbing, raging; I am BEGGING you for book 2; mind the cliffhanger; fated mates, unique magic system, breakneck race to the finish
HUGE thanks to Dana Evyn for the title! My review is voluntarily written and in no way altered or impacted by this gesture.
“Comfortable?”
I tried not to shiver as his warm breath brushed against my ear. “Hardly,” I lied.
“I wasn’t sure if your spine knew how to bend.” I could hear the smirk in his voice.
“Perhaps it’s the company,” I said sweetly. “Because not being bendable isn’t a complaint I’ve heard before.”
Penguins, I swear I'm going to actually throw a tuna fish fit one day soon if these books keep SLAUGHTERING my every emotion at the end. This book is no different, and I urge you, especially if you don't like books that don't have an HEA to strongly consider whether your heart can handle the cliffhanger. I am DESPERATE for book 2 y'all.... I really need to start buddying up on some of these reads so I have someone to commiserate and flap my flippers in disgruntled agony with.
That being said, this read is SO worth it if, like me, you live most when feeling absolutely broken. The characters are believably flawed and realistic, the snark is TOP TIER, the heavier topics are handled with dignity and poise, and I absolutely could NOT put this read down once I started. If you don't find yourself halfway through throwing your Kindle at the ending before realizing you NEED your Kindle to read more books like this, I don't know what to tell you.
His voice was suddenly hoarse as he croaked, “When did you find out?”
“Aviel might have gloated about it,” I said, my voice smaller than intended. Bash’s eyes darkened, his shadows curling around us. “Right before I stabbed him.”
I definitely recommend this to lovers of romantasy, sassy dialogue, and reads that leave you in an emotional upheaval. This is a fast-paced and richly descriptive read, Penguins. Are you ready to face the False King?
Quick Reasons: I refuse....I REFUSE, to believe that's how this ended; screaming, sobbing, raging; I am BEGGING you for book 2; mind the cliffhanger; fated mates, unique magic system, breakneck race to the finish
HUGE thanks to Dana Evyn for the title! My review is voluntarily written and in no way altered or impacted by this gesture.
“Comfortable?”
I tried not to shiver as his warm breath brushed against my ear. “Hardly,” I lied.
“I wasn’t sure if your spine knew how to bend.” I could hear the smirk in his voice.
“Perhaps it’s the company,” I said sweetly. “Because not being bendable isn’t a complaint I’ve heard before.”
Penguins, I swear I'm going to actually throw a tuna fish fit one day soon if these books keep SLAUGHTERING my every emotion at the end. This book is no different, and I urge you, especially if you don't like books that don't have an HEA to strongly consider whether your heart can handle the cliffhanger. I am DESPERATE for book 2 y'all.... I really need to start buddying up on some of these reads so I have someone to commiserate and flap my flippers in disgruntled agony with.
That being said, this read is SO worth it if, like me, you live most when feeling absolutely broken. The characters are believably flawed and realistic, the snark is TOP TIER, the heavier topics are handled with dignity and poise, and I absolutely could NOT put this read down once I started. If you don't find yourself halfway through throwing your Kindle at the ending before realizing you NEED your Kindle to read more books like this, I don't know what to tell you.
His voice was suddenly hoarse as he croaked, “When did you find out?”
“Aviel might have gloated about it,” I said, my voice smaller than intended. Bash’s eyes darkened, his shadows curling around us. “Right before I stabbed him.”
I definitely recommend this to lovers of romantasy, sassy dialogue, and reads that leave you in an emotional upheaval. This is a fast-paced and richly descriptive read, Penguins. Are you ready to face the False King?
erinkellyreads's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
"The Other Side of the Mirror" is an adventure fantasy about a girl who loses her family and the truth about who she is in a fire only to regain that and much more in this romantasy. Thank you to BookSirens and the publisher for allowing me to read this advanced copy. Here is my honest review:
Tropes:
- Insta-love
- Fated mates
- Secret powers
- Found family
- Twins
CW: Kidnapping, family death, fire, sexual assault, open door sex scenes
Things I really enjoyed:
- This was truly an adventure fantasy, and it often felt like I was reading along with a DnD campaign. There were places along the map, different magic users, creatures to fight, and castles and princes galore.
