The Gate Thief

Mithermages, Book 2

By: Orson Scott Card

Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki, Emily Rankin

Length: 12 hrs

Publisher's summary

In this sequel to The Lost Gate, best-selling author Orson Scott Card continues his fantastic tale of the mages of Westil, who live in exile on Earth.

Here on Earth, Danny North is still in high school, yet he holds in his heart and mind all the stolen outselves of 13 centuries of gatemages. The Families still want to kill him if they can’t control him - and they can’t control him; he is far too powerful.

On Westil, Wad is now nearly powerless - he lost everything to Danny in their struggle. Even if he can survive the revenge of his enemies, he must still somehow make peace with the Gatemage Daniel North, for when Danny took that power from Loki, he also took responsibility for the Great Gates. And when he comes face-to-face with the mages who call themselves Bel and Ishtoreth, he will understand just why Loki closed the gates all those centuries ago.

©2013 Orson Scott Card (P)2013 Blackstone Audio, Inc

Critic reviews

"Card weaves another in a chain of satisfying, teenager-pleasing fantasies…. Card has a grand old time romping around in the fields of comparative religion while letting a feud worthy of the Hatfields and the McCoys unfold, with much tongue-in-cheek humor but a touch of gore, too." (Kirkus Reviews)

"Familiarity with The Lost Gate is useful, but not essential, as Card gives readers enough background to have at least a partial understanding of the world he’s created….Defined characters and a highly imaginative story. For the author’s fans, a must-read." (Booklist)

great world, understanding of teens

I like this series. The world is thorough and the story intriguing. I just cant stand any of the young-adult or romantic interactions. The dialogue between the teenagers feels forced and stiff and almost all sexual references in the book just make me cringe. I wish Card would have focused on developing a few more characters and deepening the world rather than creating awkward references to cleavage and shallow relationships with the protagonist.

Outstanding book

I love the history tied in to this magical tale. The 2 main characters are unpredictable and Danny North is a man to cheer for. Sometimes when I start an audio book I will go back to it every now and then. There are a few series that I literally want to stop living my life (good thing I can listen to books at work!) because I need to know what happens next and this series is one of them. This is an incredible series, do you're self a favor and listen to it!

Great mid-point book

I enjoyed this book for the rich development of characters introduced in book 1. OSC seems to struggle at times with continuity of character, particularly with Wad (the Gate Thief) at the end of the book.
I've read enough reviews of the next book in the series to have serious reservations about picking it up. At this point, I'm going hold off and content myself with two out of three being good enough.

Book 1 was great

This is book 2 and not all that great. The interactions of Danny North in High School are quite entertaining, but it takes the whole book to find out that you're gonna have to read the 3rd book to find out what finally happens. I won't be reading book 3.

enthralling

I enjoyed this series much more than I expected to. I look forward to listening to book 3.

Hard to believe but who really knows.

I've always enjoyed Cards books and this one was no exception. The characters were believable and you came to know them. Hal the sort of crazy one was my favorite with Hermia a close second.
I really can't put into words how much I enjoyed the book and his other Lost Gate. Now all I'm waiting for is the third one he talks about at the end.

awesome book and series, can't put it down

Rich story line and plot, a true pleasure to be immersed in! can't wait for the 3rd book!

A book I've waited for...

Ever since i read the first book in this series I've waited for the sequel! Since I'd read the first book i was skeptical to "listening" to the second, but the experience did not disappoint me. The narrators did a very good job in making the book as good as if I'd read it myself.

Complex and nuanced logic with heart

A second book in a series is often a letdown. Sometimes an author spends too much time awkwardly recapping the story for the new reader, or departs from the character we grew to love in the first book with prequels or new story lines. Never fear. The main character, Danny, continues to learn about gate magic step by step as Card gently unravels the complex tapestry of science and myth that is the world of mithmages. The writing is crisp yet nuanced, consistently logical but whimsical too. Everything science fantasy should be. Thank you, kind author.

Insufferable Mormon Propaganda for Teens

I love most of OSC’s books, but this was just pure cringe. Overly long exposition on modern fundamentalist (Christian) demonology. Every concept is explained, then re-explained, then used with more explanation, then talked about with more explanation. The Mormon obsession with pre-marital sex was woven throughout this story which is ultimately about the teenage boy OSC wished his daughters would be with, a boy whose purpose is to fight literal Satan. Parts of this story could be cool (the magic and plot) but it was just so nauseating and boring… I’m really sad OSC became this type of writer as an old man.