A Spindle Splintered reimagined the tale of Sleeping Beauty as a story of empowerment and collaboration which gave the original’s often passive princess the agency she so often lacks. A Mirror Mended offers a similar treatment to the story of Snow White, focusing on that tale’s Evil Queen, a woman, it should be noted, who doesn’t even get a name of her own in the original version.

This is the second book in the fractured fable series which follows Zinnia, a 20 something yr old girl with a fatal and incurable disease who in the first book of this series, a spindle splintered, get’s sucked into an alternate universe where she is enmeshed into the story of sleeping beauty. In this one Zinnia gets sucked into the story of Snow White, and it is the evil queen who is asking for help to escape her story. I honestly was expecting a little bit more from the backstory of the evil queen, that sad sob story a la Once Upon a Time never really came to be, we instead just shifted the focus to see the queen’s restrictions. This book really focused on the idea of agency and almost had a “happy for now” type of quality to it, and while I loved that it related to Zinnia’s own story/situation in a complicated way that I wasn’t quite sure how to feel about. I think this was on OK read but I think whereas the last one left me feeling satisfied with the amount of story that had been told, this one left me wanting. But maybe that was intentional?

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the ebook.

A Mirror Mended was a really interesting twist on the classic fairy tale story. I did not read the first Fractured Fable story before A Mirror Mended, so it was a little confusing to start but the story quickly developed and filled in enough of the back story for you to understand what's going on. Zin has spent her time saving and supporting women in fairy tales, but when it's not the princess who needs saving, Zin is faced with a whole new challenge. The story was really interesting and discussed gender and age in fairy tales in a really thoughtful way.

4/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Tordotcom for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

A Mirror Mended was the second in the Fractured Fables duology (series??), and I really enjoyed it! I’m hit or miss with Harrow’s writing (love it, but she runs toward purple prose in her longer works), and the humor was still here! Also, I really loved the evil queen. More evil! More queen! More sapphic villains!

In "A Mirror Mended", 2nd in Alix E. Harrow's Fractured Fables series, Zinnia meets Snow White's evil stepmother and learns that 'villains aren't all bad' after all.

The first book introduced Zinnia Gray, doomed to die young from fatal teratogenic damage and obsessed with Sleeping Beauty. After she touched a spindle's end on her 21st birthday, Zinnia crossed dimensions, finding 'versions of the same story, retold in different realities.' She made it her mission to help those 'who deserve better stories than the ones they were given.'

Now Snow White's evil stepmother pulls Zinnia into her dimension, demanding Zinnia's assistance to escape her dire fate. Another brilliant YA fantasy, not to be missed!

This was a fun installment to the series by Alix E. Harrow, but I'm just not fully convinced her writing works for novellas. It's so lush and beautiful and I really just want more from it than these short snippets.

However, I did really enjoy the discussion about how we perceive women and the flipped tale of the Evil Queen.

I will probably continue with the series.

A Mirror Mended is the second novella in Alix E. Harrow’s Fractured Fairytales series. It follows on from A Spindle Splintered, though is set a few years in the future from that first book. Unfortunately, the things that didn’t click for me with the first novella seemed to be coming out in even stronger force in this second installment. Zinnia is now spending most of her time helping fairy tale characters trapped in their stories to escape tropes, to the detriment of her relationships with the people close to her. This felt far too short for the content that Harrow tried to discuss within the confines of the novella, leaving topics addressed but not properly discussed to their conclusion, with unsatisfying resolutions, relationships that read very superficial even if that clearly wasn’t the intention. I kept longing for more space, for more depth. While I adore Harrow’s full-length work and her short fiction, these novellas are her weakest writing to date and left me wanting more.

Oh, I wanted to love this as much as I loved the first book. I really did. But there is a real sense of the author's anger here that kept me from doing that - anger at the lack of a name for the Evil Queen, anger at the way the plot is circumscribed, anger at the "lack of agency" for the Queen. Zinnia still has a sense of humor, but is less lighthearted than before (her real-world relationships aren't going well), and her illness is more pronounced.

