Love that the story takes place before cell phones!

It was solid but there were times where I just couldn't stay connected to the characters.

Though I was in the mood for a good sibling magic story, the writing - which I have struggled with for this author before - kept me from finding their plight very interesting. I stopped reading this book at 15%

With "Splintered Magic," L.L. McKinney brings to life the intriguing world of the family curse in The Mirror quartet, adding depth and dimension to this evolving fairy-tale series. Set against the backdrop of the bustling New York City in 2000, this novel sees twins Trey and Tai navigating the perils of high school while also grappling with an inherited legacy of magic that seems to be as much a gift as a curse.

One of the strengths of this installment is Trey and Tai. McKinney paints a detailed portrait of a young musician (Trey) wrestling with the unpredictability of his powers and the ambitions of his dreams. Tai's storyline, with her photographic adventures laced with hints of the supernatural, is both creative and unsettling, adding layers of tension to the overall narrative. The twins' dynamic is genuine and poignant, and their bond forms the emotional core of the story.

The exploration of family ties and secrets in "Splintered Magic" is commendably deep. As Trey and Tai delve into the mystery of their mother's disappearance and the truths of their ancestors, readers are treated to a mesmerizing blend of urban fantasy and family drama. The legacy of the curse is palpable, making the stakes feel real and personal.

However, as the fourth book in a series, newcomers might occasionally feel a bit disoriented. A prior knowledge of the preceding novels does enhance the reading experience. Still, McKinney's storytelling is engaging enough that even new readers can dive in and become absorbed in the twins' journey.

In conclusion, "Splintered Magic" is an evocative addition to The Mirror quartet. L.L. McKinney's voice is both fresh and familiar, capturing the universal themes of family, legacy, and self-discovery within a magical context.

Oh no I didn't realize that when I requested this book I was so intrigued by the synopsis in the beginning that I didn't read the bold after part that this was the final book in a series that I haven't read yet. I am going to give it a 3 for now then go read all the others and update my review later.

A magical tale of one family trying to break a legendary family curse. The fourth book in the series, this magical tale is a world you can fall into for the first time, or come back for a family visit.
I have greatly enjoyed this story and look forward to reading the rest of the series. Starting with the fourth book was odd, but it was also fun.

Splintered Magic serves as a remarkable conclusion to this captivating series. The author skillfully ties up loose ends, providing readers with a deeply gratifying ending that brings the story full circle.

I have to start by saying that this has been such a fun series to read. It's really cool seeing this one family through different time periods and different cultures blending together. And while I won't spoil the ending, I will say that I did find this a satisfying conclusion to a fun adventure. I really liked that we got to follow twins this time. Trey and Tai are close but have very different powers and personalities, which helps to give different perspectives to the drama going on. This story has magic, family, bisexuality representation, and...oh yeah, guys in white suits coming after the twins and forcing them to run for their lives. It feels like a nice blend of light action and coming of age.

I will say, the pacing did feel a little slow for me, so a few times I did find myself skimming over a section. But overall I found the plot simple yet satisfying, and the characters were likable. One thing that was a little bit harder for me was the casual use of the n-word. It's used in the colloquial way that some Black teens use it, especially at that time, so it didn't feel out of character or in a way meant to be offensive. But for me personally, it's really uncomfortable to read, so if you're similar to me that's something to be mindful of. It doesn't take away from the story but it did lessen my personal enjoyment a little bit.

My favorite parts of the book were the family moments between the twins and their dad. It felt so real and relatable. Their dad is protective and caring and will clearly do anything for his kids, and is also silly and likes to make jokes, while at the same time helping them stay in line. It really highlighted for me the overall importance of family as the focus of the book, of the series. I love stories that focus on the beauty of family – a beauty that can exist even when there's family mistakes and secrets and disagreements. And this book connected back to all of the other ones in such a nice way, again highlighting that value of family. It was really cool and made it all seem full circle.

3.75/5

I have really enjoyed this series and this book was a great conclusion ending. If you enjoyed the other books in this series you will enjoy this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.

