Unfortunately, this book fell flat for me. I really enjoyed Silver in the Bone, and even though it’s been a year since I read it, I feel like I got dropped in the middle of a different series. The tone was very different, with this book feeling more juvenile, even though it had more death and supposedly higher stakes. I think a big issue for me was Lord Death. The first book was them trying to find a ring and I felt like Lord Death wasn’t really a character until the end, and now all of a sudden he’s the big bad. The book also kept taking jarring turns that didn’t feel connected. One moment one of the characters is on death’s door (literally), the next moment he’s having sex with the main character. One moment a character is missing, the next they’re all fighting a dragon together. The book jumped from scene to scene with no connecting pages to make it flow. It felt like every scene change had a jump cut to get them where they needed to be.

Another wonderful Alex Bracken novel. The Mirror of Beasts masterfully continues the plot of book 1 without drawing the plot out past its bounds. The ending is a perfect balance of closure without complete finality.

What a whirlwind fantasy! This is such a great ending to this duology. It had me in all the feels and I never wanted it to end! I love the twist and turns making this King Authur retelling so unique. And that Epilogue!!!!! Oh my heart!!!! Fantastic ending!

A fantastic conclusion to the Silver in the Bone duology, THE MIRROR OF BEASTS completely blew me away. While book one was fantastic and 5 stars, this sequel is even better (if you can believe that) and worthy of 10 stars. ⁣
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This book ups the stakes for everyone involved. The characters are reeling from betrayal, but there’s no time to dwell because Lord Death still needs defeating. After getting word of a mysterious artifact that can trap him, Tamsin sets off on yet another quest to retrieve the Mirror of Beasts and hopefully stop Lord Death once and for all.⁣
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In case I haven’t said it already, I LOVED this sequel. It was everything from book 1, but amplified. The stakes are higher, the friendships/relationships are tested even harder, the danger is certainly more dangerous, and all combined to make this a tense ride from start to finish. There’s also a lot of emotion packed in to this book, which I certainly wasn’t expecting. I was feeling all the things right alongside Tamlin and I loved that it made me feel even more connected to her. All told, a fantastic conclusion to my new favorite duology. 5 stars. Pick this up if you enjoy:⁣
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⚔️Contemporary fantasy ⁣
⚔️Aurthurian retellings ⁣
⚔️Strong female characters⁣
⚔️Found family and sibling bonds ⁣
⚔️Epic quests⁣
⚔️Legends and folklore

I had higher hopes for this book and overall felt underwhelmed. The idea is good. I just felt there wasn’t even character building and the plot felt jumpy and i was left with lots of questions

I missed these characters! I love Tamsin and always love to read a story that explores sibling dynamics. While I had high hopes for this one, I wish the redemption aspects had been further explored. I also felt that it was lacking some of the darkness that I had loved about the first book in the series. Lastly, while I love Tamsin's POV, having the book be in first person felt limiting once the group split up.

The Mirror of Beasts by Alexandra Bracken is a mesmerizing continuation of a series I absolutely love. Bracken's captivating storytelling and rich world-building make each installment a thrilling and immersive experience that keeps me eagerly anticipating the next chapter.

4.5 stars

What an excellent sequel. I feel like the way this story grew in this sequel felt quite masterful. Bracken finally felt fully in control of her worldbuilding in a way that I didn’t feel like she quite mastered in the first.

The relationships of this book are what really sold it for me. Tamsin and the other girls’ friendship was such a beautiful thing. I loved seeing her heart soften for these young women.

I’m also very much obsessed with the Tamsin-Emrys plotline. Her shifted relationship with Cabell was also really interesting to see.

Overall, my heartstrings were really pulled and I feel like Bracken reined in her tendency for overly complicated plots and made this really beautiful.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tamsin’s world has been upended. As she copes with the events that happened surrounding Avalon, her greatest task is to stop Lord Death and keep the family she has whole. She and her friends are following clues to stop him as the guilds succumb to the wild hunt and the lure of Lord Death. The greater world of lore and secrets is opened and Tamsin fears she is not enough.

This was a good second half of the duology. The heart of the story once again addresses self worth, belonging and recognizing the strength we all have inside. Tamsin and each of her friends experience this in one way or another. The author does all this while taking us through a creative world with mystery, some sass and adventure. There is still a lot of story this world could tell, but Tamsin’s thread leaves you satisfied. 4 stars.

Review based on a digital Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by Random House Children’s - Knopf Books for Young Readers and NetGalley. Thank you!

What a stunning ending to an action-packed series!!

The Mirror of Beasts picks up immediately after the ending of Silver in the Bone. With Avalon now in ruins and Lord Death on his way to wreak havoc, Tamsin, Cait, Olwen, and Neve are left to deal with the consequences of their actions and find a way to save their world.

There was never a boring moment in this book. It's fast-paced, filled with action scenes, and has you constantly thinking what's next for these characters. I felt like A.B. did a wonderful job in developing Tamsin's growth from the first book and I loved her battle with her feelings towards her brother and Emrys. I also absolutely loved the emphasis on sisterhood and friendship between the girls. And Emrys???? God I love his relationship with Tamsin. The only downside I found was that there wasn't enough groveling on his part. I wanted waaaay more angst between them, but that ending was so insanely satisfying that I can kinda forgive it lol.

I highly highly recommend picking up Silver in the Bone if you haven't had the chance yet. It's an incredibly unique duology and I can't wait to see what A.B. has in store in the future!

Note to self: reread this duology because holy shit!

This is one of the rare few better written YA fantasies out there in this decade. It’s difficult to find a YA fantasy that doesn’t feel too immature or lackluster with the worldbuilding or character development, but Alexandra Bracken does it all so skillfully in the Silver in the Bone duology.

It’s dark. It’s complex. The author wove in Arthurian legend and the Wild Hunt in such a skillful manner that you can tell she’s paying homage to the original stories instead of using them willy nilly.

Tamsin feels like a real character with flaws. Her friends and the secondary characters also have their own distinctive personalities and feel like well-rounded characters too. It’s such a breath of fresh air to find secondary characters who aren’t just flat sounding boards to give the MC more dimension in their own character building.

I’ll say though, there was so much action in this installment that it was hard to keep up with what was happening. But I love this duology enough that I’ll definitely go back and do another reread. I might even rate this one higher after I can let it all soak in.

I can’t wait to read more of Alexandra Bracken’s work! And I don’t think I’ve ever said this, but I’m also pretty excited to do another reread either in the fall or winter so I can let the somber mood set in. This is definitely not a summer read.

Thank you to Knopf Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for this arc.

I fell head over heels for this sequel! It was flawlessly executed. I couldn't have asked for a better follow-up!

An incredible sequel to one of my most favorite reads! It took me a little to get back into it, but once I did- whew I devoured this book! Overall I really feel like it wrapped up the duology quite nicely! I absolutely loved the characters and the authors take on Arthurian legends.

thank you to netgalley for providing me with this arc.

I had originally gotten book one in a subscription based book service, having read the authors previous book "lore" i had gone in with high hopes. What I did not expect was to love book one, even thought arthurian legend retelling books have never been a topic that i enjoy reading about (much to my disappointment). Bracken did the unthinkable and had me pursuing reading book 2. Mirror of Beasts is everything a sequel should be. It reminded readers of events that happened without being too showy about it, it helped being reinformed on certain plotlines as it has been a while since reading book1.
I really liked Tamsin and the growth she showed in dealing with Emrys after his betrayal to her and the rest of their group. I think the arthurian legends retelling was done really well in a way that makes a lot of sense for a YA book, a lot of times retellings can feel overwhelming in terms of their base material but i think that Bracken has captured that really well in her writing.
I am unsure if this is a duology or a trilogy at this point in time as the book ended with an ending that could be a true ending or a set up for more with these characters down the line. Overall I really enjoyed this sequel.

I was so glad to get approved for The Mirror of Beasts, sequel to Silver in the Bone, as I was impatient to find out what happens next for Tamsin and friends!

Unfortunately, I do have to start off with a bit of a downer: since I had to wait over a year between the books, I didn’t remember all of the plot points, and when searching online for some sort of refresher, I was unlucky. So throughout the second book, there were events, characters, and references I simply did not recall, which overall didn’t prevent me from following the plot, but did make the story connect with me less. If I could have had some refresher of the split between priestesses and sorceresses and Avalon and the Otherlands and the overall magic system, etc., I think this story would have hit so much harder.

But, I did get the overall gist and was able to follow the new plot and new twists fine enough to enjoy the story. I will say though, with so many connections and such a unique magic system, I was often left confused within the story of Mirror of Beasts itself, and I did go back and reread my review of Silver in the Bone and had the same notes on that book. So, overall this duology does have an issue with clarifying the lore. I also had to look up the pronunciation of so many names, I wish there had been a guide.

On to the good part! I still really enjoyed that instead of a retelling, this was a story in its own right using elements of Arthurian legend. I think if you enjoyed the show Merlin, you’d like this duology! I loved the found family connections and the action as well as the star-crossed lovers, so I’m giving this four stars!

I’m excited to find out if Neve gets her own book??

Prepare yourself for the epic conclusion of the Silver in the Bone duology! Tamsin and her courageous allies stand as the final barrier against the dreaded Lord Death, but betrayal lurks at every turn, leaving them shaken. Determined to gather allies and powerful artifacts, Tamsin journeys through uncharted realms, desperately trying to halt The Wild Hunt. Amidst the pulse-pounding action, Arthurian legend intertwines with a poignant love story that will tug at your heartstrings.

Let me tell you, this duology ranks among the absolute best I’ve ever had the pleasure to devour. The theme of found family is expertly depicted, which is a personal weakness of mine. I laughed, cried, and felt every emotion alongside these characters, who became dear friends. Their flaws and struggles only made their journeys more compelling—I understood their choices, even when I disagreed.

Bracken’s storytelling prowess is masterful, pulling you into a whirlwind of emotions that left me sobbing uncontrollably—more than once, mind you! I’m honestly surprised I didn’t waterlog the pages with my tears; that’s how deeply this book affected me. The intricate blend of folklore, secrets, betrayals, and familial drama weaves a spellbinding tale that plunges you into dark depths, yet the journey is undeniably worth it. And fear not, amidst the emotional turbulence, a satisfyingly happy ending awaits despite the torrents of tears shed along the way.

If you’re drawn to complex, unforgettable characters, rich folklore and legends, and profoundly resonant family dynamics, do not miss out on this phenomenal duology.

Massive gratitude to NetGalley, the incredibly talented author, and the publisher for providing me with an E-ARC. This review reflects my honest and voluntary thoughts, utterly and completely my own.

The Mirror of Beasts is a bit of a mixed bag for me. Similar to Silver in the Bone, the world building felt a bit odd. It is a twist of Arthurian legends so that world comes to the forefront of my mind, then I was hit with something from the modern world that felt jarring. Two books in, I got used to it but it was a bit of a distraction. Tasmin is such a brat in Silver but does grow over the course of the series which was enjoyable though I loved pretty much all the other characters a bit more. Cabell's arc was really well done and I am glad that he had some POV chapters.

I appreciated the twists and turns, found family and the touch of romance. I did find a bit of the magic of her other work, missing here but I am such a fan of Alexandra's writing and enjoyed this duology overall.

3.5ish

This is the riveting conclusion to the Silver in the Bone duology. Tamsin and her allies are the last defense against Lord Death as betrayal on numerous fronts leaves them reeling. Tamsin seeks allies and powerful artifacts, venturing into new realms to find a way to stop The Wild Hunt. Arthurian legend blends seamlessly with contemporary action, reopening old wounds and rekindling a star-crossed love that will melt your heart.

This duology is easily one of the best I’ve ever read. The found family dynamic is beautifully portrayed. I am a sucker for found family. I felt each emotion the characters felt and I fell in love with so many of them. I could understand where they are all coming from, even if I didn't agree with their choices all of the time. The characters are flawed, and their journeys are compelling.

Bracken’s storytelling is masterful, evoking a range of emotions and left me SOBBBING more than once. I am shocked that I didn't stain the pages with my tears because of how much the author just decimated my feelings. The blend of folklore, secrets, betrayals, and family drama creates a dark but mesmerizing story. These are dark waters to tread, but they are worth every second. Despite the emotional turmoil, - don't worry - you'll get a happy ending despite the many, many, MANY tears.

If you enjoy flawed and amazing characters, folklore and legends, and heartfelt family drama, this duology is a must-read.

Thanks to TBR and Beyond Booktours, the author, and the publisher for the copy. This is an honest and voluntary review and all opinions are my own.