I'm not sure where the author is going with this, if there will be a third book and if so, what aspect of the fairy tale trope will be explored. Part of me hopes that we do get another story, one that is less angry and more fun.

eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.

omg this was amazing!! i liked the prequel (a spindle splintered) but this was even better in my opinion. for a short book especially, the writing was very engaging and the worldbuilding pulled me in. alix e harrow really knows how to write a great story! :)

A Mirror Mended is the second novella in Alix E. Harrow's Fractured Fables series, and once again, I am utterly enchanted. What I wouldn't give for a million more books in this series.

Zinnia Gray has spent all her life knowing she will die. Having a rare but fatal illness does that to a person. As a child, she found herself connected to the tale of Sleeping Beauty. As an adult, she suddenly found herself gallivanting around different tale renditions, saving damsels and running from her future.

Unfortunately, you can only run from your past for so long. Perhaps that is why Zinnia found herself in a series of worlds that didn't belong to her. One that almost always portrays an Evil Queen (capitalization required) and a princess on the run.

“In Sleeping Beauty stories, I’ve come to recognize certain moments-tropes, you might call them, repeated plot points-that have an echo to them. Pieces of the story that have been told so many times they’ve worn the page thin: the christening curse, the pricked finger, the endless sleep, the kiss. You can almost feel reality softening around you, at those times.”

Can we just talk about how much fun A Mirror Mended was to read?! I loved it, I loved it so much. Zinnia's character is stubborn and bold, unafraid to jump into worlds unknown (literally) – especially if it lets her run away from her fate.

Okay, this admittedly gives the story a rather somber foundation. But it works. It puts Zinnia in a position to sympathize with those who feel they have no control over their lives. In an attempt to gain control in some aspects of her life, Zinnia instead focuses on helping others.

This can sometimes be chaotic since Zinnia doesn't always bother to think things through. She leaps headfirst into trouble, assuming that her (somewhat exhausted and estranged) best friend will find a way to save the day should the need arise.

I think I'm babbling a little bit here. As the sequel in the series, A Mirror Mended does two essential things. First, it transports Zinnia (and us) into a different fairy tale (Snow White, in case that wasn't clear). Second, it starts giving consequences to Zinnia's running around the multiverse.

Having consequences always make a world feel more sustainable. In this case, it also forces a fair bit of character development. I'm not saying that Zinnia needed to grow up...but don't we all? I think Alix E. Harrow perfectly captured all of this, cramming it into one concise novella.

On a different note, the romantic subplot (or is it the main plot? Zinnia did a great job making that unclear) was pretty beautiful. Yes, there's a trope thrown into the mix, but there's a certain level of self-awareness about that whole fact. I think that made me like it more.

My one issue/regret with this series? I can't tell if A Mirror Mended is the end or not. It feels like a conclusion to the series, but that thought breaks my heart. I want a million more. Perhaps things merely look wrapped up, with the ability to happily carry on should Alix E. Harrow find the time/inspiration? One can hope.

I love this series of novellas that Harrow has created! After reading A Spindle Splintered earlier this year, I could not wait for the release of the second novella, A Mirror Mended.

Reading A Mirror Mended I was immediately reminded why I love Zinnia Gray’s character, with her amazingly sarcastic dialogue and all the wild situations she seems to find herself in. I really enjoyed this retelling of Snow White and how Harrow examined the prerogative of the evil queen. I actually enjoyed the shift from the first book and that it wasn’t necessarily the same story.

I can’t wait to see where Harrow takes these characters in the next book and will definitely be anxiously awaiting the next release in this series! If you were a fan of A Spindle Splintered, be sure to check out A Mirror Mended - out now!

Quick read. Super fun and enjoyable fantasy. Highly recommend if you need a quick
Short story to get lost in!

I thought this was such an interesting novella! I read the first one in one sitting, and also read this one in one sitting and really enjoyed the both of them. Here, Zinnia finds herself in the world of Snow White, and I thought it was really fun to see this interpretation of the Snow White world and fairytale!

The plot was fine as far as novellas go, I don't expect them to be as in-depth as a novel for obvious reasons, but I thought Alix did a wonderful job at telling the story in such a short number of pages! I also really enjoyed the wit and humour scattered throughout hehe. I really enjoyed this one, and I'm really keen for the next installment!

I really enjoyed the first novella in the Fractured Fables series (A Spindle Splintered), but I loved this second installment even more!

Zinnia has been jumping through a multiverse of Sleeping Beauty stories, but when she looks into a mirror and sees Snow White's Evil Queen asking her for help, she finds herself pulled into a completely new tale. Zinnia knows how to move through the Sleeping Beauty multiverse, but she's not sure how to get out of the Snow White multiverse she's now trapped in. And she's starting to realize the villains might be just a trapped in their stories as the princesses. Plus she might be developing feelings for the not-so-evil queen.

This series does such a great job of both acknowledging and subverting fairytale stereotypes. Harrow gives us glimpses into a multitude of different reimaginings of these fairytales and I just love the creativity of these novellas. These books are about women taking back their agency. While the first novella focused on the "heroines" of fairytales, this one focuses on the villainization of women. I loved Eva, the Evil Queen, and the way her relationship to Zinnia developed. I'd highly recommend these books!

I was given a free advanced reader’s copy of A Mirror Mended by Tordotcom via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Tordotcom!

A Mirror Mended is the second novella in Alix E. Harrow’s Fractured Fables series, and it takes place about five years after the events of A Spindle Splintered (read my review here). Zinnia Gray still has Generalized Roseville Malady (GRM), but since the events of the previous novella basically reset the effects of the disease back to zero, Zinnia finds she has more years left than she anticipated.

A lot has happened over the past five years, and Zinnia has traveled to dozens of versions of Sleeping Beauty and saved more princesses than she can count. It’s during the after-party of one such tale that a hungover Zinnia makes her way to the bathroom only to see a reflection in the mirror that doesn’t match her own. Thinking it must be another damsel in distress, she reaches out her hand to touch the mirror. However, the person on the other side promptly grasps Zinnia’s wrist and drags her out of Sleeping Beauty all together.

Zinnia quickly deduces she has been dragged into the story of Snow White, which should be against the rules she’s formulated for herself whilst traversing the various versions of Sleeping Beauty. However, she soon realizes not only is she in a different story, but she’s also been snatched into this world by none other than the Evil Queen herself! Even more surprising, though, is the Evil Queen needs Zinnia’s help. She’s not ready to give in to her storybook fate, and her request reveals something might be wrong with the fairy tale universe. Zinnia must decide whether or not to help the Queen or escape, and she’s got to do it fast before more weird things happen in fairyland.

I really enjoyed continuing this series! After the ending of the first novella, I was really curious to see what became of Zinnia. What has she done with her new lease on life? Well, it turns out she has royally messed up her personal life. She thought for her entire life that she would die by the age of twenty-one, and instead of sticking with her friends and family who have suffered through this with her, she runs away into story after story saving everyone but herself. I really wanted to smack her sometimes, as I’m sure Charm and Prim were tempted to do. She had to learn to stop running and live her life. Death comes in the end for all of us, and we just have to enjoy the time we have with those we love.

Another thing about this novella is the author, Alix E. Harrow, is great at turning fairy tale tropes around and twisting them in ways the reader doesn’t expect. This story is no exception. I mean, of course the Evil Queen wants to escape a fate of death, but there turns out to be much more to her story than the reader, and Zinnia, first suspect. Zinnia has to learn to let go of preconceived notions about fairy tales and villains and heroes. She has to learn that sometimes the people who need saving aren’t who you think, and sometimes people don’t need to be saved at all.

The only thing I didn’t like so much about this story was the ending. Don’t get me wrong, the ending was hopeful and happy in its way, but it was also very bittersweet. I felt like there should have been more there. I am hopeful that we see more of Eva and Zinnia in future installments, but I understand if that doesn’t happen. I just want Zinnia to be happy and feel settled. She won’t be able to do that by continuing to hop through the fairy tale multiverse, though, and she knows it.

