Ratings6
Average rating3.5
“A stunningly atmospheric fantasy that doubles as an exceptional character study . . . we can’t wait to see where Dabos takes it next.” —Entertainment Weekly (“The 10 Best YA Books of 2018”) One of Publishers Weekly’s Best YA Books of the Year A National Indie Bestseller Lose yourself in the fantastic world of the arks and in the company of unforgettable characters in this French runaway hit, Christelle Dabos’ The Mirror Visitor quartet. Plain-spoken, headstrong Ophelia cares little about appearances. Her ability to read the past of objects is unmatched in all of Anima and, what’s more, she possesses the ability to travel through mirrors, a skill passed down to her from previous generations. Her idyllic life is disrupted, however, when she is promised in marriage to Thorn, a taciturn and influential member of a distant clan. Ophelia must leave all she knows behind and follow her fiancé to Citaceleste, the capital of a cold, icy ark known as the Pole, where danger lurks around every corner and nobody can be trusted. There, in the presence of her inscrutable future husband, Ophelia slowly realizes that she is a pawn in a political game that will have far-reaching ramifications not only for her but for her entire world. The World of the Arks Long ago, following a cataclysm called the Rupture, the world was shattered into many floating celestial islands, now known as arks. Over each, the spirit of an omnipotent and immortal ancestor abides. The inhabitants of these arks each possess a unique power. Ophelia, with her ability to read the pasts of objects, must navigate this fantastic, disjointed, perilous world using her trademark tenacity and quiet strength.
Reviews with the most likes.
This reads just like a studio Ghibli movie - dark yet whimsical with charming yet somewhat caricaturish characters. I really enjoyed it! I can't wait to read the next ones and find out more about Farouque's book and why it's so important to him. Also if Ophelia ever warms up to Thorn and forgives his misdeeds. Although, not gonna lie, I might drop the entire series if it becomes a love triangle story with Archibald 🙃
The world is fantastically atmospheric, the characters all strongly realised, but this whole book felt like the introduction to a story, not a story contained within itself, which i find disappointing.
4 stars for the unique setting.
Audio: 5/5
Plot: 4/5 (slow beginning)
Characters: 3/5 (I need more Ophelia / Thorn interactions)
This was really, really good! I loved how the fantasy was so different from stuff I've read till now. The setting and the powers were all new and unique.
I liked the characters (weird as the majority were). Ophelia was nice and not very talkative initially to the point that she didn't even voice her dislikes. But then changed when she got so fed up with everyone that decided to give an earful to Thorn and his aunt near the end was very well written.
Her interactions with Thorn in the latter half were also good. I like how she noticed all the small details.
Her powers were so unique. I liked both of them. The mirror visiting/walking part was my favourite. The dragon clans powers were more violent and the reveals were mind blowing.
I still don't understand how the family spirit part works. But enjoyed this book a lot. It was damn slow in the beginning but gets really interesting when they arrive on Claire de Lune.