Mirrorscape by Mike Wilks

Melkin Womper has always loved to draw, so it’s a dream come true when he learns he’s eligible to be apprenticed to one of the greatest painters of the day, Ambrosius Blenk. And as soon as Mel leaves his home behind, he knows he’s in for the adventure of his life. The danger starts almost immediately, and Mel has to be extra careful in the unfamiliar city of Vlam not to run into the red robed men from the Fifth Mystery who are convinced Mil is responsible for theft and must be punished. Luckily, Mel has some new friends to look out for him, and the Master also has seemed to take a shine to him. As much as Mel would just like to improve his craft, he can’t avoid the power struggle between the Mystery and the Master he’s been caught in, because Mel has stumbled upon Mirrorscape, the world within paintings in which imagination is the only thing that truly matters. Stumbling in between Mirrorscape and the real world, Mel and his friends will have to use their wits and creativity if they are to survive and ultimately defeat the Mystery.

Mirrorscape is one of the most unique and enthralling fantasy stories I’ve ever read. Like in most fantasies, the unusual setting and specified language take a little getting used to, but thankfully, the new places and words weren’t so different that I couldn’t imagine them at all. I love the idea of hidden worlds within our own, so of course, I was drawn to Wilks’ Mirrorscape, the world within paintings. The very nature of this place lends itself to endless possibilities as far as one’s imagination can go, and that leads to some highly unusual, sometimes strange, but always interesting situations in this story. I heartily commend Wilks for his creative and exciting plot; there wasn’t a moment in this story that failed to capture my interest. In addition, I loved the political undercurrent to this enjoyable story; the corrupt bureaucracy that calls itself the Mystery reflects governmental corruption around the world and its repression of the arts and artistic expression, that of many civil liberties. Although I may be reading too much into the story, this adds a little something extra that makes an already fantastic story even better.

Mirrorscape is the type of story that will appeal to readers of all ages, especially those who enjoyed Inkheart by Cornelia Funke and Poison by Chris Wooding. I particularly cannot wait for the continuance of this story in Mirrorstorm, the second installment in this trilogy.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from publisher EgmontUSA