Written by Bobbi Sinha-Morey | 29 December 2011

2011 St. Martin’s Press: ISBN 978-0-312-62285-5

M.J. Putney, who, writing as Mary Jo Putney, is winner of numerous awards for her historical romances, now presents us with a second Dark Mirror novel. Officially released for the Young Adult market, Dark Passage is a historical fantasy.

Sixteen-year-old Tory knows how to travel through time by way of a mirror. Her friends travel with her, and it’s quite a ride. When Tory is on her own turf she is in school, and the atmosphere around her is a dark, mysterious one. A whiff of magic is in the air, and it becomes a large part of the story.

We are given a cast of characters with strong personalities. It’s the characters that make Dark Passage an entertaining read, but we have drama and intrigue as well to keep the story moving. Putney throws in a variety of ingredients that make the story engaging. It’s like watching a nighttime soap opera with all kinds of juicy tidbits, yet it has the feel of a Jane Austen novel, with plenty of spice to make the brew a delectable one. In other words, there are plenty of things to like about this novel. I particularly enjoyed the clever wordplay on the name Marie Antoinette, whether it’s intentional or not. And although this is a YA book, there are romantic liaisons to further enhance the story.

Cynthia, Tory’s roommate, is an integral character. Being the vixen that she is, she’s fun to watch. Over the course of the story, she grows even more than Tory does. However, she is never humbled for her meanness. Tory tries, but she is always so nice that she doesn’t really succeed. If someone else came forward on not only one occasion, but two or three, to really tell her off she’d be a far kinder person, and wiser for the wear. It makes the reader feel sorry for those around Cynthia who have to deal with her, especially the kind young man who’s fallen for her!

Tory’s experience during the story is moving, and what Cynthia goes through is even more so. We become so close to the characters that it’s like going on the emotional journey along with them. What the characters take on is very admirable. The story has a vein of altruism, and at one point we’re even presented with a moral dilemma.

One of the characters senses that there might be more magical mirrors about, but there is no physical evidence that any exist. The other characters say they’ve ‘sensed’ other portals as well, though it’s hard for us to believe in what they say without some sort of real, solid experience. There needs to be more background on the subject for it to be presented credibly. Surely magical mirrors can’t just pop up anywhere! The whole notion tests the characters’ credibility.

Even though it looks at first as if the characters are embarking on a pipe dream, it’s a fun, adventurous one. Furthermore, the reader quickly comes to  appreciate the amount of research that went into this book. Overall, Dark Passage is a well thought out novel, exciting and intense. Once our appetites are whetted, we are happy to race on towards the end. The story is a vivid, imaginative one that the reader won’t forget. Those who like a historical fantasy with find themselves immersed in this one.

The third Dark Mirror book, Dark Destiny, is scheduled for summer 2012. To read more about the author and her other books, go to www.mjputney.com.