I really, really enjoyed Silver in the Bone. I had a few issues with worldbuilding (or lack thereof) but my love for the characters, plot twists, and engaging romance thoroughly overshadowed any qualms I had. That is not the case with The Mirror of Beasts. Very little hit with this story. My investment in the first book and pure stubbornness are the only reasons I kept reading.

I read the first book before it came out a little over a year ago. I’m not someone who rereads each book in a series before the next installment unless it’s been a few years between releases; I’m used to authors including just enough details, whether within dialogue or narration, to jog the memory and remind readers of major events so that you’re able to enjoy the current story without feeling lost. That was not the case here. Major events that were obviously first and foremost in my mind were described in detail, whereas basic rules of the world and magic and how everything worked were entirely glanced over. I have rarely felt so frustrated while reading a story I had looked forward to so much.

Additionally, the writing style kept me at a distance the entire time. I had no issues with Tamsin’s character, more so with the narrative description of settings and events as they unfolded. It felt purposely stunted, intentionally awkward, written in a way that should objectively be decent but just felt *off*. I was editing sentences in my head as I read, which did nothing to help lose me in the story.

The only saving grace was that I was entirely invested in the romance. I would read five more books about the tension between Tamsin and Emrys and be thrilled to do so. I love how Alexandra Bracken does slow burn/betrayal/redemption. Gorgeous.

I couldn’t tell you much about how everything plays out because *spoilers.* It’s fine. You can see the deus ex machina coming from a mile away, though I understand wanting to give readers some semblance of a happy ending. My investment just wasn’t there by the time things got emotional.

Overall, a let-down for me. I will pick up Bracken’s books in the future if the concept intrigues me because I have so loved her writing in the past but this was a wholly unsatisfying conclusion to a duology.

Content warning: brutal violence, descriptive gore, blood, death, parental abandonment, physical abuse (off-page, discussed by characters), death of a guardian.

When Silver in the Bone ended on that incredible cliffhanger, I assumed The Mirror of Beasts would take off immediately in terms of pacing. Instead, it just felt the same as Silver; which, as you might remember from back when I reviewed it, I struggled to get sucked into until around 70%. And with Mirror, even after the story really took flight, I still felt like there were too many times where I was plain bored. Either the narrative was stagnating on elements I really just did not care about as the reader, or the same bad-guys-chasing-main-group fight sequence repeated for the umpteenth time.

I really did love each individual character in our main cast, and because I know that Alexandra is the queen of character development, I wish there had been more focus on this being a character-driven novel with less time spent on the plot and more on the dynamics between them. The book starts out with Tamsin, Cait, Olwen, and Neve recovering from the ending of Silver and vowing to stick with each other forever, but they end up spending a lot of the book apart on their own separate side quests. I wanted more of those girlhood moments! And of course Emrys is such a wonderful character as well (a plant dork after my own heart) and had the most delightful rivals to lovers romance with Tamsin in Silver, which ended which the betrayal trope – I love it when duologies do that and spend the second book rebuilding that trust between them, but Alexandra fell victim to the keep-them-physically-separate-for-80%-of-the-book trap so they aren't even sending each other longing glances or obviously pining. When they finally sort out all the misunderstandings it's great, but they got Romaniris'ed for way too long. I think Mirror would have benefited from a bit more ebb and flow of the tension in order to sit with, explore and reflect on the characters, rather than just rushing from disaster to disaster.

I do think Alexandra did a good job writing Cabell's arc, and giving him POV chapters was a great choice. I cared about what was happening with him, although if it were just me, I'd have enjoyed more face-to-face interactions between him and Tamsin to get some good angst in there. I realize my girl Tamsin has a lot going on, but for the amount of time I spent in her head when she was thinking about him, I wish they had more screen time together.

Essentially, this duology was just okay. Good, but nothing exceptional. I wish both books had been faster paced and focused more on character development than plot – I feel like both Neve and Tamsin's identities were very crucial to the narrative and themes, but were really glossed over and kind of thrown in for shocking plot twist effect at the end of Mirror. And while I understand that a retelling isn't identical to the classic story, I wish there had been more of those Arthurian elements we were promised. Yes, there's some iconic swords, an island called Avalon, and Lord Death wears Arthur's body, but none of the other quintessential characters or themes were really there at all. It was mostly just a new urban fantasy series, which is great, but a bit of a letdown based on the marketing.