Emrys, oh Emrys. Behind this aloof exterior, we shall find what manner of tortured soul? (Oh yeah, the lord of death is on the loose, I guess that’s also mildly important)

I’ll admit, I didn’t totally sink into Silver in the Bone, which left me less than fully equipped to dive head first back into Tamsin’s shenanigans and front-row view of the apocalypse. Despite this dubious starting place, I absolutely loved:
The spooky opening chapter
Emrysssss (where s stands for secrets and affection)
Wild Cu Chulainn reference
Excaliburrrr (where r stands for rewatching Fate Zero when?)

Those acquainted with the first book can expect another action-packed treasure hunt as Tamsin and co race against disaster. Unlikely friendships, both old and new, play a major role, in many ways taking the place of the Lark siblings’ relationship which was one of the main themes of the early story.

This duology is best read back to back and is well worth seeing through to the close.

The Mirror of Beasts is the second and final installment in author Alexandra Bracken's Silver in the Bone duology. This book picks up immediately after the heart breaking first installment. This series focuses on Celtic lore and Arthurian legend with obvious twists. This story hops around from Boston, to London, to Cornwall. Tamsin and her friends Olwen, Caitriona and Neve (now called Unmakers of Worlds) are all that stands in the way of Lord Death's plans to unleash the horrors of Anwnn on the world of the living.

With the dream of Avalon in ruins and now part of the contemporary world which has caused massive losses and devastation, Lord Death has also been resurrected and is killing anyone who doesn't give him back what he lost, Tamsin needs to get over the betrayal of both Emrys (who soon joins a very angry Tamsin and with an explanation of why he had to do what he did), as well as her brother Cabell who has chosen a different path separate from Tamsin's. Plus, let us not forget that Nash suddenly walks back into her life after letting Tamsin, as well as Cabell, think he was dead!

Part of this story is told via 3rd person narrative by Cabell which gives readers an idea of what is happening with Lord Death and his Wild Hunt that seems to be carving a bloody path of destruction across the world. As the Wild Hunt carves a bloody path across continents, Tamsin tries desperately to muster allies who have not yet met a disastrous fate at the hand of the Wild Hunt or Lord Death. Her team traverses new lands searching for powerful artifacts, including the legendary “Mirror of Beasts,” powerful enough to trap even Lord Death in its accursed glass.

But the mirror is not all that it seems. Tamsin must confront her own darkest secrets (she was allegedly born cursed) if she hopes to tap the mirror's strength to defeat her enemies. Not only does the world expand, but some pretty interesting new characters are added to the fun. Characters like the Bonecutter who looks like a little girl but is ancient. The Hag of the Moors is not only twisted, but has a genuinely funny role to play in this book. Arthurian legend bleeds into contemporary action, and scars of the past are torn open anew by a starcrossed love that refuses to go quietly. I will say this. Expect a curious ending which I will not spoil.

The Mirror of Beasts is the sequel to Silver In The Bone; both are based on the Arthur legend, placed in a world that largely resembles our own, but with a few differences; magic of the type known in Arthurian times works as well as technology. This volume picks up where the first left off, with the characters completing a series of quests - not for treasure, as in the first volume, but for magical items that will allow them to defeat Lord Death, before he can find the reborn soul of the daughter of the woman he loved. One of the treasures they seek is Excalibur, the only sword than can defeat Lord Death - but only in the hands of its proper user. There are several twists and turns, intended to be surprises, but with sufficient foreshadowing that some are less surprise than confirmation.

The setting of this novel, as with the first, is a combination of Arthurian legend and a bit of modern technology, with the addition of an alternate reality where magic is supreme. As a sequel, it's not bad; certainly, I look forward to a third volume that I hope is in the works. Recommended for middle school to adults.

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

This was a great sequel and conclusion to the Silver in the Bone duology. This book had plenty of action and adventure, building on the story from the first book, found family, romance, and plenty of emotions. I loved Tamsin in this book and seeing her growth and relationship development in so many ways from her found family with Neve, Caitriona, and Olwen, to her romance with Emrys (which I loved so much and loved seeing them together in this book and their love considering what happened in book one) and her relationship with Cabell, which made me cry. There was so much happening in this book and there was never a dull moment.

