Rating: 
Summary: very cool
Review: i recently went on a camping trip and my friend lent me the two mordant's needs books and they were so great! i love the book.. it has adventure, suspense, romance, and everything! i couldn't put the books down and finished them both in 5 days. this one and the second book are so cool.
Rating:
Summary: A tale on morality
Review: Donaldson uses the love story between Terisa and Geraden as a framework to explore complex themes. The tale is set in a medieval fantasy realm where Terisa and Geraden are part of a larger community that strive to serve their king (King Joyse) and save Geraden's home, Mordant.The novel explores various Christian themes of servanthood and leadership. King Joyse uses a bewildering technique in defeating his enemies. He chooses to appear mad and alienates his friends and family on purpose, so as to determine his real enemies. A large portion of "A mirror rides through" is devoted to this confusing issue on whether or not the King Geraden serves is working for or against Mordant. The novel has a very clear cut idea on what "evil" and "good" is, but Donaldson is very skilful to create confusion on what is "good" or "true" for both the reader and Terisa in the first book by bringing in the arrogant Master Eremis (who doesn't seem quite so bad until the end of the series). The good characters are always humble and placing a greater good over their individual selves while the "bad" characters are proud and self-absorbed. The skill he displays in characterisation of the evil characters is applause worthy. Master Eremis could be any man you meet in your life. Master Eremis is not unlikeable. It is his actions (not his personality) that are unlikeable and destructive to others. But as I said before, Donaldson is very subtle with the "good" and "evil" binary. I am not usually a fantasy reader, but this book is so well written that I finished the series within a week! His writing is fluid and unified so that by the end of the series every loose end is tied up. There are also some moments (usually character's thoughts or dialogue) when Donaldson's writing shines through in beautiful clarity (a bit like CS Lewis). The issues that Donaldson raises in the series, of love, loyalties, weakness, strength, power and responsibility make it worthy of a slower and more pleasurable re-reading.
Rating: 
Summary: Good premise, horribly flat characters
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.
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