A Man Rides Through

The characters Teresa and Geraden now have an idea of why they were so endangered and even about what they might do to help Mordant, but they are on the run and still subject to attacks by imagery. The action and developments in this second novel provide a faster-paced, less confusing story, but there are still plenty of surprises. As well, the story doesn't entirely stay with Teresa's point of view, so the world of Mordant widens considerably.

And the payoff is the best I've read.

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 show more 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? show less

I was so glad I had this already in my library when I finished The Mirror of Her Dreams. I started right in on it, no waiting a year for it to be published as I did when it was first published. Just as it did 30+ years ago, it drew me into its story.

This book flew along as there was not the need to create the world and people as there was in the first book. Terisa and Geraden discover who they are and finally take action. While disaster seems to follow them from place to place, they are growing in confidence and resolve.

Yes, I did follow Terisa's growth the most, but I also watched King Joyse and began to understand his path as Terisa and Geraden did. I found their insights fascinating.

Who would like it? To begin with, this is not a show more standalone book; you must read The Mirror of Her Dreams first. But if you enjoy well-written fantasy, a touch of intrigue, and good people holding back the dark, then you would enjoy this series. show less

I strongly disliked Donaldon's best known "Thomas Covenant" series, but I liked Morsant' Need; the leading characters are much nicer people. Italso has a unique magic system based on the power of mirrors --a traditional fairytale and folklore concept, but here central to the culture.

They say that the darkest time is just before the dawn and in this second part of 'Mordant's Need', the two heroes find themselves on a desperate search of the land of Mordant for allies, but disaster only seems to follow them as they have the Queen stolen right from under their noses as she prepares to return to the side of her husband and the King's youngest daughter going off after her abductors in an attempt to rescue her. Fortunately, Prince Kragan, the Alend Contender currently besieging Mordant's King is an honourable sort and he lets them through to give the news to the King before the forces march off to the final confrontation with the evil forces confronting Mordant

It does seem that Mordant is facing a calamitous challenge show more and Donaldson doesn't quite come up with a successful answer as to how everything gets resolved - I don't think that truly happy endings are something he's very comfortable with somehow show less

This book was just as good as I remember it. The break between books is almost artificial, as the events pick up only moments after the end of the last volume. This book, however, has a much faster pace than the previous one. At least part of the reason is that Terisa is finally figuring out at least some of what is really going on, and actually taking action on her own behalf. It is wonderful to see both Terisa and Geraden begin to come into their own self and abilities, though not without making mistakes along way, with occassional fatal results. The end is very satisfying, as has a somewhat fairy-tale feel.

Better than the first of the books in the series. The characters seem to come into their own and become more comfortable in their own skin in this volume. Some of the characters are horribly despicable, and some are completely wonderful. Enthusiasts of science fiction will like this.