Overall, I loved this book and duology and highly recommend!

Tamsin and her friends are all that stand in the way of Lord Death's plans to unleash the horrors of Anwnn on the world of the living. The Wild Hunt is at work across the world, leaving Tamsin gathering allies and tracking down powerful artifacts. The “Mirror of Beasts” could trap anything, even Lord Death, but the mirror is more than just glass. Tamsin must confront her own darkest secrets if she hopes to tap the mirror's strength to defeat her enemies.

This is the conclusion to the "Silver In The Bone" duology, following the first book, Silver In The Bone. It absolutely relies on having read the first one, as it dives right into the action following the close of the first book. Returning from Avalon released the Lord Death into the mortal realm, and he's calling a Wild Hunt. Instead of collecting only wicked souls, Lord Death is now able to collect any soul he wants, as only the dead can follow him. In a roundabout way, the team opposing him tries to find a way to stop him, and the Mirror of Beasts seems to be the key, as it can trap any soul within it.

The will-they-won't-they relationship between Tamsin and Emrys continues, and she has no way of knowing Emrys' motivations or feelings. We get fun new characters and a new way of looking at ones we thought we knew. I'm thinking of the Librarian here, but many of the prior characters now have added context. As with any well-written novel where you care about the characters, it breaks your heart when their illusions are shattered when they're hurt when the truth they didn't know they wanted comes out. This novel is a fantastic conclusion to the duology, bringing Celtic myths into our modern world.

In the aftermath of the fall of Avalon, Tamsin and her friends must confront Lord Death and defeat him before he destroys the mortal world. But with a dual betrayal fresh in her heart and a tenuous grasp on her remaining friendships, will Tamsin muster not only the bravery, but the force of will to defeat such an enemy after so much loss?

Bracken knows just how to punch a fist into my chest and get to my feelings, that's for sure. This was such a beautiful representation not of romantic love, but of the platonic and familial love that is so vital for humans. The romance was light and present but took a backseat to the feminine strength in this novel (which I love).

Tamsin grows so much here. She starts book one as a very typical FMC -- doesn't need anyone, never cries where people can see, deeply traumatized by being left behind by those she loves -- and finishes book two with a fully developed and dynamic character arc.

I can take or leave Arthurian retellings, but I think this duology is handled well and contains just enough creativity to keep it compelling for me. I'm a little tired of direct retellings, but Bracken does such a good job of making an old story fresh again.

Overall, it took me a minute to hop on the ride (I blame a reading slump), but I was crying my mascara off at the end and fully invested in the resolution.

If there is one thing about Alexandra Bracken, it is that she knows how to write fantasy! There is something so magical about this duology, with its ties to Arthurian legends, found family, and gruesome moments that it just draws you in. The romance also had me on my KNEES. I adored Tamsin and Emrys relationship development so much and my heart ached for them. I felt that the beginning half was slow, but the closer I got to the end, the more eager I was to finish this book. There were so many twists that were placed so perfectly and made the story engaging, regardless of if I guessed them or not. And I was so very satisfied with how this duology ended. I even shed some tears. If you are in need of a thrilling, adventurous, and beautifully written duology, look no further!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hachette Children's Group for sending me a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Mirror of Beasts by Alexandra Bracken is the sequel to Silver in the Bone.

"Avalon is in ruins. Tamsin and her friends are all that stand between Lord Death and his plan to set loose the horrors of Anwnn upon the world. They follow the legend of a Mirror of Beasts - an object said to be powerful enough to trap him. Tamsin must confront her fears if she is to use the mirror and save the world."

First - you have to read the first book before this one. You will be lost without it. And it still would have been nice to have a good recap to start this book. It felt like there was still world-building going on 25 percent into this story. And you don't expect that in a second book.
The amount of detail slows the story because you have to pay such close attention.
This is a new story using the King Arthur legend. Bracken provides a lot of vivid detail in the action (with a touch of romance) The ending is wild as you would expect. And there's a nice epilogue.

Fans of reimaginings will enjoy this new story from Bracken.

This story picked up where Silver in the Bone left off. Our FMC Tamsin and her friends regroup to figure out how to defeat Lord Death after the fall of Avalon. They learn of a magical artifact, the Mirror of the Beast, that is said to harbor secrets and rumored to be powerful enough to trap Lord Death. Tamsin must confront her darkest secrets to obtain its help. This story was fast paced with plenty of plot twists, character development, and found family. It was a great conclusion to this duology.

A great conclusion to a duology! Returning to this world and how it combined both old and new elements was a blast to read!

I loved book one Silver in the Bone. So I was super excited to jump into book two The Mirror of Beasts by Alexandra Bracken.
An amazing YA fantasy that held me captive till the very end.
The fantasy elements were easy to follow along with and I think the world that Alexandra Bracken built was really clear.

Thank You NetGalley and Random House Children's | Knopf Books for Young Readers for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

*Actual rating is 4.5 stars*

The Mirror of Beasts is a solid finale to this action packed duology inspired by the Arthurian legends.

The book starts off following the world changing events of the first book. What follows is a fast-paced adventure when the rag-tag team of friends travels from Boston to London and Cornwall, trying to stop the evil plans of the ruler of death.

The main character Tamsin is loyal and caring, while also on her guard and a bit prickly from the things life has thrown at her. She’s a flawed character that you will care about, and she has the best dynamic with both her love interest and her friends. The female friendships in this book are brilliant, as is the slow-burn romance side plot.

I had a hard time putting down the book as there was plot twist after plot twist. I thought I knew where things were headed, only to get a new thread to follow. Then all the build-up to the final stand pays off in a satisfied way, and the story gets nicely wrapped up.

Mirror of Beasts is the second in Alexandra Bracken’s YA Arthurian/urban fantasy duology. The series centers on 17 year old Tamsin Lark, a prickly/guarded young woman trying to scrape by as a Hollower (seeker of magical relics) without any magic herself. A case study in abandonment issues, Tamsin tends to push people away before they can leave her but she will do absolutely anything for the people she cares about. At the start of the duology that list includes exactly one person: her adopted brother Cabell, who also happens to be suffering from a terrible curse. In Book 1, Tamsin embarks on a quest for a relic that could break Cabell’s curse, a quest that forces her to work with her infuriating rival, Emrys Dye, takes her to the mythical isle of Avalon, and ends in heartbreak and betrayal. Mirror of Beasts picks up where Book 1 left off and in it Tamsin and new found friends and allies must stop the dark forces that were unleashed upon the world and confront the secrets and lies that have characterized Tamsin’s life thus far, including that she herself is subject to a curse.

Mirror of Beasts was a terrific follow-up to Silver on the Bone and a great conclusion to the duology. It’s hard to say too much without spoiling either book but I thought the way that the personal betrayals Tamsin faced at the end of Silver were resolved here felt really right—no one was completely given a pass but the relationships were allowed to mend in a way that really worked. My one little complaint was that after the fact that Tamsin herself was dealing with a curse was revealed, no one really paid much attention or questioned it. That did not feel true to character for Neve or Emyrs. That said, the book worked really well and while I would have loved to spend more time in this world and these characters, the resolution hit all the right notes. Full of secrets, lies, betrayals, magic, found family, and a rival to lovers romance, Mirror of Beasts is a fun (albeit tragic and violent at times) ride!

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the complimentary e-ARC; all thoughts and opinons are my own.

The Mirror of Beast was such a solid & satisfying conclusion to Silver in the Bone. Alexandra Bracken has a craft for creating immersive lore! I appreciate the modern urban fantasy/retelling world building without pigeon holing it and dating it with unnecessary pop culture references. Well done!! It was definitely one of those books I found myself still turning the pages at 3 am to see where these plot twist were going to go. Fantastic ending with just enough left open for the readers to want a little more of this world and its characters. 😜

Ah, the much anticipated sequel of Silver in the Bone. I had been counting down the days til I could experience Emrys getting obliterated by Tamsin. Luckily, my shitty luck in acquiring arcs turned a new leaf and the arc gods bestowed me with an early copy. I did not take any time in getting to it and finishing in two sittings max.

