A fantasy/romance which blends Chinese lore with magical realism.

This book started out well and I loved the concept. It got straight into the story, hooking me early on with the intriguing mirror world and the mystery of the previous princesses who disappeared. I also liked the setting of the big palace community.

I found the story lagged in the middle though and I started to get bored. The protagonist Ying was not always likeable. She seemed young and spoilt, naïve and indecisive, and she annoyed me. I also didn’t care for the romance aspect as it didn’t seem very realistic.

There were some exciting action scenes and some well written, suspenseful parts which pulled me back in temporarily and the ending was ok, but all in all the story seemed to drag on which was a bit disappointing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Australia for the ARC.

The book has strong pacing, drama, and characterization, drawing from an obscure Chinese myth, which adds depth. The author, Chow, excels at creating an unsettling atmosphere that enhances the horror elements. However, despite these strengths, I found the reading experience frustrating. The romance lacked chemistry, moving too quickly without proper buildup, which was disappointing since it’s central to the plot. Additionally, the narrative felt overly corny, with attempts at earnestness falling flat. Predictability plagued the story, offering no surprises in dynamics, character development, or plot twists, leaving me craving excitement that never materialized.

The Girl with No Reflection was one of those books (of which I've sadly read a few this year) where there was an amazing and intriguing premise but the execution let it down. The concept of the mirror world was great and was one I was excited to explore, but sadly the book didn't completely come together for me. Ying Yue was a difficult character to get behind, especially due to her switching-back-and-forth insta-love between the princes. Meanwhile, the two princes and the rest of the cast of characters were not fleshed out enough to hold my attention. The prose could have done with some tightening, especially in the dialogue, which at times made me cringe. However, as a plus point, I did enjoy the mythology elements and, as stated at the start, the plot idea was strong. I am therefore giving this book 3.5 stars overall. This is a debut novel, I believe, so I would like to see this author continue to grow. This book isn't perfect, but it you are a fan of YA Fantasy with an Asian-myth focus and you don't mind some insta-love and clunky dialogue, you may still find something to enjoy here.

The Girl With No Reflection
Keshe Chow

“As you now know, the mirror world is not like our own.”

This was a lush fantasy read about a girl set to marry the Crown Prince, except he’s cold and indifferent and confines Ying to her room, giving her no freedoms. Then there’s the rumours that swirl around the imperial whispers of seven other royal brides who after their own weddings, mysteriously disappeared.

Left alone with only her reflection for company, Ying begins to see things. Strange things. Movements in the mirror.

‘Her heart hammering, Ying leaned closer, not daring to breathe. A moment passed, deceptively calm. Then her reflection slammed against the glass, face up close, hair disheveled, teeth bared.’

On the eve of her wedding, she unwittingly tears open a gateway and is pulled into the Mirror World. The Mirror World is full of sentient reflections including the enigmatic Mirror Prince.

‘Remember who the monsters are.
Who were the monsters? It was getting more and more difficult to tell.’

Ying soon learns that not everything is as it seems, not everyone is playing nice and the Mirror World is full of monsters.

She was to marry a most indifferent husband.
“You foresaw we would have an auspicious marriage, did you not?”

As you’re reading this you question who is good, who is bad and who, if any should you trust. I adored the paradox that there is two of everyone, a duplicate with their own minds. There’s evil and mystery lurking everywhere.

“You want to talk about playing dirty? You’re the one who poisoned me!”

We hit some of my favourite troupes, enemies to lovers, one bed at the inn and forced proximity. This was a fun escapism read.

‘Caught between two worlds. One, her own world, a familiar world, in which she was doomed to loneliness. The second, the Mirror Prince’s world: cold, vicious, full of monsters.’

Thank you so much for this ARC. This was released 8th August, out now!