Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: One of my all-time favorites Review: I never cease to enjoy this book and its sequel, "A Man Rides Through". I just finished "The Mirror of Her Dreams" for the fourth time and will be diving into the sequel tonight. These are the kind of books you read well into the night when you should be sleeping. Because of these, I read Donaldson's "Gap" and "Thomas Covenant" series -- both of which I enjoyed greatly and will read again and again -- but these remain my favorites.There really is only one thing I might add to the other positive reviews here -- and it is something I noticed in "Thomas Covenant" as well: Mr. Donaldson takes an ordinary person from our own world, places them in an extraordinary place and situations and allows them to grow from there. Terisa Morgan is a woman with no sense of self, no confidence, and no purpose. Her passivity and doubt are frustrating -- frustratingly real. But her arrival in Mordant and her subsequent involvement in its crisis -- as well as the faith shown in her by the loyal Geraden -- allows her to discover the woman she truly is: powerful, courageous, and passionate (to name a few) -- qualities she never would have discovered if she'd remained in her own world. The action and intrigue are captivating -- but it is the characters and their evolution (and not just Terisa's but Geraden's as well) that make these books so addictive. In the paperback version, there is a rather major editorial mistake. In the last pages of the second to last chapter, a few sentences have been left out, making things a little confusing. Having always read the hardcover edition before, I noticed the mistake. Briefly, and hopefully without giving anything away, what was left out is this: Castellan Lebbick informs the Congery that Nyle wishes to speak to Geraden alone. This is what he whispers into the Castellan's ear. That's really all that was left out. I had to read it a few times to make sure I hadn't skipped something. Hopefully, this helps anyone who thinks they missed something, too! All in all, two wonderful books with characters that stay with you.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Called in sick to finish this book! Review: This tale is a delicious mix of intrigue, fantasy, and science which succeeds to be a non-stop page-turner. It is loaded with sword fighting, monsters, and mysterious characters; and it has an incredible puzzle that comes together in a slow, fascinating way. Characters are sometimes so helpless that it gets maddening to the point where you wish you could jump into your own mirror and help them out. Any book that can bring out emotions like that is worth reading! The ending of the second novel is completely satisfying. I would say that this is the best series of books that I have ever read in this genre or in any. Also, it's the only set of books I have read multiple times.
Rating: ![2 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-2-0.gif) Summary: Good premise, horribly flat characters Review: The main plot device was kind of "cute"- the mirrors and the translations. The mystery regarding which characters were good, which were evil, and whether goodness or badness mattered as long as they were trying to save Mordant (and should Mordant really be saved) was well written. Almost all the characters were terribly flat, however. Teresa is completely one-dimensional and her stupidity is sickening. I'm not saying that there aren't people like her in the world, just that no one wants to read about them. Instead of developing her as a character, the author repeats over and over how she had always felt non-existant and how she wasn't used to power and how she absolutely couldn't resist whenever anyone smiled at her or touched her. One gets the feeling that if the cook had been the first person in the book to smile at her, she would have spent the rest of her time in the kitchen and the story would never have been finished. If you've ever read the (excellent and highly recommended!) Song of Ice and Fire books by GRR Martin, reading this book was like reading nothing but Sansa's viewpoints, only less refined, less observant, and less eloquent and articulate.
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: Best of Donaldson's Fantasy Review: I've read both of the Thomas Covenant chronicles and I quite frankly think that Mordant's Need far surpasses both trilogies in every aspect, except of course for length! This is Donaldson at his mature, original best. I could not help feeling as I read Thomas Covenant that it had been written by a young author still very much eager to jump onto the Tolkien bandwagon. The lands and peoples of those earlier series felt little more than new twists to Middle Earth, but in Mordant's Need Donaldson had evidently grown into his own shoes and created a sophisticated, intriguing, yet very endearing classic that stands on its own merit. In fact, I still could hardly believe that they were written by the same author, especially when I was reading A Man Rides Through, the second volume in this duology, which I think is the greatest book he has ever written (even the brilliant sci-fi Gap series could not outshine this gem). Trust me, as you delve deeper and deeper into the world of Mordant, you will find the company of Terisa and Geraden, Adept Havelock and King Joyse, and even Master Eremis and the Prince of Alend, more and more like the company of friends.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Fantasy Novel for Romance Readers too Review: This 2-part series is a wonderful read. I read this book when it was first released and have never forgotten the endearing characters of Geraden and Terisa. Anyone who is an avid reader of fantasy will surely love this book, but also romance readers who love time travel themes should also greatly enjoy this wonderful story. Terisa can't seem to fit in to our ordinary world, and has always found mirrors comforting. She surrounds herself with mirrors to reassure herself that she really exists. Then Geraden appears through the mirror and Terisa is transported through the mirrors into another world - a world where she truly belongs. She develops a true relationship with Geraden, although Donaldson keeps you waiting until the second book to let you know if they will ever be together. This is a great read.
Rating: ![2 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-2-0.gif) Summary: Good premise, horribly flat characters Review: The main plot device was kind of "cute"- the mirrors and the translations. The mystery regarding which characters were good, which were evil, and whether goodness or badness mattered as long as they were trying to save Mordant (and should Mordant really be saved) was well written. Almost all the characters were terribly flat, however. Teresa is completely one-dimensional and her stupidity is sickening. I'm not saying that there aren't people like her in the world, just that no one wants to read about them. Instead of developing her as a character, the author repeats over and over how she had always felt non-existant and how she wasn't used to power and how she absolutely couldn't resist whenever anyone smiled at her or touched her. One gets the feeling that if the cook had been the first person in the book to smile at her, she would have spent the rest of her time in the kitchen and the story would never have been finished. If you've ever read the (excellent and highly recommended!) Song of Ice and Fire books by GRR Martin, reading this book was like reading nothing but Sansa's viewpoints, only less refined, less observant, and less eloquent and articulate.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: There is no MUST-er of a must-read for any fantasy enthusias Review: I have been reading fantasy fiction since age 10 (22 years). After just re-reading this series for the third time I can confidently state that this is still the best fantasy fiction I have ever read. It is the only book(s) I have ever written a review for in all that time. Donaldson is a master creator of perverse, intense, and deliciously complex stories with the most unbearably reluctant heros and unfathomably malignant antagonists. It will keep you enthralled and guessing until the end. If you call yourself a fantasy fan and do not read this series, you are depriving yourself of pure reading extasy.
Rating: ![3 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-3-0.gif) Summary: Mirror of her Dreams Review: Terisa lives in a glass tower in the middle of a large city. Her parents' wealth enables her to live a reclusive life, with little contact with reality. In fact, she has surrounded herself with mirrors, hoping to convince herself she is real. When a young man crashes through one of her glasses, all that changes. She is drawn into a different world, where no one is sure if she is real or a creation of magic. If she is real, she possesses a powerful enchantment that could be key to saving a kingdom ruled by a king lost in dreams. Here she first finds love and lust both. Choosing between the two may be key to saving herself and this new world. *** In this adult version of Alice in Wonderland, Stephen R Donaldson again proves himself a master of fantasy. He explores a new world through the eyes of a woman who is as lost as his former protagonist, Thomas Covenant. In doing so, he forces the reader to examine their own hearts. *** Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: Enjoyable Review: Teresa Morgan, a lonely, ordinary woman in our world, steps through a mirror in her apartment and finds herself in the land of Mordant. Geraden, son of the Domme, thinks that she is a powerful Imager, one who can manipulate the magic of mirrors, and believes that she is the key to saving their world. The only problem is, Teresa feels they have made a terrible mistake. But even her attempts to deny this alleged importance cannot save her from being sucked into a web of mystery, intrigue, danger, and betrayal. And just when things couldn't get any worse, the Congery of Imagers take matters into their own hands, setting even more catastrophic events into motion. I have to admit that this book tends to be a little slow in the beginning, and I even found myself skimming a few parts. But if you can manage to hang in there, things really start to pick up and very soon you'll be hooked. Nothing is as straightforward as the characters think, and treachery, deceit, and lies run deeper than they could ever imagine. Just when you think you've got it figured out, the story takes a different turn and you're left scratching your head again in puzzlement. The one thing that really connected me to this book is the fact that the main characters constantly struggle to understand what is really going on, and I found myself right there in Teresa's shoes, feeling completely frustrated and paranoid ... not knowing at all who to trust! Just a little warning, this book ends with a nail-biting cliffhanger. And trust me, you'll want to have the sequel (A Man Rides Through) handy as soon as you finish the last page. If it weren't for the slow pace in the beginning, and a few spots of tiresome info-dumps, I would have rated this one five stars. But, it definitely gets four stars for eventually grabbing hold and not letting me go, and for making me want to rush out and buy the sequel!
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Mirror Mirror on the wall??? Review: It had been a long time since I had just picked up a book and curled up on my couch. When I started reading Mirror of Her Dreams, I was surprised to find myself so engrossed in the novel that hours had passed since I began reading. I still didn't want to put it down. My opinion of fantasy novels had always been that they were pointless, and the only good writers wrote science fiction. This novel changed my outlook entirely...good storyline, plot twists, intrigue, treachery...it has it all. Next time you want someting worthwile and enjoyable to read keep this novel in your thoughs.
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