Palace of Mirrors - Dark Publications

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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
"Somewhere in the world I have a tiara in a little box. It is not safe for me to wear it...It is not safe for me even to tell anyone who I really am. But I know -- I have always known."

Cecilia knows that she is not just another peasant girl; she is actually the true princess, in hiding until the evil forces that killed her parents are vanquished. A commoner named Desmia is on the throne as a decoy.

As she gets older, Cecilia finds it harder to study statesmanship and palace protocol secretly at night and then pretend that she has nothing on her mind other than scrubbing the gruel stains out of her best apron by day.

Cecilia knows that it is time to take charge. Along with her best friend, Harper, she flees to the capital city, determined to reclaim her throne and face the danger head on.

When Harper and Cecilia reach the famed Palace of Mirrors, they discover complications: Princess Desmia believes an entirely different version of the story.

Acclaimed author Margaret Peterson Haddix returns to the charmed world of Just Ella, where a princess-in-hiding and a pretender to the throne discover that nothing is as it appears.

Customer Reviews: Read 25 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Delightful tale of adventure and palace intrigue September 25, 2008
5 out of 6 found this review helpful

As this light, fun story begins, 14-year-old Cecilia, brought up as a village commoner by Nanny Gratine while being tutored in chess and other royal topics by Sir Stephen, knows that she is in reality the true princess of Suala, destined to replace the decoy princess, Desmia, on the throne as soon as the evil men who killed her parents are vanquished. It soon becomes apparent, however, that her enemies have tracked her down, so she and her best friend, a peasant boy named Harper, decide to trek to the royal palace at Cortona so Cecilia can claim her throne. But when they arrive there, they discover that Desmia has been told a very different story.

Palace of Mirrors is set in the same world as the author's earlier book Just Ella, and Ella shows up here, though not as a major character. The story isn't as predictable as it first seems, as the situation at the palace turns out to be much more complicated than the reader expects. But ultimately everything is resolved, and though there's no magic in this book, its happy fairy-tale ending is as satisfying as you could wish.

5 out of 5 stars

Better than Just Ella--but not really a sequel September 25, 2008
2 out of 4 found this review helpful

I am a fan of Margaret Peterson Haddix, and this book did not disappoint me. After Just Ella, I was a little frustrated with the less-than-storybook ending and was eagerly awaiting a sequel that she hinted at in an interview. This is the "sequel," and though I really enjoyed it, it is less a sequel than an independent story set in the same world. Ella does make an appearance as a minor character, and she does share what has happened to her since the end of Just Ella, so that was satisfying.

But more interestingly, this story was great on its own. Instead of being a rewrite of a famous story (Just Ella rewrote Cinderella as a non-magical story of a resourceful young woman), this is a fairy-tale like story with an original storyline. (I do not agree that it is a rewrite of The Prince and the Pauper. The two stories have many more differences than similarities.) It again features a strong young woman taking chances to live life on her own terms, and plenty of twists in the narrative. Again, there is no magic, but the book still has the "feel" of a fairy tale with the castle life, the evil knights, the young love, and the storybook ending.

I preferred this book to Just Ella because it creates an entirely new story (instead of a new take on an old one) and I preferred the no-loose-threads ending of this one.

This is a definite win of a princess story, and I would absolutely recommend it to any girl.

4 out of 5 stars

A Charmingly Fractured Fairy Tale October 15, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

THE PALACE OF MIRRORS, by Margaret Peterson Haddix, is a delightful twist on the old, familiar fable of The Prince and The Pauper. In fact, there is more than one unsuspected, surprising twist to this tale. Aimed at tweens, this a fun fantasy for princesses of all ages.

In THE PALACE OF MIRRORS, Cecilia has always known that she is the true princess of Suala. She is in hiding in a small village; brought there just a few weeks after her birth by Sir Stephen, a knight of the realm and her tutor in all things royal, and raised by Nanny Gratine. Her parents were murdered by enemies of the crown soon after her birth, and she was whisked away into hiding by Sir Stephen. Desmia, a commoner, was put in her place as a decoy, and has been raised in the palace, taking all the risks. Cecilia has never told anyone her secret, not even her best friend, Harper. As she turns 15, Cecilia knows that it is time to take her rightful place on the throne. She confesses everything to Harper, and together they set of for the palace...and for many exciting and suspenseful adventures.

THE PALACE OF MIRRORS is a very cute, enjoyable, upbeat read for girls between the ages of about 9 and 13, filled with fantasy, adventure, princesses, and just a touch of appropriate romance. The pace is perfect for this age range - quick enough to keep the pages turning, but slow enough to get the details in. For the most part, the chapters are short and to the point, allowing the reader to read in short snatches as time permits. In this day and age of over programmed kids, that is a huge plus. The writing style is very appropriate to this age as well - simple enough for tweens to understand, yet intelligent enough that they may learn a new word or two. Additionally, the author should be applauded for a great story full of caring, morals, and good taste. There are villains, yes, who behave as villains do, but no meanness, nastiness, or inappropriate behavior on the part of our young hero or heroines.

I, personally, liked THE PALACE OF MIRRORS very much, and will pass it on to my 11 year old. Margaret Peterson Haddix has written another book in this world, JUST ELLA, which I intend to read as soon as possible. Overall, this is a terrific story for any princess, and I highly recommend it.

3 out of 5 stars

Haddix does it again! October 16, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

Pretend you're a peasant who knows that she is much more than a normal girl. Pretend that for years you've been told that danger is out to get you. Pretend that danger has come and the only thing you can do is run towards your true destiny. Cecila is a strong minded girl of 14 who, along with her friend Harper, find themselves in an adventure so important the fate of the kingdom rests upon their shoulders.

Haddix has shown in the past that she has mastered the art of fairy tale and Palace of Mirrors is no exception. Her characters have a well thought out voice and are kept relatable for the preteen/teen audience. This book is funny and endearing. It was hard to put down and should be a quick read for most. What I really enjoyed about this book most, however, was the uplifting story-line and the ease of the writing style. It's not perfect. There are some bits that seem to be slightly rushed and the meaning of the title takes a while to get introduced, but overall, the pro's very much outway the cons.

This book is very much a 'happily ever after' story you don't want to miss!

4 out of 5 stars

If You Liked JUST ELLA... October 29, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

This is a good read for the younger teen girl, especially if she is into the "princess" genre. It is a satisfying sequel to its predecessor, JUST ELLA, yet lt leaves one or two questions for a third book in the fuure.

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