Ahana M Rao (Heart’s Content)'s Reviews > Gilded Wicked Mirrors

You can find this review of Gilded Wicked Mirrors on my blog, Heart's Content!

A big shout out and thank you to The Nerd Fam and the author Hazel St. Lewis for providing me with a gifted copy of Gilded Wicked Mirrors in exchange for an honest review!

One thing that immediately captures your attention when you start Gilded Wicked Mirrors is the tone of the story. From page one, you know exactly the kind of read you’re walking into. Gritty, heartfelt, painful and chaotic. Those are the four words I would use to describe my journey reading GWM. I’m going to expand on them through the course of the review. Stay tuned, folks!

The author has chosen an extremely interesting way to keep her readers abreast about the world and the way the people of her world work and perceive their realities. With beautiful art paired with newspaper articles, the author reels you into the world of GWM that begins promptly from page one, with not a moment to tarry. I will admit that a world of mirrors, a ballerina FMC, mirror-bargains and mysterious MMCs with shadow-wielding abilities have been seen before; BUT, I don’t think we’ve ever seen them all together in a world like the one created by Hazel St. Lewis. I think the author has done a good job with the world-building in this book; creating the tapestry for her book with rich details that paint the gritty backdrop that GWM is based in. (Special mention to all the art in this book and on the author’s Instagram page; they’re so beautiful. Kudos to the artist!)

The writing in GWM is well suited to the voice of the primary narrator in this story (the FMC, Quinn). With a heartbreaking mix of emotional and practical, Hazel St. Lewis’ writing takes you for a ride of mystery, plot twists and romance. A very interesting technique the author uses that I don’t think I’ve seen before is incorporating a rather detailed foreshadowing scene and then tossing it into a box and shaking it up, so you won’t know which one will come out, or if it will at all. The only time I ever struggled with the book was when multiple things were happening with a great deal of characters in the scene, where I’d feel momentary lapses in understanding. I’d have to re-read and reposition people in my mind. With the kind of speed reading I did because of the way the last 20% sprints, it could’ve just been me, so who knows?

The plot in this book really takes you on a ride. Scene after scene of intrigue, that just builds and builds until it meets with a dynamite of an end that shatters the threads of everything you know. A small part of this book, especially the murder investigation did remind me little of the first book in the Crescent City series (which I just noticed is mentioned in the blurb as an author’s note), with the way it unravels and spirals out of control. But given how different the directions of the revelations are, you won’t be caught up in said similarity anymore than thinking “Oh!”. I do think the author has incorporated some really interesting ideas and concepts into her world. I will say that the plot twists will both surprise you and at the same time you’ll expect some of them. It’s a good enough balance that you’re anticipating what’s next the whole time.

There are many aspects of this book when it started, that I loved, and I think the author wants you to. Because be prepared to see everything crash and burn in a tornado of chaos and pain. Every page is an escalation and every character is the lever used to toss you onto the next page. (Did I already mention the amazing art? Because it is. Amazing, I mean.)

The characters in this book are truly aplenty and I’m not going to lie, for a minute there I doubted everyone before settling on my primary suspect. (I was right and wrong, fyi.) I expected to be right and I was but I hadn’t expected to be wrong and I was that too! Anyway, while the book doesn’t have an ensemble cast trope, it tiptoes the line very much. I will admit that sometimes all the characters—perhaps because they’re introduced altogether—can crossover in your mind for a bit but by the end you’ve got them all sorted. There will be more characters introduced over the course of the story though, so be prepared for that! There are lot of complex elements, including representation, that make up this book.

As mentioned earlier, the pace in the last twenty odd percent of the book is definitely much faster. BUT, the whole book in general has a rather swift pace and you won’t feel the weight of the length. Additionally, I wouldn’t personally classify this book as a romantasy. I would say this book is a high fantasy read with romance in it, but the plot has a greater emphasis and space in this book than the romance in my opinion. However, I do feel there’s an interesting foundation that’s been established to build a romance on; but based on the author’s note, perhaps the rest of the series will feature more romance in it?

I’m rounding up to four stars! Happy reading! Gilded Wicked Mirrors releases on the 6th of August and will be absolutely free for all KU subscribers. Check trigger warnings as always! There are many dark and graphic elements in this book that should be considered before beginning.