--- product_id: 128081025 title: "A Winter's Promise (The Mirror Visitor Book 1)" price: "789 som" currency: KGS in_stock: false reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.kg/products/128081025-a-winters-promise-the-mirror-visitor-book-1 store_origin: KG region: Kyrgyzstan --- # A Winter's Promise (The Mirror Visitor Book 1) **Price:** 789 som **Availability:** ❌ Out of Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** A Winter's Promise (The Mirror Visitor Book 1) - **How much does it cost?** 789 som with free shipping - **Is it available?** Currently out of stock - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.kg](https://www.desertcart.kg/products/128081025-a-winters-promise-the-mirror-visitor-book-1) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description "A stunningly atmospheric fantasy that doubles as an exceptional character study . . . we can't wait to see where Dabos takes it next." — Entertainment Weekly ("The 10 Best YA Books of 2018") One of Publishers Weekly 's Best YA Books of the Year A National Indie Bestseller Lose yourself in the fantastic world of the arks and in the company of unforgettable characters in this French runaway hit, Christelle Dabos' The Mirror Visitor quartet. Plain-spoken, headstrong Ophelia cares little about appearances. Her ability to read the past of objects is unmatched in all of Anima and, what's more, she possesses the ability to travel through mirrors, a skill passed down to her from previous generations. Her idyllic life is disrupted, however, when she is promised in marriage to Thorn, a taciturn and influential member of a distant clan. Ophelia must leave all she knows behind and follow her fiancé to Citaceleste, the capital of a cold, icy ark known as the Pole, where danger lurks around every corner and nobody can be trusted. There, in the presence of her inscrutable future husband, Ophelia slowly realizes that she is a pawn in a political game that will have far-reaching ramifications not only for her but for her entire world. The World of the Arks Long ago, following a cataclysm called the Rupture, the world was shattered into many floating celestial islands, now known as arks. Over each, the spirit of an omnipotent and immortal ancestor abides. The inhabitants of these arks each possess a unique power. Ophelia, with her ability to read the pasts of objects, must navigate this fantastic, disjointed, perilous world using her trademark tenacity and quiet strength. Review: Amazing Fantasy, Complex Characters, Female Protagonist with Definable Personality - I LOVED this book. My husband purchased it for me because he knows I love to read fantasy series and I was looking for a new series to love. 10/10 would read again. I bought all four books in the series, ultimately, and plan to re-read it again soon. If you love a fantasy series with intriguing characters who have character arcs that are SO satisfying, set in mysterious worlds with political intrigue, then this series is for you. The main character isn't your typical female main character of a fantasy series. Bookish, contemplative, intelligent, and strong willed, the protagonist really drives this story and challenges not only other characters to grow but challenges herself to do so as well. Review: Solid Beginning for Quartet Series - This review is going to begin by addressing two recurring critiques I'm seeing for this book. It would seem that those who gave it a lower rating did so because 1) they were disturbed by the abuse and neglect the main character suffers through most of the plot and 2) that said plot was slow. If reading about abuse is triggering for you or just really not your cup of tea, that's one thing and completely fair. But the reviews containing this criticism are misleading. While Ophelia (and several other characters, for that matter) certainly suffers abuse and neglect, the reviewers seem to be fixating on the fact that abuse and neglect exist at all, painting a "bleak" picture, while simultaneously overlooking the result. Readers should be paying attention to how Ophelia overcomes her suffering, and what she discovers are some of the core values of feminism. It’s a terrific takeaway, especially for female readers of any age. The second criticism can be taken as a trade-off: basic, slow-moving plot in exchange for total set immersion. Trust me, it’s a satisfying trade. It's also important to keep in mind that this is the first book in a four-novel series and tons of things will not necessarily happen or be resolved all at once in this volume. Main Points of Praise: Comparisons I agree with the reviews that compare this writer to other big fantasy names. To break it down, I would say Dabos’s style is a delightful mix of the murky magic of Dianna Wynne Jones; the quirky prose of J.K. Rowling; the dark pragmatism of Philip Pullman; and, lastly, the fantastical atmosphere of Hiyao Miyazaki. It’s a really good cocktail, but it is definitely particular. I would caution those looking for something more mainstream, in style and substance. World-building In a word, it is stellar. For me, what makes it stand out from other fantasy novels is that the characters know their world. So many fantasy novels follow a common formula where the reader and the protagonist learn about the latter’s powers and world simultaneously, or the protagonist has to explain everything, usually in 1st person, so it feels jarringly unnatural. Not so here. All of the characters are familiar (or, if unfamiliar, certainly not phased) with various aspects of their broken-up, semi-diasporic world: the arks, the people who live on