Summary:
This is the second (and final) novella in the ‘Fractured Fables’ Series.

Final Thoughts:
This didn't really feel like a retelling to me at all. There were absolutely aspects from Snow White in the story, but it never retold the story. It just had bits and pieces that you saw, but the characters didn't really go through. Sort of like flipping through a picture book of different pictures of the same story from multiple PoV’s but never going THROUGH the story. Personally I liked the first novella in the series better as it was so much more exciting as it felt like a new idea. This one felt too much like it was trying to wrap up all the characters in a solid ending, which I suppose makes sense when you realize that there won’t be any more planned entries to the series. If you were looking for a super female-dominant retelling where ladies take their fates back into their own hands, I think you will really enjoy this book.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

By this point, we all know how big of a fan I am of Alix E Harrow. I am self-appointed president of her fan club. I’ve read and loved each and every single one of her works and A Mirror Mended is no different.

A Mirror Mended picks up a few years after A Spindle Splintered ended. Our beloved witty and sharp-tongued protagonist Zinnia Gray has been spending her newly allotted time Spider-versing herself into countless Sleeping Beauty stories and saving them from their fates, and substitute teaching on the side.

In the after party of another rescue, Zinnia looks into the mirror and sees another woman reflected back, and when she touches the mirror, she falls through it and into another fairytale, one where the Evil Queen in Snow White is desperately trying to save herself from her fate, and has determined that Zinnia Gray is her way out, regardless if Zinnia wants to help her or not.

But being imprisoned and stuck inside a new fairytale is the least of her problems when Zinnia comes to realize that after years of fixing other narratives, consequences are beginning to bleed between worlds, which can only lead to disaster.

While A Spindle Splintered critiqued the traditional storytelling themes regarding the “damsel in distress” trope we see most fairytale protagonists/princesses share, A Mirror Mended explored and upended the villainization of women in the same traditional fairytales. Instead of Zinnia saving Snow White, she saved a woman who had been deemed evil by her narrative, who did things to survive and had no other choices, and could be redeemed.

And for A Spindle Splintered readers who wanted Zinnia Gray to have a female love interest, (hey, I’m guilty, I only highlighted SEVERAL “that’s gay” lines in the first book) well… *wink* A Mirror Mended delivered.

I enjoyed these novellas for what they were: short and light, darkly funny, unabashedly queer, but endlessly hopeful and dedicated to happy endings, while also managing to turn traditional fairytale tropes upside down in a fresh, new way.

I’m not a huge novella reader but these accomplish what they set out to do, the stories short and sweet, and I’m left completely satisfied and not grasping for more (which is usually the case when it comes to novellas for me!) While I get it, I’m sad that Fractured Fables is ending with this one. It’s a series brimming with more potential, but the stories we were given were perfect, and are brought to a close in a gratifying, logical way.

I ANXIOUSLY await Alix Harrow’s next full novel: The Underland, coming in 2023.

As always, I absolutely love everything Alix E. Harrow writes. This is the second in the Fractured Fairytales series, this one being more or less a retelling of Snow White. Except this time, Zinnia has to help the wicked stepmother. There's a significant time jump between the end of A Spindle Splintered and this novella; Zinnia is now about 26 and Charm and Prim have gotten married. This was a fun, fast read that really makes you think about the nature of fairytales without being too heavy. I'm not sure how many more novellas are left in this series, but I really hope Zinnia's story continues.

I did want my happily ever after, but it was still very very good. I wish there were more to this series!

Honestly, is there anything Alix E. Harrow can’t do??

This book slaps. Like, hardcore slaps. Even better than the first one. Chronic illness rep and fairy tales and hot villains are never a bad combo. I don’t even have anything bad to say about it which is rare for me. The questions of villainy and victimhood were very well done, acknowledging that sometimes there is no good choice without taking any of the responsibility away from the villain. I appreciated the way hard subjects were breached without being oversimplified or mishandled. Overall a solid 10/10 and I want more.

Harrow is the queen of the snarky first-person narrative voice in my opinion. It is always flippant, irreverent, and hilarious. I'm so glad Zinnia Grey is back. The plot of the novellas in this series is similar to the book leaps in the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde, except Zinnia is not jumping from book to book by way of her trusty spindle shard but from one version of Sleeping Beauty to another.

Zinnia's ongoing mission is trying to free all of the Sleeping Beauties across the fairy tale multiverse from their fates, when someone yanks her through a magic mirror and she's in a different fairy tale universe entirely, facing down the Evil Queen of Snow White.

Together, the pair use the magic mirror to jump into many variations of the Snow White tale, some of them more ancient than others and a lot more grisly. All of them, in Harrow's signature queer-feminist style, reveal a lot about the history of how women have been viewed (and limited) through the ages–and squelched all the more when they try to exercise agency beyond the dictates of their sphere.

The Evil Queen, whom Zinnia names Eva for short, maintains that she has been given a bad rap and is not so evil after all, only just as desperate as Zinnia is to escape her unhappy ending in the fairy tale world into which she was born.

This series is nonstop enjoyment. I'm dying to know what fairy tale(s) Zinnia will end up in next.

As has been the case for all of Harrow's work that I've read, this book was excellent.

It's been five years since "A Spindle Splintered" went down, and Zinnia has spent that time saving all of the sleeping beauties. At the end of one of said rescues, she's suddenly pulled through a mirror into what she assumes in another SB timeline. Coming face to face with the one and only Evil Queen she realizes that somehow she's been dragged into Snow White. The queen wants Zinnia's help leaving her story to escape her own fate (death). Obviously there's some apprehension loosing a villain into the multiverse, regardless of the immediate attraction (dark sexy morally grey queen+Zinnia being Zinnia=of course😅). So the queen figures out the mirror is the way to travel and they start flitting through versions. Shenanigans ensue, and the more Zinnia jumps timelines, the more these stories start bleeding into one another in not so good ways.

It is a short read that is witty and funny; full of snarky back and forth and a few great pop culture references. These are probably the coolest fairytale retellings that I've had the pleasure of reading. I can't wait to read more from this author !

I really can't get enough of this series. I was feeling a book slump coming on so I quickly grabbed the NetGalley for this one and I'm so happy I did.

Zinnia Gray is one of my favorite main characters. She has many LOL moments and is so relatable at times as she tries to navigate jumping between fairy tales and saving all the damsels in distress. I am a HUGE fan of Snow White so the move to her story was fun. I also loved the exploration into what makes a villain a villain in these fairy tales. How did I never realize the Evil Queen doesn't have an actual name?! Any time a book can make you feel sympathy for "the bad guy", I think it's a sign of great writing.

I can't wait for the other FIVE books in this series. Alix, write faster!!!

This sequel kept the fun vibe of the original and even delved into the rules of a universe based on fairy tales. I think it is a good, light read for anyone who enjoyed the first, but isn't a necessary follow-up.

This was one of those books where I ended up reading it one sitting. Fast-paced, funny, and engaging. Not ground breaking, but a fun read. The main character grabbed you from the beginning and really took you on a fairytale ride. I recommend if you love fairytales turned contemporary retellings with a little redemption for villains' thrown in.

I love Harrow's writing style. This is fresh and fun with the right about of wit and snark. I hope the series continues.

I did not love this book as much as the first. I do love the concept of the retelling and deconstruction of fairytales.

Five years ago Zinnia Gray dodged her unhappy ending when she stepped out of her own version of Sleeping Beauty and found a way to save a different dying girl. Now Aurora and Zinnia's former best friend Charm are living their happily ever after. Not that Zinnia has seen much of it.

When one strategic spindle prick is all it takes to run away from her problems, Zinnia sees no reason to stick around. Not when her GRM (Generalized Roseville Malady) is still waiting to break her down if she stops hopping across fairy tales long enough to see any of her doctors.

Forty-nine happily ever afters later, Zinnia has the process down pat, complete with stepping out before the annoying happily ever after parties get too saccharine. When Zinnia tries to leave her latest princess to enjoy her latest HEA, Zinnia's formulaic story-hopping goes very off script.

Instead of jumping into another version of Sleeping Beauty, Zinnia is pulled into a very different tale. And this time it isn't a princess who needs saving.

An evil queen is asking for help, specifically Snow White's Evil Queen. Zinnia is quick to agree that the queen is very, very trapped (and very, very hot) but Zinnia isn't sure that means she should help her when, you know, she's evil and all.

Every queen was once a princess. But as Zinnia and this queen land in a Grimm-dark horror version of Snow White, does that mean every queen--even an evil one--also deserves a happy ending? in A Mirror Mended (2022) by Alix E. Harrow.

A Mirror Mended is Zinnia's second jaunt through the fairytale multiverse introduced in A Spindle Splintered where she traveled through myriad versions of Sleeping Beauty. While Zinnia and the principle cast are white, this installment does feature characters of color in key roles. This expansion of the cast also gives the narrative space to explore the dangers of white savior narratives common to fairytales (especially when Zinnia is decidedly not needed) alongside commentary on the reciprocity of heroism and whether survival has to be a solitary pursuit. This series also features characters across the LGBTQ+ spectrum.

Zinnia is used to helping all kinds of princesses but even she is unsure how to handle the rescue of a canonical villain--especially one prepared to threaten captivity and bodily harm if Zinnia refuses. As Zinnia learns more about the Evil Queen and her own complicated relationship with her story, Harrow explores themes of agency and empowerment while also highlighting how the framing of a story can entirely change who becomes the protagonist (and the hero).