- The idea of the mirror portal system is very cool, especially with the idea that they can also connect into both the modern world and this medieval meets high tech fantasy world.
- I love a red-headed, freckled, kind but flirty MMC. Shadow daddies have been what's hot lately, and I love them, too, but it is nice to have some varieties in love interests.
- The flirty bickering between the FMC and MMC are fun.
Things that I think could've raised my rating:
- I'm not a fan of insta-love - insta-flirting, yes, but we were already completely enamored with each other by page 50 according to the thoughts the characters kept telling us about. Maybe if we were shown more instead of told through inner monologues I would have been more excited.
- The plot had some twists and turns, but they were relatively easy to call. I think if some of the internal monologues were cut, it might have led to more surprise. It felt like the characters knew things very easily (except for the fact that they were in love, surprisingly).
- Our FMC was a tough and knowledgeable girl with few flaws. The chip on her shoulder and high walls were very earned based on what happened to her family, but she learns magic almost too quickly, already is trained and strong in all sorts of combat and weapons (and horseback riding and lockpicking), and adapts to all of these changes really quickly. I just wanted something that made her human-like at some bit - some vulnerability - some chink in her armor to help us connect with her.
- I struggled with the juxtaposition of the YA writing style with the multiple open door spice scenes. I like both, mind you, but I wasn't sure that I liked both in the same story. I know the characters were in their 20's (or 50's? For the fae?), and the spice is not written in a YA style, but something about the non-spice writing style didn't quite match up for me.
Overall, if you like an easy-read adventure romantasy with spice, a tough FMC, and insta-love/fated mates, this could be a good book for you!
Tropes:
- Insta-love
- Fated mates
- Secret powers
- Found family
- Twins
CW: Kidnapping, family death, fire, sexual assault, open door sex scenes
Things I really enjoyed:
- This was truly an adventure fantasy, and it often felt like I was reading along with a DnD campaign. There were places along the map, different magic users, creatures to fight, and castles and princes galore.
- The idea of the mirror portal system is very cool, especially with the idea that they can also connect into both the modern world and this medieval meets high tech fantasy world.
- I love a red-headed, freckled, kind but flirty MMC. Shadow daddies have been what's hot lately, and I love them, too, but it is nice to have some varieties in love interests.
- The flirty bickering between the FMC and MMC are fun.
Things that I think could've raised my rating:
- I'm not a fan of insta-love - insta-flirting, yes, but we were already completely enamored with each other by page 50 according to the thoughts the characters kept telling us about. Maybe if we were shown more instead of told through inner monologues I would have been more excited.
- The plot had some twists and turns, but they were relatively easy to call. I think if some of the internal monologues were cut, it might have led to more surprise. It felt like the characters knew things very easily (except for the fact that they were in love, surprisingly).
- Our FMC was a tough and knowledgeable girl with few flaws. The chip on her shoulder and high walls were very earned based on what happened to her family, but she learns magic almost too quickly, already is trained and strong in all sorts of combat and weapons (and horseback riding and lockpicking), and adapts to all of these changes really quickly. I just wanted something that made her human-like at some bit - some vulnerability - some chink in her armor to help us connect with her.
- I struggled with the juxtaposition of the YA writing style with the multiple open door spice scenes. I like both, mind you, but I wasn't sure that I liked both in the same story. I know the characters were in their 20's (or 50's? For the fae?), and the spice is not written in a YA style, but something about the non-spice writing style didn't quite match up for me.
Overall, if you like an easy-read adventure romantasy with spice, a tough FMC, and insta-love/fated mates, this could be a good book for you!
what_amanda_reads_'s review
5.0
Listen if you read anything this month you HAVE to read this one! I DEVOURED it in a day