A review by dbguide2
The Mirror of Beasts by Alexandra Bracken

adventurous dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 I love it when the next books in the series are even better than the previous ones! I really liked Silver in the Bone, I thought it was a great start to a duology, tons of lore and world-building done really well, and The Mirror of Beasts is even somehow better? I gotta get to Bracken’s other books if they’ll be like this! I loved everything in here and I could definitely see myself rereading the duology (especially to see if I pick up on any hints or easter eggs).

I loved the characters so so much. They improved from the first book – I had to reread because I remembered like literally… nothing – which was a great idea as it really helped me to get into the characters’ heads and understand their motivations. This book only carries that forward and definitely delves deeper into what makes them tick.

I said in my review for the first book that Tamsin and Emrys were my two favourite characters and that didn’t change in here! They both went though such a change it was amazing to see them go on that journey and how Bracken never faltered on their development for their journey. I think I said I half or mostly liked Neve in the first book and I ended up liking her more here. I remember I didn’t immediately like the sorcerers in the first book but they grew on me and then I really liked them! 

As mentioned before, Bracken is amazing with the world building and plot. I was captivated throughout, I didn’t want to stop reading, she really made me feel like I was in the book and fighting alongside the characters. That’s always something I love to experience while reading a book – also a big compliment from a reader, in my eyes. 

I love anything mythology and definitely anything Arthurian related. I need to get more books inspired by this mythology – I know there’s a bunch. It’s swords, it’s fighting, it’s magic – literally all right up my alley.