I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and flew through the pages in only two days. Reading about "Lonely Castle in the Mirror", I had immediately loved the tropes - high school bullying in modern day Tokyo, Grimms' fairy tales and a world in the mirror, - what an amazing concoction!
The beginning was a bit slow and the occasionally naive voice of the protagonist made me question, why this novel hadn't been marketed as YA. The more the story went on, however, and Tsujimura weaved the experiences of the children together so masterfully, I quickly forgot about these categories. She kept me glued to the page until it all culminated in a beautiful and oh so heartwrenching ending, that made me sob and feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
A beautiful and affirmative novel for young and old, that celebrates being different, friendship and standing up for one another.

trigger warning
<spoiler> bullying, mention of suicide, lethal illness, cancer, grief, domestic violence </spoiler>

The glowing mirror is the passageway to the Lonely Castle in the Mirror. Seven people meet there, and have ten months to find a magic key - the winner will be rewarded with a magic wish.

I had assumed this would be a plotdriven novel, but then I always assume that if I don't know the author beforehands.
I kind of was disappointed, but then I really liked what I got, and it felt like I kind of needed that. I've had my own experiences with bullying which led to PTSD, so I was pondering whether to read on or not, but was too captured to stop reading.

There were two plot twists in the end, and while I saw the first coming from miles away, the second one surprised me. And yes, I said it's more about the characters, but the last quarter has a punch and it got thrilling and I found myself unwilling to stop now.

In here are allusions to fairytales, but if you're not up to date with Grimm's fairytales, the titles might spoil. It came as no surprise to me, but then I am from Germany and grew up with those that aren't that popular abroad.

I liked it though it was a hard read, emotionally. I would look up further works by the same author, but if they're as hard-hitting as this one was, I'll need a break before reading on.
The arc was provided by the publisher.

Lonely Castle in the Mirror is a fantastical, whimsical story of seven young people who have dropped out of school and can visit a castle through their mirrors every day, from nine to five, and search for a key that will allow one of them to make a wish. This is a really lovely story, both whimsical and meditative, and at its core it's about bullying, mental health and recovery. I did not love the writing style, its simplistic and repetitive way of telling the story bored me so much, but the second half of the book picked up a bit more pace and once we start getting the backstories and revelations about the castle and the mysterious Wolf Queen, this book truly shone. It was engaging enough to keep me reading even though I didn't like the writing. I'm glad I read this and I suspect that Lonely Castle in the Mirror will stay in my thoughts for a long time. The more I think about it, the more I enjoy its symbolism, fairy-tale story and message!

Lonely Castle in the Mirror (かがみの孤城), written by the Japanese author Mizuki Tsujimura and translated to English by Philip Gabriel, is a magical and moving coming-of-age story that won the Japan Booksellers’ Award in 2018 and has been lauded and praised by many since. I was planning on reading it as soon as I heard about it, so when the English translation was announced I was over the moon with joy.

Set in modern day Tokyo, the novel recounts the story of Kokoro (meaning ‘heart’ in Japanese) Anzai, a 13 year-old girl who, after a rather traumatic event that has left her unwilling to go to school, one day discovers that the mirror in her room is shining in a peculiar way. Upon examining the mirror, she gets transported through it to a castle, where she meets six more children around her age, as well as the Wolf Queen, who seems to be the person in charge. The Wolf Queen gives them about a year to find a key which will grant only one of them a wish. However, after the wish is granted, all of them will forget about the castle, the moments they have spent there and one another. The children can enter the castle through their mirrors at any moment they want, but they are forbidden to spend the night there, although they each have their own rooms in the castle. If they overstay, then the wolf will come out and devour them.

As the story progresses, we learn more about each teenager, all of whom refuse to go to school for their own reasons, and we follow them as they get to know one another and discover that they are not alone in whatever they are going through. The narration is in third person, but we follow Kokoro’s point of view as she reveals more and more about the incidents that made her unable to go to school, and as she unravels the mystery of the castle along with her new friends.

