The Girl with No Reflection by Keshe Chow | Review
A stunning fantasy debut with plenty of romance and mystery
Title: The Girl with No Reflection
Author: Keshe Chow
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Released: August, 2024
This review may contain mild spoilers.
I’ve been following author Keshe Chow on social media for years, both sharing in the writing journey. To say I’m excited to have finally read her debut is an understatement.
The Girl with No Reflection is a YA Chinese-inspired fantasy that follows Ying, recently betrothed to the crown prince. Shortly after her arrival to the palace, she is attacked by her own reflection and dragged into a mirror world. Hidden histories and secrets abound, and Ying quickly learns she has a very big part to play in the future of both worlds.
At nearly 500 pages, this is a hefty book, but every part was so exciting. The story changes directions in so many ways, but builds and grows in a way that feels natural and always leaves you guessing. Seriously. You’ll think you know the story but trust me, you don’t.
I found Ying to be such a wonderful main character to follow. I especially loved her journey, as she - like the reader - starts off knowing nothing about the mirror world, the royal family, or what she’s capable of, which means we learn everything together. But from the start Ying is a likeable character and the world and her powers unfold in really exciting ways.
The idea of a world on the other side of the mirror, of evil reflections, is unlike anything I’ve read, and I enjoyed the concept so much. I found the world and its rules to be completely original.
Can we just talk about the romance for a minute? This book will try to tell you it’s an epic fantasy with plenty of mythology (and, yeah, it is) but at its core, it’s a love story... once they figure that out, anyway.
He seemed to enjoy himself, smirking at Ying’s feigned reactions whenever he pointed something out. Ying played her part with alacrity, smiling and nodding and gasping in wonder. But she made sure to shoot Prince Zhang venomous glares whenever the priests’ backs were turned.
In true fantasy fashion, there’s an epic battle, a mystery, a quest, and most importantly (to me), the novel is filled with some really, really cool monsters and creatures, including dragons, yay! I absolutely loved being immersed in the Chinese-inspired culture and mythology, too.
She could do this. She could save the world.
This is the epic fantasy you’ve been craving. I can’t recommend it highly enough so look out for it when it’s released later this year and you can thank me later, fantasy nerds.