This was better than its predecessor. I'm going to be 100% honest and say I was only here for the ship initially, as prefaced earlier, but that changed dramatically. In book one, from my recollection, the plot was confusing and (kinda) boring. Too many new characters that weren't clear in where they stood. Too convoluting. Book two had the same plot and characters, as it starts from the exact same scene, no time lapse, but they bloomed into themselves. I found myself growing attached to the Arthur girls and the witch. I cared what happened to them, what became of them. I did still get my endgame! And I got Tamsin thinking of crushing him like a cockroach in the beginning. All in all, everything worked out and this was a perfectly good finale to a (thankfully) duology.

3.5/5
The book was overall good but I felt like it was so rushed. I felt like there wasn't a break between one situation to another. It was just go go go the entire time. I wish there were some moments of break to ruminate on some of the things we find out.

thank you so much to netgalley and hachette children’s group for the arc of the mirror of beasts! wow what an amazing conclusion to this duology! truly i loved the unique take on the arthurian lore that bracken had. i love reading stories about the legend of king arthur and this one was like nothing i have ever read before and i adored it. this book kept me on the edge of my seat reading it, the twists and turns were enchanting. the romance between emrys and tasmin was a delight i loved seeing their story continue to develop in this book. i also loved the found family in cait, nevre, tasmin, and olwen. the complexity and strength in their relationships was such a crucial part of the story i loved seeing them support each other and conquer everything together! lord death is absolutely terrible and therefore was a great villain- i enjoyed the depth of his story and learning more about who he is and how he came to be. this book was a wonderfully thrilling high fantasy read!

The Mirror of Beasts is the conclusion to the Silver in the Bone duology and what a conclusion it was. There were so many details and plot lines for Bracken to tie up in this story after the devastating ending of Silver in the Bone that I’m impressed with how well Bracken wrapped it up. While I wish the plot pacing was a little quicker at times, I believe the overall storyline was well paced. I also appreciated the opportunity to see more of Bracken’s world building as the group traveled to different locations in pursuit of a way to stop Lord Death. I love the core cast of characters and the family that Tamsin surrounded herself with, so I was glad to see that they all had a significant amount of page time and involvement in the duology’s conclusion. I also loved how Bracken tied in the Wild Hunt as well as its significance to the story. It’s such an interesting part of lore and Bracken added her own signature twist to it. I found Bracken’s idea of redemption and whether characters could truly change to be incredibly interesting. I also found this to be a satisfying conclusion in general with the protagonists getting fitting endings, not necessarily good endings, but endings befitting their characters. Be prepared, though, for the heartbreak. I don’t know why I expected differently after Silver in the Bone, but I was still shocked by how heartbreaking this story was at times. Overall, this was a great conclusion to a wonderful twist on the Arthurian Legend.

Overall Rating: 4.5⭐️

Absolutely amazing ending for this duology! This book picks right up where we left off. I was hard pressed to put this book down – I needed to know how this was going to end.

The fantastic four (Tamsin, Neve, Cait and Olwen) are trying to find a way to end Lord Deaths plans before he comes into the world and unleashes his hell on earth. Plus Emrys. Tamsin is struggling to not revert back to old feelings after what he did, but his actions slowly start to prove that he is in this to the bitter end, that there is nothing he wouldn’t do For Tamsin. As the 5 race to find clues in how to defeat Lord Death, things start to unravel and old fears surface.

Like I said, I literally couldn’t put this down. Tamsin is a strong, loyal friend trying to save herself, her friends and all of humanity. Pick this stunning conclusion up today!

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the chance to read and review this book.

This book packed a punch in so many ways it was thrilling, adventurous, heartbreaking, romantic, and all of the above. The Mirror of Beasts is such a perfect conclusion in this duology and I never wanted it to end.

“I don’t want a dream,” he whispered. I felt almost drunk with the sound of it, the husk of those words. “It’s always been real to me.”

Tamsin and Emrys… weeee! That’s all I can say about the roller coaster of these two, but man did I LOVE Emrys in this one. Conversely, my heart just broke for Cabell and Tamsin and everything they fight against and for in this story. Cabells small POVs we saw just broke my heart. I wanted to hug him so hard. Finally our “found family” of ladies was just epic and I loved watching them fight together.

The lore was amazing, the characters perfect and this is an epic finish to this other-worldly duology. I loved it so much. If these books are on your list, and you love epic adventure with a side of darkness and romance… definitely give it a try!