Customer Reviews

Palace of Mirrors

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As this light, fun story begins, 14-year-old Cecilia, brought up as a village commoner by Nanny Gratine while being tutored in chess and other royal topics by Sir Stephen, knows that she is in reality the true princess of Suala, destined to replace the decoy princess, Desmia, on the throne as soon as the evil men who killed her parents are vanquished. It soon becomes apparent, however, that her enemies have tracked her down, so she and her best friend, a peasant boy named Harper, decide to trek to the royal palace at Cortona so Cecilia can claim her throne. But when they arrive there, they discover that Desmia has been told a very different story.

Palace of Mirrors is set in the same world as the author's earlier book Just Ella, and Ella shows up here, though not as a major character. The story isn't as predictable as it first seems, as the situation at the palace turns out to be much more complicated than the reader expects. But ultimately everything is resolved, and though there's no magic in this book, its happy fairy-tale ending is as satisfying as you could wish.

I was wonderfully surprised by "Palace of Mirrors." Haddix took the sugar-coating off the fairy tale like she tried to do with "Just Ella," but where "Just Ella" came out sounding whiney and forced, "Palace of Mirrors" came out pitch perfect. Watching Cecilia develop from a child who only thinks of herself to a young woman who is able to see the big picture and her true place in it was totally believable. Haddix wrote it the way it really happens... your life is one way, then things start happening and you make one choice after another and at some point you are able to look back and realize that you've changed and become just who you are supposed to be.

Not to mention, Haddix managed to create a plot unlike any I've read before... quite a feat considering the burgeoning number of princess stories being written nowadays. This story has unique twists that don't end up being just the same old fairy tale, but truly suspenseful and satisfying!

The message of the book is that it is our choices that make us who we are, and the author supports that message in every page of the story without whacking the reader over the head with it. It is skillfully done and I really enjoyed reading it.

If you didn't care much for "Just Ella" (I didn't), don't hold it against "Palace of Mirrors"--this book is superior in every way and well worth your time. But if you loved "Just Ella" then "Palace of Mirrors" will really knock your socks off!

I am 13 years old and I wanted a book to read from the library, but my mom was telling me that I didn't have time to search for a book. But I quickly ran and just grabbed Palace of Mirrors which was the first book I saw. It is such a good book. With a lot of books you can predict what happens but with this book you this you know what happens then something comes up and you get a new idea of what happens. The ending is really romantic you just can't help but smile while you read it. The next couple nights after I ready it I had dreams that I was the girl in the book. I think they should make a movie of this book. I would go see it the day it came out. I love books and think this one is awesome. I would definitely recommend it.

A big fan of Margaret Peterson Haddix myself, I was thrilled to see "Palace of Mirrors" on audible (a book I have never read before). I clicked play with great anticipation, but unfortunately the audio performance that followed was more than disappointing.

I listened for 30 minutes before I decided that although the story itself was engaging I was not going to let Polly Lee (narrator) ruin it for me. Her slow mechanical reading of the narration drained Haddix's words of any life. Although her dialogue-voice for the main character was passable, she seemed to be completely misinterpreting the dialogues between the characters. What is written as playful banter between friends sounds almost menacing. And Harper (the male lead and best friend of the protagonist) sounds like a bully which is not what the actual words being spoken imply.

I finally decided to just buy the book, and I loved it. Now I'm left only with the bitter feeling that I've wasted an audible credit. I recommend you read the real book, or at least have the good sense that I didn't have and listen to the sample first (not a mistake I'll likely make again).

If you're looking for a book similar to other titles by Margaret Peterson Haddix, then Palace of Mirrors may not be what you are looking for. Unlike Among the Hidden and the other books in the Shadow Children series which are futuristic and political, Palace of Mirrors takes place in a medieval/fantasy setting.

Although I found that this book started slow, the story of a peasant girl who is raised believing that she is the "True Princess" develops interesting twists when the conflict heats up in the second half of the book. Girl readers in upper elementary and middle school will enjoy the turn of events which Cecelia, the main character, encounters.

Although I think most readers will read this book for its entertainment value, the dialogue between Cecelia and Harper, her best friend, about making choices vs. following your destiny could generate interesting discussions. In addition, girl readers will enjoy the power that Haddix gives to her main character.

This book is very nice and it gives a very lively tale about a princess which young girls will love but at times when Desmia was explaining her side of the story it can get confusing. I really did love this book though and it had a very nice conclusion and climax to the story :)

Honestly, when I got this, I refused to read it. It just sounded, so, well, stupid. But you gotta get past the gates and read, because this book is magnificent! I have not read 'Just Ella', but this is fine without that book in our way. This is not a sequel. This is not a book, or a movie, or a Kindle app, or whatever. This is life!
Margaret Peterson Haddix has captured us in Palace of Mirrors. Reading this makes it sound extremely realistic and you are actually not on Earth anymore when you read this.
You must buy this or else you'll regret it, because THIS IS GOOD!

Unfortunately, my daughter can't. And she loves Margaret Peterson Haddix who writes other very interesting books that are a little darker.

Anyway, the premise of this story is a true princess being raised as a peasant to protect her while a peasant is raised as a princess who is expected to be assassinated. Eventually the true princess decides to take her fate into her own hands and return to the castle -- after all, why should an innocent peasant put her life on the line for her? But of course nothing is ever simple and the heroine's admirable impulse takes her down a path full of twists and turns that are eventually resolved happily, because this is still at heart a fairy tale.

I bought this book for my wife who is a 4th grade teacher. She has many students who enjoy reading this book

I loved this book! two of my friend recommended it and i finally gave it a try, and i loved it! Who is the true princess? Read to find out!:)