Overall, this story was such fun to read. Zinnia is sassy, sarcastic, and smart, and even though her approach to life is flawed, that just makes her all the more enjoyable to read about. I loved the recurring message of not judging people at face value and the importance of agency as well. I definitely look forward to reading future installments in this series!

I gave A Mirror Mended by Alix E. Harrow four out of five stars. It was a very enjoyable read, and I loved the way Harrow twists fairy tales and expectations to craft relatable characters. The only reason I didn’t give it five stars was because of the ending, and that’s a very subjective view. This could easily be someone else’s five-star read. I have enjoyed both novellas in this series so far, and I can’t wait to read more.

Alix E. Harrow simply can't miss. This was so good. I don't typically like fairy tale retellings, but Harrow's series is THE outlier. They are short, fun, interesting, and have great commentary.

I'm a big fan of Alix E. Harrow's novels so when I heard she was putting her spin on some classic fairytales with her Fractured Fables series, I couldn't resist diving in. The series, which tackles Sleeping Beauty in the first book and Snow White in this one, does not disappoint either. It's a unique blend of fantasy and science fiction, complete with a multiverse where the main character encounters different incarnations of each fairytale as she moves between worlds. It was fascinating and very entertaining. A Mirror Mended is also a direct continuation of the first book, A Spindle Splintered, so you'll want to read these in order.

Harrow's premise is a great one too. Her protagonist, Zinnia Gray, has a terminal illness and knows her time is limited. When she realizes she can enter versions of the Sleeping Beauty tale, she decides to make it her mission to save as many princesses in distress as she can. If she can't have a happy ending herself, why shouldn't she help someone else? Well, that's the first book. A Mirror Mended picks up about 5 years after the first book, and Zinnia is burnt out on saving Sleeping Beauties. She is finishing up her latest rescue when she encounters a woman in a mirror who says she needs help. Zinnia reaches out to touch the mirror and is transported out of the Sleeping Beauty tale and into Snow White. The twist here is that it's not Snow White herself who is begging for a different ending, it's the Evil Queen.

I loved this unique idea of having Zinnia help the villain rather than the protagonist. It's a fun, fast paced story and I really enjoyed the unexpected relationship that develops between Zinnia and the Queen. I don't want to spoil anything about how their story plays out, but it's such a satisfying read. I really hope that Harrow will continue this series and tackle more fairytales with her creative flair. Her Fractured Fables are some of the best retellings I've ever read!

I don't have many intelligent things to say about this book, it was just delightful. I got to see Alix E. Harrow while she was on her book tour for this and can confirm she is also delightful.
I'm happy/sad to hear that she thinks this will be the last of the Fractured Fables. Part of me hopes she changes her mind because these are quite fun to read and easy to finish. The inside of my head more closely resembles an attic full of squirrels than a functioning brain lately, so I haven't been able to really sit down and read much. These novellas were the perfect length for my short and dusty attention span. On the other hand, these two feed into each other so nicely and everything is tied up so so well that I feel very satisfied.
It's not a spoiler to say that this book trades Sleeping Beauty for Snow White, but that's about all I can say without giving anything away. I can also say there are more memes in this one, Tamsyn Muir-style. If you liked the first one you'll almost certainly like this one, too. If you like fairytale retellings this is definitely for you, but even if you don't (I don't dislike them, but I don't usually seek them out), I think it's still well worth a read.

This is going to sound so, so, so cliche, but one of the primary thoughts I had while reading this book was that infamous quote from “The Dark Knight”. You know the one: “You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.”

“A Mirror Mended”, as if you weren’t aware, is the follow-up novella to the absolutely brilliant “A Spindle Splintered”, which introduces us to Zinnia, a young woman just about to turn 21 and who is quickly on her way to dying of a terminal disorder/syndrome/malady she developed in the womb from pollution in her hometown. Basically, she’s got only weeks to live. But her lifelong obsession with the tale of Sleeping Beauty and her degree in folklore leads to her bestie throwing her a themed 21st birthday party, complete with a spinning wheel she found at a flea market. And what do you know? Prick your finger on a spindle for funsies and all of a sudden she’s hurtled across space and time like a fairy tale version of Doctor Who (yes, I am repeating a joke from this book) and discovers that there is, essentially, a Sleeping Beauty multiverse. (Insert the rest of the plot of that book here.)

Well, here in “A Mirror Mended”, I guess you can kind of tell right away that Zinnia isn’t in Sleeping Beauty multiverse land anymore, right? You’d be correct! She’s in a bathroom at a wedding, looks in a mirror in the bathroom, and there’s a woman asking her for help. Before she knows it, she’s being pulled through the mirror and–lo and behold–there’s a multiverse full of Snow Whites too! Only Harrow doesn’t focus on the princess in this installment. Zinnia was pulled through the mirror by who we usually identify as the “Evil Queen”.

There’s a whole lot going on in this fast and clever read, but it never feels like Harrow is cramming in too much for us readers to be expected to extrapolate on our own or to keep up. She doesn’t just throw information and plot at us and expect it to stick as she hurries on her way to the next scene. It’s simply that these books don’t take place over a long period of time. It’s maybe a day or two. Most of that is spent traveling with Zinnia’s inner narrative to provide exposition, entertain us, and to keep us thinking about what Harrow is trying to convey. Some of it is spent on emotional and sometimes witty dialogue scenes that serve as social and cultural commentary, and maybe a glop of it is spent on action scenes.

Both of the books in this series spend a lot of time with the idea of agency and crafting your own narrative, and that brings me back to “The Dark Knight” quote. Zinnia comes to the realization early on that the Evil Queen was once just a girl whose father made her decisions for her and she obeyed like she should. Then she became a queen who obeyed a king she didn’t love and then became the object of his anger when she could not produce that which he required of her. She had lived so long doing the things everyone told her were the right things to do that when she had the chance to do something for herself she found she couldn’t give that independence up… making her the villain of her own story. Zinnia herself finds out that even though she has been traveling throughout the multiverse trying to save as many Sleeping Beauties as possible from their terrible fates (if they wished to be saved) while simultaneously outrunning her own disease that will eventually kill her if she stays in her own timeline for too long, there are serious repercussions to her actions that are going to make her into a villain before she knows it if she doesn’t stop playing the hero. She has to write herself a new narrative for a new life in her own timeline and let her story end where it may. It may not end happily ever after, but may it end happily.

Overall, I liked “A Mirror Mended” slightly less than “A Spindle Splintered”, but that could be my Sleeping Beauty bias (yes, Princess Aurora is my favorite and she always belongs in the blue dress). But both books read back-to-back (I read the first one yesterday) is a really stunning read altogether. If you haven’t read these yet because they look like children’s books, I can assure you they are not. I highly, highly recommend them.

Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan-Tor/Forge, and Tordotcom for granting me early access to this title in exchange for a fair and honest review.

In this sequel we are once again exploring variations on traditional fairytales, but instead of just Sleeping Beauty, this time we get to explore Snow White.

I liked this better than the first in the series (A Spindle Splintered). I found that the main character, Zinnia, was not as annoying as she was in the first installment. I don’t know if this is because I listened to the first one as an audiobook, whereas I read this as an eARC, or if the character growth from book one to book two has made Zinnia less annoying. I also liked the evil queen character, her story was much more interesting than the princess in the first book, though I would have liked her to be more evil to begin with so that there could be more character growth by the end of the story.

I also liked that the twist on the fairy tale in this story felt more original than the twist in book one, but with how many fairy tale retellings that have been written before, this one does not rise above as anything particularly special.

This was the third book by Harrow that I have tried and I haven’t been wowed by any of them, so I probably won’t be picking up another of her works.

While I didn’t think this book was anything special, it is a good sequel and adds to the story from the first installment so if you liked A Mirror Mended, I would recommend picking this one up and giving it a try.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for my honest review.