Status
Available
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
DAW (1989), Edition: Reissue, 352 pages
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. LGBTQIA+ (Fiction.) HTML:Groundbreaking epic fantasy series in Mercedes Lackey�??s Valdemar universe �?� Lambda-Award winning novels with heartfelt high adventure and magic Though Vanyel has been born with near-legendary abilities to work both Herald and Mage magic, he wasn�??t no part in such things. Nor does he seek a warrior�??s path, wishing instead to become a Bard. Yet such talent as his, if left untrained, may prove a menace not only to Vanyel but to others as well. So he is sent to be fostered with his aunt, Savil, one of the fame Herald-Mages of Valdemar. But, strong-willed and self-centered, Vanyel is a challenge which even Savil cannot master alone. For soon he will become the focus of frightening forces, lending his raw magic to a spell that unleashes terrifying wyr-hunters on the land. And by the time Savil seeks the assistance of a Shin�??a�??in Adept, Vanyel�??s wild talent may have already grown beyond anyone�??s ability to contain, placing Vanyel, Savil, and Valdemar it… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Bibliotropic
Okay, my first thought is that description for GoodReads actually only barely touches on the time period in which the book takes place, and even then still gets a lot of things wrong. Kind of sad, given that it's only a paragraph long...
Now, onto the real review.
This was the first Valdemar book I
Ladies and gentlement, the book that started it all.
This is also the turning point in the Valdemar series, where you can really tell that Lackey has found her voice and has settled into a comfortable and refined style that carries her through the rest of the books she writes. It's smooth, it's detailed, and it's captivating. The way she handles deep emotional scenes is wonderful, and I'm always entertained by the way she writes the thoughts and observations of the character whose viewpoint we're seeing. Unlike some, who will only write the important and relevent thoughts of a character, Lackey will take the time and space to have them seem realistic in their random observations and jokes and misconceptions. Some may consider it a waste of space, but I consider it a sign that the author has a good handle on how people actually behave and think.
True, there are problems with this book. It has its inconsistancies, as I think every Valdemar novel has by this point, but it even makes a few internal flubs, such as referring to a period of 60 minutes as an hour instead of the series-established candlemark. But the internal errors are few and far between, and most of them are only evident if you're really paying attention for them.
Maybe people who dislike this trilogy do so because Vanyel's a whiny little brat and they can't stand his emo tendancies. I have to admit, they do have a point. Even other characters point out that he's a brat. In fairness to him as a character, though, a large part of his bratty nature was posturing, another large part was because he had a screwed up set of circumstances and issue that don't end up getting resolved until well into adulthood, and thirdly, he was 15! Think back to when you were 15, and I bet you were brattier then than you are now. For this, I cut the guy some slack.
And luckily for me, the way Lackey writes pulls me through the story so swiftly that it doesn't feel like an entire book has passed before I get to see him grow up and mature!
Even though this book has its issues, it will still always hold a special place in my heart and on my shelves, and I still highly recommend this trilogy to those who enjoy Lackey's other works, and to those who want to give Valdemar a try but don't want to sit through a less-polished writing style.
Now, onto the real review.
This was the first Valdemar book I
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ever read, and it was the one to hook me, reel me in, and never let me go. Every time I pick it up and read it, I'm taken back to a hot lazy summer in which my friend handed me a copy and said, "I think you'll like this." It got me interested in the series, in the author, and was without a doubt the first book to really kick off my obsession with fantasy novels.Ladies and gentlement, the book that started it all.
This is also the turning point in the Valdemar series, where you can really tell that Lackey has found her voice and has settled into a comfortable and refined style that carries her through the rest of the books she writes. It's smooth, it's detailed, and it's captivating. The way she handles deep emotional scenes is wonderful, and I'm always entertained by the way she writes the thoughts and observations of the character whose viewpoint we're seeing. Unlike some, who will only write the important and relevent thoughts of a character, Lackey will take the time and space to have them seem realistic in their random observations and jokes and misconceptions. Some may consider it a waste of space, but I consider it a sign that the author has a good handle on how people actually behave and think.
True, there are problems with this book. It has its inconsistancies, as I think every Valdemar novel has by this point, but it even makes a few internal flubs, such as referring to a period of 60 minutes as an hour instead of the series-established candlemark. But the internal errors are few and far between, and most of them are only evident if you're really paying attention for them.
