Joy101 reviewed A Winter's Promise by Christelle Dabos (The Mirror Visitor Quartet, #1)
None
(not provided)
Hardcover, 491 pages
English language
Published April 16, 2018
4 stars
(12 reviews)
Volume 1 of The Mirror Visitor Quartet
Winner of the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire
Where once there was unity, vastly different worlds now exist. Over each, the spirit of an omnipotent and immortal ancestor abides.
Long ago, following a cataclysm called the Rupture, the world was shattered into many floating celestial islands, known now as arks. Ophelia lives on Anima, where inhabitants can read the pasts of objects. What’s more, she is also a “mirror-traveler,” possessing an ability that has been passed down to her through generations. Her idyllic existence on Anima is disrupted when she is promised in marriage to Thorn, an influential member of a distant clan. Still only a girl, Ophelia must leave her family and follow her fiancé to Citaceleste, the capital of a cold and icy ark called Pole. But there, her future husband seems indifferent to her and she slowly realizes that her presence …
Volume 1 of The Mirror Visitor Quartet
Winner of the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire
Where once there was unity, vastly different worlds now exist. Over each, the spirit of an omnipotent and immortal ancestor abides.
Long ago, following a cataclysm called the Rupture, the world was shattered into many floating celestial islands, known now as arks. Ophelia lives on Anima, where inhabitants can read the pasts of objects. What’s more, she is also a “mirror-traveler,” possessing an ability that has been passed down to her through generations. Her idyllic existence on Anima is disrupted when she is promised in marriage to Thorn, an influential member of a distant clan. Still only a girl, Ophelia must leave her family and follow her fiancé to Citaceleste, the capital of a cold and icy ark called Pole. But there, her future husband seems indifferent to her and she slowly realizes that her presence on Pole is part of a much bigger plot and has far-reaching ramifications not only for her but for her entire world.
An unforgettable heroine, an insightful study of relationships, a rich and bountiful universe, intrigue and suspense, A Winter’s Promise is perfect for readers of Margaret Rogerson, Scott Westerfeld, Melissa Albert, and N.K. Jemisin.
mouse reviewed A Winter's Promise by Christelle Dabos (The Mirror Visitor Quartet, #1)
like re-reading a childhood favorite
5 stars
I think on some spiritual level, even though this wasn't published until I was an adult, I feel like I read and loved this as a young teen. Reading it now felt like wrapping myself in the coziest blanket of imaginary nostaliga. I stayed up late reading this and read it instead of doing other things I needed to do. It's been a very long time since I have felt this immersed in a world.
It reminded me a little of The Goblin Emperor in its depth of humanity, and its portrayal of cruelty that doesn't make light of it, and, weirdly, I feel like there's some backstory parallels with Gideon the Ninth, although it couldn't be more differently tonally.
There were times were I did find it a little moralizing, and when the writing rang a bit off, but I loved it very much and if you don't …
I think on some spiritual level, even though this wasn't published until I was an adult, I feel like I read and loved this as a young teen. Reading it now felt like wrapping myself in the coziest blanket of imaginary nostaliga. I stayed up late reading this and read it instead of doing other things I needed to do. It's been a very long time since I have felt this immersed in a world.
It reminded me a little of The Goblin Emperor in its depth of humanity, and its portrayal of cruelty that doesn't make light of it, and, weirdly, I feel like there's some backstory parallels with Gideon the Ninth, although it couldn't be more differently tonally.
There were times were I did find it a little moralizing, and when the writing rang a bit off, but I loved it very much and if you don't like it I don't want to hear about it because it's been retrconned into my cherished childhood lore.
Axl reviewed Les Fiancés de l'hiver by Christelle Dabos (La Passe-miroir, #1)
Review of "Les fiancées de l'hivers" on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Reread 2022, Previously 5 stars
I really like this book, the writing is enchanting and easy to read, the story and characters are original, they sometimes can feel "cold" and removed but you surprise yourself when you end up attached to them
John reviewed A Winter's Promise by Christelle Dabos (The Mirror Visitor Quartet, #1)
Review of "A Winter's Promise" on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
Re-reading to see if I like it better in English.
Subjects
- The Marvelous
- French literature
- Conspiracy
- Mirrors
- Fantasy fiction
- Arranged marriage
- Fiction