A Mirror Mended

I've been ecstatic since I saw the announcement of this book because I had assumed A Spindle Splintered was a standalone but I'm so glad this exists. And I just had to read it as soon as I got my arc because how can I wait.

Did I just forget how funny and snarky the first book was or did the author just take it all up a notch, I don't know. But the main character Zinnia's internal monologue as well as most of the things that come out of her mouth are very sassy and outright hilarious. She is ofcourse employing this tactic so that she doesn't have to show her vulnerable side or face her own reality, but is prepared to dive into universe after universe to save different versions of princesses from their terrible fates, just so that she doesn't have to face hers. But this time, she is in for something different.

When she comes face to face with the Evil Queen from a different fairytale, Snow White, she is not prepared for it - how do you help a woman who is also probably actively trying to torture you? Their interactions go from bitter to snarky to forced to honest, showing a growth in both their characters. Zinnia understands that she can find her happiness within her life without worrying about when it will end, and the Evil Queen learns that she doesn't always have to make choices just to survive, she can also make them to live a life on her terms. We also get some little cameos which prove to be the necessary catalysts for our two characters' growth; and we also get to see how the story of Snow White and the Evil Queen gets warped into different versions across realms, where the lines get blurred between heroine and villain, between good and evil. Add in some chaos across the multiverse, and it makes for an exciting romp of a novella.

Overall, it was a delight. I loved being back in this world and I liked this ending because it felt hopeful for everyone involved. If you are someone who likes fractured fairytales with lots of humor, sassy women and some very interesting feminist takes on the age old tales, do go for this series. While I couldn't get access to the audiobook this time around, I'll probably still recommend that format because I remember the narrator bringing a lot more personality to the story and just overall making the humor come alive.