Customer Reviews

Dark Mirror

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In the early 1800s, in the time of the Napoleonic wars, the aristocrats did NOT have magic powers, only commoners! When teen aged Lady Victoria,(Tory),Mansfield has to use her power to rescue her nephew who had fallen off a cliff, she was immediately shipped off to Lackland Abbey, a school which teaches 'mages' to get rid of their powers. She knows that her future is ruined, that she will never marry in her class, AND that she likes her powers!

She discovers that a group of the students, both boys and girls, has secret meetings in the labyrinth beneath the abbey. It's led by two of the instructors who teach thim to control their powers, and not deny them. All the students were aristocrats but all of them know they're shunned for life. Her exceedingly annoying roommate, Cynthia, has followed her to a meeting because she thought that Tory was sneaking out to meet a boy from the other side of the school. She finally decides to join the group, too.

The school raids the labyrinth and the students scatter - no one has ever been caught. Tory comes to a time travel mirror and she falls through. She's in the 1940s! A boy, Nick Rainford, finds her and takes her home to his family, all of whom had magic powers. In her time, Jack Rainford lived in the village of Lackland. She stays for 3 days, as the family asks her to train them to use their powers effectively. When she goes back through the same mirror, only the group has missed her. She'd been reported ill.

England is afraid that Napoleon will invade them, even though the English Channel is between them.
People are training to fight them off.

Nick Rainford has found the mirror and in desperation has come to implore her to come back to the '40s to help them. England needs her to help fight off the Nazis.

This is a fascinating story of both the Napoleanic and WW 2 wars.

I enjoyed this book.

M.J. Putney's debut YA novel is an absolute delight that I devoured in one sitting! When 16 year old Lady Victoria "Tory" Mansfield's magic powers are exposed during a life or death situation, she is exiled to Lackland Abbey, where mages are said to be "cured" so they can return to their wealthy families to regain a small semblance of their dignity. In 1803, magic use is frowned upon by the upper echelons, while the middle and lower class thinks nothing of using powers they consider a privilege to have. Once at Lackland, Tory discovers a group of rebels determined to develop their magic so they may be of service to England during the threat of invasion from Napolean's forces. When she joins with this courageous group of students, she will learn what it means to be needed, and realizes that the home and life she hoped to return to may not be her destiny.

Dark Mirror was such a great read, and Ms. Putney adds an exciting twist that will keep you turning the pages until the very end. Full of magic, adventure, and a dash of romance, against a lush 19th century setting, and the chaos of WWII England, Dark Mirror will please readers of all ages. Tory is a lovely heroine, and I loved getting to know her new friends at Lackland Abbey. I'm notoriously picky when it comes to YA, and I loved it.

Putney's young adult debut was an exciting magical adventure with a bit of romance. Tory begins with the typical aristocratic attitude the magic is something for only the lower classes. After discovering that she has magical ability, she is determined to learn to control it and to hide it. However, it is necessary to use her abilities to save the life of her nephew. Her reward is being shipped to Lackland Abbey to be cured of her magic and to never be able to fulfill the dreams of an Earl's daughter.

There are three different groups of students there. The first group is happy with their magic and reconciled to social ruin in order to use it. The second group are nice girls who just want to learn to control the magic and go back to their ordinary lives. The third group also wants to be cured and return to their ordinary lives but they also delight in making everyone else at the school miserable while they wait. Naturally, Tory's roommate is one of these spoiled and over-privileged girls. Cynthia is beautiful but has a very mean and nasty personality.

Tory quickly becomes part of an underground group that is learning to control their magic and use it for England's good. Napoleon is poised on the other side of the English channel determined to conquer Britain. The group includes boys from the companion boys' school, girls and mage children from the local town. Also included are a couple of teachers from the schools too. One of the boys is the Marquis of Allarde. If he isn't disinherited by his father because of his magical gifts, he will be a Duke one day. He is also smart, handsome and brave and all of the girls - especially Tory's roommate - would like to catch his eye. Allarde and Tory have some connection but Allarde is determined to ignore it.

The underground labyrinth is frequently raided by the school to catch those students and teachers who are determined to learn to use their magic. During one such raid, Tory is separated from her friends, finds a magical mirror, and finds herself traveling in time. Most of the rest of the story takes place in that time. One of the people from the future, a descendant of one of Tory's mage friends, returns to the past to beg Tory's help with a problem in his time. Tory and some of her fellow mage students travel to the future to help.

This was an interesting, engaging, and entertaining story. I think it would appeal to young adults who like magic, historical fiction, romance, and time travel. I am looking forward to the second book in the series Dark Passage which will be published in September.

Sixteen year old Lady Victoria Mansfield (Tory) lives in an alternative Regency England where magic abilities are relatively common but are frowned upon by the aristocracy as something only "common" people use. Tory's cozy life is upset when she wakes up from a dream where she is flying about her father's estate to find she IS flying or rather floating a yard above her bed. Tory manages to avoid being "ruined" by hiding her new found ability until an accident endangers her little nephew's life. Suddenly, Tory must decide between saving her position in her family and in society or saving her beloved nephew.

This book is by M.J. Putney who is also Mary Jo Putney, a well known Romance author. This is her first YA book. I've read almost all of Mary Jo Putney's books, she is one of my favorite authors and I love the Regency set Historical Romances. I also love Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Romances. Also, my 15 year old niece is a huge fan of YA paranormals and I spent most of the last Christmas season researching and trying out new books for her (I always get my niece and nephew a big bag of books for Christmas). So I was very interested in trying this book since it hit so many points with me: favorite author, love of Paranormals, renewed interest in YA books.

I had a little trouble getting into the book at first. The story seemed a little stilted and Tory a little shallow. However, I thought everything picked up once Tory arrived at Lackland, the boarding school for aristocratic magical misfits, and started to discover more about herself, her magical abilities, and the other students and other magic users. Some of the secondary characters are a bit stiff at first (Allarde, a duke's son at the nearby boys' school, had nothing to recommend him except his rank on first introduction) but others are very interesting from the get go (especially fellow classmate and proud magic-user Elspeth and common born storm mage Jack Rainford). Tory joins a group of students who are determined to learn to use their magic and to help protect England from the threat of an invasion by Napoleon. The plot takes a very unexpected turn when the school authorities raid the hidden underground Labyrinth where the students practice their forbidden magic and Tory is forced to flee, gets lost, and stumbles into a mysterious mirror.

Overall, I thought the book started out a bit slow but rapidly picked up. The characters really started to grow on me. Some YA readers may be unfamiliar with the Regency era but will be comfortable with the boarding school setting. Merlin's Mirror and the jump to World War II era England was unexpected and brought a new and interesting twist to the story. I understand a second book, Dark Passage, comes out Sept. 11 and I will definitely give it a try. I will definitely recommend these books to my 15 year old niece.

The book I read was an Advanced Reader Copy through the Amazon Vine Program.

When Lady Victoria Mansfield's family discovers that she has magical abilities, they send her away to reform school to be "cured." Her new school, Lackland Abbey, is located near the English Channel--a dangerous place to be on the brink of a feared Napoleonic invasion. Instead of working on suppressing her magical abilities, Tory finds herself drawn to an underground group of rebellious student mages who wish to develop their talents for the good of England. While the reader is expecting some sort of Napoleonic showdown, Tory actually ends up falling through a magic mirror that transports her to 1940 on the brink of World War II when her and her friends' abilities are needed more than ever. Tory must also struggle with her magnetic attraction to a handsome and mysterious aristocrat named Allarde who has secrets that threaten to keep them apart.
Dark Mirror provides an interesting paranormal explanation for actual historical events, and the contrast between 1803 and 1940 is vividly described. The plot is riveting, the characters engaging, and the end left me longing for the sequel, Dark Passage, which is set to be released in September 2011. I would recommend the book to anyone who enjoys stories about magic, English history, the Napoleonic period, or World War II. Even if you don't think you like history, you might change your mind after reading this book!

Dark Mirror is the story of Lady Victoria Mansfield who is exiled to Lackland Abbey when it's determined that she has magical powers. In an instant, Tory must adjust to life as an outcast, shunned by her priveleged family and friends, in a place that condemns her for something that she can't control. Although the book is definitely young adult and felt a bit junior for me, I still enjoyed it thoroughly.

The characters are gutsy, strong, courageous, sweet, funny and powerful each in their own way. Watching them grow into themselves was a pleasure. There's great adventure to the tale and the story took some truly unexpected and wonderful turns along the way. The explanation and displays of magic were equally well done. Rather than being purely fanciful their magical skills are grounded and given weight. If there's a sequel I'd certainly pick it up.

I am a long-time fan of Mary Jo Putney's novels, loved her Guardian series, and was one of the (maybe few?) people disappointed that the Stone Saints series didn't continue in its original paranormal format. I was very interested to see what she would do with this young adult series in a similar vein. The story takes place in 1803, in an England in which magic is common, but looked down upon by the aristocracy.

Overall, I would say this book was intriguing and enjoyable. It went in a direction I completely did not expect it to go, and other readers may also be surprised when the novel takes a leap outside the 1800s.

********SPOILERS FOLLOW********

Lady Victoria ("Tory") discovers she is a mage. She tries to hide her magical ability, but an event takes place that forces her to reveal her ability or let her nephew die. Despite her heroics, her family banishes her to Lackland Abby, sort of a Hogwarts in reverse. Aristocratic mages attend the school in order to be "cured" of their magic abilities.

Instead, Tory discovers an underground group determined to practice and build their magic abilities. As part of the group, Tory is pursued and almost captured by authorities trying to catch the magic-users. She accidentally falls through a magic mirror (Merlin's mirror, to be precise) and winds up in war-torn 1940.

I'm not sure why I was so shocked at this turn of events. I had been trying to figure out what the cover depicted, and it's clearly Tory in her 1800s clothes versus her 1940s clothes. Also, it's not like time-travel hasn't appeared in other Putney novels (specifically A Distant Magic), so it shouldn't have been THAT unexpected.

Once the time-travel starts, Tory and her mage friends become involved in the evacuation of Dunkirk. I think American teens may especially enjoy a slice of history that isn't often taught in our schools, since this event happened before Pearl Harbor.

I had two main problems with this novel, but both are extremely picky. One, I have a problem with the main character's name being Tory. Was Tory REALLY an acceptable form of Victoria back in 1803? I find this very hard to believe. I'd be surprised if Ms. Putney hadn't done research on this, but all my quick search could find was that it became popular in the 1960s. To me, it's as much of an anachronism as the kids jumping forward 135 years.

My other problem has to do with repetition of word choice. It seems like someone frowns on every other page. People often say things "thoughtfully" or "ruefully." I've noticed this in the latest "Lost Lords" books, too. Not only does the repetition pull me out of my reading experience; it also gives the impression that people are doing a lot of pondering but not a lot of acting. In this book, especially, that's far from the truth.

BOTTOM LINE: Well worth the read, and I'm looking forward to Book 2, "Dark Passage."

I was skeptical - I'm not a time travel fan, and I'd honestly not read a YA historical yet. I chose this book, however, because MJ Putney writes fabulous romance novels. I've read a great many of them and have never been disappointed. So, I decided to take the jump and read it.

The beginning started off a little shaky, but not unnecessarily so. The heroine was whiney and complained about how unfair her life was - to the point that I just wanted to punch the heroine in the face. Looking back, however, this was just part of the natural journey the heroine must take. By the end of the novel, she'd more than redeemed herself.

Characters were definitely one of the greatest assets in this book. You have the cast from 1803 - the unfortunate mages stuck in a terrible school to help "cure" them. They're lovable and you feel for their plight. The cast from 1940 is just as great - the lovable and plucky family stuck in the middle of a war zone. It's an interesting mash up of histories, but they are blended well.

I can only hope that this is going to be an ongoing series. Victoria and her hero are lovable and you definitely root for them - I'd especially like to get more of his story (some of which is in the (as of yet unread by me) short story Fallen from Grace: A Bonus Dark Mirror Short Story.

This novel is definitely worth a read. It was very well done and very enjoyable.

M.J Putney penned a refreshing, magical book. Creating a lovely reading experience. You are transported back and forth through time, visiting the 1800's and then the beginning of WWII.

Lady Victoria Mansfield(Tory) is the daughter of an earl. She discovers that she is a mage, her blood tainted with magic, but instead of being accepted by her family, she is punished, and immediately sent to Lackland Abbey. The boarding school is a place where other magelings are sent by their families to be cured of their magical abilities, you are taught how to suppress your magic.

The book started off a little slow for me, but that didn't last. The book picks up quickly. The author did a fantastic job at the character development. Each character is introduced smoothly, not overwhelming you with unnecessary descriptions and details. Tory is a very strong character. She is not bossy or arrogant but she will stand her ground firmly. Putney did a great job at keeping the writing style true to the era. The words flowed nicely and the language was classic and simple. The book is geared for young adults but I believe any age could enjoy this book.

The premise for this book definitely peeked my interest but I was still unsure about what I would find inside the pages. The book definitely surprised me. I knew I would enjoy it, but I didn't know how much I was actually going to like it. It's magically adventurous storyline, charming characters and simple writing style made it easy for me to love the book. I looked forward to relaxing on the couch, and being whisked away into the world M.J Putney created for us. It was a great getaway! This book has so much to offer, time travel, romance, magic and adventure...What's not to enjoy? I would definitely recommend this book, there is something for everyone. Can't wait for book 2 in the series The Dark Passage coming in September 2011.

What I loved: The charming and likable characters. The enjoyable reading experience
What I disliked: The slow-paced beginning. Didn't really pick up for me until she arrived at Lackland Abbey.

Mary Jo Putney's debut novel as a Young Adult writer is outstanding. In this story we have Lady Victoria Mansfield, the youngest of an earl's three children. Her oldest sibling is married with a young son and her older sister is engaged. Tory, as Lady Victoria is called, is a bit of a tomboy. The main story opens as she is dreaming that she is flying about their estate. A scream wakes her up and she realizes she is levitating about 3 feet above her bed. Her mother the countess is appalled. It turns out that Tory's mother has a bit of magic although she won't admit to it and tells Tory to keep her magic hidden and controlled. As the reader knows from the prologue, the nobility do not like magic and wish to deny its existence and certainly to eradicate its use among their own.

At a lovely fair given at their estate, Tory is walking along cliffs and seeing her toddler nephew run after his father along the path when he slips and falls. Rescue efforts go astray as the ground is very soft from the prior week's rains. When she thinks no one is looking, Tory "flies" or levitates down and rescues her nephew just in time. However, Tory's father the earl is appalled and makes immediate arrangements to send her to Lackland Abbey where they can contain her magic. Tory is heartbroken especially as her father won't even look at her and her friends all walk away as well. Only her mother and her brother and his wife are still her friends.

Tory arrives at Lackland Abbey which is near Dover in the far south of England to find that the atmosphere is very oppressing to magic. Her main ambition is to get rid of her magic so she can go home so she tries to keep her nose down and clean, if you will. However, she does like to explore...

What happens after is delightful, exciting and touching! I don't want to spoil the story so read for yourself. Even adults will enjoy the well thought out plots and surroundings.