At several points during my reading of Lonely Castle in the Mirror, I was reminded of that wonderful line from C.S Lewis’s letter to his god-daughter: “Someday, you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.” Whilst YA readers will find much to appreciate in Mizuki Tsujimura’s exquisite novel, I suspect that its many riches will be even more resonant for those coming to it from a farther perspective. Part magical realism, part social allegory, this is a story that is both apposite for our times and yet also, in its wise nuances, curiously timeless.

The comparisons with Lewis come not only in form, but also in premise. In Tsujimura’s novel, Teenager Kokoro has effectively become both a school refuser and a recluse after a particularly isolating encounter with the resident “mean girl” at her junior high. With a largely absent father, it is left to her well-meaning but emotionally distant mother to pick up the pieces, a task inhibited, it seems, by her inability or unwillingness to face her daughter’s status as a social outsider. When Kokoro discovers a parallel reality through the mirror in her bedroom, however, it begins a journey of self-discovery in tandem with six other like-minded teenagers, all of whom have their own stories to reveal over the course of events.

The Castle that they find within their own respective mirrors offers both sanctuary and reflection, overseen by the setting’s mysterious and anonymised host; a young girl known only as the Wolf Queen. The characters’ task at the castle is simple: to discover a hidden key that will unlock a single wish for one of them during their intermittent one-year stay. It is a delicious premise, but one that in masterful hands has the potential to become elevated to the truly philosophical. It is no surprise that Tsujimura, whose narrative trademark is the often messy lives of young adults, is able to achieve this, resulting in something both incredibly moving and profound.

Whilst the reader remains mostly invested in Kokoro’s journey, the novel’s supporting cast deftly and convincingly contribute to its milieu of adolescent subculture, replete with its totems of computer games, rebellious behaviours, sexual discovery and questions of identity and belonging. These tropes, well worn as they are in the realms of YA fiction, nonetheless achieve a freshness when cast within the magical context of a fable, resulting in a story that cleverly echoes adolescence itself in its thin psychic line between childhood and adulthood. Characters are often seen suspended in their desire to regress to the ease of their younger selves and/or hurry forward to a time beyond the torture of their schooldays. “It’s only school” one tangential character remarks towards the end of the novel, capturing both the simple truth and the complex reality of their present existence where, trapped in the moment, time takes on a static, painful quality that seems unending.

As the novel unfolds it’s no surprise to learn that the “answer” to their task lies in a life lesson rather than a simple solution; one which will take the entirety of the story to fully appreciate. Whilst the “twist” was not unexpected, both its logic and its devastating pathos more than made up for this, including an epilogue which will move all but the hardest of hearts.

Already a national bestseller in its native Japan, the text receives a beautifully subdued English interpretation from the incredible Philip Gabriel, a former department chair at Arizona University’s department of East Asian Studies and one of the major translators of the novelist Haruki Murakami. Gabriel skillfully resists the temptation to intellectualise the prose, and many readers, unfamiliar with the particular sensibility of East Asian literature may find the novel initially difficult to engage with because of this. The language is both stark and unadorned, and frequently littered with the exclamations and idiosyncrasies that give the Japanese language its peculiar flavour, especially in dialogue. The result of this simplicity, however, is to throw the depth of the story’s messaging into even greater relief, not unlike the traditional fairy tales (The Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen) which it frequently references.

Similarly, readers expecting a fast-moving narrative may be put off by the languorous pace of the novel which doesn’t truly pick up until well after the three quarters mark. Its lack here, however, is more than made up for in both its beautifully observed characterisation and the nuances of its telling, and there is a particular delight in picking up the various clues to the mystery along the way. As the Wolf Queen says, everything is there to find if you look for it. Indeed, my only pleasure in finishing the book was in the anticipation of reading it again for things I had missed on the first pass.

I genuinely think I will struggle to find a novel I enjoy more in 2021. My thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers Penguin Random House for the privilege of the ARC in return for an honest review.

Content warning for brief explorations of sexual abuse and suicide.

'Lonely Castle in the Mirror' is a book that rewards the patient.

Anyone who remembers experiencing isolation at school, or at least a sense of feeling profoundly different to classmates, will connect with protagonist Kokoro. When the mirror in her room becomes a portal to a castle and a quest, she's able to escape her prison-like reality. Still, this isn't a fantasy novel, and in a way it isn't magical realism either - the castle itself is very unmagical; the other children who find themselves there are even able to find plug outlets to power their game consoles.

It's a quirky kind of novel, you could say.

In a way, despite its length, I think this novel will appeal to younger readers more than older ones. It really does painfully and skilfully capture adolescent angst, confusion, and insecurity. The fluidity of group friendships. I found my attention waning for a large chunk of the story, but towards the end the story "matures" - deeper secrets are revealed, and the resolution is unexpected, yet satisfying.

A tender novel, though one that certainly won't be everyone's cup of tea.

4.5*

Seven children have been selected by the mysterious Wolf Queen to come to the castle in the mirror and search for the key to the Wishing Room. Any wish will be granted to the one who finds it… but there is something they don’t know yet – the wish fulfilment will come at a price.

I really loved the premise of this story, but I did find it hard to get into. For me, it was around page 87 when things started falling into place. The story explores that abuse can have many forms, giving rise to an emotion that can stay buried deep inside and affect all aspects of a person’s life. The castle is Kokoro’s “safe refuge”, which she, nonetheless, avoids at first due to personal trauma. It is also a kind of a social club and a therapist’s office without a therapist but a wolf lurking somewhere inside. The seven of them have been brought there for a reason, and they have more in common than they realise.

What I found somewhat frustrating is how the whole plot is based on miscommunication. I liked the story still. It is smart, well-thought-out, magical. But it seemed that everything could have been solved so easily had they actually talked through certain, obvious things.

The things that made me reconsider my final rating a couple of times:

- The description of the book is misleading. I cannot point out all the things that don’t match with the narrative because of spoilers, however, I don’t recall there being “watchful portraits” and “winding stairways”.
- There is also, what I believe to be, a major spoiler in the description.
- I don’t think it has that many similarities with Convenience Store Woman, if any. Kokoro does visit a convenience store once, but that has nothing to do with Sayaka Murata’s novel. The main characters may be considered somewhat similar personality-wise, but that is still quite a big stretch.
- Ninety percent of the book reads like children’s fiction. Which is perfectly fine, but the book is labelled as general fiction (adult). I feel like it has more in common with Spirited Away or When Marnie Was There, or one of Yasutaka Tsutsui’s novels (can’t say which one because may be a spoiler).
- In the first part of the book, some scenes are confusing or hard to follow, especially with the dialogue, it is not always clear who’s talking and at some instances, the characters’ speech seems to contradict what has been said earlier.

A certain plot twist has been obvious even though there are some insistent attempts to lead the reader in a different direction. But I found it appropriate and a satisfying step to resolution. In the end, everything ties up together beautifully.

I love Japanese fiction, but unfortunately I found that this one read as a bit more juvenile than I was hoping. The writing was a bit awkward sometimes, and I found that it got tiring very quickly reading about the various mundane goings-on of the very young characters in the novel.

3 ½ stars

“The only place she could now go to freely from her bedroom was the castle. If I'm in the castle, she started to think, then I'll be safe. Only the castle beyond the mirror could offer her complete protection.”


Lonely Castle in the Mirror is a heartfelt slice of life novel with a magical twist. Personally, I don't think that this novel has much in common with Sayaka Murata's Convenience Store Woman...while I understand that yes, they both are authored by Japanese women and yes, they both are concerned with mental health but story and style wise the two have nothing in common. Lonely Castle in the Mirror is closer to the work of Ghibli (more When Marnie Was There than Spirited Away) or anime such as AnoHana or Orange.
Lonely Castle in the Mirror is told by third-person narrator that primarily focuses on Kokoro, who is in seventh grade (first year of junior high). Kokoro, however, no longer attends school. The prospect of going to her class fills her with such unease that she often experiences anxiety-induced stomach aches. She's unwilling to 'confess' to her mother the reason why she stopped going to school and spends her days at home, trying and failing not to think about her classmates. One day she notices a weird light emanating from within her mirror and finds herself transported into a castle that seems to belong in a faerie tale. Kokoro, alongside six other children/teenagers, has been selected by the Wolf Queen (whose appearance is that of small girl wearing a wolf mask) who informs them that within the castle is a key and whoever finds it will be granted a wish. The magical castle has opening hours and if they fail to leave by 5pm they will be eaten by wolves. The castle will be available to them for a year, until the end of March (school years in Japan go from April to March).

While this summary makes this story sound like a fantastical adventure, Lonely Castle in the Mirror is more of a character-driven story that just happens to take place in a magical castle. Kokoro and the other students spend most of their time playing games and slowly getting to know each other. For the majority of the novel they do not seem overly interested by the promise of a 'wish', nor are they worried by the possibility of being eaten by wolves. The castle becomes their playroom, a safe space in which they do not have to think about their home-lives. Although they differ in age they are all in junior high. While they realise immediately that they have all stopped going to school, they do not often broach this topic.
Overtime however they get to know each other. There are a few disagreements now and again, and their bond with each another is not always an easy or drama free one. Still, in spite of their different background and interests they do begin to view their time together as an escape from their intolerable 'reality'.

While Mizuki Tsujimura touches upon sobering topics—such as bullying, domestic and sexual abuse—these do not weigh down her narrative. When discussions around these subjects crop up the author demonstrates great sensitivity and empathy. The friendship that blossoms between Kokoro and the others makes for some tender scenes. The 'revelation' behind the castle and the reason why they were chosen will probably were not all that 'surprising'. Still, even if readers know more than Kokoro or the other characters, this will probably not detract any enjoyment from their reading experience (the story has a lot to offer without those final 'twists').
While I understand why the narrative mainly stuck to Kokoro, part of me wished that the story could have also focused on the other characters.
Tsujimura certainly captures the anxiety and fear that many feel at the prospect of going to school. When I dropped out of high school I felt much of what Kokoro was feeling.

“School was everything to her, and both going and not going had been excruciating. She couldn't consider it only school.”


Although the castle lies inside of a mirror, it did not feel all that magical. There are very few descriptions about the way it looks, and I think that the story would have benefited from having a more vividly rendered setting. And, maybe I would have liked the story even more if there had been more fantastical elements (the Wolf Queen makes an appearance now and again but other than that the castle is very much like an ordinary playroom). Towards the end the story definitely has more of a fantasy feel and really reminded of a Ghibli film.
Overall, I did enjoy this novel. I think Tsujimura's narrative succeeds in being both gentle and emotional. She allows time for her characters to develop and learn to get to know and care for each other. Kokoro, in particular, is given a satisfying character arc.
Lonely Castle in the Mirror is a novel about friendship, realistic issues (such as bullying), self-acceptance with some magical undertones.

As a huge fan of Sayaka Murata, I had to reach for a book with THIS cover which mentions Convenience Store Woman as a reference point in the blurb.

I think my favorite thing about this book is the raw and honest look an anxiety as part of everyone's lives. This book explores what happens when seven teenagers too anxious to do anything find a portal which takes them to a different and better world. The author describes teenagers with severe anxiety, most importantly due to bullying at school, which is heartbreaking but very real. Notably, the book takes a close look at Kokoro, a bullied middle schooler who wants to live like everyone else but the crippling anxiety is too much to even go out in the public. It is Kokoro who we witness going though the portal and finding 6 other kinds in a castle.

And in the castle, the group is tasked with finding a hidden key which will allow its finder one wish, after which the castle will disappear and all will return to normal.

I loved the magical realism, the competition, the struggle, the outside vs. inside, the characters, and of course THE ENDING. That ending alone is worth reading this book for.

As someone also struggling with anxiety and panic, this book brought me some calm and feeling that I'm not alone. It's a wonderful escape from a reality, just like that portal was for these kids. The setting in Japan was an additional bonus, as it added even more to this positive feeling of escape. I loved this story and can't wait to read more from this author,

*Thank you to the Publisher for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review,

"Lonely Castle in the Mirror", what comes to your mind when you read this title?
This book will surprise you, its not what you'd expect.

It has themes of Magic Realism, Fairytales , juxtapositional with social issues like Bullying, loneliness, elementary and middle school related societal issues that might tug at your heart at times.

When I started the book I was compelled to re check the title of the book again as I felt its a Juvenile fiction and made me highly dubious if I should be READING IT OR GIVE IT TO MY PRETEEN NEICES and NEPHEWS?

But, I don't give up easily especially not on MY BOOKS, SO WHAT IF ITS A 500 + pages long book?
For some reason this book could not touch me , although I was so intrigued to start reading it , unfazed with the length of the book.

But there were some good things that I felt while reading this, first its a UNIQUE READ, great characters , it reminded me of the good old days where we used to read books like SECRET SEVEN and FAMOUS FIVE.

If you want to read something UNIQUE and heartfelt pick this one. I was glad to come across this one of a kind Japanese fiction book and oh also, LOVED THE BOOK COVER.

#LonelyCastleInTheMirror #NetGalley