Wicked Mirrors indeed!
Gilded Wicked Mirrors
Wicked Mirrors
Fantasy
Hidden Siren
August 6, 2024
EBook
444
In New Swansea, a glittering city once inhabited by vampires, power rests not with the royal class but with the Bargainers—deities trapped in magic mirrors, who exchange power, wealth, and knowledge for a cost . . . often a wretched one.
Quinnevere Ashelle wants nothing to do with the Bargainers, but at twenty-three, she is getting too old to make it into the Royalle Ballet, and with only one shot left, she’ll do anything—including make a twisted deal with an evil god. The agreement is simple: passionately kiss her archnemesis, Prince Emrys, and she will receive her dream spot in the Royalle Ballet. Unfortunately, when Quinn's deal with the Bargainer backfires, her beloved friend turns up dead, entirely drained of blood, and with puncture wounds matching the long-extinct vampires.
Feeling utterly responsible, Quinn vows to get vengeance and use her medical examiner skills to solve the murder, but she is far outmatched in this world of immortals—especially when she discovers she’s being hunted as is the killer's next target. If she wants to survive, she must team up with the devilishly attractive but wicked Prince Emrys to track down the murderer before she gets cornered herself.
Gilded Wicked Mirrors is a Crossover/New Adult Romantasy featuring enemies to lovers, knife to throat, and deadly bargains. The steam level is mild to medium, but the sequels will be much spicier. This single-POV fantasy romance is perfect for fans of Crescent City’s gritty investigations and Caraval’s lush world.
Gilded Wicked Mirrors is the twisty new release from Hazel St. Lewis, that blends fantasy, romance, and mystery with a uniquely intriguing magic system!
Quin doesn’t want anything to do with magic or the mirrors that grant it in exchange for carefully worded deals. She just wants to unwind mysteries alongside her uncle as a medical examiner and make it into the Royalle Ballet. When one of her friends turns up dead along with a threat to her life, though, she’ll do anything to find the killer before they strike again. If it means protecting those she loves, not even making a deal with a mirror and the dead vampire god within is out of the question.
This story walked the line between a fun enemies-to-lovers and full-on mystery spectacularly, with cute touches like newspaper clippings interspersed with grittier autopsy scenes. Don’t worry if you’re squeamish, though, as I wouldn’t consider it to be graphic in its descriptions. I’ll say a lot of the ballet discussion was wasted on me, but I do respect the creation of a well-rounded character. The element that pushed this story from good to great though were those mirrors – eerie, all-knowing, and far-reaching. There aren’t many magic systems that should be described as glamorous, but it honestly feels like the right word in this case. The concept of having sentient magic mirrors spread throughout the city that each bring their own motivations, idiosyncrasies, and histories is an idea I’d just like to splash around in. Bargain-based magic where the bargainer is as layered as the one looking for a bargain? Oh yeah, that’ll elevate things like a finely paired wine.
I think where the story fell short was in some of the characters’ foundational points. A lot of the character dynamics were rooted in the assumption of a found family, but then Quin simultaneously seemed to know very little about her friends and their backstories. Twists and reveals are exciting, but it did get to where Quin’s perception of their relationship felt a bit befuddling. That said I don’t think it detracts from Quin as a character or the excitement of the investigation.
Hazel St. Lewis caught me off guard a hundred and one times with this one and I can’t wait to dive back into the world. Gilded Wicked Mirrors is more than just a pretty cover!
Gabi grew up moving around the world with her family, making books in English a bit of a luxury that had to be rationed. Nowadays she lives in East London, where books can be read as voraciously as she likes. Fantasy books will forever be her first love, and she’s always looking for the next series to consume both of her brain cells. Her days generally consist of working as a software developer, squeezing in a chapter at her desk, and pining after the Picadilly Waterstones.