those arks, the powers attached to those arks, etc. Ophelia, for example, already knows her abilities in and out. As far as we need be concerned, things just Are, everyone already Is, without over-exposition, which is a tricky but essential quality, particularly where magic is the key component of a story. Character Development At this point in the series, I would call it characterization more than development because there isn’t so much growth happening as there is unfolding depth to the characters. The best example is, naturally, Ophelia. Some of the desertcart reviewers criticize her lack of strength or find her too timid—but that’s sort of the point. Every character in the book underestimates her and the reader, I think, is supposed to feel that way too. And yet, through every adversity, she keeps moving forward, without tears or self-pity or defeat, but with resolve. I’m not sure where certain readers overlooked that point. The other standout is Thorn, obviously, because he is frightfully enigmatic at all times, there’s weight to every scene he’s in, and you’re never, ever sure what he’s up to, if his motives are honest, if his intentions are good, all bad, sorta bad. I also really appreciate that we, as readers, cannot (yet) fully rely on him or his political power to protect Ophelia from the traps around her. We learn, as Ophelia does, that ultimately she must be her own savior. One criticism I have is that Dabos makes frequent use of defining physical traits to reinforce her characters, and it can feel repetitive at times. I would hope that the 2nd volume moves toward different sets of traits to reflect further character development. Ambiguity This is not a straight-forward love story! I don’t know if it will even become a love story, but there’s heaps of foreshadowing to that end and it definitely follows the enemies-to-lovers trope. For those struggling with the ambiguity of Ophelia and Thorn’s relationship, just keep in mind the circumstances that began their relationship. A straight-forward love story really is out of the question where ever an arranged marriage is concerned, which isn’t to say that there isn’t or won’t be a developing romance. It’s simply more subtle and non-conventional, appropriate to a non-conventional way of viewing marriage in contemporary times. But there is undeniably a slow, slow burning chemistry there. Lastly, my main criticism is that the translation and/or ebook edit is shaky at times. This could be the real reason it doesn’t apparently strike well with some English readers. The best way I can describe the narrative, which is already being told in 3rd person, is that at times it’s like you’re being held at arm’s length. And that's my long-winded review! ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #165,698 in Kindle Store ( See Top 100 in Kindle Store ) #162 in Teen & Young Adult Coming of Age Fiction eBooks #177 in Teen & Young Adult Epic Fantasy #346 in Teen & Young Adult Epic Fantasy eBooks | ## Images ![A Winter's Promise (The Mirror Visitor Book 1) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/9179DN2S8SL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazing Fantasy, Complex Characters, Female Protagonist with Definable Personality *by J***. on January 10, 2026* I LOVED this book. My husband purchased it for me because he knows I love to read fantasy series and I was looking for a new series to love. 10/10 would read again. I bought all four books in the series, ultimately, and plan to re-read it again soon. If you love a fantasy series with intriguing characters who have character arcs that are SO satisfying, set in mysterious worlds with political intrigue, then this series is for you. The main character isn't your typical female main character of a fantasy series. Bookish, contemplative, intelligent, and strong willed, the protagonist really drives this story and challenges not only other characters to grow but challenges herself to do so as well. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Solid Beginning for Quartet Series *by J***Y on January 11, 2019* This review is going to begin by addressing two recurring critiques I'm seeing for this book. It would seem that those who gave it a lower rating did so because 1) they were disturbed by the abuse and neglect the main character suffers through most of the plot and 2) that said plot was slow. If reading about abuse is triggering for you or just really not your cup of tea, that's one thing and completely fair. But the reviews containing this criticism are misleading. While Ophelia (and several other characters, for that matter) certainly suffers abuse and neglect, the reviewers seem to be fixating on the fact that abuse and neglect exist at all, painting a "bleak" picture, while simultaneously overlooking the result. Readers should be paying attention to how Ophelia overcomes her suffering, and what she discovers are some of the core values of feminism. It’s a terrific takeaway, especially for female readers of any age. The second criticism can be taken as a trade-off: basic, slow-moving plot in exchange for total set immersion. Trust me, it’s a satisfying trade. It's also important to keep in mind that this is the first book in a four-novel series and tons of things will not necessarily happen or be resolved all at once in this volume. Main Points of Praise: Comparisons I agree with the reviews that compare this writer to other big fantasy names. To break it down, I would say Dabos’s style is a delightful mix of the murky magic of Dianna Wynne Jones; the quirky prose of J.K. Rowling; the dark pragmatism of Philip