The Soul Mirror

Starred review from November 22, 2010
This lavish quasi-Renaissance fantasy, a worthy sequel to 2010's The Spirit Lens, traces "plain, plodding, rational" Anne de Vernase's multipronged quest to discover her sister's killer, clear her beloved father's name, rescue her brother from unspeakable torment, and heal her mother's madness. Caught up in the swirling Machiavellian plots of Sabria's glittering court, in a land barely recovered from the fearful Blood Wars, Anne gradually learns whom to trust, only to discover her own latent magical talents and a strange, powerful romance. Berg's characters return to vivid life, especially Zorro-like Lord Ilario, a court fool turned dashing masked swordsman, and former librarian Portier, kin to Sabria's king and possible human sacrifice. Berg refreshes and reinvigorates the familiar trappings of epic fantasy, shaping a novel that rings true both linguistically and imaginatively. This is one to savor.

Starred review from December 15, 2010

The second installment in Berg's quasi-Renaissance fantasy trilogy, following the well-received The Spirit Lens (2010), with many of the characters carrying over from the previous volume.      

In Berg's world, four years have passed. Practical, well-educated narrator Anne de Vernase, devastated to learn that her beloved sister Lianelle died in a magical accident, receives an unexpected summons to the court of Philippe, King of Sabria—unexpected since her vanished father purportedly masterminded a ghastly plot to assassinate the king in the prior adventure. Anne, skeptical that magic even exists, refuses to believe that her sister died accidentally. Her escort to the palace is the curiously solicitous royal librarian Portier de Savin-Duplais, her father's chief accuser, and she realizes that she cannot afford to trust anyone. Soon it becomes clear that the former regent, the viperous Lady Antonia, intends to marry her off. Queen Eugenie lies ill, enchanted or poisoned by Antonia, her only protectors seeming to be her brother, the clownish chevalier Ilario, dangerously volatile sorcerer Dante and stammering physician Roussel. Among the oddments left her by Lianelle, Anne finds a powder that turns her invisible and also casts her mind into the ether, full of raging souls—and one single, truthful voice who's astonished to learn that he's not the only one that can communicate thus. Methodically, Anne uncovers plots that go far beyond Antonia's murderous schemes, threatening not only the kingdom but reality itself. The fully realized characters and strongly visual, tactile prose help to offset the sheer length, weight and intensity of the narrative.

A compelling and altogether admirable work.

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January 1, 2011

Magically untalented and happy for it, Anne de Venase finds herself in a royal dilemma when she discovers the king has slated her for a political marriage. The sudden death of her sister, a student of magic, plunges Anne into a maelstrom of intrigue and deadly sorcery as she must accept her sister's magical legacy to prevent a disaster of worldwide proportions. Berg's second series installment (after The Spirit Lens) tells a complex story of science versus magic and of one woman's determination to maintain her integrity while embracing an alien knowledge. VERDICT Berg brings life and grace to a story of magic and politics that should appeal to the author's fans as well as lovers of Renaissance-style fantasy.

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.