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Mither Mages #1-3
The Mither Mages Trilogy
This discounted ebundle from New York Times bestselling author Orson Scott Card The Lost Gate, The Gate Thief, GatefatherThe mage-families of Westil are in exile on Earth. The magical gates have been closed, and for good reason. Unfortunately, Danny North’s magically-inclined family has been keeping secrets from him, secrets that may lead to disaster for them all.The Lost Gate — Danny North knew from early childhood that his family was different, and that he was different from them. While his cousins were learning how to create the things that commoners called fairies, ghosts, golems, trolls, werewolves, and other such miracles that were the heritage of the North family, Danny worried that he would never show a talent, never form an outself.Gate Thief — Here on Earth, Danny North is still in high school, yet he holds in his heart and mind all the stolen outselves of thirteen centuries of gatemages. The Families still want to kill him if they can't control him…and they can't control him. Danny will come to understand just why Loki closed the gates all those centuries ago.Gatefather — Danny North is the first Gate Mage to be born on Earth in nearly 2000 years, or at least the first to survive to claim his power. What he didn't know at the time was that the Gate Thief had a very good reason for closing the Great Gates, and Danny has now fallen into the power of that great enemy of both Earth and Westil.Tor books by Orson Scott CardEnder Universe The Ender Saga Ender’s Game Ender in Exile Speaker for the Dead Xenodice Children of the Mind Ender’s Shadow Quintet Ender’s Shadow Shadow of the Hegemon Shadow Puppets Shadow of the Giant Shadows in Flight The Second Formic War (With Aaron Johnston) The SwarmOther Books in the Ender Universe Children of the Fleet Ender Novellas A War of Gifts First MeetingsOther Tor Books Series The Mither Mages The Tales of Alvin Maker Homecoming Women of GenesisAt the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
- GenresFantasy
1027 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 13, 2017
About the author
Orson Scott Card
846 books20.9k followersOrson Scott Card is an American writer known best for his science fiction works. He is (as of 2023) the only person to have won a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award in consecutive years, winning both awards for his novel Ender's Game (1985) and its sequel Speaker for the Dead (1986). A feature film adaptation of Ender's Game, which Card co-produced, was released in 2013. Card also wrote the Locus Fantasy Award-winning series The Tales of Alvin Maker (1987–2003).
Card's fiction often features characters with exceptional gifts who make difficult choices with high stakes. Card has also written political, religious, and social commentary in his columns and other writing; his opposition to homosexuality has provoked public criticism.
Card, who is a great-great-grandson of Brigham Young, was born in Richland, Washington, and grew up in Utah and California. While he was a student at Brigham Young University (BYU), his plays were performed on stage. He served in Brazil as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and headed a community theater for two summers. Card had 27 short stories published between 1978 and 1979, and he won the John W. Campbell Award for best new writer in 1978. He earned a master's degree in English from the University of Utah in 1981 and wrote novels in science fiction, fantasy, non-fiction, and historical fiction genres starting in 1979. Card continued to write prolifically, and he has published over 50 novels and 45 short stories.
Card teaches English at Southern Virginia University; he has written two books on creative writing and serves as a judge in the Writers of the Future contest. He has taught many successful writers at his "literary boot camps". He remains a practicing member of the LDS Church and Mormon fiction writers Stephenie Meyer, Brandon Sanderson, and Dave Wolverton have cited his works as a major influence.
Card's fiction often features characters with exceptional gifts who make difficult choices with high stakes. Card has also written political, religious, and social commentary in his columns and other writing; his opposition to homosexuality has provoked public criticism.
Card, who is a great-great-grandson of Brigham Young, was born in Richland, Washington, and grew up in Utah and California. While he was a student at Brigham Young University (BYU), his plays were performed on stage. He served in Brazil as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and headed a community theater for two summers. Card had 27 short stories published between 1978 and 1979, and he won the John W. Campbell Award for best new writer in 1978. He earned a master's degree in English from the University of Utah in 1981 and wrote novels in science fiction, fantasy, non-fiction, and historical fiction genres starting in 1979. Card continued to write prolifically, and he has published over 50 novels and 45 short stories.