This was good and it was very enjoyable and entertaining. It held my interest and I felt deeply involved in the lives of Trey and Tai. Great book!
I just reviewed Splintered Magic by L.L. McKinney. #SplinteredMagic #NetGalley
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3.5 stars
This was a solid conclusion to this series. It brought everything around full circle and had a satisfying ending.
This series follows generations of one family and each book is written by a different author. In this book, we follow Tai and Trey, twins who are descended from our first main character Elva. They both have magical powers like their mom who went missing 10 years ago. Trey is able to break things, usually unintentionally, he also changes his hair color in the beginning and he has a knack for music. Tai can see visions in reflective surfaces. Then one day at school, the twins start being followed by people in white suits. These people are very dangerous and Tai and Trey start to learn a lot more about their powers.
I liked Tai and Trey a lot, they had a great relationship with their dad who did everything he could to be a great parent after their mom disappeared. Tai also meets Ayesha and the relationship they form is so sweet and innocent.
The plot of this book actually felt quite fast. I managed to read the whole book in 4 days which is quick for me. I was intrigued enough to keep picking it up. The very beginning felt a little slow, but the white suits show up pretty early on in the book and after that, there are some action scenes and we start to learn secrets.
The only thing that brought this down a tiny bit was the writing style. There were times when I was pulled out of the story a little bit, but not so much that I felt the need to read slower or put the book down. Like I said, my intrigue was pretty high.
I don't want to spoil anything, especially since this the series finale, but it was just very cool how everything came around full circle with the first book taking place so many generations ago. We get all of our questions answered and the ending is very wonderful.

This was such an interesting read! I found myself so engrossed in the story, the characters had such incredible arcs, and I can't wait to follow this author's journey!

Twins Tai and Trey are about to turn 16 - knowing that every year on their birthday, something bad happens. And this year, oh, boy, does it! Tai and Trey are already unusual, because they both have magic: Tai can see things in mirrors, and Trey can make things change - often unintentionally; at the start of the book, he's accidentally turned his usual corn rows into a clown wig, and he can't change it back. But that's minor compared to the people in white suits who show up at their school searching for them on the morning of their birthday. From there, things get weird. Together, the twins, along with Tai's new girlfriend, Ayesha, find themselves on the run from the people in white - people who may hold the secret to the disappearance of the twins' mother a decade before.

This novel is set just after Y2K, which is relevant only because it accounts for the lack of cell phones, the presence of which could have significantly changed the plot. It deals with inherited magic - magic the twins are having difficulty learning to use because it comes from their mother, who vanished when they were 6. Their explorations into how to use their powers - especially while on the run from the people in white - is interesting to watch, as is the blossoming relationship between Tai and Ayesha, notable mostly because it is a near-instant connection; they meet one day and are a known pair of girlfriends the next, which seems a bit quick even for 16 year-olds. Appropriate for middle school through adult.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to @NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an eARC of this title.

The Perfect Series End!
The series started with [book:Broken Wish|52000222] by [author:Julie C. Dao|15215228]. Set 1800's Hanau, Germany it was the story of a witch, a couple desperate for a child, a broken promise, a young girl named Elva, and a curse on one family and their descendants.
Then [author:Dhonielle Clayton|7359319]'s [book:Shattered Midnight|57007816] shared the story of their descendants in 1920's New Orleans.
The third book, [book:Fractured Path|59568495] by [author:J.C. Cervantes|16948228], took us to 1965 San Francisco and introduced us to more descendants.

Now, with [book:Splintered Magic|52898852], the fourth and final book of the series, [author:L.L. McKinney|16354343] has brought us full circle. It is now the year 2000, and twins Trey & Tai live with their father in New York City. Their mother has been missing for ten years, and without her, the twins struggle to understand and control their powers.
I don't want to give away too much of the plot, but characters from the other books are either mentioned, or seen in this one. It is a fitting ending to a wonderful series.

I will defiantly purchase this one for my high school library.

L.L. McKinney shares an actively written story with mysticism and wonderful world-building. This is an ideal book to add to the classroom or school library -- a nice balance of adolescence and magic.