What do you think?
Rate this book
Slanted London #2
Smoke In the Mirrors
Some illusions save us. Others want us dead.
Dorothy St. James has three missions: slip inside the Rook’s circle, recover the stolen enchanted bracelets, and rescue her kidnapped father. But when whispers of a hidden map inside Buckingham Palace surface, everything shifts. Enlisting Ashley Gardner—the brilliant, backstabbing puzzle-solver she can never quite outsmart—might be her only chance of destroying him.
To Dorothy’s annoyance, her dangerous pull toward Ashley only grows, even as fellow Lightfoot agent Nicholas Hart offers a far safer path. Nicholas is steady and dependable, while Ashley is all secrets, sharp edges, and heartbreak waiting to happen.
But Ashley is running out of time. His mutating magic grows more sentient every day, and the final bracelet is the only thing keeping it from consuming him. Desperate, he agrees to help Dorothy hunt the hidden map, even though being near her threatens both his sanity and his survival. And as riddles twist into traps, he begins to fear that their fire may not be real at all—just another illusion his magic wants her to believe.
London’s smoke-choked streets are thick with danger. Where is Dorothy’s father? Who is the Samaritan? Why is the Rook kidnapping innocents? And who can she trust, when she can’t even trust herself?
A thrilling blend of mystery, magic, and simmering romantic tension, Smoke in the Mirrors deepens Jessica Scarlett’s richly imagined Slanted London. With razor-edged stakes and a heroine torn between duty, desire, and danger, this installment delivers atmospheric intrigue and emotional punch in equal measure—proof that in Scarlett’s hands, even the darkest illusions shimmer with heart.
Dorothy St. James has three missions: slip inside the Rook’s circle, recover the stolen enchanted bracelets, and rescue her kidnapped father. But when whispers of a hidden map inside Buckingham Palace surface, everything shifts. Enlisting Ashley Gardner—the brilliant, backstabbing puzzle-solver she can never quite outsmart—might be her only chance of destroying him.
To Dorothy’s annoyance, her dangerous pull toward Ashley only grows, even as fellow Lightfoot agent Nicholas Hart offers a far safer path. Nicholas is steady and dependable, while Ashley is all secrets, sharp edges, and heartbreak waiting to happen.
But Ashley is running out of time. His mutating magic grows more sentient every day, and the final bracelet is the only thing keeping it from consuming him. Desperate, he agrees to help Dorothy hunt the hidden map, even though being near her threatens both his sanity and his survival. And as riddles twist into traps, he begins to fear that their fire may not be real at all—just another illusion his magic wants her to believe.
London’s smoke-choked streets are thick with danger. Where is Dorothy’s father? Who is the Samaritan? Why is the Rook kidnapping innocents? And who can she trust, when she can’t even trust herself?
A thrilling blend of mystery, magic, and simmering romantic tension, Smoke in the Mirrors deepens Jessica Scarlett’s richly imagined Slanted London. With razor-edged stakes and a heroine torn between duty, desire, and danger, this installment delivers atmospheric intrigue and emotional punch in equal measure—proof that in Scarlett’s hands, even the darkest illusions shimmer with heart.
451 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 24, 2026
About the author
Jessica Scarlett
7 books288 followersJessica Scarlett writes amazing books and lame author bios. She hates the pressure of encapsulating everything about herself in a hundred words or less, because she’s too divergent, dynamic, and different for that. And simultaneously not that interesting.
She is the author of the Wycliffe Family Series, Slanted London series, and a couple plays. When not writing, she loves composing music, laughing with her four kids, or doing life on a ranch in Utah with her cinnamon-roll husband.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thescarlett...
She is the author of the Wycliffe Family Series, Slanted London series, and a couple plays. When not writing, she loves composing music, laughing with her four kids, or doing life on a ranch in Utah with her cinnamon-roll husband.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thescarlett...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
Read
November 17, 2025✨ Welcome back to London. ✨
February 22, 2026
This book has left me speechless! This masterpiece of a story took me on the most wild, unpredictable adventure, and I loved every moment. It is absolutely brilliant, captivating, and thrilling! I think some of Ashley’s magic slipped through the pages, because I couldn’t resist this story! I couldn’t put it down!
These characters have my whole heart! I love them!!! One of my favorite parts of this story are the memories and the flashbacks that pierced my heart! Getting to know and understand these characters better was everything!!!! Everything!
This book is incredibly exciting. So much happens, so much is at stake, and the multiple point of views kept the story moving at an enthralling pace. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, anxious to see what would happen next.
The gorgeous descriptions of mesmerizing scenes, slowly getting answers and pieces to this story’s puzzle, the mystery, the romance, the magic, the race against time, the danger, the tension, it was all so gooood. Add in the push and pull, the dark and the light, the fear and the hope! I couldn’t get enough as I felt completely immersed in this adventure.
I loved visiting so many iconic landmarks in London! This magical world the author created is amazing. I loved all of the twists and turns that had me holding my breath! The shocking revelations had me gasping out loud and questioning everything!!!!!!
This is storytelling at its finest. It grabbed me from the get go, and I never wanted to leave these characters in this heart racing, heart wrenching, heart aching, heart soaring adventure!
This book absolutely blew my mind in the best way possible! An absolute favorite and an absolute must read book and series!!! So sooo excited for book 3!!!!
Favorites:
🪞The banter
🪞Multiple POV
🪞Victorian Gaslamp Fantasy
🪞High stakes
🪞Emme is hilarious
🪞Interconnected storylines
🪞All the emotions
🪞Amazing characters
🪞Thrilling story
🪞Unputdownable
🪞Sleep stealing story
🪞A favorite trope done so well!
🪞And so much more that I can’t wait for you to discover!
.
.
.
Thank you so much to the author and publisher for the arc copy. A positive review was not required but freely given. All opinions are my own.
Content: moderate violence, a little gory at times, danger, opium mentioned, death, death of loved ones, kisses only, tragedy, blood, abuse mentioned
These characters have my whole heart! I love them!!! One of my favorite parts of this story are the memories and the flashbacks that pierced my heart! Getting to know and understand these characters better was everything!!!! Everything!
This book is incredibly exciting. So much happens, so much is at stake, and the multiple point of views kept the story moving at an enthralling pace. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, anxious to see what would happen next.
The gorgeous descriptions of mesmerizing scenes, slowly getting answers and pieces to this story’s puzzle, the mystery, the romance, the magic, the race against time, the danger, the tension, it was all so gooood. Add in the push and pull, the dark and the light, the fear and the hope! I couldn’t get enough as I felt completely immersed in this adventure.
I loved visiting so many iconic landmarks in London! This magical world the author created is amazing. I loved all of the twists and turns that had me holding my breath! The shocking revelations had me gasping out loud and questioning everything!!!!!!
This is storytelling at its finest. It grabbed me from the get go, and I never wanted to leave these characters in this heart racing, heart wrenching, heart aching, heart soaring adventure!
This book absolutely blew my mind in the best way possible! An absolute favorite and an absolute must read book and series!!! So sooo excited for book 3!!!!
Favorites:
🪞The banter
🪞Multiple POV
🪞Victorian Gaslamp Fantasy
🪞High stakes
🪞Emme is hilarious
🪞Interconnected storylines
🪞All the emotions
🪞Amazing characters
🪞Thrilling story
🪞Unputdownable
🪞Sleep stealing story
🪞A favorite trope done so well!
🪞And so much more that I can’t wait for you to discover!
.
.
.
Thank you so much to the author and publisher for the arc copy. A positive review was not required but freely given. All opinions are my own.
Content: moderate violence, a little gory at times, danger, opium mentioned, death, death of loved ones, kisses only, tragedy, blood, abuse mentioned
Review of advance copy received from Author
"You're not a martyr. You're not a demon. You're not invincible. Why can't you see that you're just a man, Ashley? ... A good man."
Smoke in the Mirrors by Jessica Scarlett
Steeped in forbidden magic, dark mystery, societal intrigue, and luscious romance of the angsty closed-door kind, Smoke in the Mirrors is book 2 of the Slanted London series and is one NOT to be missed! And it is available on February 24!
Oh my word, I kid you not that this book will be a top book for me this year! Without a doubt! I think I legitimately crave stories like this: mysterious, gas-lamp fantasy with romance set during Victorian-era London? I just love this gritty story with yearning, angsty love, betrayal, riddles, and the twistiest of plot twists. Seriously, this book series is better than books like Caraval, The Prison Healer, and many of those other popular Booktok books. Jessica writes like a very seasoned writer; her descriptions of scenes and people are like poetry.
I really cannot get enough of this series and I'm so here for it all! I don't want to give any spoilers, but Ashley and Dorothy=so much angst and tension, yearning, longing, ugh I love them so much!
And Emme and Miles are my new favorites! I seriously couldn't get enough of both couples.
This book kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved the mystery and solving riddles. Everything about it!
I HIGHLY recommend this series and this book! My thoughts will be consumed by this one for the foreseeable future. Cue one of the biggest book hangovers ever! Since finishing Invictus by Heather Frost! If you haven't read book 1 yet, you definitely need to read it first! This series is sequential. And Amazing! And an infinite amount of stars! I will never be able to shut up about them. My only regret is that it took me so long to finish it because of how busy life has been and how little energy I've had because I'm pregnant currently. Normally I would have finished this book so fast!
Favorite Parts:
Fake something (spoiler if I tell)
Banter between characters
The Maze
The heist
Dream kiss
Yearning
Moment in abandoned church
Solving riddles
At the lake
On the Train
Plot reveals
Broken Haunted MMC
Witty Intelligent FMCs
Escape
THAT CLIFFHANGER!
The Whole Freakin' Book!
Content Guide:
Language: none
Sexual Content: passionate kissing
Violence/gore: Moderate-suicide and murder (mentioned briefly), animal fights (some gore), sailor gets hand bit off by animal (bloody description), animal is shot to death, boxing, animals attack animals (some gore described), animal is killed (some blood and gore), several instances of gun violence, peril of almost drowning, brutal torture, death and murder, a memory of dead character burning is described (a bit graphic), gore and filth described about the sewers, other gore and violence, death
Substance Use: Mild-side character is addicted to opium, opium dealing
Prejudices: none
Religious Content: none
Other: magic, memory loss and insanity, loss of loved ones, grief
Book Info:
Series: Slanted London book 2
Genre: Historical Romantasy; Victorian era; Gas-lamp
Romance Level: Kisses only
Release Date: February 24, 2026
Publisher: Oliver Heber Books
POV: Multi First Person
Thank you to the Author for the review copy. All thoughts are my own. I've already preordered the paperback as a birthday gift to myself.
Smoke in the Mirrors by Jessica Scarlett
Steeped in forbidden magic, dark mystery, societal intrigue, and luscious romance of the angsty closed-door kind, Smoke in the Mirrors is book 2 of the Slanted London series and is one NOT to be missed! And it is available on February 24!
Oh my word, I kid you not that this book will be a top book for me this year! Without a doubt! I think I legitimately crave stories like this: mysterious, gas-lamp fantasy with romance set during Victorian-era London? I just love this gritty story with yearning, angsty love, betrayal, riddles, and the twistiest of plot twists. Seriously, this book series is better than books like Caraval, The Prison Healer, and many of those other popular Booktok books. Jessica writes like a very seasoned writer; her descriptions of scenes and people are like poetry.
I really cannot get enough of this series and I'm so here for it all! I don't want to give any spoilers, but Ashley and Dorothy=so much angst and tension, yearning, longing, ugh I love them so much!
And Emme and Miles are my new favorites! I seriously couldn't get enough of both couples.
This book kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved the mystery and solving riddles. Everything about it!
I HIGHLY recommend this series and this book! My thoughts will be consumed by this one for the foreseeable future. Cue one of the biggest book hangovers ever! Since finishing Invictus by Heather Frost! If you haven't read book 1 yet, you definitely need to read it first! This series is sequential. And Amazing! And an infinite amount of stars! I will never be able to shut up about them. My only regret is that it took me so long to finish it because of how busy life has been and how little energy I've had because I'm pregnant currently. Normally I would have finished this book so fast!
Favorite Parts:
Fake something (spoiler if I tell)
Banter between characters
The Maze
The heist
Dream kiss
Yearning
Moment in abandoned church
Solving riddles
At the lake
On the Train
Plot reveals
Broken Haunted MMC
Witty Intelligent FMCs
Escape
THAT CLIFFHANGER!
The Whole Freakin' Book!
Content Guide:
Language: none
Sexual Content: passionate kissing
Violence/gore: Moderate-suicide and murder (mentioned briefly), animal fights (some gore), sailor gets hand bit off by animal (bloody description), animal is shot to death, boxing, animals attack animals (some gore described), animal is killed (some blood and gore), several instances of gun violence, peril of almost drowning, brutal torture, death and murder, a memory of dead character burning is described (a bit graphic), gore and filth described about the sewers, other gore and violence, death
Substance Use: Mild-side character is addicted to opium, opium dealing
Prejudices: none
Religious Content: none
Other: magic, memory loss and insanity, loss of loved ones, grief
Book Info:
Series: Slanted London book 2
Genre: Historical Romantasy; Victorian era; Gas-lamp
Romance Level: Kisses only
Release Date: February 24, 2026
Publisher: Oliver Heber Books
POV: Multi First Person
Thank you to the Author for the review copy. All thoughts are my own. I've already preordered the paperback as a birthday gift to myself.
February 23, 2026
You know a book is elite when you finish it… and then it refuses to leave your brain? That’s me with these books. I was literally dreaming about the story at night. DREAMING. I’m already impatient for the next book—and the second one isn’t even officially out until Tuesday. 🫠 This is absolutely a “buy the physical copies for the trophy shelf” kind of series. 📚✨
The magic. The mystery. The romance. The balance is chef’s kiss. 👌 I’m usually pretty good at predicting plot twists (it’s a blessing and a curse), and yes—I managed to piece a few things together. But there were still reveals that had my jaw on the floor. And honestly? Figuring things out alongside the story is half the fun. It made the experience even more satisfying. 🤔
The characters are SO well done. You really get to know them, layers and all. Even the complicated ones? I’m still holding out hope. That’s how well they’re written—you care about everyone. ♥️
“Town of Shadows” sets such a strong foundation for the series, and so many details carry straight into “Smoke in the Mirrors”. This is absolutely not a “read out of order” situation. Read them in order. Trust me. And if it’s been a minute since book one, do yourself a favor and skim or reread before diving into book two. You’ll thank yourself.
“Smoke in the Mirrors” reveals A LOT. Buckle up. Maybe take notes. Future-you will be grateful when book three drops. 👀
Fun fact: my 8-year-old insisted I read these out loud to her while I was reading them myself. I happily obliged… until things got a little too intense. 😅 I stopped, but she now demands full plot updates. So if you know me in real life—do not ask her about this series. She will absolutely spoil it.
I know this review is vague, but that’s on purpose. I want you to experience the magic of discovering it all on your own. Huge thank you to Jessica Scarlett for choosing me as an ARC reader for this incredible book—it was exactly the motivation I needed.
Don’t be like me and wait. Start this series now. 🙌
The magic. The mystery. The romance. The balance is chef’s kiss. 👌 I’m usually pretty good at predicting plot twists (it’s a blessing and a curse), and yes—I managed to piece a few things together. But there were still reveals that had my jaw on the floor. And honestly? Figuring things out alongside the story is half the fun. It made the experience even more satisfying. 🤔
The characters are SO well done. You really get to know them, layers and all. Even the complicated ones? I’m still holding out hope. That’s how well they’re written—you care about everyone. ♥️
“Town of Shadows” sets such a strong foundation for the series, and so many details carry straight into “Smoke in the Mirrors”. This is absolutely not a “read out of order” situation. Read them in order. Trust me. And if it’s been a minute since book one, do yourself a favor and skim or reread before diving into book two. You’ll thank yourself.
“Smoke in the Mirrors” reveals A LOT. Buckle up. Maybe take notes. Future-you will be grateful when book three drops. 👀
Fun fact: my 8-year-old insisted I read these out loud to her while I was reading them myself. I happily obliged… until things got a little too intense. 😅 I stopped, but she now demands full plot updates. So if you know me in real life—do not ask her about this series. She will absolutely spoil it.
I know this review is vague, but that’s on purpose. I want you to experience the magic of discovering it all on your own. Huge thank you to Jessica Scarlett for choosing me as an ARC reader for this incredible book—it was exactly the motivation I needed.
Don’t be like me and wait. Start this series now. 🙌
March 4, 2026
•𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰•
{𝐒𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧: Book 2}
“𝙼𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚌 𝚒𝚜 𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛 𝚌𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚞𝚙𝚝𝚜.“
🐦⬛ Release Date: February 24, 2026 🐦⬛
.
.
.
