Plague in the Mirror

by Noyes Deborah

In a sensual paranormal romance, a teen girl’s doppelgänger from 1348 Florence lures her into the past in hopes of exacting a deadly trade.

It was meant to be a diversion — a summer in Florence with her best friend, Liam, and his travel-writer mom, doing historical research between breaks for gelato. A chance to forget that back in Vermont, May’s parents, and all semblance of safety, were breaking up. But when May wakes one night sensing someone in her room, only to find her ghostly twin staring back at her, normalcy becomes a distant memory. And when later she follows the menacing Cristofana through a portale to fourteenth-century Florence, May never expects to find safety in the eyes of Marco, a soulful painter who awakens in her a burning desire and makes her feel truly seen. The wily Cristofana wants nothing less of May than to inhabit each other’s lives, but with the Black Death ravaging Old Florence, can May’s longing for Marco’s touch be anything but madness? Lush with atmosphere both passionate and eerie, this evocative tale follows a girl on the brink of womanhood as she dares to transcend the familiar — and discovers her sensual power.

• ISBN10: 0763659800
• ISBN13: 9780763659806
• Publish Date: 11 June 2013
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Candlewick Press,U.S.
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 272
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780763659806

Reviews

[Suz @ Bookish Revelations]

Plague in the Mirror is a beautifully written paranormal romance that you will absolutely fall in love with. I was so excited to be given the chance to read this one. I always jump at the chance to read anything historical and the paranormal aspect that Noyes blended so seamlessly into the story, was definitely the clincher for me. I knew this was going to be a book that I would absolutely love to pieces. The writing, the story, and the visual atmosphere are definitely some of the wonderful things that drew my attention to this novel and had this amazing way of captivating my attention and holding it until the end.

There were so many things about this book that I loved so much, I almost don't know where to begin. The lush atmosphere that Noyes created in fourteenth-century Florence was gorgeous. Her attention to detail and description, made it seem, at times, as if I were stepping into a breath taking water color. It was so easy to be transported to that time and place, through the eyes of the main character, May. Eerie and evocative, this is such a sensual romance tinged with the slightest twist of paranormal, that is definitely sure to get your blood pumping. It certainly had me from page one.

The characters are probably my second most favorite thing about this novel. While May is a character that I felt as if I were able to connect with on an emotional level, Cristofana and Marco are the two that definitely intrigued me the most. Written in such a dark and mysterious way, they were both complex and complicated at the core of their being. It was hard not to identify with them on some levels and feel sympathetic towards them. The dark sensuous romance that blooms vibrantly between May and Marco, was another aspect of this novel that I absolutely loved. It was intriguing, as it was beguiling. The chemistry between the two was definitely sorching hot and burning with desire.

Noyes definitely knows how to capture the spirit and passion of a dark and enthralling romance. If you're in the mood for an eerie tale of dark seduction that blends seamless with reality, then you're in for a treat when you pick up Plague in the Mirror. I was pleasantly surprised, that it was able to hold my attention through to the end. While, it might not be the year's best, it's still in the running for a really good read.