A Mirror Mended is a fast-paced fairytale adventure filled with Zinnia's whip-smart observations, snarky banter, and lots of chemistry between Zinnia and the Evil Queen. A must read for fans of the series and a great entry point for anyone with a fondness for fractured (and mended) fairytales.

Possible Pairings: Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust, Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao, The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman and Chris Riddell, Ash by Malinda Lo, Gilded by Marissa Meyer, The Shadow Queen by C. J. Redwine, Nameless by Lili St. Crow, Into the Spider-Verse

*An advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review consideration*

#AMirrorMended #NetGalley Thank you to the publisher and @NetGalley for the E-ARC copy of this book. The rating of this book is entirely of my own opinion.

I love how self-aware and quippy this is. You really have to pay attention because the dialog and narration is so snappy and pops. Where I think it falls is the novella format--I keep feeling like I can't relate to Zinnia or that I'm just missing whole chunks of something.. I'll read the next one to see where it goes!

Book two in Harrow’s Fractured Fables series continues the adventures of Zinnia Gray — a self-professed “folklore major with a significant Grimm obsession” — hopping around the multi-verse helping young fairy tale princesses cursing their cruel fates. In the five years she’s been adventuring, she has never managed to escape the Sleeping Beauty narrative, but suddenly a beautiful and cruel face is beckoning to her through a mirror and asking for help. Enter not Snow White, but the Evil Queen, and while she lives up to her Evil reputation (Zinnia calls her “Eva”), things are not at all what they seem.

A good romp through the multiverse with plenty of non-venomous snark, academic folklore overlays, and welcome feminist twists on standard fairy tale princess tropes. Well-written (as always), funny, and great messaging on how to write your own story without succumbing to cultural expectations.

Book one was excellent! Read it while you wait for this book to be published! Review here.

Some great quotes:

“It’s just that they’re so damn happy. I doubt they’ve ever lain awake at night feeling the bounds of their narratives like hot wires pressing into their skin, counting each breath and wondering how many are left, wishing — uselessly, stupidly — they’d been born into a better once upon a time.”

“I’m sure Charm would explain about the psychic weight of repeated motifs and the narrative resonance between worlds if I asked, but I don’t ask…”

“The queen is watching me in a way that reminds me uncomfortably of a lean-boned stray watching a very stupid robin.”

“Am I in some kind of fairy tale mash-up? Is Chris Pine about to pop out and sing Sondheim lyrics in a confused accent?”

“There were plenty of other stories floating around the European countryside at the time — weirder, darker, stranger, sexier stories — but the Grimms weren’t anthropologists. They were nationalists trying to build an orderly, modern house out of the wild bones of folklore.”

“I know how I must sound, what you must think of me, but I only mean power over myself. Power to make my own choices, and arrive at my own ends.”

“Anyway, you’ve created a universe that runs on plot, and a main character who smashes plots like a human wrecking ball. In refusing to complete her narrative arc, she is compromising the integrity of the universe.”

a mirror mended is the next in line in alix e. harrow’s fractured fables series and sees zinnia gray five years and forty nine happy endings later. instead of focusing on sleeping beauty—as a spindle splintered and zinnia’s own life does—a mirror mended pivots and shows the consequences of zinnia’s world-hopping as she finds herself falling into the story of snow white’s evil queen, who may not be as much of a villain as zinnia thinks.

just as hilarious, heartfelt, and wildly entertaining as the first book, a mirror mended tells the story of a sickly, determined woman as she struggles to find the happy ending within her own story. a perfect recommendation for those looking for villainous love interests, a sharp and delightful take on fairy tales, and anyone interested in somewhere to start with harrow’s work.

Sometimes, you just want something that is unabashedly fun. This book delivers on that. It is lightening fast, with the characters moving at a literal run almost the entire time. The characters are fast talking, dropping jokes and cultural references at Gilmore Girls speeds. If you want a fast, light, fractured fairy tale, this will be perfect for you.

What an unexpected treat, to see Harrow continuing her fractured fairytale spider-verse novella-world! I appreciated the spin on the evil queen and the re-envisioning of the politics (both gender and literal) there -- but this truly flashed by in a way that made me long for a deeper engagement with the story and the ideas Harrow is playing with. There are times when the novella form really works and times where I wish it wasn't so constraining and this ended up being one of the latter. It's a good problem to have, though, you know?

Alix E. Harrow is one of my favorite authors currently publishing. She has such a way of tricking me into feeling things that I would normally avoid - coating it all in a layer of good-natured (never mean-spirited) snark to break through my defenses, right to the gooey center of my hidden heart. HOW DARE.

This is such an excellent retelling, full of twists and turns, a little horror, so much feminist agency, love. I cried. I’m so sad it’s over, and so glad she wrote it for all of us.