Name: かがみの孤城
Rating: 4.426573426573427 (143 reviews)
ISBN: 9784591153321

Mizuki Tsujimura

不登校の少女が鏡の向こうの世界で出会った

かがみの孤城

Angela Miramontes

If somebody manipulated your thoughts and feelings, would you still be the same person as before?

Lonely Castle in the Mirror

ikkychan

Lonely Castle in the Mirror
 by Mizuki Tsujimura is one of those books that feels like it reaches straight into your chest, then quietly pulls and tugs at something inside you. It’s magical and mysterious, yes, but what stayed with me most was how deeply it understands the loneliness and fear of adolescence—and how powerful it can be to find people who simply accept you. It transcends its magical premise to deliver a powerful story about isolation, the healing power of connection, and the courage it takes to be vulnerable. The story follows Kokoro Anzai, a junior high student who has withdrawn from school due to severe bullying and anxiety (a situation known as futōkō in Japan). One day, the mirror in her bedroom shines, pulling her into a magnificent, deserted castle. There, she meets six other teenagers—Akiko Inoue, Rion Mizumori, Subaru Nagahisa, Aasu Masamune, Haruka Ureshino, and Fuka Hasegawa—all summoned in the same way. They are given a quest by the castle's mysterious masked ruler, the "Wolf Queen": they have one year to find a key that unlocks the "Wishing Room." The finder will have a single wish granted, but once it’s done, their memories of time spent in the castle will be forgotten forever. It sounds like the start of a competition, but it never really is. Instead, the castle becomes a place where these kids—broken, guarded, afraid—slowly begin to share pieces of themselves. What I love about this book is how honest it is about the weight these kids carry. Their pain isn’t dramatic or exaggerated—it’s the kind of quiet, suffocating pain you can imagine carrying yourself. Kokoro is crushed by a campaign of cruel bullying led by a popular classmate, Miori Sanada, leading up to a terrifying invasion of her home that shatters her sense of safety. Masamune hides behind a facade of wealth and confidence, desperate to escape the ostracism he faces for his compulsive lying. Subaru is cast aside by his divorced parents, living with dismissive grandparents and a delinquent brother, leading him to believe he has no future. Aki endures an abusive stepfather and a detached mother, her grief so profound she sees no way out. Fuka grapples with the guilt of her meager piano talent, which places a severe financial and emotional strain on her loving but exhausted single mother. Ureshino's overly attached and flippant nature pushes people away, leading to a cycle of disregard and misunderstanding. Rion is sent abroad by a mother too consumed by grief over the death of his older sister Mio to care for him, leaving him lonely and adrift. At school, they are labeled, cornered, or ignored. But in the castle, for the first time, those labels fall away. They don’t have to be “the bullied one” or “the dropout” or “the weirdo.” They can just… be. The way they come together is so real. Their personal burden makes trust a foreign and dangerous concept, and they tiptoe around each other for the longest time. It isn’t a sudden burst of friendship or some dramatic speech. It’s small things—the kind of moments that don’t look like much but mean everything when you’re lonely. Sharing food. Playing games. Someone cracking a clumsy joke that breaks the silence. Someone noticing when you’re too quiet. One scene that hit me hard was Masamune’s plea for them to meet at school. Up until then, he seemed like the confident one, the one who always had the newest games and the haughtiest remarks. But when he asked them to be with him in the real world, he was on the verge of tears. That moment cracked his armor wide open. He wasn’t “cool Masamune” anymore, just a scared boy saying: I can’t do this alone. That vulnerability changed everything. This hard-won trust becomes the catalyst for profound individual growth. Kokoro finds her voice, drawing strength from her friends to finally confront the biased teacher who dismissed her bullying. Masamune sheds his lies, choosing vulnerable honesty over a facade of coolness. Subaru discovers a purpose, aspiring to become a game designer to honor his friendship with Masamune. Aki's life is literally saved by a moment of connection, which she later pays forward by dedicating her life to helping other struggling children. Fuka makes the brave, mature decision to quit piano, choosing her well-being and her mother's love over a draining dream. Ureshino reveals a deep well of empathy, his childish flippancy giving way to genuine consideration for others. Rion uncovers the castle's beautiful, heartbreaking secret, allowing him to finally confront his grief and make peace with his sister's memory. Their journeys aren’t perfect, and they don’t “solve” everything. But they learn to reach out, and that in itself feels monumental. The castle is such a beautiful metaphor. It’s not just a fantasy setting—it’s a sanctuary, a rare place where pain isn’t judged or brushed aside. I loved how each of their rooms reflected who they really were, not who others expected them to be. Kokoro’s books, Rion’s sports gear, Fuka’s piano—it was like the castle saw them, without demanding anything in return. The looming idea of the key and wish is brilliant, too. The Wolf Queen's ultimate rule—that the castle and its memories will vanish if a wish is granted—transforms the quest from a competition into a profound choice. Their conflicting desires could have turned them against each other, but instead it becomes the reason they choose each other. By deciding not to search for the key, they make a statement louder than any magic: our bond matters more than our individual wish. That decision broke me a little—in the best way. The castle doesn’t give them an escape from life. It gives them the strength to face it. When I closed this book, I just sat there for a while, letting it sink in. Lonely Castle in the Mirror isn’t about some grand magical adventure—it’s about the quiet bravery of saying, “I want to connect with you,” even when everything inside you screams to stay hidden. For anyone who has ever felt like an outsider, or carried a weight they couldn’t explain, this story feels like someone reaching out and saying: you are not broken, you are not alone, and you are allowed to hope. Through the story, Tsujimura reminds us that healing doesn’t come from grand victories or magical wishes. It comes from awkward laughter, quiet kindness, and the courage to show someone your true self. The children may have found the key to the wishing room, and become the key for each other along the way. And that, more than anything, is the kind of magic I believe in.

- Half a million copies sold - Winner of the Japan Booksellers Award voted for by the booksellers across Japan - CONVENIENCE STORE WOMAN with a fantasy twist, exploring mental health and anxiety issues in modern-day Japan. Seven students are avoiding going to school, hiding in their darkened bedrooms, unable to face their family and friends, until the moment they discover a portal into another world that offers temporary escape from their stressful lives. Passing through a glowing mirror, they gather in a magnifcent castle which becomes their playground and refuge during school hours. The students are tasked with locating a key, hidden somewhere in the castle, that will allow whoever finds it to be granted one wish. At this moment, the castle will vanish, along with all memories they may have of their adventure. If they fail to leave the castle by 5 pm every afternoon, they will be eaten by the keeper of the castle, an easily provoked and shrill creature named the Wolf Queen. Delving into their emotional lives with sympathy and a generous warmth, LONELY CASTLE shows the unexpected rewards of reaching out to others. Exploring vivid human stories with a twisty and puzzle-like plot, this heart-warming novel is full of joy and hope for anyone touched by sadness and vulnerability. Readers love LONELY CASTLE IN THE MIRROR: - Ms. Tsujimura often deals with important themes, but what I like is you're left with an upbeat feeling after you finish. - I shed some tears this time, too, at the end. - I got gooseflesh I don't know how many times as I read this - I couldn't stop crying at the ending and the epilogue. - I'd like my daughter to read this, and look forward to her thoughts. - Rare is the novel that is this sad, surprising, moving, and heart-warming. Shows how important it is when people reach out and help each other.

Steph

4.5 star How do I even write a review for such a beautiful but tragic book? If reading it as an adult affecting me this much, I can't imagine reading this when I was a teen. Hands down one of the best books I've read.

Joana Mae

My first fantasy book—it feels magical! Though I had no expectations and felt bored at the start, I continued reading since it was my first venture into fantasy. While it felt like a long read, everything made sense in the end. With 30% remaining, I couldn't stop reading because I was eager to know what would happen next. I had somewhat predicted the plot, but the twist at the end still caught me off guard—it was one of those "ah, it's all connected in the end" moments. Not bad for my first fantasy book!

so so beautifully written i even teared up a few times just so beautiful and touching 

nina 

i love how gently it unfolds it doesn’t force drama. instead it gives space to each kid’s silence, fear, and hope. the castle feels like a dream, but the feelings are real. there’s a wish if they can find a hidden key but it’s not really about the wish it’s about how they slowly start to care for each other <3

fæ 

One of the best books I’ve read, it genuinely moved me 

angel

I absolutely loved how everything unfolded in this story. I loved the characters and their backstories and their complexity. 

This one will definitely sit with me for a while. 

Floofyflower

I absolutely loved how everything unfolded in this story. I loved the characters and their backstories and their complexity. 

This one will definitely sit with me for a while. 

abi a

to all the circumstances that led to my discovery of this book, THANK YOU. i needed to read this story. 

I didn't go into this with any expectations, but I just finished it and I don't know what to think (in a good way! I'm sort of dazed lmao). The book was such an odd combination of mundane and fantastic that didn't make any sense until the final few pages. But reading them, and realizing how everything falls into place, every little thing I hadn't realized was a clue- it's like a perfect little puzzle. I've heard comments about the first half, but I really liked the beginning. I actually enjoy that kind of world building and I didn't find it slow at all. The ending made me a little teary, I can't lie! It was unexpected, but it really had been right there the whole time. Lowkey surprised my professor assigned this book- I didn't think I'd enjoy it as much as I did.  

miya

Sad and sweet. It left me irrationally wishing for an up-to-date reunion of the group.  

Kierce

In a tranquil neighborhood of Tokyo seven students are avoiding going to school – hiding in their darkened bedrooms, unable to face their family and friends – until the moment they find the mirrors in their bedrooms are shining. At a single touch, they are pulled from their lonely lives into to a wondrous castle straight out of a Grimm’s fairy tale. This whimsical place, oddly lacking in food and running water but full of electrical sockets, is home to a petulant girl in a mask, named Wolf Queen and becomes their playground and refuge during school hours. Hidden within the walls they’re told is a key that will grant one wish, and a set of clues with which to find it. But there's a catch: the key must be found by the end of the school year and they must leave the premises by five o'clock each day or else suffer a fatal end. As time passes, a devastating truth emerges: only those brave enough to share their stories will be saved. And so they begin to unlock each other's stories: how a boy is showered with more gadgets than love; how another suffers a painful and unexplained rejection and how a girl lives in fear of her predatory stepfather. As they struggle to abide by the rules of the game, a moving story unfolds, of seven characters trapped in a cycle of misunderstanding and loneliness, who are ultimately set free by the power of friendship, empathy, and sacrifice. Exploring vivid human stories with a twisty and puzzle-like plot, this heart-warming novel is full of joy and hope for anyone touched by sadness and vulnerability. At the heart of this tender, playful tale is a powerful message about the importance of reaching out which shows how with one kind act you can change your life for the better, and more importantly, you can change the lives of others.

Elizabeth 

World building is crazy. I originally gave it 3 stars bc it took me a while to get thru the first half of the novel but quickly changed to 4 when i got to the Third Semester. Fantastic, kept me on my toes the entire time.

** spoiler alert **
           My god. I honestly don’t even know where to start with this one. The book started out quite slow but I actually really enjoyed that. It took me a while but I eventually got really invested in the plot, there’s so many things getting revealed that you just can’t help but continue reading. 

The struggles these children have with their classmates, family, friends and especially school life is portrayed so well that I really felt for every single one of them and their issues. 

Towards the end things got a lot more fast-paced and emotional and I honestly really enjoyed the rollercoaster you’re put through as the reader. Even though I had a feeling there was more to the Wolf Queen and Rion, I never would’ve imagined that they were siblings, but I did think that the Wolf Queen was probably the one who was missing in their 7-year-lineup. It’s just plot twist after plot twist towards the end, and the revelation of Mrs. Kitajima being Aki honestly warmed my heart. 

Even though they did end up making the wish and losing their memories of the castle, I wasn’t disappointed by the ending at all, it made me truly happy and I loved reading about the strong bond these kids formed during their year together. Wonderful read.

Anna 

tohle byla ta nejkrásnější kniha, co jsem kdy četla.

Noha Zainal

This book is a journey that i didn't want to end, glad it got translated, thanks Phillip

- Half a million copies sold - Winner of the Japan Booksellers Award voted for by the booksellers across Japan - CONVENIENCE STORE WOMAN with a fantasy twist, exploring emotional and anxiety issues in modern-day Japan. How will you help your friend if she doesn't want to be saved? In a neighbourhood in Tokyo, seven young people wake up to find the mirrors in their bedrooms are shining. Placing their palms on its surface, they are pulled through into another world, a wondrous castle, where they are surprised to encounter not only each other, but also a shrill young girl named Wolf Queen. Though they do not yet know it yet, they all have one thing in common. Eager to uncover the secrets of the castle while keeping their own, their time here will not be without glitches. For a start, they must leave by five o'clock each day or face a terrifying penalty; they must all hunt for a key which will grant only a single wish; they must tell noone about the castle, As they struggle to abide by the rules of the game and of each other's emotional boundaries, a powerful story unfolds, of seven characters trapped in a cycle of misunderstanding and loneliness, who are ultimately set free by the discovery of friendship, empathy, and sacrifice. . Brimming with warmth and generosity, LONELY CASTLE IN THE MIRROR is a deeply tender and uplifting novel for anyone touched by feelings of sadness and vulnerability. Readers love LONELY CASTLE IN THE MIRROR: - Ms. Tsujimura often deals with important themes, but what I like is you're left with an upbeat feeling after you finish. - I shed some tears this time, too, at the end. - I got gooseflesh I don't know how many times as I read this - I couldn't stop crying at the ending and the epilogue. - I'd like my daughter to read this, and look forward to her thoughts. - Rare is the novel that is this sad, surprising, moving, and heart-warming. Shows how important it is when people reach out and help each other. .

Alex S

Um????? Nothing could prepare me for this. Please if you have any interest, just read it. You will be changed.

amazing, wonderful, so very heartwarming, and i love magical realism

amelo

A moving story about friendships and how connection matters. Very typical style of a translated Japanese novel, so it can at times feel a little stilted but I find that part of the charm. A wonderful book to spend time with. 

Giulia

maitha mana

I only rated it a 3.7 because of the writing style. This is the second Japanese book read in a row, and I think it's safe to say that I'm not too fond of the literary style. Too descriptive on details that didn't need to be mentioned, whereas important events are written hastly and in a matter of few lines at most.

I loved the magical elements of the book; the idea of parallel universes and looking for hints, I like the mystery it evokes. The description of the castle and the big wolf were my favorites, it kept the idea of suspense going. I can definitely see this adapted into a Studio Ghibli movie.

The most important topic that stood out to me was the mention of bullying, and the extremeties of it in Japan. This is the second book, again in a row, that mentions the severity of bullying, and how most teenagers choose to be homeschooled. There is also the heartbraking reality of suicide rates taken into account when reading the accounts of bullying; when fictional stories mirror our immediate reality.

I enjoyed the third half of the book; that was when things finally seemed to be moving at a regular pace with a turn of events. I definitely recommend this book for a refresher; the concept is definitely unique and is a pleasant and easy read.

Sieben einsame Teenager, die nicht mehr zur Schule gehen wollen, gelangen über ihre Spiegel in ein mysteriöses Schloss. Dort müssen sie den Schlüssel zu einem versteckten Raum finden, in dem allerdings nur einem von ihnen ein Wunsch erfüllt werden kann …

Eine bewegende Geschichte über Einsamkeit, Mobbing und psychische Gesundheit – und wie man gemeinsam Ängste überwindet.

Eine wahnsinnig gute Geschichte, die auch wichtige Themen, wie Mobbing, sexuelle Gewalt, seriös rüberbringt und ihre Ernsthaftigkeit nicht vernachlässigt. Die Story ist in sich so verkreuzt, dass man gar nicht mehr aufhören konnte weiter zu lesen! Selbst am Ende des Buches hat es an Spannung nicht nachgelassen und hat nochmal für ordentliche Neugier gesorgt.

Emma

gülsu

tears in my eyes as i write this oh my god????????? 

yaya

𓆨

i had a great time i literally love everything about this book the cover the characters the plot everything and it kinda challenged me sometimes i like that in a book, it's now one of my favourites!

Isabella 

LOVED IT SO MUCH . cried sobbed i didnt expect it to end this way i am GAGGED. not doing well. ONE OF MY FAV READS THIS YEAR.

かがみの孤城

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