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Ethshar #9
The Spriggan Mirror
Every wizard in Ethshar knew that if you needed something special, something difficult to find, that Gresh the Supplier was the man to see. He was expensive, but always delivered. So when the Wizards' Guild finally got fed up with the little green nuisances that called themselves "spriggans," the Guild hired Gresh to fetch them the magic mirror that created the troublesome imps. The wizards thought finding it looked impossible. Gresh thought his methods would do the job. But no one had asked the spriggans what they thought!
248 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2006
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242 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
November 9, 2010
Meh.
It's nice to have another book in this series.
It's nice to have a wrap up for the Spriggans
It's nice to see an old character again.
It's not enouugh to lift this book past Meh
It's nice to have another book in this series.
It's nice to have a wrap up for the Spriggans
It's nice to see an old character again.
It's not enouugh to lift this book past Meh
February 27, 2023
Not a bad book, but the only thing it really accomplished was to make me want to read With a Single Spell again.
November 8, 2023
In a departure from the series pattern, not a coming-of-age story for a YA protagonist; this protagonist is an adult man. It involves characters we've seen twice before, in With a Single Spell and The Spell of the Black Dagger, which is more continuity than was common in the early part of the series. The mirror of the title was created in With a Single Spell when a spell went wrong, and is bringing thousands of spriggans - small, relatively harmless but annoying creatures who can't be killed - into the World. They're becoming a problem just from their sheer numbers, so the protagonist, who has a reputation of being able to locate and source magical items or ingredients for wizards, is commissioned to find the missing mirror so that it can be neutralized.
He does so primarily by applying common sense and talking to the spriggans, something the wizards didn't think of, though he does also use a good bit of magic. Quite often, the magic he uses isn't necessarily guaranteed to work and has a decent chance of making matters worse, but luck (i.e. the author) is on his side.
It's a fun ride, with a plot (and a resolution) that would only work in a magical world like this one.
And if you're wondering, the dragon on the cover is actually in the book, although it's technically not exactly a dragon.
He does so primarily by applying common sense and talking to the spriggans, something the wizards didn't think of, though he does also use a good bit of magic. Quite often, the magic he uses isn't necessarily guaranteed to work and has a decent chance of making matters worse, but luck (i.e. the author) is on his side.
It's a fun ride, with a plot (and a resolution) that would only work in a magical world like this one.
And if you're wondering, the dragon on the cover is actually in the book, although it's technically not exactly a dragon.
June 18, 2020
Many questions answered
If you always wondered what more of an Ethshar wizards high power spells looked like this novel is for you!
I experienced this book as it was being written in serial fashion and participated in discussions with the author to opine on how clear and understandable some aspects were so I may be a bit biased in my opinion of it. Chronologically this novel takes place roughly a year after the events the Spell of the Black Dagger/ Itnalalin's Restoration and is a follow up of events set in motion in With A Single Spell, so if you can you should read at least one if not all three of those novels before this one.
The explanation of where Spriggan's ultimately come from and how they can be dealt with up to and including elimination of troublesome individuals resolves the problem nicely.
If you always wondered what more of an Ethshar wizards high power spells looked like this novel is for you!
I experienced this book as it was being written in serial fashion and participated in discussions with the author to opine on how clear and understandable some aspects were so I may be a bit biased in my opinion of it. Chronologically this novel takes place roughly a year after the events the Spell of the Black Dagger/ Itnalalin's Restoration and is a follow up of events set in motion in With A Single Spell, so if you can you should read at least one if not all three of those novels before this one.
The explanation of where Spriggan's ultimately come from and how they can be dealt with up to and including elimination of troublesome individuals resolves the problem nicely.
May 28, 2021
A story of a shopkeeper in a land of magic, tasked to solve a magical problem, done in mundane ways.
I found this a low-key travelling story, explaining the world along the way. I have not read the other books but gather this is a weaker one in the series. Still, I enjoyed it, standalone.
I think this book would be decent for young adults.
I found this a low-key travelling story, explaining the world along the way. I have not read the other books but gather this is a weaker one in the series. Still, I enjoyed it, standalone.
I think this book would be decent for young adults.
October 5, 2021
Makes reference to With a Single Spell and The Spell of the Black Dagger, the first of which I read something like 30 years ago and the latter I haven't read, but Watt-Evans is very good at giving you all the information you need to know to enjoy the current book by itself. Which is quite a feat. A lot of fun, like the best of the Ethshar novels.
February 11, 2022
Very enjoyable. Tobas (from "With A Single Spell") was a favorite character of mine, and it is very interesting to see him return from the perspective of another character.
Most Ethshar novels are an absolute delight to read and this one was above average.
Most Ethshar novels are an absolute delight to read and this one was above average.
July 15, 2019
A great sequel to With a Single Spell.
December 11, 2025
*3.5 stars. I liked the plot, but sometimes this author can be weird about his female characters. It was especially apparent in this book.
March 20, 2017
A tale that really reflects magic.
The world is so very unlucky not to have sprigins in it. They would replace so many sorry added people, myself included. May your pen never run dry, may your mind continue to spin tales of your wonderful imagination and let your children share your gift(s). Live long please and add stories to those of us who read.
The world is so very unlucky not to have sprigins in it. They would replace so many sorry added people, myself included. May your pen never run dry, may your mind continue to spin tales of your wonderful imagination and let your children share your gift(s). Live long please and add stories to those of us who read.
August 8, 2009
This is a book written for the Ethshar world, created by Lawrence Watt-Evans. It concerns the spriggans, as you might have guessed from the title. In fact, it concerns their very existence; how they came to be, what they are how the world could possibly get rid of them.
Personally, I'm a huge Ethshar fan. I got all the books, even though I haven't read them all (three more to go). If this is your very first Ethshar experience... then turn back. It's probably not the right place to start. Why do I say that? It's certainly an Ethshar novel, and you can read it on its own, like you can with any of the novels, however, it's a bit slow and doesn't give the best perspective on this world.
The Story...
In the Spriggan Mirror, we meet Gresh, a supplier of all things magic, well, mostly concerned with magical components for wizards. His life is a quiet one, but one that he thoroughly enjoy. He has lots of sisters, most of which are concerned with magic in some form. One day, he is contacted by the Wizard's Guild. They want Gresh to find the spriggan mirror, the item that spawned (well, spawn) spriggans. They fear that someday the spriggans will rule the world by sheer numbers. This starts a small journey to the west and the Small Kingdoms, mostly on the back of a flying carpet in the company of a wizard named Tobas and his two wives, Alorria and Karanissa.
If you enjoy the Ethshar universe, then you'll definitely enjoy this book as well. It gives you a good view on magic, and how not to use it! It's a bit slow on times, especially in the end, when the story is about to peak. It becomes a very thoughtful story and its main characters become very reflective. Personally, I would have liked more information on the spriggans, and the perspective of a few more people.
Personally, I'm a huge Ethshar fan. I got all the books, even though I haven't read them all (three more to go). If this is your very first Ethshar experience... then turn back. It's probably not the right place to start. Why do I say that? It's certainly an Ethshar novel, and you can read it on its own, like you can with any of the novels, however, it's a bit slow and doesn't give the best perspective on this world.
The Story...
In the Spriggan Mirror, we meet Gresh, a supplier of all things magic, well, mostly concerned with magical components for wizards. His life is a quiet one, but one that he thoroughly enjoy. He has lots of sisters, most of which are concerned with magic in some form. One day, he is contacted by the Wizard's Guild. They want Gresh to find the spriggan mirror, the item that spawned (well, spawn) spriggans. They fear that someday the spriggans will rule the world by sheer numbers. This starts a small journey to the west and the Small Kingdoms, mostly on the back of a flying carpet in the company of a wizard named Tobas and his two wives, Alorria and Karanissa.
If you enjoy the Ethshar universe, then you'll definitely enjoy this book as well. It gives you a good view on magic, and how not to use it! It's a bit slow on times, especially in the end, when the story is about to peak. It becomes a very thoughtful story and its main characters become very reflective. Personally, I would have liked more information on the spriggans, and the perspective of a few more people.
December 8, 2007
Another fine addition to the Legends of Ethshar by Watt-Evans. My major disappointment was that unlike the other books set in Ethshar, this one didn't really start off with a bang. I was stunned to find I was halfway through it and there was no major plot hang up! That bit came about 7/8ths of the way through it!
January 4, 2009
Following on from 'With a single spell', The spriggan mirror is very poor fare indeed. This book concerns itself to a very minor loose end from its predecessor, has Watt-Evans run out of plots?
If you want to read Watt-Evans, try 'single spell' or 'misenchanted sword', if you want to complete Watt-Evans, leave this one till last?
If you want to read Watt-Evans, try 'single spell' or 'misenchanted sword', if you want to complete Watt-Evans, leave this one till last?
March 9, 2015
I liked this book a lot. I saw it got mixed reviews, but I thought it was great. I like the detail about how the magic works and the wild creativity in the explanations. Don't miss this one when you read the series it fills in several parts of the series story well and is a great read.
May 13, 2008
5/11/08
Read
August 22, 2008The Spriggan Mirror by Lawrence Watt-evans (2000)
May 13, 2010
Yet another good entry in the Ethshar series.
February 21, 2013
Some of the life seems to have gone out of this series. Also probably could have used an editor at a major publisher for some polishing.
May 21, 2021
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
October 27, 2013
Decent continuation and resolution from the predicament created by magic gone awry in With a Single Spell. I want to say this is one of his best Ethshar novels since Spell of the Black Dagger.
August 12, 2015
Overwritten, but interesting for anyone that liked "With a Single Spell."
February 13, 2012
This was the weakest book in the Ethshar series.
August 13, 2016
A fun, light fantasy (with a slight hint of misogyny).
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews