I received this book for free from the Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Mirror of Souls by R.J. Duperreon January 22, 2015
Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Mystery and Suspense, Parallel Realities, Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 388
Format: eBook
Source: Author
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Fifteen-year-old Jacqueline Talbot’s boyfriend Mal lives in the mirror of her makeup case. But then there’s never been anything normal about Jacqueline, nor it seems her new hometown of Mercy Hills.
With rumors of actual monsters in the woods, the popular kids taking an unhealthy interest in her, and the revealing of her own dark past, all Jacqueline wants to do is run away forever with Mal. Too bad he’s trapped in the mirror.
But when she learns the ancient forces of the town want to destroy everything she loves, the race is on to free the boy in the mirror, because he just might be the only one who knows how to stop them.
Jacqueline Talbot hasn’t led an easy life since she was orphaned at a young age, shuffling from foster home to home ever since. She’s been seen as a bit troubled since her father received the death penalty for murdering several people after her mother passed away. But just when the last foster home seemed like it was the most oppressive, Jacqueline’s unknown Aunt Mitzy sweeps in and takes custody of her niece, bringing Jacqueline back to live in her parents’ home town of Mercy Hills.
The clean slate isn’t so picture perfect…
Jacqueline is thrilled to start over in a place where no one knows that her father was a murderer, and she’s so happy to finally have real family. As she makes friends with a band of quirky misfits that love anime and video games, she also unwittingly attracts the attention of a few of the popular boys. But she harbors a secret that would make her look crazy: her best friend/boyfriend is a boy in a compact mirror that she inherited from her mother, and working to free Mal from his mirror prison is one of her main priorities.
The citizens of Mercy Hills aren’t white washed…
The racial diversity if The Mirror of Souls is quite refreshing. Jacqueline is half Indian, her group of friends includes a Puerto Rican girl, a Vietnamese boy, and one of the popular boys that is drawn to Jacqueline is black. None of the characters are written in a stereotypical way, other than being regular teenagers, and I quite enjoyed the change up  here that most novels don’t have.
Jacqueline’s no shrinking violet, nor does she wallow in pity for long…
Jacqueline had to develop a tough skin living in different foster and group homes over the years, and after she’s made a few mistakes along the way, she’s learned that wallowing in self-pity doesn’t get her very far. She’s always had Mal to run to when things got rough–even though he’s trapped in the mirror–and he’s been a great support system for her. When things in Mercy Falls start to go south and grow dangerous, with monsters popping up to take them out, she must find the will to fight–for herself, her aunt, and her friends.
Third person POV gives you a well rounded view without giving you whiplash…
The Mirror of Souls is told in third person point of view, so you get a good look at what’s happening in and around Mercy Falls–not just what’s happening with Jacqueline. Robert Duperre does an excellent job of switching POVs without head hopping excessively, so these transitions are seemless and really flow naturally.
I give The Mirror of Souls a five out of five. This book seriously knocked me out with fantastic world building, great horror, and good character introductions and development. Even though this is slated as young adult, I’d say this is skewed a bit on the older side of the spectrum with some drug use and other situations. The ending has me wanting book two right now.
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I LOVE the diversity in her group of friends and how it’s not focused on diversity for diversity’s sake but everyone is still a regular teen.
LOVE the concept of the boy being in her mirror and I love the whole new girl in town storyline.
Lovely review 🙂
I’m not entering the giveaway but I LOVE it!! 🙂
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