Book Description
The year is 1502, and seven-year-old Bianca de Nevada lives perched high above the rolling hills and valleys of Tuscany and Umbria at Montefiore, the farm of her beloved father, Don Vicente. But one day a noble entourage makes its way up the winding slopes to the farm -- and the world comes to Montefiore.
In the presence of Cesare Borgia and his sister, the lovely and vain Lucrezia -- decadent children of a wicked pope -- no one can claim innocence for very long. When Borgia sends Don Vicente on a years-long quest, he leaves Bianca under the care -- so to speak -- of Lucrezia.
She plots a dire fate for the young girl in the woods below the farm, but in the dark forest salvation can be found as well ...
A lyrical work of stunning creative vision,
Mirror Mirror gives fresh life to the classic story of Snow White -- and has a truth and beauty all its own.
Download Description
"E-Book Extra: "Little Snow-White" by the Brothers Grimm (read the original version of the classic fairy tale)Think you know who's the fairest of them all? Think again. Bestselling re-imaginer of classic fairy tales sets the Snow White story in Renaissance Italy, where the madly vain Lucrezia Borgia plots a dire fate for seven-year-old Bianca de Nevada (a.k.a. Snow White).A lyrical work of stunning creative vision, Mirror Mirror is set in Renaissance Italy, where Gregory Maguire draws a connection between the poison apple in the original Snow White story and the Borgia family's well-known appetite for poisoning its foes. In Mirror Mirror Snow White is called Bianca de Nevada. She is born on a farm in Tuscany in 1495, and when she is seven, her father is ordered by the duplicitous Cesare Borgia to go on a quest to reclaim the relic of the original Tree of Knowledge, a branch bearing three living apples that are thousands of years old. Bianca is left in the care of her father's farm staff and the beautiful -- and madly vain -- Lucrecia Borgia, Cesare's sister. But Lucrecia becomes jealous of her lecherous brother's interest in the growing child and plots a dire fate for Bianca in the woods below the farm. There Bianca finds herself in the home of seven dwarves -- the creators of the magic mirror -- who await the return of their brother, the eighth dwarf, long gone on a quest of his own. In the evocative style of Maguire's earlier novels, Mirror Mirror is a fresh, compelling take on a beloved classic tale.
Customer Reviews:
Not my favorite Maguire book.......2007-10-08
I have read Wicked, Son of a Witch, Lost, and Mirror Mirror. I loved the other three (my favorite was Lost). I found that Mirror Mirror was very slow through the middle of the book. It picks up a little at the end, but I guess I've been spoiled by Maguire and expected miraculous books all the time. This one doesn't match the other three, but does have some interesting parts to it. However, I don't understand why the dwarves were stone-like creatures. Am I missing the symbolism (symbolism is not my forte)? Overall, I could have skipped this book. If this is your first Maguire book, please try another one. The rest are fantastic!
Disappointing and Dark.......2007-08-05
Having read Wicked, Son of a Witch, and Confessions, I was ecstatic to find the time to sit down with Mirror Mirror. I wish I had done anything else! While Maguire's cleverness is apparent, I found myself speedreading ahead to see when another inane description of something small and pointless would end, and skipping ahead at the frequent pepperings of bodily secretions and functions. While the ideas and approach to the Snow White fairy tale are brilliant, they are delivered with a cold darkness that paints the world in a light that I read to escape. The theme of the sexual situations left me feeling defiled and dirty, as if I had stumbled onto something hideously grotesque. And, as a woman, I was greatly insulted at the description of Bianca's first menses. Of all the research done for this book, Maguire couldn't ask one woman what menstruation is like? It reminds me of the ignorant descriptions of school boys who know nothing of the female mysteries and talk about it as though they are professors- much to the disgust of those surrounding their ignorance. Maguire has lost a great deal of my respect with this one. Inappropriate for children under 16.
Good idea, not delivered well.......2007-07-22
I feel that Maguire, in all of his novels, makes the reader think about different perspectives on classic stories in a way that is refreshing and intelligent. Unfortunately, "Mirror Mirror" was not as great as all of his other novels to me. It was choppy and I was often times lost. Time moved too quickly was was only explained by many-year-long sleeps. I found this irritating and unimaginative. I also feel as if Maguire has the idea in his mind, but cannot tell it effectively.
Overall, good story if you can look past the confusing word choices and broken story-telling.
Great book for Maguire lovers.......2007-07-20
Fun two-night read. Takes you on a quick surreal journey. Great book for Maguire fans.
Not Maguire's Best.......2007-06-15
Maguire has made himself quite successful spinning off fairy tales, but this variation on Snow White seemed lacking. His take on Cinderella in "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister" was steeped in history, and "Wicked" was immersed in the fantastical world of Oz, while "Mirror Mirror" couldn't decide if it wanted to be history or fantasy.
"Mirror Mirror" changes perspective often. The lustful and incestual Borgias, the innocent and fair Bianca, her father on his quest for a limb from the Tree of Knowledge, and the mystical "dwarves" all take turns narrating. I often found it choppy and inconsistent. While I enjoyed it, I've enjoyed Maguires other books much more than this one.
Book Description
Every wizard in Ethshar knew that if you needed something special, something difficult to find, that Gresh the Supplier was the man to see. He was expensive, but always delivered. So when the Wizards' Guild finally got fed up with the little green nuisances that called themselves "spriggans," the Guild hired Gresh to fetch them the magic mirror that created the troublesome imps. The wizards thought finding it looked impossible. Gresh thought his methods would do the job. But no one had asked the spriggans what they thought!
Customer Reviews:
Somthing Lacking -- not bad just . . . not good either.......2007-05-14
This novel tells of a storekeeper who sells magical reagents -- mundane items used by wizards -- who is hired to find a magical mirror that is causing immense problems by spitting out indistructable creatures. The characters are cute, and the plot straight forward. Altogether, though, I was simply borred. Watt-Evans is an experienced author, but his latest few novels seem to lack passion.
Ethshar.......2007-05-12
Lawrence Watt-Evans's latest offering in his popular Ethshar series does not disappoint. Like the Spell of the Black Dagger, this one features the return of the wizard Tobas of Telven and his unusual family in a strong supporting role. At last we learn just what went wrong with Lugwiler's Haunting Phantasm and what Spriggans are.
Fans of the series will love it. Those who aren't yet fans of the series should start out with The Misenchanted Sword and With A Single Spell and work their way through this thoroughly enjoyable and unique fantasy series.
Fun with Spriggans.......2007-03-28
This book was a delightful continuation of life in the Hegemony of the Three Ethshars. It was a good read and very fun and enjoyable.
Another great entry in the Ethshar series.......2007-02-04
As an unabashed Lawrence Watt-Evans fan, I'd been looking forward to the release of The Spriggan Mirror for quite some time. I'm happy to report that it definitely lived up to my high expectations. Like many of the author's main characters, Gresh has no intrinsic magic or other supernatural powers. He depends on intelligence, humanity, and a willingness to think problems through for any successes he achieves - a remarkable novelty in a genre where far too many protagonists rely on epic magic, ridiculous swordplay and apparent invincibility to win the day.
It may not be the best place to start for newcomers to the series, however, as characters and events from "With A Single Spell" and "The Spell of the Black Dagger" are central to the plot.
Book Description
Hailed for her “remarkably accomplished and poignant work” (Washington Post), acclaimed author Elizabeth McGregor returns with a haunting love story about two lost souls brought together by chance—and bonded forever by a mystery that transcends madness, tragedy, and time itself....
Catherine Sergeant is adept at going through the motions. After losing her parents at an early age, she buried her grief in the study of antiquities. Now, deserted by her husband without warning or explanation, she reports to work at Pearson’s auction house, exchanging pleasantries with colleagues, never revealing her pain. Cocooned in loneliness, she couldn’t be more surprised to find herself opening up to a total stranger—a new client, no less.
In widowed architect John Brigham, Catherine finds a kindred spirit. The two share a fascination with Richard Dadd, an early Victorian painter who lived most of his life incarcerated in an insane asylum. There he produced his most stunning works—works that have deeply moved Catherine and now draw her inexorably
to John. Soon the two are falling in love.
The reawakening of passion in a woman like Catherine is more than John ever hoped for. But when she discovers his possession of an unknown Dadd, it is just the first in a series of revelations that leave her wondering if she knows this man who has shown her life’s true beauty. For John, it may be a last chance to free himself from the priceless secrets he has been harboring too long. Secrets about a soul laid bare on canvas, and a legacy that could shatter all he holds dear in the space of a heartbeat…
A compelling blend of human drama, art, and history, this intriguing tale casts a spell that lingers far beyond the final page—and celebrates the strength we all must find within our hearts.
From the Hardcover edition.
Download Description
ELIZABETH McGREGOR is the acclaimed author of The Ice Child and A Road Through the Mountains. She lives with her daughter, Kate, on the south coast of England, in Dorset, where she is working on her next novel.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
Has promise, but misses the mark.......2007-06-17
I read this for our bookclub. I am a fan of Richard Dadd and was looking forward to this book. I was disappointed, however. The characters are not particularly sympathetic and the two parts of the book (the ongoing romance between John and Catherine; Helen's sinking pathetically into serious mental illness; Catherine and Robert's peculiar breakup--intercut with the peeping into Richard Dadd's psyche) just didn't work really well as an integrated whole. The pace was a bit slow, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, though the ultimate payoff did not make it worthwhile. Not a terrible book by any means, but not very memorable. If you are interested in Dadd, by all means take a look.
Not my kind of book.......2007-06-10
This may possibly be a good book - I found it so boring I gave up after reading only a third of it. Maybe I missed the good part. Although I am a compulsive reader (who ELSE reads the side of cereal boxes?), I couldn't force myself to finish it.
very pleased.......2007-03-09
Received in a very timely manner, book was new and I certainly enjoyed reading it. I would buy from this vendor again.
Well worth reading..........2006-09-14
I had grabbed this book while passing thru a bookstore out of sheer desperation for something to read, and it has turned out to be a wonderful literary surprise. The author brings her characters to life, even the artist, Dadd, takes on a whole new meaning. I'm now anxious to learn more about him. But even more, I am looking forward to reading more of Elizabeth McGregor's books. She has an extraordinary talent in keeping readers interested, even as the story of both Dadd and the primary characters changes from one minute to the next.
I strongly recommend this for a really good read.
life imitates art imitates life.......2006-02-25
Oh, wow, I was impressed with this book. Two stories which turn out to be related, alternate. We open in a London insane asylum, 1844. In the middle of a scene remeniscent of the beginning of Amadeus, the artist Richard Dadd is painting the details of an insect's wing. Probably most Americans and people without an art history background have not heard of Dadd, but he was real and his work was fascinating. It's worth taking a look at some of his pictures on the web. He was put away for life after killing his father in the middle of a delusion (he was schizophrenic). Much of his best work was done while confined in mental hospitals. In present day London, art appraiser Catherine has been left by her husband Robert. In the course of her work, she meets John, who has a house full of art and collectibles and antiques. They begin a relationship that eventually leads back to Richard Dadd. The stories are well told, the descriptions are exquisite, and the author treats characters having major mental illnesses with sensitivity, although she also makes them realistic. One remarkable scene has Dadd being transferred from a hospital where he's been for 20 years to another institution outside London. It's his first time out and his first trip on a train. It's a Rip van Winkle kind of sensation; yet Dadd carefully notes every detail for future works because he knows he wont get the chance to see it again. This book is just so interesting and really a pleasure to read. I felt I learned quite a bit, and that's something for a novel. Highly recommended.
Book Description
The time is 1943, a time of war. The place is the hill-perched town of Nemi, in the Alban Hills south of Rome, overlooking the crater lake where, 2000 years before, the Roman emperor Caligula sailed his gigantic ships to the Temple of Diana. Just a few years before the war, the ancient ships, sunk after Caligula's death, were miraculously recovered from the lake and placed in a lakeside museum. Paolo, the museum curator, now struggles to protect these treasures from Allied bombs and the depredations of the Germans in a world where the struggle for simple survival makes such efforts seem irrelevant. He watches with disquiet as the German occupation brings together Rosanna, his daughter, whose innocence is brutalized by the horrors of the war, and Klaus, a German officer, whose high ideals and love for Rosanna cause him soul-wrenching conflicts of loyalty. Love? Or duty?
The Mirror of Diana tells the poignant story of Klaus and Rosanna's secret love against the backdrop of war-torn Italy and one of the war's great unsolved mysteries: why were the fabulous ships of Caligula reduced to ashes in the midst of war? The answer may have been foretold in the legend sculpted on The Mirror of Diana.
Customer Reviews:
Historical Fiction that Soars.......2005-08-09
Here, embedded in a well-researched historical mystery, is a story of love and war that really soars.
Among the tragic casualties of World War II were two 2000-year-old ships lavishly built for the emperor Caligula, sunk in Lake Nemi, then raised during Mussolini's prewar reign. The irony of the ships' surviving for two millennia immersed in the lake, only to suffer complete destruction just a few years after they had been raised up, is a fascinating but little-known bit of history woven into this enthralling tale of love between a German officer and an Italian woman in wartime Italy.
Klaus Schmidt, a historian before the war and now a German officer who detests the Nazis, rescues Rosanna Giraldi from rape by German soldiers. Rosanna's father, Paolo, the curator of the museum housing the recently-raised ships, finds he shares a love of antiquities with the German officer and, learning that Klaus has rescued his daughter, forges an uneasy friendship with him, even as he watches with concern as Rosanna and Klaus fall in love. But with Italy in the midst of abandoning its alliance with the Reich, with Mussolini falling from power, with the villagers and Paolo's own wife loathing the Germans, and with Klaus falling afoul of his Nazi commander, Klaus's friendship with Paolo and his love for Rosanna bring down on all their heads a violence that rivals the legendary horrors of Caligula.
This eloquently-written novel is both a poignant love story and a pulse-pounding war tale that transports us to an evocatively-depicted wartime Italy. Even the secondary characters are vibrantly alive: Gianni, the street-smart urchin; Gunther, Klaus's can-do sidekick, and Maria, Rosanna's tough but tender mother. And Dressler, the Nazi commander whose party loyalty and sadistic tendencies are indistinguishable, is horrifying.
The plot that carries these characters is breathtakingly original, full of surprising twists, and with a denouement that will pluck at your heart. I enthusiastically recommend this novel.
Stirring Evocative Story.......2004-08-27
This is a magnificent tale told in stunning passion, and I agree with the reviewers who believe this could be turned into a beautiful movie. Set against a backdrop of Roman History in World War II, the ships of Caligula and the myths of Diana as well as the haunting characters take center stage, grab your heart and never let go. And the end of the story is handled with a masterful touch of literary suspense, even up to the last line. A.R. Homer is an author whose star is rising and I dearly look forward to his next book.
Other reviewers have explained about the book so eloquently that I cannot add more to their descriptions except to say that I too loved this book and highly recommend it.
MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW.......2004-08-19
TO ALL THE TREASURE LOST IN WAR reads the dedication of The Mirror of Diana, a novel that has as its centerpiece a major, yet little-remembered, archaeological disaster of World War II: the mysterious burning of the monumental ships of the Emperor Caligula as the German army retreated from Rome. But I found in this book much more than fascinating archaeological background. I discovered a novel as touching as it is exciting.
Klaus Schmidt, a crack artillery officer but also a lover of antiquities, visits the ancient ships of Caligula, housed in a museum south of Rome. Paolo, the ship museum's curator, overcomes his dread of his German visitor and discovers a kindred spirit in Klaus, who is bewitched by the ships. The two develop a warm friendship, although Paolo's dread returns as his daughter, Rosanna, and Klaus are inexorably drawn to each other. Klaus and Rosanna's deepening love leads to complications that worsen exponentially as the pages fly by.
Writing in clean and elegant prose, A.R. Homer evokes a vivid image of wartime Italy and draws the reader into the thoughts and feelings of the characters, breathing life into them all. The idealistic Klaus often vacillates and broods while Rosanna, although brave and determined, displays the immaturity of youth. There are also Paolo, with his head-in-the-clouds obsession for the safety of the ships, Maria, his unsentimental and survival-focused wife, Gianni, the street-smart and ever-hungry urchin, wise beyond his years, and Gunther, Klaus's savvy sergeant, who longs to be back on the farm in Bavaria. But Dressler, the SS commander with whom Klaus locks horns, made my stomach lurch every time he appeared on the scene.
This fascinating and well-researched book will appeal to a wide audience. In addition to those interested in World War II and ancient history and legends, The Mirror of Diana is a novel for all who love pulsating historical fiction. The breathtaking plot twists and the relentless suspense will hold the reader in thrall, and the poignant story of the star-crossed lovers will touch the heart of everyone. I give The Mirror of Diana my highest recommendation.
The Mirror of Diana.......2004-08-18
What a wonderful story -- I fell in love with Klaus and Paolo and Rosanna from the minute I "met" them. The story kept me mesmerized and I couldn't wait to begin reading again every evening, which is the highest compliment I could ever pay an author. The compelling prose causes the reader to become involved and care deeply about the characters. The story line is magnificant -- especially the way mythology is weaved into the plot -- along with the drama of the main characters, we are swept up into the world of gods and goddesses. As I reached the end, I reluctantly closed the book, and found myself longing for more!! I eagerly await Tony Homer's next novel!! Much congratulations to Tony Homer for his spectacular first novel.
An intriguing, well-constructed novel.......2004-07-19
I'll skip the plot synopsis of `The Mirror of Diana', as it has already been covered by other reviewers. But I just finished this book and found the plot of this novel refreshingly straightforward. Not that it's lacking in suspense - there's a lot of surprise in this book; in fact, most of the novel's chapters end with a cliffhanger that makes you keep breaking your resolution to "read only one more chapter before going to bed." The difference is that `The Mirror of Diana' has no gerrymandered plot configurations used by some authors who didn't quite know where they were headed but who felt the need to add some pizzazz, but leave loose ends dangling at the end of the book - you know, the ones that always leave you with a sort of literary indigestion.
But this book is a feast - a fascinating and beautiful tale told with the eloquent simplicity of a competent and confident author. I enjoyed this book immensely. You should read it.
Book Description
The Mirror Universe Saga is an omnibus edition gathering all eight installments of the story "New Frontiers" from the DC Comics Star Trek- series. Captain Kirk and the members of the Enterprise crew once again have to face their doubles from "Mirror, Mirror". It includes an inroduction by A. C. Crispin, author of the Star Trek novels Yesterday's Son and Time for Yesterday.
