The Blood Mirror

Last Updated on December 22, 2022 by ThoughtsStained

I think it’s needless to say that Brent Weeks is one of my favorite authors. After reading all of his works, I’d finally reached a point where I actually had to wait for another book to come out, instead of playing catch-up. And I waited with baited anticipation for The Blood Mirror. I salivated when the cover was revealed and the release date was so close to my birthday. When the book was finally in my hands, I finished the last 200 pages of the book I had been reading before in one sitting, just so I wouldn’t have to wait any longer than I already had to start this one.

I carried The Blood Mirror everywhere with me, stealing minutes whenever I could. It accompanied me to my OBGYN appointment and helped me escape crying children that filled over-packed the waiting room. It helped me ignore the nerves of my eye doctor appointment by focusing on the war in the Blood Forest. And I devoured over 200 pages at a tattoo parlor while I started working on my sleeve, every “Well, shit” moment causing my artist to mistake that I was in pain (which I was), when in reality, I was responding to this book, not the needle.

*Very minor spoilers abound*

Table of Contents

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Book Info

Publication Info

Content Warnings

Stripped of both magical and political power, the people he once ruled told he’s dead, and now imprisoned in his own magical dungeon, former Emperor Gavin Guile has no prospect of escape. But the world faces a calamity greater than the Seven Satrapies has ever seen… and only he can save it.
As the armies of the White King defeat the Chromeria and old gods are born anew, the fate of worlds will come down to one question: Who is the Lightbringer?

On the Page

Referenced

Minor

Content warnings are written up by me, unless specified. Subject to being an incomplete list, though guided by referencing this list and trying to highlight as many as I can identify.

Book Depository

IndieBound

Raven Bookstore

Review

Likes

I was invested the entire time, lost within this world, but some chapters had some extra ump that made me feel like I was there (I’m thinking specifically anytime we were following Gavin or Teia or Karris). When I finally forced myself to pause to make dinner, it was like pulling myself out of one world and retracting into another, except I didn’t want to be in this world. Yeah, I have a lot of bloody questions.
Friends, I can think of no greater compliment that I can bestow upon Mr. Weeks than the anger that I currently feel towards the poor soul. Because how can you just end a book there? How can you set up so many questions that I STILL DON’T HAVE ANSWERS TO and then just expect me to go along my merry way, content and placated? How is this even okay? Is it even legal, to leave me in such a state of agony?
But, on a serious note: if you like fantasy, read this series. If you like epic fantasy, read this series. Do you like complex narratives and complicated characters and having your heart ripped out every other chapter? Read this series. If you enjoy reading, read this series. Do you enjoy breathing? Read this series. There is no scenario were could you be disappointed–that is, until you reach the end of The Blood Mirror and are forced to wait to find out what happens, knowing the author is currently thriving and surviving off of your angst and anger.

Dislikes

The ending.

Rating

Except…I do have book five, now. The last book. The Burning White. It’s sitting right beside me.

My expectations are sky high with this book. I fell even more in love with this series than I did during my first read through and I was a pretty massive fan then. The level of intricacy is just astounding to me. I am so invested in so many characters. I’m terrified to read the final book for so many reasons:

There are no more books after this. This is it. This is the end. I’m not sure I’m ready to leave this world yet. In fact, I know I’m not.
And, what if I don’t like it? What if I’m disappointed? It’s not that I have a certain idea of how this book needs to end. I just want to feel satisfied by the ending, whatever it may be. And I have no idea what that is, yet.

It’s both exhilarating and terrifying. I waited for this book for a long time and when it came out, my Mom was kind enough to buy it for me for my birthday. And then I put off reading it, saying I needed to reread the first four books, first (and, while that was definitely a mechanism to also avoid finishing a series I was begging for the last book to come out ((because that makes sense)), it was still totally the right move).

Now, I have no more excuses.

Today, I start reading The Burning White.

Orholam help me.

A custom artowrk signature that reads, "Onward to Adventure, Nicole" with a feathered quill and inkpot bordering it.