pixelski's review against another edition
4.0
So much happened I wasn’t even concerned about the world-building anymore (something I raised in TOQ) because it was all about the characters and the wraith.
I fell HARD for these wonderful characters and their unique personalities, their motivations and drive.
TMK was all about strategy, war, manipulation and it was so well crafted I loved the scheming, the way that Meadows ensured the reality of war - it wasn’t glorified. War is about loss and there was so much. It’s not celebrated, it’s met with fear and death and so much grief.
Also my ships. My smol children. Excuse me I’m going back to crying.
kellsway's review against another edition
4.0
Dam you Jodie Meadow...*Bawls* Dam You!!
steph01924's review against another edition
4.0
Had this sitting around and wanted to finish it up since it was only a duology (woohoo!). Man, this was long! I feel like I've been reading it for ages today.
Fairly solid ending; I enjoyed it for the most part. I liked Wil and most of the other characters, though aside from Wil and Tobiah, I don't know if I really got to know anyone else very well. It definitely portrayed the un-glamorous side of ruling a kingdom.
I could've gone with some tightening up of the plot, which would've helped with the length. There were some scenes that felt repetitive and the characters had multiple iterations of the same conversation about their failure to stop the wraith or understand how to defeat it.
What also bugged me a bit was Wil and
Spoiler
Chrysalis, and how she consistently never learned from her experiences in locking him away during big events. I know she was always worried she couldn't 'control' him, but usually if he was right in front of her she would say no and he would stop what he was doing. It was when he was by himself and imagining what she needed that shit went down. So just keep him closer! I'm glad she at least acknowledged her mistake at the end when he was giving up his life to help, this fact that she should've gotten to know him better. That was one part of the book I kept expecting: for her to maybe learn more about the wraith through him, or for him to have a bigger role than just sacrificing himself, or to learn a little more about WHY he was so loyal to her...just something more than what we got, basicallyfatimareadsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
This was hands down the most epic conclusion to a fantasy series ever. Take notes, authors! Complex, electrifying, and gorgeous, this book managed to wrap everything up perfectly – but not in that cliché perfect way. There were still stuff that everyone had to deal with obviously, but overall this was a very satisfying conclusion to a duology. I admit, at first, it took me a few days to actually get into the book, which was mostly due to the fact that I didn’t reread The Orphan Queen and I forgot a few stuff, but I still managed. So I’d definitely recommend a reread before going into this book.
Okay, can we just talk about how much I admire Wil?! She has to deal with reclaiming her kingdom, which is in pieces, in a time fraught with disaster and chaos. I love how she dealt with the pressure of everything and I think her character growth is off the charts! As for Tobiah, I admit I was iffy about him at the beginning. However, I’ve really grown to like him and become emotionally attached to him.
The secondary characters like James and Melanie were reallyy dimensional. I didn’t like Melanie in the first book, though. This is because I felt like her relationship with Wil wasn’t portrayed very well. For the first half of TMK, Wil goes on and on about the strong friendship bond between them but I really couldn’t bring myself to care about Melanie until halfway through. The Ospreys, on the other hand, were extremely memorable characters. The dynamic and bonds they had with each other were realistic and I just loved their interactions!
Spoiler
I felt a little twinge in my heart when I thought they died.The plot of The Mirror King is even more complex than that of The Orphan Queen’s. Literally, there was never a dull moment. The book opens up immediately after The Orphan Queen’s drama – smack-dab in the middle of it, in fact. It really sucks you in from beginning to finish; such a page turner! I was worried about how everything is going to happen in one book because there are a ton of things to be done, but Jodi managed that excellently. The important loose ends were tied, not hastily (thank god), and the character’s troubles were far from over but it was still an excellent conclusion. I can’t even find the words to describe how satisfying it was to finish this book.
In short, The Mirror King features a memorable cast of characters, excellent character development, a hell of an intricate plot, and it was a perfect wrap-up to the series. Props to Jodi Meadows for this exceptional duology!
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justmeandmybooks_'s review against another edition
5.0
Wow wow wow!
Even after three weeks, I'm still in shock from this book! It was heartbreaking, and painful, and so, SO GOOD! I am not okay.
Literally all I can think to say about this book is PAIN PAIN PAIN! Wonderful, beautiful, spectacular pain, but still pain!
rsarnelli's review against another edition
4.0
I actually liked this a lot, WAY more than the first book. It has some hiccups but overall was a solid and satisfying conclusion to this series. More of a review to come.
Pre-review:
That is quite possibly one of the prettiest covers I have ever seen.
jennhillmeow's review against another edition
5.0
whatsarahread's review against another edition
5.0
Well, well, well, Jodi Meadows. I hope you're proud of yourself. I hope it makes your heart sing to know that you have completely broken my feels. I thought you ruined me with the ending of "The Orphan Queen" (read my review), but then you went ahead and just HAD to write "The Mirror King". What the heck, Jodi?!
Okay, now that I got that out of my system, I can move on to my review. First things first, if you liked "The Orphan Queen", then you will absolutely LOVE "The Mirror King". It's everything you loved about the first book, taken to a whole new level. It's intense, heart-breaking, intriguing, hopeful and powerful. To watch Wil continue to grow and find herself as a character was my absolute favorite part of this book. She's the kind of character who isn't afraid to admit she's made mistakes and accept the fact that sometimes she has no clue what she is doing or how to prepare for it. But, she is also fiercely protective, loyal and will do whatever it takes to fight for those she loves. It was a revelation to go on this journey with her, and I felt so connected to her character throughout this entire series. Huge props to Jodi Meadows for creating such a compelling character.
For as much as I loved Wil, I also became so connected to the stories of Tobiah, Melanie, James and even the Wraith Boy. The fact that Meadows was able to create this ensemble of characters that I cared so much about, is a true testament to her talent as an author. Each had their own history, motivations and authentic story arc, and ultimately, added so much to the story. Speaking of adding to the story, the relationship between Wil and Tobiah is so heart-wrenching. It's totally complicated, messy, and honestly, they have everything going against them. Things are NOT easy for these two to find a way to each other.
As you may have gathered from "The Orphan Queen", Meadows is NOT afraid to make some shocking narrative choices, and that trend continues in "The Mirror King". There were moments where I straight up gasped and was completely shocked by the turn of events. I love a book that keeps me on my toes, and you guys, this book does just that. It got to the point where I just had to accept the fact that nothing and no one was safe. It was truly epic and just brought the book to a whole new level. Not everyone can get their happily ever after, but even in the darkest moments, one can find a way to give meaning to their lives. For every choice Meadows made in this book, she gives a completely authentic and believable reason. Even if it hurts like hell.
Oh, by the way, the end of this book is absolute perfection. I'm not saying it some of it doesn't rip your heart out completely, but the way in which it does so is perfect! How's that for being a big tease!?
FINAL THOUGHTS…
"The Mirror King" is a beautiful and haunting conclusion to an epic fantasy series. The story of Wilhelmina and her quest to reclaim her destiny broke my heart and put it back together again.
Absolute Perfection!
This review was originally posted on what sarah read...
ninatest's review against another edition
4.0
Mirror King is the second book in the series, and I did not know that when I entered it. I read the book despite never having read the first book. I'm glad I did cause boy did I enjoy it! It was a story filled with adventure and action. The characters are strong and determined. The loyalty of certain characters warmed my heart. The wraith boy was a favorite of mine. The story was well thought out and organized. The mix personalities between the characters added much interest. Thank you for the free review book goodreads :) I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a good read