Customer Reviews:
Should have been a movie!.......2005-11-11
The Wrath of Khan is my favorite Star Trek movie, due to the fact that it ties in so well with the original series. After reading STAR TREK: THE MIRROR UNIVERSE SAGA, I can say that this story should have received the cinematic treatment as well, for the same reasons. THE MIRROR UNIVERSE SAGA collects the "New Frontiers" storyline from issues # 9 - 16 of DC's Star Trek series (waaaaay back in '84, remember?), where Captain Kirk and the members of the Enterprise crew re-encounter their evil Terran Empire doubles from the original series show "Mirror, Mirror". This time, however, the stakes are much higher - the Empire's planned invasion of our universe. Author Mike Barr constructs the story to occur between the events of the movies ST3: The Search for Spock and ST4: The Voyage Home. I cannot say if the Mirror Universe Saga fits perfectly with regular continuity, but I can say that the story was good enough for me to enjoy it, despite my not being a huge Trekkie. The plot is a logical extension of the TV episode (20 years later), explaining what happened after its conclusion and providing more information on the state of affairs in the Mirror Universe. The dialogue is written convincingly enough to where I had no problem imagining the actors voicing the actual lines. As you can guess, the plot involves quite a bit of mistaken identity, but Barr handles it well. The art by Tom Sutton and Ricardo Villagran is quite detailed and captures the look of the characters well. Unfortunately, it seems that it wasn't clear enough for the colorist, who obviously was confused between Captain Kirk and the alternate David Marcus, as well as between Lt. Uhura and Marlena. Try a little harder next time...
The introduction by ST novel author A. C. Crispin is the worst part of the book. It's not really so much an intro as it is slobbering praise of Star Trek's greatness. There's no background on the Mirror Universe, no discussion of the story's popularity or evil Spock's fashionable goatee... nothing. In fact, this intro could be used as generic copy to be placed at the beginning of every Star Trek novel or comic. I would think that someone so intimately involved with Star Trek could do better.
One of the Best Star Trek comic stories of all time!.......2001-07-22
This is the 8 part Mirror Uiverse saga story that was written and published by DC Comics in 1984. After the release of the movie " Star Trek III: the Search for Spock, Paramount Pictures gave the comic book license to DC comics to continue the stories after Star Trek III. This particular Story is the sequel to the Star Trek classic episode "Mirror, Mirror" Kirk and crew meet their counteparts from the other Star Trek Demension were the Federation is called the Empire and instead of space exploration the Empire's main goal is to conquer the Universe. This is a wonderful, well written sequel to that episode. And it looks more contemporary since this story takes place during the original Star Trek movies. Written by Mike W. Barr, Tom Sutton and the rest of the DC comics crew. This is one tale not to be missed by comic book fans, Sci-Fi fans, and Classic Star Trek fans a-like. Get it! If you find this out of print book it is definitly worth saving as Star Trek memorablia.
Cloak and Dagger.......2001-01-09
This is the best of the DC comic series in the early eighties. It don't get better than this. Kirk takes the Excelsior to battle his evil counterpart in the Mirror Universe! Romulans, Klingons, a Spock double.....this one's got it all! This would have made a terrific film.
A MUST HAVE FOR ALL STAR TREK COLLECTIONS.......1998-08-08
This is a good book to have even if you have all of the issues of the comic series.The whole story is right here,and there is no need to change books to finish out the story.The Mirror Universe idea was a great one,taken from one of the best episodes of the TV series.Anyone who liked the idea in "Mirror,Mirror" has a great read ahead in this story since it carries on after the other story.The idea was put out for a long time that the Mirror Universe crew was 'NOT DONE YET' with the ideas put out in the TV episode.This is worth the look and well worth the time.
Customer Reviews:
A Complete Biography.......2005-10-26
This book outlines every facet of the facinating life of E.E. Cummings. A must read for anyone researching or interested in his life.
Reason Without Rhyme.......2004-06-20
'Dreams in the Mirror: A Biography of E.E. Cummings' is a precise account of a unique, creative poet. Richard S. Kennedy has made sense of the seemingly incoherent mind that made the literary world spin in a profoundly deconstructed orbit during the period following Cummings' graduation from the Harvard School of Arts and Sciences in 1916. Perhaps the most significant element of Kennedy's book is the previously unpublished Cummings' poem discovered in the dusty closet of a Tunisian Bed&Beakfast he'd occupied in 1931. Titled 'Insanity is Just a Mind of State', it is one of Cummings' most autobiographical works, revealing the poet's life-long regret that he'd never wrestled an alligator. The lament, on page 79, reads:
'i'm mad; say they
but Almonds aren't NUTS!
(is) thE river SEINE in pariS;?'
The human mind is a beautiful thing.
Dreams In The Mirror.......2002-05-08
a wonderful book ... especially the love story and photos of cummings and marion moorehouse
"Dreams" a thought provoking bio.......1999-01-03
Recently having completed DREAMS IN THE MIRROR, I can say that I haven't read a better biography in a long time. If you are a true E.E. Cummings fan (or e.e. cummings as he spelled it), the insights that Kennedy has into the man's life, as well as the interpretations of his poems, seems to make sense. I own a copy of his "Complete Poems 1904-1962", and having read many of them, I thought that the logical next step was to see how someone else thought of them. Kennedy's biography of Cummings is the only one that I know of in existance. Adding to that is Nancy Andrews, Cummings' daughter, who gave a lot of insight into her father, as well as previously unpublished poems and even drawings(!!). The book doesn't read like a novel, so don't expect to pace though it quickly. It is a well-written account of Cummings' life, so remember to pay attention. Being it as it may, and considering that information, I say go on and read it. It's worth the time.
Book Description
Young adult historical fiction brings the past alive through stories of adventure, suspense, and mystery. The genre is both complex and controversial, encompassing novels that range from romance and fantasy to stark historical realism. The book examines t
Book Description
Anotsu Kagehisa, master swordsman and leader of the rogue Itto-ryu dojo, has sheathed his blade for the moment to join in marriage with the daughter of yet another dojo soon to be brought under his dark wing. But for a man of action, the formal traditions of feudal Japan can be just as tense and fraught with hidden agendas as the battlefield. And while Anotsu may indulge in a moment of peace, his enemies are not at rest, among them Rin, who has stalked him for years to take revenge for the murder of her parents. Anotsu had best make sure that if he stops to smell the flowers, he doesn't end up losing his head!
Customer Reviews:
Am I the only one to love Hisoka?.......2005-01-10
While Hisoka's character initially comes off as dull and diminutive, she is actually an extremely tragic character (and not because she is sick.) I literally cried when Hisoka made the choice that she did; here is a woman who has never decided anything for herself, ever, and this is her one time to choose her own destiny. Yes, it is bittersweet; however, I was able to overlook the "sad" overtones and see this woman's only chance at freedom, and a freedom that she has chosen for herself.
I would reccomend reading this one if you care more about story than battle. There is a fight or two, but mostly this volume focuses on human fates and how much control we have over what happens.
Somberer and darker than the last volume........2004-11-07
Compared to vol. 12, Fall Frost, this one proceeds at a more dignified but depressing pace. We return once more Anotsu, whose involvement with Kensui-dono and his beautiful daughter Hisoka deepens.
Personally, I found this arc a little tedious; Hisoka never really captured my interest. Ah, I wish Anotsu would hurry up and rejoin his crazy Itto-ryu buddies. However, I *did* enjoy seeing new facets to his character through his treatment of the three women who appear in this volume: Hisoka, Rin and Makie (yes, *she* returns!).
Manji doesn't make a appearance. Hopefully he'll reunite with Rin soon.
Reunions, Revelations, Repercussions: The Climax Nears.......2004-10-01
Blade of the Immortal, in brief summery:
Think it would be great to live forever? Manji, a ronin of eighteenth century Japan, doesn't agree. Cursed to immortal life for prior misdeeds, he must dispatch a thousand evil men to the judgment of the Buddha in order to die himself. Joining a young girl on her quest for vengeance against the rebellious Itto-Ryu sword school, Manji soon has dire need for his twelve blades as he faces a motley assortment of hardened warriors, prostitutes, psychopaths and philosophers. The thousand-man requirement is met by the painful stroke of give-and-take, and is told in a fashion that puts most modern epics to shame.
Throughout what I like to call BotI's `second phase' (graphic novels #6-#14), the story-arc has gradually moved away from the adventures of the immortal rascal Manji and focused more and more upon the 22-year old sword-genius Anotsu Kagehisa. A revolutionary leader of Edo-period Japan - "the pillar upon which a thousand men stand" - Anotsu has dealt some major suffering in his bid to unify the disparate sword-schools of the samurai; the karmic repercussions begin to unfold in this, the thirteenth BotI volume released on U.S. shores.
(warning: spoilers follow)
*Mirror of the Soul* contains two major reunions for long-term readers. The first occurs when Anotsu, returning to Edo after his `vacation' at the Shingyoto dojo, happens upon an unconscious girl sprawled upon Mt. Hakusan. After tending to her condition, he is shocked to discover that the girl is Rin Asano, whom he orphaned some two years previous during the Itto-Ryu's initial insurgent rampage. During that time Rin has honed her warrior-skills with the whetstone of hatred: along with Manji, she's reduced the Itto-Ryu's army by a good dozen and tracked its leader's path all the way to Kaga. Yet other swordsmen are questing Anotsu's blood on this fine autumn day. Over the course of the entire series the reader has been told, again and again, how dangerous Kagehisa-domo is: in *Mirror of the Soul* we are finally given graphic display of this ability when he takes on four hooded assassins and manages to completely slaughter these opponents without even breaking a sweat. For Anotsu, no sword can cross the path of ambition: "Those who face me, knowing my name, take up arms against the thousand followers bound to me. You interfere with my grandfather's dream and block my own path to the future. And so - feel the weight of my blade! Scatter like leaves on the wind!" But the only thing scattered here are severed limbs and decapitated heads...