The way this book had me on the EDGE of my seat for almost its entire duration is something not many authors can accomplish! Words fail me at even beginning to properly describe everything this book put me through—it was beyond anything I could ever have imagined as a follow-up to Book 1! The angst, the drama, the mystery—all absolutely captivating and enthralling beyond belief! If you haven’t yet, go read Book 1 and then come back and DEVOUR this fantastic story!
Ashley Gardner was back in all his entirety in Book 2—a force to be reckoned with! His shadowy past and even more mysterious persona did nothing to hinder poor Dorothy’s feelings from running rampant—despite her every effort to rein them in. Dripping in betrayal and broken hearts, the romance in this series has a way of tugging at your heartstrings and convincing you that becoming completely invested in the chaotic relationships is the only logical option.
The absolute WILD ride this book took me on was so much fun! From running amok in the streets of London to waltzing at a ball in the palace, this story has everything a reader could possible desire in a fantasy novel! I guarantee that it will keep you guessing until you turn the final page—the plot twists are jaw-dropping—leaving you in desperate need of the next book!
.
.
.
I received a complimentary arc through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are purely my own.
{𝐒𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧: Book 2}
“𝙼𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚌 𝚒𝚜 𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛 𝚌𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚞𝚙𝚝𝚜.“
🐦⬛ Release Date: February 24, 2026 🐦⬛
.
.
.
The way this book had me on the EDGE of my seat for almost its entire duration is something not many authors can accomplish! Words fail me at even beginning to properly describe everything this book put me through—it was beyond anything I could ever have imagined as a follow-up to Book 1! The angst, the drama, the mystery—all absolutely captivating and enthralling beyond belief! If you haven’t yet, go read Book 1 and then come back and DEVOUR this fantastic story!
Ashley Gardner was back in all his entirety in Book 2—a force to be reckoned with! His shadowy past and even more mysterious persona did nothing to hinder poor Dorothy’s feelings from running rampant—despite her every effort to rein them in. Dripping in betrayal and broken hearts, the romance in this series has a way of tugging at your heartstrings and convincing you that becoming completely invested in the chaotic relationships is the only logical option.
The absolute WILD ride this book took me on was so much fun! From running amok in the streets of London to waltzing at a ball in the palace, this story has everything a reader could possible desire in a fantasy novel! I guarantee that it will keep you guessing until you turn the final page—the plot twists are jaw-dropping—leaving you in desperate need of the next book!
.
.
.
I received a complimentary arc through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are purely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
DID I LOVE IT? YES! My brain will be thinking about this book on repeat for the next several days!
I have been anxiously awaiting the second book in this series after devouring Town of Shadows. I had SO many questions after the first book, and I was worried coming into this one because i didn't think we would get answers for most of them. I am happy to say I was wrong. Jessica does a fantastic job of giving us little bits and pieces of info to connect everything. Although I definitely still have many questions and am anxious to know what happens next, I feel like the history of the magic and character backgrounds were addressed SO well in this installment.
As far as characters go, I am a little obsessed. All of the main characters from the first book have a lot of growth and depth while still maintaining the traits I loved so much from the first book. Dorothy is such a strong FMC. Although she is trying to recover from events in Town of Shadows, she is still quick-witted and the genius we know. What can I say about Ashley? I love his character so much and am thrilled we got to learn more about his past. There are moments I want to slap him, and moments I want to give him a big hug. I was SO EXCITED to get more POVs from Miles and Emmeline. Their chemistry grew so much in this book, and I couldn't get enough of them. Emmeline is my favorite character. She's that spunky, outspoken, and essential side character that is easy to love. If anything truly disastrous happens to her, I will RIOT. Though, I could say the same thing about any of these characters.
The romance was still front and center in this book, but it never felt like it was overshadowing the plot. You can look forward to all the yearning, swoony moments, and angst from the first book with heightened stakes. I was on the edge of my seat, especially in the last half of the book. SO MUCH HAPPENS.
As a side note, the added love interest for Dorothy added a healthy boost of jealousy and pining. We got to see Ashley challenged, which was a lot of fun to read.
Some of my favorite scenes were in the church. I knew this book would be an emotional roller coaster, and those scenes in the church delivered the emotional gut punch I was expecting. SO GOOD.
I really really loved this book! It's definitely my favorite read of 2026 so far! I was so excited to receive an ARC. If it wasn't for work and other responsibilities, I would have easily finished Smoke In the Mirrors in one sitting. LOVED IT!!
I have been anxiously awaiting the second book in this series after devouring Town of Shadows. I had SO many questions after the first book, and I was worried coming into this one because i didn't think we would get answers for most of them. I am happy to say I was wrong. Jessica does a fantastic job of giving us little bits and pieces of info to connect everything. Although I definitely still have many questions and am anxious to know what happens next, I feel like the history of the magic and character backgrounds were addressed SO well in this installment.
As far as characters go, I am a little obsessed. All of the main characters from the first book have a lot of growth and depth while still maintaining the traits I loved so much from the first book. Dorothy is such a strong FMC. Although she is trying to recover from events in Town of Shadows, she is still quick-witted and the genius we know. What can I say about Ashley? I love his character so much and am thrilled we got to learn more about his past. There are moments I want to slap him, and moments I want to give him a big hug. I was SO EXCITED to get more POVs from Miles and Emmeline. Their chemistry grew so much in this book, and I couldn't get enough of them. Emmeline is my favorite character. She's that spunky, outspoken, and essential side character that is easy to love. If anything truly disastrous happens to her, I will RIOT. Though, I could say the same thing about any of these characters.
The romance was still front and center in this book, but it never felt like it was overshadowing the plot. You can look forward to all the yearning, swoony moments, and angst from the first book with heightened stakes. I was on the edge of my seat, especially in the last half of the book. SO MUCH HAPPENS.
As a side note, the added love interest for Dorothy added a healthy boost of jealousy and pining. We got to see Ashley challenged, which was a lot of fun to read.
Some of my favorite scenes were in the church. I knew this book would be an emotional roller coaster, and those scenes in the church delivered the emotional gut punch I was expecting. SO GOOD.
I really really loved this book! It's definitely my favorite read of 2026 so far! I was so excited to receive an ARC. If it wasn't for work and other responsibilities, I would have easily finished Smoke In the Mirrors in one sitting. LOVED IT!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ooooh! THIS BOOK IS A WILD RIDE!
A book of not knowing which side is the good side and which side is the bad side, and two people who don't trust each other, but can't stop the feelings they have.
I loved all the points of view, getting unique perspectives to each situation!
A book of not knowing which side is the good side and which side is the bad side, and two people who don't trust each other, but can't stop the feelings they have.
I loved all the points of view, getting unique perspectives to each situation!
February 28, 2026
GUYYYYYYYYYYYS BOOK 2 of Slanted London is out and I am UNWELL 💚 this series is un-put-down-able and will have you absolutely gasping for air from the whiplash of the plot twists!
For the sake of avoiding spoilers here are my rapid fire thoughts! My slides might have spoilers 🎞️
•The pacing between the romance was EVERYTHING 😩 both couples have my HEART.
•Specific characters can GET OUT 😡
•Ball gowns, underground lakes, and secret deals 🤯🫠
•the most POETIC writing ever
•THE ENDING I AM UNWELLLLLL
Anyways read these books, trust me you will want to! They are clean, but have some very intense scenes!
⚠️ CW: violence, innuendo, magic ⚠️
For the sake of avoiding spoilers here are my rapid fire thoughts! My slides might have spoilers 🎞️
•The pacing between the romance was EVERYTHING 😩 both couples have my HEART.
•Specific characters can GET OUT 😡
•Ball gowns, underground lakes, and secret deals 🤯🫠
•the most POETIC writing ever
•THE ENDING I AM UNWELLLLLL
Anyways read these books, trust me you will want to! They are clean, but have some very intense scenes!
⚠️ CW: violence, innuendo, magic ⚠️
Review of advance copy received from Author
I can't think. I can't sleep. I can't breathe. This book stole every ounce of oxygen from my lungs. I'm obsessed. The characters, the plot, the mystery, the drama, the agony, the yearning, ALL OF IT. Perfection. It absorbed me body and soul. This book invoked so many visceral feelings, I am left empty, pining for more. NEEDING more. The wait for book 3 is going to be painful agony. The plot twists within this book were earth shattering. The character development was world altering. It was all wonderful. I can't think of words glorious enough to explain this book. I've been anxiously waiting for this book since book 1 came out and this did not disappoint. I finally got answers to so many questions, but I have so many more!
Dorothy is an amazing FMC. Ashley is devastating in the best ways. Miles totally has my heart. Emmeline is hilarious. I love them all. Their stories have captured my heart. I can't wait to see what happens next.
All drama aside, Jessica Scarlett is a master storyteller. She knows how to create a story that draws her readers in. She doesn't just write a book, she creates an experience. I loved every minute of it. I loved experiencing every emotion alongside her characters. It's books like these that remind me why I love to read. It is a beautiful feeling to step out of my life and traverse a world created by someone else.
Would I recommend this book?
ABSOLUTELY 100%
Dorothy is an amazing FMC. Ashley is devastating in the best ways. Miles totally has my heart. Emmeline is hilarious. I love them all. Their stories have captured my heart. I can't wait to see what happens next.
All drama aside, Jessica Scarlett is a master storyteller. She knows how to create a story that draws her readers in. She doesn't just write a book, she creates an experience. I loved every minute of it. I loved experiencing every emotion alongside her characters. It's books like these that remind me why I love to read. It is a beautiful feeling to step out of my life and traverse a world created by someone else.
Would I recommend this book?
ABSOLUTELY 100%
February 14, 2026
What an absolute ride!!! I love these characters so much. And that twist!! Ah. This book was everything I wanted it to be. I can’t wait for the conclusion!
March 10, 2026
I love this series for the twists and turns, and absolute thrill that it is!
It's written in a way that keeps me guessing and collecting the puzzle pieces right along with the characters (who have amazing personalities, by the way!), and I LOVE it.
The romance elements are pretty phenomenal too. ;) BUT if you think you're just getting a romance with this story, you're actually getting so much more!
A series all its own, for those that love historical London, fantasy stories, or sweet romance.
It's written in a way that keeps me guessing and collecting the puzzle pieces right along with the characters (who have amazing personalities, by the way!), and I LOVE it.
The romance elements are pretty phenomenal too. ;) BUT if you think you're just getting a romance with this story, you're actually getting so much more!
A series all its own, for those that love historical London, fantasy stories, or sweet romance.
February 7, 2026
Ok so I fear I will have a book hangover from this book for a long time and WHY isn’t the third book out yet so I can read it??
This book was SO GOOD. Easily one of the best books I’ve read recently. I am so thankful I received an ARC of it!
Jessica Scarlett did such a great job with character development in this book, and she really allowed us to see all four main characters (Ashley, Miles, Dorothy, and Emme) at a much deeper level. If book one gave us the actions of the main characters, this book (book 2) gave us the WHY.
The character development of Ashley alone is incredible. The author really keeps us on our toes the entire book about his motivations and backstory, and without spoiling too much, I’ll just say that the way she slowly reveals to us as readers more about Ashley is amazing. His character is so much more than what we saw on the surface in book 1, and I loved every second of getting to know the real Ashley.
Dorothy is still such a compelling FMC. Her intelligence and wittiness makes her easy to root for, and I have so much empathy for her character, despite her taking some actions that made me want to shake her so she could see the truth!
Miles and Emmeline are everything. Their romance is so precious, and every chapter with Miles’ point of view made me want to give him a hug. I love them so so much.
In this book, many of our characters make difficult choices that kinda make you go “why would you do that??” But the author did a great job of giving valid motivations behind each character’s actions. She doesn’t write plot twists just for the sake of plot twists. Each plot twist was clearly well thought out and made the story so exciting.
I literally devoured this book in less than two days.
If Caravel was one of my favorite books, I might have to say that though this series reminds me of it, this one is even better.
I can’t recommend this book enough. You won’t regret getting invested in this series.
I need book 3 now!!
This book was SO GOOD. Easily one of the best books I’ve read recently. I am so thankful I received an ARC of it!
Jessica Scarlett did such a great job with character development in this book, and she really allowed us to see all four main characters (Ashley, Miles, Dorothy, and Emme) at a much deeper level. If book one gave us the actions of the main characters, this book (book 2) gave us the WHY.
The character development of Ashley alone is incredible. The author really keeps us on our toes the entire book about his motivations and backstory, and without spoiling too much, I’ll just say that the way she slowly reveals to us as readers more about Ashley is amazing. His character is so much more than what we saw on the surface in book 1, and I loved every second of getting to know the real Ashley.
Dorothy is still such a compelling FMC. Her intelligence and wittiness makes her easy to root for, and I have so much empathy for her character, despite her taking some actions that made me want to shake her so she could see the truth!
Miles and Emmeline are everything. Their romance is so precious, and every chapter with Miles’ point of view made me want to give him a hug. I love them so so much.
In this book, many of our characters make difficult choices that kinda make you go “why would you do that??” But the author did a great job of giving valid motivations behind each character’s actions. She doesn’t write plot twists just for the sake of plot twists. Each plot twist was clearly well thought out and made the story so exciting.
I literally devoured this book in less than two days.
If Caravel was one of my favorite books, I might have to say that though this series reminds me of it, this one is even better.
I can’t recommend this book enough. You won’t regret getting invested in this series.
I need book 3 now!!
February 28, 2026
What a wild ride!!
A wonderful mash-up of Victorian-era charm, magic, and romance—equal parts light and charming, deeply angsty, and emotionally rich—layered with love, betrayal, unfolding secrets, humor, and twist after twist.
A wonderful mash-up of Victorian-era charm, magic, and romance—equal parts light and charming, deeply angsty, and emotionally rich—layered with love, betrayal, unfolding secrets, humor, and twist after twist.
February 24, 2026
THIS BOOK!
It stole my sleep.
It stole my breath.
It stole my heart.
And it nearly stole my sanity!
I know this is just book 2, and book 3 is somewhere out in the future, but I’m thinking this may be my favorite fantasy series of all time. Town of Shadows was my number one read in 2025. Smoke in the Mirrors may well be my top read of 2026.
From the open text of the author’s dedication, I knew this book was going to be everything I hoped it would be. The story hits the ground running and never lets up. The flow, the multiple povs, the maddening romance(s) that are brewing and/or being restrained. With shocking revelations, jaw-dropping betrayals, and the angstiest angst that ever angsted, my heart was in my throat and my bookish soul in the most divine state of euphoria.
Gasps, sighs, smiles, cheering, swooning, and aching. I felt it all.
Friends do not sleep on this trilogy. It’s entertaining, exhilarating, and enthralling. Snarky and sultry. Fresh and fascinating. Tortuous and tantalizing. It’s all the adjectives!
Thank you NetGalley and Oliver Heber Books for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
It stole my sleep.
It stole my breath.
It stole my heart.
And it nearly stole my sanity!
I know this is just book 2, and book 3 is somewhere out in the future, but I’m thinking this may be my favorite fantasy series of all time. Town of Shadows was my number one read in 2025. Smoke in the Mirrors may well be my top read of 2026.
From the open text of the author’s dedication, I knew this book was going to be everything I hoped it would be. The story hits the ground running and never lets up. The flow, the multiple povs, the maddening romance(s) that are brewing and/or being restrained. With shocking revelations, jaw-dropping betrayals, and the angstiest angst that ever angsted, my heart was in my throat and my bookish soul in the most divine state of euphoria.
Gasps, sighs, smiles, cheering, swooning, and aching. I felt it all.
Friends do not sleep on this trilogy. It’s entertaining, exhilarating, and enthralling. Snarky and sultry. Fresh and fascinating. Tortuous and tantalizing. It’s all the adjectives!
Thank you NetGalley and Oliver Heber Books for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
February 26, 2026
Content: no language, kissing only, some violence and torture (not gory)
Genre/Tropes: Historical Fantasy Romance (set in Victorian England) with a dash of mystery thrown in. Solving puzzles, hidden identities, multiple POV, book 2 in series
My thoughts:
Oh my word! What a fantastic book 2 to this series. It, like book 1, is full of twists and turns. There’s intrigue, mutating magic, and a love story where both people are actively trying NOT to love the other person (because of *spoilers*). There’s also a second romance in this book with Miles and Emme, and I loved their scenes as well.
Once I got into the second half of the book, I finished it the same night (so I am incredibly grateful that I started early enough in the evening to finish at a reasonable hour!).
There are less riddles/puzzles than in book 1, but there are still some mysteries to be solved and clues to unravel.
Some of the twists I predicted early on, but for others I was thoroughly misdirected and only caught my mistake just before the characters (which is when, as a writer, you want the reader to piece it all together).
I do have a few nit-picky complaints, but overall I loved this book and would highly recommend this series.
Genre/Tropes: Historical Fantasy Romance (set in Victorian England) with a dash of mystery thrown in. Solving puzzles, hidden identities, multiple POV, book 2 in series
My thoughts:
Oh my word! What a fantastic book 2 to this series. It, like book 1, is full of twists and turns. There’s intrigue, mutating magic, and a love story where both people are actively trying NOT to love the other person (because of *spoilers*). There’s also a second romance in this book with Miles and Emme, and I loved their scenes as well.
Once I got into the second half of the book, I finished it the same night (so I am incredibly grateful that I started early enough in the evening to finish at a reasonable hour!).
There are less riddles/puzzles than in book 1, but there are still some mysteries to be solved and clues to unravel.
Some of the twists I predicted early on, but for others I was thoroughly misdirected and only caught my mistake just before the characters (which is when, as a writer, you want the reader to piece it all together).
I do have a few nit-picky complaints, but overall I loved this book and would highly recommend this series.
February 24, 2026
Such a great Book 2! I have been waiting to read more about this series ever since I read book 1, and the book lived up to my expectations.
The book is well written, full of adventures and twists and I am in awe at how well all the POVs have been handled.
Looking forward to the next book.
The book is well written, full of adventures and twists and I am in awe at how well all the POVs have been handled.
Looking forward to the next book.
February 25, 2026
So good!
Aaahhhh, I am unwell!! This book is fantastic, and I am now dying for the third book!! I loved it!
Aaahhhh, I am unwell!! This book is fantastic, and I am now dying for the third book!! I loved it!
March 2, 2026
I need more Emmy and Miles like I need AIR!
HOW does this series just keep getting better and better?
HOW does this series just keep getting better and better?
May 12, 2026
4.25 stars
This was a great sequel!!
Full review to come.
This was a great sequel!!
Full review to come.
March 12, 2026
Ugh this was so beautiful- im so sad to have to wait for the next one to come out 🥲
Review of advance copy received from Author
I honestly don't even know where to start with this review! I love reading and I read all the time, but there are very few books that I have read that have affected me as much as SITM! Oh my gosh it was so good! It was the perfect sequel to Town of Shadows! It was an emotional roller coaster of a day seeing as I got the book in the morning and finished it that night. I swear I was laughing and feeling all the feels and then nearly crying the next moment. Often times I feel like a book has some slow parts that get drawn out and are long and boring, but not this book! I couldn't put it down all day! The pace for SITM was extremely well done and this was not like other sequels I've read where they feel more of connecter between books one and three, instead it was a well written story with a great plot and characters with so much depth that you seriously can't get enough of them.
I don't really want to spoil anything, but let me just tell you Ashley is my absolute favorite! One of the best MMC out there. He's not perfect but the way he tries to do the right thing and the way he cares for Dorothy is just too good ❤️ I feel like we were finally able to uncover and peel back the layers of Ashley's soul and figure out who he is and what made him, him. Miles is another favorite of mine and I also felt like we got to know him better despite his lack of speech;) His loyalty to Ashley is one of the sweetest and things and seriously I just need a Miles in my life. SITM gave me the much needed answers that I needed after reading Town of Shadows, but it also left me wanting for more! My only problem right now is idk how long it will be till I get to read the third book and idk if I can wait that long 😭
SITM has it all! Suspense, depth, plot building, multiple pov, magic, science, relatable characters, intrigue, and of course romance!
Jessica Scarlett is a phenomenal writer and truly one of my favorites now! She hasn't written a book that I don't like, and not only that, all of her books are among my favorites! This book was closed door with no spice which I honestly think is a testament to Jessica Scarlett's ability as a writer to write a romance that has you smiling like a dork and needing more without having to add all the smut in to keep readers engaged. The romance in this book did not have a weird high-school feel to it like so many others, but it was tender and cute, painful yet deep, witty and humorous, but at the same time playful and passionate. It was the type of romance that made you wish you had that same one in your own life lol 😆
After reading this book my family probably thought I was insane bc I was smiling like an idiot almost the whole time till I nearly started crying at the end 🤪
This book was incredible and definitely one worth reading despite its emotional ending. It was one of my favorites for sure and I seriously cannot wait for book three! Thank you Jessica for creating such a masterpiece of a book and for giving us a glimpse into the slanted London world and story!!
I don't really want to spoil anything, but let me just tell you Ashley is my absolute favorite! One of the best MMC out there. He's not perfect but the way he tries to do the right thing and the way he cares for Dorothy is just too good ❤️ I feel like we were finally able to uncover and peel back the layers of Ashley's soul and figure out who he is and what made him, him. Miles is another favorite of mine and I also felt like we got to know him better despite his lack of speech;) His loyalty to Ashley is one of the sweetest and things and seriously I just need a Miles in my life. SITM gave me the much needed answers that I needed after reading Town of Shadows, but it also left me wanting for more! My only problem right now is idk how long it will be till I get to read the third book and idk if I can wait that long 😭
SITM has it all! Suspense, depth, plot building, multiple pov, magic, science, relatable characters, intrigue, and of course romance!
Jessica Scarlett is a phenomenal writer and truly one of my favorites now! She hasn't written a book that I don't like, and not only that, all of her books are among my favorites! This book was closed door with no spice which I honestly think is a testament to Jessica Scarlett's ability as a writer to write a romance that has you smiling like a dork and needing more without having to add all the smut in to keep readers engaged. The romance in this book did not have a weird high-school feel to it like so many others, but it was tender and cute, painful yet deep, witty and humorous, but at the same time playful and passionate. It was the type of romance that made you wish you had that same one in your own life lol 😆
After reading this book my family probably thought I was insane bc I was smiling like an idiot almost the whole time till I nearly started crying at the end 🤪
This book was incredible and definitely one worth reading despite its emotional ending. It was one of my favorites for sure and I seriously cannot wait for book three! Thank you Jessica for creating such a masterpiece of a book and for giving us a glimpse into the slanted London world and story!!
March 15, 2026
I ended this book completely blown away (after reading the acknowledgements) and uttered the word “wow” out loud. I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and I am so happy I did! Doing that caused me to pick up book 1 which I rated 3.5 stars. I felt pretty well engrossed in book 2 all throughout it.
I am going to give this book 5 stars just because of its consistent ability hook me and keep me interested.
I felt like I had to suspend my disbelief with the fact that the whole time we are in Ashley’s head he never thinks about certain key plot points that kept appearing throughout both this book and book 1. It kept the reader in the dark which was fun but I don’t think it was really realistic. There were a few extra dramatic moments but they all fit into the story believably.
I love Emmeline. I also love Miles. Emmeline has got to be my favorite pov. I love Emmeline’s conversations with Miles where she talks for him. I also loved how she made me chuckle so often with the things she would say. I love how unique Miles’ character is, I have never seen it in a book where a character is completely tongue tied with the opposite sex like this. He feels unique also just because he is a well rounded character. Everyone is well rounded though.
Favorite quotes/scenes:
“Papa, what does ‘evotion’ mean?” He smoothed a curl out of my face, then folded me into his chest and squeezed me tight, whispering into my hair, “It means I’ll always come for you.”
Emmeline speaking for Miles:
“…Your hideous, girlish features put me in such a stupor, I cannot bring myself to speak for fear I will vomit.”
Miles:
“Do you trust me?” I yelled,
.. She swiped some hair from her frazzled expression. “Strangely, yes!”
Miles:
Stop planning out six moves ahead all the time. Something goes wrong and without fail, you jump on the sacrificial table before anyone has a chance to say anything or fix it. You’re not a martyr. You’re not a demon. You’re not invincible. Why can’t you see that you’re just a man, Ashley?”
…
“A good man.” My breath froze, unexpected emotion punching me in the throat.
I love that the romance in this is all clean. That is my preference (think the author is likely a Christian given the reference to God in the acknowledgements) and I am planning on following this author’s upcoming works from here on out! I want to know when/if book 3 is coming out. If you are reading this after book 1 and wondering if you should pick up book 2, the answer is yes. I enjoyed this one more than book 1. Also gorgeous covers for both books! I am so looking forward to hopefully continuing this series!
I am going to give this book 5 stars just because of its consistent ability hook me and keep me interested.
I felt like I had to suspend my disbelief with the fact that the whole time we are in Ashley’s head he never thinks about certain key plot points that kept appearing throughout both this book and book 1. It kept the reader in the dark which was fun but I don’t think it was really realistic. There were a few extra dramatic moments but they all fit into the story believably.
I love Emmeline. I also love Miles. Emmeline has got to be my favorite pov. I love Emmeline’s conversations with Miles where she talks for him. I also loved how she made me chuckle so often with the things she would say. I love how unique Miles’ character is, I have never seen it in a book where a character is completely tongue tied with the opposite sex like this. He feels unique also just because he is a well rounded character. Everyone is well rounded though.
Favorite quotes/scenes:
“Papa, what does ‘evotion’ mean?” He smoothed a curl out of my face, then folded me into his chest and squeezed me tight, whispering into my hair, “It means I’ll always come for you.”
Emmeline speaking for Miles:
“…Your hideous, girlish features put me in such a stupor, I cannot bring myself to speak for fear I will vomit.”
Miles:
“Do you trust me?” I yelled,
.. She swiped some hair from her frazzled expression. “Strangely, yes!”
Miles:
Stop planning out six moves ahead all the time. Something goes wrong and without fail, you jump on the sacrificial table before anyone has a chance to say anything or fix it. You’re not a martyr. You’re not a demon. You’re not invincible. Why can’t you see that you’re just a man, Ashley?”
…
“A good man.” My breath froze, unexpected emotion punching me in the throat.
I love that the romance in this is all clean. That is my preference (think the author is likely a Christian given the reference to God in the acknowledgements) and I am planning on following this author’s upcoming works from here on out! I want to know when/if book 3 is coming out. If you are reading this after book 1 and wondering if you should pick up book 2, the answer is yes. I enjoyed this one more than book 1. Also gorgeous covers for both books! I am so looking forward to hopefully continuing this series!
May 6, 2026
Some Spoilers to book one potentially mention in this review so read it first! Trying to be as spoiler free as possible
Overview:
Language 🤐: mild (use of bloody and hell not overly frequently)
Romance ❤️🔥: Lv2-3 kissing only (passionate mildly descriptive)
Violence ⚔️: P-13 level fantasy violence, on page death, fun fights animals, death to animals, burning, torture, loss of limb there is gore mentioned I didn’t find it too descriptive for me but definitely would be disturbing to some
⚠️suicidal thoughts, side character addicted to opium, kidnappings, loss of memory, insanity, grief, loss of family members, reliving trauma, gambling⚠️
Tropes/Micro tropes
- Multiple POV
- Fake Something (if I share it’ll spoil)
- Wound tending
- found family
- Slow Burn
- so many secrets
- reluctant alliance
- Fierce loyalty
- Well place comedic relief
- Train Fight
- Forced Proximity
My Thoughts:
OH MY GOODNESS!! The ABSOLUTE CHOKEHOLD this book had on me. I ate this up so much! That cliffhanger 🤯 I need the next book yesterday! I could not read this book fast enough and when I approached the ending I didn’t want it to end!
I absolutely love this book, fantasy romance, with magic regency, Sherlock vibes! I love it so much and feel like there’s not many books like this out there. I just loved every second of it!
There’s so many twist and turns in this book! All the clues and different POVs here are so great. All the forces proximity and the tensions there are just perfection. The banter, these characters are truly playing with fire in this book and they know it.
It was so interesting how all the different characters reacted from the information they had and it was an adventure trying to piece all the information together to figure out what was going on. Didn’t figure it out till it slapped me in the face 😅 and there’s still so many questions to be answered and figured out! Love the unique magic system in this book!
Ashley and Dorthy’s interaction were all great! Miles and Emmeline’s were absolutely perfection and had me cracking up as well, I couldn’t get enough of them.
I just can not give an adequate description of how much I love this book! I already know it’s gonna be a top read for this year! Highly highly recommend! Can not wait for the next book!
Overview:
Language 🤐: mild (use of bloody and hell not overly frequently)
Romance ❤️🔥: Lv2-3 kissing only (passionate mildly descriptive)
Violence ⚔️: P-13 level fantasy violence, on page death, fun fights animals, death to animals, burning, torture, loss of limb there is gore mentioned I didn’t find it too descriptive for me but definitely would be disturbing to some
⚠️suicidal thoughts, side character addicted to opium, kidnappings, loss of memory, insanity, grief, loss of family members, reliving trauma, gambling⚠️
Tropes/Micro tropes
- Multiple POV
- Fake Something (if I share it’ll spoil)
- Wound tending
- found family
- Slow Burn
- so many secrets
- reluctant alliance
- Fierce loyalty
- Well place comedic relief
- Train Fight
- Forced Proximity
My Thoughts:
OH MY GOODNESS!! The ABSOLUTE CHOKEHOLD this book had on me. I ate this up so much! That cliffhanger 🤯 I need the next book yesterday! I could not read this book fast enough and when I approached the ending I didn’t want it to end!
I absolutely love this book, fantasy romance, with magic regency, Sherlock vibes! I love it so much and feel like there’s not many books like this out there. I just loved every second of it!
There’s so many twist and turns in this book! All the clues and different POVs here are so great. All the forces proximity and the tensions there are just perfection. The banter, these characters are truly playing with fire in this book and they know it.
It was so interesting how all the different characters reacted from the information they had and it was an adventure trying to piece all the information together to figure out what was going on. Didn’t figure it out till it slapped me in the face 😅 and there’s still so many questions to be answered and figured out! Love the unique magic system in this book!
Ashley and Dorthy’s interaction were all great! Miles and Emmeline’s were absolutely perfection and had me cracking up as well, I couldn’t get enough of them.
I just can not give an adequate description of how much I love this book! I already know it’s gonna be a top read for this year! Highly highly recommend! Can not wait for the next book!
March 17, 2026
I was anxiously anticipating the second book in the Slanted London series Smoke In the Mirrors after reading Town of Shadows because so many twists, so many questions! I loved every minute of Smoke In the Mirrors! My only disappointment was I thought the series was a duology for some reason and I was shocked when things were not wrapped up by the end. Good news, there will be another book! Dorothy is my hero; she is so strong and even though she’s been through a lot she doesn’t crumble and remains true to herself. Ashley, is still Ashley and sometimes I wanted to punch him and other times I just wanted to hug him to let him know someone cares and he’s not alone. Dorothy and Ashley still have chemistry but there are things thrown at them that keep the tension and walls high. I loved that we got to see more of Miles and Emmeline and their quiet but sturdy relationship continue to grow. There is so much that happens in Smoke In the Mirrors that I didn’t want it to end! If you love twists, intrigue, tension, heartbreak, romance and running the gambit of emotions than Smoke In the Mirrors is a must read! One of my favorites!
Tropes: gaslamp fantasy = enemies to more = high stakes = unique magic system = lots of tension = multiple POVs = so many secrets = swoony kisses
My favorite things:
- The tension and banter
- The maze
- The dream kiss
- The abandoned church
- The train
- The continual twists, keeps you on your toes!
- The cliffhanger, oh my gosh
Favorite quotes:
"I don't want you for this moment. I want you forever, Dorothy ... Forever." - Ashley
"I did - very much, as it turned out - want to attack Miles Kelly. On the lips." - Emmeline
"For better or worse, our souls are bonded together, his and mine, and by something much stronger than a queen's ribbon." - Dorothy
"Sometimes letting something go doesn't mean you've failed. In some ways, it's proof of how deeply you care. It will still hurt. But the pain only means that you loved, and in that, there is no shame. You only need allow yourself to move beyond it." -Miles
Happy reading!
Tropes: gaslamp fantasy = enemies to more = high stakes = unique magic system = lots of tension = multiple POVs = so many secrets = swoony kisses
My favorite things:
- The tension and banter
- The maze
- The dream kiss
- The abandoned church
- The train
- The continual twists, keeps you on your toes!
- The cliffhanger, oh my gosh
Favorite quotes:
"I don't want you for this moment. I want you forever, Dorothy ... Forever." - Ashley
"I did - very much, as it turned out - want to attack Miles Kelly. On the lips." - Emmeline
"For better or worse, our souls are bonded together, his and mine, and by something much stronger than a queen's ribbon." - Dorothy
"Sometimes letting something go doesn't mean you've failed. In some ways, it's proof of how deeply you care. It will still hurt. But the pain only means that you loved, and in that, there is no shame. You only need allow yourself to move beyond it." -Miles
Happy reading!
February 25, 2026
«SMOKE IN THE MIRRORS»
~The second book in the Slanted London Series~
Yet again Jessica has blown me away with her writing skill. THE ANGST. THE YEARNING. oh my gosh the yearning. I wouldn't not recommend this as a stand alone. but if you are looking for a book that's full of the great three. Yearning, Thrill, and Plot Twists. With this book it delved deeper into Miles and Emmelines story and i am in love with them. They are so cute with how much he hates her. But i don't love them more than my mans Ashley. i'm sorry but he is the KING. this man. i will be to thinking of him every day!!!
