This is the second book I’ve read by Hazel St. Lewis and I can say with all sincerity the way she writes is pure magic. Her books draw you in so quickly and you are immersed in a fantasy world with descriptions so vivid you can almost taste them. Gilded Wicked Mirrors is unlike any story line I’ve read before. Yes it has elements of vampires and magic but the way they are utilized is unlike anything I’ve read before. This book kept me on my toes invested the entire time and that ending sent me to my knees. It’s not a want for book two it’s a desperate need.
Quinn’s point of view are sterile and medical as you become apart of her consciousness. You feel the pull of her passion, ballet, warring with her rational side of science and following the rules. This shows how brilliant Hazel’s writing is, that words on paper can make you feel like you are in a characters brain. Your heart will race and your anxiety will spike as you fly through the pages. One more thing I want to highlight is the spice in this book, it is not graphic in anyway but the way the tension between the characters is written will have you blushing. Honestly it is even better than explicit spice. The main characters fighting this attraction but not fully giving in is so utterly delicious that as a smut lover I was so enthralled.
In a world where mirrors hold magic and can give you anything for a price, Quinnevere Ashelle is on her last chance to qualify for the Royalle Ballet. With her age increasing and the ever pressure to continue her path working under her uncle as a medical examiner she is grasping this final moment to become an apprentice. When a bargain with a mirror for her biggest desire backfires she finds herself even more lost. Her friend is dead and she must pair up with her sworn enemy and playboy prince Emrys. Everything is an illusion and be careful what you bargain for the consequences can be dire

<i><b>“Maybe I f*ck them and then kill them.” His broken smile stretched wider. “Maybe you’re next.”</b></i>

Quinnevere Ashelle has always dreamed about joining the Royalle Ballet. She’ll do anything for her dreams to come true-even if she has to make a twisted deal with a wicked god that’s trapped in a guilded mirror.

But what happens when her whole world is turned upside down when her deal backfires and the next morning she finds her beloved friend dead, with punctured wounds to the neck.

Can Quinn solve the murder of her beloved friend before she becomes next? But what happens when she has to team up with the wicked Prince Emrys, can she trust him or will he betray her trust? Find out August 6, 2024.

<i><b>“With Every Death, We Grow Stronger.”</b></i>

<u>Trope</u>
• Vampires
• Secret underground
• Enemies to lovers
• 🔪 to Throat
• Shadow Daddy
• Slow burn
• Forced proximity
• Betrayal



⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I couldn’t get enough of this beautiful story! I was hooked right from the beginning and enjoyed every moment. I enjoyed the characters and the romance between Quinn and Emrys!

My Spidey senses were right about a few possible scenarios but I was not expecting such a twist with that first betrayal. I was still feeling a bit suspicious and wondering how Hazel St. Lewis will play with my heart strings and she did not disappoint with that ending! I’m still in so many emotions and wondering what’s to come in the sequel, after that cliffhanger.

I also wanna show my appreciation to Hazel St. Lewis for writing Gilded Wicked Mirrors! I love novels where they show the difficulties that some people struggle with that is not often talked about! I definitely related to Quinn when I was a child, I was very self conscious due to the difficulties I had with reading and writing! I definitely could relate and understand, the struggles that Quinn had to face throughout the novel. ❤️❤️

<b>Thank you so much Hazel St. Lewis, Nerd Fam, and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this e-arc in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions remain my own.</

The concept of this book was very intriguing to me. I am a sucker for magic and vampires and the time period this title was set in. I was so excited to read it because I figured it would be a perfect fit! (Not going to lie, even the cover is beautifully done and very appealing)

Unfortunately, I didn’t end up finishing this read. I really wanted to love it and hearing the authors story in the beginning as well had me rooting for them and gave me even more motivation to keep reading.

Where this story fell flat for me personally was the writing style. Admittedly, I am newer to the Romantasy genre and have been overwhelmed by high drama and huge emotional outbursts and scenes. I wasn’t used to a more descriptive and less emotion-based writing style and given the circumstances I really wanted to give it a try and power through. I kept looking for dialogue, both internal and external to gain more insight and connection to the main character. and found myself met with more world building or description of events.

I do believe this opened me up to exploring different writing styles and although this particular style wasn’t for me doesn’t mean it’s not for everyone. I can definitely acknowledge that I don’t have a ton of experience in the genre and perhaps someone with more experience might be more acclimated and comfortable with this style.

I greatly appreciate the opportunity provided to me by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op to give my honest review of this title, and hope to see the final edition of this book, and more from this author soon!

DNF at 75%— I was so intrigued by the concept of Gilded Wicked Mirrors. It felt like nothing else I had ever read before, and I was really disappointed to dnf.

Vampires, magic mirrors, deadly bargains, 7 years bad luck... sign me up! The magic system felt so unique and I was drawn in from the beginning to learn more. The mystery aspect also had me incredibly interested because I love secrets and it definitely had the same vibe as Crescent City! The story takes place in a second world fantasy that very much resembles a 1890 - 1910 time period as far as dress and technology, but some of the dialogue kept pulling me out of that time period, and it felt off to me. I loved that out FMC Quinn was a ballet dancer, and the dancer in me ate up the ballet terminology, but sometimes it felt out of place and unnecessary. I think in general a lot of the writing felt a little more fluffy to me, and I continued to find myself skimming for dialogue.

I enjoyed reading about Quinn's friendships. She has a strong group who seem to have their own dark secrets but ultimately will do anything to protect each other. The enemies to lovers plot line between Quinn & Emrys was very interesting at first, but for some reason I struggled to connect with them like I wanted.

There were lots of little exciting plot twists along the way that would start draw me back into the story, but then nothing would really happen and I'd start skimming again. Just because this book was not for me, does not mean its not for you.

Thank you to Victory Editing and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinion are my own. This review was posted on Goodreads on 6/27/2024

My mind is blank and all I keep thinking is I NEED THE SECOND ONE RIGHT NOW. This sucked me in so fast, I thought I was simply going to read a few chapters before bed and it's now MORNING time so yay. What a great reason for losing sleep.

I was hooked on this book from the first paragraph and I knew it wouldn't take me very long to read, and oh boy was I right! I read this whole book in one day because I just COULD NOT put it down. This book is basically a giant 'whodunit' but with vampires and humans and the fascinating concept of the sentient mirrors and so it kept me guessing all the way through. The world building was so brilliant I really felt like I had been transported into their world and I could have been standing in the streets with all of the characters. I felt connected to Quinn from the very beginning, I was really rooting for her success and I was feeling all of the emotions with her as she was navigating her various trials and tribulations. I was fascinated by Emrys from the moment he was introduced, I really was conflicted when he was behaving like the villain because he had moments where I really loved him and I'm still confused about him, can't wait to see how he develops later in the series and (hopefully) watch him grow and develop, particularly in his relationship with Quinn.

I need a moment to discuss the twists in this book too because I don't think I have the words to properly convey how shook I was (and still am!) over the huge plot twists. The only way to describe this book is that it is a rollercoaster, every single time I thought I had it all figured out there was another twist that I did not see coming. It was so authentically done that at the end of the book I really felt I had just missed all the signs that were there all along which is truly a testament to how beautifully and cleverly written it is. I can't believe the ending of this book, I am truly desperate to find out what happens next in this series so will be anxiously waiting for the fabulous author to write and release the next installment because I don't know that I can wait too long for it before I spontaneously combust!

Title: Gilded Wicked Mirrors by Hazel St. Lewis
Book 1 in the Wicked Mirrors series

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars

Release date: August 6th 2024


Gilded Wicked Mirrors is a dazzling, fresh blend of new adult romance, fantasy, and mystery. With its lush world-building, complex characters, and a thrilling plot.

In the very interesting city of New Swansea, once home to vampires, power lies not with royalty but with the mysterious Bargainers—deities trapped in magic mirrors who trade power, wealth, and knowledge for a steep price. I was intrigued by this concept!

Quinnevere Ashelle, a 23-year-old aspiring ballerina, wants nothing to do with these dark entities. Yet, with her chances of joining the Royalle Ballet dwindling, she strikes a dangerous deal with an evil god: passionately kiss her rival, Prince Emrys, to secure her dream spot.

But when the deal goes awry, and her friend is found dead—drained of blood with vampire-like wounds—Quinn feels responsible. Determined to seek vengeance and use her medical examiner skills to solve the murder, she realises she’s up against a world of immortals.

Hunted and outmatched, Quinn must team up with the wickedly attractive Prince Emrys (swoon) to find the killer before she becomes the next target.

What I Loved:

* Captivating World-Building:
* Hazel St. Lewis masterfully creates the glittering city of New Swansea. The detailed and immersive setting pulls you into a world where power, wealth, and knowledge come at a dire cost.

* Intriguing Premise:
* The concept of deities trapped in magic mirrors who exchange favours for wretched prices is both unique and fascinating. It adds a dark twist to the typical fantasy narrative, making the stakes even higher for the characters.

* Complex Protagonist:
* Quinnevere Ashelle, or Quinn, is a determined and relatable heroine. Her desperation to achieve her dream of joining the Royalle Ballet, even if it means making a dangerous deal, showcases her ambition and vulnerability. Her evolution from a ballet hopeful to a vengeful investigator is compelling.

* Enemies-to-Lovers Romance:
* My fave trope of all time! The tension between Quinn and her archnemesis, Prince Emrys, is electric. Their reluctant alliance and growing attraction add depth to their characters and kept me eagerly turning the pages.

* Gripping Mystery:
* The murder of Quinn’s friend, drained of blood and bearing vampire-like puncture wounds, introduces a captivating mystery. Quinn's quest for vengeance and her medical examiner skills make for a riveting investigation in a world filled with immortals and danger.

The book concludes with a cliffhanger that left me breathless and annoyed! I need more! I am anxiously awaiting the next instalment.

f you’re looking for a book that will keep your heart racing and your mind captivated, this is it!


Thank you to The Publisher Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op ,The Author Hazel St. Lewis & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

Quinnevere is too old to make it into the Royalle Ballet. She makes a desperate bargain with an evil god to kiss her archnemesis Prince Emrys, Instead her friends turns up dead and she ends up being the next target.

An interesting romantasy. I like the enemies to lovers plot. Great world building. Love both characters.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

Unfortunately can’t read on netgalley app, my fault didn’t realise wasn’t available on kindle or pdf , my fault completely