The Mirrored Shard by Caitlin Kittredge

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Delacorte Books

Pages: 304pgs

The Story

Aoife Grayson must face death to win back Dean—the love who was ripped from the Iron Lands of the living when he was shot in the arctic north. But getting to the Deadlands is something that Aoife can't do on her own. And if she can find a way there, Tremaine would surely never allow it. He has sworn to keep her in the Thorn Lands, the fairie home of her mother, Nerissa. But Aoife is determined to find her way out. And she has no trouble if that means she has to kill Tremain and his queen to do it.

The Review

I adored this series right from the beginning! I really did. I loved the world the author created, the setting (because it was really awesome and so unique) and the whole romantic relationship formed between two of my favourite characters in the entire series, Aoife and Dean. I just loved those two to bits and then the sequel came, The Nightmare Garden, and it delivered such an awful ending for Dean's character . . . I just wanted him back (alive) as much as Aoife did. But unfortunately, at least on my part, this book was a major disappointment and it only became an good and an average read for me instead of being a mind-blowing one that I was desperately seeking for.

Now readers of this series will immediately notice the difference between the books because unlike the previous two installments that were about 500 pages and 400 pages, THE MIRRORED SHARD was just at the 300 page mark and I think that was part of my own disappointment too - the fact that it was far less of a story and how I wanted more added onto it. So while the story itself was solid and straightforward compared to the other two books, but I just wanted more from it instead of it always being about finding Dean again (even though I was still all for it as well). I guess I just found after everything we learned about Aoife and her 'Weird', it seemed like finding Dean put everything we learned into the background and made it fade all over again. Like nothing we learned didn't actually matter anymore and because of that I really missed the initial storyline told from the beginning because this one seemed a little off, you know? Still, the book was good in a general sense but it could have been better as the ending was pretty open-ended with a possibility of more books being written.

In regards to the characters, they were pretty good. Aoife was strong and braver than ever (she really shined in this book compared to the others), Cal was brilliant and supportive than ever before, and even the newer characters that we meet along the way added a great element and depth to the book and were pretty interesting too. But as for Dean . . . well . . . there wasn't much of him I'm afraid. *pouts* While it's understandable why he's not really there in the first place considering, one, Aoife was looking for him, and two, because he's well . . .  he's (spoiler) dead but I wanted to see more of him than we did. He and Aoife have been through so much together and formed a relationship that was full of respect and love, and many tender things, and when he did eventually show up onto the page all of my love for him just deflated. I still loved him of course because he's the Dean I've loved for ages but he just seemed different to me because there was one scene towards the end where he was talking to Aoife and boy it made me throw the book for a second there because I just didn't understand what Dean was thinking at that time . . . so if you've read this book you will know what scene I'm talking about. The scene where he's ready to throw everything away . . . gosh. The old Dean please step up! I miss you terribly! I miss you. I'm glad you're okay but really? I miss you!

Overall, THE MIRRORED SHARD may have been a disappointment to me but, with all things considered and with what went on in the book, it was still a pretty decent conclusion with a possibility of more books to come. At least that is how it felt for me.

The Rating

3/5 stars