The Girl with No Reflection

In a fantasy setting that draws upon cultural and historical elements from imperial China, 18-year-old noble Ying Yue is set to marry the emperor’s only son, Crown Prince Shan Zhang Lin. But she is unhappy at the royal palace, where the prince and his family are distant and closed off. Soon, she starts noticing strange things about her new home, like reflections in the water that do not mirror reality. When Ying’s reflection sweeps her away to an alternate domain, she swaps places with her reflection in order to avoid marrying the crown prince. When the mirror-world prince proves different than her own betrothed, his empathy and kindness sows further doubt in Ying about returning to her original realm. As Ying falls deeper in love with the mirror prince, however, she learns that things back home are not as they appear. Worse, she discovers a prophecy that foretells of mirror people attacking her world—and her own role in that realm’s downfall. Now Ying must return home and mend the barrier between the two realities, but doing so could result in devastating consequences. An intricate plot full of intrigue and action hurtles at a breakneck pace in Chow’s exhilarating debut. Ages 14–up. (Aug.)