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Christelle Dabos

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A Winter's Promise (The Mirror Visitor Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Christelle Dabos (Author), Hildegarde Serle (Translator) Format: Kindle Edition

4.4 3,167 ratings

Book 1 of 4: The Mirror Visitor Quartet

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“A stunningly atmospheric fantasy that doubles as an exceptional character study . . . we can’t wait to see where Dabos takes it next.” —Entertainment Weekly (“The 10 Best YA Books of 2018”)

One of Publishers Weekly’s Best YA Books of the Year

A National Indie Bestseller

Lose yourself in the fantastic world of the arks and in the company of unforgettable characters in this French runaway hit, Christelle Dabos’ The Mirror Visitor quartet.

Plain-spoken, headstrong Ophelia cares little about appearances. Her ability to read the past of objects is unmatched in all of Anima and, what’s more, she possesses the ability to travel through mirrors, a skill passed down to her from previous generations. Her idyllic life is disrupted, however, when she is promised in marriage to Thorn, a taciturn and influential member of a distant clan. Ophelia must leave all she knows behind and follow her fiancé to Citaceleste, the capital of a cold, icy ark known as the Pole, where danger lurks around every corner and nobody can be trusted. There, in the presence of her inscrutable future husband, Ophelia slowly realizes that she is a pawn in a political game that will have far-reaching ramifications not only for her but for her entire world.

The World of the Arks

Long ago, following a cataclysm called the Rupture, the world was shattered into many floating celestial islands, now known as arks. Over each, the spirit of an omnipotent and immortal ancestor abides. The inhabitants of these arks each possess a unique power. Ophelia, with her ability to read the pasts of objects, must navigate this fantastic, disjointed, perilous world using her trademark tenacity and quiet strength.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

An Amazon Best Book of October 2018: Adult readers who gravitated toward the intricate world-building of Harry Potter or reveled in the dark trickeries of Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass will find themselves ensnared by the enchantments of A Winter's Promise. The first in a quartet of books, this assured fantasy novel opens with young museum curator Ophelia becoming unexpectedly affianced to Thorn, a lord from the icy Pole. Arranged marriages aren't uncommon nor unexpected, but everything else about the situation is, from Thorn's apparent dislike of her to the realization that the rest of the Pole nobility definitely hates him…and would be quite happy to kill her. While marooned without allies in a magical court that has no use for her aside from her opaque role in a complex political game, Ophelia quietly develops a spine of steel that she must employ time and again to thwart enemies both obvious and veiled. A Winter's Promise is less a coming-of-age story than a coming-into-power story, as Ophelia puts her trust in her own instincts and wits to seize control of the situation as best she can. Gracefully written, yet potent and often dark, A Winter's Promise will mesmerize readers who have been searching for the next fantasy series to ignite their imaginations. —Adrian Liang, Amazon Book Review

Review

Praise for A Winter's Promise

“A best seller in France, Dabos’s debut novel evokes both the whimsy and the deep-seated sense of justice of the Harry Potter series.”―Jen Doll, The New York Times Book Review

“The unusual settings, original characters, dark intrigue, originality, and fast-moving plot result in a book that leaves readers eagerly awaiting the next volume.” ―School Library Journal (Starred Review)

“Dabos’s darkly enchanting debut, a French bestseller, employs vibrant characters, inventive worldbuilding, and a sophisticated plot that will dazzle readers.” ―Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

“A captivating fantasy thriller rife with magic and intrigue.” ―Foreword Reviews (Starred Review)

"This French import is a stunningly atmospheric fantasy that doubles as an exceptional character study. There’s more in this series and we can’t wait to see where Dabos takes it next."―Entertainment Weekly

"This French best-seller, the first in Dabos’ immersive Mirror Visitor quartet, holds as much appeal for adult fantasy readers as for teens.”―Booklist

"Imagine the poisonous politics of Versailles in a glittering, steampunk world of quill pens, airships, masks, illusions and murderous courtiers and you will have an idea of the conceit...will leave readers with plenty of appetite for the next installment." ―The Wall Street Journal

“If you haven't yet heard of what many have dubbed the ‘Harry Potter of France,’ now’s your chance. […] Ophelia is dedicated to finding out the motivations behind her betrothal in this dark, magical adventure.”

