Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Collections
Publication
Tor Books (2004), Mass Market Paperback, 736 pages
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Literature. Kellen Tavadon, son of the Arch-Mage Lycaelon, thought he knew the way the world worked. His father, leading the wise and benevolent Council of Mages, protected and guided the citizens of the Golden City of the Bells. Young Mages in training-all men, for women were unfit to practice magic-memorized the intricate details of High Magic and aspired to seats on the council. Then Kellen found the forbidden Books of Wild Magic-or did they find him? Their Magic felt like a living thing, guided by the hearts and minds of those who practiced it and benefited from it. Questioning everything he has known, Kellen discovers too many of the City's dark secrets. Banished, with the Outlaw Hunt on his heels, Kellen invokes Wild Magic-and finds himself running for his life with a unicorn at his side. Rescued by a unicorn, healed by a female Wild Mage who knows more about Kellen than anyone outside the City should, meeting Elven royalty and Elven warriors, and plunged into a world full of magical beings, Kellen both revels in and fears his new freedom. The one thing all the Mages of the City agreed on was that practicing Wild Magic corrupted a Mage-turned him into a Demon. Would that be Kellen's fate? Deep in Obsidian Mountain, the Demons are waiting. Since their defeat in the last great War, they've been biding their time, sowing the seeds of distrust and discontent between their human and Elven enemies. Very soon now, when the Demons rise to make war, there will be no alliance between High and Wild Magic to stand against them. And then all the world will belong to the Endarkened.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
I'm a fan of Mercedes Lackey's books by and large, especially her early Valdemar books, and despite her being prolific I've managed to read most of them--this is the weakest book I've read by her, and I'm not sure how much to blame her co-writer, James Mallory. Some of the book's weaknesses are
This story actually had a lot of original elements which makes me wish this could have been a stronger book. I liked the idea behind magic in this book, and it, and the culture of the city, raises some interesting questions.
A lot of the problem, I think, is the protagonist, Kellen, whom I found whiny and hard to care about. Another part was just pacing, I think. Too much of the story made me want to skim, just didn't hold my interest. Nor is this a very interesting treatment of elves among those I've read. Feist, Moon, and, of course, Tolkien are better bets if you're looking for a good read in High Fantasy, and Arrows of the Queen or Joust would make better introductions to Lackey.
Show More
ones I've seen in other books of hers: mainly that she's very black and white, with little nuance in her villains and their motivations. This story actually had a lot of original elements which makes me wish this could have been a stronger book. I liked the idea behind magic in this book, and it, and the culture of the city, raises some interesting questions.
A lot of the problem, I think, is the protagonist, Kellen, whom I found whiny and hard to care about. Another part was just pacing, I think. Too much of the story made me want to skim, just didn't hold my interest. Nor is this a very interesting treatment of elves among those I've read. Feist, Moon, and, of course, Tolkien are better bets if you're looking for a good read in High Fantasy, and Arrows of the Queen or Joust would make better introductions to Lackey.
Show Less
LibraryThing member bzedan
You know, people don't write teenagers nearly petulant enough. This book tries and does pretty well, though sometimes more telling (people thinking that hey, this magic kid is a teenager after all, not a total douche) than showing, but really, I don't expect much out of modern books.There was also
Show More
a unicorn and he was absolutely awesome and kind of a jerk in that endearing way.Rebellion, magic, realisations, magic, quest, magic, understanding of True Calling, we learn evil is Evil, etc.But again, there was this unicorn— Show Less
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
And Mercedes Lackey once again hits her stride. A great read with some of her regular features including anxty teen. New world.
LibraryThing member rglightyear
It's a good book, but is rather slow moving. Same with the rest of the series. I'm hoping the last book will be a bit faster paced.
LibraryThing member xicanti
Lackey's books almost always manage to keep me fully absorbed and engaged, and this one was no exception. The first book in the Obsidian Trilogy is a quieter sort of epic fantasy that introduces readers to the characters, their world, and the evil they'll be forced to face. The book does move a bit
I did find that there was a fair amount of unnecessary repetition throughout the book, but since it is in excess of 700 pages long it's possible that I might have found the repetition more relevant if I were a slower reader. Otherwise, good stuff.
Show More
slowly at times, but I didn't find that it suffered too much for it. The slower pace just gave me more of a chance to get to know the characters. Overall, I enjoyed it quite a lot, and especially liked the magical system Lackey and Mallory have worked out. It felt believable.I did find that there was a fair amount of unnecessary repetition throughout the book, but since it is in excess of 700 pages long it's possible that I might have found the repetition more relevant if I were a slower reader. Otherwise, good stuff.
Show Less
LibraryThing member tcgardner
A betrayed young man must find this way in the world. Sheltered for 17 years in the City of a Thousand Bells, Kellen chafes under the social structure of the city. Things finally come to a head when Kellen finds 3 books of Wild Magic. He is forcibly expelled from the city and things get really
I enjoyed this book. The magic system was novel and the world as well. High fantasy I would call it. Humans, Elves, Unicorns, Centaurs, and Demons. The demons were interesting. A historical look to them. The epitome of evil with a reference to a higher evil early in the book. The High and Wild magic was also interesting and well thought out.
Continuing with "well thought out," some things were not. It may just be me, but the regional society just did not seem to work for me. There just did not seem to be enough interaction between the peoples. I understand that was the point in the Golden City, but for the rest of the region, something was missing.
Also, time and distance distracted me. The demons captured beings of the region willy nilly and had them in their lair far to the north pretty easily. But, it took days and weeks for others to get around.
Put aside minor distractions, the prose at times was quite wonderful. I truly loved the descriptions of the elven city and its people.
All in all a good book and I recommend it.
Show More
interesting.I enjoyed this book. The magic system was novel and the world as well. High fantasy I would call it. Humans, Elves, Unicorns, Centaurs, and Demons. The demons were interesting. A historical look to them. The epitome of evil with a reference to a higher evil early in the book. The High and Wild magic was also interesting and well thought out.
Continuing with "well thought out," some things were not. It may just be me, but the regional society just did not seem to work for me. There just did not seem to be enough interaction between the peoples. I understand that was the point in the Golden City, but for the rest of the region, something was missing.
Also, time and distance distracted me. The demons captured beings of the region willy nilly and had them in their lair far to the north pretty easily. But, it took days and weeks for others to get around.
Put aside minor distractions, the prose at times was quite wonderful. I truly loved the descriptions of the elven city and its people.
All in all a good book and I recommend it.
Show Less
LibraryThing member kalanasse
I really enjoyed this trilogy and have been lending it out to friends.
LibraryThing member jehovahrapha
With the literary excellence I've come to expect from Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory, I have to say that this is my FAVORITE so far. I've read all the second trilogy books from this duo, and I love learning that actual backstory of all those legends Tyr and Harrier kept alluding to. Kellen and
Of course, the Elves' idea of manners is as frustrating to me now as it was when I read The Phoenix Unchained. All that asking-without-actually-asking-a-single-thing drives me nuts. It's makes you want to stare at the Elf not-asking and say sweetly, "So...was there a question in there somewhere?"
Show More
Idalia are those kinds of characters that you get to know and you really feel like you KNOW them. I know that I found myself hoping and praying for Lycaenon to get his comeuppance; you know Kellen had to escape the Outlaw Hunt, and then again the Arch-Mage is foiled when Kellen and Idalia knew in advance when the Scouring Hunt was coming, and not only they, but all the anticipated Otherfolk prey were suddenly out of their reach...I practically cheered when Lycaenon was foiled again and again! Of course, the Elves' idea of manners is as frustrating to me now as it was when I read The Phoenix Unchained. All that asking-without-actually-asking-a-single-thing drives me nuts. It's makes you want to stare at the Elf not-asking and say sweetly, "So...was there a question in there somewhere?"
Show Less
LibraryThing member pagemasterZee
This series is different from the valdemar series that mercedes lackey is so well known for and is a delightful change in pace from her usual stories. I love this author and own a good portion of her 100 or so published books. This particular series demands your attention and wrenches every emotion
Show More
from you during your reading experience. This is a great series to start off with if you are unfamilar with her writing style, but with any series i would start at the beginning and this trilogy only gets better. so look forward to becoming hooked. happy reading Show Less
LibraryThing member Alliebadger
This book is really long and really boring. It takes about 150 pages for our main character to start his adventure, and it's about 450 pages before we have a hint of what the climax of the book might be. Everything else is plodding along, reflection, philosophy, or being annoyed about something and
Show More
refusing to find out more information. I love Mercedes Lackey usually, but I did not enjoy this one. I won't be reading the rest of this trilogy... Show Less
LibraryThing member zjakkelien
A nice and simple epic fantasy story. It felt a bit like a simplified and sedate LotR, with many different types of creatures, a few people staying behind, others travelling to an evil place, elves, etc. Typical Mercedes Lackey with the pace and the coming-of-age,
Show More
young-person-learns-about-own-powers theme. What I'm not used to from her is that the writing was at times decidedly clumsy. I've seen several instances of repetition of words within a sentence, or even repetition of whole sentences. It was not so often that it ruined the book, but it was really noticeable. Overall, it was nice, but it could have done with a few less pages. I'm all for describing every day life in a fantasy world, but I think she took it a bit too far this time. Show Less
LibraryThing member mattries37315
"The Outstretched Shadow" is a mixture of excellent plot and mind-numbing exposition that is makes for a maddening read for anyone making it through the book. Authors Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory collaborated in creating interesting and worth-reading characters as well as burying them with
The book revolves around Kellen, the disgruntled son of the Arch-Mage ruler of his home city. Finding life in the city stifling and the rule of Mages like himself based on a lie, Kellen yearns to do something else and finds the Three Books of Wild Magic, outlawed by the Mage practitioners of High Magick. After his father finds the Books, Kellen welcomes banishment but almost loses his life without the help of the unicorn Shalkan. Once free of the city, Kellen starts his study in earnest of Wild Magic with the help from his previously unknown sister, but his father's greed results in both of them running for their lives into Elven country only to find themselves in the middle of a drought, which is the opening move in a new war launched by the Great Enemy, the Endarkened.