The second reunion involves the return of Makie Otono-tachibana, an ex-prostitute and the deadliest woman in Japan. Last seen in BotI vol. 3, *Dreamsong,* Makie has abandoned the way of the sword for a quiet, peaceful existence in the Kaga mountains, weaving travel-mats for merchants and smoking opium to dull the pain of her tragic past. The past will not relent, however: ghosts haunt her memories, and former lover Anotsu cannot tolerate to see natural talent go to waste.
*Mirror of the Soul* is a pivotal volume in Blade's second-phase storyarc. Alongside the significance of these two reunions, Anotsu also discovers that he had been betrayed by the Shogun's bakufu; he is forced to flee into the backcountry of Kaga, injured and increasingly ill, while revenge-seeking students hunt for his head and Rin Asano doggedly follows his step, waiting for her own chance to avenge her slain parents. The threads developed in *Mirror* will explode in the next BotI volume, *Last Blood,* wherein old friends and bitter enemies shall dance to the song of steel, fighting for honor, for revenge; for the past and the future; for love and the ruin thereof. In other words, it's an all-out brawl between the Itto-Ryu and the Shingyoto-Ryu, with a certain wisecracking immortal thrown in the mix for good measure.
An essential chapter in the Blade of the Immortal saga, *Mirror of the Soul* comes with my highest recommendations. Five Stars.
Additional Note: In my observation, there are roughly three storyarc `phases' to Blade of the Immortal. The first phase (graphic novels #1-#5) focuses on Manji and Rin as they wander around Edo [ancient Tokyo], hunting members of the Itto-Ryu. The second phase (graphic novels #6-#14), introduces a host of new characters and complications into the main storyline, with increasing focus on the political ramifications and emotional trauma of Anotsu's revolution. The third phase is the ongoing `prison' story-arc, currently being published in Japan: a perusal of import bookshops on the `Net should gain the diligent reader access to the four (untranslated) graphic novels currently in print. Cautious calculations estimate Blade of the Immortal could run up to 20+ English volumes before the story is finished!
Oh man, I have prayed for this........2004-08-25
I have to tell all of you who have waited for this comic, that the long wait was well worth it. Hiroaki Samura cannot be praised enough. His drawings just become better and better for each comic.
WARNING: PART OF THE PLOT:
Anotsu Kagehisa is betrayed the clan he married himself to, and faces severel assassination attemts. Now on the run with Rin(!), yes, Rin manages to tag along with Anutsu, we (the readers) get to see new sides of Anutsu. And that despite his badass appearence he might be quite an o.k. guy. Manji is still looking for Rin, and although he is one of the main characters, we see fairly little of him.
If you like Blade of the immortal you must buy this comic.
Book Description
Bridei is a young nobleman fostered at the home of Broichan, one of the most powerful druids in the land. The tasks that he sets Bridei appear to have one goalto make him a vessel for some distant purpose. What that purpose is, Bridei cannot fathom, but he is content to learn all he can about the ways of the world. But something happens that will change Brideis world forever . . . and possibly wreck all of Broichans plans. On their doorstep on a bitter MidWinter Eve, Bridei finds a child seemingly abandoned by the fairie folk. It is bad luck to have truck with the Fair Folk, and all counsel the babes death. But Bridei sees an old magic at work here and fights to save the child. Broichan relents but is wary. The two grow up together and as Bridei comes to manhood he sees the shy girl Tuala blossom into a woman. Broichan sees the same process and feels only dangerfor Tuala could be a key part in Brideis futureor could spell his doom.
Customer Reviews:
Drowning with details.......2007-10-23
While details are usually Marillier's good, strong points, the details in this book where practically bursting out of the book cover like a pig in fishnet tights. It got to the point where I was actually skimming the pages, skipping dozens of them at a time because of the overwhelming BOREDOM those details expelled. And, to put the finishing touch on the already rotten cake, these details seemed to be the cover-up for an underlying structure of a semblance of a story. The book itself had an acceptable plot. On the other hand, I absolutely hated the characters, and my vision of them wasn't redeemed at all by the end of the book. Tuala, the main character, simply irritated me with her endless angst, as did Bridei, the second protagonist. Their "romance" was nothing but carnal lust, very badly developed. Of course, it COULD be possible to develop a relationship over a period of years you don't even see the person, but it's highly unlikely, and not what I expected from this romance book. Bridei and Tuala part company and during this time, they somehow start to crave each other, suddenly and without any development whatsoever. And of course crisscrossed throughout all this is the history of pre-celtic Scotland, which is interesting in itself but not as a background to this story.
Definitely not one of her best books.
A Pleasant Surprise.......2007-07-15
I picked up the abridged CD version of Dark Mirror in a factory store for a couple bucks. I wasn't expecting much. The story started kinda slow (especially for an "abridged" version) but it grew on me. Marillier's prose is completely enjoyable.
It is definitely NOT a historical novel but can be enjoyed as an "alternate reality" story. I recommend this novel for romantics, young women, lesbians, druids, people who read manga, people who play World of Warcraft, vampires, sci-fi & fantasy buffs, and cheap guys like me who buy our books at random in factory stores.
Another great novel by Marillier.......2007-06-06
After reading Sevenwaters trilogy I decided Juliet Marillier was an author worth investing time and money in. I was not disappointed in the least. The Dark Mirror's hero Bridei falls in the category of young, brilliant and defiant. This book has much - intrigue, magic, love, plot surprises, and a wonderfully rich background for the story to take place. I recommend this for anyone who enjoyed the Sevenwaters trilogy by Juliet Marillier and the Liveship trilogy by Robin Hobb
Magical.......2007-05-10
I really enjoyed this series. Magic is very prominent in this series. It really makes you realize how less we have to overcome compare to other people. A great book.
Wow . . . just . . . wow.......2007-02-19
I am not sure where to start with this amazing book, the first in the Bridei Chronicles. I myself have studied the Picts a bit and Juliet Marillier seems to hit the nail right on the head with her depictions of their lives and times. Many of the people and situations in this book are absolutely real - based upon historical documentation. The remainder is based upon her best guesswork and imagination and she does a bang-up job.
Somewhat akin to the story of Arthur and Merlin, Bridei is raised by a foreboding Druid in the forest. Unknown to Bridei, he is meant to be the future king of Fortrui, which comprised much of modern-day Scotland. Her descriptions of Druidic teachings, their overall lifestyle, the courts and the rituals of their religion ring true in all their splendor and (in some cases) horror.
Of course there is a twist - there is always a twist. A child of the Good Folk - the faeries - is left on their doorstep at Midwinter when Bridei is young. He takes her in, much to everyone's dismay. They all know it is dangerous to have anything to do with the Good Folk, who are at their best capricious. However, Bridei firmly believes that the child, whom he names Tuala, was left for him by the Shining One (Goddess and moon) and vows to care for her. Eventually he wins over everyone except his foster father, the druid. She is accepted into the household and loved almost universally - until the year Bridei goes off to his first war and she matures. . .
There is not much else I can say without ruining a great deal of the story for you. However, I heartily endorse this book, being a fan of historically based fiction, especially that doing with ancient cultures and their clashes (and eventual destruction) by "tolerant, loving" Christians. But . . . such musings are for another day. For this one, if you do not have this book yet, run - don't walk - to your nearest bookseller and find a copy. You won't regret it.
Average customer rating:
|
Wall of Mirrors
Jay Caselberg
Manufacturer: Roc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
High Tech
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Short Stories
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Australia & New Zealand
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
| British
| Canadian
| Eastern European
| French
| General
| German
| Italian
| Latin American
| Middle Eastern
| Mythology
| Russian
| Scandinavian
| Spanish
| United States
| Untranslated
General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
High Tech
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Short Stories
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
All 4-for-3 Deals
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
The Star Tablet
-
Wyrmhole
-
Metal Sky
-
Games of Command (Bantam Spectra Book)
-
Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson Series, Book 2)
ASIN: 0451461193 |
Book Description
Linked to an advanced alien culture through his dreams, Jack has fallen into the hands of Outreach Industries-whose agents will stop at nothing to tap into that link. But if Jack can't decipher what the aliens have been communicating to him, the entire human race may be in jeopardy.
Books:
- Modern Control Technology
- National Electrical Code 2002 (softcover) (National Fire Protection Association National Electrical Code)
- Pat the Bunny (Touch and Feel Book)
- Persuasive Online Copywriting: How to Take Your Words to the Bank
- Principles of Corporate Finance + Student CD + Ethics in Finance PowerWeb + Standard and Poor's (McGraw-Hill/Irwin Series in Finance, Insurance, and Real Est)
- Read Real Japanese: All You Need to Enjoy Eight Contemporary Writers
- Rick Steves' Florence and Tuscany 2007 (Rick Steves)
- Tadpole's Promise (Bccb Blue Ribbon Picture Book Awards (Awards))
- The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective Teens
- The Austere Academy (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 5)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- History: Fiction or Science
- The Truth Seeker
- Introduction to Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy
- Introduction to Chemical Principles: A Laboratory Approach
- Planet Earth: As You've Never Seen It Before
- The Triple Bottom Line: How Today's Best-Run Companies Are Achieving Economic, Social and Environmen
- The Good Housekeeping Illustrated Cookbook: America's Bestselling Step-by-Step Cookbook, with More T
- Elementary Structures for Architects and Builders
- Historic Sacred Places Of Philadelphia
- Northwestern Wild Berries
Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister: A Novel
Son of a Witch: A Novel
Lost: A Novel
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Harper Fiction)
Leaping Beauty: And Other Animal Fairy Tales