Card teaches English at Southern Virginia University; he has written two books on creative writing and serves as a judge in the Writers of the Future contest. He has taught many successful writers at his "literary boot camps". He remains a practicing member of the LDS Church and Mormon fiction writers Stephenie Meyer, Brandon Sanderson, and Dave Wolverton have cited his works as a major influence.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 26, 2017
I started reading this trilogy not knowing what I was getting into, and slowly but surely I was lured into the wonder of the magic of the mithermages. The blossoming abilities of the protagonist were a genius way of introducing me as the reader to magery in this world and especially the unique talent of Danny North. Add to that an unraveling mystery about the powerful and ancient Loki on another planet, and I was glad to read the whole of the first book.
Then it mostly went downhill from there.
The moral dilemmas dealt with in the first book continue in scope and complexity throughout the trilogy. As does the main character's genuinely caring nature, the witty banter between characters, and some interesting uses of magic. But the latter really fades in the final two books, and much more of what I didn't care about from the beginning takes center stage -- including endless political treason-plotting, slightly disturbing violence and light sexual or sensual content, and the same wit-wielding banter which ends up so very samey by the end.
Although we see much less action and adventure as the series progresses, I will say that each story brought some very poignant and touching moments. The author may have his characters speak as if they all had practically the same high-level IQ, but he also seems to grasp depths of the human spirit that shine in beauty from time to time in his stories. In "Speaker for the Dead," I was moved by how deeply Ender understood all the dead man's family had experienced and the vulnerability of his reciting their stories. Similarly moving in The Mithermages Trilogy (although more like scattered points) are some of the insights about our need for one another, the sense of loss experienced by several characters, and the relatable confusion of deciding between multiple unknowns.
I would not highly recommend these books, but if you like the way Card writes, with plenty of back-and-forth dialogue and several enlightened moments, you might like these okay.
Then it mostly went downhill from there.
The moral dilemmas dealt with in the first book continue in scope and complexity throughout the trilogy. As does the main character's genuinely caring nature, the witty banter between characters, and some interesting uses of magic. But the latter really fades in the final two books, and much more of what I didn't care about from the beginning takes center stage -- including endless political treason-plotting, slightly disturbing violence and light sexual or sensual content, and the same wit-wielding banter which ends up so very samey by the end.
Although we see much less action and adventure as the series progresses, I will say that each story brought some very poignant and touching moments. The author may have his characters speak as if they all had practically the same high-level IQ, but he also seems to grasp depths of the human spirit that shine in beauty from time to time in his stories. In "Speaker for the Dead," I was moved by how deeply Ender understood all the dead man's family had experienced and the vulnerability of his reciting their stories. Similarly moving in The Mithermages Trilogy (although more like scattered points) are some of the insights about our need for one another, the sense of loss experienced by several characters, and the relatable confusion of deciding between multiple unknowns.
I would not highly recommend these books, but if you like the way Card writes, with plenty of back-and-forth dialogue and several enlightened moments, you might like these okay.
July 19, 2018
I wanted to like it. I really did. I've loved Card's books for a while. I did love the original ender quartet. Point in fact, his books helped me stay sane in middle school and high school. Because of that I've always been loyal. Empire was fascinating, enchantment introduced me to russian mythology, and the Maker series felt super cool because of the whole American folklore deal.
This is the first bad review I have given, and only because such a wonderful author has sunk so low.
To begin with, the main character is raped by a woman possessed by STD-satan, all teenage women believe the entire point of sex is to get knocked up, the main character has a bastard child he doesn't acknowledge or care for (as the woman who had it filed a rape claim to protect him).
Also the only interesting character dies while possessed by STD-satan in an attempt to kill him.
Also depression and mental illnesses are caused by alien spirit demons.
And I am not making this up.
This is the first bad review I have given, and only because such a wonderful author has sunk so low.
To begin with, the main character is raped by a woman possessed by STD-satan, all teenage women believe the entire point of sex is to get knocked up, the main character has a bastard child he doesn't acknowledge or care for (as the woman who had it filed a rape claim to protect him).
Also the only interesting character dies while possessed by STD-satan in an attempt to kill him.
Also depression and mental illnesses are caused by alien spirit demons.
And I am not making this up.
June 28, 2020
I was excited for this trilogy as it sounded interesting. I have read books by the author before and needed something good to listen to on a long road trip. Halfway through the first book, a graphic and completely plotless child sex scene completely ruined not only the book and the trilogy, but all respect I had for Card. Are there evil, disgusting things in this world? Yes. Seeking them out, graphically presenting them as a pimp to the point where porn sites might blush.... Not the way to handle it. Who would have thought that a book featuring a twelve year old hero would deserve an x rating? Not me, more the pity! Hopefully I can save other's who hope for better from their books.
March 12, 2019
I honestly couldn't review all three of these separately because I listened to them all in such close succession via audiobook that I don't know when one book stopped and the other began. I haven't read a good fantasy novel in a long time, mostly because I have not found one that held my interest like they did when I was younger. These books, however, were amazing and I would highly recommend them to anyone who likes magic, fantasy, and old mythology.
May 13, 2023
Randomly came upon this book series, and it was interesting enough to keep reading. The concept is interesting and the explanation of how the lead uses his power of traveling through gates is very well explained. I like the idea that the power came from Loki, who is know as a trickster. It goes back and forth from Danny to Loki, though we aren't sure it is Loki at first.
Not my favorite book I've read, but still a good book.
Not my favorite book I've read, but still a good book.
December 17, 2018
I have loved Orson Scott Card stories and I hope this is his worst book. Too much detail at times. Just seemed to simple compared to his other books. I hadn't read him in a few years and was looking forward to a deep, complex story and I didn't get it.
July 13, 2020
Good series, definitely worth reading. Falls just shy of a great series, in part due to the lack of polish in the third book. If you like Ender's Game, this series has the same character development, universe development, and readability.
September 16, 2021
What happened after take-off?
Book one was very interesting and well paced. Book two was less well paced and less interesting. Book 3 was pointless and boring and I was supremely disappointed.
Book one was very interesting and well paced. Book two was less well paced and less interesting. Book 3 was pointless and boring and I was supremely disappointed.
June 10, 2022
This trilogy reads more like a story written to explor a magic system rather than a book driven by characters that happen to have abilities. If that sounds good, than give it a read, but it came across a bit stiff and oddly academic in its exploration to me.
July 26, 2018
Entertain.
May 7, 2019
Overall a good story. Could have done without some of the graphic pubescent mush.
September 4, 2020
The last book The Gate Father was a bit of a slog but all in all a good trilogy
January 31, 2021
Solid start, so so middle, bad ending
May 4, 2021
The Gatefather meh
May 24, 2022
Like the The Gatefather.
February 18, 2024
Really interesting and enjoyable! Highly recommend if you're looking for an intriguing trilogy!
May 30, 2025
By far one of my all time favourite series. I would consider this series my "cozy" reads. Always a pleasure listening to the audio books
November 18, 2025
It started off great but descended into our garbage.
Read
December 30, 2023First 2 are really fun, third one gets into some weird philosophical sci fi that doesn't fully work.
May 7, 2018
This is a disappointment from Orson Scott Card. *Spoilers* It had the worst ending I have ever read. We went to prom, graduated, got married, and had kooky kids, the end. He didn't even put in the time into pick a career for them. They all lived generically ever after, cue the vomit.
February 13, 2019
fun book for the whole family was a great road trip series
May 8, 2019
sort of a complicated storyline. Good. read well but can get lost easily
May 21, 2019
Great commentary on life and death rolled into a interesting story.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews