Megan Shepherd is one of my favorite authors and I knew I had to read this novel. Fantasy is not one of my favorite genres but I really enjoyed this novel, once I got into it. With beasties, witches, pretty’s, royals and goblins, I really got myself in deep with the magic in this novel.

 

Anouk watched the world from the windows of the townhouse she was imprisoned in. Anouk was a beastie, enchanted by witch Mada Vittora, preventing her to leave, making her a servant, along with many other beasties who were under Mada Vittora powers. Then, one day it happens, the beasties discover the body of Mada Vittora and they realize they need to escape. They all claimed their innocence yet someone killed her.

 

The beasties know that individuals will be others hunting them down, for they need to find those responsible for her death. As the beasties run, they also know that they are under a time-constraint. With Mada Vittora’s death, her enchantment on them will end in three days. The beasties which are now in human form will return to their beast state unless they receive a new spell. They can’t hide for they need someone to cast a new spell on them. Another witch? Yet, that witch might be looking for them. Who can they turn to?

 

The more I read this story, the more I couldn’t put it down. The imagination and other fantasy aspect of this novel were entertaining and captivating. Again, I’m not one for fantasy but I couldn’t stop thinking about this novel. The fights, the battle, Anouk’s love for her friends and those who helped, it became a whirlwind of action at times and other times, we caught our breath and mapped out the next plan of action. I feel that the novel showed a commitment, a responsibility that Anouk felt. I can’t believe that Ms. Shepherd left me hanging in the end, just left me hanging……

 

Now, I can’t wait for the next book in this series to be released. Wait, me excited for a fantasy book to be released, this is a first!

You don’t have to truly understand everything that was taking place in this novel to truly enjoy it. The more that I thought about this novel, the more that I understood the essence of the novel and the more I loved it. It’s a journey that begins when Emmaline discovers what lies within the mirrors of Briar Hill Hospital. This hospital was once the home of a princess but is now the home to children with stillwaters (tuberculosis). Emmaline and her roommate Anna are the only two individuals who claim they can see what is in the mirrors, a secret that they now share privately. Emmaline tries to fit in amongst the other children but since her comment the first day about what she saw in the mirrors, some children have been antagonizing her. As she escapes one such taunting, she dashes beyond the kitchen terrace, where no children are allowed, to a place where she feels safe.

 

It can’t be. One of the images from the mirror has slipped through to her world and now stands before her. It is wounded though. It’s a magical and emotional time as Emmaline is faced with decisions regarding the winged horse from the mirror. Anna, her roommate is slowly dying and Emmaline has been told to keep calm around her yet the excitement and intensity of this new development is hard to keep contained. Anna is the only person who she can share this excitement with and she wants to tell Anna everything. As Emmaline sleeps, she hears hoofprints on the roof and realizes that it cannot be her winged horse as it was injured. Checking on the horse the next day, she finds a note from The Horse Lord. He asks Emmaline help in protecting the injured horse Foxfire, from the Black Horse who is out to hurt her. He leaves Emmaline instructions, if she is willing to help. This is a huge responsibility with the war going on and a huge risk for Emmaline. It was an intense and exciting journey as the rest of the novel played out.

 

I fell head first into the magical elements of this story. I enjoyed Emmaline’s commitment to do what she thought was right and how creative she was. Her age showed as she sometimes acted before she thought things through and I loved how she acted from her heart. This was a beautiful story, a story that you will not forget when you close the final pages. I think it would make an excellent bedtime story or a read aloud. I can’t wait to share it with others.