The Mirror of Her Dreams: Volume I of Mordant's Need

The Mirror of Her Dreams by Stephen R. Donaldson is a fantasy novel that begins with Terisa, a young woman living in the modern world. She is naive, passive and constantly in a state of ambivalence. She has no purpose in life and her only wish is to prove to herself that she really exists. As such, her existence is not fulfilling or adventurous. That all changes when a strange figure emerges from her mirror and tells her that only she can save his homeland. When Terisa decides to go against the odds of her life and follow the stranger through the mirror, her life changes forever.I really loved The Mirror of Her Dreams. It is a long novel that spends a great deal of time developing the characters and the world around them. There is action and there is treachery. There is war and there is romance. That said, it is a slow moving book and it takes its time. If you aren't in the mood to read that type of novel, you may not enjoy The Mirror of Her Dreams.The world building and magic system is really unique. There is a great deal of backstory to the kingdoms that make up this realm and there is a real history behind everything that happens. All of the events feel real and inevitable. The world feel like it could truly exist. The magic system itself is the most interesting part of the book. In this book, magic is done through mirrors. Mirrors are not used to look at reflections but to bring in figures or items from other realms. In fact, looking at a mirror that shows your own reflection will make you disappear or, in the least, lose your mind. This is the function that brings Terisa to Mordant from her world. She is chosen through mirror magic to be the champion for Mordant and is transferred to the fantasy world. For Terisa, mirrors are just looking glasses, so the entire idea is strange and confusing to her, as well as the readers.Speaking of Terisa, she is an infuriatingly passive character. Her whole life has centered around appeasing the people in her life and sitting back and letting the world go on around her. She is plagued by the feeling that she is fading and will disappear if she doesn't focus on her own existence. She is a depressed, naive character who is not used to making any real decisions. She grows throughout the book and the entire point is for her to realize that she exists and can make a difference. She begins to come into her own but it takes some time. At times you want to reach into the book and shake her. If there weren't other characters who were more likable, the book would be very trying.Fortunately, all of the secondary characters are fantastic. I love many of them and I despise others, which is a sign of good writing. They are all fully fleshed out and feel very distinct. Geraden, the male lead who brings Terisa through the mirror, is lovely. He is adorable and totally endearing. His brother Artagel is hilarious and strong. Master Eremis makes me want to slap him every time he comes into the story. All of the characters are fantastic. The story ends on a huge cliffhanger, so I'm going to be reading the sequel as soon as I can!If you enjoy sprawling fantasty worlds with a focus on magic and character growth, definitely grab this one!

I have read this book many times since high school. The two main characters are unforgettable and honestly flawed. The writing is somewhat cumbersome in places and the story in the first book only makes since after the second. Still I come back to it and see different things every time I read it. It still holds passion and love even reading it 20 years after I first read it. I haven't been able to get into the author's other popular series, but I will probably come back to this book and it's conclusion many more times in the next 20 years. It's perfectly imperfect.

I read this long ago when it was first published. I decided to reread this classic fantasy in the hopes my memories of it wouldn't be tarnished. Oh my goodness! In the 30+ years since I read it last (yes, I have the first edition, first printing), I have grown and changed. This book continues to speak to me and, in the mark of a truly great book, it has gained depth as I have.When I read it long ago, I focused nearly exclusively on the story of Teresa. Now, I found myself watching the story of King Joyse as this seemingly feeble king let his kingdom go to hell in a hand basket. What was he doing? Why? How would this all end?And yes, watching the psychologically damaged Teresa wander through the story was painful in some ways, but I could see her start to grow. That made me happy. And Geradon, what can I say? The oldest apprentice to the mages ever, his earnest caring for people won me over from the start.The only problem with the book is that you will need the second book, A Man Rides Through, immediately. I remember reading the book the first time. I got to the last page and couldn't believe that the book ended there. I actually checked the card catalog to make sure my book wasn't missing pages. It was a WHOLE YEAR before I got to finish the story. At least now, that isn't an issue.Who would like it? Readers of fantasy who don't mind taking their time in discovering the ins and outs of a world and its people. If you want a quick read, this series won't be your cup of tea. But if you want a fantasy with people who grow and change, a dose of political intrigue, and good people fighting the dark in the only ways they know how, then this book is for you.

I don't give out many 5 star book reviews.I loved these books as a teen and was curious what another return trip might be like 20 years later. I'm not disappointed. I am still mesmerized by Donaldson's skill with world creation. Unique settings and character development are my thing. These books leave me filled to the brim.Terisa is a frustratingly flawed character - niave and stunted. At a first glance, a damsel in distress waiting to be saved. Perhaps this would be off-putting in any other story, but paired with the rich detail, watching her slowly evolve is a pleasure to read. Geradin is very different, but equally flawed.He is instantly likeable for the strength of character that she lacks and aspires for. Though told from Terisa's perspective, he does much to carry the story while she comes in to her own. They balance each other well and together build an unlikely team against the odds. Eremis is even more cringe-worthy as a grown woman, manipulating and preying on weak women such as Terisa. He very much manifests as the father issues and neglect Terisa must overcome. I could go on at length about the tapestry of characters that make this book so enjoyable.The thing I love most is the magic of this world and the story of an ordinary woman as she discovers the power that existed in her all along. Themes like this are common enough, but they are rarely written so well.

Read it when i was younger (in Swedish) and thought it was so do, but there was a fun moment in it i wanted to revisit, and i was curious to know if I'd like it better as an adult of 31.Haven't gotten more than a few chapters in, but so far, it has not improved. The writing style is dated, the author seens to consider style superior to substance, and moods turn at the drop of a hat. This is the type of writer who expects you to believe you can read a whole novel from one frown, but if someone spells something straight out, everyone is too stupid to see it. It is vapid and poorly characterized. If anyone likes this, i can only guess it has its roots in nostalgia.The writing is ham. Don't buy.

Excellent book, along with its second volume. I have owned since they were originally published in paperback, but ..... My Son has read them a number of times [they are his best book/story ever], my wife has read them and my daughter has nearly completed 'A Man Rides Through'. So my copies have become very dog-eared. Unfortunately this work is now out of print. Therefore I have had to purchase used copies. Both of these are clean copies, although they are are not mint, they are very suitable replacements for my old tattered ones.

Stephen R. Donaldson's Mordant's Need duology - The Mirror of Her Dreams and A Man Rides Through - is one of my all-time favourites. It is an original and inventive tale that somehow binds just the right amounts of ordinary, bizarre, adventure, dangers, romance, relationships, and intrigue. Characters are well-drawn, multi-faceted individuals, and yet at times representational of elements of society most will recognise. The two wonderful lead characters are far from obvious heroes, in their own societies almost invisible, in their own ways both flawed, damaged, fragile, near-useless. And yet both rise through dangerous experiences to become more than they were, to triumph over the subtle and not-so-subtle evils in their lives. I always find these two books a cracking read, and then the themes and characters stay with me long afterwards. Perhaps I like to believe that, though we are all quite ordinary, maybe we might each be capable of such growth and success. It's an almost poetic adventure of ordinary people in very extraordinary circumstances. There's a message to me there: out of all their hardships, failings and doubts, they strive anyway, and they shine.(NB: Intrigued by the word Mordant? Look it up...)

I was searching through my book boxes in the loft for something to read and came across book 1 of Mordant's Need.I read it from cover to cover enjoying both the story line and characters, at the three quarter stage I searched Amazon for the second volume and ordered it. Book 2 arrived on the morning of my last chapter of book 1.

Good.