Maybe people who dislike this trilogy do so because Vanyel's a whiny little brat and they can't stand his emo tendancies. I have to admit, they do have a point. Even other characters point out that he's a brat. In fairness to him as a character, though, a large part of his bratty nature was posturing, another large part was because he had a screwed up set of circumstances and issue that don't end up getting resolved until well into adulthood, and thirdly, he was 15! Think back to when you were 15, and I bet you were brattier then than you are now. For this, I cut the guy some slack.
And luckily for me, the way Lackey writes pulls me through the story so swiftly that it doesn't feel like an entire book has passed before I get to see him grow up and mature!
Even though this book has its issues, it will still always hold a special place in my heart and on my shelves, and I still highly recommend this trilogy to those who enjoy Lackey's other works, and to those who want to give Valdemar a try but don't want to sit through a less-polished writing style.
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LibraryThing member DWMSLibrarian
Vanyel Askeveron is completely misunderstood by his father, and couldn’t be farther from what is expected of him. He is not interested in war or learning to fight “with honor” or even being the heir to his father’s hold. What he is interested in is music.
After the hold’s arms master
I love this book. It’s an adventure of the best kind – an outcast discovers he really does have magic powers and ends up doing good in the world. It’s great for mature kids aged sixteen and up, due to sexuality and violence. There are themes of overcoming obstacles, homosexuality, and love that are written in a respectful and loving manner. Every library ought to have this book.
After the hold’s arms master
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broke his arms as punishment for trying a new style of fighting, his father exiles him to Haven, the capital of the land of Valdemar. It is there that he meets his true love, and learns a valuable lesson about service to others.I love this book. It’s an adventure of the best kind – an outcast discovers he really does have magic powers and ends up doing good in the world. It’s great for mature kids aged sixteen and up, due to sexuality and violence. There are themes of overcoming obstacles, homosexuality, and love that are written in a respectful and loving manner. Every library ought to have this book.
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LibraryThing member Radaghast
Magic's Pawn is a frustrating and extremely dissatisfying book. Our first introduction to the character of Vanyel is a demonstration of the hardship he endures. Vanyel is abused by his father's armsmaster, because he was able to best the man in a bout. Vanyel's intelligence and skill are shown as
Lackey goes through pains to show us why he acts the way he does. She is successful to some degree, but her inability to present Vanyel as a consistent, realistic individual destroys the unheroic yet ultimately brave character she was going for. Without giving too much away, Vanyel is faced with one of the worst tragedies anyone can imagine. This understandably crushes him. Yet pages before, he showed deep hurt at the knowledge he was disliked by his peers. He showed the same hurt when he found out he could not fulfill his lifelong dream. Again and again Vanyel shows us the smallest slight will send him off balance, so that when real heartache comes to him, it seems very shallow. Vanyel seems so self-obsessed, it was hard to believe he was capable of loving another, let alone the level of love he found. Lackey seems to understand this, and actually tries to explain it away directly in the book by having characters Vanyel is around wonder the same thing. Unfortunately, pointing out your own mistakes as you write is no substitute for creating consistent characterization.
Other than the unlikable main character, the book suffers from many other issues. Magic's Pawn suffers from an unfathomable lack of magic. We really don't see the magic of Lackey's world until we near the end of the book and not coincidentally it is the end that is the most enjoyable to read. This book could work without the magic, and that means the magic was not really necessary. In a world with magic, we have to recognize magic as a real and present force in the lives of the characters. To Lackey, it is background noise.
This is the symptom of a larger problem. Lackey did not spend a great deal of time fleshing out her world, at least at first. This is a world very similar to our own. Again, when we reach the end, we get a glimpse of a part of her world that is truly unique, but by then it is too late. This is a world with priests, Kings, lords and peasants. Haven is their version of heaven. You get the picture. There are mentions of other religions and other lands. Hints at a larger history and cultural diversity that Lackey may explore in other novels. But, if you are looking for quality world building, you won't find it here.
All of this could be overlooked, if the writing was at a decent level. Unfortunately, the plotting seems choppy and lazy at times. This is a series of events, not a fully realized story. The antagonists are barely mentioned and only appear in a handful of scenes. Other than a few lines, we see nothing of their motivation and in the case of the final foe Vanyel faces, nothing at all. Even in books where the antagonists are motivated only by their own inherent evil, we get more development than in this book, where they are only present long enough to do their evil deeds and die quickly. This issue is made all the worse because the magic system is poorly developed and unoriginal.
I'm very sad to say, this just isn't a very good book.
Lackey clearly has skill as a writer. And that's what makes it all the more disappointing. The last few chapters are actually an interesting read, but it is not worth reading the book to get there. I wish it were just a matter of taste. Most books I review negatively I make sure to say were not to my taste, but others may enjoy them. This is not one of those books. I would recommend this book to no one.
(One final note: I think a lot of this book's praise comes from the homosexuality of the main character. Perhaps if I were homosexual, I would be able to appreciate the uniqueness of this book in a genre where there aren't a lot of gay characters, least of all main characters. I give Lackey credit for this. But if I were in their shoes, I would want a quality book that had such characters, and I certainly wouldn't be satisfied with this.)
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is the stifling nature of his surroundings. This interesting moment is ruined by the next fifty pages, which show Vanyel as angst ridden and pathetic. In nearly every scene, we are shown Vanyel as a person fearful of human contact, easily depressed at even the smallest setback, extremely needy and obsessed with self-image.Lackey goes through pains to show us why he acts the way he does. She is successful to some degree, but her inability to present Vanyel as a consistent, realistic individual destroys the unheroic yet ultimately brave character she was going for. Without giving too much away, Vanyel is faced with one of the worst tragedies anyone can imagine. This understandably crushes him. Yet pages before, he showed deep hurt at the knowledge he was disliked by his peers. He showed the same hurt when he found out he could not fulfill his lifelong dream. Again and again Vanyel shows us the smallest slight will send him off balance, so that when real heartache comes to him, it seems very shallow. Vanyel seems so self-obsessed, it was hard to believe he was capable of loving another, let alone the level of love he found. Lackey seems to understand this, and actually tries to explain it away directly in the book by having characters Vanyel is around wonder the same thing. Unfortunately, pointing out your own mistakes as you write is no substitute for creating consistent characterization.
Other than the unlikable main character, the book suffers from many other issues. Magic's Pawn suffers from an unfathomable lack of magic. We really don't see the magic of Lackey's world until we near the end of the book and not coincidentally it is the end that is the most enjoyable to read. This book could work without the magic, and that means the magic was not really necessary. In a world with magic, we have to recognize magic as a real and present force in the lives of the characters. To Lackey, it is background noise.
This is the symptom of a larger problem. Lackey did not spend a great deal of time fleshing out her world, at least at first. This is a world very similar to our own. Again, when we reach the end, we get a glimpse of a part of her world that is truly unique, but by then it is too late. This is a world with priests, Kings, lords and peasants. Haven is their version of heaven. You get the picture. There are mentions of other religions and other lands. Hints at a larger history and cultural diversity that Lackey may explore in other novels. But, if you are looking for quality world building, you won't find it here.
All of this could be overlooked, if the writing was at a decent level. Unfortunately, the plotting seems choppy and lazy at times. This is a series of events, not a fully realized story. The antagonists are barely mentioned and only appear in a handful of scenes. Other than a few lines, we see nothing of their motivation and in the case of the final foe Vanyel faces, nothing at all. Even in books where the antagonists are motivated only by their own inherent evil, we get more development than in this book, where they are only present long enough to do their evil deeds and die quickly. This issue is made all the worse because the magic system is poorly developed and unoriginal.
I'm very sad to say, this just isn't a very good book.
Lackey clearly has skill as a writer. And that's what makes it all the more disappointing. The last few chapters are actually an interesting read, but it is not worth reading the book to get there. I wish it were just a matter of taste. Most books I review negatively I make sure to say were not to my taste, but others may enjoy them. This is not one of those books. I would recommend this book to no one.
(One final note: I think a lot of this book's praise comes from the homosexuality of the main character. Perhaps if I were homosexual, I would be able to appreciate the uniqueness of this book in a genre where there aren't a lot of gay characters, least of all main characters. I give Lackey credit for this. But if I were in their shoes, I would want a quality book that had such characters, and I certainly wouldn't be satisfied with this.)
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LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
This is my favorite of Lackey's books, her most moving and heartfelt. It famously has a gay protagonist, rare even in speculative fiction, even in these days. Gay characters aren't unusual, especially now, but gay protagonists still are.
Those themes are important in this book and trilogy, and I
However, although I do think this theme is part of what gives the Last Herald Mage novels emotional punch, it doesn't pound the narrative to pieces; the book doesn't feel preachy. It's just a good adventure, fantasy story, set in a pseudo-medieval world of "heralds" who are a police/military force chosen by seeming horses, magical creatures that can see into someone's character and are full partners--it's simply a good read.
Those themes are important in this book and trilogy, and I
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think it explores it in ways that are thought-provoking and stayed with me as a young woman. Back then in 1989 when this came out, before Buffy and Will and Grace I can remember very few positive depictions of gays in fiction. My mother certainly wouldn't have approved of the subversive notions under the innocuous cover with the pretty guy hugging a white horse. However, although I do think this theme is part of what gives the Last Herald Mage novels emotional punch, it doesn't pound the narrative to pieces; the book doesn't feel preachy. It's just a good adventure, fantasy story, set in a pseudo-medieval world of "heralds" who are a police/military force chosen by seeming horses, magical creatures that can see into someone's character and are full partners--it's simply a good read.
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LibraryThing member Tavaresden
This book really makes you want to hug Vanyel since there's always one after another with him. He's virtually unloved by his family except for his sister and even she is taken away from him. His father is a conservative thinker and doesn't like Vanyel's way of thinking and sends him away, hoping
I often feel that this book is very bittersweet. And I like that. This isn't one of those books where nothing bad really happens to the main characters. I've read this book multiple times and I haven't gotten tired of it yet!
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for him to "man up". While he doesn't do that, he certainly goes up quite a few levels!I often feel that this book is very bittersweet. And I like that. This isn't one of those books where nothing bad really happens to the main characters. I've read this book multiple times and I haven't gotten tired of it yet!
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LibraryThing member patnelsonchilds
Am Utterly Engrossing Series!
I picked up this series because I was in the process of writing a fantasy novel with a gay hero and I wanted to see what other works were out there. I had never read Ms. Lackey's work, so I didn't know what to expect. I was not just pleasantly surprised by this trilogy,
This trilogy gave me a great deal of inspiration to push on with my own fantasy aspirations. I owe Misty a big hug if we ever meet face to face. I highly recommend these three books. Whether you're gay or straight, you'll find them an excellent read and, like me, you'll be sorry to reach that last page.
I picked up this series because I was in the process of writing a fantasy novel with a gay hero and I wanted to see what other works were out there. I had never read Ms. Lackey's work, so I didn't know what to expect. I was not just pleasantly surprised by this trilogy,
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I was completely captivated by it and very sad when I reached the final page. The plot is interesting and the pace is quick. The characters, especially the hero Vanyel, are extremely sympathetic, primarily due to the fact that they are so flawed. Some may find the romance a bit sappy, but I'm the first to admit that I dig that kind of thing and you'll see it in my own novels as well.Orphan's Quest (Chronicles of Firma, Book One) Best of all for me, though, was the fact that although her hero is unapologetically gay, the series does not become mired in its "gayness" as so many other works of gay-themed fiction I have read. This trilogy gave me a great deal of inspiration to push on with my own fantasy aspirations. I owe Misty a big hug if we ever meet face to face. I highly recommend these three books. Whether you're gay or straight, you'll find them an excellent read and, like me, you'll be sorry to reach that last page.
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LibraryThing member moriea
I read this series ages ago and have recently seen them on my bookshelves again-I enjoyed reading them at the time, enjoyed the underlying cultural/social mores challenged in this book, may not agree with it all but found it quite alot to think about at the time.
LibraryThing member Jenson_AKA_DL
Although this book was very different from my preconceived notions (partially inferred from the back blurb which was obviously written by someone who hadn't read the book) I wasn't disappointed. This is another one that has taken me by surprise by the very dark, almost overwhelmingly dark,
A couple other things I really enjoyed about the book, the plot and circumstances of which I don’t feel I can even overview for fear of spoilers, are the Companions and the Tayledras (particularly Moondance), who were all very interesting characters.
While this is listed as the first book of The Last Herald Mage series, it seems to be primarily based in an already established world, leaving me to wonder if some of the side-characters mentioned have their own books as well. Despite this, I understood the book and didn't feel lost, just curious. I fully intend to read the next book of the series just as soon as I can get my hands on it.
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overtones. While Vanyel isn't the most sympathetic of leading characters, there was something about him that made me want to like him. He could, at times, be extremely selfish but when you look at the circumstances surrounding him during the book, you can see why. It is just as Tylendel said, "When I don't want to smack that superior grin off his face, I want to cuddle and reassure him, and I don't know which is worse." A couple other things I really enjoyed about the book, the plot and circumstances of which I don’t feel I can even overview for fear of spoilers, are the Companions and the Tayledras (particularly Moondance), who were all very interesting characters.
While this is listed as the first book of The Last Herald Mage series, it seems to be primarily based in an already established world, leaving me to wonder if some of the side-characters mentioned have their own books as well. Despite this, I understood the book and didn't feel lost, just curious. I fully intend to read the next book of the series just as soon as I can get my hands on it.
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LibraryThing member SunnySD
Spoiled and petted by his mother and her bevy of ladies, ranted at and beaten by his father and his armsmen, Vanyel is at once terrified and thrilled to be sent to the Herald's collegium to live with his aunt, the Herald Savil. Vanyel's father hopes his sister will make a man of the boy,
Shattered to be judged Giftless - talented enough to be a minstrel, but as his father's heir, that way is barred to him. Gradually, Vanyel realizes that he's attracted to one of Savil's mage students, and although the two share a lifebond, their love is ill-fated. Vanyel's true path lies somewhere far different.
Not my favorite of Lackey's series, but well-written. Vanyel's just a bit whiny and self-loathing for my taste. Thankfully, he improves in the sequels, but not before I always find myself aching for a two-by-four.
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discouraging him from cowardess and being "fey" - although the later is kept a deep dark secret from Vanyel, who only hopes desperately to become a Bard.Shattered to be judged Giftless - talented enough to be a minstrel, but as his father's heir, that way is barred to him. Gradually, Vanyel realizes that he's attracted to one of Savil's mage students, and although the two share a lifebond, their love is ill-fated. Vanyel's true path lies somewhere far different.
Not my favorite of Lackey's series, but well-written. Vanyel's just a bit whiny and self-loathing for my taste. Thankfully, he improves in the sequels, but not before I always find myself aching for a two-by-four.
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LibraryThing member Featherfire
The first Mercedes Lackey book I ever read; my friend piqued my interest by saying, "I have a book about a gay man". The first time I read it, I found the first... oh, four chapters a bit boring (until he meets Tylendel), and to be honest I skipped or skimmed most of it... but in subsequent
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readings (I've read this book so many times I've lost count) I don't find it boring at all, and it's an important part of the plot! This book remains one of my favorites to this day. I love Vanyel as a character (moody and broody though he is), and I love Tylendel and Savil and Yfandes, I even love Jaysen. This book (along with others in the Valdemar series) was the inspiration for a lot of my own writing. Show Less
LibraryThing member Bodagirl
This book was my entry into more mature fantasy and holds a special place on my bookshelf. Besides my emotional attachment, Lackey creates a moving story of love and loss with clear prose and relatable characters.
Snack lit rating: comfort food
Snack lit rating: comfort food
LibraryThing member lunanshee
The epic adventure of how the Last Herald-Mage came into his power. Vanyel must learn to harness power he never asked for, overcome consuming grief and take his place in the ranks of the Heralds. This is one of Lackey's finest works. Definatly worth mroe than one read.
LibraryThing member Jean_Sexton
What a terrific book! The start of a trilogy, this introduces Vanyel who will become the last Herald-Mage. Here Vanyel, a gay teen, grows from a young popinjay to the kind of person who cares for and protects others -- in short, a Herald.
If you enjoy fantasy, this is well worth the read.
If you enjoy fantasy, this is well worth the read.
LibraryThing member Snukes
It's been awhile since I've read any fantasy books that took themselves seriously, but that's no bad thing. It's also been several years since I read The Queen's Own trilogy (my introduction to Valdemar) so I was a bit hazy going into this book about where we sat on the timeline. I never did sort
I find Lackey's world captivating, her writing compulsively readable, and her characters largely enjoyable. Vanyel got on my nerves from time to time for being a 15-year-old dude with a ton of angst, and while it turns out I am willing to believe 15-year-old dudes really can be that angsty, he had a lot of Gary Stu going on as well, what with the "my father hates me and doesn't understand me no one understands me and oh I have no talent and my life is ruined forever wait what? I have all dah powerz and now everyone loves me?" (Followed a by a lot more angst. Un-spoiler: he doesn't really get over his angst until about 20 pages from the end.)
My only other complaint is the way Lackey uses italics to emphasize things. So many things. (See what I did there?) She apparently doesn't trust her reader to understand her sentences in exactly the way that she writes them, and sure enough, there were dozens of times where I tripped over an italicized word because I, myself, would not have bothered with the emphasis in that particular sentence. And then when she was anti-italicizing things for emphasis while her characters were mind-speaking in italics? GAH. That was terrible.
But I'm over it. I enjoyed the book, and I'll read many more of them, I expect.
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that out until I consulted the interwebs after I finished and discovered this trilogy is set well before The Queen's Own. No problem. It stands just fine on its own.I find Lackey's world captivating, her writing compulsively readable, and her characters largely enjoyable. Vanyel got on my nerves from time to time for being a 15-year-old dude with a ton of angst, and while it turns out I am willing to believe 15-year-old dudes really can be that angsty, he had a lot of Gary Stu going on as well, what with the "my father hates me and doesn't understand me no one understands me and oh I have no talent and my life is ruined forever wait what? I have all dah powerz and now everyone loves me?" (Followed a by a lot more angst. Un-spoiler: he doesn't really get over his angst until about 20 pages from the end.)
My only other complaint is the way Lackey uses italics to emphasize things. So many things. (See what I did there?) She apparently doesn't trust her reader to understand her sentences in exactly the way that she writes them, and sure enough, there were dozens of times where I tripped over an italicized word because I, myself, would not have bothered with the emphasis in that particular sentence. And then when she was anti-italicizing things for emphasis while her characters were mind-speaking in italics? GAH. That was terrible.
But I'm over it. I enjoyed the book, and I'll read many more of them, I expect.
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LibraryThing member TW_Spencer
The best fantasy I've read in a while.
LibraryThing member JohnFair
This is the first book in 'The Last Heral-Mage' trilogy from Lackey and starts the story of Vanyel Ashkevron when he's a slight and bullied teen on the family holding. When his father sent him to his Herald-Mage aunt, neither person knew what to do with the situation; Vanyel was a decent musician
When I first read these books I felt that they were very preachy in the way the worst of American story telling can be as to how to live but this time through I was able to ignore that and enjoy the story.
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but not the Bard he'd wished to be and he didn't have any of the Gifts required to be a Herald so it's not until he meets one of his aunt's protoges that cracks appear in the wall he'd built round himself. But the friendship with Tylendelproved to be a turning point in Vanyel's life...When I first read these books I felt that they were very preachy in the way the worst of American story telling can be as to how to live but this time through I was able to ignore that and enjoy the story.
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LibraryThing member wealhtheowwylfing
Melodramatic, over-the-top, and as subtle as a brick to the skull, this is nevertheless an engrossing read. Vanyel's journey from a spoiled, effeminent musician-wannabee to a heart-broken, effeminent Herald-Mage is really engaging. Teenagers will especially find themselves drawn to this story. The
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one truly boring part is Vanyel's time spent healing with the elves (or whatever they're called--they're basically mystical Native Americans with equally mystical white hair and magical birds). Show Less
LibraryThing member dorie.craig
A good story, with interesting characters and an imaginative setting. A bit on the melodramatic side, and I wasn't happy when the author killed off an important character halfway through the book. But I still couldn't set the story aside. Very readable.
LibraryThing member Dariah
Mercedes Lackey’s story about Vanyel is emotionally rich, heart-rending and bittersweet. I was very captivated by the well written depths of feelings.
The plot revolves around Vanyel, a young man misunderstood by his family and the people surrounding him, with his sister initialy being the only
The plot revolves around Vanyel, a young man misunderstood by his family and the people surrounding him, with his sister initialy being the only
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one close to him. He is sent to the capital to live with his aunt Savil, a Herald-Mage. There he falls in love with one of her students, Tylendel, whose love story eventually ends sadly. He wants to become a bard and indulge in music above all, yet fate has other plans for him, and as his magic powers manifest, he must learn to control them in order to not hurt himself and those dear to him. Show Less
LibraryThing member Linyarai
Absolutely loved it. One of my favorites out of all of her works.
LibraryThing member caedocyon
2/3 of the book is people processing their emotions, as internal monologue or with one another. Unclear if the emotional processing would be less of a slog if Vanyel was less whiny and obnoxious---I don't think so. It's not Lackey's best book. But it's a classic of gay fantasy. Best read by
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preteens. Show Less
Subjects
Awards
Lambda Literary Award (Nominee — 1989)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1989-06
Physical description
6.83 inches
ISBN
0886773520 / 9780886773526