Fantasy

Review: Mirrors of Venom and Velvet by William Liu

October 14, 2025

Synopsis

A single choice can shatter reality, and Lysandra holds the key. In a kingdom where reflections are gateways and poison is power, Lysandra is no ordinary assassin—she is a living mirror, caught between life and something far darker. When the enigmatic Aurelius demands her participation in a transformation that could rewrite reality, she must navigate betrayal, ancient magic, and the rise of the Mirror Lord, Kazriel. Every mirror hides a truth, every choice carries a consequence, and the line between ally and enemy is fractured as the mirrors themselves.

Mirrors of Venom and Velvet by William Liu

Review

When I originally saw the cover of the book, I got interested. The description sounded unique and like something I haven’t seen anywhere else.

The first few pages set the stage. Lysandra is unique and her reaction to poison end up being completely different than anyone could have ever expected.
This allowed her to use the concept of seeing the possibilities through the mirrors and every possible outcome in parallel worlds. She can also *transform* ( a word that was a bit overused for my liking) others so they can also participate and see the possibilities out there and decide to change and evolve.

Conceptionally, I understood the possibility of suddenly being able to see different versions of your life and how changes / actions can have consequences. If I would suddenly see all possible directions my life could have taken me, would I regret the road chosen?

What I did not enjoy was the way it was presented. I did not feel connected to any of the characters and sometimes I was actually lost in what was happening here. While the beginning and end I was ok with, I felt completely lost int he middle of the book (where are we, what are we doing here, what are we trying to achieve here). The writing there did not resonate with me.

I’m sad that this one just wasn’t for me at the end. Sometimes I must to accept that not every book will be a favorite. I had a different expectation.

🌙 Recension: Mirrors of Venom and Velvet by William Liu
📚 Genre: Fantasy
📅 Release Date: September 19, 2025
📱 Read as: Kindle (included in Kindle Unlimited)
💸 I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
🗣️ Language: English
📆 Pages: 259 (Kindle)
⭐️ 2/5