Recent Reads: The Lost Portal by Lenore Borja

Source: From the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

The Lost Portal by Lenore Borja 

Series: Mirror Realm #2
Publisher: SparkPress
Publication Date:  October 8, 2024

 

Format: Ebook
 
Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

For fans of Kendare Blake’s Goddess War series comes this second installment in a gripping YA fantasy series that follows a band of huntresses taking on a world of demons and gods.

For years, Hadley Caldwell kept humanity safe by hunting demons. But that came to an end when the Mirror Realm disappeared. Now her life is filled with bridesmaid dresses, family pressures, and—oh yeah—hosting ancient deities in her sleep. It’s not world-saving work, but if dream-hosting is all it takes to keep the gods happy, she’s willing to play along and leave her huntress days behind her. That is, until the gods demand something the Portal of Osiris.

The Portal was part of the Realm. It shouldn’t exist anymore. But the gods believe it does, and claim it holds the key to their salvation. The quest for the Portal takes Hadley and her band of huntress sisters on an enigmatic adventure to the sands of Egypt and beyond. But chasing a portal isn’t as easy as outrunning your past, and soon the only things Hadley knows for certain are that the gods can’t be trusted . . . and some portals should never be found.

Join Hadley, Alice, Olivia, and Soxie in this electrifying second book of the Mirror Realm series as they traverse the globe on an ancient scavenger hunt full of mystery, magic, intrigue, and sisterhood.

Review: 

The Lost Portal is book 2 in the Mirror Realm series. In the first installment, we followed Alice as she became a Huntress and learned about her powers, the mirror realm, and these other girls that share the duty of protecting their realm and human existance. 

This installment in the series shifts focus to Hadley, offering a new perspective within the unique world established in the first book. The premise—a group of four girls gifted powers by Greek deities to combat demons through mirrors—remains somwhat intriguing. The sisterhood among the hunters and the Greek mythology elements are also still compelling, though this book, like the first, struggles with pacing and cohesion. I really struggled to be engaged throughout the book. I had a hard time wanting to pick it up, but also really feeling immersed in the story. 

The plot centers on Hadley and the girls searching for a portal to appease gods haunting their dreams. While the story builds on the fascinating mix of Greek and Egyptian mythology and supernatural concepts introduced earlier, it doesn’t fully deliver on its potential. Much like the first book, the narrative feels disjointed at times, with slow-moving sections and plot holes that interrupt the flow. Transitions between dreams and reality are particularly unclear, making the story harder to follow. The plot was interesting and a good continuation but it felt like there were big pieces missing to make things work correctly for the story to progress, like sections had been edited away that were necessary.

That said, Hadley’s perspective brings fresh character dynamics and I appreciate learning more about the background of the other characters that seemed a bit thrown-in in that last book.  The mix of mythology and world-building remains an interesting highlight, though it leaves me wanting more depth and explanation.

Overall, while it’s enjoyable to revisit this imaginative world, this installment feels less engaging than its predecessor. Fans of the series may still find value in Hadley’s story, but the pacing and gaps in the plot make it just an okay addition.