bstaats's review
3.0
Eyes in the Mirror ended up being nothing like I expected. At all.
I was expecting more of a psychological storyline, but apparently I should have taken the description a bit more literally than I did. Which ends up with the book being an extremely unique, creative vaguely contemporary fantasy story.
I was so pleased to see Julia Mayer tackling such difficult issues head on; and she captured the emotions and struggles with self-mutilation perfectly. Self-mutilation (and cutting in particular) can be treated as such a taboo and touchy subject, that few properly deal with it and it's particularly difficult to convey but Mayer accomplishes this beautifully. The background and descriptions of this are poignant and quite moving.
As well, Mayer writes the story from two points of view, which are the complete opposite of one another and yet she does this quite well. Samara and Dee come across as two very different people, and Mayer writes them with different voices. However, there were times at first when it was difficult to understand the chronology while trying to follow the two POV because of where they would overlap. As confusing as this could be, it also lended a better well-rounded understanding of the events taking place and it became easy to see how two girls could view the same action very differently.
I found some of the dialogue to be somewhat awkward and forced, but that was only occasionally throughout the book. It didn't take away from the overall theme or ambience of reading the book as a whole. What I found challenging was trying to figure out what there was to take away from the book at the end of it, besides the contrast of the differing perspectives. The beginning was strong, but the ending felt like it was lacking in a satisfying culmination of events. To be honest, I simply failed to see what all the drama was worth in the end since many of the issues remained unsolved. I just wasn't convinced that everything was okay, but perhaps that's my need for a neat little ending where I feel like everything's been tied up nicely.
Parts of it were just so unbelievable, in particular the very premise that the novel was based on, yet none of the characteres questioned the events going on. They simply accepted it and tried to move on, ignoring the bizarre events occuring. And while I enjoy reading about strange, fanciful stories I like to hear more explanation of what's going on and why that's happening.
I received a copy of this book from Sourcebooks in exchange for my honest review. No other compensation was received.
I was expecting more of a psychological storyline, but apparently I should have taken the description a bit more literally than I did. Which ends up with the book being an extremely unique, creative vaguely contemporary fantasy story.
I was so pleased to see Julia Mayer tackling such difficult issues head on; and she captured the emotions and struggles with self-mutilation perfectly. Self-mutilation (and cutting in particular) can be treated as such a taboo and touchy subject, that few properly deal with it and it's particularly difficult to convey but Mayer accomplishes this beautifully. The background and descriptions of this are poignant and quite moving.
As well, Mayer writes the story from two points of view, which are the complete opposite of one another and yet she does this quite well. Samara and Dee come across as two very different people, and Mayer writes them with different voices. However, there were times at first when it was difficult to understand the chronology while trying to follow the two POV because of where they would overlap. As confusing as this could be, it also lended a better well-rounded understanding of the events taking place and it became easy to see how two girls could view the same action very differently.
I found some of the dialogue to be somewhat awkward and forced, but that was only occasionally throughout the book. It didn't take away from the overall theme or ambience of reading the book as a whole. What I found challenging was trying to figure out what there was to take away from the book at the end of it, besides the contrast of the differing perspectives. The beginning was strong, but the ending felt like it was lacking in a satisfying culmination of events. To be honest, I simply failed to see what all the drama was worth in the end since many of the issues remained unsolved. I just wasn't convinced that everything was okay, but perhaps that's my need for a neat little ending where I feel like everything's been tied up nicely.
Parts of it were just so unbelievable, in particular the very premise that the novel was based on, yet none of the characteres questioned the events going on. They simply accepted it and tried to move on, ignoring the bizarre events occuring. And while I enjoy reading about strange, fanciful stories I like to hear more explanation of what's going on and why that's happening.
I received a copy of this book from Sourcebooks in exchange for my honest review. No other compensation was received.
lizlogan's review
3.0
This book had huge potential and was a fascinating idea but it ended with such a fizzle. I was really annoyed.
bagreening's review
2.0
It was okay. I was confused by the characters at first and unable to connect with either. It was also predictable. I finished but wouldn't recommend it.
lorny's review
3.0
Eyes in the Mirror has a completely unique, totally fascinating concept. The idea of everyone having their own double on the other side of a mirror is brimming with possibilities. Though Julia Mayer didn’t take the story in a direction I expected, she did do a great job of keeping me hooked. Eyes in the Mirror is full of surprises, from the way the characters act, to how the story eventually ends.
Eyes in the Mirror was apparently first drafted when Mayer was sixteen, which is very impressive. The story has most likely been re-worked, and it doesn’t feel young at all; I know teenage authors can be a turn-off to some readers, but Eyes in the Mirror doesn’t show it. The only manner in which Eyes in the Mirror felt somewhat immature was the characters. Dee and Samara are silly and childish, and though they do grow a bit over the course of the novel, I was ultimately unsatisfied with their decisions. I suppose one could say that Eyes in the Mirror adapts a more realistic worldview (teenagers can be stupid), but I just expect a bit more out of my characters.
Despite my gripes with the characters, Eyes in the Mirror is an enjoyable read. It focuses more on realism than the paranormal (though the initial explanations of traversing through the mirrors is fascinating); it incorporates themes of letting go, forgiveness, and taking responsibility. Julia Mayer explores a variety of issues, and she handles them all fairly well. Eyes in the Mirror wouldn’t be considered an issue book per se, but it gets close. Fans of realistic or contemporary YA will enjoy the more serious aspects of the book, and those who are fond of fantasy (like me) will be captivated by the idea of an alternate dimension.
Eyes in the Mirror was apparently first drafted when Mayer was sixteen, which is very impressive. The story has most likely been re-worked, and it doesn’t feel young at all; I know teenage authors can be a turn-off to some readers, but Eyes in the Mirror doesn’t show it. The only manner in which Eyes in the Mirror felt somewhat immature was the characters. Dee and Samara are silly and childish, and though they do grow a bit over the course of the novel, I was ultimately unsatisfied with their decisions. I suppose one could say that Eyes in the Mirror adapts a more realistic worldview (teenagers can be stupid), but I just expect a bit more out of my characters.
Despite my gripes with the characters, Eyes in the Mirror is an enjoyable read. It focuses more on realism than the paranormal (though the initial explanations of traversing through the mirrors is fascinating); it incorporates themes of letting go, forgiveness, and taking responsibility. Julia Mayer explores a variety of issues, and she handles them all fairly well. Eyes in the Mirror wouldn’t be considered an issue book per se, but it gets close. Fans of realistic or contemporary YA will enjoy the more serious aspects of the book, and those who are fond of fantasy (like me) will be captivated by the idea of an alternate dimension.
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