NetGalley review of The Mirror in the Mountain by Dana Evyn

Tropes:
* Fated mates
* Strong FMC
* Multi POV
* Found family
* She saves herself

My first ever @netgalley book to review 😱 thank you to @victoryediting for the Mirror in the Mountian by @danaevyn.
I absolutely loved this book which is the second in a trilogy, though this arc wraps up nicely with no cliffhanger & the final book will be about one of the side characters so I would definitely suggest getting stuck into it now!! I do want to stress for anyone to check the trigger warnings before reading as there’s some hard hitting topics covered in these books.

Eva, our FMC, is a strong, brave & resilient character who is no damsel in distress, saving herself before anyone else has to. Our MMC, Bash, is a supportive & patient character who is perfect for Eva in every way. This book has some extra POVs of Eva’s parents Estelle & Adrian and I loved the flashbacks into the past which bring the story full circle.

This book is heavy in the romance and in the series there’s some small miscommunications or misunderstanding but they definitely don’t drag out, which I loved. Some of the dialogue expressing love between our main characters could feel slightly repetitive at times which lost a star for this book but it is definitely one to read.

I can’t wait for the 3rd book & to hopefully see Tobias get a well deserved HEA!

3.75⭐️ 3🌶️

Quotes:
* The only way out is through.
* I’ll be content to spend my days learning all the ways to make you smile, make you laugh…and make you moan, if you’ll let me.”
* “I am so very unworthy of you, but I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to be.”
* And if the choice is between the world and you…I choose you, always.”
* “Courage isn’t the lack of fear, it’s acting in spite of it. Bravery is in not allowing that fear to consume you.”

This is a captivating read for fans of fantasy romance who crave a fascinating adventure with a strong female protagonist, a dash of faerie lore, and a slow-burn, fated mates storyline that will keep them on the edge of their seats.

What...a....roller coaster. I absolutely loved this book. I devoured this book in no time, and the spice was *chef's kiss*. This book had everything a girl could want in a series with mates. I can't wait to read the next one!

*The Mirror in the Mountain* by Dana Evyn is a beautifully written novel that explores themes of self-discovery and transformation. With poetic prose and a gripping narrative, Evyn blends mystery and introspection, creating a story that resonates long after the last page. A thought-provoking and immersive read.

This book is way better than the first one. The Other Side Of The Mirror didn't achieve what I expected though the potential was there. Now, THIS book is that potential realised. The characters that I didn't get attached to in the first book, hooked me in this one. Especially the found family aspect. The dynamic between Eva and her friends was everything. The little plot twist in the final chapters had me speechless. I genuinely didn't see that coming. Also, I genuinely did not expect this book to make me emotional at some points. First book failed to do that, so it's a bonus. I loved that the whole 'chosen one sacrificing themselves for greater good' trope took a different, more complicated than just an easy acceptance, route. Also the new POVs were an amazing addition. They gave a clarity of what was I curious about in first book. So yeah. It's a good book and I absolutely enjoyed it.

I was so excited to get back to Eva’s story in The Mirror in the Mountain, Book 2 in the Mirrored Trilogy and it did not disappoint!

Without spoilers The Mirror in the Mountain picks back up from The Other Side of the Mirror and Eva will do anything to stop Aviel from becoming High King.

There is so much Eva is dealing with as she feels the weight of what she must do in order to stop him as she lives with her own trauma from the hands of Aviel. She just got her brother back and that is just another emotional layer she must face.

Bash is right there beside her but at times he feels helpless because he feels he let her down but they are each other’s guiding lights in the darkness and he will stop at nothing to never lose her again.

The found family throughout the story is so good and they really ground Eva and Bash when things begin to look bleak.

Secrets to what fate holds are revealed to Eva and she must decide what she is willing to sacrifice in order to defeat Aviel. He is such a great villain in the way you hate him too throughout the story.

While this book sums up Eva and Bash’s story there is certainly more to come and I can’t wait to see what’s next!

Rating: 4.5 / 5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

I think it's very rare for a sequel to be just as good and engaging as the first book. This one did not disappoint. I loved seeing the relationship between Eva and Bash grow and develop even though there were struggles. The found family in this book is one of my favorites. I especially can't wait to read Tobias's story. This was one of my most anticipated end of year books and it did not let me down!

4.5⭐️

I read TOSOTM a while ago so it took me awhile to get back into this world.
I LOVED the past present timeline, the humor between all the characters and their found family, plus this one was much spicier than book 1!

“Always Forward.” “Never Back.”

“Eyes up, stout heart. The only way out is through.”

It feels like just yesterday I had completed reading The Other Side of the Mirror and that I was chomping at the bit for The Mirror in the Mountain. When Dana Evyn announced that requests for the second book in The Mirrored Trilogy were available through NetGalley, I couldn't get to it fast enough. I am so glad I was able to qualify and this second book does not disappoint. In a handful of days, The Mirror in the Mountain is going to be available and I cannot wait for everyone to read it.

