Mizuki Tsujimura

The core of this novel, adolescents coping with abuse and/or neglect while forming connections with others in constructive ways, is familiar in the worlds of manga and anime but the way it all plays out will be likely potent and fresh to readers of Western fiction, especially YA fiction. Tsujimura has constructed well-paced exposition here, and the reader is allowed to get familiar with the main characters before the ride truly gains speed; as other reviewers have pointed out, the last third of "Lonely Castle in the Mirror" really takes off and rewards the reader with sweetly-done reveals. A great deal of care was put into this, unlike way too much of the revenue-generating YA market, really making this as viable for an adult audience as anything else.

I really appreciated that the seven main characters, in junior high and ranging from 13-15 years old, really behave and speak like kids that age; the world has too many 13-year-old heroes fighting gods, monsters, and each other with swords and boss-level magic that even grown and experienced adults can't wield. Tsujimura also allows for a range of adults here, from devoted and involved parents to brutish, and teachers ranging from engaged to squelching. This book really is about the characters and how individuals create the matrix in which others thrive or not. It was already a satisfying read before the various pieces of the denouement; very nice indeed.… (mere)

Actual rating 4.5/5

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

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.

Thanks to Doubleday and NetGalley for the e-arc review copy. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.… (mere)

Tojo said "it's only school, after all". That was an epiphany for Kokoro. School had been everything to her, and probably to the other six young people invited to the castle. A change in perspective gave Kokoro the courage to return to school, plus the knowledge that she has friends, albeit in a different time zone. Even if things do not work out, there are other schools to go to. She could go anywhere, it would not be easy and there would always be people she disliked. But there are alternatives, and the school is not the only place she belongs. The same for the rest of us struggling with school or work. Don't see it as the be-all and end-all.… (mere)