I was granted complimentary eARC access to Mirrors and Mysteries by Christina Bauer as part of my participation in a blog tour for this title with XPresso Book Tours. Thank you to all involved in affording me this opportunity! My thoughts are my own and my review is honest.

I've been a big fan of Bauer's writing for a couple of years now, and when I reviewed Towers and Tithes last year I fell in love with this story arc in particular. I absolutely could not wait to keep reading! I was under the impression that this arc would be a duology within the Magicorum series, not sure why, but I'm delighted to find that there's another piece of the puzzle coming. Give me more!

Greyson is free, but all is not well. Dex is blind and there are still plenty of fires to put out. This book follows Greyson and Dex as they hop through magic mirrors trying to figure out who's behind the big, sinister operation that's working to keep them apart (among other goals,) and why. They need to know the truth behind Rapunzels, and that good old human classic Greyson loves so much, Jane Eyre, seems to have something to do with it.

As with all of the books in their series, this was a quick and easy read that really doesn't have any dull moments. With that said, much like the previous book in the storyline, this feels much more mature than I'm used to Christina Bauer books feeling. We do get appearances by characters like Ella, a classic bubbly, impulsive teenaged Bauer girl, but Greyson and Dex feel older. Most characters in these books go up against the world at one point or another, but it has changed these characters at some point. If you're here for bubbly Ella or characters like the ones you'll find in Angelbound or Pixieland Diaries, this arc that started with Towers and Tithes isn't for you. If you're a fan of slightly older, more gritty and honest styles of fairytale retelling fantasy (like those written by Mercedes Lackey,) these books are your ideal next read!

Mirrors and Mysteries follow Dex and Grayson. Dex is a shifter and he is the future Brutus and Grayson is also a shifter. The book opens up with Lady R (Rapunzel) who is the current Rapunzel. putting a blinding spell on Dex. After Dex is unable to break this spell and is left alone in the middle of the woods and he needs to navigate his way home. His wolf instinct kicks in and he is able to navigate his way. On his way back he stumbles into Grayson. She knows the powers of Lady R all too well and thankfully she is free of her.

Grayson is heading to Thornfield in hopes of landing a job. Dex offers her a position as a teacher to help teach the young cubs. You know that the more time Grayson and Dex spend together you know what will happen. I loved their interactions together. Dex was so patient, caring, and compassionate to Grayson. Grayson is struggling because even though she is free from Lady R, she still hears Lady R in her head. Will Grayson be able to overcome it and finally break free of Lady R? Will she be able to believe in herself?

With loads of twists and turns this fast read is a delightful addition to the series. Get ready for a Can't Put This Book Down Read! Thanks #netgalley and #MonsterHouseBooks for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

Dex is blinded by Lady R and thrown into the woods. Luckily his shifter magic is still there so he can find his way back home. Grayson is free from Lady R and in search of a job and finds herself at Thornfield as a teacher for young pups. With Dax as her boss, they start to spend a lot of time together and get to know each other and the sparks just fly. :)

But the mystery is still not solved. With Jocasta demanding that they find the true nature of Rapunzels. There is also a bit of a Jane Eyre template thrown into the mix. :)

I just love Dax in Mirrors & Mysteries. Even though he is blind and the fate of his home depends on him finding his Vita, he is still so compassionate with her and patient. You can just feel his affection for her.

Grayson is being thrown into a completely new environment. She is finally free, but the voice of Lady R is still in her head. It takes a lot of bravery for her to overcome it and believe in herself. I loved finding out about her heritage with her.

It's the ninth book in the series, that I just love. Every few books there is a new romance and new magical template with a lot of new twists and turns. I loved reading it and couldn't put it down until the end. :) And now I can't wait for the next book. It's a quite short and quick read, but nonetheless totally awesome. :)

I couldn't put this one down. I think this is becoming my favorite series of Ms. Bauer's. While you may not see her other characters from the series, they do get mentioned. It has strong characters and ones who grow into being a strong character.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Grayson is glad she no longer has to serve Lady R. Her new position has her teaching shifter orphans at Thornfield. Not only does she get to mold young minds, her boss is Dex, the sexy alpha. Because of fairy tale life templates, things must go sideways. Enter Jocasta, a witch that demands Dex and Grayson learn the truth about Rapunzels. Will they be able to uncover the answer or will Grayson have to return to Lady R’s dominion. As Grayson and Dex work closely together, will they come to terms with their feelings?

Mirrors and Mysteries is the ninth book in the Fairy Tales of the Magicorum series. Goodreads says that this is the last book in the Dex and Grayson story, but it is not! Bauer tells us in the author’s note at the beginning that she needed another book to explore everything with these characters and as readers make it to the end of the story they will be content with anticipation that there is more to come. I enjoyed learning more background on these characters even as information about others was sprinkled throughout. A fun, quick read that will have readers looking for more.

I'm always on board to ride with Christina. Her books are fantastic, exciting, magical and all around fun!

I absolutely adore fairytale retellings and when they're done with such precision and art they are so much fun to read.

Mirrors and Mysteries is the 9th book in the Fairy Tales of the Magicorum series, a fantasy series that mixes the modern world that we are used to with the fairy tales we all know and love. Members of the Magicorum are all either a shifter, a faerie, or a witch, and every member of the Magicorum is destined to follow a fairy tale template- i.e. they will follow the fate and story of a certain fairy tale character, although some choose to fight that destiny rather than follow it. Mirrors and Mysteries follows Dex, a shifter and future Brutus, and Grayson, future Vita and shifter who may have something else hiding in her, as they run from Lady R, the current Rapunzel, and discover who they are meant to be and what else hides beneath them.

I will preface this review by saying that this book was my introduction to Christina Baur and this particular series, so I have not read the rest of the series (yet) and that may inform my review. However, I did enjoy this book quite a bit. It was a fun reimagining of both Rapunzel and Jane Eyre that shows a darker side of both. The melding of fantasy world with the modern one was done quite easily and did not feel awkward as urban fantasy sometimes does. The magic does not take itself too seriously, which I say as a compliment as it never felt too heavy or complicated. There were lots of twists and reveals in this book which give it some depth and keep the story moving. I also greatly enjoyed the artwork in the book and how it expanded the world.

The writing in this book did sometimes feel a bit simplistic, perhaps. The characters did a lot of actions but did not seem to feel much, and I would have liked to see into their minds and inner worlds a bit more and get to know them better. This is also a small criticism, but I did notice a few typos in the book that sometimes confused the meaning on the sentence- for example, one sentence where 'you' was switched out for 'him'.

All in all, this was a cute and fun novella. It was a fairly short and light read, which I do mean as a compliment. This book would be great for anyone looking for a fun and easy to read fairy tale imagining, and I am absolutely interested in reading the rest of the series ad finding out how Dex and Grayson's story concludes.

Once again we are reunited with Dex (Brutus), and Grayson, his Vita. Despite suffering the aftereffects of a spell from Lady R that has left Dex without vision, his senses are more than enough to compensate.

Grayson has appeared at Thornfield to assume the role of teacher. While there she learns more of her past and is able to unlock certain memories that were trapped within.

We also learn the truth of Jocasta, Lady R and Grayson's relationship with the both of them. Grayson has a hard time denying her inner wolf, as she is constantly battling her lack of self esteem, and therefore her true worth to Dex.

This was a fabulous edition to the series and I can't wait to see where Christina takes us next!

An enjoyable and quick read for the next adventures of Dex and Grayson. Dex knows what Grayson is to him, but she has been torn down deeply by Lady R and the Prism Master to believe she is ugly and worthless. Grayson finds comfort teaching at the school, but has unfinished business. Dex is cursed by Lady R but it does not stop him from trying to save Wulfhelm and the orphans who seek sanctuary there. Dex and Grayson have to discover the truth behind the Rapunzel fairy tales to save Wulfhelm from the Prism Master, who have been pulling the strings behind Wulfhelm’s diminished protection barrier. They have to learn and understand the past in order to save the future and those they care for. But the sacrifice of one is not something either want, but finding another way when the decision has been decided is difficult. Time and options are running out, for the Prism Master sends his final plans in motion.
I received this novel from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.