🪞Adventure
🪞Gaslamp-Fantasy
🪞Yearning
🪞Angst
🪞Closed Door- just very intense kisses!
🪞Backstabbinggggg
Here’s the Blurb if you want to read it!
Some illusions save us. Others want us dead.
Dorothy St. James has three missions: slip inside the Rook's circle, recover the stolen enchanted bracelets, and rescue her kidnapped father. But when whispers of a hidden map inside Buckingham Palace surface, everything shifts. Enlisting Ashley Gardner-the brilliant, backstabbing puzzle-solver she can never quite outsmart—might be her only chance of destroying him.
To Dorothy's annoyance, her dangerous pull toward Ashley only grows, even as fellow Lightfoot agent Nicholas Hart offers a far safer path. Nicholas is steady and dependable, while Ashley is all secrets, sharp edges, and heartbreak waiting to happen.
But Ashley is running out of time. His mutating magic grows more sentient every day, and the final bracelet is the only thing keeping it from consuming him.
Desperate, he agrees to help Dorothy hunt the hidden map, even though being near her threatens both his sanity and his survival. And as riddles twist into traps, he begins to fear that their fire may not be real at all just another illusion his magic wants her to believe.
London's smoke-choked streets are thick with danger.
Where is Dorothy's father? Who is the Samaritan?
Why is the Rook kidnapping innocents? And who can Dorothy trust, when she can't even trust herself!
~The second book in the Slanted London Series~
Yet again Jessica has blown me away with her writing skill. THE ANGST. THE YEARNING. oh my gosh the yearning. I wouldn't not recommend this as a stand alone. but if you are looking for a book that's full of the great three. Yearning, Thrill, and Plot Twists. With this book it delved deeper into Miles and Emmelines story and i am in love with them. They are so cute with how much he hates her. But i don't love them more than my mans Ashley. i'm sorry but he is the KING. this man. i will be to thinking of him every day!!!
🪞Adventure
🪞Gaslamp-Fantasy
🪞Yearning
🪞Angst
🪞Closed Door- just very intense kisses!
🪞Backstabbinggggg
Here’s the Blurb if you want to read it!
Some illusions save us. Others want us dead.
Dorothy St. James has three missions: slip inside the Rook's circle, recover the stolen enchanted bracelets, and rescue her kidnapped father. But when whispers of a hidden map inside Buckingham Palace surface, everything shifts. Enlisting Ashley Gardner-the brilliant, backstabbing puzzle-solver she can never quite outsmart—might be her only chance of destroying him.
To Dorothy's annoyance, her dangerous pull toward Ashley only grows, even as fellow Lightfoot agent Nicholas Hart offers a far safer path. Nicholas is steady and dependable, while Ashley is all secrets, sharp edges, and heartbreak waiting to happen.
But Ashley is running out of time. His mutating magic grows more sentient every day, and the final bracelet is the only thing keeping it from consuming him.
Desperate, he agrees to help Dorothy hunt the hidden map, even though being near her threatens both his sanity and his survival. And as riddles twist into traps, he begins to fear that their fire may not be real at all just another illusion his magic wants her to believe.
London's smoke-choked streets are thick with danger.
Where is Dorothy's father? Who is the Samaritan?
Why is the Rook kidnapping innocents? And who can Dorothy trust, when she can't even trust herself!
April 18, 2026
What a fantastic ride!
Every once in a while, a book comes along that is so worth waiting for.
To start, I had to reread the first book in this series to recall the major details. And I’m so glad that I did. (Also a really good book, but not quite as great as this one…)
I quickly dove into this second book of the series and it was so intense in places that I had to stop reading to take a breath.
What a masterpiece! The magic/slants possessed by so many of the characters in this story are amazing, making me wonder at the breadth of the author’s imagination.
Dorothy and Ashley form a relationship that keeps the reader racing to the next page as they struggle between loving each other and hating each other. The characterizations are so sophisticated… absolutely delightful and totally believable.
Miles and Em become unlikely partners in trying to unravel the consequences of the actions by the Raven, the identity of the Samaritan, Dorothy‘s missing uncle, details about the Order, the Second Artifice, Ashley‘s fate, and Dorothy‘s plans for the future. And what you think you know, you don’t!
The pacing is excellent. This is truly a book that is very hard to put down.
Of course, my only disappointment is that this is simply the prequel to a third book. The transition between the heart-racing, exciting and mind-boggling ending of this third installment prepares the reader for any disappointment we might experience in not finding out finally what happens in this memorable tale of good versus evil, with (pardon the pun) several unexpected “slants.”
There are several mysteries explained, and yet so many more that wait in the next book, as revealed just before the epilogue. It is then easy to understand why this second book could not encompass the entire story.
I. Cannot. Wait. For. The. Next. Installment. This is one of the best books. I have read in a very long time, and I just cannot recommend enough!
I would suggest that you do not try to read this book as a stand alone, but definitely start with the first book of the series.
Enjoy!!
Every once in a while, a book comes along that is so worth waiting for.
To start, I had to reread the first book in this series to recall the major details. And I’m so glad that I did. (Also a really good book, but not quite as great as this one…)
I quickly dove into this second book of the series and it was so intense in places that I had to stop reading to take a breath.
What a masterpiece! The magic/slants possessed by so many of the characters in this story are amazing, making me wonder at the breadth of the author’s imagination.
Dorothy and Ashley form a relationship that keeps the reader racing to the next page as they struggle between loving each other and hating each other. The characterizations are so sophisticated… absolutely delightful and totally believable.
Miles and Em become unlikely partners in trying to unravel the consequences of the actions by the Raven, the identity of the Samaritan, Dorothy‘s missing uncle, details about the Order, the Second Artifice, Ashley‘s fate, and Dorothy‘s plans for the future. And what you think you know, you don’t!
The pacing is excellent. This is truly a book that is very hard to put down.
Of course, my only disappointment is that this is simply the prequel to a third book. The transition between the heart-racing, exciting and mind-boggling ending of this third installment prepares the reader for any disappointment we might experience in not finding out finally what happens in this memorable tale of good versus evil, with (pardon the pun) several unexpected “slants.”
There are several mysteries explained, and yet so many more that wait in the next book, as revealed just before the epilogue. It is then easy to understand why this second book could not encompass the entire story.
I. Cannot. Wait. For. The. Next. Installment. This is one of the best books. I have read in a very long time, and I just cannot recommend enough!
I would suggest that you do not try to read this book as a stand alone, but definitely start with the first book of the series.
Enjoy!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I absolutely loved this book and will be rereading it at least a couple of times – as I did Town of Shadows – while impatiently awaiting the release of Book 3.
The overall backdrop and plot of this series feel like a Holmes-era mystery combined with the romantic-tension and fantasy elements of Crown of Thorns & Roses (except a PG version, because Scarlett keeps it clean).
The 6-person POV provided for deep character development and sparked a desire to solve the puzzles along with the characters. There was an intrigue from clues that could only be presented through different POV’s that fully immersed me in this world. There was so much to take in and so many feelings.
This book is NOT a stand-alone. You need to read Town of Shadows first, and you will be waiting for full resolution when Book 3 comes out! That said, Scarlett did a beautiful job of building out multiple plot lines from Town of Shadows in this book and giving us just enough resolution to find a happy balance between “How dare you leave me in this unresolved place?” and “I am so excited for Book 3!” Moreover, because of her stellar plot and character development, re-reading Books 1 and 2 to fully digest the delightful details would be something I would wish to do anyways, even if we already had Book 3.
Scarlett’s Wycliffe series are in my comfort books: the ones I re-read when I just want to check out into a happy romance after a long week. I was nervouxcited when she decided to jump into a new genre, because she already did that genre so well. After Book 2 of the Slanted series, I am convinced that Gaslight Fantasy is the genre Jessica Scarlett was meant to write. Book 3, first! But then, more Gaslight Fantasy, Ms. Scarlett, please and thank you!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The overall backdrop and plot of this series feel like a Holmes-era mystery combined with the romantic-tension and fantasy elements of Crown of Thorns & Roses (except a PG version, because Scarlett keeps it clean).
The 6-person POV provided for deep character development and sparked a desire to solve the puzzles along with the characters. There was an intrigue from clues that could only be presented through different POV’s that fully immersed me in this world. There was so much to take in and so many feelings.
This book is NOT a stand-alone. You need to read Town of Shadows first, and you will be waiting for full resolution when Book 3 comes out! That said, Scarlett did a beautiful job of building out multiple plot lines from Town of Shadows in this book and giving us just enough resolution to find a happy balance between “How dare you leave me in this unresolved place?” and “I am so excited for Book 3!” Moreover, because of her stellar plot and character development, re-reading Books 1 and 2 to fully digest the delightful details would be something I would wish to do anyways, even if we already had Book 3.
Scarlett’s Wycliffe series are in my comfort books: the ones I re-read when I just want to check out into a happy romance after a long week. I was nervouxcited when she decided to jump into a new genre, because she already did that genre so well. After Book 2 of the Slanted series, I am convinced that Gaslight Fantasy is the genre Jessica Scarlett was meant to write. Book 3, first! But then, more Gaslight Fantasy, Ms. Scarlett, please and thank you!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was just as wonderfully complex as the first one, but this time with much more intense emotions.
Longing and anguish drip from the pages!
If you read Town of Shadows, you might think you know what to expect from this one, but NO.
The revelations, riddles, betrayals, and mysteries in this book will leave you speechless.
I don't want to say too much in case you haven't read the first book, but I will say that if you loved Ashley before, now you will adore him.
My heart breaks for Dorothy and her innocence.
And Miles with Emmeline, I could watch them interact (or not, in Miles' case) all day! They're just fantastic together.
This story is deep, with a strong aspect of self-discovery and sacrifice for all of its main characters...
Basically, all of this means that I cried a lot reading this book, and of course I recommend it with a hundred stars!
The third book can't come soon enough.
Dorothy St. James is willing to do anything to rescue her father and take revenge on the man who stole her heart.
Now with her new goals and more powerful magic, she is determined to be the victor this time.
Ashley Gardner is desperate; the magic that consumes him is about to destroy him and cause catastrophic results.
He has already risked everything, but working alongside Dorothy, the girl he cannot forget, is proving to be an even more dangerous gamble for both of them.
Once again in action, Dorothy and Ashley must face dangers, riddles, mysteries, and the incendiary attraction between them.
But there are many shadows watching, secret societies, and people trying to obtain powerful magic that could destroy everything.
You will find:
✨ Multiple POVs
✨ Magic and mysteries
✨ Forced proximity
✨ Slow slow burn
✨ Adventures and dangers
✨ Secret societies
✨ Who to trust?
✨ Broken hearts and anguish
✨ That ending...
👉🏻 Releasing on February 24
Thanks to the author for the copy.
All opinions are my own.
⚠️ Content warning: Mild violence, torture (not described), references to kidnappings, deaths. Romance limited to passionate kissing.
💐 For aesthetic reviews with edits, quotes and more, follow me on Instagram: @sina.venus.booklover
Longing and anguish drip from the pages!
If you read Town of Shadows, you might think you know what to expect from this one, but NO.
The revelations, riddles, betrayals, and mysteries in this book will leave you speechless.
I don't want to say too much in case you haven't read the first book, but I will say that if you loved Ashley before, now you will adore him.
My heart breaks for Dorothy and her innocence.
And Miles with Emmeline, I could watch them interact (or not, in Miles' case) all day! They're just fantastic together.
This story is deep, with a strong aspect of self-discovery and sacrifice for all of its main characters...
Basically, all of this means that I cried a lot reading this book, and of course I recommend it with a hundred stars!
The third book can't come soon enough.
Dorothy St. James is willing to do anything to rescue her father and take revenge on the man who stole her heart.
Now with her new goals and more powerful magic, she is determined to be the victor this time.
Ashley Gardner is desperate; the magic that consumes him is about to destroy him and cause catastrophic results.
He has already risked everything, but working alongside Dorothy, the girl he cannot forget, is proving to be an even more dangerous gamble for both of them.
Once again in action, Dorothy and Ashley must face dangers, riddles, mysteries, and the incendiary attraction between them.
But there are many shadows watching, secret societies, and people trying to obtain powerful magic that could destroy everything.
You will find:
✨ Multiple POVs
✨ Magic and mysteries
✨ Forced proximity
✨ Slow slow burn
✨ Adventures and dangers
✨ Secret societies
✨ Who to trust?
✨ Broken hearts and anguish
✨ That ending...
👉🏻 Releasing on February 24
Thanks to the author for the copy.
All opinions are my own.
⚠️ Content warning: Mild violence, torture (not described), references to kidnappings, deaths. Romance limited to passionate kissing.
💐 For aesthetic reviews with edits, quotes and more, follow me on Instagram: @sina.venus.booklover
February 25, 2026
Smoke in the Mirrors – Book Review
⭐ 5/5
WHAT. A. GREAT. BOOK.
Honestly, sometimes I miss the way the books I read as a teenager made me feel completely immersed in the story, sitting up in anticipation, gasping at every revelation, and eagerly waiting to see what would happen next.
That’s exactly how this book made me feel.
In this second installment of the Slanted London series, we pick up almost right where the first book left off. So if you haven’t read Town of Shadows yet, go do that. Like, right now.
In Smoke in the Mirrors, we get much more backstory on the characters, especially Ashley, and we start to understand many of the events from the first book. We also see more of other characters, like Miles and Emmeline, and the development of their stories. Several side characters also take on more prominent and expressive roles in the narrative.
I love how Ashley and Dorothy are different yet so alike at the same time: their minds work in similar ways, and their intelligence draws them toward each other. The romance between them becomes even more complicated, but their feelings continue to grow despite all odds.
Just like in book one, this story is full of surprises that kept me completely invested. The writing is excellent, and you really have to pay attention while reading because things that happen in the middle of the story definitely become important later on.
I truly hope this series becomes more widely known and gets the recognition it deserves, because it absolutely has the potential to become a huge bestseller.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
⭐ 5/5
WHAT. A. GREAT. BOOK.
Honestly, sometimes I miss the way the books I read as a teenager made me feel completely immersed in the story, sitting up in anticipation, gasping at every revelation, and eagerly waiting to see what would happen next.
That’s exactly how this book made me feel.
In this second installment of the Slanted London series, we pick up almost right where the first book left off. So if you haven’t read Town of Shadows yet, go do that. Like, right now.
In Smoke in the Mirrors, we get much more backstory on the characters, especially Ashley, and we start to understand many of the events from the first book. We also see more of other characters, like Miles and Emmeline, and the development of their stories. Several side characters also take on more prominent and expressive roles in the narrative.
I love how Ashley and Dorothy are different yet so alike at the same time: their minds work in similar ways, and their intelligence draws them toward each other. The romance between them becomes even more complicated, but their feelings continue to grow despite all odds.
Just like in book one, this story is full of surprises that kept me completely invested. The writing is excellent, and you really have to pay attention while reading because things that happen in the middle of the story definitely become important later on.
I truly hope this series becomes more widely known and gets the recognition it deserves, because it absolutely has the potential to become a huge bestseller.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is not usually the case for a book two in a trilogy but this book was just as amazing as, if not more amazing than, the first. The story continues right where book one leaves off, so you definitely need to read that one first. And don't leave too much time in between reading these books because LOTS of details carry over.
Upon opening the pages of this book, I was immediately swept away to the mysterious streets of Victorian London. The setting was fantastically vivid. So vivid that I found myself living there in my mind whenever I had to put the book down, and for several days after finishing.
I liked that some questions were answered and some secrets revealed, and that new questions and secrets came up. This kept me from getting bored. In fact, I was so glued to that pages that I hardly touched another book while I was reading this one. I usually have four or five going at the same time, so that's saying something!
I really enjoyed getting to see Miles' and Emme's relationship develop a little more. Dorothy's and Ashley's romance took a bit of a backward step (as was expected after the last events in book one), so I was glad there was another going on. I cannot wait to see how both couples finally resolve their issues and get their happy endings.
Jessica Scarlett has written another brilliant book and I highly recommend all readers of clean romance, mystery, or fantasy check it out!
Thanks to the author and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Upon opening the pages of this book, I was immediately swept away to the mysterious streets of Victorian London. The setting was fantastically vivid. So vivid that I found myself living there in my mind whenever I had to put the book down, and for several days after finishing.
I liked that some questions were answered and some secrets revealed, and that new questions and secrets came up. This kept me from getting bored. In fact, I was so glued to that pages that I hardly touched another book while I was reading this one. I usually have four or five going at the same time, so that's saying something!
I really enjoyed getting to see Miles' and Emme's relationship develop a little more. Dorothy's and Ashley's romance took a bit of a backward step (as was expected after the last events in book one), so I was glad there was another going on. I cannot wait to see how both couples finally resolve their issues and get their happy endings.
Jessica Scarlett has written another brilliant book and I highly recommend all readers of clean romance, mystery, or fantasy check it out!
Thanks to the author and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews