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Lonely Castle in the Mirror

by Mizuki Tsujimura

A refuge behind the mirror

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Regular price $28.10 USD Sale price $16.86 USD
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AlbakiReads Editorial

A refuge behind the mirror

Kokoro’s retreat from school begins to intersect with a strange shared refuge: a fairytale castle reached through her mirror, where six other students have also arrived. The castle’s wish-granting room gives the group a common puzzle, while its rules set limits on what they can do there. As the students explore the place and one another’s circumstances, the fantasy premise is closely tied to the isolation and strain of adolescence. The novel brings together school-related distress, mystery, and the gradual possibility of connection, with the castle serving as both a sanctuary and an enigma.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Readers interested in fantasy built around a group of young people and a mysterious setting
  • Readers seeking fiction that addresses bullying, school withdrawal, and adolescent isolation
  • Readers who enjoy stories where a shared puzzle accompanies developing connections

Themes

Adolescent isolationBullying and school withdrawalHuman connectionFantasy and mystery

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER!

A Studio Ghibli-esque work of Japanese translation "that lays bare the anxieties and desperation--and the small triumphs--of adolescence" (Locus), for fans of Mieko Kawakami's Heaven.

Seven students find unusual common ground in this warm, puzzle-like Japanese bestseller laced with gentle fantasy and compassionate insight.


Bullied to the point of dropping out of school, Kokoro's days blur together as she hides in her bedroom, unable to face her family or friends. As she spirals into despair, her mirror begins to shine; with a touch, Kokoro is pulled from her lonely life into a resplendent, bizarre fairytale castle guarded by a strange girl in a wolf mask. Six other students have been brought to the castle, and soon this marvelous refuge becomes their playground.

The castle has a hidden room that can grant a single wish, but there are rules to be followed, and breaking them will have dire consequences. As Kokoro and her new acquaintances spend more time in their new sanctuary, they begin to unlock the castle's secrets and, tentatively, each other's.

Lonely Castle in the Mirror is a mesmerizing, heart-warming novel about the unexpected rewards of embracing human connection.
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Customer reviews

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Malaika Taylor

I highly recommend to for anyone looking for inner clarity

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Thomas DiMassa

Great service and fast service

Great shopping experience! The book arrived quickly, was well packaged, and matched the description perfectly. I would definitely shop with you again

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Olivia

Smooth.