Broken Wish (The Mirror Series #1)

by Julie C. Dao

Overview

The Mirror: Broken Wish marks the first book in an innovative four-book fairy-tale quartet written by Julie C. Dao, Dhonielle Clayton, J.C. Cervantes, and L. L. McKinney, following one family over several generations, and the curse that plagues it.

Sixteen-year-old Elva has a secret. She has visions and strange powers that she will do anything to hide. She knows the warnings about what happens to witches in their small village of Hanau. She’s heard the terrible things people say about the Witch of the North Woods, and the malicious hunts that follow...

When Elva accidentally witnesses a devastating vision of the future, she decides she has to do everything she can to prevent it. Tapping into her powers for the first time, Elva discovers a magical mirror and its owner—none other than the Witch of the North Woods herself. As Elva learns more about her burgeoning magic, and the lines between hero and villain start to blur, she must find a way to right past wrongs before it’s too late.

"BROKEN WISH is a darkly glittering fairytale of shattered promises and powerful magic. Dao opens a door to an enchanting new world tucked within the seams of our own." - Emily A. Duncan, New York Times bestselling author of Wicked Saints

"An enchanting beginning to what promises to be a gripping family saga. BROKEN WISH whisks readers into a beautifully wrought fairy tale that is at once familiar and new, and introduces readers to Elva, whose family’s past is riddled with secrets and curses. It will be hard to put down until the final page!" - Elizabeth Lim, New York Times bestselling author of the A TWISTED TALE books

"A clever tale about the importance of promises and the limits of friendship, perfect for a snug night by the fireside." - Liz Braswell, New York Times bestselling author of the A TWISTED TALE books

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781368046398
Publisher:	Disney Press
Publication date:	09/07/2021
Series:	Mirror Novel Series , #1
Pages:	400
Sales rank:	104,947
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	14 - 18 Years

About the Author

Julie C. Dao is the author of the acclaimed Rise of the Empress duology, including Forest of a Thousand Lanterns and Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix, as well as the follow-up novel Song of the Crimson Flower. A proud Vietnamese-American who was born in upstate New York, she now lives in New England. Follow her on Twitter @jules_writes.

Editorial Reviews

"A clever tale about the importance of promises and the limits of friendship, perfect for a snug night by the fireside."—Liz Braswell, New York Times bestselling author of the Twisted Tales books

"An enchanting beginning to what promises to be a gripping family saga. Broken Wish whisks readers into a beautifully wrought fairy tale that is at once familiar and new, and introduces readers to Elva, whose family’s past is riddled with secrets and curses. It will be hard to put down until the final page!"—Elizabeth Lim, New York Times bestselling author of the Twisted Tales books

"BROKEN WISH is a darkly glittering fairytale of shattered promises and powerful magic. Dao opens a door to an enchanting new world tucked within the seams of our own."
—Emily A. Duncan, New York Times bestselling author of Wicked Saints

From the Publisher

11/09/2020

Set in 19th-century Germany, this touching fantasy by Dao (Song of the Crimson Flower) redefines the witches of the Grimm brothers’ fairy tales. Ever since she can remember, 16-year-old Elva has been able to see the future in reflective surfaces, and her family has long suffered a peculiar pattern of blessings: “Always two good things, followed by one bad thing.” As a promise to her mother over fear of backlash from the cruel townsfolk, she swears to keep her abilities secret until, encouraged to see her ability as a gift, she begins to use it for her family’s benefit. When she sees a vision of a storm ravaging their farm, though, Elva seeks out Mathilda, a purported witch with whom her mother once exchanged long-hidden letters and who holds the key to Elva’s ability—and possibly to the family’s curse. Told in fairy tale cadences that softly explore the responsibilities of power and privilege, the narrative returns warmth and agency to the witches of childhood stories while following the heart of a young woman willing to do anything for her family. Ages 14–up. Agent: Tamar Rydzinski, Context Literary Agency. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

09/01/2020

Gr 6–10—A Grimm's fairy tale mashup that will draw in readers and hold their attention. Set in Germany in the mid-1800s, this story follows a young woman as she befriends but ultimately betrays a witch, then follows her daughter as she repeats a similar fate. Agnes moves into a cottage and begins a friendship with her neighbor, Mathilda, who turns out to have magical powers. Mathilda agrees to help Agnes have a child so long as she promises to remain a loyal friend. Agnes does not keep this promise. Seventeen years later, her daughter Elva is plagued by visions of the future and seeks out the same witch for help. By combining threads from multiple fairy tales (magic mirrors, mystical pregnancies, lucky fish), Dao creates a fascinating world where all the stories are both true and untrue. Although novels set in Northern Europe in the 1800s are often culturally homogenous, and the main characters here are portrayed as white, Dao touches on the immigration of other groups into Germany at that time, as well as having Elva see in the future that her descendents may be a different race from her. The ending will leave readers eager for a sequel. It isn't a hopeful read, being less like Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted and more like Emma Donoghue's Kissing the Witch (without the sexual content), but this does not make the story any less intriguing. VERDICT A must-have for fans of fractured fairy tales.—Jeri Murphy, C.F. Simmons M.S., Aurora, IL

School Library Journal

2020-08-04
In a fantasy version of 19th-century Germany, a daughter tries to make amends for her mother’s past mistake.

Agnes Heinrich once promised friendship to her neighbor Mathilda, a rumored witch, in exchange for a fertility tonic. Fearful of community backlash, Agnes’ husband, Oskar, convinced Agnes to drop her end of the bargain and ignore Mathilda’s attempts to reach out. Years later, despite moving away, the Heinrichs suffer the consequence of Agnes’ broken promise. For every two fortuitous events that occur in the family, a tragedy is sure to follow. Sixteen-year-old Elva Heinrich discovers her mother’s old letters from Mathilda and decides to ask for Mathilda’s help to break the family curse. Elva has another reason to seek out their former neighbor: When Elva gazes at her own reflection, she catches a glimpse of events past and future. Her parents urge her to keep this ability hidden, but Elva believes that with Mathilda’s help, she can master her power. Elva’s receptive attitude toward magic sets her apart from the townsfolk, whose superstitious fears are the main source of conflict. Their cruel gossip and prejudice serve to highlight the book’s themes of trust and self-acceptance. Allusions to classic fairy tales and the folklore research of the Grimm Brothers add a touch of familiarity to the fictional setting. Characters are cued as White.

A promising series opener with an unexpected ending that will leave readers wanting more. (Historical fantasy. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews