Book 2 in the series. Again, I could not "read" the book, but as an audiobook, it was quite good. In fact, this volume of the series saw some action and movement in the storyline. We live in an instant world these days, and the plot for some fantasy books can be painful.

Llian and Karan's relationship is one of those stop and go situations. Sometimes it is one of them doing the stoping. And other times it is what is happening around them. I can't accept their relationship as being real though. Or perhaps "deep" is the word, I should have used. It feels superficial. That may be intended or not. I don't know, but I suspect not at this stage of the story.

Thankfully, the world's history is no longer a problem. It is assumed we know that after book one and I'm pleased to say that we do not have to read it again.

Reading over what I've written makes me think I've given the wrong star rating as it sounds like I don't like the story or characters at all. Yet, despite all I've said, I have gone on and listened to book 3 and I'm halfway through book 4 so something must have kept my attention. ( )

I am not really sure why but this series is not really grabbing me. I am enjoying it well enough and the world building is solid, I think I am finding the characters challenging to 'like'. I am going to keep reading and see if I am better able to put my finger on it. ( )

Dit boek is iets minder sterk dan het eerste deel, maar zeer relaxed om te lezen. ( )

Tensor of the Aachim blames the other three human species for the woes suffered by his people actually caused by his leadership. His desire is pandemic destruction at a level never seen in known history. His scheme gels when Yggur the Sorcerer destroys Thurkad, forcing the Great Conclave attendees to flee for their safety. Tensor abducts Lilan the Chronicler and steals the magical Mirror of Aachan that a millennium ago belonged to his race and reflects all it has seen. Through the Twisted Mirror, Tensor plans to eradicate all he loathes.
Karan borders on lunacy without Lilan to anchor her, but only she can find Tensor, Lilan, and the mirror, that is if her mind remains sane long enough to hold a rationale thought. She and the likes of Yggor and Shand the hermit magician will meet in a desperate gathering of the magic at a bastion long lost to time in the midst of the Dry Sea Desert with the fate of Santhenar and probably the other two orbs at stake.

THE TOWER ON THE RIFT, volume two of the "View From the Mirror", is a powerful epic fantasy loaded with numerous threads and sidebars that ultimately merge into a complex cohesive story line. An introductory synopsis of the first novel (see A SHADOW ON THE GLASS) helps provide perspective, but reading the debut volume would enhance perusing this extremely complicated book. Ian Irvine's vividly descriptive universe should go to the head of the reading lists of the sub-genre audience because the characters are multiple-dimensional, the worlds and its species feel real, and the outstanding plots majestic in scope. ( )

The Tower on the Rift is my favorite book of the View from the Mirror series! Definately a good read, and highly reccommended. ( )