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ravenlily's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
weechito's review against another edition
4.0
Contains all the resolution the first book lacked (so much happens in the first 100 pages that they should honestly have been the conclusion of the previous book), but brings new problems: the magic system is unclear (I feel like a chart or diagram might have been necessary to understand all the flat glass/curved glass stuff), and the plot sometimes meanders in the middle in ways that don’t seem to develop much of anything. The finale starts mundanely (admittedly, I’m not one who loves big battle sequences), but it gets better as it goes along. In all, a strong but flawed conclusion to a decent two-book series (and can I just add a quick note of appreciation that Donaldson didn’t feel obligated to make this a trilogy).
deecreatenola's review against another edition
4.0
I'm so surprised that I'm giving this book, the second in a duology, 4 stars when I only gave the first one 2 stars. In fact, I'm surprised I read it!
I read Mirror of her Dreams two years ago. It was a second reading, the first having been some thirty years prior. I had remembered it fondly, but the second read showed a weak female protagonist, cringy scenes with someone who was clearly a villain, and a generally unappealing masculine point of view.
I had this second book from my mom's collection, and as much as I didn't like my more recent read of the first novel, I felt compelled to read the conclusion. It was slow going at first, and I considered abandoning it. However, Terisa, our main character, was finally showing some gumption. She wasn't ringing her hands, she wasn't lamenting, she was doing something! And her companion, Geradon, had also developed a better sense of himself, confident and in charge.
By the second half of this novel, I was all in. The story actually became exciting! Threads that had been left hanging all over the first book began to tie together. Characters began to act in realistic ways. Finally, after about 900 pages total, it became a page turner.
This should've and could've been a single novel. How many people abandoned the story before even getting to the second book? I'll allow that it could be the fate of more modern reading tastes. Perhaps in the 80s we didn't need so much propulsion. Perhaps we were more content to let the story wash over us. But a tighter, single book would be better.
This is still a book clearly written by a man. He delights in writing scenes charged with villainous sexual tension. He's not graphic, but you are there as the villain seeks to complete a rape in more than one scene. But love scenes are very much off the page.
Thankfully, however, nearly all of the women come into their own in this book. They are still the helpers (eye roll) but they are strong and compelling.
One question I have with the title. I don't think a man ever rides through a mirror or glass. What does this title mean? Is it the return of King Joyse? Does it refer to when Geradon translated to Domne at the end of the first book? I find it strange, especially since it's mainly Terisa's story. Why is it the mirror of her dreams but a man rides through? It could be viewed as Terisa and Geradon's story.
This book would have greatly benefited from a map. Geradon and Terisa travel all over Mordant, to each "Care." (I love that the individual regions are called Cares.) A map, like you find in The Lord of the Rings, would've been welcome.
I find it interesting that the leader of each Care is titled by their region: the leader of Domne is the Domne; the leader of Tor is the Tor; and so forth. Orison (is that just the castle or the region) houses the king, King Joyse. But Cadwal (is Cadwal a Care?) has a High King. In my previous review I questioned by Joyse is a king but Festten is a high king, even though he doesn't seem to be over all the lands like Joyse is.
In general, the world building is strong. Some words continue to make me stumble, like monomach. I looked it up but couldn't find a definition in use today. I did discover that a chasuble is a robe! For much of both books I thought it was like a ceremonial necklace, something like university presidents might wear.
Donaldson finally redeemed himself with this novel. Not sure I will read more of his work, but feel very content with this duology.
I read Mirror of her Dreams two years ago. It was a second reading, the first having been some thirty years prior. I had remembered it fondly, but the second read showed a weak female protagonist, cringy scenes with someone who was clearly a villain, and a generally unappealing masculine point of view.
I had this second book from my mom's collection, and as much as I didn't like my more recent read of the first novel, I felt compelled to read the conclusion. It was slow going at first, and I considered abandoning it. However, Terisa, our main character, was finally showing some gumption. She wasn't ringing her hands, she wasn't lamenting, she was doing something! And her companion, Geradon, had also developed a better sense of himself, confident and in charge.
