Customer Reviews

Castle of Deception (The Bard's Tale)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Hail! It is of the utmost importance that I state the fact that Mercedes Lackey wrote this book for a younger audience. That said, it was when I was in this age range (about 12-14) that I read this book 2 and a half times through. I could not get enough of the imaginative thrill that flowed from the pages. It was and is my first and favorite fantasy book. You're in for a good time while reading this!

This book, and the series was great. Some say that it was a little childish compaired to some of Lackey's work. But i believe that it was great. The book was placed in the time when there was true magic and many races. This one, this first, is about a young barding who was sent away to save a count's young niece and found many, many things on the way.

Even though I'm only 14 and have read very few books, I think this is one of the best I will ever read. I have one question to anybody who reads this, how many books are in The Bard's Tale series? I am also buying another book from the series, Fortress of Frost and Fire. I hear it's also a good book.

Having run out of Herald/Companion fantasies to devour, I decided to give the Bards a chance. Maybe this wasn't the best one to start with, I thought it was simple and predictable and altogether fake. There just wasn't any of the magic that makes her other novels enchanting.

Wow, I can deal with pulp fiction, sensationalism, formulaic plots etc but I cannot handle "don't care enough to make it interesting" This was drivel. I hope that some spineless corporate lawyer at EA sucked all the life out of this book and that ML wanted to write a better book but was sabotaged.

Castle of Deception (The Bard's Tale, Book 1)
I love this series,great book.
Do your self a favour and read it

The story is not too bad and it is quite enjoyable, but it is not grand and too simple and predictable

This book is great. The whole series is great. Mercedes Lackey is my favorite author. The only problem I had with it was the cover, since it showed a blond haired sorcerous with them instead of the dark elf.

The novel, if it can be called that, was clearly designed for the younger reader, at least as far as the plot and word choice go. The actual meat of the story strikes me as somewhat less appropriate for younger readers, but in a day and age where the average 3 year old has seen sex on T.V. several times and witnessed hundreds of murders as well, there probably isn't much that the average 14-year old hasn't seen already that's in the book.

I should note that there is, of course, nothing graphic, with regard to violence or otherwise, in the book. The characters are painted well to appeal to a younger teenage audience, particularly the main character who, while being transparent in his entirety, fits well in a book designed for younger readers.

As the first book I've read by this author, Castle of the Deception was a complete disappointment, and it will be some time before I consider looking at another of her works.