windchime reviewed Mordant's Need by Stephen Donaldson
Review of "Mordant's Need" on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
I first read the two books that comprise Mordant's Need (The Mirror of Her Dreams and A Man Rides Through) many, MANY years ago. I loved them then, and I still love them now. Stephen Donaldson paints an unusual, perhaps unique, system of magic that I find refreshing and intriguing. The magic system aside, world-building is a little on the light side, but you get enough history of Mordant and its neighbours - and their conflicts - to give a satisfying background to the story.
For me, the primary strength of these books is in their characters - not just Terisa and Geraden, the central characters, but all the supporting cast as well. Many of them appear somewhat one-dimensional and clichéd to begin with, but the more you learn about them the more interesting they become. Each has their strengths and weaknesses, talents and flaws which influence everything they do. …
I first read the two books that comprise Mordant's Need (The Mirror of Her Dreams and A Man Rides Through) many, MANY years ago. I loved them then, and I still love them now. Stephen Donaldson paints an unusual, perhaps unique, system of magic that I find refreshing and intriguing. The magic system aside, world-building is a little on the light side, but you get enough history of Mordant and its neighbours - and their conflicts - to give a satisfying background to the story.
For me, the primary strength of these books is in their characters - not just Terisa and Geraden, the central characters, but all the supporting cast as well. Many of them appear somewhat one-dimensional and clichéd to begin with, but the more you learn about them the more interesting they become. Each has their strengths and weaknesses, talents and flaws which influence everything they do.
If you like good old-fashioned fantasy, with just enough darkness to give it a bit of spice, then I highly recommend this book (or books, depending on whether you get the omnibus edition or not).
