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Heartbooks #3
Mirrors
MAYBE THE TREASURE IS REAL
Nineteen-year-old Paige Wrenley will do anything to protect her father—even if it means returning to the old castle where her mother died. With their home and her papa’s shop at risk of being foreclosed by the bank, Paige is blackmailed by their landlord, Lenora Hayes, and has a mission to follow rumors of a buried treasure at the abandoned castle, Fairhavens.
Chased by dark memories of a great fire that ruined his family’s ancestral castle, Nolan Hayes has finally returned home to Gabreville to stop his uncle, Declan Hayes, from taking over stewardship of the abandoned castle lands. Up on a mountain in a dark forest, the estate of Fairhavens has long been stewarded by the Hayes family, since the true lords who built the castle disappeared a hundred and fifty years ago. But Nolan is convinced those old lands should belong to someone else, if a true heir to Fairhavens can be found.
Scouring the antique library in the abandoned castle, Paige and Nolan must work together to find an old book called the Oirdera and if the rumors are true, find clues to a buried treasure before the first day of spring. Time is running out and threats from all sides push Paige and Nolan closer to finding the truth at the castle that holds the secrets to both Nolan and Paige’s past, but will uncovering the story of the fire that awful night that changed both their lives be a truth too heavy to bear?
Features of this
*A young adult fairytale reimagining of Beauty & The Beast + Red Riding Hood + Snow White
*Swoony, clean romance with only heart-wrenching kisses
*A bookish tribute to libraries, old books, and lore
*Standalone novel within a series of loosely unconnected stories, which can be read in any order.
Inspired by folklore and fairytales, Mirrors takes us to Loirehall’s neighbor Gabreville, where library lore, stained-glass windows, and mines below the mountain hide lost treasures.
Nineteen-year-old Paige Wrenley will do anything to protect her father—even if it means returning to the old castle where her mother died. With their home and her papa’s shop at risk of being foreclosed by the bank, Paige is blackmailed by their landlord, Lenora Hayes, and has a mission to follow rumors of a buried treasure at the abandoned castle, Fairhavens.
Chased by dark memories of a great fire that ruined his family’s ancestral castle, Nolan Hayes has finally returned home to Gabreville to stop his uncle, Declan Hayes, from taking over stewardship of the abandoned castle lands. Up on a mountain in a dark forest, the estate of Fairhavens has long been stewarded by the Hayes family, since the true lords who built the castle disappeared a hundred and fifty years ago. But Nolan is convinced those old lands should belong to someone else, if a true heir to Fairhavens can be found.
Scouring the antique library in the abandoned castle, Paige and Nolan must work together to find an old book called the Oirdera and if the rumors are true, find clues to a buried treasure before the first day of spring. Time is running out and threats from all sides push Paige and Nolan closer to finding the truth at the castle that holds the secrets to both Nolan and Paige’s past, but will uncovering the story of the fire that awful night that changed both their lives be a truth too heavy to bear?
Features of this
*A young adult fairytale reimagining of Beauty & The Beast + Red Riding Hood + Snow White
*Swoony, clean romance with only heart-wrenching kisses
*A bookish tribute to libraries, old books, and lore
*Standalone novel within a series of loosely unconnected stories, which can be read in any order.
Inspired by folklore and fairytales, Mirrors takes us to Loirehall’s neighbor Gabreville, where library lore, stained-glass windows, and mines below the mountain hide lost treasures.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 2, 2025
About the author
Brittany Eden
12 books72 followersThe bedside pile is getting out of hand; I don't have time to read it all.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 11, 2025
Eden has such a lovely way with words! It’s like being steeped in a large pot of poetry (poet-tea?). The romance in Mirrors was the sweetest (almost forbidden) slow-burn. That kiss! Swoon. I love the threads weaving throughout about the past and the sins of one’s ancestors reflecting in the present. Still, the choice given to Paige and Nolan will either cause them to pen a similar ending, or pursue a new kind of chapter.
December 1, 2025
This book and I have a funny relationship. I don't like swoony books, but I like this one. I like keeping myself grounded in a stable time and place, and this book doesn't. I don't like fairytale retellings, but I like this one. I'm pragmatic, and this book isn't. I don't love mysteries, but...
You get the picture.
