Member Reviews
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The second book in the Lost Bride Trilogy opens exactly where the first (Inheritance) ended. I did find this book moved a bit more slowly than the first; clues about the curse are slower in coming, however it's still a great story. I'm very excited to find out how this trilogy will end!
The first book hooked me and I flew through the pages of this sequel! The characters themselves are interesting enough-Sonya's personal growth and really settling into her home. Then add in the increasingly complex history of the house itself and it's former inhabitants and I couldn't stop reading! I really enjoyed how this book dove even further into the past and we really get to learn more about all of the brides. I'm anxiously anticipating the next book! This book had everything for me: multiple timelines, romance, humor, ghosts!
I love the Lost Brides book and cannot wait for the next one!! Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley.
This book was sadly very disappointing, especially for an author of Nora Roberts' caliber.
I had such high hopes for the story but it fell far short of my expectations, especially since I'd expected it to be so much better than the first but it wasn't.
The story dragged on too much on the mundane, everyday activities of the main characters that added very little value. The supernatural elements were so few and sprinkled throughout the story as if like an afterthought rather than the main meat of the matter. Even the romance was understated and left me in disbelief that Nora Roberts wrote this.
The story had so little impact and missed the rich and deep, meaningful writing that is Nora Roberts' signature style. For example, the Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy was so rich and I would have thought this story would be just as rich.
It left me feeling very unhappy and I also felt cheated, because this story had so much potential.
I might still read the third book, just to see the conclusion but at this point, I am becoming very discouraged in trying out the new Nora Roberts' releases.
Such a beautifully written book. This is book two in the Lost Bride Trilogy. While her first book was spectacular, I enjoyed this one as well. It was a bit heavier on the ghost storyline as opposed to the romance storyline, which was surprising to me. Still enjoyed!
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC, all opinions are my own
We needed this book and the deeper dive into the main characters relationships and connections. As a middle book it moved slower and was definitely the bridge between the start and the finish. I loved the background and history and all of the family in this story. I am so excited for the villain to get what's coming to her and to read what's next.
The secret book in the lost bride series. A excellent book and can’t wait to read the next book. Due to an illness I was unable to compete book in a timely manner but finally did .
When Sonya MacTavish inherits a sprawling Victorian mansion on the windswept coast of Maine, she has no idea the house harbors restless spirits. The creaking footsteps, slamming doors, and eerie music that echo through the night are far from her imagination. In her dreams, she glimpses fragments of the past, while the present reveals strange portraits of brides. But it is the visions of an antique mirror that captivate her, a mirror she senses holds the key to dark family secrets.
One fateful night, the mirror manifests before her, and Sonya steps through its glass, slipping into the past. There, she witnesses a bride brutally murdered on her wedding day, her golden ring ripped from her hand—a scene destined to repeat itself under the weight of an ancient curse. To free the bride and end the haunting cycle, Sonya must unravel the mystery before time runs out.
Glad that I got to read this early. So many people recommended this future trilogy. This was almost as good as the first book. Can't wait to read the last book, because this is really dragging along. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
Picking up exactly where The Inheritance left off, The Mirror immediately brings the reader back to the mystical world of the main character. You are once again experiencing the mystery, angst and determination felt by Sonya.
The book builds upon the various personal relationships, friendships and romance as well as the convergence of real and mystical worlds. The characters develop stronger ties, more curiosity and mental strength to continue with Sonya on the journey to resolve the mysteries of the Lost Brides.
While there was some, perhaps overdone development also of daily routines and other unnecessary ‘fluff’, it didn’t distract from the major storyline enough to have a negative impact on the overall novel.
As most of Nora Roberts’ transitional Book Twos in a series, the plot was furthered along and sets the reader up for an anxious wait for Book Three and the conclusion of the journey.
As a reader who is not a ‘believer’ of hauntings etc., the mix of playful hauntings along with the depth of the antagonist haunting drew me in quickly and has kept my interest throughout the two books. I look forward to Book Three.
The Mirror picks up right where The Inheritance left off, and I was so excited to dive back into this world that Nora Roberts created.
Unfortunately, this book suffered the curse of trilogies. While the plot and characters intrigued me, I couldn't help but be distracted by the pacing. The pacing was unbearably slow. It felt like forever for anything to happen and gave way too many details about things I could care less about.
The premise is so intriguing and has so much potential, but for me, The Mirror just fell flat. I missed the chemistry, creepy vibes, and overall tension. I missed what captivated me and made me fall in love with The Inheritance.
While The Mirror left me unsatisfied, I'm still glad to have given it a chance. I'm invested enough that I'll most likely read the final book in the Lost Bride series. I need answers, resolution, and some steam would be great too.
Just when you think the story can't get any better, Nora Roberts create book 2 in a trilogy that you can't put down. I listened to this audiobook in just a few days, I couldn't stop listening and wondering how they will be able to save all the wives and kept Sonya and the gang safe? I love how Nora creates a sense of community in her stories with characters you care about and want to hear more of their life and history. I can't wait until the final book in this series.
I absolutely loved the first book in “The Lost Bride Trilogy” — “Inheritance” ended with an expected cliffhanger and I am so delighted to catch up with Sonya’s quest to break the curse of the seven tragic brides of the definitely haunted mansion.
“The Mirror” picks up where “Inheritance” left off, so my advice would be to read the first book and then enjoy the extension of the tale in this one. Trey, Cleo, Owen are back to support Sonya and they have named and taunted the black witch responsible for the curse, Hester Dobbs, who angrily resides in the manor’s “Gold Room.” The collective thought is that they need to find the seven stolen wedding rings from each bride, and the mysterious magical mirror assists Poole family members (Sonya and Owen) to pass through time to witness the tragic wedding receptions.
I must admit that Nora Roberts’ extensive playlist (overseen by the 6th ghost bride, Clover), that communicates ghostly thoughts via ringtones was always a delight. We really could use a Poole genealogy chart in these books (although that would probably mean spoilers….). And by this volume, we’re getting used to the ghostly maid Molly who guides Sonya and Cleo’s fashion choices as well as ghost kid Jack who plays ball with Yoda the dog. There’s a mix of delightful vignettes and terrifying encounters, but the story does lag midway — we get to participate in many meals, oil paintings, business presentations, and the building of a spectacular doghouse. It’s a problem common with the middle book of a trilogy, but since there are seven brides, the story is necessarily lengthy in order to witness each victim’s fate.
Nonetheless, I love this book and I cannot wait for the third and final one — which I hope is published in 2025. 5 stars!
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Our main character, Sonya, has green eyes. In fact, the Poole family is recognized by their green eyes. Cleo’s new cat, Pyewacket, also has the Poole green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO But, yay! Xena, the African violet, is back and doesn’t mind living and thriving in a haunted house. Cleo and Sonya’s gardening skills are just-so, plus A+ for enthusiasm.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!
I can't believe I have to wait again! I mistakenly thought that this was the last book, but there is one more and now I have to wait. I am still loving all of the characters and the manor that is just as alive as the characters in the novel and I will now be not so patiently waiting for the third book and finding out how and if they get rid of Dobbs and get the 7 rings back.
In this second book of THE LOST BRIDE trilogy, Sonya McTavish is living in a beautiful mansion she inherited in Maine, along with her friend Cleo and an assortment of ghosts, because the gorgeous home holds a lot of haunted secrets. And not all of the ghosts are friendly. There is one horrible witch who has killed seven brides on their wedding day. Sonya finds an enchanted mirror and is able to travel back to those murders to try and stop her.
The magical realism works very well in this story. Nora Roberts does a great job of making the house come alive with magic and sometimes evil. The backstories of the ghosts and of Sonya herself are intriguing. This wasn't marketed as horror, but does have some horror elements and sometimes gets a little dark for my personal taste, but overall this is a wonderful second book in the series. It ends on a cliffhanger, but the third book of the trilogy is coming.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
The Inheritance was one of my favorite books of 2023 and I was so excited to see The Mirror available to review. The Mirror leaves off right where The Inheritance ended with Sonya and Owen going into the mirror where Sonya sees a glimpse of the past and the murder of a bride on her wedding day. The bride's wedding ring torn from her finger. After returning from the mirror, Sonya is determined to find a way to break the curse of the Lost Bride Manor.
The audiobooks for this series is amazing. Brittany Pressley does a phenomenal job in giving each character their unique presence in these books. Her narration brings another level to this already amazing series. Although The Mirror was slower in pacing than the first book, it gave a lot of background to the previous brides of the manor and the curse. It also did a great job in building the story up for what I am hoping is a fantastic conclusion to this series. I am so excited to see what is next for these characters.
The Mirror is available November 19th.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to review The Mirror. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
*The Mirror* drew me in with its eerie atmosphere and the allure of dark family secrets. The mansion on the Maine coast was the perfect setting, blending the supernatural with a sense of history, making Sonya’s discoveries feel haunting and inevitable. I loved how the tension built with every door slam and ghostly vision, and the cursed mirror added a layer of mystery that kept me hooked.
Despite this, I found myself yearning for a shift in perspective at times. A new or different POV would have injected fresh energy and made the narrative more dynamic. It added a bit more zest, especially when the story lingered on certain details. However, the journey into the past was utterly captivating, and unravelling the curse was chilling and deeply satisfying.
I’m very late in this review. Unfortunately at the same time I was sent this arc, my dad ended up in the hospital. Two brain surgeries (one being emergent), almost lost him and almost 40 days later he was able to come home.
Anyways, I am absolutely in love with this trilogy. It has the perfect magical setting for an October read. The characters are incredible, and I definitely need a Molly in my life!! I’m so excited for what book 3 will bring.
Finally, the second book in this series and it didn’t disappoint! I love the Maine coast setting and Nora Roberts brings the mansion to life with her wonderful descriptions. The evil ghost in the mansion continues to raise a ruckus while the good ghosts make life easier and fun. Cleo and Owen start to become a couple and Sonya and Trey’s love grows stronger. I loved it and can’t wait to read the conclusion.
Absolutely amazing series. I savour this series as I am so sad when I hit the end. These characters are like no other. They are so beautifully brought to life. The story line flows wonderfully. This has a little suspense and mystery, epic supernatural storylines and the most amazing relationships playing out. Where else can you read a heartwarming book about family and friends in a unique atmosphere but also have a serious ghost story and haunting going on. No where! This is one of the best series of all time.
The only critique I have is the second book picks up literally as a continuation of the first and with almost a year between books it took me a bit for everything to come back to memory
Plot: The Mirror picks up where Inheritance left off, with Sonya and Owen through said mirror. And that's all I'm going to say about the plot because I don't want to spoil y'all for anything since this is the second book in the series!
What I Loved: I'm really obsessed with Nora's paranormals. I love the way she crafts characters. This is, however, a book you need to pick up when you're definitely ready for the way Nora Roberts does slow and soft interspersed with intense paranormal moments. There's a party being planned in this book and there is so much party planning, while you're also dealing with Dobbs stuff (ghost). What's killing me about this is that I want to be able to binge the entire trilogy, but as I'm reading them technically before they even come out, that's not really possible. But honestly, such a good time!
Who I Would Recommend The Mirror To: Well, first of all, people who've already read and enjoyed Inheritance, obviously. But more seriously, someone who wants a cozy spooky read. Basically, if you like getting to really see someone's day to day life and you want a realistic feeling slow-building romance, I would definitely recommend this trilogy. I'm honestly so excited to reread this one via audio when it comes out!