10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another great entry in the Ethshar series, February 3, 2007
This review is from: The Spriggan Mirror (Paperback)
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.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ethshar, May 12, 2007
This review is from: The Spriggan Mirror (Paperback)
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.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Improbable Commission, September 5, 2008
The Spriggan Mirror (2007) is the ninth fantasy novel in the Ethshar series, following
Ithanalin's Restoration. In the previous volume, Kilisha struggled through various trials and tribulations while learning to overcome her immaturity. At the end, she saved the Overlord's life and reanimated her master. Everyone was impressed by her talents and sense of responsibility.
In this novel, Gresh is a supplier of goods and ingredients to wizards and other magicians in Ethshar of the Rocks (and elsewhere). Dina -- his eldest sister and a wizard -- wakes him to buy some blood of an unborn child for a spell that she is preparing. He will have to open the vault since Twilfa -- his apprentice and youngest sister -- cannot remove the explosive seal.
As he is talking to his sisters in his shop, a customer enters and introduces herself as Karanissa of the Mountains. She claims to be a witch and one of the wives of Tobas the wizard. They wish Gresh to recover a mirror that generates spriggans.
Gresh has Karanissa wait as he sells the blood to Dina and sends Twilfa to fetch Tira -- another sister and a witch -- to check out the truth of Karanissa's story. Witches can always tell if another witch is lying.
After learning as much of the story as Karanissa cares to tell, Gresh asks her to return that evening with her husband and the other wife. When they return, he learns more of the story and is told that the Wizards' Guild is providing funding. Tira tells him that Karanissa is telling the truth as she understands it, so Gresh demands a fee of eternal life in addition to costs plus ten percent.
Guildmaster Kiligir visits Gresh and confirms that the Guild will pay his stated fee. However, they have certain conditions. They will freeze all his business transactions until the mirror is recovered. Still, they agree to prepare certain potions that may well expedite the recovery.
In this story, Gresh flies to the Small Kingdoms on a flying carpet owned by Tobas. They are accompanied by Karanissa, the other wife Alorria, and her child Alris. The trip is surprisingly boring. Gresh decides that he should have brought something to read, although the constant wind would blow the pages around.
Tobas first takes them to Ethshar of the Sands, then to Dwomor in the Small Kingdoms. Tobas lands the carpet on a specially made shelve in the castle of Alorria's father, the King of Dwomor. Tobas and his wives live in tower with three floors. They settle Gresh in a guest room and then take him to supper.
The next day, Tobas and Gresh fly out to the nearby mountains looking for spriggans. Strangely enough, Gresh does not find any spriggans in the castle or along the way toward the mountains. Finally he notices one within the mountains and then several more. Finally, they discover a meadow with a multitude of spriggans.
This tale explores the origins and status of spriggans in the world. Gresh learns that all spriggans have come from the mirror. He is surprised to learn that the spriggans can talk and that they cannot be killed by ordinary methods, but might be vulnerable to magical means. Then he is told that there are about half a million spriggans in the world.
Gresh soon finds the mirror and eventually discovers the way that the spriggans are generated by the mirror. But then he runs into some ethical issues. Nonetheless, he performs his mission and finds a woman that he wants to marry. Best of all, his sisters approve of her. Enjoy!
Highly recommended for Watt-Evans fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of various magics, uncommon sense, and a touch of romance.
-Arthur W. Jordin
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
