The award-winning French fantasy hits bookstores in September.
Until then, check out the cover and an excerpt here.
A Winters Promisecould be your next YA obsession.
Credit: Europa Editions
The Mirror Visitorstands on the same shelf as Harry Potter,Elleonce wrote of this acclaimed French series.
Read on, and pre-orderthe book ahead of its Sept. 25 releasehere.
Excerpt fromA Winters Promise, by Christelle Dabos
The ambassadors smile broadened.
A beauty spot between his eyebrows gave him a strange expression.
And therell be yet another this evening.
Ophelia didnt find his face that honest, after all.
She told herself that it was high time she got back to bed.
To whom do I have the honor, little young lady?
Ophelia lowered her chin and stammered the first thing that came into her head:
A servant, sir.
Im new, I .
Ive just come on duty.
The mans smile instantly vanished and his eyebrows shot up beneath the top hat.
He clasped her around the shoulders and dragged her forcibly through the halls of mirrors.
There would be many cobbles and many alleys before the ambassador slowed his pace.
He pulled back Ophelias hood and, with a disconcerting familiarity, pensively stroked her thick brown curls.
He then lifted her chin to study her at leisure in the light of a street lamp.
Ophelia stared back at him.
This just made the blue of his exceptionally light eyes stand out more.
And it wasnt a beauty spot between his eyebrows, it was a tattoo.
This man was beautiful, yes, but it was a rather terrifying beauty.
I knew he was pulling the wool over our eyes, that rogue!
And whats hiding behind these black goggles?
The ambassador gently slid Ophelias glasses down until their eyes met.
She had no idea what her expression was at that moment, but the man instantly softened.
Dont be anxious, Ive never hurt a woman in my life.
And youre so small!
It prompts an irresistible desire to protect you.
He had said that while patting her on the head, as an adult would a lost child.
Ophelia wondered whether, in fact, he wasnt openly making fun of her.
Youre a reckless little young lady!
he chided in an unctuous voice.
Strutting about like that, nose in the air, bang in the middle of Mirage territory.
Are you already tired of life?
These words shocked Ophelia.
So Thorns and Berenildes warnings hadnt been exaggerated.
Miragewas that the name of those people with the tattooed eyelids?
A fitting term for illusionists.
Has the cat got your tongue?
the ambassador teased her.
Do I terrify you?
Ophelia indicated no with her head, but uttered not a word.
All she was thinking about was how she could give him the slip.
Thorn would kill me if he knew you were with me, he gloated.
How ironic; Im really loving this!
My dear young lady, youre going to join me for a little stroll.
Ophelia would have definitely turned the offer down, but the arm he wrapped around hers was overpowering.
The ambassador led her into even fouler-smelling areas, if that were possible.
The bottom of her dress was getting soaked in puddles so black that they couldnt be water.
You arrived here recently, isnt that so?
the ambassador asked while eyeing her hungrily and with intense curiosity.
I daresay Animas towns are much prettier.
Youll soon discover that over here, all the filth is hidden under a triple layer of varnish.
He suddenly went quiet as they turned off a pavement.
Unnerved, she raised her glasses towards the ambassador, and he responded with a wink.
So it wasnt a figment of her imaginationthis man could superimpose his thoughts on to hers.
She didnt like the thought of that.
Were there, trilled the ambassador.
There had been no transition from the previous setting; it was mind-boggling.
Precisely what I was telling you, varnish over filth!
There are illusions lurking almost everywhere around here.
It doesnt always make much sense, but youll soon get used to it.
Saving appearancesthat, in some ways, is the designated role of the Mirages.
Ophelia wondered whether it was just to be provocative that he himself wore the clothes of a tramp.
Ophelia felt as though she had completely lost control of the situation.
The door opened on to dazzling sunshine.
The ambassador closed the wrought-iron gate behind him and the lift continued upwards to the higher floors.
Here, we can talk at our leisure, declared the ambassador, whirling his opera hat around.
I have nothing to say to you, Ophelia warned him.
The ambassadors smile stretched like elastic.
His eyes looked even bluer than the sky above his head.
Well, there you astound me, little young lady!
Ive just saved you from almost certain death.
You should rather start by thanking me, dont you think?
Thanking him for what?
Dont take anything off, youll catch cold!
So tell me, Thorns fiancee, whats your name?
I think theres been a misunderstanding, she whispered, timidly.
You think Im someone else.
He shook his head.
Oh no, I dont think so.
Im the ambassador, and as such, I can recognize a stranger just from their pronunciation.
Youre an Artemis girl.
And those, he said, delicately taking her wrist, Id wager that theyre readers gloves.
Hed said that without the slightest accent, to Ophelias ears.
She had to admit that she was impressedthis man was very well informed.
You reek of your little province, he jeered at her.
You have neither the manners of an aristocrat, nor those of a servant.
I must say, its charmingly exotic.
Not releasing Ophelias wrist, he kissed her hand, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.
My name is Archibald.
Will you, Thorns fiancee, finally tell me yours?
And for your information, Im already married to a man from my family.
Im only passing through here.
As I said, youre mistaking me for someone else.
Suddenly inspired, Ophelia had concocted this charming lie.
She already felt that she had done something irredeemably stupid, so now she mustnt make the situation worse.
Could he hear thoughts?
Just in case, Ophelia recited a childhood nursery rhyme to herself, over and over again.
asked Archibald, looking thoughtful.
And how are you related to Thorns fiancee?
Shes a close cousin.
I wanted to know about where shell be living.
Archibald finally let out a deep sigh.
Ill admit to you that Im a little disappointed.
It would have been frightfully amusing to have Thorns betrothed at my disposal.
she asked, frowning.
Well, to deflower her, of course.
Ophelia fluttered her eyelashes foolishly.
It was the most unexpected declaration shed ever received.
You intended to force yourself on my cousin in the tall grasses of this garden?
Archibald shook his head looking exasperated, almost offended.
Do you take me for a boorish brute?
Killing a man means nothing to me, but never would I raise a hand against a woman.
I would have seduced her, by Jove!
Ophelia was so staggered by the cheek of this ambassador, she couldnt even get angry.
His frankness was disconcerting.
And what if my cousin had turned you down?
What would you have done then?
He shrugged his shoulders.
Im not too sure; such a thing has never happened to me.
You definitely dont suffer from self-doubt.
Archibald broke into a fierce smile.
Do you have the slightest notion of the man shes destined to marry?
Believe me, she would have been very susceptible to my advances.
Lets sit down here a moment, he suggested, without allowing her time to reply.
Im dying of thirst!
He tugged on the pulley chain to draw up some water.
At least she was lucky, in this sorry misadventure, to have fallen on a chatterbox.
Water was cascading down his beardless chin.
The harsh daylight emphasized the perfect smoothness of his skin.
He was younger than hed appeared to her in the light of the street lamps.
Ophelia studied him with curiosity.
Archibald was handsomethat was undeniablebut he didnt quicken her pulse.
No man had ever quickened her pulse.
Shed once read a romantic novel lent by her sister.
All those amorous outpourings had done nothing for her and the book had bored her to death.
Would her body and heart be forever deaf to that call?
Archibald wiped his mouth with a handkerchief as full of holes as his hat, jacket and fingerless gloves.
And where should I be escorting you to, proper gentleman that I am?
May I ask you why, sir, you were planning to seduce my cousin before her marriage?
Archibald raised his fine profile to the light.
Stealing the virginity of a courtiers wife, thats a game thats always succeeded in dispelling my boredom.
But Thorns fiancee, my little Denise, you cant imagine what a thrill that would be!
Everyone hates the chief treasurer, and the chief treasurer hates everyone.
I pity his little protegee if she were to fall into other arms than mine.
I know of those who would settle their score with Thorn without scruples.
The wink he flashed at her sent shivers down her spine.
Ophelia nibbled the seam of her glove.
Some people bite their nails when theyre nervous; with Ophelia, it was her gloves.
Youre not cut out for the place Im taking you to.
Thorns words in the airship suddenly made total sense.
Archibald gave a little flick to his hat to make it tilt to one side.
He knows us well, the bastard, he chuckled.
That dear Berenilde spread the rumor that his fiancee would only travel here for the marriage itself.
Would you agree to introduce me to her?
Really, sir, have you nothing more useful to do?
Your life must be pretty empty!
Archibald seemed totally flummoxed.
Usually so talkative, he now opened and closed his mouth without finding a reply.
A game, you said?
Ophelia continued, sternly.
Because dishonoring a young girl and risking a diplomatic incident, that amuses you, Mr. You are unworthy of the responsibilities incumbent upon your office.
Archibald was so dumbfounded that Ophelia thought his smile would be wiped from his lips for good.
He stared wide-eyed at her as though seeing her differently.
Im not sure whether it shocks me or charms me.
My cousin will be warned of your intentions.
It wasnt her most inspired lie, but that was an art in which she didnt particularly excel.
So you, little Denise, what are you doing so far from home?
asked Archibald in a honeyed voice.
I told you, Im on a reconnaissance trip.
At least Ophelia didnt have to push the playacting too farshe could hardly have been more sincere.
She could look Archibald in the eye without blinking.
That tattoo on your forehead, is that the mark of your clan?
Indeed it is, he said.
Does it signify that you’re free to enter into the minds of others and become their master?
she continued, anxiously.
Archibald burst out laughing.
Life would be frightfully dull if I could read womens hearts like an open book.
Lets say instead that its I who can make myself transparent to you.
We always say what we think and we prefer to be silent than to lie.
Shed seen it for herself.
My entire family works in the diplomatic world.
We act as a buffer between two destructive forces.
At these words, they both fell quiet in thought, the cicadas chirring filling the silence between them.
I really must get back now, said Ophelia softly.
He got down from the well and offered Ophelia a gallant hand, along with his loveliest smile.
The ambassador bowed and raised his gaping opera hat in farewell.
Goodbye, little Denise, and take care of yourself .
Oh, a final warning!
He tapped the tattoo between his eyebrows, with a big, mocking smile.
Also tell your cousin not to spout everything and anything to those who bear this mark.
It could backfire on her one day.
The lifts gate closed, leaving Ophelia deep in thought.
Excerpt adapted fromA Winters Promiseby Christelle Dabos, translated from the French by Hildegarde Serle.
Reprinted with permission from Europa Editions.
Copyright Gallimard Jeunesse, 2013.
Translation copyright 2018 by Europa Editions.
