I enjoyed the first book so much, I had to read the second one, this one was even better than the first, I hope the writer keeps this series going, I couldn't put this one down, a real page turner!! There again was the delightful descriptive text that made me feel as if I was really in Pompeii AD 79.

Jocelyn has made them vibrant and alive. Her characters are also looming large as real individuals. I stayed up late to finish the book last night, and I won't give the ending away, but... I'm looking forward to the next installment... It was light but entertaining. I enjoyed reading this book; well written narrative, interesting characters and a happy ending. What more can you ask? It' a fast read, satisfactory in every way. ( )

I received this book because of a GoodReads giveaway for which I am infinitely grateful! It arrived on my doorstep today and I sped through it with all the alacrity and of a Roman escaping the eruption of Vesuvius.

Firstly, it's worth noting that I'm an adult reviewing a book intended for teens. Therefore, one must keep in mind that the selection criteria are entirely different from those of an adult novel. In today's world, the real criteria for how good a young adult book is revolves around the central question of, "Will they read it?" For this book, I think the resounding answer is simply that yes, they certainly will.

The reasons for this are many but at least initially I think the book does well to simply get down to it. Within the first page we know what the book's about, we've got a bit of suspense and we're ready to find out what happens next. There's little preamble or complex subtext but that's as it should be because typically thirteen-year-olds are looking for any excuse to put a book down and proclaim lustfully, "I'm Bored!" This book gives them no such excuse. Anyone saying so just wants use to get back to their XBox and should be told to sit back down and read.

The secondary selection criteria for such a book is whether the reader actually learned anything by the end of it. Again, in this case I think the response is in the affirmative. The setting is one of the most fascinating and momentous events in human history. The results of those few days are still written in sad and ashy stone, a monument to those hundreds who did not escape the mountain's terrible wrath. Is the book filled with fact-checked details from that day and absolutely accurate to the historical record? Of course not. See point one above. It has to be relatable to someone who's twelve.

So to sum up, The Gilded Mirror is a short, accessible and informative work of teen literature that just might overcome the inevitable hue and cry of "This book is boring!" Highly recommended to those reluctant readers that are so prevalent in today's world. ( )