Parents' Guide to

A Winter's Promise: The Mirror Visitor Quartet, Book 1

By Michael Berry, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Excellent world-building, but fantasy saga starts slow.

Book Christelle Dabos Fantasy 2018
A Winter's Promise: The Mirror Visitor Quartet, Book 1 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 13+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Ellaaaaaaat
Ellaaaaaaat Adult
January 15, 2021
age 13+

This title has:

Too much sex
Karis M.
Karis M. Parent of 12-year-old
January 29, 2019
age 13+
The world building in a winter's promise is excellent, but this book is just the beginning of the story so there is no resolution at the end. Ophelia is placed in a very difficult circumstance where it's difficult to know who to trust. She resists manipulation and overall stays true to herself. It will be interesting to see how her character and the plot develop through the rest of the series. Because it is a work in translation some of the vocabulary will be challenging for middle schoolers.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

At the start of A WINTER'S PROMISE, museum curator Ophelia is abruptly told she must leave her life behind and become the fiancée of a nobleman from a far-off land. She and her aunt are taken to the Pole, where they are immediately thrust into potentially deadly court intrigue. Ophelia is told she has been selected to be Treasurer Thorn's wife in name only, which suits her just fine, given how cold and seemingly unyielding the man is. Luckily, Ophelia has two abilities that might save her: traveling through mirrors and reading the pasts of handheld objects.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (6):

No reader wants the main character of a novel to be too much of a "punching bag," and the protagonist of this epic, intricate fantasy novel narrowly escapes being a passive downer. Abuse is heaped upon Ophelia for much of the first half of A Winter's Promise, but author Christelle Dabos eventually has the young woman find the fortitude she needs to assert her own agency. It is, however, a long journey of emotional development, and sometimes the plotting feels repetitive. A best-seller in France, A Winter's Promise is the first volume of a quartet, so perhaps later installments will move at a faster pace. This book is not for everyone but will likely resonate strongly with the right audience.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how A Winter's Promise portrays an arranged marital engagement. Why do some societies encourage parents to choose mates for their children?

  • Why are some activities and careers considered to be for men only? How can girls push back against that attitude?

  • Ophelia is taken from her home without much choice in the matter. How might an abrupt separation from your homeland affect you? How do refugees cope with leaving their old lives behind?

Book Details

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