Thank you to Netgalley for the e-arc!

4 stars!

I absolutely loved this book! Dao managed to capture the eerieness and atmosphere of classic fairytales perfectly, especially in the first few chapters where we're introduced to Mathilda and Elva's parents. I don't know much about 19th century Germany, but Dao manages to create an immersive and whimsical setting. Somehow, Broken Wish invokes a very "Disney" vibe and it's perfect.

Elva is also very reminiscent of a Disney princess with her spunk and compassion. Her relationships with other characters (especially Mathilda!) bring so much warmth to the story. Broken Wish truly has the makings of a fairytale to be told to children on dark nights.

I absolutely cannot wait for this sage to continue with the next three books!

Magic. Evil. Magic Mirrors. Witches. This book has all the perfect ingredients for a lovely, dark fairy tale! I loved the story!

I'm not going to say much about the plot -- no spoilers. This book is a tale best enjoyed with no prior knowledge of events. I accidentally read a spoiler in a review before reading.....and I would have enjoyed it much more without knowing anything beforehand.

The story is fast paced and entertaining. The characters are wonderful. The book kept my attention from start to finish. I couldn't stop reading! And, the cover art is amazing!

This is the first book by Julie C. Dao that I've read. I am DEFINITELY reading more!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Disney/Hyperion. All opinions expressed are entirely my own**

*Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.*

All Agnes wanted was to make new friends in her new town. All Mathilda wanted was to be left alone, but striking up a friendship seemed the natural course of things, even for a witch. Of course, as their friendship progressed, the townspeople began to notice, and Agnes stopped communicating, just like that - after Mathilda had already made her a potion to help her conceive. A potion for which she promised friendship, and then broke that promise. And there are consequences for broken promises.

That was years ago, and now Agnes’s daughter, Elva, is almost grown. It’s her story we follow, as she finds her mother’s correspondence with Mathilda and decides to seek her help using her own magical powers (one of the consequences of her mother’s broken promise). But can she find her? And would she even want to help?

MY NOTES: An interesting fairy tale-inspired story. Elva is a bit of a Mary Sue, and I spent some time waiting for the other shoe to drop, but I enjoyed it very much. Not that it’s predictable - it didn’t end how I thought it would. All around, a good story.

This book read like a fairytale, which was obviously the point, and for that, I really enjoyed it. The world was so whimsical and cozy, and made me want to sit in a cottage and eat stew with a cup of tea. That’s the kind of book this is, something to enjoy while curled up next to a fire. However, I found that it was lacking in some parts, such as characterization and plot. It didn’t feel like much actually happened over the course of the story, and the stakes didn’t seem like they were big enough. I found that each of the problems Elva came across were easily solved and this made the pacing of the story weird. As for the characters, I never found myself overly attached to any of them. It felt like their personalities were just a few traits thrown together with nothing to make them overly complex. This novel does fit well as a Disney book though, so I think it did its job in that aspect.

This book is the first in a series following different characters and written by different authors. I find this concept pretty interesting so I might check out the other books when they come out. It would be interesting to see how this fairytale world is expanded on and how other writers make it their own.

This was a beautiful book that was a unique take on the Sleeping Beauty folktale. I love Elva, she was such a empathetic character, a young woman trying to find her place. She loves her family, she's falling in love with a young man in her village and she's learning about her own magic. It was a very beautiful story so atmospheric her village is like any other small village, gossip, young people falling in love, a witch on the outskirts. I took a chance on this and was rewarded handsomely.

If you love fractured fairytales, but are tired of the same stories told over and over then this is the book for you. Broken Wish has familiar tropes within fairytales, but it has unique characters and twists. What makes this book even better is that it is a series that will dive into different eras. It was an enjoyable read and I am looking forward to continuing this series.

I don't request books very often on NetGalley (where you can get ARCs-Advance Review Copies) with the exception of asking for Disney Publishing books because I have almost always enjoyed their books and this one was no exception! First of all, I love the concept of this new series. Four different authors will write a book about a family that is cursed through time. In this book, 16-year-old Elva has powers that she tries to hide for her family's sake but when she meets the Witch of the North Woods, things change. I love stories where the lines between the 'hero' and 'villain' are blurred and I enjoyed the fact that this book had some deeper themes around friendship and prejudice and fitting in. I'm really looking forward to the rest of the series. Thanks to NetGalley and Disney Publishing for this ARC!

This was a lovely fairy tale and I really enjoyed the theme of meeting societies standards and overcoming them to just be yourself and happy. Can't wait to read more from this author.

Broken Wish immediately begins with a fairy tale atmosphere. It's a story about those wishes and desires we have that seem small but start an avalanche. At its heart, Broken Wish is a story about desire, promises, and sacrifice, but it's also a story about societal pressure. How we can let society change our opinions of people, to shun people and smooth us all down. The desire to be respected and wanted is a powerful current that can carry us away or let us drown.

Should we have to hide who we are to be accepted? Combined with our fear of rejection, are we destined to live a life of loneliness? These fears make Broken Wish a story about fairy tales, curses, and promises we make in desperation. Yet at the same time, it feels relatable in those words of gossip that change our minds, the jokes we find ourselves laughing along to in order to not be left in silence. Because at the heart of this story, is one of mistakes and what we will to atone for our guilt.

This is such a wonderful fairytale! I love how it took the classical "witch in the woods" theme and turned it into a wonderful new tale. I was instantly sucked in with the world Julie created and the magic system she implemented. Being as it is a fairytale, there were aspects that you could predict simply due to the nature of the lessons that were being conveyed, but it didn't detract from the story.

If you're a fan of fairytales or retellings, then this book is for you! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and look forward to future work from this author.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary eARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me this opportunity!

A huge thanks to NetGalley, Disney-Hyperion, and Julie C. Dao for providing me with an e-ARC of this amazing book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book was beautiful. A great start to what I'm hoping will be an amazing series. Elva was such an interesting character and I loved the tangled web that is the history and the world.

I absolutely loved how this progressed, it felt like reading any other classic fairytale and I just loved turning each page to find out what was going to happen next.

This was a fantastic read and I can't wait to read the next one.

I liked this book. The concept was very interesting, and the writing was very enjoyable. I thought the plot was very well-executed.

This was such a cute book! I loved the fractured fairy tale aspect. There was a little bit of Rapunzel, Beauty and the Beast, Hansel and Gretel, and Snow White (plus probably others that I'm missing). I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of fairy tales, fractured or otherwise.

This would be a great upper middle-grade or young adult bookclub pick as well. The plot lends itself well to discussions of how the fear of the unknown leads to prejudice and how the need to fit in with one's community adds to not fighting against those prejudices.

I have to say, though, I was not ready for the ending of this book, and I hope I don't have to wait too long for the sequel!

Thank you so much to Disney Publishing Worldwide and Netgalley for Broken Wish by Julie C.Dao!.
Broken Wish is the first in a four book series. And prepare yourself, because all novels in this series are written by different authors. This series revolves around multiple generations of the same family dealing with a family curse. In this one, we are transported in Hanau (which surprise! Is the birthplace of the Brothers Grimm) and we are sucked into the storyline of the origin of the curse.
This book was a fast pace read. It was well-written and oh so entertaining. And can we please talk about the cover? It is STUNNING.
This story had an eerie and dark vibe (which was a perfect October read). However, don’t let that fool you, because this book had such powerful messages as well. This story emphasized trust, loyalty and friendship. I love how Elva and Mathilda found acceptance in each other. People were soo cruel and judgemental. I’m happy they had each other. Elva was an amazing main character. She had one of the biggest hearts. I love how she valued her family, especially her little brother Cay.
The ending…really got me. It emphasized how powerful “love” is. The power of love has truly changed all of them. The ending broke me.
I cannot wait to read the rest and see how this curse affects the generation to come. I’m hoping many of what we get in the first will connect with the second.

The story is set in Germany in the mid to late 1800s. Agnes and Oskar move to the town of Hanau to begin a new life. Agnes sends cookies to all of their neighbors as a sign of friendship. When they receive a return gift from the house on the hill, they are told a Witch lives there and they should stay away. But can one dinner with her hurt?

Mathilde tells Agnes she knows Agnes will become a mother even though they have not conceived in the ten years they have been married. She offers Agnes a tonic that can help but in return asks only for friendship. Agnes promises knowing she is not going to keep her word. The Witch warned her what could happen if she did not keep her word. Now Agnes must learn to live with the consequences and the unknown.

This is similar to Grimm Fairy Tales. There are mentions of a Witch that lives in the forest and lures children with candy and kids that use breadcrumbs to find their way home. If you like fairy tales or Disney stories, you will love this book.

Thank you Disney Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this title.

Broken Wish is described as a fractured fairy-tale, which means the feeling of a darker Disney, with an almost Tim Burton-inspired atmosphere.

This is a haunting tale of secrets, pain, deceit and fear as one girl risks everything to save those she loves and the only life she has ever known.

My favorite thing about this book is how it takes the traditional fairy tale about a witch in the woods and turns it on it's head, while still feeling like a classic tale. This isn't your run of the mill plot with evil witches and young girls trying to break a curse, but is instead a story about mending generational trauma and being true to who you are.

The author has created an atmosphere of magical proportions with her writing! Enter into the past where times were simpler, yet more complicated, isolated and fear of the unknown or different are treated as evil. Feel the desperation of one girl as she befriends the mysterious witch and learns of the betrayals she has endured. Are you in need of a fairy-tale that will captivate you, move you and break your heart? This is it. I adored this book and I cannot wait until there are more in this series. Magic, broken promises, terrible visions, betrayal, love, friendship-what's not to love?

Thank-you to NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for an e-Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Broken Wish (The Mirror #1) written by Julie C. Dao, is the first in a four-book series called The Mirror (all written by different authors) about a curse that spans multiple generations of the same family. Hooked? Me too!

The intricate cover art sets the tone and mood of the book before the reader embarks on the fast-paced story. Doa crafts a well rounded journey full of strong women, fateful choices, friendship, love, prejudices, myths and magic all within the darkness of a fairy tale.

I am waiting with bated breath to see how the rest of this darker fairy tale series develops!

Broken Wish is the first book in The Mirror series by Julie C. Dao. A haunting tale of secrets, pain, deceit, and fear as one girl risks everything to save those she loves and the only life she has ever known. If you are looking for a cute fairytale with Princesses needing to be saved by Prince Charming, this is not the tale for you. Dao creates a stunning, dark new tale filled with strong women who don’t let society dictate who they’ll become. Wonderfully written! Julie C. Dao is an author to watch!

Julie C. Dao weaves together such a gripping story that I was so invested from the very beginning. I felt outraged by the attitude of the villages and felt saddened for how other characters were treated. In addition to the writing, the plot itself was incredibly engaging and I could not stop turning the pages. This was such a great start to the Broken Mirror Quartet and I can't wait to see how the other stories will be retold.

I love a good story about the power of friendship and about women sticking together. Elva tries to right a wrong done by her mother, and in doing so, she discovers her own moral compass and learns that it's not always easy to do the right thing, especially when those you love are not on your side. This is a story about women being pushed to the fringes of society because they don't fit a preconceived notion of what one "should" be. Strong characters, a quick pace, and magic...what's not to love?