The Mirror

The Mirror is the second book in author Nora Roberts’ The Lost Bride trilogy, picking up immediately after the cliffhanger ending of the first book, The Inheritance. By nature, a trilogy has an overall story arc that spans three books, and while the author does a fantastic job easing readers back into the storyline, I recommend reading book one before venturing into The Mirror.

Sonya MacTavish settles into daily life with her best friend, Cleo, in the haunted Victorian mansion she inherited from her deceased uncle. As time passes, the women adjust to the daily activities of the friendly ghosts of brides who died tragically in the mansion on their wedding day, at the hands of the evil entity holding court in the gold room—Hester Dobbs. While Hester’s actions are disturbing, Sonya and Cleo, joined by companions Trey and Owen, remain defiant in the face of her frequent temper tantrums, which include the slamming of doors, loud noises, and flying objects. When a magic mirror Sonya has dreamed of appears before her, she’s drawn to pass through it time and again, finding herself decades in the past, witnessing firsthand the happiest day of each bride’s life before it ended in heartbreaking tragedy at the murderous hands of Hester, who claimed each of the seven brides’ wedding rings.

As the story progresses, readers learn more about the unique history of each bride and groom, their families, their secrets, and how they interacted with the antagonist, Hester, who vowed to be the only lady of the manor. Readers also see the relationships between the main characters evolve in the present as they bond in friendship and love, together vowing to recover the seven stolen rings and banish the evil spirit from the mansion. However, Hester has other ideas.

The Mirror is an atmospheric story, highlighting Roberts’ extraordinary abilities at world-building, with descriptive prose that lures readers into scenes via sight, smell, sound, and touch. The author maintains a balance of regular, small-town life and the mystical aspects of this story while ramping up the action with elements of mystery and suspense. The story unfolds through past/present chapters as Sonya slips back and forth through the mirror, allowing readers to witness the history of families as it occurred over several centuries, while raising the stakes for the challenge facing the group in the present. The slower pace in the first half allows time for characters to develop personal and community relationships while interspersing escalating paranormal episodes that steadily increase the tone of malice and danger, culminating in a race to the final scene that explodes off the page.

True to Roberts’ signature style, the women are strong, devoted, and fiercely independent, and the men are smart, talented, and supportive. Together, they emit positive energy, bringing light and love to the mansion as they form a formidable team—but is it enough to defeat a centuries-old evil entity out for revenge?

Author Nora Roberts is an expert at detailed, vivid world-building, often drawing on ancient family history and incorporating it into suspenseful storylines with strong characters. The power of love, family, friends, and good over evil are frequent themes. The Lost Bride trilogy is a prime example of her skillful blending of fantasy, romance, and suspense in such a setting, with characters readers will develop relationships with. The Mirror is an intense, atmospheric, heartwarming yet creepy tale that’s perfect for those who love stories that stretch the imagination. Highly recommended to fans of fantasy, romance, mystery, and suspense with a touch of the paranormal