I really loved the fairy tale elements and the magical atmosphere that Tsujimura creates, as well as the way she uses those fantastic elements to talk about real-life problems that many of us will have also experienced as teenagers. Through the themes of friendship, bullying, losing people close to you, social insecurity etc., Tsujimura explores what it is like to be an outsider, to not be able to fit it and to find friendship and meaningful connections even when you least expect it.

There is also the underlying mystery of the castle and its goings-on, which I also found quite interesting (can never resist a good mystery!), although I was able to figure out most of its solution pretty early on. It definitely gave the novel a unique flair, though, engaging the reader and keeping them eager to uncover the mystery. I also really liked the seven teenagers, I thought they were all unique and I was eager to know more about their specific circumstances and what led them to be invited to the castle.

Lonely Castle in the Mirror is almost a 400-page novel, and I have to admit that it does drag on at times, especially during the middle. The writing is simple, as is the case with many Japanese novels, so if you’re looking for flowery and poetic language, this book is not for you. The translation is very well done (as is to be expected by a renowned translator like Gabriel), but there are still some nuances and cultural differences that readers may need to be aware of when reading. For example, in many scenes we see Kokoro or the other children staying silent and not talking back when scolded or reprimanded, even if they are not in the wrong. Although this attitude isn’t very common in the western world, it is quite common in Japan.

According to the Publisher’s Note at the end of the book, Japanese children’s mental health is second to last among 38 developed and emerging countries, a fact that is shocking and alarming, yet one that makes this book even more important for all the teenagers and young adults that are going through difficult times for one reason or another. No wonder, then, that Tsujimura’s novel resonated with so many young Japanese people, and I’m certain it’s going to equally resonate with many young people outside Japan as well.

Literature has the power to pull you out of the darkness, even momentarily, offer you consolation and company, and show you that most problems have solutions. The castle in the mirror was a much-needed escape for Kokoro and the other six teenagers, a way out of their gloomy daily lives and unbearable circumstances, much like what literature and even more so fantasy literature is to all of us. However, while providing this escapist quality, the castle (and fantasy) equips the children with the necessary means to pluck up their courage, face their fears and dispel what makes their reality unbearable. In the end, this is exactly what this book does, too – it works as an anchor, as a speck of light, as a warm hug that gives its readers the necessary courage to fight their own battles and face their own unpleasant realities, creating their own path in life.

Overall, Lonely Castle in the Mirror is a wonderful and magical tale, deeply rooted in reality despite its fairy tale and fantasy elements. It’s a heart-warming and touching novel that will resonate with many, regardless of their age, as we can all see a part of ourselves in Kokoro, Aki, Rion, Masamune, Ureshino, Subaru or Fuka, the seven students.

Not for me, this one. Essentially it’s a young adult novel, although not exclusively so, and I can see why it’s been such a bestseller in Japan, as it deals with a very relevant issue in that country, the mental health of teenagers. Bullying, stress, refusing to go to school – these are certainly issues that need tackling, but the fantasy element of the book is simply not something that appealed to me, and as it is such a long book I didn’t have the patience to stick with it. Worth exploring, though, and I can see that many readers have enjoyed it.

A wonderful heart-warming novel translated from Japanese by the incredible Philip Gabriel.
The story centres on a disparate group of children who are all avoiding school and are brought together to the Castle in the Mirror by the Wolf Queen to face a challenge that could change their lives.
The story confronts many aspects of childhood trauma including bullying, grief and child abuse with a fresh approach. There are tears, drama and fallouts along the way, however the book teaches empathy, acceptance and above all loyalty and friendship.
It’s hard to explain and impossible to pigeon-hole. This book works so well because of the Japanese culture and influence so please don’t be put off by the fact it’s a translation. Plus the cover is beautiful! I loved it.

I'm loving the plethora of Japanese literature being translated for an English speaking audience, this is different than many I've read but still enjoyable.
A mix of a misfit group of teenagers coming together to solve their problems and magical realism that worked for me, even if I did spot one of the two twists coming..
It was a little overlong but I on the whole I enjoyed it.