―Bustle

"Adult readers who gravitated toward the intricate world-building of Harry Potter or reveled in the dark trickeries of Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass will find themselves ensnared by A Winter's Promise...This graceful but strong novel is perfect for those seeking a new fantasy series to capture their imaginations."―The Amazon Book Review

“Dabos has managed the rarely seen triad of complex worldbuilding, nuanced character development, and enthralling plot, even making it look easy. […] Not a drop of mastery is lost in translation.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“A Winter’s Promise is a beautifully structured system of mirrors, reflecting in its glittering facets many other books.” ―TLS

“This new novel had me glued to the couch as I flipped pages like mad. A debut novel by a French author, A Winter’s Promise begins a four-book fantasy series that vibrates with the wonder of Harry Potter’s magical world and has all the dark, opaque shadows of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series. [...] Ophelia is a hero for the ages, and I hope this series becomes the next big one that grabs the imaginations of young adults and adults alike.” ―Omnivoracious: Amazon Book Review

”As mesmerizing as a waking dream, A Winter‘s Promise is certain to ensnare you in its unique, dizzyingly magical world of treachery, illusion, and intrigue.” ―Margaret Rogerson, author of An Enchantment of Ravens

“Christelle Dabos plunges us into a fabulous, fragmented world of danger and treachery. I loved her reclusive, mirror-walking heroine Ophelia, whose grit and integrity will surely win through!” ―Katherine Langrish, author of Troll Fell

“A Winter’s Promise is an elaborate hall of mirrors, a hallucinatory marriage of Pride and Prejudice and Game of Thrones.” ―Matthew Sketon, author of the Endymion Spring books

“A fantastic epic, definitely, but also a coming-of-age novel, this first volume makes a strong impression. A novelist is born.” ―Le Figaro

“Today, The Mirror Visitor stands on the same shelf as Harry Potter.” ―Elle

“Christelle Dabos impresses in this first novel with the power of her imagination. The architect of a bewitching and complex world, she sustains it with a subtle sense of wonder and elegant, flowing language. From metaphor to metaphor, this addictive and charming novel is also a great coming-of-age story.” ―Télérama

“From the very first page, you are thrown into this universe, launched through one of Anima’s mirrors, never to return.” ―20 Minutes

“Readers’ passion for this series comes from the pleasure of walking up and down the world of the Arks, weightless floating islands that are ruled by family spirits and humans gifted with special powers.” ―Le Monde

“With surgical precision, Christelle Dabos has created a hybrid world between fantasy and the Belle Époque.” ―MadmoiZelle

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07B8WK17G
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Europa Editions (September 25, 2018)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 25, 2018
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 2027 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 443 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #20,559 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
4.4 3,167 ratings

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Morgan

AMAZING!

Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2020

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Everything about this book intrigued me. The world building and magic system welcomed me into the story and propelled me forward in the plot. The details were so intricate, and I quickly found myself falling in love with the author’s writing style. At times I had to pause reading and just reread a phrase or sentence. While this book is a translation, I did not find myself lost or unsatisfied with how anything was delivered in writing. The worlds of both Ophelia and Thorn are complicated and each has their own challenges. I was delighted by Ophelia‘s interactions with her family and objects in her world. This delight changed into apprehension when Ophelia traveled to Thorn’s world. The majority of the story was set in the Pole, and while I gained new information about this universe throughout the story, it is clear that there is much more to learn. The political drama intrigued me and I never knew what to expect with each new chapter.

The characters themselves are introduced and developed magnificently. Ophelia was by far my favorite and she is much more than the cliché different girl featured in many stories. Well she may be clumsy and have glasses there’s much more to her that sets her apart from that average female protagonist. She is extremely clever and adoptable especially in the face of hardships. I absolutely adored her ferocity and honesty and look forward to seeing how she continues to develop and grow in her relationship with Thorn. I honestly did not know what to expect when thorn was first introduced. I am mediately wanted to love him as he is set up to be Ophelia’s match. By the end of the book I really did love him but it was rather for who he was as an individual character, than as Ophelia’s partner. The secondary characters were all developed amazingly as well and I am interested to see what happens next.

The ending was hopeful and left me desperately in need of the next book. By the end, I still had so many questions that needed answering. I am thrilled to have found a new series that is so captivating.

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J. Perry

Solid Beginning for Quartet Series

Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2019

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This review is going to begin by addressing two recurring critiques I'm seeing for this book.

It would seem that those who gave it a lower rating did so because 1) they were disturbed by the abuse and neglect the main character suffers through most of the plot and 2) that said plot was slow.

If reading about abuse is triggering for you or just really not your cup of tea, that's one thing and completely fair. But the reviews containing this criticism are misleading. While Ophelia (and several other characters, for that matter) certainly suffers abuse and neglect, the reviewers seem to be fixating on the fact that abuse and neglect exist at all, painting a "bleak" picture, while simultaneously overlooking the result. Readers should be paying attention to how Ophelia overcomes her suffering, and what she discovers are some of the core values of feminism. It’s a terrific takeaway, especially for female readers of any age.

The second criticism can be taken as a trade-off: basic, slow-moving plot in exchange for total set immersion. Trust me, it’s a satisfying trade. It's also important to keep in mind that this is the first book in a four-novel series and tons of things will not necessarily happen or be resolved all at once in this volume.

Main Points of Praise:

Comparisons
I agree with the reviews that compare this writer to other big fantasy names. To break it down, I would say Dabos’s style is a delightful mix of the murky magic of Dianna Wynne Jones; the quirky prose of J.K. Rowling; the dark pragmatism of Philip Pullman; and, lastly, the fantastical atmosphere of Hiyao Miyazaki. It’s a really good cocktail, but it is definitely particular. I would caution those looking for something more mainstream, in style and substance.

World-building
In a word, it is stellar. For me, what makes it stand out from other fantasy novels is that the characters know their world. So many fantasy novels follow a common formula where the reader and the protagonist learn about the latter’s powers and world simultaneously, or the protagonist has to explain everything, usually in 1st person, so it feels jarringly unnatural. Not so here. All of the characters are familiar (or, if unfamiliar, certainly not phased) with various aspects of their broken-up, semi-diasporic world: the arks, the people who live on those arks, the powers attached to those arks, etc. Ophelia, for example, already knows her abilities in and out. As far as we need be concerned, things just Are, everyone already Is, without over-exposition, which is a tricky but essential quality, particularly where magic is the key component of a story.

Character Development
At this point in the series, I would call it characterization more than development because there isn’t so much growth happening as there is unfolding depth to the characters. The best example is, naturally, Ophelia. Some of the Amazon reviewers criticize her lack of strength or find her too timid—but that’s sort of the point. Every character in the book underestimates her and the reader, I think, is supposed to feel that way too. And yet, through every adversity, she keeps moving forward, without tears or self-pity or defeat, but with resolve. I’m not sure where certain readers overlooked that point.

The other standout is Thorn, obviously, because he is frightfully enigmatic at all times, there’s weight to every scene he’s in, and you’re never, ever sure what he’s up to, if his motives are honest, if his intentions are good, all bad, sorta bad. I also really appreciate that we, as readers, cannot (yet) fully rely on him or his political power to protect Ophelia from the traps around her. We learn, as Ophelia does, that ultimately she must be her own savior.

One criticism I have is that Dabos makes frequent use of defining physical traits to reinforce her characters, and it can feel repetitive at times. I would hope that the 2nd volume moves toward different sets of traits to reflect further character development.

Ambiguity
This is not a straight-forward love story! I don’t know if it will even become a love story, but there’s heaps of foreshadowing to that end and it definitely follows the enemies-to-lovers trope. For those struggling with the ambiguity of Ophelia and Thorn’s relationship, just keep in mind the circumstances that began their relationship. A straight-forward love story really is out of the question where ever an arranged marriage is concerned, which isn’t to say that there isn’t or won’t be a developing romance. It’s simply more subtle and non-conventional, appropriate to a non-conventional way of viewing marriage in contemporary times. But there is undeniably a slow, slow burning chemistry there.

Lastly, my main criticism is that the translation and/or ebook edit is shaky at times. This could be the real reason it doesn’t apparently strike well with some English readers. The best way I can describe the narrative, which is already being told in 3rd person, is that at times it’s like you’re being held at arm’s length.

And that's my long-winded review!

142 people found this helpful

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Andrea Mariam Oropeza García

Buena saga

Reviewed in Mexico on September 14, 2023

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El envío fue rápido y mi hermana se lo acabó en 24 horas, creo que va comprar la saga completa ❤️🫢

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Amei

Reviewed in Brazil on June 10, 2021

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Livro muito lindo! Até agora veio escrito tudo certinho porém tenho algumas falhas de tinta em algumas letrinhas nada de mais! Super recomendo fiquei um mês na lista de espera para comprar mais vale super a pena

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Johanna

Bra början på en fantasy serie

Reviewed in Sweden on December 9, 2023

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Lovande serie med en annorlunda värld

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Beautiful story which was fast paced and truly unique

Reviewed in India on October 25, 2023

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This book is just an exception to all the other books on the market with the same trope. I was a bit hesitant to get this books at first as it is a translated piece which has been translated from french int English. Despite my doubts i didn't notice any discomfort in reading it and if someone gave this book to me and told me this was a English novel i would believe em!!!!!
The story is so whimsical with such an atmospheric feel. The world building is unique and well explained and the power system is certainly interesting. I lived to see Ophelia's development throughout the book and the book arrived in good condition.

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A Winter's Promise (The Mirror Visitor Book 1) Kindle Edition

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A Winter’s Promise: Book One of The Mirror Visitor Quartet (The Mirror Visitor Quartet, 1)

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