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The Gilded Mirror #3
Constantinople
Genre: Teen/Young Adult - Historical Fiction
Age Range: 12 and up
Constantinople AD 1453...
Fifteen-year-old Anna Moore has stepped back in time through the forces of a mysterious mirror to the fifteenth century during the fall of Constantinople. It is a city under siege, surrounded by an army intent on breaching its walls, taking its treasures, and killing or enslaving its people. Caught in the turmoil of the action, Anna tries to help people flee to safety from the impending doom.
Inspired by true events that marked the end of the Byzantine Empire, The Gilded Mirror: Constantinople, is a bold and haunting tale of the last days of Byzantine Constantinople before the rise of the Ottomans.
Although this is the third book in The Gilded Mirror series, it can be read alone.
Age Range: 12 and up
Constantinople AD 1453...
Fifteen-year-old Anna Moore has stepped back in time through the forces of a mysterious mirror to the fifteenth century during the fall of Constantinople. It is a city under siege, surrounded by an army intent on breaching its walls, taking its treasures, and killing or enslaving its people. Caught in the turmoil of the action, Anna tries to help people flee to safety from the impending doom.
Inspired by true events that marked the end of the Byzantine Empire, The Gilded Mirror: Constantinople, is a bold and haunting tale of the last days of Byzantine Constantinople before the rise of the Ottomans.
Although this is the third book in The Gilded Mirror series, it can be read alone.
- GenresHistorical
202 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
3 people are currently reading
200 people want to read
About the author
Jocelyn Murray
8 books15 followersJocelyn Murray is the author of Khu: A Tale of Ancient Egypt, as well as the teen historical fantasy fiction series The Gilded Mirror.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 12, 2016
This is the third book in the series and it was one of my favourites, simply because this era of history particularly appeals to me. What made it extra special were the fantastic descriptions of Hagia Sophia and the vivid ambiance of Constantinople making me feel like I was truly there and absorbing the drama of that time in history. The plot was top class also, with great characters that you truly root for and at the end of the book there were some stunning photos of the locations to close the book in a fitting manner.
I really enjoy this genre: where you learn something from reading while also experiencing escapism and a darn good read for a lazy afternoon. When it comes to historical fiction, Jocelyn Murray is one of the best around.
I really enjoy this genre: where you learn something from reading while also experiencing escapism and a darn good read for a lazy afternoon. When it comes to historical fiction, Jocelyn Murray is one of the best around.
September 23, 2013
As is usual, I received this book through some mechanism by which I didn't actually have to pay for it. The author approached me for a review and true to that desire I give my honest opinions below.
The plot of this little novel is fairly standard escapist juvenile literature. A young girl finds a mirror and uses it to travel to another time and place and thereupon has adventures of an educational variety as she witnesses an the fall of Constantinople.
Since this is youth literature, I judge it by two basic criteria. The first centers around what age group of children would actually wish to read it and find it engaging. The second amounts to whether I would want my own children to be exposed to the content.
On the first criterion, like the other books in this series, it was a bit of a tough sell. My 8 and 14-year-old have been somewhat dubious. The elder seems to reject it on the basis that it is rather a standard formula that many previous books have followed. The younger takes far too many cues from the elder and has never heard of Constantinople so it's hard for it to get its hooks into her properly. These books have the curious property that they're written for teens but because of the subject matter tend to appeal more directly to adults who have some sense of the history involved.
As to the second stated criterion, the content is exactly the sort of thing you'd want out of children's literature. It's extraordinarily educational and devoid of sex, drugs and so much of what corrupts teen novels these days. It does have a fair amount of violence but again, we're talking about a war, so it cannot be completely sanitized.
In summary, Murray takes us on yet another educational romp through history. This is one that I'd like the kids to read but just can't seem to make that happen no matter my best efforts. As always, she touches on an important episode from history and is so kind as to remind us that the other side of the world has history too.
The plot of this little novel is fairly standard escapist juvenile literature. A young girl finds a mirror and uses it to travel to another time and place and thereupon has adventures of an educational variety as she witnesses an the fall of Constantinople.
Since this is youth literature, I judge it by two basic criteria. The first centers around what age group of children would actually wish to read it and find it engaging. The second amounts to whether I would want my own children to be exposed to the content.
On the first criterion, like the other books in this series, it was a bit of a tough sell. My 8 and 14-year-old have been somewhat dubious. The elder seems to reject it on the basis that it is rather a standard formula that many previous books have followed. The younger takes far too many cues from the elder and has never heard of Constantinople so it's hard for it to get its hooks into her properly. These books have the curious property that they're written for teens but because of the subject matter tend to appeal more directly to adults who have some sense of the history involved.
As to the second stated criterion, the content is exactly the sort of thing you'd want out of children's literature. It's extraordinarily educational and devoid of sex, drugs and so much of what corrupts teen novels these days. It does have a fair amount of violence but again, we're talking about a war, so it cannot be completely sanitized.
In summary, Murray takes us on yet another educational romp through history. This is one that I'd like the kids to read but just can't seem to make that happen no matter my best efforts. As always, she touches on an important episode from history and is so kind as to remind us that the other side of the world has history too.
April 18, 2015
This is the first of "The Gilded Mirror" series that I have read and my first YA book. I found it very interesting and fascinating. It took me through the history of the fall of Constantinople as I learned it in my history classes. I think Jocelyn Murray did a great job depicting the history of the fall of the city. The only reason that I gave it 3 stars it's because the main character Anna Moore disappears from the story after the first few chapters and appears again towards the last few chapters. I understand that the author had to build the other characters of the book but as I was reading about the other characters I always wondered what happened to Anna. There was one more thing that I have to point out, since I'm Greek. In chapter 13 when the Ottomans conquer the city, they shout: "IS TIN BOLI" which means "Into the city". The word "BOLI" though in Greek is spelled "POLI" which means City. I'm not sure if this is a typo or the author doesn't know the exact Greek word for city. Just a minor observation.
Overall though the book was an easy read. The author did a great job on the description of the Hagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern, the secret passages and tunnels even though as she stated at the end of the book it was simply her "vivid imagination and penchant for mystery". I would recommend this book.
Overall though the book was an easy read. The author did a great job on the description of the Hagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern, the secret passages and tunnels even though as she stated at the end of the book it was simply her "vivid imagination and penchant for mystery". I would recommend this book.
February 19, 2015
I couldn't put this book down. I do not know if this or the first book in the series was my favorite, as I enjoy both time periods. I just wish that I could have this mirror, I would make use of it daily.
June 17, 2013
I found this story quite hard to follow. There are some really good descriptive passages. Actually, some of them are too good - a bit too gory for me!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews