Mirrorwoven - by Bori Cser (Hardcover)

About the Book

Mirrorwoven is a lush fantasy YA novel full of masquerade ball scheming and sapphic love-triangle angst from debut author Bori Cser.

Book Synopsis

Del has two rules. One: Stay away from royalty. Two: Don't fall in love.

The first is because Del is secretly Adeleine Ventris, runaway princess. After the death of her sister at the hand of her lover, Del has fled her family, home, and all the responsibilities that come with being the queendom's new daughter-heir--but not before faking her death and magically constructing a new, mirrorwoven face. No longer recognizable as Adeleine, she's now just Del, a simple musician who knows nothing of court life and can disappear to the faraway opaline lagoon-city of Salato.

The second is because the enchantment hiding Del's identity can only be unraveled by true love's kiss. But that's just fine--Del's had enough of love.

When Del breaks Rule One and becomes court bard to the new First of Salato, she is resolved to at least keep her head down and stay well out of politics--until she realizes sweet, gentle Clara, the young figurehead who trusts too easily and loves too much, may be the one person less prepared to govern than Del herself. And if Clara loses her throne, Del loses the tenuous new job and life she's found in Salato.

As Del's deceptions grow ever larger and more precarious--and as she grows closer to both Clara and Nasca, Clara's brilliant, dangerous sister--it will take only the slightest push to bring Del's house of cards tumbling down.

Like, for example, breaking Rule Two.

Review Quotes

Praise for Mirrorwoven

★ "A runaway princess, a city of glass and canals, and a Sapphic love triangle with teeth.... Cser's worldbuilding is lush and layered, with vividly described, Venetian-inspired Salato brought to life through details like gondolas and floating markets...Witty, warm, and wickedly plotted." -Kirkus, starred review

"A standout comfort read for queer audiences . . . Recommended for fans of Margaret Owen or Adrienne Tooley's Sofi and the Bone Song" -School Library Journal

"A gorgeously imagined fantasy, Mirrorwoven lures you in like lute music in a floating city, and fulfills every promise of fraught romance and forbidden magic with both gravity and delight. I was instantly hooked." --Laini Taylor, New York Times bestselling author of Strange the Dreamer

"Witty, vibrant and gloriously fresh, Mirrorwoven captivates readers with its political intrigue and fiercely passionate protagonist. A sparkling debut that marks Cser as a stand-out new voice in YA." --Kiera Azar, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Thorn Season

"Razor-sharp and enchanting, like a magic mirror. A vivid, spellbinding adventure in a city by the sea, Mirrorwoven is sublime" --Petra Lord, New York Times-bestselling author of Queen of Faces

"Immense fun and immensely well-crafted; I enjoyed everything about this debut, from the lushly detailed world to the sparkling dry humour of the narration, and the sheer love of both music and fantasy which shines through every word." --Freya Marske, USA Today-bestselling author of Cinder House

"An utterly spellbinding debut. Mirrorwoven weaves an unforgettable story of self-acceptance, heart-melting sapphic love, and a celebration of music that sings aching and joyful on every page. Cser has written a bright and triumphant novel that reminds me why I love to create." --S.A. MacLean, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Phoenix Keeper and Voidwalker

"What a debut! Bori Cser has crafted a richly imaginative world of music and magic, with vividly drawn, charming characters and a swoonworthy romance. An enchanting, page-turning read!" --Vanessa Len, bestselling author of the Only a Monster series

"Mirrorwoven embodies so much of what I love about YA fantasy. It has it all, balancing angst and romance, heavy themes and humour, politics and found family. An intricately woven plot, expansive world, and compelling court intrigue make this a standout debut!" --Keshe Chow, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Girl with No Reflection

"Behind a glittering mask of waterways, music and sapphic romance, Mirrorwoven is a novel with hidden depths. Meditations on class, identity, grief and responsibility fill its pages, but hope is the soaring melody throughout. An absolute joy to read and a bright new voice in YA" --Eliza Chan, author of Fathomfolk

"Mirrorwoven is a gorgeous blend of romance, intrigue, and wit. Cser writes with palpable compassion for her characters, allowing Del's heartbreak and hope to draw us in equally. The stakes are personal and political, the twists gasp-worthy. This story is pure magic, and easily one of my favorite young adult fantasy novels." --Mikayla Bridge, author of Of Flame and Fury and Of Venom and Vengeance

"Music, swoony romance, and fantasy weave together in this gorgeously imagined debut. Mirrorwoven will lure you in and keep you captivated until the final sparkling page." --Rachel Greenlaw, author of Compass and Blade

"Mirrorwoven has everything you could want from a book: intrigue, a rich, lived in world, humour and some perfect, heart-wrenching romance, with lyrical writing to match its musician protagonist. Cser is a bold and bright new voice in YA fantasy, and Mirrorwoven, like Del's songs, will stick in readers' minds long after the book is closed." --Anna Fiteni, author of The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire

About the Author

Bori Cser is a Hungarian-Australian author of young adult fantasy. At various times she has identified as a classically-trained clarinetist, a biology PhD dropout, and a dinosaur puppeteer, but these days mostly describes herself as in need of a nap. She lives on Dharug and Gundungurra country in Australia's Blue Mountains with her partner and three high-maintenance cats.