Pullman; and, lastly, the fantastical atmosphere of Hiyao Miyazaki. It’s a really good cocktail, but it is definitely particular. I would caution those looking for something more mainstream, in style and substance. World-building In a word, it is stellar. For me, what makes it stand out from other fantasy novels is that the characters know their world. So many fantasy novels follow a common formula where the reader and the protagonist learn about the latter’s powers and world simultaneously, or the protagonist has to explain everything, usually in 1st person, so it feels jarringly unnatural. Not so here. All of the characters are familiar (or, if unfamiliar, certainly not phased) with various aspects of their broken-up, semi-diasporic world: the arks, the people who live on those arks, the powers attached to those arks, etc. Ophelia, for example, already knows her abilities in and out. As far as we need be concerned, things just Are, everyone already Is, without over-exposition, which is a tricky but essential quality, particularly where magic is the key component of a story. Character Development At this point in the series, I would call it characterization more than development because there isn’t so much growth happening as there is unfolding depth to the characters. The best example is, naturally, Ophelia. Some of the Amazon reviewers criticize her lack of strength or find her too timid—but that’s sort of the point. Every character in the book underestimates her and the reader, I think, is supposed to feel that way too. And yet, through every adversity, she keeps moving forward, without tears or self-pity or defeat, but with resolve. I’m not sure where certain readers overlooked that point. The other standout is Thorn, obviously, because he is frightfully enigmatic at all times, there’s weight to every scene he’s in, and you’re never, ever sure what he’s up to, if his motives are honest, if his intentions are good, all bad, sorta bad. I also really appreciate that we, as readers, cannot (yet) fully rely on him or his political power to protect Ophelia from the traps around her. We learn, as Ophelia does, that ultimately she must be her own savior. One criticism I have is that Dabos makes frequent use of defining physical traits to reinforce her characters, and it can feel repetitive at times. I would hope that the 2nd volume moves toward different sets of traits to reflect further character development. Ambiguity This is not a straight-forward love story! I don’t know if it will even become a love story, but there’s heaps of foreshadowing to that end and it definitely follows the enemies-to-lovers trope. For those struggling with the ambiguity of Ophelia and Thorn’s relationship, just keep in mind the circumstances that began their relationship. A straight-forward love story really is out of the question where ever an arranged marriage is concerned, which isn’t to say that there isn’t or won’t be a developing romance. It’s simply more subtle and non-conventional, appropriate to a non-conventional way of viewing marriage in contemporary times. But there is undeniably a slow, slow burning chemistry there. Lastly, my main criticism is that the translation and/or ebook edit is shaky at times. This could be the real reason it doesn’t apparently strike well with some English readers. The best way I can describe the narrative, which is already being told in 3rd person, is that at times it’s like you’re being held at arm’s length. And that's my long-winded review! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ghibli meets his dark materials *by E***S on January 24, 2026* what a beautifully written debut novel!! definitely something that i would recommend to someone who loved castle in the sky growing up, and still does, like me, because i felt like i was seeing laputa and the other floating cities from that film before they fell into ruin. this doesn't take away from the novel's originality or uniqueness at all either. it adds to it!! the prose reminds me of the magical books i read growing up that had me falling in love with fantasy when i was young. this is definitely a book where the side-characters stand out as much as the main characters!! they're all memorable and give the reader strong feelings about them no matter what they're up to. the main character was far and away my favorite. i loved her so much!! i too would love to have a sentient scarf that sits around my neck all the time. another thing i loved about this was the clear display of how capitalism hurts those at the bottom of the monetary food chain and i can't wait to see how this is addressed in the books to come. the setting, ofc, as i've already mentioned was incredible. i never wanted to leave that world and i was always immediately coming back for more. the plot itself is far from predictable and there was more than one moment where i was gasping or putting my hand over my mouth or saying "oh no" out loud and i LOVE it when books make me do that!! it does take a bit for the whole point of the story to be revealed, but despite that i didn't feel like this was a slow paced novel at all. they definitely keep you entertained up until that point to the point that you have no idea that's what's coming. all in all, this novel was amazing and i can hardly wait to start the sequel!! --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.kg/products/128081025-a-winters-promise-the-mirror-visitor-book-1](https://www.desertcart.kg/products/128081025-a-winters-promise-the-mirror-visitor-book-1) --- *Product available on Desertcart Kyrgyzstan* *Store origin: KG* *Last updated: 2026-06-07*