Mirrors isn't for everyone, I'll say that. The prose is deeply introspective, the narrator deeply poetic, and the melodrama deeply...melo-drama-y. Mirrors is what you'd get if you took Beauty and the Beast, mixed it with Snow White, dashed in nostalgic European vibes, and filmed it as a K-drama. Yes, slo-mo passes and all. If this is not your jam (sometimes it isn't even for me), you may not like this. HOWEVER, if you like that style, this is the best representation of it out there. You have prose that reads like poetry, a feeling of being in a bygone time and place, a mystery to solve, and a main character who has to work her way out of selfishness and into selflessness. Grief is an almost tangible thread in this story, along with the accessorizing symptoms of anger, selfishness, and isolation. It's a nuanced take that I rarely see, and the story is deeper as a result.
Brittany's books are the types that get better the more you read them. It's like learning a new language, one that I can safely say I've become fluent in after reading them more times than I can count. You can't rush through. You're supposed to settle in with tea, ready to become immersed in vivid, lush worlds with heroines whose struggles might just reflect your own. For me, Mirrors became exactly what its title claims—a mirror in which I saw my own beastliness reflected, but also witnessed the healing power of acknowledging broken edges and allowing others to love you despite them.
In a word, the Heartbooks series feels like a home. A tall home, filled with whimsy, where books contain clues to treasure, dusty shops hold answers to questions long sought, and teacups never go empty. For someone whose life has centered on finding a place to belong, it's a blessing to visit a home crafted by an author who has the hearts of her readers at the center of every word written.
You get the picture.
Mirrors isn't for everyone, I'll say that. The prose is deeply introspective, the narrator deeply poetic, and the melodrama deeply...melo-drama-y. Mirrors is what you'd get if you took Beauty and the Beast, mixed it with Snow White, dashed in nostalgic European vibes, and filmed it as a K-drama. Yes, slo-mo passes and all. If this is not your jam (sometimes it isn't even for me), you may not like this. HOWEVER, if you like that style, this is the best representation of it out there. You have prose that reads like poetry, a feeling of being in a bygone time and place, a mystery to solve, and a main character who has to work her way out of selfishness and into selflessness. Grief is an almost tangible thread in this story, along with the accessorizing symptoms of anger, selfishness, and isolation. It's a nuanced take that I rarely see, and the story is deeper as a result.
Brittany's books are the types that get better the more you read them. It's like learning a new language, one that I can safely say I've become fluent in after reading them more times than I can count. You can't rush through. You're supposed to settle in with tea, ready to become immersed in vivid, lush worlds with heroines whose struggles might just reflect your own. For me, Mirrors became exactly what its title claims—a mirror in which I saw my own beastliness reflected, but also witnessed the healing power of acknowledging broken edges and allowing others to love you despite them.
In a word, the Heartbooks series feels like a home. A tall home, filled with whimsy, where books contain clues to treasure, dusty shops hold answers to questions long sought, and teacups never go empty. For someone whose life has centered on finding a place to belong, it's a blessing to visit a home crafted by an author who has the hearts of her readers at the center of every word written.
November 10, 2025
Atmospheric, lyrical, and romantic, Mirrors by Brittany Eden is the kind of book that makes you feel as if you are ensconced in a lovely tea shoppe sipping a warm cup of fragrant tea and biting into fresh, buttery scones. With echoes of Beauty and the Beast and Red Riding Hood, this modern fairytale creates its own lore in a delightful small town nestled in the shadow of a mysterious castle. The poetic and uniquely feminine writing style will have you coming back for more. Think a soft, gentle voice in the vein of Maggie Stiefvator’s lyrical Wolves of Mercy Falls series and Scorpio Races.
Our heroine Paige teams up with mysterious and handsome Nolan to uncover hidden secrets of the past. But the secrets, along with Nolan, could be her undoing.
I’m looking forward to Curses, the next book in the series!
Our heroine Paige teams up with mysterious and handsome Nolan to uncover hidden secrets of the past. But the secrets, along with Nolan, could be her undoing.
I’m looking forward to Curses, the next book in the series!
October 19, 2025
This is the castle book, which was written for lovers of beauty and the beast, swoon, and libraries...and for you. If you, like Paige, our heroine, tend towards losing your breath when things feel that bit too much, if you find that what happened in the past is weighing you down so that you can't climb the mountain for answers, if you get lost in libraries and lose track of time between shelves of books...
Then this book is for you.
To help you catch your breath. To give you strength to get up that mountain. To encourage you to stay lost in stories, because that's sometimes where we get our courage.
Releasing this book took courage, and I borrowed some from very good friends. One I dedicated this book to, others are mentioned in the acknowledgements, and even now, all you readers messaging quotes and highlights? You make it worthwhile. Thank you, with my whole heart.
Then this book is for you.
To help you catch your breath. To give you strength to get up that mountain. To encourage you to stay lost in stories, because that's sometimes where we get our courage.
Releasing this book took courage, and I borrowed some from very good friends. One I dedicated this book to, others are mentioned in the acknowledgements, and even now, all you readers messaging quotes and highlights? You make it worthwhile. Thank you, with my whole heart.
October 23, 2025
mirrors is by far my favorite in the series. First I absolutely love beauty and the beast retellings and this one is just beautiful filled with imagery and mystery and swoon. Brittany is a phenomenal writer and I can't wait to see where she takes this series. I also love that each book can be read as a standalone, yet characters from previous books are sprinkled throughout without giving anything away.
October 17, 2025
Brittany Eden does it again in this beautiful retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I wasn't sure what to expect from a non magical retelling, but Eden does not disappoint in crafting an engaging storyline and swoony romance you're rooting for from page one. This story was truly a delight to read!
October 17, 2025
Brittany Eden does it again in this beautiful retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I wasn't sure what to expect from a non magical retelling, but Eden does not disappoint in crafting an engaging storyline and swoony romance you're rooting for from page one. This story was truly a delight to read!
November 21, 2025
"Mirrors" takes the whimsy of Lewis Carroll and the romantic yearning of Stephanie Garber to create a tale in a category all its own. This is not a story to devour, but to savor—each sentence pondered and experienced. Rich with vivid detail and imagery, Eden weaves a serendipitous tale that honors fairy tales of old.
October 17, 2025
Brittany Eden does it again in this beautiful retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I wasn't sure what to expect from a non magical retelling, but Eden does not disappoint in crafting an engaging storyline and swoony romance you're rooting for from page one. This story was truly a delight to read!
November 18, 2025
I truly felt like I’d woken in a fairytale world each time I returned to the pages of Mirrors. Brittany Eden’s writing style is so poetic, and it makes her main character’s POV both a fascinating and beautiful place to spend time. If you like Beauty and the Beast retellings (as well as descriptions you NEED to highlight on every page), then definitely pick this book up!
January 26, 2026
Eden weaves a tale of broken family, mystery, and romance alongside beautiful backdrops, decrepit castles, and beauty found in words and truth through delightfully poetic prose. A perfect read for a rainy day in with a cup of tea at hand.
Whenever I read one of Eden’s books, I just want to sink slowly between the covers and breathe the words and the world for a while. One of my favorite things about this series, though, is while the books connect within these places, each book can be read and completely understood on its own. I also love the way Eden weaves familiar notes of fairy tales into the fabric of the characters, stories, and towns.
Mirrors was a delightful return to Loirehall and Gabreville, with an uncovering of secrets and fairy tale nostalgia and some cameos and intercessions of characters from the previous books. Paige spends her time in the university library until a stranger comes looking for a rare book—a book brought up only hours later by her father’s irritating and greedy landlord. Through what appear to be chance circumstances, accompanied by a threat to her father’s livelihood, Paige ends up agreeing to archive the miraculously surviving library at the decrepit castle. The library, saved from a deadly fire years ago by residing in the stone-only portion of the castle, may hold the mysteriously rare book sought after by two people with wildly differing views.
Along the way, Paige discovers not only truths about her past, but pieces of herself and her story lodged in another: Nolan Carter. Throughout their search of the library and the castle itself, Paige and Nolan learn not only about themselves, but the reality of trust, the complex intertwining of lives and fates, and the power of forgiveness.
One of the things I love about Eden’s writing is her gorgeous poetic style. It feels like poetry rendered as prose, and it recalls a more classical writing style. The way Eden crafts words together, painting beautiful imagery in evocative ways is astounding and stunningly beautiful. She has masterful skill in reflecting a character’s inward feelings and struggles in the setting and scenery without anything feeling forced. These words and worlds are the kind that I’d love to live in, the type of days and things that remind me to slow down and enjoy the journey of life, no matter what season I’m in.
Another thing I love about Eden’s storytelling is the way she handles retellings. Mirrors is a “Beauty and the Beast” retelling, but the staples of the fairy tale are woven into the story, characters, and prose in a way that’s both unexpected but absolutely right. Even without the magic inherent in the original or Disney versions of the tale, the elements of the tale are revealed and included in ways that recall it while the characters and place have a life of their own. On top of that, the slow-burn romance is beautifully woven and well done, and the air of mystery only lends the perfect atmosphere for the relationship to encounter hurdles and grow.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book, and all thoughts are my own.
Whenever I read one of Eden’s books, I just want to sink slowly between the covers and breathe the words and the world for a while. One of my favorite things about this series, though, is while the books connect within these places, each book can be read and completely understood on its own. I also love the way Eden weaves familiar notes of fairy tales into the fabric of the characters, stories, and towns.
Mirrors was a delightful return to Loirehall and Gabreville, with an uncovering of secrets and fairy tale nostalgia and some cameos and intercessions of characters from the previous books. Paige spends her time in the university library until a stranger comes looking for a rare book—a book brought up only hours later by her father’s irritating and greedy landlord. Through what appear to be chance circumstances, accompanied by a threat to her father’s livelihood, Paige ends up agreeing to archive the miraculously surviving library at the decrepit castle. The library, saved from a deadly fire years ago by residing in the stone-only portion of the castle, may hold the mysteriously rare book sought after by two people with wildly differing views.
Along the way, Paige discovers not only truths about her past, but pieces of herself and her story lodged in another: Nolan Carter. Throughout their search of the library and the castle itself, Paige and Nolan learn not only about themselves, but the reality of trust, the complex intertwining of lives and fates, and the power of forgiveness.
One of the things I love about Eden’s writing is her gorgeous poetic style. It feels like poetry rendered as prose, and it recalls a more classical writing style. The way Eden crafts words together, painting beautiful imagery in evocative ways is astounding and stunningly beautiful. She has masterful skill in reflecting a character’s inward feelings and struggles in the setting and scenery without anything feeling forced. These words and worlds are the kind that I’d love to live in, the type of days and things that remind me to slow down and enjoy the journey of life, no matter what season I’m in.
Another thing I love about Eden’s storytelling is the way she handles retellings. Mirrors is a “Beauty and the Beast” retelling, but the staples of the fairy tale are woven into the story, characters, and prose in a way that’s both unexpected but absolutely right. Even without the magic inherent in the original or Disney versions of the tale, the elements of the tale are revealed and included in ways that recall it while the characters and place have a life of their own. On top of that, the slow-burn romance is beautifully woven and well done, and the air of mystery only lends the perfect atmosphere for the relationship to encounter hurdles and grow.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book, and all thoughts are my own.
October 19, 2025
ENDORSEMENT
Mirrors is an absolutely magical story with stunning imagery, rich symbolism, and beautiful prose. Not only did the plot keep me invested and the characters steal my heart, reading this book was a whole experience. Brittany Eden’s writing always makes me feel like I’m curled up inside a poem. I was enchanted from beginning to end!
Mirrors is an absolutely magical story with stunning imagery, rich symbolism, and beautiful prose. Not only did the plot keep me invested and the characters steal my heart, reading this book was a whole experience. Brittany Eden’s writing always makes me feel like I’m curled up inside a poem. I was enchanted from beginning to end!
November 17, 2025
ENDORSEMENT
"Heartfelt and poetic, Mirrors weaves a tantalizing mystery where past and present collide in a tale of books, musings, and romance. For anyone who has fallen in love with fairytales, Mirrors promises a treasure hunting adventure sure to sweep you off your feet."
"Heartfelt and poetic, Mirrors weaves a tantalizing mystery where past and present collide in a tale of books, musings, and romance. For anyone who has fallen in love with fairytales, Mirrors promises a treasure hunting adventure sure to sweep you off your feet."
November 14, 2025
This is my favorite of the Heartbooks yet! Crumbling, abandoned castle, libraries, a bookish heroine, and a super swoony reluctant hero?
YES, PLEASE.
YES, PLEASE.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews