Author: Stephen R. Donaldson
Review: September 14, 2008
Edition: 1987 printing (0-345-34697-1)
Pages: 627
Overall Rating: 4/5 [Good]
Synopsis: Terisa is a woman who has been distanced from her own existence since her childhood. She’s sure she’s fading. Then a man comes through a mirror and offers her an entirely new world---one that she soon finds occupied by betrayal and secrets; a fairytale kingdom on a downward arc to destruction that maybe only she can save.
Strengths: Strong details, good plot, reasonable pacing.
Weaknesses: 1-dimensional characters.
Further Review: Donaldson does a great job of describing the scenery stylistically, but sometimes his character writing is a bit fake or lacking. It’s unfortunate because his characters have a really strong foundation; they are definitely not typical heroes and heroines of fantasy novels. Terisa, the main character, is weak and has to cope with it---she’s not brought into a new world in which she’s suddenly powerful; instead, she’s lost and afraid and reacts humanly to that and I love that about this book. It's probably my favorite feature---as much as I sometimes wanted to scream at Terisa, she is a refreshing character. On the other hand, Donaldson’s characters have one big flaw: they only really have one big trait apiece. While they’re unique in the genre, they didn’t quite get the depth they needed. This isn’t an action/adventure book; as a matter of fact, almost all of it takes place in one area and it's mostly about court conspiracy. It’s a very character-driven story, and it comes remarkably close to achieving that. But with over 600 pages in the book, it does get a bit tiring to not really be surprised by any of the actual characters.

Donaldson makes up for this by having a lot of different characters who each have their own motives. This makes the world far more in-depth. The varied cast means there is a lot of interaction between characters, rather than focusing solely on Terisa and her problems.

Despite that the characters are flat in some regards, I really do like them; Donaldson does a good job of making the reader like the heroes and hate the villains. Furthermore, Terisa and Geraden do grow a lot during the book and that also lends them some depth. Really, it just barely falls short; it's just one step between making them good characters and the type of characters that stick with you long after you’ve finished the book.

As for the plot, it is well-paced and interesting. The mysteries involving the different factions, the limited perspective, and the characters’ own movements allow for a strong flow---we learn things as Terisa does, and we’re guided by her frustrations and insecurities in Mordant.

This book also ends so abruptly---almost no questions are answered, so I can’t make too much comment about how the plot wraps up until I’ve read the second book; clearly the two really weren’t meant to be disjointed. (Although, I’m grateful because the book would have been annoying to handle at its length; don’t you hate how bindings make it hard to hold open long books without cracking spines?) ( )

I read these years and years ago and generally liked them. I had a chance to pick up the first book on super discount and swiped my querido's copy of the second, so now I have the set in my library. The only other Donaldson I've read is Daughter of Regals. According to my querido, those three books are the only ones worth reading. Of course the Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever books were all over the bookstores for decades, but they never looked interesting enough to actually read.

Anyway, this is the story of Terisa and Geraden. She's in a meaningless life in New York living in an apartment full of mirrors (to reassure her of her own existence) when Geraden arrives through the mirror to ask her to help save his world. He comes from Mordant where mirrors are magical portals, but unknown enemies threaten the kingdom and the old king is ineffective and his chief advisor is insane. It's a classic fantasy adventure with plots, counterplots, plot twists, swordfights, chases, secret passages and secret plans, seduction and romance, magical attacks, and more.

I think the story is quite imaginative and character driven. It explores the morality of magic and power to some degree, and the nature of human relationships. Most of the characters are quite likeable in their separate ways: the king, the princesses, several of the Imagers (who make and use the mirrors), Geraden's family, the prince from the neighboring kingdom, guardsmen. But sometimes I just wanted to kick Terisa for her stupid existential angst and her stupidity in trusting the wrong people in the face of accumulating evidence. I understand why the author developed her the way he did--it was essential to the story--but couldn't he have done it without so much internal monologue, which made the story drag in places? Most of that was in the first book where Terisa is trying to understand what is happening and what her role is. At the end of it she has figured things out and declared herself. The second book is just a straightforward quest to defeat the enemies now revealed as the myriad characters who have a role in the outcome come together. They even have the chance to revisit New York so that she can confront her past (a childhood of neglect and emotional abuse) and put it to bed before getting on with her new, fulfilled, adult life as a survivor. And of course the traits that display her apparent weakness and victimhood turn into her strengths by the end. Certainly it is a story with many positive messages and it all works out in the end. What more can you ask for in a fantasy? ( )

Link to a review on my personal website. ( )

Terisa Morgan lives in an apartment walled with mirrors. Seeing her reflection is the only way she can be sure she exists. Then one day, a man named Geraden comes through a mirror and begs her assistance in his world, where mirrors are magic and she has the power to use them. Fabulous story, immensely sympathetic characters. ( )

Donaldson does not write cheery books. However, this one is not nearly as dark and difficult as his Covenant novels. It once again features a person from our world, unwillingly and unintentionally drawn into a fantasy world where she is desperately needed. However, figuring out what that need is, and what her role will be is never easy in a Donaldson book. The strong characters will draw you in and keep you interested in this book. This was Donaldson's first book after the Covenant series, if you enjoy his work, you'll like this, and if you aren't familiar with his previous novels, this would be a good place to start. ( )