Really lovely tale with a horrifying backstory, can't believe skipping school is iso normalised in japan. Really liked the plotwist in the end

Firstly, a huge thank you to Doubleday and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This was one of my most anticipated novels of the year, I was overjoyed to see that I was approved for a copy on NetGalley and it took all of my willpower to not drop my entire TBR just to pick it up. After devouring this novel in a couple of days and staying up late to read the last 60%, I can honestly say that this novel was well worth the wait.

I absolutely loved all of the characters in this novel, each of them had such fascinating stories to tell which trickled through the novel until the reveals at the end. There was something so relatable about each of the characters, how they are all outsiders in their schools to the point where they don’t feel comfortable going any more. I was immediately endeared to Kokoro which just intensified as the novel continued; as you witnessed her try to step out of her comfort zone to make friends and as you learned about the horrific events she went through at school. I loved how each child had a very distinct personality and it was fascinating to see how they all got on and formed friendships inside the castle. Especially as it didn’t appear that they necessarily would get on at first.

Whilst not one of the seven children, I really enjoyed the Wolf Queen character. I loved how mysterious she was and how there were times where she felt as though she was a child like the others and times where she felt much older. She was a very interesting character to add to the story, maddening at times with her cryptic clues, but a great addition to the story. Whilst we don’t see them often, I also thought the adults in Kokoro’s life were quite interesting too. Kokoro’s mother was quite confusing, there were times where she was very patient with Kokoro and her anxiety around school and people, but then there were times where she was quite short with her. Just seeing these brief, contrasting, moments of her mother helps the reader understand Kokoro better too.

Tsujimura does a wonderful job of creating such a magical and enchanting world in the mirror. The idea that if you find the key to the wishing room then you will have your wish granted by the Wolf Queen was one that would appeal to adults and the children of the castle. But the key and the room had to be found by the 30th March. I also liked how this world came with more dangerous rules too: that you had to leave by a certain time otherwise whoever broke the rule would be eaten by the wolf. The contrast between this seemingly perfect escape and the underlying threat was fascinating to me and it was an addictive read. Not only did I want to know whether the kids would overcome their social anxieties and other problems to do well in the real world; but I also wanted to know who would find the wishing room and what their wish would be or if they made one at all.

What at first may seem like a coming of age novel of children that struggle socially with a hint of fantasy but it becomes so much more than that. This is an emotionally gripping novel with an ending that left me in tears and overwhelmed (in a good way, I promise!). Tsujimura’s writing and characters had me completely captivated. I struggled putting this novel down and I didn’t want it to end. This is a touching story that I will happily revisit again and again, and I know it will still be just as magical as it was the first time. I really hope that more of Tsujimura’s novels are translated in the future as they need to be shared with the world.

2.5 rounded down

One of a number of Japanese fiction books from recent years which have focused on teenage misfits and bullying (other examples including Heaven and Ms Ice Sandwich immediately spring to mind), I found this to be much more in the YA category than I was expecting it to be. The tone felt overly didactic and I didn't care for the fantastical elements.

Those who go into this with the right expectations will likely find something to enjoy, but I'm afraid to say this failed to grab me.

Lonely Castle in the Mirror is a modern fairy tale for all those who love Miyazaki films, Murakami’s ambiguous yet scintillating magical realism and the magic of stories on the border between nightmare and dream. 13-year-old Kokoro Anzai spends her days in her room, alone, entrusting the buzz of the television with the task of muffling the thoughts and noises of life outside. She was an ordinary student in the first grade of Xueke No. 5 Middle School but ever since life got too difficult at school, after about a month passing, due to severe campus bullying she suffered extensive psychological trauma associated with it and steadfastly refused to attend anymore. She was reluctant to tell anyone of her daily hell and the discomfort fear and pain she would invariably experience frequently and kept it all inside - the stress, anxiety and even suicidal ideation. Shutting herself away is the only action that helps to stop her nightmare albeit in a small way. She barely leaves her home now and she had always imagined that someone would rescue her from the heavy reality. She was primarily tormented by her classmate Miori Sanada, but what made it even more chilling was Miori’s friend Xiao Moe who had nothing to say before, joined the ranks of squeezing her out. Suddenly one day, the full-length mirror in the careful bedroom glowed brightly, and on the other side of the mirror was a castle. The mysterious girl wearing a wolf mask, known as Wolf Queen, told Kokoro that the castle was open from nine to five on weekdays. Any wish can be realised by finding the "key of prayer" hidden in the castle within the specified time limit. Here Kokoro also met six other high school students with different personalities.