The overall plot and the characters were very interesting, however Lackey & Mallory buried it under unnecessary padding that blogged down the pace of the book. Kellen's worry and philosophical thoughts about Wild Magic was where the padding was most visible. While this inner struggle was necessary, the amount of time and the repetition of the same paragraphs was a discredit to the authors and undermined the trust of the reader. If Lackey & Mallory had been given a descent editor, the book would have been 100-150 pages shorter and much better for it.
"The Outstretched Shadow" is overall an okay book that unfortunately could have been really good, the protagonists and antagonists are well written creating the basis for a enjoyable series. However, the unnecessary padding of the book could result in discouraging readers from even finishing the book.
Show More
pages of padding.The book revolves around Kellen, the disgruntled son of the Arch-Mage ruler of his home city. Finding life in the city stifling and the rule of Mages like himself based on a lie, Kellen yearns to do something else and finds the Three Books of Wild Magic, outlawed by the Mage practitioners of High Magick. After his father finds the Books, Kellen welcomes banishment but almost loses his life without the help of the unicorn Shalkan. Once free of the city, Kellen starts his study in earnest of Wild Magic with the help from his previously unknown sister, but his father's greed results in both of them running for their lives into Elven country only to find themselves in the middle of a drought, which is the opening move in a new war launched by the Great Enemy, the Endarkened.
The overall plot and the characters were very interesting, however Lackey & Mallory buried it under unnecessary padding that blogged down the pace of the book. Kellen's worry and philosophical thoughts about Wild Magic was where the padding was most visible. While this inner struggle was necessary, the amount of time and the repetition of the same paragraphs was a discredit to the authors and undermined the trust of the reader. If Lackey & Mallory had been given a descent editor, the book would have been 100-150 pages shorter and much better for it.
"The Outstretched Shadow" is overall an okay book that unfortunately could have been really good, the protagonists and antagonists are well written creating the basis for a enjoyable series. However, the unnecessary padding of the book could result in discouraging readers from even finishing the book.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Aubri
This is the start to one of my favorite trilogies ever. When I retread it I did notice that it takes a while for everything to warm up, but once it does it's worth the wait. Plus, I know that we often have to wade through a bit of background and set up when reading high fantasy.
The characters are
The characters are
Show More
all wonderful. Shalkan the unicorn has some wicked dry humor. And let me tell you that even more great characters are on their way for the second book. Show Less
LibraryThing member hopeevey
I got about 20 pages in and gave it up. The setting was contrived, the main character shallow and unbelievable, and the whole work seemed a pile of cliches. It might get better later, but I'm not impressed enough to find out.
LibraryThing member SheilaDeeth
Authors Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory create a wealth of cultures in the world of this trilogy, and the first book, The Outstretched Shadow, has a pleasing sense of fully developed magic, logical consequences, and surprising characters. I’ve not read any of the authors’ books before, but I
The world-building is fascinating, the characters are appealingly flawed, and the threat is… well, overwhelming and definitely dark. But there’s natural humor and intriguing food for thought, including a nicely drawn out sense of religion and religious questions. Even the unicorn makes sense! Highly recommended.
Disclosure: I’m hooked!
Show More
was quickly hooked on this series, enjoying the story progression of the first book (which could easily be two books), and particularly enjoying the sense of an ending (in the individual book) that leaves the reader both satisfied and eager for more.The world-building is fascinating, the characters are appealingly flawed, and the threat is… well, overwhelming and definitely dark. But there’s natural humor and intriguing food for thought, including a nicely drawn out sense of religion and religious questions. Even the unicorn makes sense! Highly recommended.
Disclosure: I’m hooked!
Show Less
LibraryThing member zjakkelien
A nice and simple epic fantasy story. It felt a bit like a simplified and sedate LotR, with many different types of creatures, a few people staying behind, others travelling to an evil place, elves, etc. Typical Mercedes Lackey with the pace and the coming-of-age,
Show More
young-person-learns-about-own-powers theme. What I'm not used to from her is that the writing was at times decidedly clumsy. I've seen several instances of repetition of words within a sentence, or even repetition of whole sentences. It was not so often that it ruined the book, but it was really noticeable. Overall, it was nice, but it could have done with a few less pages. I'm all for describing every day life in a fantasy world, but I think she took it a bit too far this time. Show Less
Language
Original publication date
2003-10
Physical description
736 p.; 7 inches
ISBN
0765341417 / 9780765341419
Local notes
Obsidian Trilogy, 1
DDC/MDS
| Fic SF Lackey |