Firstly I would love to thank the author and NetGalley for providing me with a free ecopy arc in exchange for my honest review!

ladies and gents, we have a new series that’s become one of my new favourites! this book ah this book! it has everything!! swoon worthy characters, a badass FMC, brilliant pacing, not a dull moment, amazing world building! I found myself devouring 70% of this book in just two days as i just didn’t want to wait to see how it ended and now I don’t even want to think about the wait i have for the second book!

if you’re sensitive to violence and sa then maybe this book isn’t for you, however even though these things are mentioned, it’s not done just for the sake of it, it does actually add to the story and the overall character development of the book!

I. AM. OBSESSED!!
First of all, thank you so much Dana Evyn for the E-ARC, I'm sooooooooooo grateful and happy I got to read this book because I've REALLY enjoyed it.

Eva, our 24 year old MC, is trying to go through life even as her past trauma haunts her day and night, the day when her family died in a terrible fire. Seven years have passed since that fateful night, but everything Eva thinks she knows is about to change drastically when a magical creature attacks her. Enter a handsom fae, Bash, who claims she is the predestined to the fae king and insists on taking her with him so the curse that has been damaging both worlds, fae and human, can be broken.
Eva agrees to this, only because it's an opportunity to know more about her parents' deaths and all the secrets they kept from her. But there are more things brewing under the surface than she thinks, while she develops an unlikely bond with Bash, discovers hidden secrets, and stands face to face with evil. Will she be strong enough to conquer her fears or will the weight of them drown her?

I LOVED IT! I really liked that the characters weren't always perfect, they were flawed and showed character development, which I love to see. Bash and Eva fell hard and fast, even when the odds were against them, and they knew they shouldn't. THE ANGST WAS ON POINT.
One thing I think I'd love to see more of is the bond between the group and Eva. Also where is Quinn? I need to know more about her and her story!!
Prince Aviel... Yeah, I'm not going to say anything about him :)
THE ENDING?!?!?!?! I need book two 😭😭

Go give this book a chance, you may discover your new book addiction and a new book boyfriend for the list.

It's rare these days to find fantasy books with an unique plot and my heart sings with joy when this happens. I've loved this book and Eva and Bash held me glued to the page since the begining. I need book two like yesterday

5 stars

~ I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book received via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own ~

I need then to drop the next book..., expeditiously!
At first it was a slow build for me. Eva seemed just like a bore and someone who was just miserable. But who can blame her when you continue to learn about her past!
Needing to understand more and more as to what was going on, I soon couldn't stop reading!
The world building was chefs kiss, as well as the character building. The back stories had me crying for each character.
I had so many guesses as to how things would unravel with certain situations but each turn caught me by surprise! Lol
It definitely takes a spin on most typical fae stories that I've read so far. So I highly recommend this one!

Such a good read and I can't wait to continue and see what comes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and City Owl Press for the ARC. This review is honest and freely given.

“The Other Side of the Mirror” is a romantasy that has tons of potential. If you were a fan of “A Court of Thorns and Roses” this book has those vibes. But before you get too pumped, there were things that were done well, but I kept feeling like with a little more time could have been even better: Eva’s character was likeable, however I was annoyed by the first 40ish pages kept going back to the fire….I felt like I was being beat over the head with it. Some of the relationships between characters seemed like “insta-love” and I would have liked it if some of the big reveals took longer. I also wish the world building and magic system had been a little more in depth. In a lot of ways, this book seemed rushed….. it could have easily been two books. Finally, I was distracted by some of the same references being used over and over. I am not sure how many times our main character “succumbed to the darkness” or how many references to things “Shining like twin stars” there were, but it was more than enough for one book.

There are some trigger warnings, so don’t skip the Author’s note. It did include themes of sexual assault, violence, loss of loved ones, near-death experiences and does include explicit sexual situations. This book is for 18+ None of these things bothered me personally, but they do occur in this book, and could bother some folks. You will have to decide if this book is for you or not with regards to the trigger warnings.

There is a cliffhanger ending which sets up book 2 very well. If you are looking for a 5 star, epic read, I don’t feel like this one hits the mark. But if you are looking for an entertaining read, with likable characters, magic and a little bit of spice…..this isn’t a bad way to spend the afternoon. I don’t know if this a re-read for me, it is more of a “oh wasn’t that nice” kind of read.

3.75 ⭐️

"If I have to throw you over my shoulder and drag you out of here to save you, I will. Tough I prefer you come of your own volition, especially considering it's your life I'm saving.. and what's necessary to save your realm and mine."

First of all thank you to NetGalley and Dana for letting me read this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

If you want a fast paced romantasy book with the following tropes this book is for you:
- Forced proximity
- Fated mates
- Fae
- Magic
- Shadow daddy
- One horse
- Who did this to you?
- Instant attraction
- Dream walking
- Dual POV
- Spice
- Arranged marriage

"Seven years after her family’s murders, Eva is attacked by a magical creature and abducted to the faerie realm. When a handsome fae saves her, Bash reveals that he must bring Eva to her faerie soulmate to stop a world-ending Curse. She relents, but only for the opportunity to find answers about her parents’ deaths."

The story started out really fast.
Till 70-80% of the story I found it pretty predictable but I still liked the whole vibe and chemistry between the characters.
There were a few things that happend, what I felt were a little 'out of character'.
The spice was really good! And the MMC is everything!
The last 30% were really good and made me look forward to read next book in this series.

Overal I enjoyed this book and therefor will be giving it 3.75 stars.

On her 17th birthday, Eva's family are killed in a fire at her family home. Seven years later, Eva is attacked by a magical creature only to be rescued by a handsome fae, Bash. Journeying to the Faelands with Bash and his friends, Eva slowly uncovers the truths about her heritage and herself.
This, the first book in The Mirrored Trilogy came with immersive world building and strong likeable characters. It was told from both Eva's and Bash's point of view, the excellent descriptions and quick pace keeping the reader hooked. So much so that I read the book in one sitting. This is an amazing start to the trilogy. I can't wait for the next instalment.

“The Other Side of the Mirror” by @danaevyn is the first in a new romantasy trilogy series that releases on 4/9/2024!

“Eyes up, stout heart. Remember, the only way out is through.” (tears)

*spoiler free review*

This book has some of my very favorite romantasy tropes: fairy tale world, found family, mated love (*swoon*), fantastical magic, badass female lead, hero vs villain, hidden secrets, and betrayal, with some very saucy spice. The plot twists were so fun and unexpected. The prologue of the book had me hooked and my inner child immediately LOVED the concept of a magic mirror. As the book progressed, the puzzle pieces came together and many of my questions were answered (although, I have a few left that I hope will be addressed in the second book). The world building was so fun and magical (hello fairy tale vibes!!) The world building was not overwhelming or hard to follow — it supported the story nicely.

I loved Eva as the main female character. She is fiercely loyal, relatable, and soooo courageous. Her character growth had me in all the feels! She’s amazing and I hope she continues to find her power in the coming books. AND, of course, Bash. What can I say?! I may have found a new book boyfriend. Bash is so sweet, loving, fierce, and handsome. I LOVED that they were written for each other — these characters truly mirror each other, in personality, soul connection, and power. The spice was spicy (like omg). However, it did NOT overwhelm the story and it was not the sole focus of the plot, which is exactly what I love in a romantasy book.

I LOVE supporting new authors and celebrating their work. This book had me HOOKED. It reads really well and gets better as the book progresses. Guys, this book leaves us on a BIG cliff hanger (I mean the best ones do, am I right?) Check out this book when it releases! I think you will enjoy it too!!

Thank you to the author and @netgalley @owlcitypress for the ARC.

PS: The hardcover reveal is stunning with beautiful page edge designs

PPS There are some TW, so be kind to yourself and read with care

#theothersideofthemirror #netgalley #owlcitypress #bookstagram #fantasy #romantasy #fairytale #theromantasylibrary

I have mixed feelings (3.5) - some aspects were very fun and enjoyable, however I do think the writing itself let this book down. I can see some other reviews saying it felt a bit "Wattpad"-ish, and I think that sums it up pretty well.

On a positive note, this was full of some of our favourite tropes/ scenarios which will always be a plus, in my opinion (I am forever a sucker for them). The characters were great and pretty easy to like. The plot was fun to follow and the romance/spice were great too.

Overall, I do think this was a fun book, and I would recommend it, however I do think expectations need to be set prior to jumping in just to make it a more enjoyable experience.

I really enjoyed this take on fae romance!

Eva had a traumatic event as a child where her parents died in a fire. She remembers traveling through a mirror (?!) - but convinced herself that it was her imagination! To her surprise, she finds out that it was true and she is fae and betrothed to a fae prince!

This story goes a DIFFERENT direction than what your expecting, and I loved Bash and his role in that!! What a cliff hanger too!!

Bash and Eva had an "insta love" but they were not allowed to be together because she was soulmates (anima) with the prince! I was absolutely hooked from page 1 to see what would happen!

And yes - we did have the infamous "who did this to you" scene - woohoo!

This had rich world building and pace, it was pretty quick and full of action, not a lot of "filler" chapters.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and will absolutely be reading the next ones in the series!!

Thank you NetGalley and City Owl Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

You can watch my reviews at
https://www.youtube.com/@EnchantedRoseBooks

Wow!! Where do I even start with this review? I'm just going on pure feeling because I don't want to spoil a SINGLE thing for anyone.

If you are a love of Romantasy, spicy scenes, adventure, mystery, politics then PICK THIS BOOK UP.

I couldn't stop reading it. I devoured it, I want the second book right now. I am a whole lot of emotions right now. Where did this Author come from? Is this their debut book? Because if so WOW INDEED!!

*I received an ARC from netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

The story follows Eva, who, seven years after the murder of her family, finds herself attacked by a magical creature and transported to the faerie realm. There, she meets Bash, a handsome fae who reveals that she must be brought to her faerie soulmate to prevent a world-ending Curse. Intrigued but determined to uncover the truth behind her parents' deaths, Eva agrees to the journey. As Eva and Bash venture deeper into the faerie realm, Eva discovers magical abilities within herself. Along the way, she forms a bond with Bash, whose secrets and motives slowly unravel. When she the faerie prince, Eva realizes that the truth is more complicated than she imagined.
Dana Evyn weaves a tale of enchantment and intrigue, where nothing is as it seems and danger lurks around every corner. The world-building is vivid and immersive, transporting readers to a realm filled with mythical creatures and ancient mysteries. As Eva uncovers the truth about her past and navigates the complexities of the faerie realm, Eva grows stronger and more determined.
With its blend of magic, romance, and suspense, this book is sure to captivate fans of fantasy and faerie tales alike.

This was a fun and fast-paced, well written read. All of the characters were super likable, which is rare for me. But I will say that the fast-paced aspect of the book hindered the story when it came to a) world building and b) romance/story development.

Expo/ The world building in the beginning was very slim and Eva accepted that there was this alternate realm with magic and Fae waaaay too easily, also abandoning her lifelong friend with no looking back a little too easily, too.

Romance/ I liked the fact that there was this instant attraction and pull between Eva and Bash (which is later explained). It felt like there was maybe one too many looks or touches in the first couple of days, that maybe overwhelmed the tension between the two.

I will say that I did really love how the story came together, the mistakes that were made, the feelings that were ignored and buried. It made it compelling to find out the anima secret although, eavesdropping on that big secret was a bit lackluster.

Spice/ The spice was great! I'm a spicy book reader, so I was really enjoying it. I would definitely say it was like 3 🌶️ and was well written.

Timeline/ I do wish the story had taken place over a few months or more versus a few weeks, it would've made the connections that were made feel more substantial.

Overall, yes -- there were some things that were rushed for the plot to get going, but moving past that, I truly enjoyed this story a lot. I loved the mirror magic, the FMC that saves herself and the cliffhanger! 😫 Will be waiting for Book 2.

I fully enjoy reading this book. Loved the mystery of Eva’s life before 17th birthday. Love her determination and how she opened to finally “feel”. Bash is an amazing character, respectful, funny and so stubborn what not always works for him. Side characters brought a smile on my face.
Story is amazing and full of unexpected events.
The only reason why I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 was the begging. Felt like Eva accepted her destiny too quickly and believed every word about fea world without any hesitation.

(3.75⭐) I want to start by saying that I did enjoy this book. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. It was okay and it was enjoyable. The reason I didn't give it four stars is the first half of the book. It actually started very promising, very 2000s-urban-fantasy like but then the insta love happened after knowing each other for only one day. Yes, in the context of the book it made sense but we don't know it until later. I just wish it was at least a few days. Then, Bash. I love him but he was driving me crazy with his obliviousness. He and Eva both. They irritated the shit out of me for the first 50% of the book. But Eva wasn't stupid and trusted her instincts that something was wrong. And after that the book rehabilitated itself. The interesting started. And even though I figured out the plot twist with a villain early and predicted the plot twist with the other certain someone, it was entertaining to watch Eva coming to those conclusions too. She's a very likable character. I admired her fortitude, how she didn't break during that horrible few days. Eva is fearless and brave. She never backs down and never gives up. And she'll do everything for people she loves. She will save them whatever it takes. She also can defend and save herself. She's not a damsel in distress and I love that about her. The cliffhanger was painful. The story itself has a big potential and I can't wait for book two to find out what Eva and her friends will do next.

The Other Side of the Mirror by Dana Evyn
Published by City Owl Press
4/5 stars!!

I really enjoyed the plot of this book, the characters were very lovable with lots of twists and turns in the book! Eva lost her family to a fire and never truly knew if her brother also died that night, when she was attacked in her home a fae (Bash) came to save the day (not that she needed it!), He takes Eva through the mirror back to his realm where she was expected to marry the Prince. However, she discovers lost secrets and figures out who she truly is.

I would recommend to anyone wanting a good read with romance and adventure.

Thank you to Dana, the Publisher and NetGalley for this arc!

The Other Side of the Mirror and the Mirrored Trilogy as a whole is showing quite a lot of promise! I enjoyed this first book in a series with its fun and fast paced storyline and likeable characters. Eva was young when her family went through a tragedy and she is the only survivor and this story picks up seven years after these events. I was worried initially since she was 17 when the events happen but am glad the author aged her up. Then she gets informed that there is so much more to her identity than she thinks and who her life is connected to.

It was really exciting jumping into a magical world with Eva and getting to meet Bash and see their relationship develop. A qualm I do have with this is the timeline over the whole story seems to only be a handful of weeks and made it feel a little bit insta-love which I'm not the biggest fan of. There is spice in this book, but that's always enjoyed by me and not a deterrent.

I am anticipating the rest of the trilogy because it does end in a cliffhanger and I am now very invested. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

The start of the mirror trilogy is a fun, fast paced, romance with likeable main characters. There were a few issues for me which stopped this being a five star read.

One - the world building. There is next to none of it. You find out a few kingdom names and some lose history about the fairy realm but it honestly felt very empty to me, and lacking in detail. Would have been nice to learn a lot more about the geography of the kingdom and a more in depth exploration of what creatures there were there. The same with the magic system.

Two - the time frame. The whole book appears to take place over the space of a few weeks if not less. This made the romance feel very insta love in a way I couldn’t really get behind.

Three - Unaddressed plot points. There were a few times in the book things were mentioned that just never seemed to come back up again. For example Quinn. This was the biggest one. I’m assuming she will appear in a later book but considering how important she was at the start, it was pretty nuts to me that Eva just vanished and like never thinks of her again after. Kind of a bad friend move?

Despite these issues and the overall trope-y feel of the book, it was pretty fun. The characters are all likeable, the dialogue is well written, and the prose flows well. Despite how quickly the romance progresses, it was still sweet and I was rooting for them the entire time. I was invested enough that I flew through the whole book in one sitting and I do think I would read the sequel.

The story follows Eva, a young woman who has been haunted by the tragic murder of her family seven years prior. Just when she thinks her life couldn't get any more complicated, she is suddenly attacked by a magical creature and transported to the faerie realm. There, she meets Bash, a handsome fae who reveals that she is destined to be with her faerie soulmate in order to stop a world-ending Curse.
Despite her reservations, Eva agrees to go on this journey with Bash, hoping to find answers about her family's deaths along the way. As they travel through the fae realm, Eva discovers hidden powers and grows closer to Bash. But when she finally meets her prince, she realizes that things are not as they seem. With determination and courage, Eva takes matters into her own hands to uncover the truth and unravel the lies of the fae.
One of the things I loved most about this book was the world-building. Evyn has created a vivid and intricate fae realm, complete with its own politics, magic, and creatures. The characters in this book were also well-developed and complex. Eva is a strong and independent protagonist, determined to find the truth and protect those she loves. Bash is the perfect balance to her, with his charm and protectiveness towards Eva. Their chemistry was undeniable and I found myself rooting for them throughout the book. There were twists and turns that I did not see coming, and I loved how Evyn weaved in elements of mystery and intrigue into the story. It was a perfect blend of romance and fantasy. This is a must-read for fans of fantasy and romance.

This book made me laugh, and blush along with the FMC! It was way spicier than I thought it was going to be (I'm not a huge fan of a lot of spice I love the slow burn!!). The banter was so good between all of the characters. I could not put this book down, and I am so excited for the next one.

Goodreads review (03/20/2024)
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Instagram review (04/07/2024) ***

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