Each person was avoiding school and experiencing a struggle for one reason or another. Now on a mission to find the wishing key, the group told that once it is found and a wish made and subsequently granted, all seven of them will bear no memory of the castle in the mirror or of each other. There is also one additional rule to contend with: if they fail to leave the castle by 5 pm each afternoon then they will be eaten by the Wolf Queen, who owns said castle. As friendships blossom between the troubled teens and life outside of the ”castle walls”, back in reality, becomes more challenging for them all, they support each other through thick and thin. But with the wish deadline fast approaching, will any of them take the plunge? They begin to reflect and ask questions: Why have they all been called to this fantasy castle? Does everyone have a wish that they want to achieve anyway? In getting along, Kokoro not only gained friendship, but also got a glimpse of everyone’s pain and wishes, and finally discovered the real secret of the castle. This is a rich and majestic tale full of enchanting detail and with a message about the power of loyalty, trust and friendship as a healer from past trauma. The author often blurs, or makes ambiguous, the line between reality and fantasy creating a riveting magical realism fable and is equal parts beguiling and heart-wrenching. It is a novel for everyone, touching, adventurous and stunning in nature. The author mixes realism and magic to tell what it means to grow up in today's world. A pure, bewitching world built with care, it explores the plight of adolescent growth, the cost of trauma and the toll on mental wellbeing. An original, tour de force Japanese fable and one I highly recommend to fans of Murakami.

I absolutely adored this book, the characters were charming and endearing, I really felt for them and their struggles and I loved that the book dealt with issues such as anxiety and bullying and whilst I did guess one of the twists to the story the ultimate finale was a surprise. 100% can not recommend this book enough.

I loved the tone and topic of the book and to be honest I find it hard to rate it.

What threw me off however was the pacing of the book, the behavior of the students and many of the choices the students made throughout the book. I just couldn't wrap my mind around it that you would bring your videogames and TV into an enchanted castle and rather sit in your own room instead of exploring it.
Personally I wanted a bit more from the castle and the Wolf Queen and I wish some of the backstories of the students would have been explored more.

I liked the almost fairytale like story. But some elements threw me off the story like the cruelty between the children who was so strong the it became unbelievable. My main issue is that the book felt too long and lost me along the way so at the end i didn't care what happened in the story.

What a strange story. What a wonderful strange story. Perhaps typical of Japanese literature, but nevertheless excellent novel, with quirky characters and a touch of magic realism. Much the same qualities as found in a Murakimi novel.
To avoid the bullying and constant criticism Kokoro chooses to stay at home in her bedroom and avoid going to school or seeing children from her school. With a nod to the wardrobe in Narnia, in this story Kokoro heads off through the mirror in her bedroom to the lonely castle where she meets the wolf queen who appears to be a child with a wolf mask. There she meets six other Japanese children, five of them, like Kokuru are not attending school. The sixth person Rion is attending a school in Hawaii. The Wolf Queen tells them that there is a key hidden in the castle which opens the door into a room where the person who finds the key can make a wish. The story is told from Kokoro point of view and gradually we learn about the background to each of the children and the problems in their lives.
Although it may sound like a fairy story this is no slight novel, it touches on child mental health issues, bullying, grief, isolation, suicide and sexual abuse.
A character driven novel that has much to say on some serious issues faced by many children. Highly recommended.

An enjoyable read which combines mental health and magical realism.

Seven students who do not want to go to school, meet in a lonely castle through the mirror in their rooms. The castle is a mysterious one. There is a girl dressed as a Wolf, the Wolf Queen, who seems to be the head of the castle. The children can spend time at the castle as a normal work day, 9 to 5. There's no food in the castle though. They have to go back to their rooms and bring it in. There is a wishing key hidden in the castle and if they find it, their wish gets granted. The Wolf Queen calls them 'Little red riding hoods' but she might also eat them if they fail their tasks.

The kids come to the castle, and play, talk, game, drink tea from flasks and slowly get to know each other. Kokoro, the main charac, doesnt want to go to school. But she is unable to share the reason with her parents. All the other kids also have similar issues. Lonely castle in the mirror brings a sympathetic look at bullying, abuse, domestic abuse, counselling, that children face. The adult characters in the novel are written well, be it Kokoro's parents or the sympathetic teacher.

I enjoyed the characters. I loved the magic in the story. I also enjoyed the ending and 'explanation'. However, I still couldn't understand the 'wolf-eats-kids' rule and the motivation behind it. Would recommend.

The Lonely Castle in the Mirror follows Kokoro; who, after suffering from bullying and isolation at her school, no longer feels she is able to attend. She spends most of her days in her room until one day her mirror starts to glow and she is transported through it into a castle where she meets others like her.

This is definitely a bittersweet kind of book. It is not so much about the mystery of the castle in the mirror, as I originally thought, but rather about Kokoro, the people she meets in the castle (who all feel isolated and alone in their own ways) and the bonds that they form. Though the 'mystery' of the castle is revealed as the story concludes and it was a very touching and satisfying ending to the story.

Personally, I felt the pace was just a bit too languid for me to really get into the book, which is the main reason this is 3 stars for me and not 4. Though it you are looking for a slow, quiet and introspective kind of story I would definitely recommend checking this one out. I can definitely see why this has garnered so much acclaim in Japan, as I really enjoyed the themes of the story, the way it dealt with them, and how it blended them with traditional fable/fairytale elements.

*Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book has everything Japanese literature written all over it. The writing, the prose, the characters, and just that hint of magical realism. It was incredible. I can see this book being animated, and the visuals would be stunning! Someone PLEASE make this happen!!

Our protagonist Kokoro, a seventh grader, doesn’t go to school. She physically can not stomach the thought of stepping foot inside the school gates and into her classroom where all her classmates are. Why? She’s being bullied. For what reason? Who knows. Kids can just be so mean.

After “the incident”, she stays home all day watching tv and hiding from reality. Until one day, her bedroom mirror starts glowing and she becomes drawn to step inside. Here she meets the Wolf Queen, upon a magical castle along with 6 other kids. The Wolf Queen explains that whoever finds the key first will have their wish granted — any wish they want! The castle in the mirror is open all day for them to explore and search, but they must leave at 5 o clock on the dot otherwise they’ll be eaten!

Kokoko makes the choice to step into the mirror on her own accord. She begins to open up and starts to have some fun. She starts to act like a real kid again. She’s never had friends before and this is the closest thing to it.

Honestly there’s so much more to this story than the mystery behind the castle in the mirror. Lately I’ve been drawn to high school dramas which centre around bullying. It’s such a traumatic experience, one that stays with you for a very long time. It’s not just something that will pass. Or something you just get over. You spend a quarter of your life is school, and what other kids remember as the best years of their life — for you the worst. Imagine waking up five days a week, walking into a classroom, and everyone ignoring you? You’ll feel depressed and lonely, having no one to turn too. Or even worst, when they pick on you, throw shit at you and call you names. When they get physical and pull “pranks”, but no one even bats an eye. Those bystanders, are just as bad.

We do get a glimpse of some of the parents, their say in all of this. How clueless some of them might be or just how helpless they actually are. There are teachers who notice and try to help, but then are those who turn the other way. You might think that a teacher would never do this, but in Japanese society there’s a lot to do with saving face (reputation) rather than turning someone in.

One by one, we get to meet the other six kids — Aki, Fuka, Masumune, Subaru, Ureshino and Rion — and find out their story in all of this. No matter what someone looks on the outside, you never truly know what someone is going through. I really loved how everything tied together in the end. It was bittersweet but satisfying. I did actually guess how everything was connected thanks to watching too much anime! But this story really hit close to home and it broke me. Cannot recommend this enough.

TW: bullying, abuse, violence between kids, mention of suicide, sexual assault, mention of death, death.

Lonely Castle in the Mirror is one of those books that left me thinking about them long after I finished them, its themes and characters still living in my mind weeks later. To be completely honest, this is one book I wasn't too sure about initially since I wasn't quite sure what to expect from it, but I'm so glad I gave it a go!

I went in knowing very little (I'd only read the blurb) and even so I found something quite different from what I'd expected. For starters, I thought the fantastical elements would be a lot more central to the story. That wasn't so, and I'm actually glad that the book developed in the way that it does. This book is its characters more than anything else and they are real kids facing all-too-real problems. Magic intervenes to pull them out of their daily lives and into the castle through the mirror, but from there it's all up to them.

If you've been reading my reviews for a while, you know that good characters are one of the key elements that will make or break a book for me and these characters definitely stole my heart. The book follows primarily one of the seven children, Kokoro, who stopped attending school due to bullying but cannot bring herself to open up with any of the adults around her to tell them what she went through. Kokoro's pain and struggle with anxiety in the aftermath of a serious incident were nuanced and depicted incredibly delicately and accurately. I really wanted to just hug Kokoro most of the time, as I could feel her pain and fear.

The other children were all equally fighting their own battles, struggling with mental health, bullying, death and sexual abuse, and were all equally compelling. I loved how we slowly got to see and understand more of who they really were and how they were feeling as they grew more comfortable around one another and started trusting each other. The friendships and tensions all felt extremely realistic, and I found myself getting attached to each of the characters as Kokoro did. While we got a glimpse into other characters' POVs, I would have liked to get to know them more intimately as we did Kokoro, even though it's probably best that we didn't as this kept the interactions more real, even in a fantasy world. Some of the children seemed slightly better developed than others, which was a shame, but overall they were all extremely compelling characters.

The only thing I really struggled with was the pace, which at times slowed down a bit too much for my liking. A few of the scenes in the castle, especially towards the middle of the book, felt like they dragged on a bit. This was more than compensated in the second half of the book. The pace picked up considerably with around 100 pages left to go, and I found myself completely unable to put it down! The ending was also incredibly satisfying and I completely did not see it coming, even though in hindsight all the hints were hidden in plain sight. I also got very emotional towards the end!

I don't know much about Japanese culture, so I really enjoyed learning more about it through this book. In particular, I had no idea that school abandonment and bullying were such serious issues in the country, and of the mental health crisis facing children and teenagers. This book does a wonderful job of raising awareness of these issues, which are also prevalent in Western societies, and in telling everyone who might be struggling: You are not alone.

Overall, this is a gorgeous read tackling complex and painful subjects, while at the same time acting as a reminder of the beauty to be found in genuine human connection and relationships. A tale of friendship and hope and the power of love in all its forms that I will definitely return to in the future. Highly recommended if you love character-driven stories and don't mind a slower pace.

CW: bullying, mental illness, anxiety/panic attacks, death, sexual assault

I received a NetGalley eARC in exchange for an honest review of this book and it was close to a 5 - I didn’t expect to like this nearly as much as I did but it took a little while to get into it. The style is closer to a light novel than a lot of English language publications but grows in solidity as Kokoro herself does until I came to dread the approaching end. Each of the seven children mysteriously invited to a magical castle in the mirror become individuals in their own right with their own reasons for not being at school.

It unfolds slowly but the reveals don’t feel artificial. While the children try to find a magic key, the reader tries to work out the secret of the castle... ‘Lonely Castle in the Mirror’ works in the way of all the best mystery novels, dropping just enough hints for you to piece it all together for yourself before everything is tied off in the most satisfying way possible.

In a world inspired by tropes and fairytales (yes, mostly European fairy stories) there are so many echoes and crumbs but these give way to characters dealing with mostly with isolation from school. I especially liked how every character reacts (to both events and each other) proportionally and there are follow-up conversations. People don’t necessarily get it right the first time! Kokoro is the protagonist but she doesn’t hog the limelight in the end...