The Dark Mirror by Juliet Marillier

Fiction: Fantasy. Hardback from Tor Books. Published in 2005. 512 pages. On loan from the Kent District Library, Grandville Branch.

I've read some of Juliet Marillier before, but have not blogged any of them previously. I read them while we lived in the UK. Maybe even before the blog started. I enjoyed her books. But, I had a hard time reading this book. Things kept happening that made me need to put it down - but - I always picked it back up again. It's hard to explain why, but there it is.

Another thing I noticed was the often present (in this genre) Christian bad guy. In this case it's a contest to see who will become King, the one who follows the old ways, or the fellow who has converted to Christianity. In general though, I don't think that Marillier has been overly harsh towards Christianity. We'll see how it unfolds in the next book, Blade of Fortriu. (Available October 2006)

Publisher's summary:
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 possible 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.

Online book shopping:
Powell's: The Dark Mirror
amazon.co.uk: The Dark Mirror
amazon.com: The Dark Mirror
Audible.com: Sorry, not available as audio from Audible. Audio MP-3 CD from amazon.com here: The Dark Mirror