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Mordant's Need #1
The Mirror of Her Dreams
'The story of Terisa and Geraden began very much like a fable. She was a princess in a high tower. He was a hero come to rescue her ... She was held prisoner by enchantment. He was a fearless breaker of enchantments.
As in all fables, they were made for each other.'
But their story was not that simple. Terisa Morgan was plucked from a life of wealthy dreariness in New York City by Geraden, the oldest ever apprentice to the Congery of Imagers in the threatened land of Mordant. Terisa's inexperience and Geraden's ineptitude made them unlikely champions for Mordant in the desperate hour of her need.
Yet the compelling sound of horns in her compelling dream that drew her away from her existing life, and the swirling images in his mirror that pushed Geraden her way could not be denied. For Mordant was directed by the skill of the Imagers with their mirrors, and they now pointed to a champion who would come to save them.
The threat to Mordant is dire indeed, and comes from within the kingdom as well as from the reappearance of the arch-Imager Vagel and the invading hordes of Cadwal. Suspicion is rife in the halls of Orison at the heart of King Joyse's Mordant. Just who is friend and who is foe in this confusing land of conjured images is unclear. Somehow Terisa and Geraden must find a way through the many treacherous traps laid for them, and must escape unharmed, too, from the fierce attacks from a mysterious figure in black.
Mordant's Need is a mesmerising new series from Stephen Donaldson, internationally acclaimed master of fantasy. THE MIRROR OF HER DREAMS shows Donaldson at his compelling best, writing of a heroine and a hero who are timeless in their appeal in a land that could be just the other side of the mirror.
As in all fables, they were made for each other.'
But their story was not that simple. Terisa Morgan was plucked from a life of wealthy dreariness in New York City by Geraden, the oldest ever apprentice to the Congery of Imagers in the threatened land of Mordant. Terisa's inexperience and Geraden's ineptitude made them unlikely champions for Mordant in the desperate hour of her need.
Yet the compelling sound of horns in her compelling dream that drew her away from her existing life, and the swirling images in his mirror that pushed Geraden her way could not be denied. For Mordant was directed by the skill of the Imagers with their mirrors, and they now pointed to a champion who would come to save them.
The threat to Mordant is dire indeed, and comes from within the kingdom as well as from the reappearance of the arch-Imager Vagel and the invading hordes of Cadwal. Suspicion is rife in the halls of Orison at the heart of King Joyse's Mordant. Just who is friend and who is foe in this confusing land of conjured images is unclear. Somehow Terisa and Geraden must find a way through the many treacherous traps laid for them, and must escape unharmed, too, from the fierce attacks from a mysterious figure in black.
Mordant's Need is a mesmerising new series from Stephen Donaldson, internationally acclaimed master of fantasy. THE MIRROR OF HER DREAMS shows Donaldson at his compelling best, writing of a heroine and a hero who are timeless in their appeal in a land that could be just the other side of the mirror.
Hardcover
First published September 12, 1986
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8016 people want to read
About the author
Stephen R. Donaldson
149 books2,719 followersStephen Reeder Donaldson is an American fantasy, science fiction, and mystery novelist; in the United Kingdom he is usually called "Stephen Donaldson" (without the "R"). He has also written non-fiction under the pen name Reed Stephens.
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION:
Stephen R. Donaldson was born May 13, 1947 in Cleveland, Ohio. His father, James, was a medical missionary and his mother, Ruth, a prosthetist (a person skilled in making or fitting prosthetic devices). Donaldson spent the years between the ages of 3 and 16 living in India, where his father was working as an orthopaedic surgeon. Donaldson earned his bachelor's degree from The College of Wooster and master's degree from Kent State University.
INSPIRATIONS:
Donaldson's work is heavily influenced by other fantasy authors such as J.R.R. Tolkien, Roger Zelazny, Joseph Conrad, Henry James, and William Faulkner. The writers he most admires are Patricia A. McKillip, Steven Erikson, and Tim Powers.
It is believed that a speech his father made on leprosy (whilst working with lepers in India) led to Donaldson's creation of Thomas Covenant, the anti-hero of his most famous work (Thomas Covenant). The first book in that series, Lord Foul's Bane, received 47 rejections before a publisher agreed to publish it.
PROMINENT WORK:
Stephen Donaldson came to prominence in 1977 with the The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, which is centred around a leper shunned by society and his trials and tribulations as his destiny unfolds. These books established Donaldson as one of the most important figures in modern fantasy fiction.
PERSONAL LIFE:
He currently resides in New Mexico.
THE GRADUAL INTERVIEW
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION:
Stephen R. Donaldson was born May 13, 1947 in Cleveland, Ohio. His father, James, was a medical missionary and his mother, Ruth, a prosthetist (a person skilled in making or fitting prosthetic devices). Donaldson spent the years between the ages of 3 and 16 living in India, where his father was working as an orthopaedic surgeon. Donaldson earned his bachelor's degree from The College of Wooster and master's degree from Kent State University.
INSPIRATIONS:
Donaldson's work is heavily influenced by other fantasy authors such as J.R.R. Tolkien, Roger Zelazny, Joseph Conrad, Henry James, and William Faulkner. The writers he most admires are Patricia A. McKillip, Steven Erikson, and Tim Powers.
It is believed that a speech his father made on leprosy (whilst working with lepers in India) led to Donaldson's creation of Thomas Covenant, the anti-hero of his most famous work (Thomas Covenant). The first book in that series, Lord Foul's Bane, received 47 rejections before a publisher agreed to publish it.
PROMINENT WORK:
Stephen Donaldson came to prominence in 1977 with the The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, which is centred around a leper shunned by society and his trials and tribulations as his destiny unfolds. These books established Donaldson as one of the most important figures in modern fantasy fiction.
PERSONAL LIFE:
He currently resides in New Mexico.
THE GRADUAL INTERVIEW
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 482 reviews
December 31, 2012
Main character too frustrating and not entirely credible
I was disappointed and even slightly disgusted by "The Mirror of Her Dreams" and its sequel, "A Man Rides Through."
SPOILER ALERT! I don't give away the end or even the middle, but still a bit of a SPOILER...
My biggest complaint was that this was too obviously a middle-aged male author's botched attempt at portraying a young female protagonist (Terisa). Terisa's thoughts and motivations were heavily-influenced by MALE psyche and ego to the point of being unrealistic. Her obsession with Eremis, an older, unattractive and arrogant man, was weird and unnatural in light of the fact that there was a super-nice, handsome young man hanging about who was obviously in love with her. Her ridiculous whining about "how will I know I'm real unless I have sex and no one will have sex with me except Eremis" was pitiful. Like she couldn't have figured out that Geraden might possibly be interested. Yeah right. I felt like I was reading the thinly-disguised and slightly perverted fantasies of a middle-age man who wants to pretend that teenage virgins still desire him.
I realize many of you will mark me as unhelpful for that. Oh well! Sorry!
King Joyse's behavior was about the stupidest and most frustrating I've ever read. That logic just doesn't hold up.
I did enjoy the mirror ploy, with its accompanying philosophical "what's real" questions, that was clever.
I was disappointed and even slightly disgusted by "The Mirror of Her Dreams" and its sequel, "A Man Rides Through."
SPOILER ALERT! I don't give away the end or even the middle, but still a bit of a SPOILER...
My biggest complaint was that this was too obviously a middle-aged male author's botched attempt at portraying a young female protagonist (Terisa). Terisa's thoughts and motivations were heavily-influenced by MALE psyche and ego to the point of being unrealistic. Her obsession with Eremis, an older, unattractive and arrogant man, was weird and unnatural in light of the fact that there was a super-nice, handsome young man hanging about who was obviously in love with her. Her ridiculous whining about "how will I know I'm real unless I have sex and no one will have sex with me except Eremis" was pitiful. Like she couldn't have figured out that Geraden might possibly be interested. Yeah right. I felt like I was reading the thinly-disguised and slightly perverted fantasies of a middle-age man who wants to pretend that teenage virgins still desire him.
I realize many of you will mark me as unhelpful for that. Oh well! Sorry!
King Joyse's behavior was about the stupidest and most frustrating I've ever read. That logic just doesn't hold up.
I did enjoy the mirror ploy, with its accompanying philosophical "what's real" questions, that was clever.
February 21, 2008
Unlike his Thomas Covenant, this duology is one of my favorites. I really love the characters, and the story is really interesting and well-told.
May 22, 2023
May 2023 re read. So this time around I am loathing the h, due to her stupidity, ignorance and childness. This is my favorite book series, but every time I read it, I feel different. Still my all time fave and I will still keep rereading it.
June 2020 re read review
I stand by my rating and review from 2016.
This is NOT a romance read but has a romantic thread. There are a lot of emotional charges and is not for those looking for a comfort read.
There is lying, political intrigue, and the reader truly has no idea who is a traitor most of the time.
I would like to add that anyone who decides to read this needs to understand that Terisa is very frustrating in this book for most of it. She does however steadily and slowly grow more assertive. She is written to stay true to her characters boundaries. Stay with it. She does wise up and become strong about 90% in. It is worth it to see her change.
There are many twists and turns and underlying plots and motives. The drama and action are crafted so well that the book flows and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Characters were 3-D and interesting.
Although told from Terisa's perspective, I would have liked to have had other POV's. But in reality that would have given away too much and the surprises would have not been so potent.
The world building is fantastic yet not overly done.
Sometimes I felt there were some inconsistencies with Terisa's character that make her look stupid. I also felt Geraden's awkwardness is over done, and I sometimes couldn't understand why he was so enamored of her.
Oh! and I noticed on this read something I hadn't saw before which is how much intuition was incorporated into the characters. It seems Donaldson inserted subtly, some eastern philosophy as well that many may not catch with regards to reality and self. It went well since they are supposed to have certain abilities of a magical quality.
See below earlier review for safety
Original re-read Review Nov 2016
5 stars
This is a reread for me. The book was published in 1986 and I believe I originally read it in 1993.
I LOVED it then and I Love it now..
This is the first book of a two book series, and although there are elements of romance, I would not say this is a romance driven book. It is a character driven book for the most part, but the romance is secondary.
You should know, that the writing style is a bit outdated.. old fashioned.. IMHO. I am not saying it's bad... because it is not.. it is excellent... for it's time. What the writing lacks is emotional impact. I found the characters responses to very important matters were softer than they should have been, and easily forgotten. I also felt the characters physical actions were over exaggerated and animated, kind of like comparing old silent film acting to modern day acting.
To be honest, I wonder if I would love it as much if it was my first time reading it, and if my enjoyment is based on my fond memories of reading this book back in '93 or if it is because I know the outcome. Curious.
Summary:
The entire story is viewed through the perspective of heroine Terisa. Terisa is the daughter of a wealthy businessman. She works in a NYC mission that helps the poor. She does this because she doesn't need the money and wants to feel like she is making a difference.. but she never feels that she does. She doesn't NEED to work. Her father pays for everything.. her apartment, her bills etc..she just drifts through life with no purpose. Her main problem is that she also doubts her existence.. her reality.. why? because no one notices her.. no one cares about her... and she cares for no one. She has no friends, her family ignores her, people on the street ignore her.. so therefore, she constantly tries to reassure herself that she even exists. One way she does this is by surrounding herself in mirrors. In her apartment, mirrors are everywhere confirming she is real.. until one night.. a man comes crashing through her mirror, asking if she will come with him.. to his world.. to help save his land...
Geradan, our hero is the one asking for Terisa's help. So she follows him to his "world" which is medieval in nature. There is no "magic" persay in this world but there are some people who have a gift of Imagery. These people craft glass mirrors which depict images of alien places and creatures. The Imagers can translate these things or people through the mirror into their world. Geradan is not an Imager, but an Apt. He is 25 years old and known as a bumbling accident prone lad. He should have been made into an Imager by this time, but his clumsiness and mistakes have kept him from his lifelong dream of Imager. Because Geridan is expendable, the Imagers of the Congery decide to send Geradan to fetch their "Champion" who they believe will save them. This champion was seen in the augury, so the Congery is pretty certain this is the path to take. The problem is.. when Geradan goes through the glass with the fierce and powerful alien man who has weapons that shoot fire, he comes back with Terisa. Was this a mistake? Or is Terisa the Champion?
Much happens in the story. We as the reader who sees through Terisa's eyes, are just as baffled as to who are the trustable ones and who are the traitors to the King. The King.. the one who everyone believes has gone senile...who is letting Mordant slip into the hands of the enemy..
Overall, I love the story. I have very few problems with it. My biggest beef is with Terisa.
Terisa's character in itself is not written poorly. It's more a matter of personal preference. She starts off mousy, timid, weak and stupid. All things I loathe in a h. The saving grace is that Donaldson slowly and brilliantly evolves her character.. he shows her progress into a woman who can stand up for herself. That said, as much as I wanted to throttle Terisa numerous times.. I can appreciate the talent the author has in patiently growing her character into someone I can relate to and like.
Being an avid romance reader, I have certain expectations with regards to how characters act, and feel. How they show their emotions, how their feelings develop. But here I didn't get what I expected. I guess it's good thing...it was different that Donaldson gave a more realistic feel.
One thing I will say, is that Donaldson takes the reader through a fantastic journey. His world building is magnificent, his characters well developed and complex... the story has great pace, action and layers of plots. The secondary characters are just as well developed and complex as the MC's. All have their own distinct personalities and backgrounds.
What I really like is the theme about trust and loyalty. AND!!...the moral...---Don't be quick to jump to conclusions. Not everything is what it seems!
The book ends on a cliffhanger...so make sure you have the second one at hand to go right into it!
Safety:
June 2020 re read review
I stand by my rating and review from 2016.
This is NOT a romance read but has a romantic thread. There are a lot of emotional charges and is not for those looking for a comfort read.
There is lying, political intrigue, and the reader truly has no idea who is a traitor most of the time.
I would like to add that anyone who decides to read this needs to understand that Terisa is very frustrating in this book for most of it. She does however steadily and slowly grow more assertive. She is written to stay true to her characters boundaries. Stay with it. She does wise up and become strong about 90% in. It is worth it to see her change.
There are many twists and turns and underlying plots and motives. The drama and action are crafted so well that the book flows and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Characters were 3-D and interesting.
Although told from Terisa's perspective, I would have liked to have had other POV's. But in reality that would have given away too much and the surprises would have not been so potent.
The world building is fantastic yet not overly done.
Sometimes I felt there were some inconsistencies with Terisa's character that make her look stupid. I also felt Geraden's awkwardness is over done, and I sometimes couldn't understand why he was so enamored of her.
Oh! and I noticed on this read something I hadn't saw before which is how much intuition was incorporated into the characters. It seems Donaldson inserted subtly, some eastern philosophy as well that many may not catch with regards to reality and self. It went well since they are supposed to have certain abilities of a magical quality.
See below earlier review for safety
Original re-read Review Nov 2016
5 stars
This is a reread for me. The book was published in 1986 and I believe I originally read it in 1993.
I LOVED it then and I Love it now..
This is the first book of a two book series, and although there are elements of romance, I would not say this is a romance driven book. It is a character driven book for the most part, but the romance is secondary.
You should know, that the writing style is a bit outdated.. old fashioned.. IMHO. I am not saying it's bad... because it is not.. it is excellent... for it's time. What the writing lacks is emotional impact. I found the characters responses to very important matters were softer than they should have been, and easily forgotten. I also felt the characters physical actions were over exaggerated and animated, kind of like comparing old silent film acting to modern day acting.
To be honest, I wonder if I would love it as much if it was my first time reading it, and if my enjoyment is based on my fond memories of reading this book back in '93 or if it is because I know the outcome. Curious.
Summary:
The entire story is viewed through the perspective of heroine Terisa. Terisa is the daughter of a wealthy businessman. She works in a NYC mission that helps the poor. She does this because she doesn't need the money and wants to feel like she is making a difference.. but she never feels that she does. She doesn't NEED to work. Her father pays for everything.. her apartment, her bills etc..she just drifts through life with no purpose. Her main problem is that she also doubts her existence.. her reality.. why? because no one notices her.. no one cares about her... and she cares for no one. She has no friends, her family ignores her, people on the street ignore her.. so therefore, she constantly tries to reassure herself that she even exists. One way she does this is by surrounding herself in mirrors. In her apartment, mirrors are everywhere confirming she is real.. until one night.. a man comes crashing through her mirror, asking if she will come with him.. to his world.. to help save his land...
Geradan, our hero is the one asking for Terisa's help. So she follows him to his "world" which is medieval in nature. There is no "magic" persay in this world but there are some people who have a gift of Imagery. These people craft glass mirrors which depict images of alien places and creatures. The Imagers can translate these things or people through the mirror into their world. Geradan is not an Imager, but an Apt. He is 25 years old and known as a bumbling accident prone lad. He should have been made into an Imager by this time, but his clumsiness and mistakes have kept him from his lifelong dream of Imager. Because Geridan is expendable, the Imagers of the Congery decide to send Geradan to fetch their "Champion" who they believe will save them. This champion was seen in the augury, so the Congery is pretty certain this is the path to take. The problem is.. when Geradan goes through the glass with the fierce and powerful alien man who has weapons that shoot fire, he comes back with Terisa. Was this a mistake? Or is Terisa the Champion?
Much happens in the story. We as the reader who sees through Terisa's eyes, are just as baffled as to who are the trustable ones and who are the traitors to the King. The King.. the one who everyone believes has gone senile...who is letting Mordant slip into the hands of the enemy..
Overall, I love the story. I have very few problems with it. My biggest beef is with Terisa.
Terisa's character in itself is not written poorly. It's more a matter of personal preference. She starts off mousy, timid, weak and stupid. All things I loathe in a h. The saving grace is that Donaldson slowly and brilliantly evolves her character.. he shows her progress into a woman who can stand up for herself. That said, as much as I wanted to throttle Terisa numerous times.. I can appreciate the talent the author has in patiently growing her character into someone I can relate to and like.
Being an avid romance reader, I have certain expectations with regards to how characters act, and feel. How they show their emotions, how their feelings develop. But here I didn't get what I expected. I guess it's good thing...it was different that Donaldson gave a more realistic feel.
One thing I will say, is that Donaldson takes the reader through a fantastic journey. His world building is magnificent, his characters well developed and complex... the story has great pace, action and layers of plots. The secondary characters are just as well developed and complex as the MC's. All have their own distinct personalities and backgrounds.
What I really like is the theme about trust and loyalty. AND!!...the moral...---Don't be quick to jump to conclusions. Not everything is what it seems!
The book ends on a cliffhanger...so make sure you have the second one at hand to go right into it!
Safety:
March 6, 2013
I first read this book about 15 years ago and it's still one of my top favorite fantasy novels today. When the book opens Terisa Morgan is a beautiful girl, living in a busy city but she feels cut off from the rest of humanity. She has no close friends, no family that really care about her, no ties to anyone- and that lack has left a deep impression on her. It's gotten so bad that Terisa has covered her entire apartment in mirrors and she spends hours sitting in front of them, trying to prove to herself that she really exists. That she's important. That she's real. This background makes her an interesting but slow to action character even after she is thrust into an entirely different world and surrounded by people who all seem to want something from her. She spends a great deal of the first book just listening, asking questions and observing the world around her instead of taking action. This might be frustrating or boring to some readers as so much of the book is focused on world building, politics and heavy descriptions but I really love watching Terisa come alive. The more Terisa learns about the world of Mordant and it's people, the more real it becomes for her- and herself along with it. Terisa slowly realizes that not only is she real, she's important and she can change things. But like I said, it's a slow build. She isn't the typical kind of main character so this book series won't be for everyone but if you like heavy plot lines, complex worlds, politics and slow building tension- then give this one a try. And the magic system is AWESOME. Just sayin.
January 21, 2013
In a word: Boring. Prolix.
In two words: glacial plotting. Unsympathetic characters.
In five words: Pathetic, colorless, wimpy uninteresting heroine.
I'm 1/3 of the way through listening to this (9 hours or so!!) and I'm thinking of quitting. Maybe I'll read it so I can skim. God he's wordy and keeps saying the same thing over and over and over again (maybe I don't exist, my father didn't love me). Boohoo. Hullo? We get it!!
Mostly, I want to slap the heroine. And the king. Or kill them both so the story would be over.
In two words: glacial plotting. Unsympathetic characters.
In five words: Pathetic, colorless, wimpy uninteresting heroine.
I'm 1/3 of the way through listening to this (9 hours or so!!) and I'm thinking of quitting. Maybe I'll read it so I can skim. God he's wordy and keeps saying the same thing over and over and over again (maybe I don't exist, my father didn't love me). Boohoo. Hullo? We get it!!
Mostly, I want to slap the heroine. And the king. Or kill them both so the story would be over.
July 21, 2009
Every three years or so, I go back and read these two books. Terisa Morgan is a rich girl living in a high-rise in NYC when a handsome young man from an alternate reality stumbles into her apartment through one of her mirrors. His home is in danger; he was headed somewhere else to pick up a champion with armor and weapons and ended up in Terisa's apartment instead.
You see, in his world, mirrors are portals to other worlds. "Imagers" do research and create these mirrors. One Imager creates a mirror in which all that can be seen is a steady downpour of rain. Their King is pleased with this technology, as this rain could be "translated" out of its place of origin to relieve drought, for example. But, like any other power or talent, Imagery can be misused, and some renegade Imagers are doing just that, bringing beasts and lava and malicious creatures into the kingdom.
Imagers with particular talents are able to cast auguries, creating mirrors with small images that can foretell the future. These images are small, appearing only after the original mirror has been broken into bits (it's intentional; the mirror was created specifically for the augury). Stay with me; Donaldson's plot is quite intricate, but satisfying, and the story worth sticking around for. Geraden, the handsome young man who "accidentally" found Terisa in her apartment, figures strongly in one of the auguries cast. But at the time he meets Terisa, he's still an apprentice, beginning to despair if he will ever become an Imager.
So in spite of the fact that this world doesn't have electricity, women wear gowns and everybody goes on horseback, it's an interesting, exciting and, at the time Terisa enters it, dangerous place to be. Her innocence and bewilderment at her suddenly finding herself in this strange new place cause her to make a few nearly-fatal mistakes. At the beginning, she's almost a Mary Sue, except that, in spite of being a rich kid who never has to lift a finger, she works in a soup kitchen. She wants to make something of herself, but hasn't dared try because her father is so domineering. The first half of The Mirror of Her Dreams, you really want to reach into the book and bitch-slap her.
By the end of Book I, however, she's starting to figure things out, and you just have to go on to the second book, as Donaldson leaves you with a serious cliff-hanger at the end.
You see, in his world, mirrors are portals to other worlds. "Imagers" do research and create these mirrors. One Imager creates a mirror in which all that can be seen is a steady downpour of rain. Their King is pleased with this technology, as this rain could be "translated" out of its place of origin to relieve drought, for example. But, like any other power or talent, Imagery can be misused, and some renegade Imagers are doing just that, bringing beasts and lava and malicious creatures into the kingdom.
Imagers with particular talents are able to cast auguries, creating mirrors with small images that can foretell the future. These images are small, appearing only after the original mirror has been broken into bits (it's intentional; the mirror was created specifically for the augury). Stay with me; Donaldson's plot is quite intricate, but satisfying, and the story worth sticking around for. Geraden, the handsome young man who "accidentally" found Terisa in her apartment, figures strongly in one of the auguries cast. But at the time he meets Terisa, he's still an apprentice, beginning to despair if he will ever become an Imager.
So in spite of the fact that this world doesn't have electricity, women wear gowns and everybody goes on horseback, it's an interesting, exciting and, at the time Terisa enters it, dangerous place to be. Her innocence and bewilderment at her suddenly finding herself in this strange new place cause her to make a few nearly-fatal mistakes. At the beginning, she's almost a Mary Sue, except that, in spite of being a rich kid who never has to lift a finger, she works in a soup kitchen. She wants to make something of herself, but hasn't dared try because her father is so domineering. The first half of The Mirror of Her Dreams, you really want to reach into the book and bitch-slap her.
By the end of Book I, however, she's starting to figure things out, and you just have to go on to the second book, as Donaldson leaves you with a serious cliff-hanger at the end.
December 16, 2014
I loved this book. I read this way back in 1987 when I picked up a copy at the library. I wasn't reading much at that time and I had yet to discover Thomas Covenant. The blurb on the back intrigued me so I checked it out.
I loved this book! I fell in love with Terisa and Geraden. I think part of me related to Terisa or maybe part of me WANTED to relate to Terisa. And of course I was in love with Geraden. Since it's been so long since I've read it, my mind is fuzzy on some of the details but I certainly remember the mirrors. I think I kept looking in my bathroom mirror after I read this, just hoping I'd catch a glimpse of another world. (So far no luck, but still looking.)
I did not know it was the first of two. Actually, the version I read said it was the first of a trilogy. I saw the blurb on the last page. Oh, no! What happens to these people?? I went back to the library but A Man Rides Through had just come out so I had to go on a holds list.
Oh, the torture, waiting for the next book!
At last, the book came through. I could finish the story.
Once I had some money saved up, I bought the two in paperback so I could have my own copies. I loaned this one to a co-worker but didn't think to loan him the second. He comes back to work on Monday having spent all weekend reading this book.
"Why didn't you tell me there was another book??? Where's the other book??? I have to find out what happens! This is awful!!"
So I explained "How do you think I felt, when I had to actually wait for the book at the library?" I was nice and loaned him the second.
Fond memories thinking of this story. I actually haven't re-read it. I know it won't be as magical. I think I prefer my memories of coming home from work, curling up on the easy chair in the living room and reading this.
I loved this book! I fell in love with Terisa and Geraden. I think part of me related to Terisa or maybe part of me WANTED to relate to Terisa. And of course I was in love with Geraden. Since it's been so long since I've read it, my mind is fuzzy on some of the details but I certainly remember the mirrors. I think I kept looking in my bathroom mirror after I read this, just hoping I'd catch a glimpse of another world. (So far no luck, but still looking.)
I did not know it was the first of two. Actually, the version I read said it was the first of a trilogy. I saw the blurb on the last page. Oh, no! What happens to these people?? I went back to the library but A Man Rides Through had just come out so I had to go on a holds list.
Oh, the torture, waiting for the next book!
At last, the book came through. I could finish the story.
Once I had some money saved up, I bought the two in paperback so I could have my own copies. I loaned this one to a co-worker but didn't think to loan him the second. He comes back to work on Monday having spent all weekend reading this book.
"Why didn't you tell me there was another book??? Where's the other book??? I have to find out what happens! This is awful!!"
So I explained "How do you think I felt, when I had to actually wait for the book at the library?" I was nice and loaned him the second.
Fond memories thinking of this story. I actually haven't re-read it. I know it won't be as magical. I think I prefer my memories of coming home from work, curling up on the easy chair in the living room and reading this.
January 4, 2011
One of the most problematic reads I have ever picked up. It ended up in my trash can. Never. Again.
March 1, 2020
Mini-Review:
4.5 Stars for Narration by Scott Brick
4.5 Stars for Unusual Characters
4 Stars for Setting
I read this book when I was in middle school and re-read it a few times into my late teens. I loved it back then because I thought it was a cool romance about a woman traveling into a medieval world with magic. It's years later and some of those opinions are reinforced in the current re-read.
Thoughts:
- I was less picky about suspension of belief back then.
- The Mirror of Her Dreams is still a romance about a woman that ended up in a world with magic.
- Half the reason why I decided to re-read this book is because I wanted to check back in with myself about why I enjoy Donaldson's work.
- Donaldson writes believable stories about people with unusual conditions. I've seen people ask about stories with non-standard MCs. As far as I know, that's the only kind of main character Donaldson writes about. Terisa wasn't an average person. She was emotionally and mentally abused while growing up and ended up having Cotard's syndrome. A condition where a person questions if they are alive and exist.
- Terisa is not a strong person for many reasons. This series is about a world with magic and a kingdom in peril. It's also about a woman who learns to overcome years of conditioning to trust, make decisions and take chances. To fight years of built up fears to believe that she is alive and exist on her own.
- The story is definitely one you experience as you read and it's not a happy go lucky tale. It's a fantasy with intricate characters and setting that deals with the darker side of human fears and power manipulations. No one should feel comfortable when you read about a person with a mental illness. 50% of this book is uncomfortable. You should feel that way. 50% of it is active, hopeful and surprising.
4.5 Stars for Narration by Scott Brick
4.5 Stars for Unusual Characters
4 Stars for Setting
I read this book when I was in middle school and re-read it a few times into my late teens. I loved it back then because I thought it was a cool romance about a woman traveling into a medieval world with magic. It's years later and some of those opinions are reinforced in the current re-read.
Thoughts:
- I was less picky about suspension of belief back then.
- The Mirror of Her Dreams is still a romance about a woman that ended up in a world with magic.
- Half the reason why I decided to re-read this book is because I wanted to check back in with myself about why I enjoy Donaldson's work.
- Donaldson writes believable stories about people with unusual conditions. I've seen people ask about stories with non-standard MCs. As far as I know, that's the only kind of main character Donaldson writes about. Terisa wasn't an average person. She was emotionally and mentally abused while growing up and ended up having Cotard's syndrome. A condition where a person questions if they are alive and exist.
- Terisa is not a strong person for many reasons. This series is about a world with magic and a kingdom in peril. It's also about a woman who learns to overcome years of conditioning to trust, make decisions and take chances. To fight years of built up fears to believe that she is alive and exist on her own.
- The story is definitely one you experience as you read and it's not a happy go lucky tale. It's a fantasy with intricate characters and setting that deals with the darker side of human fears and power manipulations. No one should feel comfortable when you read about a person with a mental illness. 50% of this book is uncomfortable. You should feel that way. 50% of it is active, hopeful and surprising.
July 18, 2016
This is one of my favourite two-part series, which is interesting because the main character is not really that likeable of a person. She's indecisive, easily pushed around and a bit of a whiner. That being said, it makes sense that she is these things because of the way she was raised and for some reason, it made me want to see her come into her own.
I think it's the universe that is the most interesting to me. To be able to travel between worlds via mirrors was something I always pretended was possible when I was young. That there might be another place on the other side of the mirror is fascinating to me and I enjoyed how they showed the use of mirrors in Mordent.
The characters are not always likeable, but they're not suppose to be. They succeed and fail in spectacular ways and have very real motives. The way castles and daily life are portrayed felt real to me and it gave the story a believable quality that many times fantasy does not have.
The book isn't for everyone perhaps, especially if you prefer your female characters strong of will but I would always suggest that you read it with an open mind and are willing to meet the book on it's terms.
I think it's the universe that is the most interesting to me. To be able to travel between worlds via mirrors was something I always pretended was possible when I was young. That there might be another place on the other side of the mirror is fascinating to me and I enjoyed how they showed the use of mirrors in Mordent.
The characters are not always likeable, but they're not suppose to be. They succeed and fail in spectacular ways and have very real motives. The way castles and daily life are portrayed felt real to me and it gave the story a believable quality that many times fantasy does not have.
The book isn't for everyone perhaps, especially if you prefer your female characters strong of will but I would always suggest that you read it with an open mind and are willing to meet the book on it's terms.
May 21, 2012
I chose this book because the author was said to have redefined the Fantasy genre ... and since I write fantasies, I thought it a good idea to check this one out.
While the world was compelling and the plot was interesting, I could not get over my dislike for the main character. Teresa was weird at first, and her sense of detachment to the world was a little sympathetic -- but I stress "at first." As the plot continued forward, I grew to hate her. Midway through the book, I wanted to bash my head against the wall. By the time she took any action at all, I was done with her. I didn't care anymore. My enjoyment of Gerarden could not balance out this hatred, so I have to give the book two stars.
While the world was compelling and the plot was interesting, I could not get over my dislike for the main character. Teresa was weird at first, and her sense of detachment to the world was a little sympathetic -- but I stress "at first." As the plot continued forward, I grew to hate her. Midway through the book, I wanted to bash my head against the wall. By the time she took any action at all, I was done with her. I didn't care anymore. My enjoyment of Gerarden could not balance out this hatred, so I have to give the book two stars.
October 9, 2009
You may have read my reviews of Mr. Donaldson's Thomas Covenant books. I felt trapped in them....his life is crap attitude and the constant "woe is me" attitude drove me crazy. A friend recommended these to me and I mentioned how I felt about the Covenant books. She assured me that these were different...I open the book..and the main character started "woe is me". Enough. If you like it, I'm happy for you.
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July 13, 2021One of my favorite fantasies. The protagonist is passive and unsure of herself, but that just makes the political intrigue of the world she's taken to that more intricate and fascinating. I love books with twisty political mysteries, and this one is full of them.
November 3, 2025
After having smash success with his Thomas Covenant Chronicles, a series about a deeply broken individual from our world who gets isekaied into a fantasy world to fight an evil force, for his first follow-up series, Stephen R. Donaldson wrote the Mordant's Need duology, a series about a deeply broken individual from our world who gets isekaied into a fantasy world to fight an evil force.
Which is, to be sure, probably an entirely unfair thing to say because despite the obvious, superficial similarities, the books, and their protagonists, are very different from each other, almost to the point of being photographic negatives. Thomas Covenant was a reasonably well-adjusted and successful person, at least until he contracted leprosy and his personal & professional lives fell apart; and when he finds himself transported to The Land, he spends much of his time refusing to believe it's "real", ultimately with disastrous consequences until he overcomes his Unbelief and has his final confrontation with Lord Foul.
Terisa Morgan's story is actually very different. As far as I can tell, she's never been well-adjusted. At the start of the book, she lives in a New York apartment and is the daughter of a wealthy family, but her upbringing was alternately neglectful and abusive to the point that she's frequently paralyzed by anxiety when confronted with new or stressful situations. She's managed to make something of a life for herself working as a secretary/bookkeeper for a small church mission, but when Geraden, an Imager (about which more anon) sticks his head out of one of the mirrors lining her bedroom and asks her to come back to his world with her, she doesn't hesitate to join him, nor does she ever believe that she's having hallucinations or a psychotic breakdown or some such; she's happy to accept that she's really been transported to the land of Mordant.
Which isn't to say that, at least at first, she knows how to react or how to fulfil whatever role they've assigned to her.
She finds herself initially in Orison, a huge, almost Gormenghast-style castle, summoned semi-accidentally by the Congery of Imagers (Imagers being wizards of a sort, who use specially-crafted mirrors as their objects of power -- the mirrors allow them to summon (or create? there's some debate amongst the Imagers) and control beings or objects or forces from other realms. Having said which, when Geraden entered the mirror that led to Terisa's bedroom, that's not where he expected to end up and she's not who he expected to find there -- Geraden's still an apprentice and the Masters believe he's made a botch of things, although it may be that his mastery of Imagery is actually a form they haven't encountered yet?
Anyway, so Terisa has been brought through to Mordant and the realm is in peril -- not from any specific Sauron-like Dark Lord, but from various unfriendly neighboring kingdoms (due to some History they have with Mordant), and King Joyse has become a dodderer more interested in playing checkers than facing the kingdom's peril (and his chief adviser, Adept Havelock, is nutty as a fruitcake, and much of the day-to-day running of the kingdom has devolved to the Castellan Lebbick, who is Not A Nice Man), and the King's daughters are working at cross-purposes to their father and to each other, and there are wheels within wheels and plots within plots, and Terisa has no idea how she's supposed to fit into all of this, and she has to overcome her tendency to just go passive and be pushed around by people before things spiral completely out of control.
(And honestly, one of my issues with this book is that she mostly doesn't overcome that tendency -- too much of the story is her being pushed around by one person until somebody else steps in and starts pushing her in different directions, but I think this will eventually change in the second book.)
And if you want a giant slab of Epic Fantasy on your plate, well, this will fit the bill, but this really is just the first half of the story, so be prepared to follow it with the second half, A Man Rides Through.
Which is, to be sure, probably an entirely unfair thing to say because despite the obvious, superficial similarities, the books, and their protagonists, are very different from each other, almost to the point of being photographic negatives. Thomas Covenant was a reasonably well-adjusted and successful person, at least until he contracted leprosy and his personal & professional lives fell apart; and when he finds himself transported to The Land, he spends much of his time refusing to believe it's "real", ultimately with disastrous consequences until he overcomes his Unbelief and has his final confrontation with Lord Foul.
Terisa Morgan's story is actually very different. As far as I can tell, she's never been well-adjusted. At the start of the book, she lives in a New York apartment and is the daughter of a wealthy family, but her upbringing was alternately neglectful and abusive to the point that she's frequently paralyzed by anxiety when confronted with new or stressful situations. She's managed to make something of a life for herself working as a secretary/bookkeeper for a small church mission, but when Geraden, an Imager (about which more anon) sticks his head out of one of the mirrors lining her bedroom and asks her to come back to his world with her, she doesn't hesitate to join him, nor does she ever believe that she's having hallucinations or a psychotic breakdown or some such; she's happy to accept that she's really been transported to the land of Mordant.
Which isn't to say that, at least at first, she knows how to react or how to fulfil whatever role they've assigned to her.
She finds herself initially in Orison, a huge, almost Gormenghast-style castle, summoned semi-accidentally by the Congery of Imagers (Imagers being wizards of a sort, who use specially-crafted mirrors as their objects of power -- the mirrors allow them to summon (or create? there's some debate amongst the Imagers) and control beings or objects or forces from other realms. Having said which, when Geraden entered the mirror that led to Terisa's bedroom, that's not where he expected to end up and she's not who he expected to find there -- Geraden's still an apprentice and the Masters believe he's made a botch of things, although it may be that his mastery of Imagery is actually a form they haven't encountered yet?
Anyway, so Terisa has been brought through to Mordant and the realm is in peril -- not from any specific Sauron-like Dark Lord, but from various unfriendly neighboring kingdoms (due to some History they have with Mordant), and King Joyse has become a dodderer more interested in playing checkers than facing the kingdom's peril (and his chief adviser, Adept Havelock, is nutty as a fruitcake, and much of the day-to-day running of the kingdom has devolved to the Castellan Lebbick, who is Not A Nice Man), and the King's daughters are working at cross-purposes to their father and to each other, and there are wheels within wheels and plots within plots, and Terisa has no idea how she's supposed to fit into all of this, and she has to overcome her tendency to just go passive and be pushed around by people before things spiral completely out of control.
(And honestly, one of my issues with this book is that she mostly doesn't overcome that tendency -- too much of the story is her being pushed around by one person until somebody else steps in and starts pushing her in different directions, but I think this will eventually change in the second book.)
And if you want a giant slab of Epic Fantasy on your plate, well, this will fit the bill, but this really is just the first half of the story, so be prepared to follow it with the second half, A Man Rides Through.
March 14, 2011
Subtle is a good description of this book. It has an almost Alice in Wonderland quality, with more time spent being lost in the main character's confusion than lost in the unfamiliar customs and creatures of an alternate world. Although complex, and at times bogged down with its own intricate details, this book was very well-crafted. Context clues leave no room for last moment twists and yet somehow the suspense still remains. It's like the proverbial train-wreck you can see coming a mile off and still hope as long as possible that something will change the inevitable.
Our female hero is constantly driving me crazy with her indecision and lack of self-awareness (literally), and she is so slow to action that I found myself screaming (in and out of my head) for her to just DO something or other at several points. But despite all this, I continue to root for her success. I might not be able to identify with her personally, but she is caught in a complex web and I am captivated by watching it all unravel. And the villain is AWFUL, especially the way he uses sexuality as a drug - to intoxicate, addict, and then manipulate. It is terrifying actually. Subtle but terrifying. In my opinion, it takes good writing to really make a reader detest a character, so in this the author has proven his skill.
The characters are all well-developed, unique, and interesting. The dialogue in the version I read was not well formatted which made some of the jumps between thought and speech disorienting and unclear. I plan to read it again, and search for a different edition to remedy this - I think it is the type of story that would offer different interpretations with each re-reading. Overall, a very, very original and entertaining story.
Onto the conclusion and book two.
Our female hero is constantly driving me crazy with her indecision and lack of self-awareness (literally), and she is so slow to action that I found myself screaming (in and out of my head) for her to just DO something or other at several points. But despite all this, I continue to root for her success. I might not be able to identify with her personally, but she is caught in a complex web and I am captivated by watching it all unravel. And the villain is AWFUL, especially the way he uses sexuality as a drug - to intoxicate, addict, and then manipulate. It is terrifying actually. Subtle but terrifying. In my opinion, it takes good writing to really make a reader detest a character, so in this the author has proven his skill.
The characters are all well-developed, unique, and interesting. The dialogue in the version I read was not well formatted which made some of the jumps between thought and speech disorienting and unclear. I plan to read it again, and search for a different edition to remedy this - I think it is the type of story that would offer different interpretations with each re-reading. Overall, a very, very original and entertaining story.
Onto the conclusion and book two.
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June 14, 2015I got so far through this book.... I was halfway done. And that's saying something because this book is a massive brick! I wanted to finish. I really did, but I've realized after putting it down in April and not picking it back up a few months later that there is no way I can force myself to read it.
At first I was interested. I thought that the magic with the mirrors was very cool, but that can only carry the book for so long. The main character, Terisa, was far too frustrating for me to handle any longer. She is so dull and all her motives are completely wrong. She drove me insane.
One of Terisa's actions that was pretty much the breaking point for me was her attraction(if that's the word for it) for an annoying rude middle aged man. How old is she again, in her young twenties? Yes okay, whatever, I mean it's not like there is this cute and adorable young man about your age who is practically in love with you hanging around. I mean, come on! What is wrong with her?
Maybe the book gets better, I won't know because I just can't finish the book. I was able to tolerate Terisa until her actions just started to make no sense. If don't know what love is, please don't try to find it with a middle aged man! Once I get through about 50% of the book I usually try to finish, but this is just not one of those cases.
At first I was interested. I thought that the magic with the mirrors was very cool, but that can only carry the book for so long. The main character, Terisa, was far too frustrating for me to handle any longer. She is so dull and all her motives are completely wrong. She drove me insane.
One of Terisa's actions that was pretty much the breaking point for me was her attraction(if that's the word for it) for an annoying rude middle aged man. How old is she again, in her young twenties? Yes okay, whatever, I mean it's not like there is this cute and adorable young man about your age who is practically in love with you hanging around. I mean, come on! What is wrong with her?
Maybe the book gets better, I won't know because I just can't finish the book. I was able to tolerate Terisa until her actions just started to make no sense. If don't know what love is, please don't try to find it with a middle aged man! Once I get through about 50% of the book I usually try to finish, but this is just not one of those cases.
August 25, 2016
I know the author wanted to show the reader the progression of a timid girl into a strong, fierce woman, but the protagonist started out so insipid and cowardly, she irritated me constantly. I made myself read the sequel--it is a two-part story--and it was a more enjoyable read once the heroine got a backbone. However, Donaldson uses too many similes and metaphors for my taste. He also has a low regard for his readers' ability to figure anything out, so everything is explained in excruciating detail. I find this wearying. Also, I was very aware of a male author writing a female character--or what he thinks a female character would be like. I don't want to leave on a negative note, because the author did have some intriguing ideas that he implemented well.
September 2, 2020
Really enjoyed this. New York girl who is from a wealthy family but leads a nothing life is transported to Mordant - a land being threatened by two neighbour who seek control of the cadre of Imagers who reside there. Is she there by accident or is she really their saviour ?? Aided by the accident prone apprentice Geraden the heroine battles all the intrigues of Court, the assassins sent to silence her, the smooth talking rogue Eremis and tries to fathom why the brilliant King sits idly by whilst the kingdom falls to ruin. Superb magic concepts with mirrors and imagery, sword play, sieges, wild beasts, man eating bugs, romance and lots of political intrigue - yep this was excellent.
November 5, 2014
Reviewed for THC Reviews
I first read The Mirror of Her Dreams probably close to twenty-five years ago, so when I picked it up for a re-read, I barely recalled anything about the story. As I read, some small things started to come back to me, but by and large, it was like reading it for the first time all over again. The thing I did remember was really liking the book the first time around, and while I did still enjoy it this time, I picked up on a few things that I would kind of consider flaws. This is most likely because back then, I took everything I read at face value, but now, after spending six years analyzing authors' writing in order to review books and becoming a published author myself, I tend to see these things a little differently. The main thing that kept the book from receiving a higher rating from me was that the pacing is pretty slow in places. This is especially true of the first half of the novel, which the author primarily uses for world-building and setting up the plot. During this time, there are a number of conversations in which a character tells Terisa rather long stories about the history of Mordant. The author can also be somewhat verbose at times, taking paragraphs to explain or describe certain things that probably could have been pared down a bit. It didn't help that I was extremely tired while reading a large part of it, and kept dozing off. Admittedly, that's mostly my own issue, but I couldn't help wondering if I would have had an easier time staying awake if there had been more action.
What I do (and did) really love about the Mordant's Need duet is the basis for the fantasy elements. In the land of Mordant, mirrors are magical things that are meticulously crafted by Imagers to see other places within their own realm as well as into parallel worlds. Each mirror only shows one place, so there are many mirrors within Mordant. None of them, however, show a man's reflection, and if an Imager makes a flat mirror in which he can see himself, he'll go mad. They also sometimes use mirrors to augur the future. The whole mythology that surrounds the mirrors and Imagers and the Congery (the group of Imagers as a whole) is utterly fascinating and pretty unique, not something I've really read before, albeit admittedly, I haven't read that much fantasy fiction. The other thing that is quite well done is the political intrigue. While parts of this were sometimes what put me to sleep, I can't deny that Stephen Donaldson did a great job with keeping the reader on their toes. It's almost impossible to discern who can be trusted and who can't, because everyone is suspect to some degree. I think this helped play into the reader feeling Terisa's confusion. There is also the whole question of why the King isn't doing anything to save his own land. Is he going senile or is there something greater at play? Also we're given the sense that Terisa and Geraden are going to play a big role in saving Mordant, but what and how that might be is a mystery, as both of them seem like the most unlikely of saviors. All of this is what really kept me reading and made the story an enjoyable one.
Terisa is a young woman from our own world who struggles daily with a sense that she is fading into nothingness. This is probably due to childhood abuse and being largely ignored by her wealthy parents. She now lives alone in a luxury apartment paid for by a father who didn't want her around anymore, while working a dull, dead-end job as a secretary for a charitable mission. Her apartment is filled with mirrors to prove to herself that she really does exist. One night Terisa has a strange dream in which she hears the trumpet of horns and a man saves her from three riders who seem bent on her destruction. The next day, Geraden steps through one of her many mirrors and all but begs her to return with him to his land. They need someone to save them from their enemies, and he believes she is their augured champion. Figuring she has nothing to lose, she goes with him and steps into a medieval-style word of castles and royalty, knights and Imagers. Geraden and some of the others believe Terisa may be a powerful Imager herself, because of the fact that Geraden found her in a room full of mirrors that reflected her image but didn't make her go mad. Of course, Terisa believes no such thing, and repeatedly tells them she is just an ordinary girl, not an Imager or the Champion they seek. I like Terisa, because she is sweet and unassuming. At the same time, I could get a little frustrated with her. Due to her past and her feelings of unreality, she's so uncertain of herself that she often behaves in a very passive way, making her an usual choice as the main POV character. Sometimes she knows what the correct response should be, but she can't stir herself to act, then her inaction has consequences of its own. This does get better as the story goes along though, and with each action she dares to take, I think she grows a little bit more confident in her abilities, or at least, she becomes invested in Mordant and the outcome of the impending war with its neighboring realms. I think what frustrated me most about Terisa though, was her willingness to give in to the seductions of a man who practically made my skin crawl with his oily, slimy air, when she had a great guy like Geraden who'd walk through broken glass for her. However, I can't deny that I understood on some level why she did, and thankfully it didn't go too far. This is another one of those areas where she had to slowly come to the realization on her own, which requires more of that action that is so unfamiliar to her, as well as a bit of patience from the reader.
Geraden is disrespected by his peers for being bumbling and accident-prone, but he's sweet and charming with a heart of gold. He's also extremely determined. He's spent a decade trying to become an Imager, but has not yet been able to rise above the status of Apt (an apprentice). He's the oldest Apt in the Congery by a wide margin, and is known far and wide for his legendary screw-ups. That's why, when the Congery needed someone to step through a mirror and bring back their augured Champion, Geraden was the one chosen for his expendability. Of course, the person he brought back was far from what they'd seen in the mirror. This set off a debate over whether Geraden was the most powerful Imager ever known or if this was just another in a long line of major mistakes. What I liked most about Geraden was his unwavering belief in Terisa being the Champion even though it seems like she's just another one of his mishaps. He has a childlike faith in her, and I admire how he always follows his gut instincts even though he says they're usually wrong. I also adored him for how he behaves like a gentleman and treats Terisa with dignity and respect, like she's someone who matters even if she isn't the Champion. There are many in the Congery who believe that the people or creatures they find in their mirrors are of their own creation and therefore not real and can be used as they see fit, but Geraden believes otherwise.
There are many standout secondary characters, really too many for me to name and each plays an important role in the story. I will mention that my favorites were Geraden's brother, Artegel, and the King's daughter, Myste. Artegel is a charming rogue who is known as the best swordsman in all of Mordant, while Myste is a hopeless romantic who cares a great deal about others. Both become good friends to Terisa and treat Geraden with respect when others don't.
There is much to like about The Mirror of Her Dreams. As I mentioned before, there is plenty of court intrigue, nearly enough to rival Game of Thrones. There is also suspense as multiple attempts are made on both Geraden's and Terisa's lives, leading the other characters and the reader to wonder what might be so special about these seemingly ordinary people that would cause murderous enemies to rise up against them. The magical element is complex, fascinating, and well thought out. Terisa may not be the most compelling POV character I've ever read, especially considering that she carried virtually the entire book herself, but I did enjoy watching her slowly grow to start making some decisions and taking action. Sometimes I wanted Geraden's perspective, but I guess it made sense that the character who was most unfamiliar with this mysterious land would be the one to observe as things unfold. It makes the reader feel almost as confused as Terisa does as she learns what's going on and often finds more questions than answers. There's a touch of romance as well. Although definitely not enough to call this a romance, it was just enough to give this romance enthusiast a relationship to root for. Even if it was a bit slow-paced at times, overall, The Mirror of Her Dreams was an enjoyable read, which has left me looking forward to re-reading the sequel, A Man Ride Through. The Mirror of Her Dreams has a cliff-hanger ending, so readers will definitely want to have the second book on their TBR pile before finishing this one.
I first read The Mirror of Her Dreams probably close to twenty-five years ago, so when I picked it up for a re-read, I barely recalled anything about the story. As I read, some small things started to come back to me, but by and large, it was like reading it for the first time all over again. The thing I did remember was really liking the book the first time around, and while I did still enjoy it this time, I picked up on a few things that I would kind of consider flaws. This is most likely because back then, I took everything I read at face value, but now, after spending six years analyzing authors' writing in order to review books and becoming a published author myself, I tend to see these things a little differently. The main thing that kept the book from receiving a higher rating from me was that the pacing is pretty slow in places. This is especially true of the first half of the novel, which the author primarily uses for world-building and setting up the plot. During this time, there are a number of conversations in which a character tells Terisa rather long stories about the history of Mordant. The author can also be somewhat verbose at times, taking paragraphs to explain or describe certain things that probably could have been pared down a bit. It didn't help that I was extremely tired while reading a large part of it, and kept dozing off. Admittedly, that's mostly my own issue, but I couldn't help wondering if I would have had an easier time staying awake if there had been more action.
What I do (and did) really love about the Mordant's Need duet is the basis for the fantasy elements. In the land of Mordant, mirrors are magical things that are meticulously crafted by Imagers to see other places within their own realm as well as into parallel worlds. Each mirror only shows one place, so there are many mirrors within Mordant. None of them, however, show a man's reflection, and if an Imager makes a flat mirror in which he can see himself, he'll go mad. They also sometimes use mirrors to augur the future. The whole mythology that surrounds the mirrors and Imagers and the Congery (the group of Imagers as a whole) is utterly fascinating and pretty unique, not something I've really read before, albeit admittedly, I haven't read that much fantasy fiction. The other thing that is quite well done is the political intrigue. While parts of this were sometimes what put me to sleep, I can't deny that Stephen Donaldson did a great job with keeping the reader on their toes. It's almost impossible to discern who can be trusted and who can't, because everyone is suspect to some degree. I think this helped play into the reader feeling Terisa's confusion. There is also the whole question of why the King isn't doing anything to save his own land. Is he going senile or is there something greater at play? Also we're given the sense that Terisa and Geraden are going to play a big role in saving Mordant, but what and how that might be is a mystery, as both of them seem like the most unlikely of saviors. All of this is what really kept me reading and made the story an enjoyable one.
Terisa is a young woman from our own world who struggles daily with a sense that she is fading into nothingness. This is probably due to childhood abuse and being largely ignored by her wealthy parents. She now lives alone in a luxury apartment paid for by a father who didn't want her around anymore, while working a dull, dead-end job as a secretary for a charitable mission. Her apartment is filled with mirrors to prove to herself that she really does exist. One night Terisa has a strange dream in which she hears the trumpet of horns and a man saves her from three riders who seem bent on her destruction. The next day, Geraden steps through one of her many mirrors and all but begs her to return with him to his land. They need someone to save them from their enemies, and he believes she is their augured champion. Figuring she has nothing to lose, she goes with him and steps into a medieval-style word of castles and royalty, knights and Imagers. Geraden and some of the others believe Terisa may be a powerful Imager herself, because of the fact that Geraden found her in a room full of mirrors that reflected her image but didn't make her go mad. Of course, Terisa believes no such thing, and repeatedly tells them she is just an ordinary girl, not an Imager or the Champion they seek. I like Terisa, because she is sweet and unassuming. At the same time, I could get a little frustrated with her. Due to her past and her feelings of unreality, she's so uncertain of herself that she often behaves in a very passive way, making her an usual choice as the main POV character. Sometimes she knows what the correct response should be, but she can't stir herself to act, then her inaction has consequences of its own. This does get better as the story goes along though, and with each action she dares to take, I think she grows a little bit more confident in her abilities, or at least, she becomes invested in Mordant and the outcome of the impending war with its neighboring realms. I think what frustrated me most about Terisa though, was her willingness to give in to the seductions of a man who practically made my skin crawl with his oily, slimy air, when she had a great guy like Geraden who'd walk through broken glass for her. However, I can't deny that I understood on some level why she did, and thankfully it didn't go too far. This is another one of those areas where she had to slowly come to the realization on her own, which requires more of that action that is so unfamiliar to her, as well as a bit of patience from the reader.
Geraden is disrespected by his peers for being bumbling and accident-prone, but he's sweet and charming with a heart of gold. He's also extremely determined. He's spent a decade trying to become an Imager, but has not yet been able to rise above the status of Apt (an apprentice). He's the oldest Apt in the Congery by a wide margin, and is known far and wide for his legendary screw-ups. That's why, when the Congery needed someone to step through a mirror and bring back their augured Champion, Geraden was the one chosen for his expendability. Of course, the person he brought back was far from what they'd seen in the mirror. This set off a debate over whether Geraden was the most powerful Imager ever known or if this was just another in a long line of major mistakes. What I liked most about Geraden was his unwavering belief in Terisa being the Champion even though it seems like she's just another one of his mishaps. He has a childlike faith in her, and I admire how he always follows his gut instincts even though he says they're usually wrong. I also adored him for how he behaves like a gentleman and treats Terisa with dignity and respect, like she's someone who matters even if she isn't the Champion. There are many in the Congery who believe that the people or creatures they find in their mirrors are of their own creation and therefore not real and can be used as they see fit, but Geraden believes otherwise.
There are many standout secondary characters, really too many for me to name and each plays an important role in the story. I will mention that my favorites were Geraden's brother, Artegel, and the King's daughter, Myste. Artegel is a charming rogue who is known as the best swordsman in all of Mordant, while Myste is a hopeless romantic who cares a great deal about others. Both become good friends to Terisa and treat Geraden with respect when others don't.
There is much to like about The Mirror of Her Dreams. As I mentioned before, there is plenty of court intrigue, nearly enough to rival Game of Thrones. There is also suspense as multiple attempts are made on both Geraden's and Terisa's lives, leading the other characters and the reader to wonder what might be so special about these seemingly ordinary people that would cause murderous enemies to rise up against them. The magical element is complex, fascinating, and well thought out. Terisa may not be the most compelling POV character I've ever read, especially considering that she carried virtually the entire book herself, but I did enjoy watching her slowly grow to start making some decisions and taking action. Sometimes I wanted Geraden's perspective, but I guess it made sense that the character who was most unfamiliar with this mysterious land would be the one to observe as things unfold. It makes the reader feel almost as confused as Terisa does as she learns what's going on and often finds more questions than answers. There's a touch of romance as well. Although definitely not enough to call this a romance, it was just enough to give this romance enthusiast a relationship to root for. Even if it was a bit slow-paced at times, overall, The Mirror of Her Dreams was an enjoyable read, which has left me looking forward to re-reading the sequel, A Man Ride Through. The Mirror of Her Dreams has a cliff-hanger ending, so readers will definitely want to have the second book on their TBR pile before finishing this one.
January 5, 2022
The first book in a long while that I couldn't figure out.
Okay, so for most books I tend to get a feeling of how things are going to play out. Tropes replay themselves. Similar plot lines. Same old story.
But not this one.
The book follows Terisa, a person from our world who struggles with her own self-existence and whether or not she's real. She meets Gerden, a failed Imager from a fantastical world and a kingdom called Mordant. What follows is a complex tale of lies, treachery, betrayals, friendships, and cunning.
These characters are all interesting puzzles you have to figure out as the book progresses, and it becomes harder to pin them down. This is one of the tantalizing things about this book that I loved. You feel the history and culture of Mordant, along with all its issues.
There are some things that kept me from loving the book, however.
1) It has some sexual content in it that I didn't care for. Master Eremis is a horndog and probably the least likeable character in the book. The sexual stuff (which was written to be erotic in nature) I could have done without.
2) The pace of the book is slooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow. It felt like it would never end until I got to the last 1/4 of the 600ish pages. The first half of the book (roughly) covers the span of 12 days. Sure, there is lots going on, but it just feels like it drags.
3) I love cliffhangers, but this one felt rushed. The last chapter is probably 2-3 pages when most of them are around 15-20 (if not more). And then it just ends.
If it were not for the fact this plot is incredibly complex in its depth, and that it's piqued my interest enough, I would have rated this a 3-star for the reasons listed above.
Overall, if you like slow burn fantasy novels (and I'm not talking romance, although that does seem to be a subplot), you might like this book. If you prefer lighter reads with more action and no sex, I would avoid this book.
Okay, so for most books I tend to get a feeling of how things are going to play out. Tropes replay themselves. Similar plot lines. Same old story.
But not this one.
The book follows Terisa, a person from our world who struggles with her own self-existence and whether or not she's real. She meets Gerden, a failed Imager from a fantastical world and a kingdom called Mordant. What follows is a complex tale of lies, treachery, betrayals, friendships, and cunning.
These characters are all interesting puzzles you have to figure out as the book progresses, and it becomes harder to pin them down. This is one of the tantalizing things about this book that I loved. You feel the history and culture of Mordant, along with all its issues.
There are some things that kept me from loving the book, however.
1) It has some sexual content in it that I didn't care for. Master Eremis is a horndog and probably the least likeable character in the book. The sexual stuff (which was written to be erotic in nature) I could have done without.
2) The pace of the book is slooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow. It felt like it would never end until I got to the last 1/4 of the 600ish pages. The first half of the book (roughly) covers the span of 12 days. Sure, there is lots going on, but it just feels like it drags.
3) I love cliffhangers, but this one felt rushed. The last chapter is probably 2-3 pages when most of them are around 15-20 (if not more). And then it just ends.
If it were not for the fact this plot is incredibly complex in its depth, and that it's piqued my interest enough, I would have rated this a 3-star for the reasons listed above.
Overall, if you like slow burn fantasy novels (and I'm not talking romance, although that does seem to be a subplot), you might like this book. If you prefer lighter reads with more action and no sex, I would avoid this book.
July 16, 2012
NO spoilers. (July, 2012)
This is my 'go to' duology. When I'm feeling blue, or need a pick-me-up, I pull out these two novels. I have no idea how many times I have read them, but I have read them a lot.
I have no idea why, as it's not the most uplifting of stories, but then perhaps it's the fight for good, or something along those lines? I'm not too sure, and I don't really want to analyze it. Suffice to say, that I've had the series for two decades now (ick, that long? Where DOES the time go?), and it's just come to my attention that perhaps I need to replace them, as they are no longer in top condition, but very, very well read - even though I treat my books as I should.
Sigh. Love them, want more.
EDITED: I've just realised, that I bought them two years after the birth of my daughter, when they first came out. So, make that THREE decades (now I'm really depressed, hmmm, perhaps I need to read this series again...).
This is my 'go to' duology. When I'm feeling blue, or need a pick-me-up, I pull out these two novels. I have no idea how many times I have read them, but I have read them a lot.
I have no idea why, as it's not the most uplifting of stories, but then perhaps it's the fight for good, or something along those lines? I'm not too sure, and I don't really want to analyze it. Suffice to say, that I've had the series for two decades now (ick, that long? Where DOES the time go?), and it's just come to my attention that perhaps I need to replace them, as they are no longer in top condition, but very, very well read - even though I treat my books as I should.
Sigh. Love them, want more.
EDITED: I've just realised, that I bought them two years after the birth of my daughter, when they first came out. So, make that THREE decades (now I'm really depressed, hmmm, perhaps I need to read this series again...).
March 17, 2017
I loved this 2 book series. As always, the main requirement of crisp well-defined characters has been met. The storyline is unique (to me) and I totally relate to the main character, which as I have read in other reviews totally irritates many of the other readers... explains alot on other peoples irritation for me through the years (I guess). (I also relate to her counterpart lead character) But yet I totally understand the feeling of invisibility... the struggle... the feeling of having valuable skills that are unseen by others (and sometimes myself) due to my lack of skills in other areas.... And I devour how the characters overcome these limitations or learn to accept them as not a limitation as defined by others. To become more one with oneself....
July 27, 2011
This 2 book story is my favorite fantasy novel of all time. I reread it every couple of years. While it's obviously well written, because Donaldson never puts out a book that isn't, I think it's the core of each character that moves me the most. Each recognizes their imperfections, doubts their strength, but just keeps moving forward and accomplishing more than they thought possible. And while recognizing their own weaknesses, they also recognize the strengths in each other and band together to build an "us" that is far greater than the sum of each "me."
July 27, 2013
OTP GAME TOO REAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't know why I had so much trouble with this last year, unless perhaps I was so repelled by Master Eremis that I just ollied right out (to my past self: that's fair. Dude is 500% ollie-worthy), as this time around I just about blasted through it. Truth be told this is fairly standard swords-and-sorcery fantasy with thinly sketched supporting characters and a great deal of emphasis on the usual Fake Europe Fantasyland political machinations with the bad guys fairly obviously such to the reader and many of the ~revelations~ re: characters' motivations not so much deep as (to jack a joke from Bob's Burgers) deeply dumb, BUT YO: TERISA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW. TERISA. Terisa, I LOVE YOU
What elevates this book from a three or even two star rating/the horrors of mediocrity for me is that so much of it is bound up in the emotional and personal growth of the heroine and main POV character, Terisa. She begins the book trapped in habitual passivity, a lifestyle encouraged by years of neglect and outright abuse on the part of her parents, so much so that even in a dream (that, as this is That Sort of Fantasy Novel, proves somewhat prophetic) she cannot act in her own defense; by the end, it is Terisa who drives most of the positive action, Terisa who does so purposely and with narrative agency - Terisa who argues on Geraden's behalf, Terisa who confronts people of power, who comprehends and acts to counteract plots others have not understood, Terisa who is seen as a threat by our obvious bad guys not because of what she might be but for what she is. And when her prophetic dream becomes a reality well into the book, it is not Terisa who must be saved: it is Terisa who saves Geraden. So, dang, yes, I am just so excited and so happy that this book is what it is with regards to Terisa, that the subject of her agency is the propelling force at the heart of this book.
Tying into that: I hate Eremis a LOT, so so so much, I don't often hate anyone or anything, but I definitely hate this guy and if he doesn't kick it in the next book I'm gonna be so fricking mad. Dude is a burgeoning rapist - he definitely assaults Terisa - and while it's a difficult subplot and one I did not really enjoy in the sense of YEAH, THIS IS THE SHIT I LIKE, I did appreciate how Terisa's understanding of and reactions to Eremis' advances on her evolved. That is: Eremis repeatedly takes great advantage of Terisa, touching her, kissing her, assuming control of her body in ways that are enormously disrespectful and alarming even before he purposefully ignores her rejection, and for much of the book Terisa, having been educated by her parents to accept the attentions of others without commentary, does latch on to him, thinking that Eremis will define her and that the liberties he takes are things she wants even when she is uncomfortable - but as she becomes more cognizant of her own identity and capabilities, she recognizes her discomfort, she recognizes what he is doing and trying to do to her, and she rejects him. And again, I don't like this subplot, it wasn't necessary and there were many other ways in which Donaldson could have achieved the same effect without utilizing sexual violence, but I can appreciate how it ties into Terisa's growth.
Geraden, btw, the dude hero, is WONDERFUL, like, he is a total beta man, he's repeatedly described as being puppyish - eager and kind and thoughtful - and while he totally loves Terisa, like, a LOT, like from first sight, dude is totally like Aladdin spotting Jasmine in the marketplace all WOW [sighs wistfully], he never once forces his feelings on her. While he dislikes Eremis' role as a suitor it is framed as a dislike based not in jealousy so much as a genuine concern that Eremis is dangerous. Like - how to explain it? He's not selfish. It's just really nice, how sweet he is, how he encourages and supports Terisa, how he is everything Eremis and the sorts of male leads Eremis represents are not. He's respectful. He's protective without being possessive. He listens to her; he cares for her and about her. His love is not a demand, but a gift. Yeah.
SOME OTHER STUFF!!!!! I'm going to be honest, a lot of the political machinations in this book were a) rote or b) kind of juvenile, and many of the supporting characters do very silly things. Saddith, Terisa's maid, is consistently slut-shamed and the ~tragicomically mad~ Adept Havelock's unending sexual commentary is hella gross and hella unwanted, BUT I also loved Myste and Elega, the princesses, very different in temperament and want but neither of them shamed or punished for their decisions. I'm very excited for what roles Myste and Elega will play in the second book, and I do hope they have roles to play. But I'm most excited for Terisa and Geraden!!!!!!!!!
I don't know why I had so much trouble with this last year, unless perhaps I was so repelled by Master Eremis that I just ollied right out (to my past self: that's fair. Dude is 500% ollie-worthy), as this time around I just about blasted through it. Truth be told this is fairly standard swords-and-sorcery fantasy with thinly sketched supporting characters and a great deal of emphasis on the usual Fake Europe Fantasyland political machinations with the bad guys fairly obviously such to the reader and many of the ~revelations~ re: characters' motivations not so much deep as (to jack a joke from Bob's Burgers) deeply dumb, BUT YO: TERISA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW. TERISA. Terisa, I LOVE YOU
What elevates this book from a three or even two star rating/the horrors of mediocrity for me is that so much of it is bound up in the emotional and personal growth of the heroine and main POV character, Terisa. She begins the book trapped in habitual passivity, a lifestyle encouraged by years of neglect and outright abuse on the part of her parents, so much so that even in a dream (that, as this is That Sort of Fantasy Novel, proves somewhat prophetic) she cannot act in her own defense; by the end, it is Terisa who drives most of the positive action, Terisa who does so purposely and with narrative agency - Terisa who argues on Geraden's behalf, Terisa who confronts people of power, who comprehends and acts to counteract plots others have not understood, Terisa who is seen as a threat by our obvious bad guys not because of what she might be but for what she is. And when her prophetic dream becomes a reality well into the book, it is not Terisa who must be saved: it is Terisa who saves Geraden. So, dang, yes, I am just so excited and so happy that this book is what it is with regards to Terisa, that the subject of her agency is the propelling force at the heart of this book.
Tying into that: I hate Eremis a LOT, so so so much, I don't often hate anyone or anything, but I definitely hate this guy and if he doesn't kick it in the next book I'm gonna be so fricking mad. Dude is a burgeoning rapist - he definitely assaults Terisa - and while it's a difficult subplot and one I did not really enjoy in the sense of YEAH, THIS IS THE SHIT I LIKE, I did appreciate how Terisa's understanding of and reactions to Eremis' advances on her evolved. That is: Eremis repeatedly takes great advantage of Terisa, touching her, kissing her, assuming control of her body in ways that are enormously disrespectful and alarming even before he purposefully ignores her rejection, and for much of the book Terisa, having been educated by her parents to accept the attentions of others without commentary, does latch on to him, thinking that Eremis will define her and that the liberties he takes are things she wants even when she is uncomfortable - but as she becomes more cognizant of her own identity and capabilities, she recognizes her discomfort, she recognizes what he is doing and trying to do to her, and she rejects him. And again, I don't like this subplot, it wasn't necessary and there were many other ways in which Donaldson could have achieved the same effect without utilizing sexual violence, but I can appreciate how it ties into Terisa's growth.
Geraden, btw, the dude hero, is WONDERFUL, like, he is a total beta man, he's repeatedly described as being puppyish - eager and kind and thoughtful - and while he totally loves Terisa, like, a LOT, like from first sight, dude is totally like Aladdin spotting Jasmine in the marketplace all WOW [sighs wistfully], he never once forces his feelings on her. While he dislikes Eremis' role as a suitor it is framed as a dislike based not in jealousy so much as a genuine concern that Eremis is dangerous. Like - how to explain it? He's not selfish. It's just really nice, how sweet he is, how he encourages and supports Terisa, how he is everything Eremis and the sorts of male leads Eremis represents are not. He's respectful. He's protective without being possessive. He listens to her; he cares for her and about her. His love is not a demand, but a gift. Yeah.
SOME OTHER STUFF!!!!! I'm going to be honest, a lot of the political machinations in this book were a) rote or b) kind of juvenile, and many of the supporting characters do very silly things. Saddith, Terisa's maid, is consistently slut-shamed and the ~tragicomically mad~ Adept Havelock's unending sexual commentary is hella gross and hella unwanted, BUT I also loved Myste and Elega, the princesses, very different in temperament and want but neither of them shamed or punished for their decisions. I'm very excited for what roles Myste and Elega will play in the second book, and I do hope they have roles to play. But I'm most excited for Terisa and Geraden!!!!!!!!!
February 4, 2021
Stephen R. Donaldson’s “The Mirror of Her Dreams”, the first in a two-book series, is competently written, if not a complete novel on its own. It is designed with just enough mystery and intrigue that it will keep the reader asking questions and draw them into the next book despite its collection of frustrating characters.
(This review is part of my “Nostalgia” series, where I infrequently revisit a small collection of fantasy novels in my possession—most of which I inherited rather than collected—to determine if they hold up decades later and are worth keeping.)
I have the sense that I liked this book less than I wanted to, but more than it deserves. It is, I believe, the first time I’ve encounter Donaldson’s work. He certainly wasn’t unknown to me, as I have the vague awareness of his Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever series (or, more accurately, that it was famed for its unlikeable hero who commits an awful act early in his first book), but I went into it not knowing much about his style or his work.
Reminding me of A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court (and apparently a staple of Donaldson’s oeuvre), “The Mirror of Her Dreams” is the story about a young woman from our world brought to a fantasy realm in the hopes that she can save it from an ill-defined threat. Terisa Morgan, the would-be heroine in question, is particularly ill-suited to the task. A victim of emotional abuse as a child, she spends most of the book as a passive observer—she takes no action, provides no insight, doubts her own existences, returns incessantly to the same thoughts and cedes any sense of agency at most opportunities. Chapter 17 is entitled Terisa Takes Action, which says a lot. It is maddening for the reader—I find myself desperately hoping for some twist that somehow this is all some sort of “spell” even though there has been no evidence that this is the case. The characters around her are often fairly one-note, each broken down quickly into a character trait or single focus. And they don’t so much have conversations as engage in consecutive monologues.
From that description one would think I really disliked the book. However, that is not that case. I certainly can’t say I liked it, but there seems to be enough going to keep my attention and I remain ambivalent. Do I know what’s going on? No. Not at all. Much of the narrative pull is unclear, as we see the action unfold from Terisa’s point of view, and she makes minimal effort to untangle the web of motivations and actions. Decent writing counteracts some of the excess, but I don’t think that’s why I’m planning to read the second book in the series (which I was also gifted many years ago). What I see is an author trying to do something interesting that deviates from the standard tropes of the genre in the 1980s and so I’m reserving judgment. My opinion of this book will hinge a lot on the second half of the story. Part of me wants to believe this is set-up to something more interesting and I’m hoping to see if he can somehow make the jump and stick the landing… I have my doubts, but we will see.
(This review is part of my “Nostalgia” series, where I infrequently revisit a small collection of fantasy novels in my possession—most of which I inherited rather than collected—to determine if they hold up decades later and are worth keeping.)
I have the sense that I liked this book less than I wanted to, but more than it deserves. It is, I believe, the first time I’ve encounter Donaldson’s work. He certainly wasn’t unknown to me, as I have the vague awareness of his Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever series (or, more accurately, that it was famed for its unlikeable hero who commits an awful act early in his first book), but I went into it not knowing much about his style or his work.
Reminding me of A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court (and apparently a staple of Donaldson’s oeuvre), “The Mirror of Her Dreams” is the story about a young woman from our world brought to a fantasy realm in the hopes that she can save it from an ill-defined threat. Terisa Morgan, the would-be heroine in question, is particularly ill-suited to the task. A victim of emotional abuse as a child, she spends most of the book as a passive observer—she takes no action, provides no insight, doubts her own existences, returns incessantly to the same thoughts and cedes any sense of agency at most opportunities. Chapter 17 is entitled Terisa Takes Action, which says a lot. It is maddening for the reader—I find myself desperately hoping for some twist that somehow this is all some sort of “spell” even though there has been no evidence that this is the case. The characters around her are often fairly one-note, each broken down quickly into a character trait or single focus. And they don’t so much have conversations as engage in consecutive monologues.
From that description one would think I really disliked the book. However, that is not that case. I certainly can’t say I liked it, but there seems to be enough going to keep my attention and I remain ambivalent. Do I know what’s going on? No. Not at all. Much of the narrative pull is unclear, as we see the action unfold from Terisa’s point of view, and she makes minimal effort to untangle the web of motivations and actions. Decent writing counteracts some of the excess, but I don’t think that’s why I’m planning to read the second book in the series (which I was also gifted many years ago). What I see is an author trying to do something interesting that deviates from the standard tropes of the genre in the 1980s and so I’m reserving judgment. My opinion of this book will hinge a lot on the second half of the story. Part of me wants to believe this is set-up to something more interesting and I’m hoping to see if he can somehow make the jump and stick the landing… I have my doubts, but we will see.
April 25, 2016
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
Stephen Donaldson is a decent writer—he writes plots that make me want to keep on reading. But he creates characters that I just hate! I couldn’t stomach any more of Thomas Covenant after reading two books. Now, I’m confronted with Terisa Morgan, possibly the dullest, most slow witted, whiniest protagonist that I have ever encountered in science fiction and fantasy. Hand her over to the Castellan, she could benefit from a bit of torture, just to make her realize that life could be a whole helluva lot worse.
The excuse that she is presented with: her parents were abusive narcissists, who mostly ignored her. But when she came to their attention, she was apparently punished by being locked in closets and ignored some more. Eventually, when she is old enough, she begins work in a city mission, secretary to the clergyman who is assisting the down and out. In this environment, how do you continue to be so incredibly naïve? Once you’re free of the restrictive home environment, how do you restrain your curiosity about what the world is really like? How do you remain so utterly passive? How did she actually summon the energy to step through the mirror into the world of Mordant?
Despite supposedly being the lynchpin on which the future of Mordant rests, she continues to whine and lollygag around, denying that she could possibly be of any importance and rarely using her brain to think about things. And when she finally does get around to thinking, it’s like she’s moving heavy furniture! Everything is slow and ponderous.
In short, she drives me nuts. But I want to know who done what, so I will read the second book and thank my lucky stars that there are only two of them, unlike the seemingly endless Thomas Covenant series.
Book 219 of my science fiction & fantasy reading project.
Stephen Donaldson is a decent writer—he writes plots that make me want to keep on reading. But he creates characters that I just hate! I couldn’t stomach any more of Thomas Covenant after reading two books. Now, I’m confronted with Terisa Morgan, possibly the dullest, most slow witted, whiniest protagonist that I have ever encountered in science fiction and fantasy. Hand her over to the Castellan, she could benefit from a bit of torture, just to make her realize that life could be a whole helluva lot worse.
The excuse that she is presented with: her parents were abusive narcissists, who mostly ignored her. But when she came to their attention, she was apparently punished by being locked in closets and ignored some more. Eventually, when she is old enough, she begins work in a city mission, secretary to the clergyman who is assisting the down and out. In this environment, how do you continue to be so incredibly naïve? Once you’re free of the restrictive home environment, how do you restrain your curiosity about what the world is really like? How do you remain so utterly passive? How did she actually summon the energy to step through the mirror into the world of Mordant?
Despite supposedly being the lynchpin on which the future of Mordant rests, she continues to whine and lollygag around, denying that she could possibly be of any importance and rarely using her brain to think about things. And when she finally does get around to thinking, it’s like she’s moving heavy furniture! Everything is slow and ponderous.
In short, she drives me nuts. But I want to know who done what, so I will read the second book and thank my lucky stars that there are only two of them, unlike the seemingly endless Thomas Covenant series.
Book 219 of my science fiction & fantasy reading project.
July 9, 2012
After 11/22/63, I needed a palate cleanser. Something I didn't have to worry about too much. This book--which I first read back in junior high or high school--fit the bill perfectly. It's a fat, fluffy, fantasy novel and you know it's all going to come right in the end.
What I didn't remember (this is a recurring theme with books I revisit as an adult) is quite how sexist the whole thing was. I'm not going to complain about Terisa's passivity; he made a good case for why she is the way she is, and I'm fine with that. Not everyone is going to be a Brave Strong Heroine. But I was bothered by the way all the women were described (and valued) based on their physical appearance. I got so sick of reading about how Elega looks best in candlelight and Myste looks best in daylight. Maybe it was OK to mention once, as a comment on their various strengths, but to harp on it just got old.
Though it's a thick book, it's best read quickly. Otherwise, you're liable to dwell on the plot weaknesses (of which there are many) and that would just ruin it. It's best not to think too deeply about it; then you're able to just enjoy the escapist fantasy of it all.
What I didn't remember (this is a recurring theme with books I revisit as an adult) is quite how sexist the whole thing was. I'm not going to complain about Terisa's passivity; he made a good case for why she is the way she is, and I'm fine with that. Not everyone is going to be a Brave Strong Heroine. But I was bothered by the way all the women were described (and valued) based on their physical appearance. I got so sick of reading about how Elega looks best in candlelight and Myste looks best in daylight. Maybe it was OK to mention once, as a comment on their various strengths, but to harp on it just got old.
Though it's a thick book, it's best read quickly. Otherwise, you're liable to dwell on the plot weaknesses (of which there are many) and that would just ruin it. It's best not to think too deeply about it; then you're able to just enjoy the escapist fantasy of it all.
November 21, 2011
The book is well-written, and some parts are actually enjoyable, but I only gave it one star because half of the book focused on a character which I found to be absolutely irritating. Halfway into it, I was prepared to throw it away. I found the character to be that annoying. But, I didn't throw it away. Instead, I skipped all the way to the end, and found out that this character, Terisa Morgan, doesn't get any better. She stays almost as weak and stupid as she was at the start of the novel, only mildly showing some intelligence at the very very very end of the book. For a person who likes strong women characters, or at least female characters who may start out weak, but who at least emerge stronger a lot earlier in the the book, I really really hated this character. She didn't think. She kept getting fooled by the same man. She was constantly weak and needed to be defended. No doubt, she had a worthwhile part to play as the other "hero" of the story, but it was overshadowed by the constant barrage of insults piling up in my head.
I'm going to read the second novel, but only because I want to know what happens to Geraden. He may be foolish and clumsy, but at least he has a brain.
I'm going to read the second novel, but only because I want to know what happens to Geraden. He may be foolish and clumsy, but at least he has a brain.
November 15, 2012
It's been a while since I read this book. Stephen Donaldson has a way of creating thoroughly dislikeable lead characters. I found the same with his Thomas Covenant series, where I was getting increasingly annoyed with Thomas' whining and poor action. This book is much the same in that regard as Terisa's self-involved ignorance gave me, to put it crudely, the shits. There were so many instances in which even a young child would have thought 'hang on a sec, this doesn't seem right' and yet she is completely unaware.
I understand that Donaldson's aim was perhaps to have his readers witness the growth of a woman, to have her come into her own and become, well, real. But I find that concept itself quite difficult to deal with, the idea that women ought to undergo trauma and sexual objectification and abuse in order to grow. Unlike her male counterpart, Terisa's main purpose was to have things happen TO her.
The fantasy world was interesting, though, as was the way in which magic functioned. And, though I spent a good amount of the first book just wishing Terisa dead so that we could actually concentrate on the story and on Gerarden without her incessant idiocy getting in the way, I did want to continue reading it and read the concluding book.
I understand that Donaldson's aim was perhaps to have his readers witness the growth of a woman, to have her come into her own and become, well, real. But I find that concept itself quite difficult to deal with, the idea that women ought to undergo trauma and sexual objectification and abuse in order to grow. Unlike her male counterpart, Terisa's main purpose was to have things happen TO her.
The fantasy world was interesting, though, as was the way in which magic functioned. And, though I spent a good amount of the first book just wishing Terisa dead so that we could actually concentrate on the story and on Gerarden without her incessant idiocy getting in the way, I did want to continue reading it and read the concluding book.
May 27, 2007
Edited: Dear Stephen R Donaldson-- Write shorter books!!
heh- This book happens to be part one of two. No part of the book actually mentions it, not the dust cover, nor the title page, nor any other decent location. You realize that this is a two booker series when you get to about thirty pages before the end, realize that all of the threads he has opened can't possibly finish by the end of those thirty pages and scream in frustration because 'damn it! it was getting really good'.
Donaldson seems to be a huge fan of writing stories about Americans who are emotially disconnected with their own worlds becomming magically transported to other worlds to experience 'real' connection. Then again, I'm only 5 chapters in...
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