by Juliet Marillier
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Product Description
THE DARK MIRROR is the first book in Juliet Marillier's Bridei Chronicles.
Bridei is a young nobleman fostered at the home of Broichan, one of the most powerful druids in the land. His earliest memories are not of hearth and kin but of this dark stranger who while not unkind is mysterious in his ways. The tasks that he sets Bridei appear to have one goal-to make him a vessel for some distant purpose. What that purpose is Bridei cannot fathom but he trusts the man and is content to learn all he can about the ways of the world.
But something happens that will change Bridei's world forever...and possibly wreck all of Broichan's plans. For Bridei finds a child on their doorstep on a bitter MidWinter Eve, a child seemingly abandoned by the fairie folk. It is uncommonly bad luck to have truck with the Fair Folk and all counsel the babe's death. But Bridei sees an old and precious magic at work here and heedless of the danger 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 beautiful woman. Broichan sees the same process and feels only danger...for Tuala could be a key part in Bridei's future...or could spell his doom.
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Average Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Marillier made me care about her characters, 2008-12-24
The Dark Mirror is an interesting, readable, and capably written fantasy romance by Juliet Marillier, who is near the top of fantasy's best writer list, on par with Robin Hobb, Tad Williams, and Ursula Le Guin. The story is modeled after the Arthurian blueprint, with Bridei being a Pictish Arthur fostered by a Merlin-like druid, Broichan. Two elements separate the story from the classic Arthurian legend: First, Bridei's conflict is primarily internal and second, Broichan has his own agenda and cannot tolerate variables in his plan for Bridei's future, namely the influence of Tuala, a fairy-like girl.
Marillier made me care about Bridei and Tuala to the extent that I immediately picked up the second volume, Blade of Fortriu, after I finished The Dark Mirror. Bridei is a likable character, similar to Tavi in Jim Butcher's Codex Alera series and Inda in Sherwood Smith's Inda series: young, capable, and inspirational. Marillier excels at creating a memorable supporting cast: Donal, Ana, Wid, Fola, Brother Suibne, and Uist stand out despite being secondary characters.
The Dark Mirror is first and foremost a romance, so fans of George R.R. Martin and Steven Erikson should be aware that there is little swordplay or magic. The romance is predictable, with misunderstanding and events conspiring against the main characters' love for each other, but overall Marillier's skillful writing compensates for the cliché.
The novel lacks a primary antagonist; and I believe that Bridei's primary obstacle is internal, as he has to come to grips with his destiny and his feelings for Tuala. Structurally, I question some of Marillier's approaches. Particularly, she conveys Bridei's triumph with the Mage Stone and subsequent tragedy through the perspective of Tuala, which I believe saps the events of emotion and significance. Bridei exhibits strong leadership qualities, but we only see them displayed through exposition, as Tuala watches him after the Mage Stone expedition. Maybe these events should have been shown in Bridei's perspective; however I understand Marillier's approach--she's trying to balance Bridei's and Tuala's story arcs.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 A Captivating Journey, 2008-08-30
I stumbled upon The Dark Mirror at my local library while searching for books about the Celts and Faerie. I checked it out as I am always looking for interesting books about my ancestral homelands, and I do relish the chance to discover another prosaic fantasy author.
I read The Dark Mirror in about a week. As soon as I opened the book I was captivated. Juliet Marillier has woven a magical and often unpredictable story of a young boy being molded and educated by his foster-father, a druid. This historical fiction takes place in the Pictish land in Scotland.
After finishing The Dark Mirror, which I found riveting, I quickly purchased all three books and hardly put them down. Now that I have finished the Bridei Chronicles, I wish I hadn't read them so quickly because I miss them already.
Incredibly well written, interesting, and piqued my interest in learning more of the Picts.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Everything You would want. , 2008-07-30
I Adored this book! It had everything I loved about it--especially philosophy, being attuned to nature and not fighting the current, but flowing with it, as well as the value of destiny. You can almost understand why many characters feel the way they do, and many of the actions they make are acceptable. It's written beautifully, just as Marillier is able to deliver. One thing that she seems to do often though is that after the well-awaited climax comes--we are let down so slowly that it loses flavor, like the third or fourth bite was not near as good as the first--why keep going? I wish her books would end more on a general note, some type of hope for the future without giving away every little detail and tying every loose end so that there is nothing left for the reader to think about.
The Dark Mirror gets a 5/5 because you become so engaged in the book that you wish to set your eyes on it's sweet ending at last--but you also don't want the adventure... or dream, to be over.
Marilliers other books:
Don't read Wolfskin, you'll be surely dissapointed and maybe even enraged, it's terrible compared to this one.
The second installment of the Bridei Chronicles is the Blade of Fortriu, which isn't neeear as good as this one, but I guess it's worth continuing the series.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Good read, 2008-04-17
This is the first of Juliet Marillier's books that I have read, and I loved it! Great fantasy read. I can't wait for the next one.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Intriguing...cleverly weaving fantasy with history, 2008-02-27
Bridei, son of Maelchon is taken from his home as a child and fostered by the Priteni (also known as Picts) king's druid, Broichan. Raised in the druid's home at Pitnochie, Bridei has many teachers and grows into a young man who reveres the Priteni gods, becomes a skilled warrior and learns the mysterious ways of men's minds. Though of royal blood through his mother's line, he has no idea that he is being groomed to take the dying king's, Drust the Bull's, place as lord of Fortriu and king of the Priteni.
Tuala is a daughter of the Shining One and one of the Fair Folk. As a baby, she ends up on Broichan's doorstep on Midwinter's Eve. Bridei finds her and takes her in even though it is against Broichan's rules. As she grows older, it is apparent that she has the gift of visions, which are both a blessing and a curse to her. Tuala and Bridei grow up together and form a strong bond.
Bridei leaves Pitnochie to earn his warrior marks in his first battle, a first step in gaining respect among the Priteni. Leaving Tuala behind, he soon becomes aware of his destiny. What he does not know is that Broichan, realizing the close bond between Bridei and Tuala, tries to keep them apart. For some reason, Broichan senses that Tuala is a threat even though she has not done anything to confirm his suspicions. While Bridei is away, the household servants turn against Tuala, fearing her now that she is a young woman of the Fair Folk. Broichan offers her in marriage to a stone carver, but Tuala realizes that it is Bridei she loves and refuses the offer, but knows she cannot wed Bridei who she knows from her visions is meant to be king. Instead, she joins the school for wise women at Banmerren, which is near the court of Fortriu at Caer Pridne. Bridei suffers his own personal demons through his first battle and then with the death of his close friend, who dies after drinking poisoned mead that was meant for Bridei. He realizes that he needs Tuala and when he discovers she has left Pitnochie, he is brokenhearted, but he continues on to Caer Pridne where he will be a candidate for king. Through many tests and trials, some earthly, some otherworldly, the two try to find each other again.
I really enjoyed this story, which I felt was well researched. Ms. Marillier did an excellent job of combining history with myth. The descriptions of the Priteni lands were breathtaking, her characters well drawn, their experiences touching. I plan to read more of her books and am excited to have found another author whose work I enjoy. My only criticism would be that a couple of modern sounding words made their way into the story, but this was a minor annoyance and did not prevent me from continuing onward as the story was so compelling. One other point I want to add, and this is my personal opinion, is that I felt Bridei to be too good of a character. I prefer my heroes to have faults and he was a little too perfect for my taste. That being said, I highly recommend this book to readers who love fantasy mixed with history.
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