Nora Roberts wastes no time resolving the cliffhanger eager readers were left with at the close of Inheritance, the first book in the Lost Bride Trilogy. The narrative picks up just as Sonja and her cousin, Owen, step through the mysterious mirror that transports those of the Poole family lineage through time to witness the dark, sealed fates of seven generations of brides. In a way, I was thrilled to be right back in the moment–and I definitely could have used a character refresher. The canvas is huge, and a family tree illustration or listing would have been useful.

Back to the story.

The Mirror takes readers and the four main characters–Sonja, Owen, Trey, and Cleo–on a journey to see the dark, sad endings of more brides. The evil spirit of Hester Dobbs lives among them in the mansion, feeding on fear and grief. She has doomed generations of brides, driven by jealousy and madness. What should be their happiest days turn into their last for any woman marrying into the Poole family in Maine. After their deaths, Hester takes their wedding rings, the objects somehow strengthening her vicious curse.

As the second book in the trilogy, it’s clear Nora Roberts is giving readers all the back stories, clues, and keys to solve the mystery of Lost Bride Manor. She also sets up her characters, readying Sonja to battle Hester with the help of her friends.

The Mirror delivers what fans of Nora Roberts love: family, friendship, love, and strong female characters that drive compelling storylines. Roberts pushes the plot to a pounding pulse point, ending the second installment with a frighteningly searing image.

I always appreciate Nora Roberts’ ability to avoid the curse of obscurity or banality that many trilogy “book twos” suffer with. I can’t wait to see how the series wraps up!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for giving me a free advanced readers’ copy in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.