The story continues exactly where it left off and feels like there was no gap in time between the first book and this one. It was very interesting to see the incorporation of additional POVs in this book. They were almost like intercalary chapters and provided both breaks in the action while also giving more background to the action. At the same time, all of it is skillfully woven into the plot as a whole, and I found it all beautifully done. The pacing is perfect for what is happening in the plot. The balance between banter and genuine concern among each of the characters is wonderfully choreographed and helps set the tone. Like in the first book, there are so many good lines that it's really hard to pick favourites because every move and every word has been a deliberate choice.

Spice wise, I am upping it a bit because there is a tiny bit more compared to the first book. The way in which it's being used, however, is different from how it was before. Like I mentioned before, the words on the page have been deliberate choices to push the story, the characters, the action, the emotion, etc. forward and the spice is no different. There's something more intimate about it this time and it's why I decided to give it one more pepper for a total of 4/5.

I wish I could go back and re-experience this book from the first moment! Thank you NetGalley, City Owl Press, and Dana Evyn for gifting me the opportunity to read this ARC! All opinions are my own.

After finishing the first book, I was on pins and needles, and I was practically rabid for this one; it did not disappoint. It had all the magic of the first book but was somehow better. It gives you everything you want in a sequel and more. You still have the characters you love but more depth to them and their relationships; honestly, if you're reading this review, read the first book, then pick this one up because you will not be disappointed!

Hands down one of my top reads of 2024, I couldn't put it down and now I'm staring at the wall trying to figure out how to make a time machine to get the next book ASAP.

The only way out is through.

Absolutely could not get enough of this book and this series! After the first book ended, I was waiting in anticipation to see what would happen next and this did not disappoint! Although I am nervous for what the next book will have in store for us seeing how this book wrapped up.

I absolutely loved the additional POVs we got in this book and how it was written so well that reading it felt so easy! There were twists I was not expecting and this also put me through a range of emotions while reading! I adore Bash & Eva and will forever need more of them together!

Tropes:
-Dark magic
-Fated mates
-Found family
-She saves herself
-Shadow daddy

Thank you so much to Dana Evyn, Owl City Press, and NetGalley for letting me read/review an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

4.5 stars
The mirror in the mountain is riddled with tension that makes it hard to ensure a good night sleep, because you need to find out what happens next.
I love that this next book starts where the last one ended and you are thrusted into panic mode with Eva and the choices she has to make.
The way that her Bash would do anything to get back to each other is so heart warming and shines thought this book.
The hard choices that Eva needs to find out and then go though with is painstaking and keeps the tension going.


Fans of multi povs
This books version of soulmates.
Great banter.
And spice.
Tension filled fights makes falling into this world so amazing.

A good read and some answers that were left unanswered in the first book,

Thank you Dana Evyn and her galley team for the chance to read and review this arc.

This was the perfect sequel and a brilliant way to continue a story I fell in love with.

I was almost expecting another cliffhanger ending but it seems like the series is actually a duology with an interconnected third book that follows different characters - and I'm not mad about this.

Not only is there a real ending, the pacing is also excellent because the story isn't being drawn out across three books. Everything happens fairly quickly but with the right level of detail, world building and character development that it never feels rushed.

Aviel is still just as awful as in the first book - he might be my favourite villain of the year as I HATE him but was always excited to see what he would do next.

The more we were shown of other characters that weren't really in the first book, the more I look forward to getting to them even more in the third book of the series.

This is absolutely a series you need to read if you love Fae Romantasy as it hits all the right points and tropes. I really didn't want this book to end and I don't want the series to either.

This was an intense sequel! I loved the found family aspect and how much stronger these relationships became towards the end of the book. Eva goes through a ton in this book and some of her decisions weren’t my favorite but because she loves everyone so much she wants to self sacrifice, a lot. Bash also became another book bf because he is so sweet with Eva and just wants what’s best for her. This book was action packed, spicy, and the perfect type of romantasy that we all want. I’m so excited for the third book of this trilogy! Thank you so much City Owl Press and Dana Evyn for the advanced copy!

Good God! This book is an absolutely wild ride and I was not ready for it. Read the first book yesterday in preparation for this ARC so I was still reeling somehow grumpy I was as how the first ended (Even though, yes, I know why it needed to end that way 😂)

I absolutely love the ferocity of Eva, our FMC. Our MMC, is all green flags, With his life’s greatest ambition, seemingly to support his love and to keep her and their family safe

The only thing I wish was, I wish we had more information about our ‘fiery’ character.

Romance 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Laughing 😂😂
Crying 😭😭
Kicking feet ❌

I can’t wait to read Toby’s story!