Book Review- The Lost Gate

By Orson Scott Card

Published by Tor Books

Released on January 4th, 2011

Source- ARC from Tor Books

3 stars- It's A Good Read

Dan North knows from early childhood that his family is different — and that the differences are secrets that can never be told. This contemporary Urban Fantasy introduces the North family, a clan of mages in exile in our world, and their enemies who will do anything to keep them locked here (quoted from Goodreads).

The Lost Gate is the first book I've read by Orson Scott Card. I've heard phenomenal things about his story telling and now I can understand why. Orson kept me engaged with his story with his detailed mythology and world building. I felt like I was apart of the world while reading about Danny's journey. I'll admit, I didn't feel a connection to his main character through out the whole story and at times some scenes were not at all what I was expecting, and little graphic, taking too much away from the story for me.

Danny is a teenage mage in exhile with the rest of his family. Living in the real world, they all have a magical ability, except Danny, or so they thought. Known as a Drekka to his family (someone with out magical abilities), Danny is constantly picked on and left out of things. Danny soon discovers he's more powerful than any of them, as he's aGatemage- someone who can make gates and open the gates to the other world that have since been closed. Danny's power forces him to flee his family and he is on the run in the human world. Gatemage's are rare, the most powerful and feared.

This once wholesome, at times smart mouth teen soon finds himself hanging with the wrong crowd. What I felt was a huge down fall with Danny's character was his continued lack of making the right choice. I felt his character went from one extreme to the next a little too quickly. He soon discovers he can break into places by making gates and doesn't give a second thought to burglary. This side does show why many Gatemage's don't live long, as they can let their power get to their heads and don't heed with caution. I know he's a teenage boy, but I felt the continued need to moon people, and lust over a girl were mentioned a little too much and took away from Danny's story. The scene were Danny was almost molested by a married women completely threw me for a loop and I'll admit totally shocked me.

I did enjoy learning the rich history of Danny's people, through his journey. The parallel dialogues was at first a little confusing as Orson switches from Danny's story to the one of Wad, who's on the planet Westil. Wad himself was a character I was most interested in, and maybe that's due to the air of mystery that surrounds him. I'm not sure if he's good or bad, but he is able to manipulate the courts so he's close to the King and Queen, and after serving them for some time he finds himself not only in love with the Queen but romantically linked to her as well (keeping it family friendly). I was much more engaged with Wad's story than Danny's. Wad is a powerful character and I'm looking forward to reading more of his story in the sequel.

While at times The Lost Gate can be a little complex and at times I felt a little lost with what was happening plot wise, I did enjoy the way in which Orson introduces "the gods" and the powers they have with the elements and things of the world, be it wind, animals, etc. As I said before, the world building was beyond what I was expecting. The characters, the settings and the history that make up The Lost Gate are a showcase for Orson's story telling talent.

I think The Lost Gate will appeal to YA readers who are fans of fantasy, as well as teenage boys (not saying girls won't), but Danny is a character many boys will be able to connect with. While I didn't get into the story as much as I wanted to, I am looking forward to reading the sequel. I would recommend this story for those 14 years and older, as there is some sexual content and very mild language.