Il mago dei sogni

Mirror Dreams #1

by Catherine Webb, Giulia Balducci (Translator)

Nel Vuoto esistono due regni, l'uno l'antitesi dell'altro. Il Rifugio, pieno di luce e colore, e le Tenebre Eterne, l'oscuro incubo che risucchia nel suo gelido abbraccio. Poi c'è la Terra, il luogo fantastico che si raggiunge quando si dorme e da cui provengono i terrestri, ombre pallide e curiose chiamate anche "sognatori". Mondi che si influenzano a vicenda e coesistono grazie a un delicato equilibrio. Ma Serein, principe delle Tenebre, non sopporta questo equilibrio e spinge le sue truppe fino alle porte della Città dei Sogni... Un romanzo d'esordio ricco di scontri epici e colpi di incantesimi.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Magic, High Fantasy, Roman, Sci Fi Fantasy

338 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2002

About the author

An English science fiction author, she is best known for her Carnegie Medal-nominated books, Timekeepers (2005) and The Extraordinary and Unusual Adventures of Horatio Lyle (2006). She wrote her first novel, Mirror Dreams, when she was only fourteen years old.
She began writing mostly in the young adult genre and has since begun authoring books for adults. Also a performing arts enthusiast, she graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 2010. She also attended the London School of Economics.
She helped pioneer a new genre of writing called Urban Magic, which combines fantasy elements with modern-day city environments.
She grew up in London, England. Her father, Nick Webb, also had a career as a writer.

Catherine Webb also writes adult fiction under the pen names Kate Griffin and Claire North

Reviews

[Arie]

Oh wow, this book used to be my absolute favorite when I was younger - until I lost it, I've lent it out to someone and cannot remember who, which worries me. Only just remembered about it, it's been over 5 years since I've seen it but I'm dying to re-read it!

[Sunette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best. Book. EVER.

A believable hero (what with his endless supply of sarcasm, cynicism and dry humour), a kick-ass female protagonist and just the right mix of magic. Anyone who disagrees can answer to me. That's how awesome it is.

[Merel Huizer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book I've ever read. It's absolutely amazing, everyone should read it.

[Deirdre · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Kingdoms of the Void are created out of dreams, but no all dreams are pleasant, the nightmares have their own place. However nightmares and dreams fight for control of this world and now the forces of Nightkeep have killed the King of Dreams.

Laenan Kite has his own small kingdom. He's happy there, he's used magic and his dreams of our earth to create a paradise for himself, but now he's summoned for the inauguration of the new King.

When he gets to the central kingdom of dreams he finds that there are plots within plots and the safety of Earth is in jeopardy. He has to knock himself out of his retirement and do something, because he has enough power to.

At the end you're not sure about some of the reasons for this world's existence but you're happy you visited.

It's a fun read, nothing particularly demanding, and I was amazed to discover that it had been written by a 14-year-old. I loved Laenan's asides and his attitude to power was refreshing. I will have to look for more titles by this author.

[Julianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to buy the next one so badly, but the internet and my local library are not willing to help me out.
Since I read it in French, a quote spoke to me more than the others.

"C'était comme si une lumière s'allumait dans l'obscurité, mais qu'avant qu'elle apparaisse j'ignorais que j'étais dans le noir."

The characters are perfect (I'll admit that I thought Lisana was useless before I knew she was the legitimate queen). The universe is well described and dreamy, so much so that I honestly wish I was there instead of only being where I am now.
Unfortunately - or not - the book left me with many unsolved question. Is this all in Renna imagination? Are Renna and Laenan going to be an item? (Yes, if it were up to me, they already would be) If it is real, how could there be a Laenan Kite on planet Earth?
I do hope these questions will find their answer in the next book.

In the end, I totally recommend this book to anyone, an adult, a child, to each their own little heaven in the book.

[Beth Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book, when i wasn't reading it i was thinking about it. A very easy read so perfect for my summer holiday this year (i only wish i hadnt finished it as quickly as it left me with nothing to read after).

I would describe it as a teen read however the language used leads me to think otherwise. at times i would be laughing out loud, the narritive is hilerious and i really related to the main character. and i loved how one aspect wasnt what i predicted.

the reason it only gets 4 stars from me is the ending. to me it felt rushed and not all aspects are fully explained or finished off. i would have liked more detail although i'll withhold full judgemnt till ive read the follow up.

over all, thought provocking, couldnt put it down, but don't race to the end like I did or youll end up dissapointed. Well worth reading.

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have such nostalgic fondness for this book, but a reread now that I’m a lot older highlighted the flaws of a book written by a teenager. It’s still wonderful and magical, but the characters are too movie-like, too black-or-white evil or good. I’ve always rolled my eyes at people who say that experience is really the best resource for writing a good story, but I can agree with them when it comes to this story.

Again, it’s a good read, just a little lacking in character development.

[Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading this book long ago, when I was just 12. And I remember I loved it, I could recite whole pages from memory. It was certainly a perfect book for I child, I guess. I sort of want to read it again, but I'm really afraid I wouldn't like it as much as I did, now that I'm older. But still, I recommend it to every child around 12 ^^

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've pleaded the case for Catherine Webb/Kate Griffin before. This is the first book she got published at the grand old age of 14, and it had some really neat ideas.

[Megan Holtmeyer-cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing and my favourite book of all time! I would recommend it to anyone!!!

[Mark Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun fantasy read with a lot of magic coupled with fantastic characters.

[Rhiannon Teague · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember reading this when I was around 12, and I think I loved it a lot more then, but it was still an interesting read with a great premise, the first quarter was very exposition heavy, but after that I flew through it and I am looking forward to getting the sequel.

[Loane · Rating 1 out of 5]

When I first read this I would have given it 5 stars. Re-reading your teenage favorites is not always a good idea.
Some of the concepts in this book remain fantastic, but the writing is hard to enjoy over 10 years later. Would still recommend for younger readers, as I had very fond memories of it!

[kayli · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yikes. I haven’t rated a book this low in a while... Honestly, I did not understand what I was reading. I found myself being very confused the majority of the book and having to read pages and paragraphs over again. I think this proved the fact that fantasy is just not my genre :/

[Saima · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mostly enjoyed this story, the scene setting in the first half more than the last. There was a lot of exposition throughout, and some of the events didn't make sense so I had lost interest by the end.

[Ahona Mukherjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

the story revolves around a person who is in hospital and dreams about her .

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was currious about this authors early writing. impressive for the age that she wrote it but I was not excited about it.

[Meduzilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un libro carino, anche se a tratti un po' confuso. Ad esempio la parte sul Vuoto e il Consorzio non mi è molto chiara. Il Vuoto è quindi il posto in cui si ritrovano le persone che non sognano? Interessante che durante il coma la coprotagonista, Renna, si ritrovi nel Rifugio e sia diventata dotata di forti poteri magici che con il tempo ha aumentato. Alla fine rimane per sempre in quella terra di sogni quindi si può intuire che il suo vero corpo sia morto. Non sono invece riuscita a spiegarmi da dove venisse fuori il protagonista e narratore Laenan Volaleggero. L'ha creato qualche persona nel sonno o è nato da qualcuno di fisico? Un libro leggero che si legge in un giorno e se avesse spiegato alcuni elementi oscuri sarebbe stato ancora meglio. So che esiste un sequel, spero che lì le domande troveranno finalmente una risposta.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good, easy read. The biggest issue is getting past the rare moments when age really shines through (there aren't many, but there are enough for me to remember them).

[Nick Benson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing, confused/confusing, unclear premise, weak characterisation

[Lucy Thorneycroft · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm honestly not sure why but I really struggled to get through this book.

[Nicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good, considering the age of the author. I had such envy of her.

[JL · Rating 3 out of 5]

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