The Lost Gate

Mithermages, Book 1

By: Orson Scott Card

Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki, Emily Janice Card

Length: 12 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Orson Scott Card’s The Lost Gate is the first book in the Mithermages series from the New York Times bestselling author of Ender’s Game.

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.

He grew up in the rambling old house, filled with dozens of cousins and aunts and uncles, all ruled by his father. Their home was isolated in the mountains of western Virginia, far from town, far from schools, far from other people.

There are many secrets in the House, and many rules that Danny must follow. There is a secret library with only a few dozen books, and none of them in English—but Danny and his cousins are expected to become fluent in the language of the books. While Danny’s cousins are free to create magic whenever they like, they must never do it where outsiders might see.

Unfortunately, there are some secrets kept from Danny as well. And that will lead to disaster for the North family.

©2011 Orson Scott Card (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[T]his ambitious tale is well crafted, highly detailed, and pleasantly accessible." (Publishers Weekly)

A Great Story

Would you consider the audio edition of The Lost Gate to be better than the print version?

I have read this book and listened to the Audio edition. I truly enjoyed the audio edition more for one reason: Stephan Rudnicki. Stephan Rudnicki is a great narrator who truly brings the story alive. I had been trying to get my sons to read this book for months and then I purchased the audio edition so I could listen to it on the long drive to my son's doctors office. When I started the audio edition it only took 15 minutes before both of my sons had shut off their music, put down their phones and were listening intently. After that, they wanted to go with me anywhere I was going, just to get a few minutes to listen to the book!

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favorite character is Wad, because he's mysterious and complex.

What about Stefan Rudnicki and Emily Janice Card ’s performance did you like?

Stephan Rudnicki and Emily Janice Card both understand how to modulate their voice to fit the action in the story. They create a mesmerizing flow that makes it hard to stop listening.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

In a few places this book made me laugh and in one particular place it made me incredibly angry. It left me wanting more.

Any additional comments?

Orson Scott Card has always been a master with Science Fiction, but it's wonderful to see him embrace a little Fantasy.

the lady gate

it wad a pretty good story except the end was cut off. I don't know that I would read it again.

Amazing

A book series that makes you want to stop everything to keep listening to! Amazing!

Least favorite of the series

I felt like the magic system was fine in the first two books, but the third introduced so many new facets it lost me. I got through the book but will not listen to again.

Perfect Fantasy

Any additional comments?

Masterful story with great narration. Too many reviews to add anything new, but this is a great beginning to a fantasy series by a phenomenal author.

Took be by surprise and rocked me!

I love Stefan Rudnicki's reading!! And I really loved OSC's Ender series. Really hankering to hear Mr. Rudnicki reading again I picked up this book.

Starts slow. Hard to get into. Seems written like a fairytail, like the beginning of a modern mythology. And before I knew it, I am trying to put the far apart pieces together - getting confused... but lead along the path for the story.

I don't immediately like the main character, and I don't really like his first few friends, the people in the book. But along the way I started to see the beginnings of the connections, the broader picture. And the story is not just new mythology, or a young adult novel about a "magical" kid growing up. It is both and more: gripping, and intriguing, and adventurous, and mythical, and growing up, and... fun. Surprising fun.

And I can't wait for the next books - and bummed I have to wait ;)

Good job from both Stefan Rudnicki and Emily Janice Card - and wonderful development of the plot and characters from Mr. Card.

8D#spellbound#surprised#everybook#tagsgiving#sweepstakes

Love you this book

I loved loki and westel so much this is a grate book




I'm 12 and this book is a little inordinate for little kids just a heads up

OK for an OSC book

it was OK for an Orson Scott card book. I am definitely biased bc of how much I dig the ender series.

A country kid gets a fast introduction to life

The Lost Gate has been in my wishlist for a while now, and i finally decided to download it, and wish I had not waited so long. The book is at times very funny when it decides to be and very dead serious at other times.

The spin given to the Ancient gods (Both Greek and Norse) is really inspired and new, though I would expect nothing less from Orson Scott Card.

The simply review of it is that Danny has a forbidden form of magic, when he thought he had none at all, he is then at the age of 12 thrust from his home on a farm he was never supposed to leave, right into washington D.C.

The only issue I had is the person reading the book did not do a great job of acting out the different voices, many people sounded enough alike that if i was not paying attention I got them mixed up a couple times.

In the end I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys fantasy, even more so to those that enjoy Urban Fantasy such as the Dresden Files, or the Druid Chronicles.

A unique take on mythology and fantasy.

Mr. Card is an excellent writer and the performance of the two vocal actors pretty good so sometimes it was hard to differentiate between some of the characters. but the story itself is captivating in an interesting way of telling two stories which is really just one story or so it seems. can't wait to read the other two but definitely recommend.