By the second half of this novel, I was all in. The story actually became exciting! Threads that had been left hanging all over the first book began to tie together. Characters began to act in realistic ways. Finally, after about 900 pages total, it became a page turner.
This should've and could've been a single novel. How many people abandoned the story before even getting to the second book? I'll allow that it could be the fate of more modern reading tastes. Perhaps in the 80s we didn't need so much propulsion. Perhaps we were more content to let the story wash over us. But a tighter, single book would be better.
This is still a book clearly written by a man. He delights in writing scenes charged with villainous sexual tension. He's not graphic, but you are there as the villain seeks to complete a rape in more than one scene. But love scenes are very much off the page.
Thankfully, however, nearly all of the women come into their own in this book. They are still the helpers (eye roll) but they are strong and compelling.
One question I have with the title. I don't think a man ever rides through a mirror or glass. What does this title mean? Is it the return of King Joyse? Does it refer to when Geradon translated to Domne at the end of the first book? I find it strange, especially since it's mainly Terisa's story. Why is it the mirror of her dreams but a man rides through? It could be viewed as Terisa and Geradon's story.
This book would have greatly benefited from a map. Geradon and Terisa travel all over Mordant, to each "Care." (I love that the individual regions are called Cares.) A map, like you find in The Lord of the Rings, would've been welcome.
I find it interesting that the leader of each Care is titled by their region: the leader of Domne is the Domne; the leader of Tor is the Tor; and so forth. Orison (is that just the castle or the region) houses the king, King Joyse. But Cadwal (is Cadwal a Care?) has a High King. In my previous review I questioned by Joyse is a king but Festten is a high king, even though he doesn't seem to be over all the lands like Joyse is.
In general, the world building is strong. Some words continue to make me stumble, like monomach. I looked it up but couldn't find a definition in use today. I did discover that a chasuble is a robe! For much of both books I thought it was like a ceremonial necklace, something like university presidents might wear.
Donaldson finally redeemed himself with this novel. Not sure I will read more of his work, but feel very content with this duology.
neglet's review against another edition
One of my favorite fantasies ever ... full of twisty political intrigue. I had real trouble putting it down (ie, I stayed up until midnight 3 nights straight), although I've read it a couple times before.
kidgoldenarm's review against another edition
2.0
First off, read both books of this duology, if you're going to read it at all. There is NO POINT to reading just one.
Minor spoiler: Book 1 ends with a MAJOR CLIFF HANGER so you HAVE to read book 2
"The Mirror of Her Dreams" (book 1)
"A Man Rides Through" (book 2)
So with that out of the way, I will review both as a single work.
There are so many cool ideas and concepts in this duology. The story in itself has a pretty good pace that chugs along evenly and with good momentum.
The writing style is a bit raw and can be a bit clunky here and there, but it doesn't detract or distract from the flow of the story. I didn't feel like I was ever pulled out of the story by the wordsmithing. But then again I don't ever recall being really impressed or find any parts remarkable either.
The characters in this series will make reading this book feel like you are wielding a double edged blade without a hilt that you have to hold in your bare hands.
It's nice to read a fantasy story where the characters are not flawless, archetypes. Even some of the lead characters are indeed dumb, annoying, and incompetent. So while it's refreshing, original, and probably a bit more realistic, it's also maddeningly frustrating at times.
The supporting characters tend to be 2 dimensional, but are serviceable.
The world building and the magic in this world featuring mirrors is pretty well drawn, and has several layers of depth. Although there are going to be times where these rules seem to be bent and broken for the convenience of the plot in the second book.
The books build and build and build to try and deliver a huge pay-off and while it is definitely action-packed, it's telegraphed so far in advance, and the author did such a good job of writing himself into some inescapable corners, that many of resolutions and closures near the end stink of deus ex machinas, breaking of rules previously established, characters acting out of character, and it just feels really forced.
Very contrived and forced is how I would describe the entire second book.
There's a lot of fun to be had, but there's also a lot of cringe inducing hackery at the end.
Also the story is just steeped in SO MUCH RAPE, it's really not easy to stomach. There are several digressions that go deep into the rape fantasies of some of the older characters that will creep you the fuck out. I guess if the point was to make you loathe these characters then: Mission accomplished. But if it makes you feel kinda skeevy about the author, that is also a side-effect as well. Also the women in this book are portrayed very shabbily.
So to conclude. I liked the imaginative world-building, good pacing, and hated the endings and rape imagery.
I can't say I can recommend this one.
Minor spoiler: Book 1 ends with a MAJOR CLIFF HANGER so you HAVE to read book 2
"The Mirror of Her Dreams" (book 1)
"A Man Rides Through" (book 2)
So with that out of the way, I will review both as a single work.
There are so many cool ideas and concepts in this duology. The story in itself has a pretty good pace that chugs along evenly and with good momentum.
The writing style is a bit raw and can be a bit clunky here and there, but it doesn't detract or distract from the flow of the story. I didn't feel like I was ever pulled out of the story by the wordsmithing. But then again I don't ever recall being really impressed or find any parts remarkable either.
The characters in this series will make reading this book feel like you are wielding a double edged blade without a hilt that you have to hold in your bare hands.
It's nice to read a fantasy story where the characters are not flawless, archetypes. Even some of the lead characters are indeed dumb, annoying, and incompetent. So while it's refreshing, original, and probably a bit more realistic, it's also maddeningly frustrating at times.
The supporting characters tend to be 2 dimensional, but are serviceable.
The world building and the magic in this world featuring mirrors is pretty well drawn, and has several layers of depth. Although there are going to be times where these rules seem to be bent and broken for the convenience of the plot in the second book.
The books build and build and build to try and deliver a huge pay-off and while it is definitely action-packed, it's telegraphed so far in advance, and the author did such a good job of writing himself into some inescapable corners, that many of resolutions and closures near the end stink of deus ex machinas, breaking of rules previously established, characters acting out of character, and it just feels really forced.
Very contrived and forced is how I would describe the entire second book.
There's a lot of fun to be had, but there's also a lot of cringe inducing hackery at the end.
Also the story is just steeped in SO MUCH RAPE, it's really not easy to stomach. There are several digressions that go deep into the rape fantasies of some of the older characters that will creep you the fuck out. I guess if the point was to make you loathe these characters then: Mission accomplished. But if it makes you feel kinda skeevy about the author, that is also a side-effect as well. Also the women in this book are portrayed very shabbily.
So to conclude. I liked the imaginative world-building, good pacing, and hated the endings and rape imagery.
I can't say I can recommend this one.
booklady100's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the tension between romance and desparation. The author held a fine line between these two emotions -- something often missing in his Thomas Covenant Chronicles.
ecsun345's review against another edition
5.0
this was awesome
there was a happy ending for everybody
yay
there was a happy ending for everybody
yay
lyndiane's review against another edition
5.0
The story picks up immediately after the conclusion of "The Mirror of her Dreams".
This sequel is full of political twists and turns, with magical thrills aplenty. The intensity of the battle scenes is grand and comparable to those depicted in the LOTR movies.
At 536 ebook pages (on my Aldiko reader) this was a satisfying page turner.
This sequel is full of political twists and turns, with magical thrills aplenty. The intensity of the battle scenes is grand and comparable to those depicted in the LOTR movies.
At 536 ebook pages (on my Aldiko reader) this was a satisfying page turner.
becasaur27's review against another edition
2.0
Whew. Finished this monster. I really did not feel like this "series" was two separate books, so it just felt really never ending. There is some payoff at the end, but I didn't really feel it was enough to justify the whole story. Overall, just not for me. I thought the pacing was too slow - action scenes really really spread out and I didn't find the intrigue that interesting.